Profile: The Online Party of Canada

TORONTO – The Online Party of Canada announced on Wednesday that they will be entering the upcoming September by-election in Calgary – the final step to becoming a registered political party in Canada.

Currently, the Online Party of Canada is an “eligible” political party, only having to compete in an election before becoming “registered,” a move that would allow them to issue tax receipts for political donations.

The political party, headed by Michael Nicula, has set itself up to be diametrically opposed to the “party politics” currently seen in the Canadian House of Commons – endeavouring to use Internet technology as a form of direct democracy engaging Canadians in the everyday agenda of Canada’s House of Commons.

“A lot of Canadians don’t feel they are being represented anymore. Although we have a majority government, only 24 per cent of the Canadian voters actually voted for the Conservative Government,” Nicula said. “It’s easy to see the disconnect.”

It was Nicula’s “passion for politics” and a seeming inability to contact his MP that inspired him to create the Online Party.

Nicula attempted to speak to his MP, a Conservative, about his opposition to the war in Afghanistan. As his MP was forced to vote along party lines, Nicula felt voters in Canada have little effect on parliamentary affairs.

“I realized, as a voter, I have no say. I have no recourse,” Nicula said.

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The party’s project “Agora,” is one such way the party is attempting to connect Canadians with the minutiae of parliament.

Agora aims to be an online portal where the day’s parliamentary agenda will be posted for public consumption. Along with all the differing opinions of each official political party on a specific bill, the Online Party will also allow commenting, and voting on each bill.

The results of the online voting will determine how an Online Party of Canada Member of Parliament will vote.

“We bring Internet technology into place. This is one thing. We are the only party that connects voters with their elected officials,” Nicula said.

Platform

The Online Party of Canada, by virtue of constant online voting, is difficult to fit into a rigid place on the spectrum of political beliefs, as a position can change and evolve based on the votes of Canadians.

On the Online Party website is a list of initiatives, along with the current position (either Yes, No, or ‘No official position’) on a specific issue – some of which align with the position of the New Democratic Party (NDP), the Liberal Party of Canada, and the Conservative Party of Canada.

Should Canada end their participation in the war in Afghanistan now? Official Position: Yes

Should the use of marijuana be legalized in Canada? Official Position: Yes

Do you support scrapping the Long Gun Registry? Official Position: Yes

Do you support federally subsidized post-secondary education? Official Position: Yes

Good for Canada?

Zach Dayler, National Director of the Canadian Alliance of Students Associations (CASA) says the entrance of a political party with an online focus may help encourage young people – a demographic with traditionally low voter turnout – get involved in the political arena.

“Anything that will give more exposure to the issues. This might encourage people to get involved,” Dayler said. “Anything that helps raise awareness.”

Dayler worries though that MPs – and regular citizens alike – may hide behind social media rather than getting directly involved in Canadian politics.

“Beyond online voting, we need to get people out there voting,” Dayler said. “The question isn’t why aren’t MPs putting this online to vote on,” the question, Dayler said, is why aren’t MPs speaking with people on each bill.

Representatives of Apathy is Boring, a non-partisan group encouraging participation in politics, think the Online Party of Canada is a good initiative but worries about the party’s ability to represent the Canadian electorate.

“I think it’s a pretty interesting initiative,” Ilana Dougherty, Co-founder and executive director of Apathy is Boring said. “Will they be able to reach a broad enough number of Canadians and really engage them to make the voting really representative?”