Premier Brad Wall says he may call for a referendum on whether Saskatchewan should switch its clocks in the spring and fall.
For some Saskatchewanians, this is a major issue. Some people want to see us fall in line with the majority of the country and observe standard and daylight time. Others see no need for the change and want us to remain unchanged, just like our clocks.
The concern with Wall’s statement earlier this week is that he will only call for the referendum — which would be held at the same time as the Nov. 7, 2011, provincial election — if it looks like the majority would vote in favour of changing the clocks.
He said if it looks like the majority of people want to retain the status quo, then he won’t hold the referendum. The premier suggested the government should conduct a large poll to determine whether to go ahead with the vote.
But isn’t that the whole point of the referendum — to find out what the opinion is of the majority? And a referendum would do something a poll would not do as well — accurately gauge the opinion of the voting public via a system that allows all Saskatchewanians of voting age to voice their opinion.
If the premier just made the decision based on a poll, then he’s not allowing everybody in this province who wants to have their say to be heard. If he’s going on that premise, then why not get rid of elections all together and just use a poll to decide who is in power?
Yes, a referendum is more expensive than a large poll (although that’s not cheap) but if he says he wants to hear from people about this, why not give everybody the opportunity to choose their preference instead of putting it in the hands of 1,001 people who are right 19 times out of 20?
