posted 11-14- 10:49 PM               

WTF? Doesn't that mean a FLOOD of referendums then? Thats insane.

posted 11-14- 10:52 PM               

What 52,--- people already.

Imagine how quickly the legalization of pot will come up.

I never even thought of Net petitions.

I guess it could be a good thing, But man they will be coming out of the woodwork.

posted 11-14- 11:48 PM               

wait...

posted 11-16- 06:09 PM               

Halifax — Stockwell Day could be right, Canadians do seem to like the idea of referendums. Or at least they favour one tongue-in-cheek petition sponsored by comedians from CBC television's satire This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

Canadians have rallied to the cause since the call went out Monday night for 400,338 on-line signatures on a farcical petition to force a vote changing the Canadian Alliance leader's first name to Doris.

Perhaps they're all just fans of Doris Day, the 1960s actress and singer of the hit song Que Sera, Sera. Whatever the reason, by Thursday — barely 48 hours after the broadcast — almost 360,000 signatures were registered on the referendum petition, a gag born of the Alliance's own call for referendums on controversial issues.

The Alliance has suggested as few as 3 per cent of registered voters — fewer than 400,000 — would be all that is needed to trigger a referendum on such controversial topics as abortion and capital punishment.

The number of people endorsing the petition was growing rapidly on Wednesday evening, at times by close to 500 signatures per minute.

Calling the Doris petition an exercise in national unity and democracy, comedian Rick Mercer urged viewers to sign on at the show's Web site at www.22minutes.com to vote.

Mr. Mercer had tongue-in-cheek praise for the Alliance proposal on referendums during the Halifax-based broadcasts, which casts a satirical eye on news events. "Now sure, critics point out that this type of legislation will tear the country apart, that it will drive the federal government into bankruptcy as we face referendum after referendum," said Mr. Mercer. "Any time there's a national referendum it costs about $150-million, but I think I speak for all taxpayers when I say it's worth every penny," Mr. Mercer added during the broadcast.

"Isn't it time that everyone in the country enjoyed a laugh at someone else's expense?"

Judging by the response, many Canadians agree with him.