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In eCanada we live in a time of transitions. Transition in the size and composition of our population as we accommodate and integrate the Boomer generation. Transition in our business culture as the time of easy money is at an end and corporations and government both have to be more responsible. Lastly we see a re-alignment of the political spectrum with a shifting of the guard in some of the major parties and the re-branding and re-dedication of a majority of our political entities.

The Freeholder Press wanted to see what some of these changes represented for eCanadians and decided to interview a group of prominent citizens. We are grateful for the response as they provide interesting insight into our attitudes towards the political process.

Antio Fontaine, three times elected to Congress, representative for Newfoundland and Labrador, member of the majority holders CSD. Emilio Sanchez, three times elected to Congress, representative for Nova Scotia, member of the CEP. Banach, two times elected to Congress, OG Literary Award editor, member of the CPC and currently eCanada's leading media baron. Dominik, four times elected to Congress, representative for the Northwest Territories, member of the newly coined RFP and Minister of Communications. The Freeholder Press had also contacted a member of the PPC. As an emerging power in the last Congressional elections their views could have been particularly pertinent. However, due to scheduling conflict and the tight publishing deadline provided, our choice for this interview could not respond and a replacement was not sought.

The Freeholder Press asked in light of the recent rash of prominent eCanadians jumping from one party to the next and the current vogue of party re-branding, would you say that politics is a serious matter in this country or has it lost much of its gravitas? Is the role of the political party changing?

Antio Fontaine: The “rash” of party jumping is the result of several different factors. First, the re-branding of the Canadian Progressive Front (CPF) and Canadian Paradox Party (CPP) into the Canadian Empire Party (CEP) and the Canadian Confederate Front (CCF) also resulted into a redefinition of their political ideology. As a result, some people left those parties while others felt more attracted to them and joined. The birth (or rebirth) of fresh new parties is also an important factor. The Progressive Party of Canada (PPC), the Communist Party of Canada (CPC) and, more recently, the Royal Feudalism Party (RFP) all offer chances for our politicians to get a different political experience. The third and last reason would probably be the return of some important and influential political figures. Banach is a good example. After all, he is one of the major forces behind the CPC.

Now to answer your first question; do I think politics are still a serious matter?

Undoubtedly! The tidal wave of party jumping was a very healthy phenomenon. It gave back a lot of oxygen to a political landscape that seemed to have been stuck in the CSD-CPF-CPP deadlock for months. The government is probably going to be better, stronger and somewhat more light-hearted, and this is a good thing.

As to know if the role of the political party changed, I don’t think it did in a radical way. I would say that the current party structure seems easier to change than before and this might form a window of opportunity for newer members.

Emilio Sanchez: The recent rash of citizens changing parties, is to my guess, people just trying to find the right party for them. There is no 'perfect' party that will have everything you want. So pick one that best represents you, and stick with it. I hate to say, but personally I think the rest of the eWorld does not even bother to watch eCanada's political parties. They are constantly changing names left and right, people go to one party, and only a week or so later change again. Parties will not progress this way. We need people to put input into their parties and make them better. That is the only way parties will advance and improve. As it is, if I was from another country observing eCanada's parties, I would be scratching my head.

Banach: There was always a level of "fantasy" party branding that involved going outside the serious boundaries of eRepublik and creating random parties. Half the members create serious parties, others create parties more as a hobby and put less effort into it. As far as the movement of veteran members around being a sign of change, it’s a great thing that no party is stacked and that instead of two or three, six or seven parties become contenders for a top spot at leading or at least affecting politics...

Dominik: Well, I suppose I'm guilty of this as well, but I don't believe it's overall harmful to the Canadian political scene. I think politics are just as serious as they ever were- if anything Canadians have a greater variety of ideologies to choose from. I do, however, think that the role of the party has changed over the past few weeks/months: people are more loosely associated with their parties and we have a diversity of not only parties, but also opinions within each party. This is the basis for my new party- people of all political backgrounds are united under one common cause; establishing n egalitarian Kingdom of Canada.

End of Part 1. In Part 2 the participants start talking about voting along party lines. Part 3 concludes.