That would be a better (more practical) civics test I agree,
but who would create it? That would be almost as big a
battle as the election I'm sure. It's much worse up here than
in the U.S. where there are 5 main parties (depending...)
and they all have slightly different views on key issues,
to the point that they are spending more time on trying
to define their positions than defend them. Asking Joe Public
what a given party's position and getting an answer you (who?)
could grade would be very difficult indeed.
I'd also have to disagree with your friend, though I see the
point I think. Maybe we're running into fundamental difference
between our systems of government, but what an individual
candidate thinks on anything beyond very local issues is
almost meaningless in the face of his/her party position, as
members are all expected to vote with the party in the House. Consequently,
knowing your member's name is fairly pointless, but knowing
their party's platform is important. There is a move up here
to get party logos on the ballot to make the distinction
even clearer.