As a proud member of the 225,000+ strong Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament Facebook group, it is nice to see group creator Mr. Christopher White going to Ottawa to speak at a roundtable about our democratic process.
The following is Chris’ publicly posted introduction and a version of his prepared text for the roundtable. While I may not agree with everything Chris is saying, I feel it is important enough to repost it here for further public discussion. If we are to make democracy in Canada working better again, we have to be able and ready to roll up our selves to start finding better ways to do things.
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Message from Christopher White (click here for full discussion thread “ADMIN UPDATE: My opening statements for March 2nd Ottawa roundtable” in Facebook group)
Hello all,
As some of you know, I am in Ottawa this evening, ready to present at a Liberal sponsored roundtable tomorrow morning (March 2nd). I’ve consulted with many of you and put together these statements to reflect what I think needs to be done to reenage Canadians with our democratic process. I couldn’t include everything, but the morning session will provide ample opportunity to bring up some of the other issues (such as recall legislation, senate reform, etc).
I’ll be tweaking the text a bit, but it should give you the gist of it. Enjoy!
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I want to start by thanking the moderators for the opportunity to speak today. Before you sits three distinguished professors of political science and law, between them over a centennial of service, and me – the guy who started a Facebook group.
While I joke about it, I know that my presence helps to legitimize the role that new media can play in our politics, to say nothing of the countless hours dedicated by thousands of Canadians across the country over the past two months and the results we’ve seen. I cannot speak for all of them but I can speak from my own conscience, which has served me well up to this point.
I want to talk broadly about the relationship between the government and the people. I’ll start by saying that we are not in a democratic crisis. What we have is a structural democratic deficit and, as with any deficit, we need to make some tough choices that aren’t going to be popular with everyone but will hopefully makes things better in the long run.
Ask any Canadian and the vast majority will say it’s their “duty” to vote and yet the reality is that over the past 25 years, voter turnout has been in declined. In my both homes of Alberta and the Northwest Territories – I’ve got duel citizenship – half of eligible voters didn’t bother to cast a ballot in the 2008 election. This cannot simply be chalked up to apathy and indifference, it’s our collective failure to address the growing disconnect between people and our government.
Our elected Members of Parliament are no longer seen as representing their constituents. They are seen as a separate class, one that is accountable to their parties, which in turn are seen merely as mechanisms to win elections. Valid or not, this is the perception and it needs to be changed. The solution is two-fold: Canadians must be reengaged in macro, party-level politics while the government must recognize the important role of non-governmental organizations and social movements.
Let’s start with the political level. First, a quick disclaimer: legislative fixes alone won’t solve the problem. While we need concrete solutions, we can’t expect that changing policy will automatically pay off in terms of citizen engagement. Canadians need to be brought into the decision making process, consulted and kept in the loop, not force fed the party line or simply ignored. I’ve consulted with a broad spectrum of Canadians, online and in public forums. I’ve been in contact with Mps and senators from all parties, academics and activists and here’s a few of the ideas that have come up:
1)A Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform: We’ve recently had two such assemblies in Canada, in Ontario and British Colombia and we can use these as models for a framework at the national level. In both cases regular Canadians were brought together to examine the electoral system and consider alternatives. When implemented, I want to see a concentrated effort on the part of the government to promote and disseminate the findings of the assembly. If a referendum is to be called, I want to see it as a straight majority, not a super-majority. Of all my proposals today, this is key and the one that has received near unanimous support from the Canadians I’ve had the priviledge of speaking with. I want all the politicians listening today to take the time to consider it, but sooner rather then later, declare whether you will works towards establishing an assembly.
2)Educate Canadians: Before I knew how our Canadian political system worked, I knew what it was like to be a bill on Capitol Hill. While the heritage minutes taught me that Superman is Canadian, I remain fuzzy on what goes on in this building. The internet is a cost effective way of providing basic education. A government funded “How Canada Works” site administered by an independent body such as elections Canada would be a good start. Nothing complicated, two-minute flash animations, quizes, virtual tours. We need a Citizenship for Canadians handbook, “Everything you wanted to know about Parliamentary Democracy but were afraid to ask”. I looked around for one, and while it may exist, the best I could find was a manual for new immigrants.
3)Strengthen the role of local associations and individual MPs: Political parties have routinely walked all over their local riding associations. Recently, we’ve seen this play out quite dramatically, but the appointment of candidates over local interests is a tradition shared by all parties. Stop it. We also need to strengthen the role and the voice of individual MPs, and one of the solutions is in how you treat your political opponents. When you pounce of every slip-up and take the low road, of course Mps are going to be kept on a short leash. You can also look at limiting the number of cabinet positions: it will save money and cramp the promotion oriented mentality that we in the public hear about. Nothing I’m mentioning here in new, but the fact that I need to remind you is proof that the issue has not yet been addressed seriously.
4)Access to Information: We need the act to be inclusive and open, with greater investment in resources to ensure prompt compliance with requests. The government needs to adopt a proactive online disclosure policy similar to the US stimulus spending package.
These recommendations alone will not engage Canadians, for that there is no blueprint. How do you legislate patriotism? You can’t, but you can foster dialogue and greater involvement by acknowledging our concerns. Do not interpret dissent as treason, embrace it. I can respect any politician who is capable to acknowledging their faults and that disagreement and compromise is necessary in the functioning our democracy.
People will, given the right impetus, organize themselves. We’ve seen that with the prorogation backlash and how it blossomed into a broader social movement. The opposition parties have benefited from this. I know I am sitting here today at a Liberal round table because I spoke out against the actions of Mr. Harper. Will you be as welcoming to those who speak out against Mr. Ignatieff? That will be a true test of leadership.
I want to wrap up with a few quick works about the fundamental role of the media. I remember a few years ago when Mr. Harper began vetting questions and in response, the reporters walked out. I was thrilled, but what happened after that? I don’t know. Was the policy changed or did the reporters quietly show up for work the next day?
Donna Morris, a dedicated CAPP member, took the initiative to contact Mary Welch of the Canadian Association of Journalists about the press restrictions imposed by Mr. Harper. She shared her frustrations but the assumption among the press was that Canadians don’t want to hear “whining”. Please, whine away. An injustice inflicted up the press is an injustice inflicted upon all Canadians. At the CAJ’s convention in Montreal, I want see a voluntary policy brought forward of No Questions, No Photos. The media is not the propaganda wing of any party. If they invite you to a photo op and refuse to take questions, you owe it to yourselves, your profession and the public to just walk away.
So, there you have it. I believe in Canada and I am proud that we are seen as a beacon of hope and prosperity in the world. The health of our democracy and our future depends on each of us, government, the public and the media, understanding our roles and responsibilities. We have an obligation to one another and to our nation and I am grateful for the opportunity to have played a small role in this dialogue today. Thank you.
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Kempton: I wish Chris all the best in his trip to Ottawa. Chris’ trip reminded me of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), “a 1939 American drama film starring James Stewart and Jean Arthur, about one man’s effect on American politics”. Here is a scene from the film.
Filed under: Canada, Democracy, digital democracy, Digital-Revolution, ideasRevolution, insightful, Internet, people, politics 
