Commentary

Jamie Biggar: Will spring federal election bring democratic despair or regeneration?

by Jamie Biggar on March 24th, 2011 at 3:18 PM
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      So it’s almost official: we’re having a spring election in Canada. Will this be an election that makes Canadians despair for the state of their politics? Or, can we begin to regenerate our democracy?

      It’s pretty easy to imagine the despair scenario, so let’s not dwell on it for too long. We are subjected to a relentless barrage of attack ads and vitriol. We are told to vote against our greater fear—either fear of what the Conservative government would do with more power, or fear of what a new government would do to the uneven economic recovery. We hear little serious debate about any of the major challenges facing this country.

      The despair scenario is so painful because the stakes are high. Our country faces major and complex challenges. To pick two, how do we respond to massive environmental destruction and growing inequality? How do we address these issues in the context of a shifting global economy? Can a country that is divided and discouraged by its politics rise to these challenges, or the others like them?

      We often talk about the importance of democracy only as an end unto itself. It’s worth thinking about the value of democracy as a means to a broader set of ends. Our democracy is how we agree to work together on issues that people care about. We need a healthy democracy to build support for shared action. We need a healthy democracy to make good choices that respect the diversity of values and interests in our society.

      This election is an opportunity to start creating a new kind of politics. The kind of change we need goes farther and deeper then just substituting one leader for another, or one party for another. We need to enrich our democracy and create avenues for more meaningful participation.

      Over the last few weeks, people from across the country came together in over 75 local get-togethers to talk about their hopes and goals for Canada. The get-togethers were part of a larger process organized by Leadnow to craft a Declaration for Change that will call on federal politicians to cooperate for progress on issues people care about. We will then ask Canadians to back the declaration with a commitment to vote for the politicians who rise to the challenge.

      I keep coming back to the words of a high school student from Vancouver Island who realized he was old enough to vote during one these events: “I want a government that respects its citizens, and right now I don’t feel like I am being respected as a citizen.” As citizens, we are only going to get that respect if we demand it, and we are only going to see a new kind of politics in this country if we start to create it ourselves.

      Over the six week duration of the election campaign, Leadnow will bring generations of Canadians together to build a new type of politics and call for democratic reform. The change we need is not going to come from those who are too invested in the status quo in Ottawa. It is only going to come from people like you working together to change that status quo. I hope you will join us.

      Jamie Biggar is a cofounder of Leadnow.

      Comments

      14 Comments

      Spencer Rasmussen

      Mar 24, 2011 at 4:29pm

      So true. Working for a better democracy is working for a better Canada. There is a growing sense that our current institutions and political culture are barely, if at all, capable of delivering results on the issues we care most about.

      I know what I'm doing this spring: rolling up my selves, and getting to work refreshing our democracy.

      Gavin Love

      Mar 24, 2011 at 4:47pm

      I dont care how people vote, i just hope they look into the facts, ignore the ads & vote what they think would be best for how they see this country.Also would like to see a better turn out, i hate the fact that the last group of idiots only had asmall percent of half the votes and clalled irt a mandate to shift the tax burden & start giving as much of our hard earned tax money to the military industrial complex, as they could.

      Hilde Schlosar

      Mar 24, 2011 at 5:41pm

      I am so relieved to see Jamie spearheading this movement. We need you now more than ever.

      ElizabethP

      Mar 24, 2011 at 6:07pm

      Wow, thanks to Leadnow for their brilliant social networking campaign on behalf of Canada and Canadians. We need a REAL democracy in this country before we no longer have a choice. Keep on!

      Janet Levitt

      Mar 24, 2011 at 6:35pm

      This is just what this country needs. If only our politicians would display this sort of emotional maturity and cooperate on what matters to Canadians. Isn't that what we pay them to do?

      Bruno15

      Mar 25, 2011 at 7:20am

      There are four major political parties in Canada and yet in the last election, only half of all Canadians bothered to vote. How much more choice is required? If you vote, politicians will pay attention to your concerns. If you stay at home listening to your iPod, playing video games and griping about how nobody listens to you, guess what, they won't. Change starts with us getting off our duffs a couple of times a decade.

      TrevorM

      Mar 25, 2011 at 10:56am

      It's inspiring to see a group trying to make politics progressive, accountable, and in tune with Canadian's common values... I hope LeadNow will have tremendous success, and that one result will be to bring serious action on climate change into the policies of all parties

      A Democratic Deficit

      Mar 25, 2011 at 12:47pm

      Is what I call it. Harper's government is found in contempt. Accountability, transparency and honesty are a must in a democratic society for democracy to live.

      Emily

      Mar 25, 2011 at 2:33pm

      Attack ads and disgraceful behaviour in the House do not increase the amount of conservative voters - they just disgust enough young adults and non-conservatives with politics in general so that they don't vote at all. That's why the conservatives increased their percentage of the vote last time around - not because more Canadians support them, but because less people believed in democracy at all. They are fundementally undemocratic, and we need to make sure their cynical strategy doesn't "work" this time. Get out the vote! bring your friends, make it fun, make it real. Thanks Jamie for doing just that!

      jordan macdonald

      Mar 25, 2011 at 6:20pm

      yes democracy is a nice idea but who do i vote for
      most of the time i feel like using the ballot as a way of expressing how i truley feel about these "democratic parties"
      i.e...
      the conservatives love to destroy the environment and do whatever the US and europe tells them
      the liberals are just as bad only they pretend to give a shit so the left votes for them
      still two heads of the same coin
      NDP they'll take away our guns
      i would like to see the green party win as long as they don't take away our guns
      i think it's time for a different democratic process all together.
      canadians should be able to vote on issues rather than having a group of "elected officials" play games. Young people need to feel like their opinions count for something rather than being disregarded as "oh your just young you don't understand"
      since we are the ones inheriting this mess what are we going to do about the tar sands in alberta when the oils all gone
      plant a forest in toxic waste?!