Democratic REnewal

1. Democratic REnewal Honourable Carolyn Bennett M.P.,M.D. Kingston and The Islands March 26, 2011

2. Voter Turnover – all time low • Elections Canada data 1984 - 2008

3. CYNICISM- all time high

4. Irwin Cotler “Parliament is caught in a pincer movement between an activist judiciary and ever more powerful executive branch”

5. Prof. Stephen Coleman, Leeds U “ Parliament’s role is emerging as that of a mediator between the voice of the public and government.”

6. Voter Suppression • Active campaign to lower voter turnout • All government bad • All politicians bad • What does it matter if you vote ? • Negative advertising • Short writ • Move polling stations

7. We need buttons ! Stephen Harper Does ^NOT want YOU to VOTE

9. CANADIANS MAKE THE RULES http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r62RG_pZ3Ic

11. ASSAULTS ON DEMOCRACY: “Many of our most serious problems as a country can be traced to the apathy and non-involvement of Canadians in public affairs, and to decisions that too frequently ignore the popular will….We believe in accountability of elected representatives to the people who elect them, and that the duty of elected members to their constituents should supersede their obligations to their political parties.” Stephen Harper, Reform Party foundational document

12. “IT HAS TAKEN 500 YEARS TO WRESTLE POWER FROM THE KING AND ONLY 50 YEARS TO GET THE POWER BACK IN ONE MAN'S OFFICE” -- JAMES TRAVERS Toronto Star

13. Four Topic Areas • Parliamentary Reform • Citizen Engagement • Electoral Reform • Party Reform

14. Good Governance is • Fair • Transparent • Takes People Seriously - URSULA FRANKLIN

15. 3 Guiding Principles • Representation and Accountability • Transparency • Best possible information with which to make decisions

17. “I WOULD TAKE HALF THE BUDGET OF Privy Council Office AND GIVE IT TO THE RESEARCH BRANCH OF THE LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT TO ENABLE PARLIAMENTARIANS TO DO THEIR JOB OF HOLDING GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT” --DONALD SAVOIE

18. TARGET RICH ENVIRONMENTRepresentation & Accountability • Contempt of Parliament x 2 • PM – no role for cabinet or MP’s • Blurred role Government/Parliament- eg Gov’t Ads • Prorogations x 2 • Avoid confidence vote • Avoid scrutiny re Afghan detainees • Abuse of Confidence Votes • Failure to consult or compromise, Threaten election • UK Cabinet document on minority government • ‘Don’t do what Canada has done’ • No way to run a federation • No meaningful consultation with provinces • Delay of C-12- tabled April 1, 2010 • More seats for Ontario, Alberta and B.C. • Consultations only with Conservatives • Senate appointment uber partisan and less women

19. Target Rich Environment Openness Transparency • Canada : From Best to Worst Govt Information Quarterly • Access to Information • Worsening in times, redactions • Cancelled on-line process • Open data • Failed promise to OECD for fall 2010 • Grants & Contributions • Not searchable, impossible to track • Whistleblower legislation • No improvement • Commissioner AWOL • Appointments Commission – not delivered • Threatening role of Fed Govt in broadcasting –CBC • Reality Checks ??

20. TARGET RICH ENVIRONMENTBest Possible Information • Long form Census cancelled • Science Advisor etc fired • CRTC vice chair not qualified • Muzzling Civil Society • Donald Savoie’s pet peeve: • Commissioners, Officers of Parliament usurping Parliament • Inability of Parliament to hold Officers of Parliament to account…. • Commissioners of Information, Privacy, Ethics • Legislation doesn’t give them the powers to do their job, nor adequate resources • Ouimet ? Arms-length ?

21. Target Rich Environment ‘You’re Fired!’ or not renewed • November 2007:Linda Keen Canadian Nuclear Safety Commissioner, fired at 10pm night before she was to testify before Parliamentary Committee • March 2008: Dr. Arthur Carty. Canada’s National Science Advisor fired • December 2009: Peter Tinsley Commissioner Military Police not renewed • December 2009: Paul Kennedy, Chair of the RCMP Public Complaints Commission. • Nov 2010: Pat Stogran, Canadian Veterans' Ombudsman For a complete list, please visit: ‘Enemies List’ on Liberal.ca

22. Democratic Renewal Bills now before Parliament: C-10 Senate Term Limits S-8 Senatorial Selection Act C-12 Democratic Representation Act – tabled Apr 1 not brought forward, lied re all-party agreement C-18 Increasing Voter Participation Act – tabled Apr 26… not brought forward C-19 Political Loans Accountability Act - ???

23. NOT .

24. “Not only WHAT we do, but HOW”Liberal Express LEADER BOSS/BULLY • Inspire • Bottom-up • Team • inclusive • Evidence • Values • Rules • Transparent/accountable • Controls/fear • Top down • One man band • Unilateral • Ideology • Power • End Justifies the Means • Secretive/above the law

25. LEADER LEADER

26. Leadership vs. Management • Education, cheerleading, persuasion, championing,inspiration vs • Control, command, supervision, intimidation

27. “Not only WHAT we do but HOW” • Putting limits on the powers of the Prime Minister

28. Commitments to date • Only Parliament decide prorogation • Issue of confidence • Explore electronic voting pilot • Regular meetings with Premiers • Regular meetings with opposition leaders • Still need proper commitments on • Citizen engagement • Women

29. Other issues to address • Need to address issue of voter suppression (Republican Tactic) • In a grade 12 classroom last month, student spoke about making buttons saying: Attention Youth of Canada: Stephen Harper Doesn’t Want You To Vote! • Electoral Reform: We need to deal with it: • Have a conversation with Canadians ? • They tabled C-19 last April and done nothing with it. Could we make this an issue?

30. Lawrence Martin, September 2, 2010 • A Bring Back Democracy platform should start with reducing the powers of the PM to something a tad less than Mussolini’s. It should involve a restoration of checks and balances that give the word democracy some meaning. Some examples: • Implement the Gomery commission’s recommendations designed to set limits on the PM’s control of everyone in Ottawa from chimney sweep to deputy minister. In this vein, recreate an appointments commissioner – a promise dropped by the Harper government – that strips away the PM’s patronage powers. • Reduce the size of both the Prime Minister’s Office and the Privy Council Office.

31. Lawrence Martin, September 2, 2010 • Re-establish the integrity of the Access to Information process. • Dismantle the government-wide vetting system that sees much of Ottawa officialdom gagged unless given prior approval to speak by the PMO/PCO. • Restore some semblance of power to the cabinet. A prime ministerial pledge not to make pivotal decisions such as the ones on income trusts and Québécois nation status without prior consultation with that body would help.

32. Lawrence Martin, September 2, 2010 • Open the executive branch of government to media scrutiny. This could include daily press briefings at the Langevin Block, which houses the PMO and PCO but is currently off limits to reporters. It should include frequent open-ended press conferences by the PM. • Re-empower the increasingly cheapened committee system, starting with having the committees – not the PM – appoint their own chairs. • Reform Question Period so as to reduce the level of farce. Required is an end to the long run of Speakers who are not prepared to enforce the rules. • End the antiquated convention that shrouds the decisions taken by the Governor-General in total secrecy.