Continuing conversations with Canadians Part III

John Ivison is the latest columnist to weigh in on the state of Canadian democracy with a column in today’s National Post. Ivison laments the reality that there has often been inanity and insults in politics, so in that sense what is happening is not surprising. Yet, even so, he argues, things are particularly bad now.

“The real problem is a healthy disregard for Parliament that seems to trickle down from the very top of government,” he concludes. Ivison looks at a number of issues and incidents, including the lack of respect in Question Period, the increasing failure of the government to respond to the will of the House, and committees whose work is undermined by partisan considerations.

“Not that it matters what MPs think about any issue in particular,” he says, “their conclusions are always subsidiary to those drawn by the party insiders who crunch the electoral numbers.”

Ivison considers the minority parliament to be chiefly to blame for the serious degradation of democracy. “The rules of Parliament have been drawn up to give the minority a voice and still allow the government to govern. By that technical metric, Parliament is working. But it is scarcely government for the people, by the people,” he concludes.

Ivison’s solution is another period of “stable, majority government.” While I agree with his analysis, I don’t agree with his solution. I think there are many ways we could strengthen our democratic governance that could start right now, without a minority government, including loosening the death grip of party discipline and implementing a stricter code of conduct for Question Period.

I also think the option of coalition governments should be considered, allowing for minorities that work with a collaborative rather than combative mindset.