Election 2011 Ola! - Week Two

Welcome to this special election edition of Ola! While Ola! is usually sent out once per month, during this election campaign, we at CPJ will be sending out weekly editions. These special Ola!s will go in-depth on pressing election topics, giving you comprehensive background information, provoking questions to ask your candidates, and much more.

Be sure to visit our website www.cpj.ca for updates on other public justice issues throughout the campaign! Our election bulletin will also soon be available for downloading from our site.

Election 2011: Democracy, accountability and public justice

The current federal election campaign is revealing some troubling trends for democracy and accountability. In order to select a government who will promote public justice, we need a national debate characterized by honesty and transparency that focuses on the best interests of all Canadians rather than the narrow self-interests of a few voting demographics. We need to be able to hear from all voices. And we need to ask hard questions of our candidates and demand that all political parties and candidates show respect for the institutions, practices and requirements of democracy. Read more…

CPJ calls media consortium to respect democracy

In a letter to the chair of the media consortium and the national chair of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, CPJ expressed disappointment with the exclusion of Green Party Leader Elizabeth May from the televised leaders’ debates, and called on the media consortium to respect democracy and act to reverse their decision immediately. Read CPJ’s letter.

Accountability is more than accounting

To deal with financial scandals in government, we’ve developed more checks and balances to ensure no misspending occurs. Yet in our focus on clear accounting, have we lost the true idea behind accountability? A richer, more full definition of accountability would ensure not only that our politicians spend money properly, but that effective programs and policies are developed and implemented. Accountability does not stop when money is flowing properly – it includes making sure our governments are seeking out well-being for all. Read more…

Citizenship as Ministry

Thinking about our role as citizens in terms of ministry makes a big difference in how we approach the challenge of shaping the way our society works. Whether we have legal citizenship or not, we exercise citizenship through the variety of ways in which we engage in the public square. Check out this commentary by CPJ board member Kathy Vandergrift. Read more…

Collaborative government: Are coalitions the answer?

While Canadians responded with fear and outrage to the possibility of a coalition government two years ago, many other countries are used to coalition governments. Experience from Germany and the Netherlands suggests that coalition governments can work well, offering stability and good governance. They represent accommodation of multiple viewpoints, and offer a positive platform for governance that does not restrict the role of other parties to opposing the government. Lessons from Europe could provide useful alternatives for the Canadian system, offering a more collaborative, transparent approach. Read more…

The World Needs Our Voices

In this thoughtful reflection, Jennifer deGroot comments on the inspiration of two strong women who stood up for change. She notes that while most of us may not have opportunities for such forceful, vocal action, the world still needs our voices. In our everyday lives, she argues, we can live out a commitment to justice and to change. Read more…

Public justice questions

Here are some public justice questions to keep in mind as you analyze party promises and platforms:

• Does this initiative promote respect for the rights, responsibilities, and dignity of all people, as image-bearers of God?
• Does it promote the common good of all, or the particular interests of a few voters?
• Is it sustainable in terms of caring for creation with an eye to future generations? Does it contribute to new opportunities for those who have few?
• Does it create space for people to be active participants in society, to have the role that God wants for all of us?

Party websites

Looking for party websites? Want to explore party platforms on the environment and the economy? Looking for more information on the policy announcements of the first week? Links to the websites of all of the parties hoping to run at least 50 candidates in this election can be found in our Canadian Elections section.

For all at CPJ, Chandra Pasma. Visit our website www.cpj.ca for an in-depth look at other issues, complete with provoking questions to ask your candidates. Let us know what you think of our mini election Ola!s by emailing us at cpj@cpj.ca – we’ll return to our regular Ola! schedule after the election wraps up.