I was young at the time, but I do remember watching with my family, the results of the 1995 referendum, which asked, "Do you agree that Québec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership within the scope of the bill respecting the future of Québec and of the agreement signed on June 12, 1995?" I never dreamed the results would have been so close: 50.58% voted "No" and 49.42% voted "Yes". Looking more closely at this event now (and with more education behind me), I realize that many people, including myself, demonstrate the false consensus effect when it comes to our opinions on important issues: we think what we value is what the majority of Canadians value as well. However, it became alarmingly clear after the results of the 1995 referendum that the country was split about this particular issue. Therefore, it makes me wonder what other decisions are being made by the government (without holding a referendum) that are opposed by a large number of Canadians. This is the main reason I believe Canada should hold more referendums.
Though I have little knowledge about politics in other countries, Switzerland seems to be heading in the right direction in terms of changing the definition of democracy. Switzerland has adopted direct democracy, which gives the Swiss people a voice on issues as they arise instead of simply electing a representative every four years and trusting that person to make their decisions between elections. I believe people have lost faith in the political system (even though we are considered a democratic country) because they generally feel as if their voice, their opinion and their vote are meaningless. A lot of political parties are against direct democracy because they believe citizens are incapable of making emotional or financial decisions, but this is simply not true. For example, in Switzerland, there was a referendum to increase petrol tax and it was accepted even though it affected the voters’ personal funds.
I understand that direct democracy is still a relatively new concept but I believe it is possible to implement in Canada—or we should at least try it. Having referendums will help increase political awareness, which will hopefully generate a greater sense of control and purpose among citizens, and though current government decisions can be ambiguous, having referendums will leave no questions about what the people want.
All in all, I know direct democracy will not be a flawless process, but I believe it is a step in the right direction for Canada. We are in desperate need of a boost to our awareness and interest in Canadian politics and I believe by holding referendums, we will encourage citizens to gain a deeper knowledge of current issues and instil a sense of responsibility for our country’s future.
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3 comments:
Erin,
Great post! I think you bring up a very important point with regards to the implementation of direct democracy or a variant thereof.
With regard to a possible implementation in Canada, my greatest concern would be for the territorial integrity of Canada.
In particular, the possibility of certain regions in this country choosing to secede.
The motivations are there: Quebec's nationalism, the loathing of Ottawa by the Western provinces. While I truly support democracy and the will of the people, there is a point where too much liberty may be detrimental to all involved; a fragmentation of power in this country would not be beneficial to any party.
Do you feel that direct democracy could be implemented in Canada while keeping secession movements and their nationalism in check?
-David
David,
I am still reviewing the pros and cons of direct democracy and if it can be implemented in Canada. At first I thought it was the perfect solution not only to ensure there were no ambiguous government decisions being made but also to motivate Canadians to become more aware and involved in Canadian politics.
However, the more I look into it, I start to think that implementing a direct democracy in Canada could divide our country and result in the loss of nationalism among many Canadians. I am beginning to realize that all of the ideas I've thought of to increase political awareness and fix our current political system, have not been thought out clearly enough! There really are no simple solutions and though some solutions may fit the majority of the people's needs, we also need to be aware of the needs of those that the plan does not work for and come up with ways to make them satisfied as well.
I really am undecided on this issue...that's why I appreciate views from others!
Erin (author of blog)
Interesting....but consider the cost each time an important issue arises. This would cost the gov't and taxpayers a lot of money to vote a few or several times a year. Also, it is hard to get over 40% of the voters out in a normal election...would this work any better?
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