This is from Feb-Mar 2010, following Harper’s prorogation of Parliament. The public lacks information about how Canadian democracy works. Our take was that people are anxious to learn; where and how is the problem.
We went with a half-day educational event, described below.
More than a hundred people attended. They were engaged and motivated to do more. We received requests from communities in Saskatchewan and from outside the province to use technology so that they could participate in the proceedings. Unfortunately, we were not able to accommodate them.
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What is Democracy in Canada? – March 20 – Saskatoon
A Public Discussion on Canadian Democracy with
U of S Political Studies Professors Anna Hunter, David McGrane and Loleen Berdahl
Saturday, 20 March 2010
1:00pm to 4:00pm
St. Thomas More Auditorium – U of S Campus
1437 College Drive
Saskatoon, SK
Facebook event – http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=350543023171
Description
With the recent turmoil in Canadian politics many of us have realized that our knowledge and the knowledge of many Canadians is lacking in the principles and details of how our democracy works.
What is a prorogation? Why does a representative of the Queen of England have a say over our parliament? Can several political parties form a coalition government? Does our Prime Minister have the same powers as the President of the United States? What is the Senate and why are it’s members not elected?
Many Canadians have also been asking themselves, with all of the inter-party conflict recently, if our democracy is broken. If it isn’t functioning properly, are there reforms that could improve it?
These questions and many others will be addressed at this public discussion with University of Saskatchewan Political Studies professors Anna Hunter, David McGrane and Loleen Berdahl.
The event will begin with the three professors answering questions posed by the moderator. Shortly after, discussion will be opened up to everyone in attendance to pose questions to the professors or to other participants. At 2:30pm we will brake for refreshments (provided by the organizers) and following the break, resume with the discussion.
Participants may make statements or ask questions at a microphone or submit them in writing for the moderator to read.
Admission free – wheelchair accessible.
Sponsored by The University of Saskatchewan Political Studies Department, St. Thomas More Political Studies Department, Saskatchewan Chapter of Fair Vote Canada, CAPP Saskatoon (Canadians Advocating Political Participation, formerly Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament) and Grassroots Citizens’ Democracy Group.
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Dear All,
Many thanks for your input. The key players have responded. We are in agreement to move forward.
Next, it will be helpful for the CAPP (Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament) meeting if there is input on the CONTENT of the weekend.
I am currently sending out a “democracy” series of emails into my network. The topics in the series might help establish some of the sessions for the Democracy Weekend. See the following.
PREMISE:
– One pill won’t work.
Cheers,
Sandra
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(1) Our first-past-the-post electoral system has to evolve.
(2) All jurisdictions require public and individual citizen financing of elections with an end to financing by corporations. Jurisdictions that currently have some form of such legislation: Federal Government, Quebec, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick. We need it in Saskatchewan.
(3) Establish a separation of powers between the governance and commercial functions in Canada. This includes getting the corporate interest out of the bureaucracy, out of Government agencies and out of the Universities.
(I used the recent examples of genetically-modified rice and flax to illustrate the disastrous consequences of our failure to understand the corruption that is inevitable when a society fails to establish this separation of powers. Jane Jacobs’ book “Systems of Survival, A Dialogue on the Moral Foundations of Commerce and Politics” provides the argument, if people have any doubt.)
(4) Enforcement of the Rule of Law. Everyone is equal before the law, a critical component of democracy.
(NOTE: Today I talked with Gail Davidson from Lawyers Against the War (Vancouver) in follow-up to bringing charges against the officials in Saskatchewan who were responsible for the arrest of George Bush when he came here in October. We (Sask.) provided the evidence and legal argument to the responsible officials a month prior to the Bush event. They did nothing when they have a duty under the law. .. Propose to take a “next step” (launch private prosecution of the officials) but not until March at least. Too much on everyone’s plate at the moment.
I am thinking this would be a good “action” session for the Democracy Weekend. Is there support – your thoughts?
(IN THE END: no actions were taken against the officials.)
(5) The power of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Privy Council have to be diminished.
“The Friendly Dictator” (Jeffrey Simpson’s book on Jean Chretien documents the concentration of power in the PMO. And now we have Stephen Harper.
Also, the Privy Council makes many of the strategic appointments in Government, a “power behind the throne” that does not change when the Prime Minister changes.
(6) “GOVERNMENT FRONTS” AND TRANSPARENCY
When Government-funded functions, departments, universities, etc. are called “Corporations” the meaning of words is further debased.
The debased language conceals Government funding AND public ownership (e.g. SaskWater Corporation, University of Saskatchewan Corporation, Agwest Biotech, the “Information Services” – I’ve forgotten the details, .. there’s a long list of examples.).
Transparency and accountability are lost. Eventually public ownership is lost.
The Americans are currently fighting for an amendment to their Constitution to say that corporations do not have the same rights as citizens. We need to define the scope of a “corporation” in Canada. “Government fronts” need to go.
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The remainder is from a fellow named “Grenville”. I don’t know where he’s from.
(7) Canada desperately needs fundamental Monetary Reform.
(8) Ownership and control of the media, in all its forms, is concentrated in very few hands, giving the owners unfetterd power to make or break people, political parties, corporations. I have many quotations by persons in powerful positions in the media, in government,
(9) We hear the cry from every party, and many individuals and organisations “They must be held accountable!” Fine words and sentiments, but exactly, precisely, what does it mean to be accountable?
(10) Canada is not a “Free and Democratic” country, nor is Canada a sovereign nation.
FURTHER, FROM GRENVILLE:
The would-be dictator of the USA, former president G W Bush, during his visit to Canada, expressed surprise, when he discovered, and noted, that the Prime Minister of Canada has more power in Canada, than the President of the USA has in his country.
Canadians live under the most powerful dictatorship in the world. Once every two to four years, during a charade called an election, we are afforded an opportunity to change the name of our dictator.
The following illustration, though hypothetical, will demonstrate the truth of this fact. Suppose you live in a riding in which every resident is a member of the riding association of the Party to which you belong. A federal election has been called. A riding association meeting is convened for the express purpose of selecting a candidate for your Party. Every member of your riding association, 100 percent of them, is present. You are nominated and duly elected, unanimously, to be the candidate for your Party in your riding. Your nomination papers are then sent to the HQ of your Party, where the Leader of your Party, as Leader, must sign your nomination papers – in order for you to be the official candidate for your Party.
Let us further suppose that I am the Leader of your Party. Now, as Leader, if I have someone whom I wish to be the candidate for your Party in your riding, I refuse to sign your nomination papers, which means that you cannot be the candidate for your Party in your riding. I then ‘parachute’ a person of my preference into your riding, so that he is then the official candidate for your Party in your riding. This, in spite of your having been unanimously elected to be the candidate for your Party in your riding. This is dictatorship. Absolute dictatorship, at the Party level. None can deny it.
Now, let us further suppose that, in the election, our Party wins more seats than any other party. The Leader of our Party is then asked to form the government of Canada. As Leader of our Party, I am now Prime Minister of Canada.
This is good – for ME, as I now have the authority to appoint all ambassadors to other nations. I also now have authority to choose and to appoint all Ministers of the Crown in Canada, including Minister of Finance, Minister of External Affairs, Minister of Trade, Minister of Justice, etcetera. I appoint my preferences to the Senate of Canada. I can even ‘stack’ the Senate with those whom I know will vote as I tell them to, thereby rendering the Senate useless as a ‘Sober chamber of second thought’. I appoint the General to head Canada’s Armed Forces. I decide if Canada will go to war, and how long we will do so. I decide if we will spend billions of dollars on military equipment, and where we will spend it. I can now appoint he head of every commission. I, alone, appoint all judges to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court of Canada. I appoint the head of every Crown corporation. I will not tolerate your elected representative voting to represent your expressed wishes, if those wishes do not have my approval. I call an election when I want to. I can do whatever I want to, whenever I want to, including proroguing parliament. I tell all elected members of our (your) Party how to vote on proposals and bills that I decide to present to parliament. I decide that Canada will borrow money from privately- owned banks, thereby committing Canadian taxpayers to paying usurious rates of interest to those privately-owned banks. I could, instead, borrow that money from the government-owned private Bank of Canada, thereby enabling the Canadian taxpayer to pay a nominal interest rate to the Bank of Canada, which interest is effectively returned to the people of Canada. I decide if money will be spent on health care, on education, on true infrastructure, etcetera.
As Prime Minister, I engage in secret negotiations, during which I arrange to surrender Canada’s sovereignty to a North American Union (NAU), comprising the USA, Mexico and Canada. I attend secret meetings of secret organisations, such as the Bilderberg Society, which meetings are are attended by rich and powerful people, from around the world, who decide the fate of people and nations.
I commit Canada to unconditional support of a foreign state. I declare that Canada will defend a particular religion.
I do nothing to prevent consolidation of control of the media, in all its forms, into very few hands. I do nothing to ensure that there is “Freedom Of Expression FOR ALL” in Canada.
I work hard to bring about the society and government described in George Orwell’s “1984”, and to hasten establishment the One World Government.of the New World Order.
I smile, because I can do as I please. I laugh, or grin or smirk, because there is nothing you can do about it.
I, the Prime Minister of Canada, am its undisputed dictator. None can deny it.
Below are a few interesting and important quotations.
With respect,
Grenville Rogers grogers”vianet.ca
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THE EMAIL THREAD ON DISCUSSION OF DEMOCRACY WEEKEND WORKSHOP
I am all for the idea of putting together an event like you suggest. There is no question that we have to get out there into the community and the time is right.
I would suggest that you go further with this and see if you can work out the timing, the format, the estimated costs and logistics before locking us in.
Gord
From: Elaine Hughes Sent: February 12, 2010 9:20 AM
To: Peter Garden; ‘Sandra Finley’; ‘Don Mitchell’; ‘Gord Hunter’; ‘Larissa Shasko’; ‘Mike Burton’; ‘Rick Sawa’; ‘Anna. S Hunter’; ‘Loleen Berdahl’; ‘David McGrane’; ‘Rick. S Barsky’
Subject: Re: FVC, U of S and CAPP together on weekend democracy workshop?
Friends –
My $.02 – – – – this kind of event makes a lot of sense to me; I feel (have always felt) that not enough people even know what ‘electoral reform’ means – we need more people to understand it, more media exposure about it, more activity to give it an image and push it forward….we need that ‘critical mass’ for this to fly.
A Saturday or weekend workshop – with speakers (are there more high-profile Supporters or Protesters who would participate?) would be a good step in that direction. In Saskatoon? Regina? Both?
Can this be part of the AGM events currently in place? If not: When? How do we pay for this?
Could we use Community Radio and/or TV and hold a debate/discussion before or in addition to the workshops?
….that’s it for now.
Elaine
—– Original Message —–
From: Peter Garden
To: ‘Sandra Finley’ ; ‘Don Mitchell’ ; ‘Gord Hunter’ ; ‘Elaine Hughes’ ; ‘Larissa Shasko’ ; ‘Mike Burton’ ; ‘Rick Sawa’ ; ‘Anna. S Hunter’ ; ‘Loleen Berdahl’ ; ‘David McGrane’ ; ‘Rick. S Barsky’
Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 10:58 PM
Subject: RE: FVC, U of S and CAPP together on weekend democracy workshop?
This sounds good to me. I think that the main thrust of this event can be informational. I would like to see some of the non-main workshops have critical though, this does not have to be focused exclusively at Harper. It would be good to see a diversity of opinion represented.
My $.02.
Cheers,
Peter
From: Sandra Finley Sent: February 11, 2010 5:44 PM
To: ‘Don Mitchell’; ‘Gord Hunter’; ‘Elaine Hughes’; ‘Larissa Shasko’; ‘Mike Burton’; ‘Rick Sawa’; PeterXXTOrgS Garden; Anna. S Hunter; Loleen Berdahl; David McGrane; Rick. S Barsky
Subject: FVC, U of S and CAPP together on weekend democracy workshop?
TO: FVC Sask Chapter Executive
TO: U of S Political Scientists (Anna Hunter, Loleen Berdahl, David McGrane)
TO: CAPP Saskatoon (Peter Garden, Rick Barsky – I don’t have email addresses for the others)
CAPP = Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament –(they are changing the name to better describe their work now). There’s more than 225,000 people signed onto the facebook group.)
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Hello,
These are exciting times!
What are your thoughts? Is it a good idea, Are you interested in pulling the following ingredients together into ONE collaborative weekend-long workshop (“event”) in Saskatoon? Or would something different be better?
7 or 8 people from CAPP met on Monday (Feb 8) to find ways to maintain momentum from the 3 recent “Democracy” rallies in Saskatoon. We will meet again next Monday (Feb 15).
Meanwhile, FVC – Sask Chapter is working on public events related to democracy, with positive response from U of S political scientists to participation.
Your suggestions and input will be helpful for Monday’s meeting of CAPP.
– Anna Hunter’s address to CAPP Saskatoon No-Prorogue Rally on Jan 23 was hugely successful. Numbers of people have said it was the best of the presentations.
– In response to FVC’s overtures, Loleen Berdahl and David McGrane are agreeable to doing presentations at a public event to be organized by FVC Sask Chapter.
– At the CAPP meeting, I said that, most likely, FVC would welcome the opportunity to be part of a proposed Weekend Democracy Event(s).
There may be sensitivities related to participation in what some may see as a “rabble rouser” approach to discussions around Evolving Democracy. Or Challenging the Corporatocracy.
In the event of sensitivities, it might be easier for some people to participate if the invitation comes from Fair Vote Canada which is seen to be “not rabble rousers”.
But I think the structure we would be looking at would be CAPP – Saskatoon Group as the central organizer with the FVC message as one component of the weekend and with as much organizing and promotional support from FVC as possible ??
IF the general idea of weekend event(s) is attractive to you, WHEN would you propose it should be?
Your thoughts?
Sandra
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Hi Jamie,
See below. We started off with more complex ideas, but the time went quickly. We hardly got beyond the basics.
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Where we’re at now is confirming that the organizing committee is ok with the recommendation of the two of them to adopt the prepared-question format for the event, followed by an open Q+A and/or group sessions, and to make sure Peter is cool with moderating. The other task, if the new format is adopted, is to come up with questions that will stimulate an interesting and provocative discussion.
I would suggest some basic questions to start, to make sure the panelists can paint a rounded picture of the concept of democracy – what/where are the roots of the concept? How has democracy developed in Canada? How does it differ in other places, etc… From there we can get into some of the more current stuff: How do growing concentrations of wealth, the ever-widening gap between rich and poor, reduced civil liberties in the name of security, etc, affect our democracy? Is it under threat? Does Canada legitimately qualify as a true democracy? What do the recent proroguings, partisan appointments, etc. mean for the future of democracy in Canada?
These are just ideas, and I’m sure the committee will have lots of great suggestions too. I would suggest sending questions to the panelists as soon as some questions are picked. They might have some good suggestions too, and they seem eager to participate.
-Steve