Looking for Democracy

I am sure that like me, many despair over the state of democracy in Canada. Not only is it under continuous assault by a federal government that has repeatedly and consistently shown its contempt for the concept, but it also suffers from widespread citizen disengagement.

Probably the two are inextricably connected.

In an interesting column today entitled Canadians need a forum to raise their voices against undemocratic leaders, The Star's public editor Carol Goar writes about a public trust called The Carold Institute, whose mission is to promote active citizenship, democratic participation and social change.

A recent panel discussion hosted by the institute stressed three essential observations and lessons that put our present perilous state into perspective:

- those with power — politicians, police and bureaucrats — don’t think they should have to share it. “They don’t like citizens and they don’t think they have any role.”

- governments are quick to slap pejorative labels — violent, dangerous, anarchic — on people who challenge them.

- citizens have to use the tools they have — solidarity, the willingness to stand up to authorities, the ability to reach beyond their own ranks — to keep democracy alive.

These are lessons we all would be wise to remember and take to heart in the long hot summer of discontent ahead.

Another Politician's Attempt To Suppress Democratic Participation

My previous blog entry dealt with attempts by Giorgio Mammoliti to discourage people from partaking in the democratic process in Toronto. Essentially concurrent with that outrageous behaviour is something equally untenable taking place in Mississauga; this time the villain of the piece is none other than the indefatigable icon of the pro-development set, Mayor Hazel McCallion.

Hurricane Hazel, a sobriquet she perhaps earned for her at-times tempestuous behaviour, has issued a directive forbidding a former resident’s association president from contacting anyone at City Hall but the mayor with her concerns, which range from bylaw violations to the city’s 311 service.

According to McCallion, Jean Overell, the target of this fatwa, has been disrespectful to city staff while filing her numerous complaints. The mayor had said earlier that Overell’s calls to city staff and her ward councillor, Pat Mullin, were “far too numerous,” kept them from dealing with other work, and that Overell’s behaviour violated the city’s Respectful Workplace policy.

Interestingly enough, when Overell made a call to McCallion in December to air a complaint, she said, McCallion “bullied and intimidated” her for calling.

Hazel, now in her 34th year as Mississauga's mayor, has said that this is her last term in office. One wonders if, with her anti-democratic fiat against a citizen of her fair city, she has perhaps already overstayed her welcome?

Two Bright Spots For Democracy

I have to admit that on most days, I am darkly pessimistic about the efficacy of democracy. With a federal government whose members are but drones of a martinet Prime Minister, and a domestic populace that seems to be asleep, indifferent, easily manipulated, divided or defeatist the majority of time, I see little basis for optimism. Two events in the news today, however, help to counter that gloomy assessment, just a little.

The first comes from Toronto. Although I do not live there, the size of its municipal government makes it of special interest, especially given that until yesterday right-wing forces, led by Mayor Rob Ford, seemed to control the agenda.

Politics has been defined as the art of the possible. In other words, dictates seldom work as effectively as compromise and consensus. Neither concept held any meaning for Ford who, like the bulldozer he resembles, maintained an attitude that it was "my way or the highway" as he insisted upon deep cuts to programs and services in the 2012 budget. That is, until constituents, roused from their torpor, engaged in what should be a model of participatory democracy. They lobbied their council representatives en masse and filled City Hall with their deputations against the severe cuts championed by the right, thereby prompting left-leaning, centrist, and even a few right-wingers to form a coalition that eliminated the worst of the cuts through an omnibus bill presented by Josh Colle. The final vote: 23-21 in support of the bill.

The second example of democracy's potential power comes from Wisconsin, the home of Governor Scott Walker, the tool of the Koch brothers who did so much damage last year after passing legislation that stripped public employees of their collective bargaining rights.

CNN reports the following:

More than a million people have signed a petition to recall Wisconsin's governor, the state's Democratic Party said Tuesday.

That's nearly twice the 540,208 signatures required to seek a recall of first-term Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who drew the ire of labor unions and public school teachers after he stripped public employees of their collective bargaining rights.

All of us need to take heart from these two examples of what can happen when people mobilize to overcome the forces arrayed against their interests.

Such actions are both our right and our responsibility.