The Real Undermining of Canadian Democracy

A friend of mine once told me a story, shortly after the most recent Canadian election. He was at home one day when an independent candidate who was running in his riding came to his door to ask him about how he was going to vote. Not some campaigner, not some hired lackey or idealistic student. The man who was running to represent my friends riding came to him (and presumably everyone else in his neighborhood) to ask about what he thought this country should be doing politically. This candidate didn't have a boatload of cash for campaign ads and other such business. He knew the best chance he had of getting elected was going out and meeting and talking to the people he was trying to represent.

Allot has happened in the past seven months or so to get us where we are today in Canada. A controversial election in October (also see here) the proroguing of parliament in December, and the passing of the budget this week. Much could be said individually about all these events and more, but one theme remains constant throughout this chunk of Canadian (and indeed global) political history: the undermining of the very way in which our system is meant to function. Most recently this utter load of nonsense about MPs voting party lines. This week 6 MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador broke part lines and voted against the conservative budget. Now I know this may sound a little crazy, but I'm going to put this out there and if you stay with me I promise this will all make sense. Those 6 MPs, by voting against this budget, did their jobs; they did exactly what they were supposed to do.
Hear me out here. When you go to a polling station on Election Day and cast your ballot you don't vote for a party and you don't vote for a leader, you vote for a person. You vote for a person to represent your riding in matters of national interest. Parties are not legislative necessities; they are financial support systems for politicians. A party backs a candidate's campaign in exchange for undying voting loyalty from that candidate under fear of expulsion from the party (and no more party money). So in essence you do vote for a party, you vote for which party did the best job of buying your riding's vote. This idea that MPs have to tow party lines is almost a guarantee that the riding that they represent comes second on their list of priorities when it comes time to vote in the House. These MPs who stood against the conservative budget, even though the party supported it, demonstrated their willingness to listen to the province they represent. They did their jobs as MPs in that they did not vote because the party said so, they voted because their constituents said so. ( I realize this article is about the premier wielding political power, but the man has an 80 percent approval rating, if he doesn't truly speak for his province, no one does.)
Imagine for a minute that every candidate had to go door to door, like the candidate who spoke to my friend just, to even have a chance at being elected. Imagine that in order to get elected they had to make face time with you the voter, instead of party leaders and insiders. Imagine if your MPs first question was what do you want instead of what does the party want. Seems nice doesn't it. This country is in a unique position to have a well-represented population. It would take much more than just voter face time, but that sure seems to me like a nice place to start in reengaging Canadians in their own political process, and eliminating the voter apathy that has allowed this travesty of Canadian politics to persist. I'd rather vote for a candidate that spoke for my issues, than an umbrella part platform. I'd rather know I truly had a voice in parliament, that the person who's there representing my riding (whether I voted for him or not) truly does so, and not her or his party first and foremost.

Many things seem to be contagious in politics: anger, negativity, and mudslinging. For our sake lets hope bravery is too. Honorable Members of Parliament who did not feel compelled to vote party lines, Thank You. You have done more than represent your riding this week; you represented those who desire a voice in parliament.