Make democracy work

May 27

When I was young and idealistic, it was my ambition to enter politics in India and work to improve the life of poor people there. However, a visit in 1977 convinced me that it was no longer practical - 16 years of separation had created a chasm between my fellow countrymen and me. I transferred my interest in politics from India to Canada, though as an observer. Political and electoral processes drew the attention of the research scientist in me. Concentration of power in a few hands became the bee in my bonnet because it invariably leads to misuse of power by elected leaders.

For the second time in a row, a Prime Minister is calling an election 18 months before the end of the term. Whatever the pretensions, the government with a new leader of the party in power is not a new government. The new leader needs a mandate from MPs, not the electorate. Canadians do not elect Prime Minister, they elect MPs. Most of the current ministers are the same, albeit in different portfolios, and, hyperboles aside, basic policies are no different. Only thing new in this government is the senior staff in Prime Minister's Office. This is not a big deal in a cabinet government; we don't vote for PMO staff anyway. On the whim of one man, the public is being made to suffer all the disruption and inconvenience of an election campaign and to bear twice in seven years instead of in 10 the direct and hidden costs of an election.

Since the Enron debacle, there has been a major revolution in governance of the business world. But the governments continue to brush scandals under the carpet and carry on regardless. Our first-past-the-post system allows the ruling party to do this since with a majority of seats in Parliament, it can govern with total disregard to opposition even though a majority of votes were cast against it. This is particularly galling when a third of the electorate is too disenchanted to bother to vote. Moreover, in a far flung country like ours, this system causes unhappiness in less densely populated areas and increases the perception of unfair coddling of "swing" groups.

In this election, I am not worried about short-term damage from the government by any of the three major parties because none of them will dismantle health care, hand over sovereignty to Americans, raise taxes and not help Air Canada and Stelco back on their feet. Therefore, my focus is on the long-term governance - I am looking for sensible proposals, not just window dressing, on how Canada will be governed over coming decades and the assurance that these are not empty election promises. In addition to fixed dates for future elections and fairer system of representation, the proposals should address a functioning senate, real power to elected members of all parties and opening the system of government to public scrutiny.

Canadians deserve a working democracy.