Democratically Speaking: Quebec, Canada and the Middle East

“By enhancing our own democracy in Quebec and Canada, we become a stronger role model and supporter for the peoples of the Middle East who have embarked on their own quest for democracy.”

While exploring what democracy might eventually look like for the people of the Middle East, I was surprised to discover that we have significant democratic deficits right here in Quebec and Canada.

Recent commentary on the Middle East has focused on obvious aspects of democracy such as the need to include all parties in fair elections as well as respect for minority rights. However, increasingly, a wider range of democratic concepts are being raised that can be applied – here and abroad.

The concept of ongoing legitimacy, was explored by Rick Salutin of the Toronto Star who commentedon the toppling of Egypt’s elected leader: “It’s as if Egyptians and others are introducing a new criterion: not just elections but ongoing legitimacy,” noting that Canada “hasn’t had a federal government elected by a majority of voters since 1984 but they all assume the right to enact anything.”

David Suzuki, even expressed concern about basic election legitimacy, noting that “we’re witnessing an erosion of democratic principles” with evidence that voters were misdirected to the wrong polling stations, “a tactic found in banana republics.” Moreover, he criticized the Harper government’s policies for being “guided by ideology rather than facts” citing tactics that “include demonizing opponents, ignoring valid concerns and shutting down avenues of information.”

The Parti Quebecois’ “Charte des valeurs” shenanigans are also guided by ideology and power-hunger to the detriment of democratic principles. Winning a majority in fall elections seems to be the PQ’s goal, even if it will trample on individual rights and economic equality by threatening a Quebecer’s public sector job security when he/she wears a religious symbol such as a crucifix, kippah, turban or head scarf. The legitimacy of the “Charte des valeurs” has even been questioned by former PQ leader Jacques Parizeau.

Fortunately, we don’t need to rely on politicians and pundits to assess the extent of legitimacy and democracy. An excellent framework by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) equips citizens to do just that.

According to International IDEA, “the key democratic principles are those of popular control and political equality. These principles define what democrats at all times and in all places have struggled for – to make popular control over public decision making both more effective and more inclusive; to remove an elite monopoly over decision making and its benefits; and to overcome obstacles such as those of gender, ethnicity, religion, language, class, wealth and so on to the equal exercise of citizenship rights.”

To practically assess – and increase – the extent of application of these principles, citizens can use seven “mediating values.”

Citizens need to have the rights, freedom and means for participation to realize popular control over government. Their authorization of public representatives or officials through free and fair electoral choice needs to produce a legislature that is representative of the diversity of public opinion.  The representation of different citizen groups in the main public institutions would ensure social representation of the citizen body as a whole.

Accountability of all officials, both to the public directly and through the mediating institutions of parliament, the courts, the ombudsman and other watchdog agencies would ensure officials act as servants of the people rather than as their masters. A requirement for accountability istransparency.

Responsiveness to public needs, through a variety of institutions through which those needs can be articulated, is a key indication how much controlling influence people have over government. Finally, citizens need to show solidarity to those who differ from themselves at home as well as towards popular struggles for democracy abroad.

Even at a high level, these principles and mediating values demonstrate that we have much work to do here in Quebec and Canada to enhance our own democracy.

The first-past-the-post electoral system is not serving us well. Accountability and transparency have declined. We need more responsiveness to the public’s needs, and less to a party’s ideological whims.

As Quebecers, we need to express solidarity with those who differ from ourselves, instead of accepting unnecessary “values” that diminish equality, rights and economic opportunity. Stoking social tensions and reducing representation of certain groups in public institutions is the wrong way to go for Quebec.

And at the national level, the federal government needs to ensure consistency in representing Canadians’ solidarity towards popular struggles for democracy abroad. Democratically speaking, all the Middle Eastern countries, including Israel, could benefit from a more thoughtful application of the International IDEA democratic principles and values.

By enhancing our own democracy in Quebec and Canada, we become a stronger role model and supporter for the peoples of the Middle East who have embarked on their own quest for democracy.

About the Author

Rula Odeh

Rula Odeh is past president of the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations (NCCAR) and a current board member. She leads NCCAR’s media work including its flagship Daily Media Scan.

Posted on November 20, 2013