Canadian Democratic Audit – serie

Open and competitive elections governed by widely accepted rules and procedures are essential to the legitimacy of any political system. Elections assesses the history and development of five building blocks of the Canadian electoral regime: the franchise, electoral districts, voter registration, election machinery, and plurality voting.Arguing that on balance the Canadian electoral system is truly democratic, John Courtney demonstrates its vast improvements over the years. The right to vote is now generously interpreted. The process of redrawing electoral districts is no longer in the hands of elected officials. Voter registration lists include all but a small share of eligible voters. And those who manage and supervise elections on behalf of all citizens are honest and trustworthy officials. Using the recent push for reform of the plurality vote system as one example, Courtney also examines why certain electoral institutions have been amenable to change and others have not.In a democracy it is important for citizens to understand the most essential parts of their own electoral system. Elections is an ideal primer for undergraduate students, journalists, politicians, and citizens interested in the current state of Canadian democracy.

Citizens are central to any meaningful definition of democracy. What does it say about the health of Canadian democracy when fewer citizens than ever are exercising their right to vote and party membership rolls are shrinking? Are increasingly well-educated citizens turning away from traditional electoral politics in favour of other forms of democratic engagement or are they simply withdrawing from political participation altogether?The first comprehensive assessment of citizen engagement in Canada, this volume raises challenging questions about the interests and capabilities of Canadians as democratic citizens, as well as the performance of our democratic institutions. It is essential reading for politicians and policy-makers, students and scholars of Canadian politics, and all those who care about the quality of Canadian democracy.

In a world where federal states seem to exist precariously,politicians and academics from around the globe continue to look toCanada as a model of federalism. And yet, our own system oforganization and governance also appears strained: Quebec nationalism,First Nations' claims, the regionalization of party politics, andthe uneven and shifting delivery of essential services have all alteredthe face of federal politics. Federalism explains how Canadacame to be a federation (what reasons there were for it, and againstit, historically); what the challenges to federalism currently are; andhow we might fortify some areas of weakness in the federal system.Jennifer Smith argues that federalism is part of the democraticproblem now; however, reformed, it can be part of the solution. Sincetheorists disagree on the democratic credentials of federalism, it isessential to look at how a real federal system operates. Smith examinesthe origins of Canadian federalism and its special features, thenanalyzes it in relation to the benchmarks of the Canadian DemocraticAudit project: responsiveness, inclusiveness, and participation.Finding that Canadian federalism falls short on each benchmark, sherecommends changes ranging from virtual regionalism to a Council of theFederation that includes Aboriginal representatives.Democracy is about more than the House of Commons or elections. Itis also about federalism. This sparkling account of Canadian federalismis a must-read for students and scholars of Canadian politics,politicians and policymakers, and those who care about Canadiandemocracy.

Seventy percent of Canadians think that 'advocacy groups' are a better vehicle for change than political parties; however, people involved in these groups are actually more involved in traditional political circles and party politics. This volume looks at who participates in these groups, which kinds of groups dominate the political agenda, what influence lobbying has on the government, and how, exactly, to make advocacy groups a more vibrant and accountable part of political life in this country.Advocacy Groups uses the Audit standards of responsiveness, inclusiveness, and participation to examine advocacy groups in Canada and assess the ways that they contribute to, or detract from, Canadian democracy. It argues that group activity represents an important form of political participation.Though some interests face greater organizational challenges than others, advocacy groups can play critical compensatory roles for interests that are often unrepresented in traditional political institutions. It also finds that while Canadian advocacy groups employ a wide range of strategies to draw attention to their concerns, those with greater financial resources generally have greater access to government decision-makers. This has been accentuated by recent trends in the reduction of government funding to advocacy groups. The book concludes with several recommendations for 'best practices' that groups can follow in their internal organization and efforts to influence public policy, as well as for actions that governments can take to engage in constructive consultation with groups.

When the Internet began to emerge as a popular new mode ofcommunication, many political scientists and social commentatorsbelieved that it would revolutionize our democratic institutions.Today, voter turnout is at an historic low and Internet usage is at anall-time high. Can we still make the claim that new information andcommunication technologies (ICTs) enhance democratic life in Canada?What effect does the technological mediation of political communicationhave on the practice of Canadian politics? How have such technologiesaffected the distribution of power in society?Darin Barney investigates the links between ICTs and democraticprocesses, arguing that the potential of digital technologies tocontribute to a more democratic political system will remain largelyuntapped unless the more conventional dimensions of Canadian politics,the economy, and modes of governance are reoriented.