Democracy 2.0 Hon. Carolyn Bennett M.D.,M.P. Algonquin College January 29, 2013

Political Tactic or Tool for Enhancing Democracy Political Tactic or Tool for Enhancing Democracy Rx: Genuine Motivation Good Politics ? Good Politics ? Good Policy ? Good Policy ? BOTH ????? BOTH ?????

“Good public policy is developed when the policy-makers can keep in their mind’s eye the people affected.” Jane Jacobs

Once a family doctor, always….. Patient as Partner Patient as Partner Ask people what’s wrong and listen, together develop a plan Ask people what’s wrong and listen, together develop a plan Patient knew their body best, Doctor knows the system best Patient knew their body best, Doctor knows the system best

Citizen & the Elected Representative Bill Young – Library of Parliament Bill Young – Library of Parliament Robert Putnam Robert Putnam2+2=5 Democracy between Elections…..

Attitude GENUINE GENUINE Truly believe that you get better public policy and more relevant and responsive programs, better laws, budgets that achieve better value for money Truly believe that you get better public policy and more relevant and responsive programs, better laws, budgets that achieve better value for money

Attitude Authenticity matters…. Authenticity matters…. WRONG WRONG Focus on metrics … tricks to get followers Focus on metrics … tricks to get followers Letting staffers blog,tweet –NOT YOU Letting staffers blog,tweet –NOT YOU APPALLING APPALLING Paying trolls Paying trolls

‘Democracy between Elections’ from cynicism to effective citizenship from cynicism to effective citizenship “A politician’s guide to listening A citizen’s guide to being heard work in progress !!! work in progress !!!

“Politics in Canada has always been the art of making the necessary possible. Peter C. Newman

So……  Deciding ‘what’s necessary’….. ‘what’s necessary’….. is political is political

11 Objective: Good government Ursula Franklin Fair Fair Transparent Transparent Takes people seriously Takes people seriously

Inclusive decision - making Feminist approach Feminist approach all M.B.A. schools all M.B.A. schools C.E.O. on the shop floor C.E.O. on the shop floor

Need for formal Mechanisms Proposed Private Member’s Bill Proposed Private Member’s Bill “Meaningful Public Consultation Act” “Meaningful Public Consultation Act” “I’ve not been consulted until I say I’ve been consulted” “I’ve not been consulted until I say I’ve been consulted”Provinces TerritoriesTerritories AboriginalAboriginal MunicipalitiesMunicipalities Stakeholder groupsStakeholder groups CitizensCitizens

a.k.a. Mandatory Minimums For Citizen Engagement ?????????????

15 E - Democracy One of the cornerstones of democracy has been to provide public ‘spaces’ in which citizens can discuss ideas One of the cornerstones of democracy has been to provide public ‘spaces’ in which citizens can discuss ideas The web provides a new and important ‘space’ The web provides a new and important ‘space’ This can change the notion of “representative democracy” This can change the notion of “representative democracy”

Stephen Coleman Professor of e-democracy Leeds University “People don’t want to govern they want to be heard.” “Civic efficacy” “Two-way accountability”

17 OECD Citizen as Partner 2001 Information Information Consultation Consultation Participation Participation

CYNICISM

Legitimacy Timing Timing ‘Assured Listening’ – EKOS ‘Assured Listening’ – EKOS Tracking Successes / Feedback processes Tracking Successes / Feedback processes Fighting cynicism … voter suppression Fighting cynicism … voter suppression

Empowering MPs Strengthening Democracy 1. MPs in the riding 2. MPs in their non- geographic constituencies, opposition critics 3. MPs as Parliamentary committee members 4. MPs in collaboration with government 5. MPs as Political Party members 6. MP’s supporting MP’s internationally

1. MPs in the Riding: St. Paul’s Model Newsletters Newsletters Neighbourhood check-ups - 17 ‘natural’ Neighbourhood check-ups - 17 ‘natural’ Town Halls, Roundtables, Parliamentary Clinics Town Halls, Roundtables, Parliamentary Clinics Tabulation Tabulation Schools Schools  Grade 5 – Canadian Govt  Grade 10 – Civics (compulsory) Website – interactive Website – interactive Facebook chat weekly Facebook chat weekly Twitter #stpauls Twitter #stpauls

@joshyfraser: why is the CPC canceling a useful resourceful that helps ppl find jobs, ecdev, abo orgs, etc The Power of Social Media Mr Speaker, · This government has absolutely no plan to boost Aboriginal participation in the economy. · When asked about this today, the Government House Leader said it will be “decades” before we see any jobs. · Today we learned that the Conservatives are cutting the Aboriginal Job Centre, which helps link Aboriginal job seekers with actual jobs. · Yet again the govt cuts programs that work, and has no job plan for the future. · Why are Aboriginal People forced to pay the price for the incompetence of this government? January 28,2013

2. MPs in their non – geographic constituencies Health reform Health reform Women’s issues Women’s issues Disability issues Disability issues Gay rights Gay rights Arts and Culture Arts and Culture

Critic Activities Seniors e-summit – June 12 th 2008 Use technology to access non- geographic constituents Use technology to access non- geographic constituents Ex. SeniorsEx. Seniors Able to have grass roots discussion with Canadians across the country Able to have grass roots discussion with Canadians across the country

Online Summits for Citizen Engagement

3. MPs as Parliamentary Committee Members

Information Based Site

Consultations

Participant Evaluation: Issue Poll Question: Based on this experience, I would participate in an issue poll again.

Key Factors for Success Ongoing and active political support Ongoing and active political support Tie the on-line component to the traditional off-line study Tie the on-line component to the traditional off-line study Bringing all relevant partners together at the outset Bringing all relevant partners together at the outset Adequate time for planning and development Adequate time for planning and development Appropriate first steps (Roundtable, Information based site, research) Appropriate first steps (Roundtable, Information based site, research) Pick proper tools Pick proper tools Communications Communications Analysis Analysis

4. MPs in collaboration with Government

5. MPs as Party Members Policy Process liberal.ca Policy Process liberal.ca Separate site for riding associations Separate site for riding associations

6. MP’s supporting each other internationally Best practices in legislation Best practices in legislation Personal support Personal support Complementary…Interparliamentary Union, Commonwealth Policy Association etc. Complementary…Interparliamentary Union, Commonwealth Policy Association etc. Maori MP checking up on Canada on Twitter Maori MP checking up on Canada on Twitter

Empowering MPs Empowering Citizens – Why? Better public policy – unusual coalitions presenting real solutions Better public policy – unusual coalitions presenting real solutions Better legislation, better implementation Better legislation, better implementation Better scrutiny – what questions to ask Better scrutiny – what questions to ask Better relationships between citizens and their representatives Better relationships between citizens and their representatives Ultimate goal: a more robust democracy !! Ultimate goal: a more robust democracy !!  great people will run, citizens will vote

Group sourcing bright ideas !

Tapping into expertise

‘Public’ policy Putting the ‘poli’ into policy  Research  Policy  Practice

research practicepolicy

research practicepolicy KT

research practicepolicy KT Political Will

research practicepolicy KT Political Will Applied research

research practicepolicy KT Political Will Applied research CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT

It’s good for your health ! Physical and mental energy come from feeling in control of your life, having real choices, and being involved with other to find ways of organizing change for the better. Physical and mental energy come from feeling in control of your life, having real choices, and being involved with other to find ways of organizing change for the better. Barbara Rogers