Democracy between Elections Hon. Carolyn Bennett M.D., M.P. Liberal GTA Regional meeting June 23, 2013

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

Political Strategy or Tool for Enhancing Democracy Political Strategy or Tool for Enhancing Democracy Genuine Motivation Good Politics ? Good Politics ? Good Policy ? Good Policy ? BOTH ????? YUP - Justin is a believer…. BOTH ????? YUP - Justin is a believer….

Group sourcing bright ideas !

Tapping into expertise

Outreach Meaningful engagement Meaningful engagement Listening Listening Policies that reflect their priorities Policies that reflect their priorities PANDERING NO MORE PANDERING NO MORE Woody Allen was right -90% is showing up Woody Allen was right -90% is showing up aboriginal leadership aboriginal leadership “asking not telling”“asking not telling”

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

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

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

11 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”

13 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’ neighbourhoods 2x/yr Neighbourhood check-ups - 17 ‘natural’ neighbourhoods 2x/yr 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 Summit – all elected reps 2x/yr Summit – all elected reps 2x/yr

@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

QUESTION PERIOD - June 13, 2008 Hon. Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul's, Lib.)Hon. Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul's, Lib.): Hon. Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul's, Lib.): Hon. Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul's, Lib.) Mr. Speaker, yesterday I hosted an Internet summit so that our leader could listen to the needs of seniors from coast to coast. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I hosted an Internet summit so that our leader could listen to the needs of seniors from coast to coast. Seniors were clear. There is a pressing need for affordable housing in this country, but the Conservative government is not listening. It has made zero investments in affordable housing for seniors. In fact, in 2006 the Conservatives cut $200 million that had been allocated by the Liberals. Seniors were clear. There is a pressing need for affordable housing in this country, but the Conservative government is not listening. It has made zero investments in affordable housing for seniors. In fact, in 2006 the Conservatives cut $200 million that had been allocated by the Liberals. Why does the Prime Minister not listen? Why is he denying Canadian seniors the right to live with dignity? Why does the Prime Minister not listen? Why is he denying Canadian seniors the right to live with dignity?Prime MinisterPrime Minister

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

Unheld Ridings - Outreach Outreach = meaningful engagement Outreach = meaningful engagement Go to THEIR events Go to THEIR events Annualize activities Annualize activities IWD March 8IWD March 8 Earth Day – April 22Earth Day – April 22 National Aboriginal Day –June 21National Aboriginal Day –June 21 Canada DayCanada Day Canada Food Day – Sat/Simcoe Day wkndCanada Food Day – Sat/Simcoe Day wknd Remembrance DayRemembrance Day

Unheld Ridings - activities Neighbourhood Checkups – coffee parties Neighbourhood Checkups – coffee parties Town Hall meetings Town Hall meetings Speaker’s series Speaker’s series Book Launches Book Launches Roundtables Roundtables What an MP should be doing ……..

Unheld Ridings Local media Local media Furious that government has stopped buying adsFurious that government has stopped buying ads Pay for an ad to publicize your eventsPay for an ad to publicize your events Op-edsOp-eds Letters to editorLetters to editor Social media Social media Augment your presence locallyAugment your presence locally Show your connection to what’s happening in OttawaShow your connection to what’s happening in Ottawa

Unheld Ridings- ‘Assured Listening’ Ideas for QP Ideas for QP Ideas for Private Member’s Bills Ideas for Private Member’s Bills Feeding actions & comments of MP to centre, critics Feeding actions & comments of MP to centre, critics

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

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