C ANADIANS MAKE THE RULES September 25, 2010 Hon. Carolyn Bennett, M.P., M.D. LPCO Sudbury Critic for Democratic Renewal com/watch?v=r62R G_pZ3Ic

MANDATE AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES Improving the health of Canadian democracy Ensuring good governance practices Fair Transparent Takes people seriously Enhance civic literacy and increase the voter turnout

N OT ONLY WHAT WE DO ; BUT HOW ! T HE P OLITICAL URGENCY Michael Ignatieff and Liberal Party of Canada Accessible Interested Listening Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada Top-down governance style Micromanaging CONTRAST

HOT ISSUES Limit to Prime Minister`s Powers (M.Ignatieff tour stump speech) Reform of Question Period ( Michael Chong`s Motion) Abuse of prorogation ( x 2) Government muzzling of dissenting voices ( e.g. Linda Keem, Pat Strogan, KAIROS ) Erosion of Parliamentary supremacy Information Secrecy (blacked out documents, detainees) Cancelling the mandatory long-form census

Parliamentary Reform “Minor process obstacle” Party Reform: Implement Change Commission Citizen Engagement Civil Society – Community Based Organizations Individuals Electoral Reform Important issue to Liberals in Alberta Increasing involvement, voter turnout, civic literacy Transparency L ONG - TERM ACTION ( THROUGH A GENDER LENS )

P ROCESS FOR CONSULTATION Using ‘elluminate’ software, we want to bring together Canadians with a common interest in bettering democracy from across the country. The week of October 11-15, we will hold roundtables in: Fredericton Montreal Regina Calgary Vancouver

P ROCESS FOR CONSULTATION Additional discussions planned in: Sudbury, Winnipeg, Toronto, Kitchener, Kingston, Peterborough En Famille, Equal Voice Where else to hold roundtables? Websites/op-eds to consult? We are looking for feedback Weekly meeting with MPs and Senators in the Liberal Democratic Renewal caucus Summit in Ottawa with Leader Michael Ignatieff Practice ‘assured listening’ by documenting posting and summarizing what we are hearing

Y OUR VOICE What other issues are missing? Thoughts, discussion on these issues? Decide which are: Political: retail, platform Good governance Commitments for Liberal Party