The Democratic Deficit Doug Brown St Francis Xavier University Jan. 2006

Democratic Deficit What is the Democratic Deficit? Causes and Effects Reform proposals Prospects and potential for change

What is the Democratic Deficit? Original term referred to European Union institutions that had little or no electoral legitimacy Broader use of term, to mean widespread dissatisfaction with representative democracy.

Key Indicators of the “democratic deficit” Declining trust in Government Declining sense of “efficacy” by voters Declining voter turn-out, especially youth

Alternative Explanations for Democratic Decline (Perlin) Inability of Governments to deliver to economic expectations, since c Unprecedented degree and pace of social change Greater personal and family insecurity Media trends: aggressive investigation, fragmented audience Socio-econ correlations: income + education (+ age) = participation

Reform Proposals Electoral system Fixed election dates Internal Party democracy Party financing House of Commons process Senate election Deliberative democracy

Electoral System Reform: Do we need it? Parties with thresholds of support under 20% nationally do not get many seats if support evenly spread Poor representation by women, aboriginals 1993, 1997 and 2000 elections: Concentration by region: Liberals in Ontario; BQ in Quebec; Alliance in west Concentration by region: Liberals in Ontario; BQ in Quebec; Alliance in west

Electoral System Reform Alternatives Majority / Plurality Majority / Plurality FPTP – USA, Canada, UK, India Alternative & Two-Ballot systems – Australia, France Proportional Representation Proportional Representation Party lists – Spain, Scandinavia Transferable vote – Australia Senate Mixed Mixed Territorial Districts plus Party Lists – Germany, Ireland, New Zealand

Characteristics of Current Electoral System (SMP/FPTP)…PRO’s Superior representation of individual districts Produces a majority 7 out of 10 times Relatively simple to understand, quickly counted

Characteristics of Current Electoral System (SMP/FPTP)…Cons Does not accurately reflect party support (especially NDP). Huge constraint on entry of new parties Constrains other-than “majority” candidates (women, visible minorities, etc) Probably contributes to Liberal Party dominance Distorts regional representation, adding tensions to national unity

PR Models Comparing results in 38 th Parliament Actual LIbs 135 LIbs 135 Cons 99 Cons 99 Bloc 54 Bloc 54 NDP19 NDP19 Indep 1 Indep 1 TOTAL 308 TOTAL 308 Pure PR results (5% party threshold)* Libs 121 Cons96 Bloc40 NDP51 Others 0 TOTAL 308 *If 3% threshold, Greens get 14 seats

Chrétien’s reform of party financing Restricts corporate and union donations Encourages more individual donations Spending limits for candidates More reimbursement for candidate expenses $ 1.75 per vote, per year as funds to each party between elections

Paul Martin’s 2004 Agenda Free votes in Parliament and looser party discipline overall Bigger role for parliamentary committees Open to more input to Senate and Supreme Court appointments More consultation and deliberation by/with the general public [but no commitment re electoral system]

Harper Conservatives (2006 election platform) Further controls on party and candidate financing (see Accountability Act) Fairer party nomination races Fixed election dates Senate elections (proposed 8-year terms) Free parliamentary vote on same sex marriage More free votes in general More power to parliamentary committees More “rep by pop” in House of Commons