1. Mont-Tremblant Roundtable April 7, 2006 Fireweed Democracy Barometer

2. Methodology  1000 telephone interviews conducted with Canadians over the age of 15 between March 10-19, 2006.  Margin of error for a sample of this size is +/- 3.1 percentage points, within a confidence interval of 95 %.

3.  Fireweed Democracy Barometer - a collaborative effort:  Designed and conducted by André Turcotte of Feedback Research Corporation  Allan Gregg contributed valuable input and counsel throughout the process on questionnaire design, data collection and analysis.

4. Thanks Preston Manning and Rick Anderson added input on questionnaire design and data analysis Preston Manning and Rick Anderson added input on questionnaire design and data analysis Fireweed Democracy Barometer possible thanks to support of Manning Centre for Building Democracy Fireweed Democracy Barometer possible thanks to support of Manning Centre for Building Democracy

5. 3 Objectives  Is there a need to reform Canadian Democracy?  Where to begin and obstacles to overcome  Towards a broadly-based democratic reform campaign

6. Is There a Need to Reform Canadian Democracy?

7. Breaking a Few Myths Interest in Politics *Source data: 1965 – 2004: CNES; 2006: Fireweed Barometer

8. Breaking a Few Myths Perceived Relevance of Government in Day-to-Day Life % Believe Government Has Impact *Source data: 1974 – 1980: CNES; 2006: Fireweed Barometer

9. Perception of Relationship with Government *Source data: 1965 – 2004: CNES; 2006: Fireweed Barometer Politicians Lose Touch Politicians Don’t Care People Have No Say

10. Breaking a Few Myths % Majority Government Preferable Majority Government *Source data: 1965 – 1980: CNES; 2006: Fireweed Barometer

11. Breaking a Few Myths  Moreover, 58% of Canadians think it is unacceptable that a party can win a majority of seats without a majority of votes. (Fireweed 2006)

12. Relative Importance of Democratic Reform Q: On a scale where 1 is “not at all important” and 7 is “very important”, how important are each of the following to you personally…? Mean Score

13. Attitudes Toward Making Our Democracy Work Better Mean Score 8.588.517.877.67 SUPPORT FOR GENERAL PROPOSALS Making politicians more accountable Making sure views of ALL are heard in Ottawa Making Parliament – esp. House and Senate – work better Making the electoral system work better Q: On a scale where 1 is “not at all supportive” and 10 is “very supportive”, how supportive are you of the following proposals for making our democracy work better?

14. Where to Begin and Obstacles to Overcome

15. Need for Reform of Democratic Institutions Highest: Quebec – 71% Quebec – 71% Man/Sask – 66% Man/Sask – 66%Lowest: B.C. – 53% B.C. – 53% Our democratic institutions do not need tinkering, but a major overhaul: STRONGLY AGREE/ AGREE: TOTAL = 61%

16. Evaluating 15 Possible Proposals for Reform Citizens AssemblyCitizens Assembly Independent Ethics WatchdogIndependent Ethics Watchdog Issue-based Citizen Online ConsultationIssue-based Citizen Online Consultation Fixed Election DatesFixed Election Dates PRPR Elected SenateElected Senate Volunteer groups involved in Parliamentary CommitteesVolunteer groups involved in Parliamentary Committees Partly Leaders elected directly by voters instead of party membersPartly Leaders elected directly by voters instead of party members PM and MPs elected separatelyPM and MPs elected separately Parliament to make non- elected government appointmentParliament to make non- elected government appointment University graduates to be paid for one-year community serviceUniversity graduates to be paid for one-year community service Elected Head-of-StateElected Head-of-State Making voting compulsoryMaking voting compulsory Internet VotingInternet Voting Abolish SenateAbolish Senate

17. Findings: Most-Supported Reforms Citizens Assembly – 75% Citizens Assembly – 75% Independent Ethics Watchdog – 74% Independent Ethics Watchdog – 74% Issue-based citizen online consultation – 67% Issue-based citizen online consultation – 67% Fixed Election Dates – 64% Fixed Election Dates – 64% Proportional Representation – 63% Proportional Representation – 63% Electing Senators – 63% Electing Senators – 63% Involve citizen groups in parliamentary committees – 65% Involve citizen groups in parliamentary committees – 65%

18. Findings Elect Party Leaders directly by voters instead of party members – 59% Elect Party Leaders directly by voters instead of party members – 59% Elect PM and MPs separately – 57% Elect PM and MPs separately – 57% Parliament make senior government appointments – 56% Parliament make senior government appointments – 56% University graduates paid for year of community service – 54% University graduates paid for year of community service – 54% Elected Head-of-State – 51% Elected Head-of-State – 51% Make voting compulsory – 43% Make voting compulsory – 43% Abolish Senate – 40% Abolish Senate – 40% Internet Voting – 39% Internet Voting – 39% Majority Support

19. Towards a Broadly-Based Democratic Reform Campaign

20. The Context Who Should Fix the System? Personal Responsibility Government Responsibility 200464262006 44 4446

21. Perceptions of Politicians INDEX (+) (-) (+) (-) Ambitious (+60)Principled(-39) Intelligent (+27)Honest (-25) Calibre(+26)Similar values(-18) Competent(+18)

22. Perception of the Media (%)21672364112654 On balance, is media… Objective & unbiased Opinionated & biased Media reporting on politics/politicians… Objective & unbiased Opinionated & biased Coverage of politics/politicians creates… Very positive/positive Neutral Negative/very negative

23. Solid Base of Support OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS DO NOT NEED TINKERING, BUT A MAJOR OVERHAUL… Citizens Assembly – 75% Independent Ethics Watchdog – 74% Issue-based citizen Online consultation – 67% Fixed election dates – 64% PR – 63% Elected Senate – 63% Involve citizen groups in Parliamentary Committees – 65% Elect PM and MPs Separately – 57% Strongly agree16% Agree45% Disagree26% Strongly disagree5%

24. Leave It to the Grassroots “We could solve most of our big national problems if decisions could be brought back to the people at the grassroots” % Agree *Source data: 1993 – 2004: CNES; 2006: Fireweed Barometer