Canadian politics

Alternatives and Proposed Solutions

Political processes particularly consultations , deliberation and decision-making sits at the core of political participation . It is within these processes that political participation by the civil society is manifested and strengthened . In for democracy to be functional these processes must be enforced by political institutions . Democracy after all , concerns not just political institutions and parties but mostly , accountability to the people

First , democratic deficit should be initially started through an electoral reform . For example , the electoral reforms particularly recall and referenda which have been proposed in for

the Canadian government to reduce the democratic deficit being experienced by the civil society can be a big step towards the democratization of the country . Electoral reforms can for one , provide more representation in under-represented provinces in Canada . As noted earlier , provinces such as in Manitoba , Alberta and other parts of rural Canada has largely been under-represented in to favor bigger cities such as Ottawa and Toronto which has been getting more seats in the legislature . The disproportionate representation for one , has contributed to the decline in the voter turnout . Electoral reform particularly in providing a proportional representation as guided by the Constitution of Canada can therefore enhance the participation of the civil society . This proposed resolutions concurrent with the principles of direct democracy and proportional representation seeks to empower the Canadian residents in to participate in the larger context of democracy and its practice in the country

Second , a political socialization process that involves key institutions such as NGOs and mass organizations are crucial in political mobilization . NGOs and mass organizations play a key role in the education and awareness of the people . For instance , organizations such as Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA ) take the role as advocates of the civil society in instituting reforms in their policies Concurrently...