Canadians are watching the erosion in our democracy and the toxicity in the
current election campaign with great concern. Unless our political leaders
take the lead to restore and protect our democratic institutions, many
Canadians fear that in time our already dysfunctional democracy could be
damaged beyond repair, and the disconnect between citizens and our
political process will be unbridgeable. Today, only one in every two eligible
voters bothers to vote, calling into question the legitimacy of our
democracy, and unless the trend is reversed Parliament and elections
could become irrelevent to Canadians.
Whatever the outcome of this election, when you get back to Parliament
and get down to work, the first order of the day should be “learning to
work together”. Canadians do not want another election in 18 months.
Since kindergarten we have taught our children to be nice, to co-operate, treat
one another with respect, and solve problems together. Whatever happened to
these kindergarten values?
Throughout this election campaign, parliamentarians have indulged in dirty
tricks and vicious personal attacks, bribed us with our own money, handed out
promises which appealed to narrow parochial interests and our lowest human
basic instincts.
Instead of uniting the country, politicians are dividing us and fanning the flame
of regional rivalries. Divisive tactics pitted Nova Scotians against Albertans,
British Columbians against Ontarians. This is a game played only by separatists.
Interviews with 65 former Members of Parliament found astonishing agreement
on what ails Canada’s parliamentary democracy. Almost unanimously they pointed
to political parties as the cause. They singled out partisan gamesmanship,
opaque processes for candidate nomination and appointment to positions on
key committees, as the main reasons for government dysfunction.
Canada's business is too important for time to be wasted by MPs bickering among
themselves. What is worse, political gamesmanship and shenanigans which go
beyond the normal cut-and-thrust of parliamentary debates are making Canadians
cynical of democracy and turning Canadians off politics.
Canada is a rich country, but in this complex world Canada faces immense
challenges. Our political leaders should all work together to develop a common
strategy to secure Canada's long-term prosperity.
We expect our leaders to inspire us, not to invite scorn. Leaders are expected
to lead by example. Leaders should be held to higher standards.
Why don’t we look at our neighbour to the south and learn from what their
politicians are doing: for a mere 12% of the budget they are ready to punch
one another’s lights out, risk a federal government shutdown, a sovereign bond
ratings downgrade, and tearing that country apart.
We don’t want that to happen to our great country.
We wish you luck in this election, Messrs. Harper, Ignatieff, and Layton, but
please, lead us out of this political quagmire.
又一加拿大大選？無奈也得投票！
