First past the post. Powerless members of Parliament. The outsized power that party leaders exercise over our political process.
These were just some of the topics that came up during the third Great Canadian Debate of 2015, held May 26 at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
Andrew Coyne and John Pepall debated the proposition: “Canada’s democracy is in crisis”. Coyne, a columnist with Postmedia, argued in favour. Pepall, author of Against Reform, argued against.
For a complete recap of the debate from our Twitter account, click here.
You can also view the full debate on YouTube.
The two debaters also authored op-eds in the Post discussing their positions.
Pepall argued that those who constantly fret over the state of Canadian democracy are distracting from the important debates that we should be having over public policy issues.
Coyne made the case that Canadians have the form but not the substance of Parliamentary democracy.
This was the final debate of the Spring 2015 schedule.
On March 31, Frank Buckley and Chrystia Freeland squared off over income inequality. On April 29, Ken Coates and Lloyd Axworthy debated the proposition that too many Canadian kids are going to university.
If you missed the Coyne-Pepall debate, CPAC will be airing it again in full on Wednesday, May 27 at 8:0 p.m. The video will also be available on CPAC’s website.
Great Canadian Debate #3: Is Canada’s democracy in crisis?
Former HoC speaker Peter Milliken introduces tonight’s debate #GCD2015 pic.twitter.com/4MrwJkrxev
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
.@acoyne begins his opening remarks #GCD2015 pic.twitter.com/6VhESAFmZs — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
Problems with Canadian democracy have been a “glittering bi-partisan achievement”, @acoyne says #GCD2015
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
Individual candidates and backbench MPs have little power under influential party leaders, he says #GCD2015 — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
Campaigns are hardly worth following, @acoyne says: attack ads, media focus on polls etc. #GCD2015
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
“Members of Parliament have no real role or responsibility but to stand up and sit down when they’re told”: @acoyne #GCD2015 — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
Holding the government to account is difficult for MPs “When the government is really feeling the heat, it prorogues”: @acoyne #GCD2015
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
Parliament is “a largely ceremonial body, a glorified electoral college”: @acoyne #GCD2015 — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
.@acoyne concludes: “If that is not a system in crisis, what is?”
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
.@JohnPepall begins his opening remarks #GCD2015 pic.twitter.com/nGhShsAhoJ — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
.@JohnPepall: “We’re getting more or less what the rough consensus of people in Canada want” #GCD2015
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
Nobody would be happy if checks and balances were so onerous that decision-making became impossible: @JohnPepall #GCD2015 — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
.@JohnPepall says the power of party leaders is unfortunate, but it doesn’t mean Canada’s democracy is in crisis #GCD2015
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
Potential voters hear doom-and-gloom talk about their vote being worthless and decide to opt out of the process, he says #GCD2015 — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
.@acoyne rebuttal starts: He doesn’t agree with @JohnPepall‘s contentions that problems with Canadian democracy are nothing new #GCD2015
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
Back to @JohnPepall: There’s a long history of a “lack of probity” in Canadian politics #GCD2015 — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 26, 2015
Time for questions from the audience! #GCD2015 pic.twitter.com/V1Mw0YyRhn
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 27, 2015
Both @acoyne and @JohnPepall say they have no easy answers in response to question about how to get more women into politics #GCD2015 — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 27, 2015
.@JohnPepall answers question about an example of democracy working: Alberta’s recent election of the NDP #GCD2015
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 27, 2015
Those who agree with @acoyne pic.twitter.com/QCGIQdS0Uq — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 27, 2015
Those who agree in @JohnPepall pic.twitter.com/Zv4Q7BPp4l
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 27, 2015
That’s a wrap! Thanks to everyone who came out #GCD2015 pic.twitter.com/ER38y84UqW — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) May 27, 2015
