Frank Stronach: We need less politics and more democracy – National Post

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The announcement last month of a coalition between the minority Liberals and the NDP gave Canadians something no one voted for: the implementation of NDP policies under a Liberal banner.

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It’s another example of how party politics takes precedence over good government and sound decision-making. Our country is driven primarily by partisan concerns and short-term political decision-making — much to the detriment of average Canadians.

Could we rein in partisan politics and depoliticize the management of the country?

I believe we could, and the government reform I would propose would be the creation of a new Chamber of Citizen Representatives — non-partisan, democratically elected citizens who could provide a healthy counterbalance to the power of political parties and who would have a say in determining the policies and regulations that govern our country.

Here’s how it would work:

Citizen Representatives would represent voters from three existing electoral districts, or ridings, currently in place to elect members of Parliament. In other words, three ridings would be combined into one for the purpose of electing a Citizen Representative. As a result, there would be one Citizen Representative for every three MPs.

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Anyone wishing to run for the Chamber of Citizen Representatives would have to be a minimum of 40 years of age and would need to obtain a minimum of 300 signatures from fellow citizens within their district endorsing their candidacy. Harvesting signatures from members of large organizations would not be permitted in order to ensure that the Citizen Representative candidate was not beholden to a special interest group or association. Citizen Representative candidates would be everyday citizens from all walks of life and backgrounds with practical, real-world experience and a deep-seated concern for the well-being of their country.

The candidates would issue a one-page résumé profiling their backgrounds and work experience to all of the voters within the district. Candidates would also make themselves available for debates at town hall meetings. There would be no advertising allowed on the part of the Citizen Representative candidates, and all election-related expenses would be covered by the government. After having served one full term, the Citizen Representatives would return to private life.

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Instead of merely rubber-stamping legislation passed by the House of Commons, like the current Senate, the Chamber of Citizen Representatives would have a significant say in approving all legislation. Citizen Representatives would vote on all bills brought before the House and would cast their votes at the same time, and the two separate sets of votes would then be added together. A simple majority of votes would be required to pass a bill. However, unlike the MPs in the House, Citizen Representatives would vote by way of secret ballot. This would insulate them from any personal inducements or reprisals they might be subjected to if their votes were made public.

A lot of people I’ve discussed this idea with have been supportive but skeptical that it could ever come about. The truth is, reforming government along the lines I’ve suggested would be possible — although difficult — if there was enough public support and political will.

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Various statesmen and political leaders in English-speaking democracies have advocated similar measures. Former British prime minister Winston Churchill at one time argued for the creation of a non-political body or chamber because he believed that elected politicians would always put their own short-term political interests ahead of the long-term economic interests of the country.

By introducing Citizen Representatives, we could re-democratize our system of government and bring back the voice of the citizen in governing our national affairs. We could finally do away with the Senate, which has become a toothless chamber filled with political appointees. And we’d also be able to rein in the power of political parties and inject some of the common-sense views that you’re more likely to hear in Canada’s coffee shops, taxi cabs and farmers’ markets than in Canadian Parliament.

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The views of Citizen Representatives would reflect, to a much greater degree, the views of Main Street Canada. With Citizen Representatives, we could begin to claw back some of the power and control wielded by the professional political class that runs the governments of most Western democracies today.

Ultimately, with Citizen Representatives, we’d make our government much more effective and accountable — and who wouldn’t vote for that?

Frank Stronach is the founder of Magna International Inc., one of Canada’s largest global companies, and an inductee in the Automotive Hall of Fame. He can reached at fstronachpost@gmail.com

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