Comments on: Dump de liens à propos de Rawdon

By: Wasabi

Wasabi — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:18:00 +0000

Anne: Why has the development of “teams” emulating political
“parties” on a provincial/federal level recently taken hold at
the grassroots municipal level? Is it due to citizen apathy/
ignorance? I had no idea that the first team-styled and
manager-organized re-election campaign in Rawdon was in 1998 __
much less of the repercussions for democracy.
Was there any kind of awareness or debate/discussion over this
occurrence or did it just creep upon us as a fait accompliDo you think that this trend had anything to do with the recent
merger of the canton and the town? These merger
rationalizations are driven more by economic agendas than
democratic ones and seem to result in further concentration
of power and consequent alienation of citizen participation.
Easier to see in retrospect after what happened elsewhere in
Quebec than when it’s directly under your own nose.

By: Wasabi

Wasabi — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:15:19 +0000

Anne Gerard: I really appreciated your excellent dissection of
the “herd mentality” fostered by “team politics” where
loyalty to the leader and the doctrinaire party line
dominates at the expense of the citizen and public debate. It
is as if power and staying in power have become the be-all
and end-all of this aberrant breed of politician.
You are right public debate is at the very heart of our
democratic traditions. Without healthy public debate and
a broad-based citizen participation, democracy is dead.
I also feel that the the small town or municipal level is the
cradle where citizens get to exercise their democratic
rights and obligations at first hand. If our rights are eroded, little
by little, at the municipal level, what hope is there for
genuine democratic input on the larger and wider provincial
and/or federal platforms?
the municipal level __ what hope is there
municipal level is where citizens really get to exercise,
to practise their democratic rights and obligations.

By: Anne Gerard

Anne Gerard — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:33:27 +0000

Unfortunately a new trend to counter democracy seems to have taken hold at all political levels, including municipal. Rather than individuals or loosely associated groups presenting for elections, teams have taken hold.
What is the danger teams represent? Why does this type of representation eliminate democracy? Teams demand complete compliance with team strategy and line. Members no longer vote according to their judgement, but as they are told. Loyalty to the team is the prime mandate of these “chair fillers”. The resulting lack of debate results in detrimental decisions being taken at the expense of citizens.
Those whom citizens have elected to represent them are obliged to vote according to team policy, not for what is in the best interest of their particular district, or what represents the opinions of those who voted them into office. This type of “block” voting effectively kills all reasonable debate and completely overrides democracy.
In Rawdon the first team in a municipal election was in 1998 when the incumbent mayor brought in an “election” manager to organise his re-election campaign. His strategy was successful & from that date forward, there has been very little debate among the elected council members of Rawdon and even less, if any, responsibility to the individual citizen. All debate has ended. All questions are responded to with a parroted answer.
For the past 10 years, with very little exception, the vote at council meetings has been unanimous. Councillors have voted against the interests and the opinion of the majority in their respective districts to follow “party lines”.
Good decisions are only made as the result of good debates. With a party mentality this does not happen and consequently, as in Rawdon, foolish, very foolish mistakes and actions have cost tax payers unknown thousands of dollars. The tendency to secrecy and the refusal to show public documents has prevented most citizens from ever knowing the true situation.
The resulting cynicism and acrimony is not surprising . Citizens have become disillusioned with the situation at city hall. The elected members of our municipality seem to have completely forgotten the very people who voted them into office. Voters become disenchanted and do not even bother to attend meetings or put their mark on ballots at voting time. Why bother?
If the Minister of Municipal Affairs is willing to accept teams in municipal elections, they should be prepared to have an official opposition in place with full access to municipal documents as well as a voice in public meetings. This is the only way to assure a democratic municipal government.
At the moment the only answer the Minister of Municipal Affairs offers is “to vote them out at the next election”. Considering the results of previous elections it is very possible that few will bother to vote in any future elections. It is the responsibility of the Minister of Municipal Affairs to assure a fair & honest government at the municipal level, it is not the responsibility of the individual citizen, particularly when their vote is so callously ignored once the count is done. So, when election time comes around, if you value democracy, be very careful not to put your mark beside a “team” member, but vote for a more democratic type of government. Vote for a council that will allow its members to represent the people not a team policy.