In his re-election acceptance speech, President Barack Obama got at least one thing right. He reminded Americans that democracy isn’t just about heading to the polls once every few years.
“The role of citizens in our democracy does not end with your vote,” Obama said. “America’s never been about what can be done for us.”
Granted, it’s probably just another way of saying that volunteers for the Democratic party shouldn’t stop advocating just because the election is over. But Obama did touch on an important point and Canadians would do well to take heed. On many levels, Canadian politics is more open to citizen-based pressure than the American system, where corporate money has become a fixture on all levels. Canadian citizens, whether they put much stock in electoral politics or not, have a better chance of influencing the direction of policy.
On Nov. 26, byelections are scheduled in three Canadian ridings: Durham in Ontario, Victoria in B.C., and Calgary Centre.
In Victoria, environmental issues, specifically waste management, have tremendous importance. It’s one of the few ridings where the Green Party is polling better than the Liberals. It’s also located next to Green Party Leader Elizabeth May’s Saanich-Gulf Islands riding.
“I think we are going to win this seat,” says Don Galloway, Victoria Green Party candidate. “And the fact that we’re going to win it is going to change the political landscape in Canada.”
The Greens’ success in Victoria isn’t just a result of public opinion. It was made possible by numerous civil society groups that helped put ecological issues at the forefront of local politics.
For example, the Association for Responsible and Environmentally Sustainable Sewage Treatment is one of many advocacy groups that voiced it’s opinion about the future of sewage treatment in Victoria.
The city is set to build a nearly $1-billion sewage treatment plant in the next few years. The association, among others, notes that the project will cost too much, block access to the waterfront and carry a slew of environmental issues of its own. The debate is firmly in the public sphere.
Now, all the candidates in the Victoria riding are taking heed. Murray Rankin, the New Democrat candidate, is in favour of the sewage treatment project. His stance has some analysts wondering whether the NDP can hold on to its progressive base in the years to come.
Liberal candidate Paul Summerville, a well-known economist and political commentator, has focused his whole campaign on the sewage issue. He labelled the proposed sewage treatment project as the “Billion Dollar Boondoggle.” Even the Conservative candidate, who no one believes can win in Victoria, has put the issue at the forefront of his platform.
The point is that these political actors, seeking to gauge public opinion and garner votes, don’t act solely on their intrinsic beliefs. Political parties and candidates orient themselves based upon the political climate of their riding.
This is where voters, those individuals who are not looking to make money or win votes, but who care about specific issues, must press their influence. This is the real nature and spirit of democracy. It doesn’t begin and end with election night.