Democracy deficit in Canada

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

6 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

03/05/2009

Category :

Political science

Sub category :

Political science

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Summary :

Introduction.
The term 'democracy deficit' in Canadian polity.
Noticeable symptoms in Canada.
1. The levels of voter turnout.
2. This public mistrust of politicians.
3. The effect of age on a voter's political attitudes and behaviour.
The principle causes of the negative public attitude.
Ten years as Prime Minister: Jean Chretien.
1. His ideads on modernization and revitalization of the structures of representative democracy.
2. Chretien's proposals: A controversy within his own party.
3. Other elements of Chretien's record as prime minister.
Three possible institutional reforms.
1. Setting fixed dates for elections.
2. The issue of electoral reform.
3. Canada's unreformed Senate must come under scrutiny.
Conclusion.
Bibliography.

Abstract

Canadians have always loved the fact that their nation is a democracy, and arguable one of the most developed democracies in the world. However, now more than ever before, there is a call from many Canadians to reinvigorate and revitalize democratic institutions in the country. One only needs to look at the low levels of voter turnout that plague our elections to understand that something needs to be done to increase the level of democracy in our country. It is a problem when more people did not vote than voted for the winning party. There are always circumstantial reasons why people would choose not vote on any given day, but there are fundamental reasons why the numbers are so high, and consistent in every election. The reality is that far too many Canadians cannot be bothered to vote because they feel as though their vote does not matter; this is the problem that must be addressed.