Civil Politics

I wrote the op-ed below for the Toronto Star on creating a more civil politics, or at least a more civil dialogue. It is an issue I will be returning to. Stay tuned.

Boorishness not just a problem in Ottawa
Toronto Star - Published On Thu, Oct. 7, 2010
Christopher Holcroft

Canada is a civilized country with increasingly uncivil politics.

A recent opinion poll indicates a majority of Canadians are fed up with the uncivilized antics occurring with alarming regularity during Question Period on Parliament Hill. But what goes on in Question Period is the norm, not the exception, of our political debate, and boorish behaviour is not limited to our elected officials.

From political party talking points to televised panel discussions to online public comment sections of newspapers, the discourse is too often marred by aggressive partisanship, offensive personal attacks and the advancement of narrow viewpoints. At least the House of Commons has a referee of sorts in the Speaker.

One of the basic tenets of a civil society is the opportunity for its members to respectfully share opinions and debate the issues of the day. A commitment to civil debate is essential to the peaceful functioning of any country, and has proven so for Canada.

It is often said that ours is a country born of evolution, not revolution. It is difficult to imagine today how we talked ourselves through Confederation, conscription, a new flag and two Quebec sovereignty referendums when we cannot get through a debate on gun registration without name-calling, intimidation and divisive language.

But such is the current political climate — one in which too many politicians and their advocates have learned to be successful not by building but destroying, not through persuasion but by division.

Canadians who still believe in civility in the public realm are simply tuning out. They vote less. They do not join political parties. They refrain from participating in important public policy deliberations — further ceding the political discourse to those least interested in a debate, or a politics, that is civil.

We suffer for this declining standard of public debate in ways that are easy to see but hard to measure: less discussion — and progressive action — on major policy issues; fewer serious candidates for public office; declining citizen participation in politics, and the weakening of ties that promote social cohesion.

We have seen the effects of polarizing politics on our American neighbours — the misinformation, vitriol and public division — and their ability to render their government almost impotent. We cannot let that happen here.

There are many challenges our own country will grapple with in the coming years, from addressing climate change to managing changing demographics. If we cannot responsibly talk about these challenges they will go unresolved.

The recent discussion on how to “fix” Question Period is well worth having. MP Michael Chong should be commended for his proposals. But measures to restore a degree of civility to our public discourse must extend beyond the halls of Parliament and engage all of us. Together, we can nurture a culture of civil debate; one that promotes reason, empathy and openness and rejects fear, intolerance and secrecy. Some initiatives worth pursuing include:

• Advocating for improved access to government information and restrictions on negative, personal attack style campaign advertising.

• Eliminating the anonymity of online commentary on the websites of major news outlets.

• Encouraging civil debate clubs and model parliaments in schools.

• Creating more opportunities for moderated public debates on major policy issues.

Canada is a civilized country. Our history leans far more toward peace and dialogue than anger and violence. Our inclusiveness bodes well for a rebooting of a more civil politics.

Those of us who believe responsible and respectful public debate is essential to democracy, increases public participation, inspires more thoughtful leaders and leads to better public policy must begin to act.