The Future of Canadian Democracy

Recently, a number of problems with Canadian democracy have become increasingly visible. From the rise of parties embracing white supremacist ideology and rejecting pandemic protections, platforming of these views, the increase in hate crimes, the convoy occupation in Ottawa, institutional violence toward unhoused and racialized people, to the low voter turnout in the recent provincial election, things look bleak. Examining these problems in light of the questions “can we, and will we, save democracy?’ I discuss a number of factors that created this climate in order to set out
a clearer picture of the problems we’re facing. I approach challenges to our current equals, rather than just trying to secure the most votes in order to “win.” These principles of equality appeal to our sense of justice and fairness and underpin our support for democracy as something worth having (and saving). I then discuss what we need for effective, and principled, community activism and engagement and the important ways this might shift the provincial, and federal, climate. To this end I focus on what we can do when democratic challenges seem so overwhelming. I discuss
actions we can all engage in to return our focus—and, ideally, our institutions—to these principles of justice, fairness, and equality.