Time For A New Brand Of Politics: CRERAR

Time is money and everyone’s time is important.

So to shorten the length of a debate it’s important that all participants have access to and read unbiased information outlining the pros, cons, and impact of a variety of options. Does this happen before a debate begins among Ottawa city councillors or do councillors enter a debate with preconceived notions which will never change?

If this is the case why waste time having a debate?

Recently, Barrhaven East Councillor Wilson Lo was accused of “fence-sitting” when he noted he might change his Lansdowne 2.0 vote from “yes” to “no”, depending on what additional information came to light before the final vote is held. Lo isn’t fence sitting, he’s simply proving he wants to make an enlightened decision.

Is there is a better way for councillors to determine how they’re going to vote on an issue brought to council that does away with the need of going through the motions of a debate?

All councillors publish newsletters on a regular basis, targeted at keeping their constituents informed on a on a variety of issues. These communiques provide councillors with a forum in where they can direct residents to papers, stored online, concerning important issues. Since councillors represent communities they should all be holding regular town-hall meetings to determine how the majority of ward residents feel about important issues rather than making decisions based on discussions with hand-picked advisors with narrow viewpoints.

Ottawa Turns Its Back To The Future: BENN

After all town-hall meetings have been held, and prior to vote by council, each councillor should, in their newsletter state how they’re going to vote on the issues discussed in public.

This is transparent government and since the result of all issues brought to vote at council are logged, it will be easy for voters to see how their councillor voted or avoided discussing an issue so they can determine whether or not that councillor in question should be re-elected for another term.

This is, of course, a naive approach to politics and will require that someone monitor our politicians, but if we live in a representative democracy, and politicians do in fact represent their constituents, it’s time to throw out the old playbook and try a new approach.

Smiling and handshaking is old school and we don’t want our local heroes to get bruises on their hands.

Howard Crerar is a project manager and has worked in the software industry for three decades.

For You:

The Three Little Pigs Were Right: PATTON

City Adds Charge To Tax Charges: PATTON

Plante’s Homeless Solution Isn’t A Solution

We’ve Got A Form For That … : CULLEN

Bookmark The Bulldog, click here