Canadians should keep faith in their democracy

There were a lot of grumpy, even cantankerous Canadians marking their ballots in the voting stations of the nation on Monday.

The fact that this was an unprecedented pandemic federal election called more than two years earlier than when the law said it should have happened largely explained the foul mood. The campaign itself was a polarized, polarizing affair punctuated by angry, anti-vaccine mandate protests that targeted hospitals and even saw Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau pelted with gravel. Here was in-your-face proof of a country lurching through a summer of social and political discontent.

But while living in a free society leaves citizens free to be annoyed by the people who lead or want to lead them — and to express that annoyance civilly when they vote — there’s no reason for despair about the basics of this country. The system of government so painstakingly established over the course of centuries in Canada actually serves its people very well thank you.

Indeed, according to several international rankings, Canada is in the top tier of the world’s best democracies. Whatever the cynics think, Canada is a pillar of government of and for the people.

Start with the Democracy Index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the research and analysis division of the Economist Group. Considered the gold standard for rating global governance, it’s relied upon by many groups, including the World Economic Forum. According to the 2020 Democracy Index, Canada is not only rated a “full democracy,” it’s ranked as the fifth-best democracy in the entire world, behind only Norway, Iceland, Sweden and New Zealand.

According to the Democracy Index, civil liberties and fundamental political freedoms in Canada are respected and reinforced by a political culture that supports democratic principles. In addition, we have a valid system of checks and balances on government, an independent judiciary and media that are diverse and independent. The result is a functional democracy that by global standards experiences only limited problems. That’s a notable accomplishment. Out of 167 countries studied for the Democracy Index, only 20 are classed like Canada as “full” democracies. Conspicuously absent from this category is the United States, which was deemed a “flawed democracy” and finished in 25th place.

Nor are the Democracy Index’s conclusions about Canada unique. The group Freedom House rates people’s access to political rights and civil liberties. In its latest report, Canada was judged the fourth-best nation in the world for delivering such access.

All these perspectives are worth remembering after an election widely considered unnecessary and a fractious, messy campaign waged by political leaders who often proved petty, negative and disappointing. While voters might yearn for something more positive and inspirational, a strong dose of realism might fix any post-election blues. As the incomparable Second World War leader Winston Churchill once opined: “Democracy is the worst form of government, except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”

However much our political leaders seem flawed, Canadians are fortunate to live in what a host of international experts firmly believe to be one of the world’s truest, most vibrant democracies. Together, we possess the power to hand someone the reins of office as well as the equally priceless ability to toss out those in whom we have lost faith. We had the chance to have our say Monday, which is no small thing. From our collective verdict will come our next government.