Minority rule not good for democracy
Noted sociologist Parker Palmer has observed that in our relationships, there are often “secrets hidden in plain sight.” These are widespread social realities and dynamics that we know are powerfully present, but just don’t want to talk about. Yes, they are the pachyderms in the room.
Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives (and their Conservatives relatives elsewhere) have a “secret that is hidden in plain sight” — a commitment to minority rule. I am not talking about a minority government where a party doesn’t have enough legislative seats. Nor does it imply the trampling of the minority rights by majorities as we have seen with Quebec’s Bill 21.
Minority rule is when our political system rewards a minority of voters. Most parties like minority rule when they get the majority of the legislative seats. However, conservatives have perfected minority rule through the distorted use of law, regulations, the electoral process and even the courts. We only need to look south of our border to see this secret hidden in plain sight.
Canadians shouldn’t be smug. We have our form of this minoritarianism, which helps explain a lot about the Ford government. There are many examples.
■ Why was Ford the first Ontario premier to invoke the controversial “notwithstanding clause” to override the court when it overturned his thirdparty election spending law that restricted the right to freedom of expression?
■ Why did Ford, without consultation, prohibit ranked ballots provincewide when municipalities were just beginning to try them?
■ As a sixth wave of the pandemic was beginning, why did Ford remove vaccine and masking requirements against prevailing medical advice and overwhelming public safety concerns that it was too soon? Why did he prohibit schools and child-care centres from implementing their own masking protocols?
■ Why do Conservative candidates show contempt for voters by regularly declining to participate in public meetings and media interviews? Their boss declines, too. Many voters share TVO host Steve Paikin’s frustration. “I just don’t get it,” he wrote, when Ford, “said no to a TVO interview — again.”
The answer is the secret hidden in plain sight, minoritarianism.
Citizens should vote. Churchill was right in saying, “democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” The dangers of minoritarianism aren’t the form of government, it is the character of those governing and a political culture that safeguards an engaged role for the governed. Minoritarianism is a recipe for disappointment, disillusionment and polarization.
Can we cultivate and compel a constructive political culture of collaboration and co-operation? We can. Does voting need to better reflect voter preferences? It must. Do we need more collaborative minority governments? We do. Can we be open-minded about a political taboo, coalition governments? We may need to.
In his book, “Teardown,” author and community organizer Dave Meslin argues that we need to raise expectations of our political system. We must “rebuild democracy from the ground up.”
Many of us will watch the predictable election night rituals claiming the people have spoken. Unfortunately, most Ontarians will likely be disappointed. Much like the unique artwork of M.C. Escher with his mischievous twist of the probably improbable, it will all look very normal, but we all know something is not quite right.
Once again, the hidden secret will be in plain sight.