Breathing Life into Democratic Accountability
Lost amid the flurry of spending promises in this campaign are some positive commitments to make government more democratic and accountable. Many of these changes have already taken place around the country, and Saskatchewan may soon be catching up.
After 16 years in power, the governing NDP has promised to create a randomly-chosen Citizens' Assembly that would forward recommendations to revitalize democracy in Saskatchewan. The Assembly would consult widely on issues including, but not limited to, fixed election dates, methods for increasing voter participation, changes to how we elect our politicians, and voting age.
Recommendations made by this assembly could go to a province-wide referendum. Proposals for more proportional voting systems were put forward by citizens' assemblies in British Columbia in 2004 and Ontario in 2006. The BC proposal fell narrowly short of the 60 percent referenda support necessary to make it law.
Changing the voting system would rectify bizarre situations such as in 1986 and 1999 when the opposition party actually had more votes than the governing party in Saskatchewan. Any voting system that makes government more accountable is welcome!
The Saskatchewan Party and Liberals, meanwhile, have promised legislation that would place restrictions on politically-motivated government ads. Considering as much as $11 million has been spent on such advertising in the past two terms, changes are certainly in order.
The Sask Party committed to fixed election dates every four years. The party also wants to establish a public integrity commissioner and strengthen protection for whistle blowers. Voters wondering what good this might do should recall the federal sponsorship scandal was brought to light by Public Works employee Allan Cutler.
The Sask Party further wants to give the provincial auditor access to agreements with third parties to ensure compliance. Such measures might have prevented the misuse of funds and poor care at Oyate House, a "safe" house for sexually exploited teens that received $1 million from the province.
The Liberals have also put worthy proposals out, including expanded powers for the provincial auditor: specifically, access to funds going to Aboriginals through the gaming framework agreement. In 2000, the province did a forensic audit after it discovered the former CEO of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA), Dutch Lerat, received unauthorized credit card and debit advances worth $360,000. The SIGA board refused to fire Lerat when the matter came to light, but did so later when the province threatened to shut casinos down.
The Liberals also propose that all MLAs, cabinet ministers and their staff, and top bureaucrats would have to publicly report how their office budgets are spent. Similar accountability requirements are in place at the federal level and have already shut down pricey restaurants in Ottawa reliant on the public dime, err, hundred dollar bill.
Many worthwhile initiatives will keep whatever party forms a government on November 7 busy. What's important is that they keep their word! Corruption knows no political stripe and voter apathy is a malaise of our times. These kind of changes can only help efforts to create a more accountable and vibrant democracy.
The following is the list of articles, the CTF released in connection with the provincial election held November 7th, 2007: