Post by Administrator on Apr 16, 2013 19:43:04 GMT -4
Real Democracy
A Green government would:
Priority 1: Citizen Engagement and Government Accountability
Prohibit ‘floor crossing’ by MLAs between elections, requiring them to sit as independent members until an election is held.
Create an Office of Democratic Renewal reporting to the Legislative Assembly with a mandate to encourage civic participation and to make sure government is accountable to citizens. This Office would: (a) Issue rules for MLAs to follow regarding best practices for constituency communications, including requiring regular town hall meetings to be held in every riding; (b) Appoint Citizen Assemblies to deliberate on major new policy initiatives and provide feedback on public decision-making; (c) Provide rules for and oversight of citizen referenda on major decision-making; (d) Enforce a legislated Code of Conduct for MLAs including investigating citizen complaints, and providing remedies including the possibility of recall; (e) Issue an annual report to the Legislature on the performance of MLAs and the governing party in more fully engaging the public in the decision-making process.
Reform the Right to Information Act to empower the Ombudsman to order rather than just recommend the release of information; to dramatically narrow the criteria by which information could be withheld; and to give the RTI Act an override on all other legislation that might restrict information access.
Protect whistleblowers.
Protect citizens against malicious lawsuits intended to discourage public activism (SLAPP suits).
Priority 2: Electoral and Media Reform
Move towards a proportional representation electoral system whereby seats in the Legislature reflects more closely the popular vote. This would be based on the recommendations of the Commission on Legislative Democracy established by former Premier Lord and the Law Commission of Canada. Governments of all European countries except Great Britain are elected through a proportional representation system.
Legislate a cap on the concentration of corporate media ownership within each news medium.
Reform political financing rules to gradually reduce the maximum allowable donation from private sources while increasing the public financing of political parties. This will prevent undue influence of private interests on the political process.
Priority 3: Transparency and Standards of Behaviour
Require a three-year waiting period before retired MLAs or civil servants can work as lobbyists.
Establish a lobbyist registry and require lobbyists to divulge any contribution – either financial or in-kind – to any candidate, elected official, political staff person, political appointee or civil servant.
Priority 4: Right Relations with First Nations People
Create a forum in which aboriginal and non-aboriginal people of NB come together to explore how the Peace and Friendship Treaties first signed with the British and now recognized in Canada’s Constitution can be respected in our province.
A Green government would:
Priority 1: Citizen Engagement and Government Accountability
Prohibit ‘floor crossing’ by MLAs between elections, requiring them to sit as independent members until an election is held.
Create an Office of Democratic Renewal reporting to the Legislative Assembly with a mandate to encourage civic participation and to make sure government is accountable to citizens. This Office would: (a) Issue rules for MLAs to follow regarding best practices for constituency communications, including requiring regular town hall meetings to be held in every riding; (b) Appoint Citizen Assemblies to deliberate on major new policy initiatives and provide feedback on public decision-making; (c) Provide rules for and oversight of citizen referenda on major decision-making; (d) Enforce a legislated Code of Conduct for MLAs including investigating citizen complaints, and providing remedies including the possibility of recall; (e) Issue an annual report to the Legislature on the performance of MLAs and the governing party in more fully engaging the public in the decision-making process.
Reform the Right to Information Act to empower the Ombudsman to order rather than just recommend the release of information; to dramatically narrow the criteria by which information could be withheld; and to give the RTI Act an override on all other legislation that might restrict information access.
Protect whistleblowers.
Protect citizens against malicious lawsuits intended to discourage public activism (SLAPP suits).
Priority 2: Electoral and Media Reform
Move towards a proportional representation electoral system whereby seats in the Legislature reflects more closely the popular vote. This would be based on the recommendations of the Commission on Legislative Democracy established by former Premier Lord and the Law Commission of Canada. Governments of all European countries except Great Britain are elected through a proportional representation system.
Legislate a cap on the concentration of corporate media ownership within each news medium.
Reform political financing rules to gradually reduce the maximum allowable donation from private sources while increasing the public financing of political parties. This will prevent undue influence of private interests on the political process.
Priority 3: Transparency and Standards of Behaviour
Require a three-year waiting period before retired MLAs or civil servants can work as lobbyists.
Establish a lobbyist registry and require lobbyists to divulge any contribution – either financial or in-kind – to any candidate, elected official, political staff person, political appointee or civil servant.
Priority 4: Right Relations with First Nations People
Create a forum in which aboriginal and non-aboriginal people of NB come together to explore how the Peace and Friendship Treaties first signed with the British and now recognized in Canada’s Constitution can be respected in our province.