The question of the week for my Hill Times Spin Doctors piece is a good one:
“What one piece of advice would you give new MPs?”
Here are my thoughts
Over a third of our 308 MPs are newly-elected, and these 108 rookies exceed the critical mass needed to change the culture of Parliament. My one piece of advice? Reject the blind partisanship and incivility that infect Parliament.
The political climate in Ottawa has become poisonous, but it doesn’t have to be like this. And it shouldn’t be this way, because the casualties of bad behaviour are values Canadians dear – democracy and collaboration.
That nearly 40% of Canadians don’t bother to vote is a clear sign that democracy is in trouble. By refusing to engage in mudslinging and incivility, new MPs can let Canadians know that Parliament is turning a new leaf and is ready to do better than in the past.
Not only would a new, cooperative approach help stem the tide of political disengagement, but it’s also the best way to actually get things done. MPs can accomplish far more by listening to each other respectfully and working together. Insults and party talking points certainly didn’t help MPs tackle the issues Canadians care about in the last Parliament, and it’s high time for MPs to give cooperation a chance.
I hope new MPs are mindful of the substantial influence they have in the House of Commons, and I hope they use it to set a respectful and collaborative tone of debate for the next four years.
I won’t be surprised if most of them ignore this advice, but I’ll be happy if they don’t.
Scridb filter