The Munk Debates Podcast Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: The Crisis of Canadian Democracy
May 13, 2025
Join Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne, an expert on democratic reform, as he discusses the alarming state of Canadian democracy. He argues that our parliament is dysfunctional and overly focused on party loyalty rather than citizen interests. Andrew highlights flaws in the nomination process that undermine legitimacy and critiques the centralization of power that stifles accountability. With thoughtful solutions for reform, he emphasizes the need for change to better represent all Canadians in a unified democracy.
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Canadian Parliament's Weakness
- Canadian Parliament has become weak and largely irrelevant in times of crisis.
- Parliament hasn't sat for over five months despite serious national challenges.
Parliamentary Procedures Eroded
- Parliamentary procedures have eroded, becoming routine and ineffective.
- Omnibus bills and time allocation limit thorough debate and scrutiny of legislation.
Party Discipline Controls MPs
- MPs have lost independence due to rigid party discipline and message control.
- Party whips control who speaks and what they say, eroding individual MPs' voice.
