When Politics Get Personal

At the height of the global recession, Mark Carney, then governor of the Bank of Canada, spoke in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and reassured Canadians about the national economy. Canada would avoid excess and recover faster than other countries, he told us, because of the Canadian economy’s fundamental strengths.

The same optimism is not being expressed about Canadian democracy.

Last year, in the midst of an investigation into robocalls, Marc Mayrand, chief electoral officer of Canada, spoke in Toronto and cautioned Canadians that our national democracy is under significant pressure. Although, by international comparison, Canada has a historic record of good governance, Mayrand urged Canadians not to be complacent. He cited, as reasons for concern, declining levels of citizen engagement and the potential erosion...