An Opportunity for Change: Why Independent Politics May Have Its Big Moment
Traditions are customs and beliefs that are often passed down from generation to generation without question. Despite so much of the world changing around us, we have seen many traditions and ways of governing stay the same in Canadian politics. Upholding old ways of doing things often requires a great deal of trust and belief – sometimes even blind trust in the system. We have seen this in Canadian politics.
Elected members of government in any given political party usually vote together with their party, even when at odds about an issue. There is a public demonstration of unity that is often led by the leader of the party. This begs the question: is this unity a product of tradition and a desire to not show dissent against the decisions of the party leader, or is it because elected representatives of each party actually agree with all that their party leader determines?
As the younger generation come up the ranks, we can expect to see tradition questioned. Young people are known to act based on personal values. If a company proves offensive to their beliefs, this group is more likely to remove their support for them by no longer buying products sold by that company. Their approach to politics is likely no different. They are more likely to swing, and vote based on the alignment of their values with the individual candidates, rather than through allegiance to one political party for their entire lives.
The aftermath of the SNC-Lavalin scandal will prove to be the first real test of whether Canadians value independent critical thinking and articulation of values, or if the traditional approach to politics still appealing to them. After having publicly disputed with Prime Minister Trudeau, Members of Parliament Jody Wilson-Raybould and Dr. Jane Philpott were ousted from the Liberal Party of Canada and will now run as independent candidates in the upcoming Federal election. Given their resumes, this may be a unique opportunity for success as independent candidates that did not exist before, especially if they receive support from voters that normally only support the big parties.
It may be safe to assume young people are not interested in stiff ideologies or traditions, which many of Canada’s political parties still operate from. Instead, they want pragmatic solutions, with contributions from all involved, that create results. They want to see their elected officials speak out in ways that align with their values, even if that means publicly speaking out against the leader of their party. When rising housing costs, climate change, Indigenous rights, and other crucial matters are on the line, young people want the focus to remain on getting the job done well, especially when following tradition and protocol doesn’t always allow for that to happen.
When the former Clerk of Privy Council Michael Wernick retired from office amid the scandal, his biggest criticism was that the current state of the party system felt like a spectacle. Given the circumstances that have led to Wilson-Raybould and Dr. Philpott deciding to run as independent candidates, it would not be surprising if we begin to see other politicians break away from their parties if their values are no longer aligned with those of the party. More success for independent candidates may inspire the electoral reforms that are needed. In a time of self-discovery for many young people across Canada, this may be an era where there is opportunity for our government to do the same.