WINTER 2014 Are E-Petitions a Viable Tool for Increasing Citizen Participation in Our Parliamentary Institutions?
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The Canadian Parliamentary Review was founded in 1978 to inform Canadian legislators about activities of the federal, provincial and territorial branches of the Canadian Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and to promote the study of and interest in Canadian parliamentary institutions. Contributions from legislators, former members, staff and all other persons interested in the Digital technology has objectives of the Review are welcome. introduced many new terms The Review is published for the Canadian Region, CPA. Any opinions expressed and meanings into the are those of individual contributors and should not be attributed to any Branch of parliamentary lexicon. the Canadian Region. Credit: Editor: Will Stos Julie Anderson and Layout: Frank Piekielko Production Team: Julie Anderson, Frank Piekielko Albert Besteman, Cheryl Caballero, Kim Dean, Yasuko Enosawa, Susanne Hynes, Joanne McNair, Wendy Reynolds, Linda Wells Editorial Board Patricia Chaychuk (Chair) Charles Robert (Deputy Chair) Blair Armitage Deborah Deller Letter from the Editor Francois Arsenault Kim Hammond Will Stos ........................................................................................................2 Sonia L’Heureux Charles MacKay Audrey O’Brien Gary O’Brien Are E-petitions a Viable Tool for Increasing Citizen Participation Kate Ryan-Lloyd Doug Schauerte in Our Parliamentary Institutions? Patrice Martin Hon. Linda Reid, MLA ...................................................................................3 Online Political Activity in Canada: The Hype and the Facts Subscription Tamara A. 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Will Stos The speed with which technology has changed and Editor advanced since the end of the last century has only increased in recent years. Parliaments are confronting situations previously unimaginable – the use of handheld digital communication devices in assemblies, paperless petition campaigns, and the tremendous speed and reach of social media to communicate parliamentary proceedings. In this issue we present articles on various aspects of digital issues affecting Canada’s parliaments and also report on how the Canadian public and its politicians are benefiting from technology or grappling with the challenges it presents. From promising experiments with e-petitions in British Columbia and the evolution of online communication in the National Assembly to the inherent difficulties with Internet voting and the 2 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/WINTER 2014 Are E-petitions a Viable Tool for Increasing Citizen Participation in Our Parliamentary Institutions? Hon. Linda Reid, MLA Although some experts have suggested legislatures should be cautious about moving to internet voting until challenges with secrecy and security, voter verification, auditability and cost- effectiveness are addressed, the author suggests that electronic petitions may offer an incremental step toward broader engagement with voters online. This article reviews current e-petitions systems, the difference between qualitative and quantitative systems, technical challenges and the potential benefit of encouraging voter participation. The author concludes by listing the best practices to consider when developing an e-petitions system. echnological Officer Keith Archer) examined internet voting in and procedural jurisdictions around the world, pointing out challenges Tinnovations for e-voting — including issues around secrecy and play a role in the health security, the verification of voters, auditability, and of our parliamentary cost-effectiveness. The discussion paper concluded institutions. In BC, that while e-voting may provide citizens with greater as in many other opportunity to vote, pending resolution of these jurisdictions, our challenges, the risks of e-voting at present outweigh Legislative Assembly the potential benefits for our province. has embraced new An electronic petitions system may offer a bridging technologies — TV opportunity, an incremental step toward broader broadcast of debates engagement with voters online that encourages in new digital citizens’ participation in parliamentary processes, as formats, expanded technology and our processes allow. Indeed, a growing use of the Assembly website to provide information list of jurisdictions already use e-petitions systems, on parliamentary proceedings and Members’ providing a substantial bank of data on development, compensation and expenses, and the use of social implementation and best practices for e-petitions media to provide timely information on Assembly systems. issues. Since 2004, BC has accepted online submissions as part of committee consultation processes. These Voter turnout has been in decline across developed measures collectively constitute what we refer to as democracies around the globe since the 1960s. In “e-democracy”. Canada, it has dropped from 75 per cent to just above 61 per cent over the last three federal elections. In BC, A recent Elections BC discussion paper1 (see page numbers over the last three elections show turnout 24 for a summary of the report by BC Chief Electoral falling from 71 per cent to around 55 per cent in the 2013 provincial general election. Implementation of new technologies in the processes of our parliamentary institutions may nurture citizens’ engagement by The Hon. Linda Reid is the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of streamlining avenues for participation in legislative British Columbia. processes. CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/WINTER 2014 3 Improving rates of home internet access provide Petitions guidelines have recently been posted more another reason to consider e-petitions. While internet prominently on our Assembly website. While the access is by no means universal, home access rates guidelines are unchanged, I’m optimistic as Speaker are increasing all the time. Statistics Canada’s 2012 that this small step toward improved accessibility will Canadian Internet Use Survey2 shows BC and Alberta support petitioner submission success. enjoy the highest home access levels, at 86 per cent, Some of BC’s more recent experience with petitions while New Brunswick has the lowest, at 77 per cent. has in fact been overseen by Elections BC rather than the We in legislative bodies ought to join media and Legislative Assembly, under the province’s Recall and commercial sectors in exploring expanded public Initiative Act. The act provides registered voters with a engagement opportunities made possible through process for proposing new laws or changing existing improving internet access. These opportunities hold laws through a petition. A successful initiative petition potential to bring our citizens closer to our assemblies, results in the proposed legislation being referred to the especially if they are able to appeal to a broad user Select Standing Committee on Legislative Initiatives, demographic. which must then table a report recommending Background introduction of the draft bill to the House or reversion back to the Chief Electoral Officer for an initiative vote Petitioning by members of the public has been a — a public referendum on the proposed legislation. feature of citizens’ interactions with governing bodies since classical times. The first known formal petitions BC’s Chief