Citizens' Assembly

Citizens' Assembly is a tool that can be used to HEAL the RELATIONSHIP between the CITIZENSHIP and the GOVERNMENT. The steady decline in our VOTER TURNOUT is just a visible sign of this dysfunctional RELATIONSHIP that has developed between the general CITIZENSHIP and the governing GOVERNMENT. 

Dysfunctional Relationship;

The Relationship between the CITIZENSHIP and the GOVERNMENT has degenerated to a point that the general population sees the GOVERNMENT as some sort of 'Big Brother' that is INTERFERING in their LIVES. The CITIZENS feel powerless and controlled by not just the elected GOVERNMENT but also by the bureaucracy of GOVERNMENT. There are three main issues that propagates this dysfunctional relationship;

1. Electoral Reform; the current FPTP system promotes this dysfunctional relationship as it promotes the issue of THE MINORITY RULING THE MAJORITY.
2. Centralized Government; in the last few decades the GOVERNMENT in general has become more and more CENTRALIZED. This CENTRALIZATION causes the POWER AND STRUCTURE of GOVERNMENT to be further removed from the CITIZENSHIP. A case in point is that the SCHOOL BOARDS are elected locally, but the PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT can FIRE the elected Board and appoint another BOARD when the board does not do what the PROVINCE wants. It should not be so easy to FIRE an ELECTED BOARD and if it is necessary than another ELECTION OF THE BOARD is required, not for the BOARD to be appointed. This type of action by the PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT just frustrates the CITIZENSHIP that elected the BOARD, why bother and just have the PROVINCE appoint the BOARDS to begin with.
3. Political Parties; Political Parties are so focused on their own interests that often they do not see the bigger picture. Most CITIZENS are not so singularly focused as to support one view or another. Some issues a CITIZEN may support a Liberal outlook on another issue the same CITIZEN may support a NDP outlook. This is why we have elections. The fact that the GOVERNMENT is so controlled by POLITICAL PARTIES, separates the GOVERNMENT from the CITIZENSHIP.

Citizens' Assembly

 The CITIZENS' ASSEMBLY can be an effective tool to bring the average CITIZEN into the process of GOVERNMENT. The PROCESS of selecting the members of such a ASSEMBLY  is critical to its SUCCESS. The process of selection of the 'Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform (BC)' was very reputable. It reminds me of the 'Jury Duty' process except the CITIZENS' ASSEMBLY is totally voluntary. The process of selecting the members of the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform can be summarized at Wikipedia. 

Citizens' Assembly is a method of bring the CITIZENSHIP into participating with their own GOVERNMENT. It gives the CITIZENSHIP some direct involvement in their own GOVERNMENT and reduces the exclusive control of the Political Parties in GOVERNMENT.