{"id":3053,"date":"2008-04-25T14:48:37","date_gmt":"2008-04-25T19:48:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spacingtoronto.ca\/2008\/04\/25\/draft-who-is-listening-to-our-petitions\/"},"modified":"2013-01-21T15:07:35","modified_gmt":"2013-01-21T20:07:35","slug":"draft-who-is-listening-to-our-petitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2008\/04\/25\/draft-who-is-listening-to-our-petitions\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is listening to the public’s petitions?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"petition-car-2.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

On Tuesday afternoon, interventionist group Streets Are For People!<\/a> celebrated Earth Day by presenting their contentious petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly (you can read more about the petition in an earlier post<\/a>). To celebrate the occasion, an enthusiastic group gathered at Kensington Market, and with flags, drums, rickshaws and petition car in tow, made their way to Queen’s Park. The goal of the affair: to get the word out to politicians, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153that not one more dollar go to promote, support, or perpetuate car culture.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

But, at about 3:20 pm, right after the taunting and scoffs that characterize question period had ended, and before several petitions were to be presented, there was a mass exodus of politicians. Of the approximately 85 MPPs present, about seven remained during the petition presentation.<\/p>\n

Now, I’m not very familiar with the Ontario legislature and its processes, but it seems to me that that elected politicians should be listening to what their constituents are saying. After all, they are our representatives in government and is it not part of their job description to listen to the messages we are sending them be it electronically, by mail, in person, or by petition?<\/p>\n

Aren’t petitions an important part of the political process? I remember the empowerment and control I felt the first time I signed a petition in elementary school — my name, my signature was going to be an agent for change. And, although that feeling doesn’t come over me any more, it still has that power over many people.<\/p>\n

Petitions serve an important function in our society. After voting, petitions are probably the civic activity most people engage in. Petitions allow individuals of all walks of life — politically educated or uneducated, active or inactive — a chance to voice their opinions, as well as provide a platform where people can come together over a common concern. Petitions often reflect local issues that may or may not have wider provincial or national implications. And, with the case of the anti-car petition, petitions also have the power to instigate debate, raise questions and inspire change. Whether you agree with their message or not, petitions stimulate political engagement — and, isn’t that what democracy is all about?<\/p>\n

But, discussion is not possible when <\/o>party leaders, most cabinet ministers, and nearly all MPPs leave just as petitions are to be presented. If our elected representatives at Queen’s Park aren’t listening to their constituents concerns, then who is?<\/o><\/p>\n

“Just prior to the petition period McGuinty, swiftly followed by all the other MPPs with no petition to deliver, up and left the room — even the Speaker changed,” said Yvonne Bambrick of Streets are for People! “They clearly consider these messages from the public to be a waste of their time and a good chance for a break.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Photo by Yvonne Bambrick<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Tuesday afternoon, interventionist group Streets Are For People! celebrated Earth Day by presenting their contentious petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly (you can read more about the petition in an earlier post). 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