Democracy Is More Than Just a Vote Every Four Years: The Post-Forum Open Letter Published in Le Devoir
Several members of the alliance co-signed an open letter calling for the launch of a “Work in Progress 2.0” initiative on democracy in Montreal in the context of the transition following last November’s Forum. Congratulations on this publication!
There are days when following the news in Montreal feels like watching a boxing match: squabbles over bike lanes, controversy over the proliferation of pedestrian-only streets, tensions surrounding coexistence with people experiencing homelessness, and the list goes on. This polarization of the debates—coupled with threats against elected officials and a rise in extremist rhetoric—masks a deeper problem: that of a democracy stuck in old ways of doing things, where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to engage in dialogue, debate, and make decisions together.
Montreal, however, has helped set the standard in this area. In fact, in the early 2000s, the City launched a “Project for Montreal Democracy,” which lasted more than 10 years and led to numerous democratic reforms. Take, for example, the creation of the right of initiative, a mechanism that allows any Montreal resident to request a public consultation by gathering 15,000 signatures. In fact, it was thanks to this tool that the 2018 Consultation on Racism and Systemic Discrimination took place.
Twenty years later, there are now many democratic tools in place, such as the Office of Public Consultation of Montreal, the Participatory Budget, and the online citizen consultation platform Réalisons mtl.ca. There are also structures and spaces within civil society—led by organizations, collaborative initiatives, or individual citizens—that empower communities to take action at the neighborhood level.
However, it is clear that these tools and structures must be strengthened and updated to address the scale of the challenges we face. Indeed, the climate emergency is forcing us to make difficult decisions very quickly. These decisions are often uncomfortable, delicate, or even heart-wrenching, and will become increasingly common in the years to come.
Solutions exist, and people are already talking about them
Permanent citizens’ conventions in Belgium, citizens’ assemblies of the future in France, regulations for the shared management of the commons in Italy: numerous democratic innovations are emerging around the world to address the climate emergency, but what about Montreal? Nearly 200 organizations, citizen groups, researchers, neighborhood committees, elected officials, and civil servants gathered on November 26 to address this question as part of the Montreal Forum: Democracy at the Heart of the Transition. Organized by the Transition en Commun alliance, this forum provided an opportunity to discuss various proposals for renewing democracy in the context of Montreal’s transition.
Democracy is more than just voting once every four years!
The essence of democracy lies not only in the ballot box, but also—and above all—in our collective ability to inform ourselves, debate, and take action. A strong, well-designed democracy allows us to anticipate tensions, make difficult collective decisions in times of crisis, and move forward, all while respecting the rights of minorities and marginalized people.
We can also help people get involved in their communities. We’ve seen a surge in citizen-led initiatives in our neighborhoods in recent years. Now is the time to provide them with better support and to work with the City of Montreal to clarify the procedures for facilitating their emergence.
The next municipal elections will take place in a year. The current situation calls for strong commitments to democracy from the candidates, starting with the next administration’s launch of “Chantier 2.0” for Montreal’s democracy to address the state of democracy by 2025.