Dismantling Democracy: Stifling Debate and Dissent in Canada

Democracy thrives when everyone can participate equally in political decision-making and public institutions. It demands that social and political institutions empower the diversity of voices in society to be included and represented in democratic decision-making. Canada's Constitution provides the building blocks for achieving this goal. The Supreme Court of Canada has interpreted Canadian democracy as requiring a continuous process of discussion, in which dissenting voices are heard and their concerns addressed. This discussion should not be limited to those in the Parliamentary majority. A truly democratic conversation must include the claims of competing groups and consideration of conflicting evidence. The Supreme Court has also confirmed the legislature?s representative function, and stated that democratic institutions are meant to let us all share in the responsibility for difficult societal choices.