Due to the threats to democracy worldwide and the rise in authoritarianism, the Association Former Manitoba MLAs began discussing possible ways to act on its mandate to protect democracy in Manitoba. Now the situation is even more dire in terms of the threats and challenges democracies are facing, in the broadest sense of democracy, beyond voting and parliamentary procedures. We invite Manitobans to join with us to co-create the initiative that will then engage Manitobans across the province to protect, enhance and evolve our democratic values, principles, institutions, and governance.
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• AFMMLA All Party Committee (terms of reference, and background summary of what we have done so far)
• Definitions for Democracy and Democracy Indicators
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• How to get involved | Survey
• Resources
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AFMMLA All Party Committee
The Democracy Initiative Committee has representatives of former MLAs of all political parties with former MLAs. These members include; PC – Len Isleifson and Myrna Driedger, Liberal – Jon Gerrard, Judy Klassen,
NDP – Drew Caldwell, Marianne Cerilli - Democracy Committee Chair Marianne Cerilli. There is a sense that an all-party committee of former MLAs might be a good foundation for a non-partisan initiative that has wide appeal and broad public engagement.
Democracy Indicators
what shows we have a healthy democracy? How to assess it? Indicators are important so we can agree on what we are shooting for in terms of a healthy democracy
· percentage of voter turnout
· equitable percentage and voter demographics of who votes and who doesn't vote
· Diverse representation at all levels, organizations and institutions
· Reducing proportion of people who think their vote is wasted
· a system that ensures votes have a meaningful impact
· peaceful transfer of power - explain the process
· power is used to affect change for the common good rather than protect positions of power or stay in power
· transparency measures, structures and procedures
· accountability measures, structures and procedures
· improve trust in politicians and political institutions government institutions or public institutions
· effectiveness of government
· honesty and accuracy of political messages an government messaging
· standards for integrity and balance in media upholding the journalistic standards
· Focus on policy over personality
· Number of people that follow the news reader subscribe to newspapers and journalism
· number of all party committees and working groups
· level of online engagement
· participation levels in community engagement
· membership in political parties
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A few links for democracy indicators.
• Global State Democracy Indices | https://www.idea.int/data-tools/tools/global-state-democracy-indices
• Winnipeg Foundation - Vital Signs Report 2022 https://www.winnipegvitalsigns.org/wp-content/uploads/WpgFdn-VitalSigns-2022.pdf (Democratic Engagement on page 20)
• Freedom House | https://freedomhouse.org/countries/nations-transit/scores
• UNESCO | https://www.unesco.org/en/world-media-trends/global-democracy-index
How to get involved
Survey
The AFMMLAs Democracy Initiative Committee determined to begin with a short survey to engage Manitobans who might like to be part of a group to co-create the Democracy Initiative. The survey link can be found here.
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We are reaching out to various stakeholder groups to invite them to participate in the development of the democracy initiative but also welcome Manitobans who are not on our list to let us know they are interested. We are also recruiting backbone organizations as it is the intention of the AFMMLA the get work on democracy started but not to find backbone organizations and leadership partners to carry it forward.
Please complete the survey to let us know you want to be part of designing the democracy initiative. This stakeholder group will attend about 4 meetings in the fall of 2025 to determine the scope, goals, and activities of the democracy initiative.
Once the Democracy Initiative is designed then it will be launched more publicly to involve Manitobans more broadly. Email the Association Former Manitoba MLAs at infoassocmbformermlas@gmail.com
Resources
The threats to democracy, the ideas and tools to strengthen and evolve our democracy are a growing concern right now.
There are many organizations, websites, toolkits and other resources that this Democracy Initiative will review for inclusion on this site and our explorations. This will be part of the work of the group co-creating the Democracy Initiative. If you have recommendations for resources and activities please contact us using the email link above.
Thank you for your interest and concern about the future of democracy in Manitoba.
FMMLA Committee Democracy Initiative Terms of Reference
The Democracy Initiative Committee created a terms of reference that outlines their mandate as Engage Manitobans in considering what makes a healthy democracy, understanding the threats to our democracy, developing ideas, policies and actions to strengthen and evolve our democracy in Manitoba.
Threats to Democracy
Outlined a list of 11 areas to understand threats to democracy and areas for attention including 1) Cultural Trends and Demographics, Elections and Election Finance 2) 3) Political Parties, 4) News Media Coverage, 5) Social Media, 6) Social Movements and Civil Society Activism, 7) Public Education K to 12, and PSE, 8)Government Systems, 9) Legislature and Parliaments, 10) Government Bodies, 11) Growing inequities and concentration of power.
Background and Preparations
The Democracy Initiative Committee members have met with relevant organizations to gather information including; Elections Manitoba, Engage Manitoba, Legislative Assembly Educator, Speaker’s Office staff, Youth Parliament, Education Manitoba about Social Studies Curriculum update.
Drafted a list of definitions of important terms to agree on for a meaningful dialogue about democracy. Assembled some resources to identify democracy indicators so we can know what a healthy democracy looks like.
The Former MLA Association has held three preliminary meetings, one with community reps, one Former MLA luncheon with on Media and Democracy, Paul Samyn, Editor Winnipeg Free Press, and one with University of Winnipeg Professor Peter Ives, to discuss his book, Rethinking Free Speech.
Began discussing various processes for engaging stakeholders in mapping our democracy system and began outlining the possible scope and strategies of the Democracy Initiative, including a system map of Manitoba’s democracy. Met with Adam Kehane and Reos Partners about their process design and facilitation work to strengthen democracies. See https://reospartners.com/
Created a list of stakeholders from all areas and sectors in Manitoba to engage in co-creating or jointly developing the Democracy Initiative. They will add to the documents mentioned.
Created a survey to send to the list stakeholders by email inviting them to participate in developing and implementing the Democracy Initiative.
Attended the “Democracy Games” taping of an episode of The Nature of Things with CBC in Gimli Manitoba and got some good engagement ideas and made good connections.