“We hear everywhere that democracy is going badly”, that it is “in crisis”, even “in danger”, points out the co-director of The state of QuebecJosselyn Guillarmou, at the very start of the 2024 edition of this annual meeting.
It’s true. I myself have written about this several times over the past few years. And particularly about the erosion of democracy in the country of Donald Trump.
But some places on the planet are doing better than others. And The state of Quebec 2024 paints a portrait of die-hard Quebecers who are resisting the democratic recession rather well.
First, the results of a CROP poll indicate that a majority of Quebecers, or 68%, “consider that democracy is doing well in Quebec” (although the voting method irritates some).
Then, the conclusions of some of the contributors to this essay confirm that things are better here, for several reasons.
Leïla Copti, president of the public relations firm COPTICOM, suggests that “we may already be one of the most resilient societies because of our well-established tradition of consultation and social dialogue.”
She adds that Quebec, in North America, is “a relatively egalitarian society which always favors consultation and solidarity”.
The journalist from Duty Clémence Pavic emphasizes that it is crucial to act to reduce inequalities, since they “make citizens doubt democracy”.
However, she recognizes that our province is “one of the societies in North America where income inequalities, after taxes and state redistributions, are the lowest.”
Environmental problems? We are not spared, and colossal efforts remain to be made. But a chapter on the Bureau d’audiences publique sur l’environnement (BAPE) proves the value of this organization which has been able to “win the trust of the public and embody participatory democracy”.
The main objective of the book, however, is not to praise the Quebec approach. It is a reminder that we can and must do better.
Calls for vigilance are launched, reflections are presented and solutions are explored (among others by the mayor of Chapais, Isabelle Lessard, who recently resigned, exhausted).
In total, we find in this essay around twenty texts on various subjects, ranging from the economy to transport, including inequalities, immigration and indigenous issues.
Among other very stimulating chapters, let us note that of the Director General of Elections of Quebec, Jean-François Blanchet. He argues that there is an urgent need to rethink our Electoral law.
The philosopher Daniel Weinstock, for his part, makes proposals – very appropriate – to raise public debate and encourage dialogue “in a spirit of respect and civic friendship”.
As for the president of the Quebec Institute for Law and Justice Reform, Pierre Noreau, his enlightening contribution reminds us that it would be possible – and desirable – to “democratize accessibility to legal services”.
However, this work lacks remedies for the devastation wreaked in Quebec by the digital giants, which are (briefly) deplored by some of the authors.
That we can question the threats to the health of our democracy without delving further into this problem or putting forward solutions shows to what extent the question of our digital sovereignty is still, in Quebec, in the blind spot .
Extract
“If we don’t invest in democracy, it falls apart. If we do not nourish it through citizen participation, it weakens, it runs out of steam. Let us be vigilant, because citizen participation does not only depend on individuals with a noble desire to contribute. Citizen participation is a muscle, a culture, which is maintained, supported, learned and unlearned. If we still believe in democracy, let us remember the importance of a citizen perspective on our public and collective governance, and let us protect the means to exercise it. »
– Malorie Flon, general director of the Institut du Nouveau Monde
What is the Institut du Nouveau Monde?
The Institut du Nouveau Monde, founded in 2004, is a “non-profit and non-partisan organization, whose mission is to increase the participation of citizens in democratic life, in particular by contributing to the renewal of ideas and by animating public debates in Quebec. The annual publication of The state of Quebec therefore meets its mandate. Note that we find, in the most recent edition, the comments of around thirty Quebecers from various sectors of society.
The state of Quebec – What future for democracy?
Editions Somme tout/Le Devoir
224 pages