The Sound of Silence

They came from across the country to one of the largest committee rooms in Parliament … again.  In the last six months it has been a repeated trek of increasing hopelessness.  Summoned once more, this time by MPs Ken Dryden and Anita Neville, key spokespersons for civil society performed their duty one more time.Called “The Public Voice: Why Does It Matter?” the session lasted the morning and was an attempt to get a read on the chill the present government has put on societal leaders.  A pretty serious and somber affair, leaders from aboriginal, women’s, labour, international development, and human rights groups raised their voices in unison in these halls that they have come to see as alien to their respective causes.  It wasn’t always this way.This forms an important component to the ongoing narrative of how Parliament itself has become dysfunctional.  We repeatedly hear of how the present Conservative government has spoiled committees, and destroyed any redeeming aspects of Question Period.  And we’ve also read in the media of how the civil service – bureaucrats – have been cowed into a corner, told to remain quiet, lest they lose their jobs.But few realized the deep freeze went further.  For churches, service clubs, NGOs, health advocates, human rights champions, universities groups, unions, etc., the lights of this Parliament have gone out.  More than the politicians or the bureaucrats, it is these very groups that constitute the bulwark of how we hold this society together.  For successive federal governments, this sector was routinely honest, bravely committed, and forever moving through the halls of Parliament, speaking truth to power.  In other words, they could be a real irritant to the government.  But that’s just the thing: they were welcomed, despite their occasional vocalized opposition to certain government policies.  Why?  Because this was how Canada was founded.  Access, parliamentary resources, and even funding – all these were offered by successive governments for decades to such groups because it was believed such civil society voices, by their very work and existence, earned a place at the table.One by one, the voices stood in line to speak of the sheer intimidation they faced whenever they raised their concerns of government actions.  Many said they were at the end of their rope, incapable of moving on because of a lack of resources.  Perhaps worse, they had been unable to obtain any rationale for why the Harper Conservatives would no longer partner with them.  One participant, for fear of retribution, called in anonymously via telephone.Effectively, and repeatedly, they reminded those politicians present of the urgent need to protect the public space – that sphere where such groups live, work, and advocate for those in distress.  One person commented: “This is Canada; we cannot accept anything less.”But slowly, inexorably, a new spirit made itself manifest in the room.  These voices and groups, intimated and cowed by government threatenings, began banding together.  Over 12 of these disparate groups are now coalescing around their shared difficulties and finding solidarity with one another.One of the most outspoken voices – a Canadian leader of a large international NGO – concluded with a rallying cry to stand tall and face the threats of this government because democracy itself and the public space are too important.Folks these are your champions – not political but the very essence of our communities and our compassionate place in the world.  They are your Rotary presidents and church leaders, your union secretaries and aboriginal sages, your women’s leaders and the voices of your cities, towns, farms and territories.  They are YOU, and this government has no time for them.  They are no longer welcome in the People’s House of Parliament, and so, neither are you.  The public voice is being silenced by a political barrage of intimidation.  Don’t let it happen.  Reclaim your House before the fire sale begins.  It’s yours.