Vancouver City Politics: Lessons in Democracy for All of Us

Political campaigns are designedly made into emotional orgies which endeavor to distract attention from the real issues involved, and they actually paralyze what slight powers of cerebration man can normally muster.
Author: James Harvey Robinson

September 15th 2008

News from the COPE Policy Conference & Candidacy meeting

It was a long, arduous day, with many windbags and much hot air. But success of a sort was achieved, as it can only be described about what happens at COPE meetings.
It's not a newsflash, there are "factions" in COPE and frankly, sometimes I wonder why I continue to be a member and actually attend the long boring meetings, in aging community centres and organizations in need of some TLC.

But, as annoyed, tired, warm and bored as I get sometimes, what always reminds me of why I stick around is that as hard as the process and the spectacle it is sometimes (think "train wreck") this is participatory democracy and civic engagement and for that I am grateful. Unlike most other parties, COPE tries as hard as it can to include people and their opinions, sometimes perhaps to a fault. But it does so with great vigour. At a COPE meeting, everyone has a right to be heard and state their point and perspective. But thank the political gods there is such a thing as "calling the question."

Most other political parties, organizations and even corporate and other boards have the final say stop with the elected executive. Until you become part of boards, what happens at the executive level is so little understood by most of us, the manuevering and politicking. In COPE, the executive does not have that kind of authority, the membership hears recommendations from all sides and the entire membership has a chance to vote on adopting policies and recommendations, like what happened today.

And make no mistake, other than a small and very vocal group, that did a great job of usurping the floor, and spinning their argument, with empassioned pleas from both sides, the membership in attendance in the afternoon was substantially in support of an agreement and terms negotiated by the negotiating committee for a collaboration between COPE, Vision Vancouver & the Green Party. And that is:

1) COPE, Vision, and the Green Party have agreed to run less than a full slate of candidates for each level. The breakdown is as follows:

a. Mayor: Gregor Robertson
b. Council: 8 (Vision), 2 (COPE)
c. School Board: 5 (COPE), 4 (Vision)
d. Park Board: 4 (Vision), 2 (COPE), 1 (Green Party)

COPE agreed to run two COPE candidates for city council. That will be an interesting battle, with David Cadman, of course, Ellen Woodsworth, a capable former city councillor and Meena Wong, a well connected and respected candidate who Vancouver would find itself fortunate to have sitting at the council table as well. The COPE candidates will all have something excellent to offer.

Like many parties, COPE has a core group of people who do most of the work, often with little recognition. But what is different than other parties, is that COPE works on a shoestring budget. That's one of the motivations for this agreement, the meagre funds from the left, which are tiny compared to the deep pockets of the developers and other corporate business folks, are more likely to be spread around a teensy bit more for the municipal election.

One interesting point discussed, but not adequately, was whether Vision Vancouver is going to contribute some sort of financial arrangement for the debt COPE racked up getting Larry Campbell and the other bunch elected? Later on, COPE watched them ride off into the sunset, leaving COPE with less than empty coffers. I know everyone would like to just brush that one under the carpet, but it's always spoken to me about principles and character. But, as they say, "politics is a blood sport." And, challenging times call for pragmatic compromises to stay in the game.

As much as people get lost in the left-right rhetoric at the end of the day, COPE members, including their candidates and elected representatives take their right and oppportunity for civic and electoral participation in creating policies that aim to benefit the city of Vancouver, its citizens and the communities we're all part of very seriously. COPE is a thoughtful, rambunctious and always thought-provoking dialogue and a reminder that democracy exists and why it is worth fighting for and other parties could learn a lesson from the party and its' membership.

Now, the mind begins to wonder, who might this mysterious Green Party candidate be for Parks Board? A curious little birdy wonders if it will be none other than Stuart McKinnon? I guess time will tell and much more is to come. It's shaping up to be one of the most interesting Vancouver city elections in years and we're looking forward to it.

In a democracy dissent is an act of faith. Like medicine, the test of its value is not in its taste, but in its effects.
J. W. Fulbright