Building an Open & Inclusive Government
The recent LRT debate has been called the most polarized and divisive in our Region’s history. Divisions between the citizens of Cambridge and of Kitchener and Waterloo, between downtown dwellers and suburbanites, between richer and poorer neighbours, and between generations, were
highlighted and often hurtful. It should be a priority of Council to mend the rifts that were created, and to embrace an approach to government that sees diversity, including diversity of opinion, as an
opportunity, and builds on it as a strength.
Citizens on the losing side of the LRT debate complained that their views were ignored. Regional Council countered that they had consulted extensively. While many Council meetings were given over to citizen delegations, it’s evident that this model of consultation was more frustrating for all parties than it was helpful. A truly open and inclusive government engages in real conversations and collaboration,
and this requires outreach, listening, communicating, trusting and empowering.
The reasons that citizens feel disengaged from government are varied and complex. Obvious fixes like making materials and meetings accessible for people with physical disabilities, or translating documents for people with language barriers, are important, but don’t go far enough. Regional Council should be prepared to do its business differently in order to overcome social and cultural issues leading to distrust and exclusion. Council must reach out to unengaged communities to better understand how to help them to feel welcome and able to participate. It should begin by forming an engagement committee, comprised of members from the diversity communities that make up our region, and should work closely with the committee to develop an engagement strategy with measurable targets and deadlines.
True consultation requires conversations, and true conversations involve sharing of ideas – not just of information. They require active listening and giving and accepting of feedback, and they take time. Few citizens, and especially citizens who are marginalized and experience discrimination, are
comfortable making formal presentations to council in front of cameras and an audience. Informal conversation tables may be far less threatening and far more conducive to openness and collaboration.
It is a challenge, even for people who are politically aware and technologically savvy and who possess strong English language skills, to access and make use of the reams of technical information posted on the Region’s website about Council meeting schedules and decisions. Regional Council must reach out and actively invite citizens to attend upcoming meetings, using means such as social media, and
providing plain language summaries of the matters which will be addressed and the decisions which will be made.
For many people, the main impediments to their political engagement are their lack of trust of politicians and government, and their sense that they have nothing to offer or that the contributions that they can make will not be valued. Regional Council should build relationships with its citizens by
ensuring that the information Council provides is balanced and objective, that its work is open and accountable, and that its consultations are conducted with a clear goal of shared problem-solving and decision-making.
highlighted and often hurtful. It should be a priority of Council to mend the rifts that were created, and to embrace an approach to government that sees diversity, including diversity of opinion, as an
opportunity, and builds on it as a strength.
Citizens on the losing side of the LRT debate complained that their views were ignored. Regional Council countered that they had consulted extensively. While many Council meetings were given over to citizen delegations, it’s evident that this model of consultation was more frustrating for all parties than it was helpful. A truly open and inclusive government engages in real conversations and collaboration,
and this requires outreach, listening, communicating, trusting and empowering.
The reasons that citizens feel disengaged from government are varied and complex. Obvious fixes like making materials and meetings accessible for people with physical disabilities, or translating documents for people with language barriers, are important, but don’t go far enough. Regional Council should be prepared to do its business differently in order to overcome social and cultural issues leading to distrust and exclusion. Council must reach out to unengaged communities to better understand how to help them to feel welcome and able to participate. It should begin by forming an engagement committee, comprised of members from the diversity communities that make up our region, and should work closely with the committee to develop an engagement strategy with measurable targets and deadlines.
True consultation requires conversations, and true conversations involve sharing of ideas – not just of information. They require active listening and giving and accepting of feedback, and they take time. Few citizens, and especially citizens who are marginalized and experience discrimination, are
comfortable making formal presentations to council in front of cameras and an audience. Informal conversation tables may be far less threatening and far more conducive to openness and collaboration.
It is a challenge, even for people who are politically aware and technologically savvy and who possess strong English language skills, to access and make use of the reams of technical information posted on the Region’s website about Council meeting schedules and decisions. Regional Council must reach out and actively invite citizens to attend upcoming meetings, using means such as social media, and
providing plain language summaries of the matters which will be addressed and the decisions which will be made.
For many people, the main impediments to their political engagement are their lack of trust of politicians and government, and their sense that they have nothing to offer or that the contributions that they can make will not be valued. Regional Council should build relationships with its citizens by
ensuring that the information Council provides is balanced and objective, that its work is open and accountable, and that its consultations are conducted with a clear goal of shared problem-solving and decision-making.