Thursday, June 12, 1997

OTTAWA - Today, in the wake of the 36th federal election and as the new Cabinet meets for the first time, Democracy Watch called on the new Liberal government to enact a government-wide guideline that will ensure meaningful public consultation takes place before any government decisions.

"Given that the Liberals have set records for lack of support for a majority government in Canada," said Duff Conacher, Coordinator of Democracy Watch, "It is high time that the government takes steps to ensure meaningful opportunities for citizens to participate in government decision-making. This government must go beyond public opinion polls and town-hall meetings and ensure that it is citizen-driven."

Among the records the Liberals set in this election, compared to the last 35 federal elections (back to 1867), are the following:

• the Liberals received the lowest popular vote (38.36%) since Confederation for a party forming a majority government (next lowest was 40.9% in the 1945 federal election; highest ever was 57% in 1917);
• taking into account the voter turnout (66.7% -- the lowest since 1925), the lowest number (25.57%) of eligible voters since Confederation actually cast a ballot for the party forming the majority government; and
• the Liberals won the second lowest percentage of seats (51.5%) ever for a party forming a majority government in Canada (only the 1945 government won a lower percentage (51%); highest ever was 78.5% in 1958);
• the Liberals did not receive a majority of the popular vote in any province or territory (their highest popular vote was in Ontario (49%); their lowest was in the Yukon (22%)).

In addition, 22 of the winning Liberal candidates won their seats by a margin of less than 10% of the ballots cast. "It will be up to the Liberals to prove that the actions they take are in the public interest and supported by Canadians," said Conacher. "If they fail to keep promises, including promises from the 1993 campaign which they have not yet acted on, or if they cater to corporate or special interests, the Liberals will only encourage already rampant voter cynicism."