The shape of democracy is Saanich could be on the verge of undergoing fundamental change. A pair of issues made their way to the council table this week that could have a dramatic impact on the way Saanich citizens are governed.
Council unanimously approved a motion Monday asking staff to prepare a report on alternate voting opportunities. The new measures, which could be in place by the November 2018 municipal election, could see mobile polling places as well as the ability for residents to cast their ballot at a drive-thru station.
Coun. Judy Brownoff is spearheading the effort, and points to the successful use of drive-thru voting stations in Regina and Calgary. We encourage council and staff to push ahead with this initiative, as anything that can be done to improve voter turnout – which was just under 35 per cent in the last municipal election – is a victory for the democratic process.
Monday’s meeting also saw council receive the final report of the Governance Review Citizen Advisory Committee. The focal point of that report is a recommendation calling for a two-term limit on councillors and the mayor.
“Term limits would resolve concerns we heard that councillors go past their ‘best before’ date, would permit fresh ideas and perspectives more frequently, and prevent what amounts to career politicians in Saanich,” according to the report.
While council and other democratic bodies can often benefit from the infusion of fresh blood, that is a decision best left to the will of the voters and not municipal legislation (a point acknowledged by the report). A term restriction would shut the door on eight-term councillor Brownoff, who brought forward the fresh idea of drive-thru voting, and would have seen the late Vic Derman forced to step back from the council table in 2008.
Politics might be the only career where experience is viewed as a detriment; very few airline passengers demand their pilot be replaced by someone fresh out of flight school. And one needs only look to the current occupant of the White House to see the potential drawbacks of political inexperience.