MPs say democracy is fraying in Canada — but there's hope

A number of MPs say Canada's democracy is under pressure on a number of fronts, thanks in part to the impacts of social media and extreme partisanship.

But the eight MPs who took part in a series of one-on-one interviews with CBC's The House over the summer also expressed a hope that changes to the Canadian system, and a deeper understanding of one another, could lead to better politics.

MPs from across the country sat down with CBC reporters for conversations in their home ridings. They aired as a special summer series on The House called "Backbenchers' backyards."

Many of the MPs said they're concerned about the role social media plays in democracy. Several argued it exacerbates differences and gets in the way of constructive conversations.

"This sounds like I'm an old man. And maybe I am. But if I could get rid of one thing in society, it would be the cell phone," said Conservative MP Stephen Ellis, who represents the riding of Cumberland-Colchester in Nova Scotia.

"Sadly, I use two of them every day."

Ellis also said this country doesn't do enough to teach children and young adults how to express sadness and hurt in ways that don't manifest as anger.

"We need to sit with people and we need to hear them. We need to hear what their words are and understand what their issues are," he said.

Christine Normandin, a Bloc Québécois MP representing Saint-Jean, also has a jaundiced view of the role social media plays in political life.

"I have a few colleagues of mine who were there in previous elections telling me that if they ever retire from politics, it's going to be for two reasons," she said.

"Either they will be old enough, or they will have enough of it because of social media."

Several MPs, including Normandin, said they're trying to combat isolation and other potential effects of social media in a simple way — by meeting people in person.

Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi, representing the Quebec riding of Pierrefonds-Dollard, said he thinks the 2021 election actually helped to bring more people together in a difficult time during the pandemic.

"Our social relationships were strained and I think the fabric of democracy also, as a result of not being in contact, was strained. And so the human contact through connecting with voters in election time … is extremely important," he said.