Citizens' Assemblies: A Snapshot
At times, Fair Vote Canada may advocate for a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. We may also support citizens’ assemblies provincially.
A Citizens’ Assembly is a non-partisan, independent body that makes recommendations to the legislature.
Learning about the proportional systems, including how they can be tailored for Canada, requires that a Citizens’ Assembly be given sufficient time, resources and access to experts, including those from Canada and those with firsthand experience of proportional representation systems.
A 2022 EKOS poll showed that 76% of Canadians would support a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.
Learn more about how citizens’ assemblies work below.
Citizens’ Assembly 101: Video
What is a Citizens’ Assembly?
A citizens’ assembly is a body of citizens formed to deliberate on an important policy issue.
Citizens’ assemblies are based on evidence that when given the knowledge, resources and time, citizens can find solutions to complex and controversial issues.
Who is on a Citizens’ Assembly?
A citizens’ assembly is a “mini public”. The citizens are selected like a jury with steps taken to ensure the assembly is demographically representative of the population – by age, gender, region, education level etc.
What happens at a Citizens’ Assembly?
Participants move through the following stages:
- learn from experts and evidence
- consult the public
- hear from stakeholders
- discuss the evidence and carefully weigh the options (deliberation)
- Usually come to a consensus recommendation (not necessarily unanimity).
Who runs a Citizens’ Assembly?
A citizens’ assembly may be commissioned by the government but it is run by an independent, non-partisan body that specializes in deliberative processes.
In Canada, most processes like this are run by MassLBP, which has run hundreds of processes for various levels of government and other organizations.
On a federal level, they ran the Citizen’s Reference Panel on Pharmacare in 2017 and the Citizens Assembly on Democratic Expression.
Around the world, there have been hundreds of citizens’ processes based on the citizens’ assembly model over the past decade.
Role of the government
The government needs to fully fund and publicize the assembly so the public knows the process is happening, that it is made up of “people just like me”, that they can engage in the consultations and follow the Assembly’s work closely if they choose.
Benefits of Citizens’ Assemblies for governments and public
- Better policy outcomes from informed citizen deliberation rather than public opinion
- Greater legitimacy to make hard choices
- Enhanced public trust by giving citizens an effective role in decision-making
- Governance which is more inclusive to a more diverse group of people
- Protection from undue influence on decision making by those with money and power
- Decisions made in an environment free of partisanship and misinformation
Learn more about citizens’ assemblies
National Poll Shows Strong Support for a Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform
Check out the 2022 EKOS national poll showing 76% of Canadians would back a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. This includes 73% of Liberal voters, 69% of Conservative voters, 84% of NDP voters, 91% of Green voters, 88% of Bloc voters, and 72% of People’s Party voters.
Watch Shoni Field talk about her experience on the BC Citizens’ Assembly
In this video, Shoni talks about her experience on the BC Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform – why and how it worked.
National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform Website
Learn more about the campaign for a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform on the National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform website.
Citizens’ assemblies are shaking up the status quo in Ireland—and getting results
Learn about how citizens’ assemblies are being used in Ireland to tackle the toughest issues. All the major parties now support citizens’ assemblies to enhance democracy and guide policy choices.
