Recent results reveal a low level of citizen inclusion. This is not unique to North Hatley \u2014 across Quebec, residents often highlight a lack of communication, inclusivity, and transparency. The outcome is a decline in civic engagement, weakening local democracy \u2014 the level of government that most directly shapes our daily lives. Here, participation means more than simply voting; it means helping to shape decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our elected officials are mandated to represent the population, yet that requires understanding residents\u2019 perspectives beyond council meetings. Too often, these sessions are limited to information delivery, with little to no exchange. Furthermore, minutes and audio recordings are sometimes released months later, making timely follow-up difficult. As a result, citizens often witness pre-decided outcomes, with questions answered sparingly and belatedly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Several measures could help bridge the gap between officials and citizens. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day to day, elected officials could strengthen ties by being more visible in the community, meeting directly with affected residents, and holding informal discussions (e.g., citizen caf\u00e9s, topic-based gatherings). Two \u201cmeet-and-greets\u201d before an election are not enough \u2014 genuine engagement must become a habit, not a public gesture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Better communication was already part of several officials\u2019 campaign commitments. It\u2019s now time to implement those promises \u2014 with clear timelines for publishing council documents, prompt meeting records, and public consultations before major decisions are finalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When will North Hatley see a truly participatory democracy? The coming months will show whether actions finally match words.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Overview Recent results reveal a low level of citizen inclusion. This is not unique to North Hatley \u2014 across Quebec, residents often highlight a lack of communication, inclusivity, and transparency. The outcome is a decline in civic engagement, weakening local democracy \u2014 the level of government that most directly shapes our daily lives. Here, participation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-municipality-en","category-opinion-en-2"],"yoast_head":"\nPractical levers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n\n\n\nFrom intent to action<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
An open question<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Do our elected officials wish to co-create decisions with citizens, or to move forward in isolation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n