When choosing their ministry, a prime minister must balance many considerations as to who will sit in Cabinet. These include geographical, ethnic and to a lesser extent, religious considerations-but what about proper distribution of ministers according to age?
Traditionally, age has not been an important factor in deciding who makes the cut for Cabinet. Personal loyalties and long-time relationships outweigh the demands for equal representation of Cabinet ministers according to age.
This phenomenon, and the lack of representation for young people in the federal government, is the real democratic deficit facing Prime Minister Paul Martin and his team.
Without a concerted effort to attract young people to become candidates in the upcoming election expected this spring, an opportunity will have been missed to bring in an entire generation who consider politics to be an old man’s club.
In Canada, one in five people are between the ages of 20 and 34. By contrast, of the 169 Liberal MPs, none are between those same ages.
There are almost four times the total number of MPs in their 60s (68) as there are in their 30s (18). Only about six per cent of all MPs are younger then 39, while in Australia, that number is almost tripled at 17 per cent.
The average age in Parliament is 54 years old, which is relatively young compared with the average age of Cabinet of almost 56. In comparison, the average age of the Australian Ministry is 50 years old, which is coincidently the same average age as Brian Mulroney’s first Cabinet in 1984.
These statistics contribute to the declining participation of young people in politics. It is no wonder many of today’s younger generation are disconnected and alienated from Parliament, which is highlighted on Election Day.
For instance, the lowest recorded turnout in a Canadian federal general election as a percentage occurred during the 2000 campaign. These low numbers were repeated in the recent Ontario elections.
In Britain, it is estimated that 40 per cent of eligible voters between the ages of 18 to 24 cast a ballot in the 2001 campaign, while only 24 per cent of Canadian’s between those same ages voted during the 2000 election.
This shows that voter apathy has undoubtedly increased and is affecting many of today’s youth and their association with traditional political institutions such as Parliament, particularly in Canada.
There exists a growing gap between elected MPs and the constituents they claim to represent. This gap, between MPs and young adults, is a growing political problem that faces all parliamentarians and their respective parties.
In order to achieve greater involvement of young people in politics across Canada, it is imperative for young people to believe that they have a voice in Parliament and caucus that accurately represents their ideas and concerns to the government.
The prime minister has vowed to change the way things are done in our nation’s capital. If this promise is to be fulfilled, there ought to be a change in representation across Canada, with respect to Liberal candidates in the next election.
With Mr. Martin’s personal popularity across the country, he has the opportunity to use his power and influence to force retirement on those MPs who have served the public well and bring in individuals with a new enthusiasm and fresh perspective on the issues facing Canada.
The administrative changes that Mr. Martin has already put in place to address his democratic deficit, particularly those changes regarding the role of parliamentary secretary, maybe popular among current Liberal MPs, but there impact on the daily lives of Canadians is almost non-existent.
Since he has promised backbench MPs are going to be more involved and powerful in the policy process, it is appropriate that new people be brought into caucus, as they were into cabinet.
Although he should be commended for attempting to bring more people into the policy making process, structural changes to the representation that Canadian’s now have in the Liberal caucus are needed if the public is to become engaged in the issues facing Canada.
The naming of more quality younger candidates across the country will undoubtedly help reinvigorate many young people’s attitude towards political involvement and hence, public office.
The real democratic deficit should not be overlooked by the prime minister-as he now has the ability to improve the social problem of “Youth Alienation” we all face.
