THE DOCUMENTARY

Party discipline is the driving force behind how democracy works – or doesn’t work – in British Columbia and most of the rest of Canada between elections. But you could be forgiven for not knowing anything about it.

Here’s how our system of government supposedly functions: elected representatives (MPs, MLAs or MPPs) from each party go behind closed doors to discuss the decisions they’re taking as a party. They then leave those private cabinet and caucus meetings with a position each has agreed to publicly uphold – even if they personally disagree with it.

That discipline means a party with a majority of seats in the legislature has the power to do whatever it wants. It also means the real debates in provincial and federal politics don’t happen on the floor of the legislature. Instead, they happen in the backrooms.

But the problem is we don’t know if those real debates are taking place. That’s because politicians are forbidden from talking about those backroom meetings – another part of party discipline.

This documentary sheds light on that secretive system, revealing how much of a say our elected officials have in the backrooms and why they don’t speak up when their conscience and constituents are at odds with their party.

You can watch it online at the Cable Public Affairs Channel’s Website.