Does your vote count? Not as much as it should

When most Canadians mark their X at election time, they are hoping to elect people who will make a difference.

But documentary producer Paul Kemp, in his new book Does Your Vote Count?, contends most federal politicians often have little power to make changes once they get to Ottawa.

"There is a complete disconnect between what we think our MPs do and what they actually do when they get to Parliament," Kemp said in an interview at a Halifax coffee shop. "I think that the influence that they have over the whole policy agenda of the government is very limited."

He said the power base in Parliament lies with a few people, leaving the other MPs in the cold. Kemp's book taps into feeling about the way the party system works through interviews with dozens of current and former politicians.

John Nunziata, who served as both a Liberal and Independent MP, summed up party loyalty this way:

"Team player is code for a trained seal," Nunziata tells Kemp. "If being a team player means being a trained seal and an irrelevant government backbencher, then who wants to be one? The prime minister exercises power in a dictatorial fashion, punishing MPs that don't tow the party line."

Former Liberal MP George Baker said in his 28 years in the Commons he watched power drained from MPs.

"If you're not on the whip's list or if you are out of favour with your political party, you can't even speak, let alone ask a question in question period."

He said members 30 years ago could rise to their feet and be recognized by the Speaker.

"All of the MPs would be jumping up like jackrabbits," he said. "Today you go in to the House and the Speaker calls a name. The MP says 'Oh, is that my name?' because it's on the list."

In one chapter, Kemp talks to federal politicians about their love-hate relationship with the media. NDP MP Bill Blaikie, for example, recalled a time in the mid-1980s when he asked the government during question period what it was doing about a PCB spill in Kenora, Ont. He said his queries were constructive and information-seeking, but no one in the media picked up the story. The next day, he said, his questions were a bit tougher, but still no coverage.

On the third day, he went into question period with a game plan.

"I'll go in, I'll wave my hands around, raise hell, call for the resignation of the minister," Blaikie said. "That night I'm all over the news and everybody's saying 'Great job, Bill.' "

Kemp talks about first ministers' meetings as "little charades" for the media, when in fact much of the results have been arranged beforehand.

Despite much of the cynicism, Kemp said Canadians shouldn't forgo the last bit of power they do have in the political system.

"It's important that they vote because they can kick the bums out or support them."