Parachuted Candidates, Power Plays, and the Erosion of Democracy

Parachuted Candidates, Power Plays, and the Erosion of Democracy By Lisa Robinson As Canada heads into the upcoming federal election, a disturbing trend is emerging across all levels of government—one that undermines the very foundation of our democratic system. In many municipalities, including Pickering-Brooklin, candidates are no longer being chosen by the people but are being parachuted in by centralized selection committees. This top-down approach strips local party members of their right to a genuine nomination process and replaces grassroots democracy with backroom deals. In Pickering-Brooklin, the candidate selection committee has already imposed its choice on the community, leaving voters with zero say. Adding insult to injury, the chosen candidate doesn’t even live in Pickering or Brooklin. How can someone who has no real connection to the community’s needs and values be expected to represent its interests in Parliament? This blatant disregard for local representation is not only undemocratic—it is symptomatic of a broader systemic decay. The erosion of democracy does not stop at the federal level. Our municipal governments are increasingly engaging in political power plays that further undermine our right to self-governance. In Pickering and other cities across the country, municipal officials are lobbying the provincial government to amend the Municipal Act, thereby granting themselves the authority to remove elected officials who dare to challenge the status quo. This alarming trend threatens to concentrate power in the hands of a few, making it easier to silence dissent and erase accountability. When the mechanisms for selecting representatives and holding them accountable are manipulated by political insiders, our entire democratic process is put at risk. Local nomination contests have historically been a cornerstone of community engagement, ensuring that elected leaders truly reflect the concerns and aspirations of their constituents. But when candidates are parachuted in and local voices are muzzled by legislative changes, we are left with a system where power is not derived from the people—it is imposed upon them. This is not just a problem of policy; it is a direct assault on our democratic ideals. The practice of choosing candidates without the input of local party members, combined with efforts to strip elected officials of their ability to represent their communities effectively, signals a dangerous move towards centralized control. The creeping erosion of local democracy is a harbinger of a future where power is consolidated away from the voters and into the hands of political elites, who operate in secrecy and with minimal accountability. The implications are profound. When decisions about representation are made behind closed doors, the trust that citizens place in their government is shattered. Our democracy—the very system designed to ensure that power is distributed equitably among the people—begins to crumble from within. This trend is particularly evident in our own backyards, where communities like Pickering are witnessing first-hand how democratic processes are being subverted by both federal party policies and municipal power plays. The future we are hurtling toward is not one where Canadians have a meaningful say in their government. Instead, it is a future in which our representatives are selected not by the people, but by political insiders, and where elected officials can be unceremoniously removed for daring to disagree with those in power. This is not the Canada we want. Democracy is failing us at every level—from the federal corridors of power to the municipal councils that once served as the bedrock of local representation. The time to confront this assault on democracy is now. We must shine a light on these practices, expose the backroom deals, and demand accountability from those who would strip away our rights. While the candidate for Pickering-Brooklin has already been imposed upon us and legislative moves are underway to further erode local control, we cannot remain silent. Our democracy is in peril, and unless we wake up to this grim reality, the future of local representation will be decided by power brokers far removed from the people they claim to serve. Canadians deserve better. The future of our nation depends on restoring genuine democratic processes and ensuring that every vote, every voice, and every community truly matters. The time for change is overdue, and the fight to reclaim our democracy has only just begun. I am Councillor Lisa Robinson, The People’s Councillor