Do you carefully consider issues and candidates before voting in a provincial election?

Do you trust yourself to read and hear paid messages from unions, non-profits, community organizations, businesses, individuals and other “third parties” on election issues, and still think for yourself when marking your ballot?

Do you trust your neighbours and friends to do the same?

Do you trust our youngest generation of adults to carry out their civic duties in a responsible manner? How about their parents?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, ask yourself what can and should be done about it?

If your answer is restrict-free-speech-before-and-during-elections, you are likely thrilled the British Columbia provincial government followed the lead of former Prime Minister Jean Chretien and legislated exactly that.

The government recently passed Bill 42 (dubbed the election-gag-law) which limits third party advertising about any political issue or candidate during the two months leading up to the writ being dropped, as well as during a provincial election campaign.

Citizens and organizations will be severely restricted in purchasing air time or print space to share their point of view before and during provincial elections.

It seems the provincial government’s answer to the trust question - whether they can trust the citizens to think critically and carefully when casting their votes in the next provincial election - is a resounding “no”.

Curiously, free speech before and during municipal elections appears unaffected. It seems we can still be trusted to think critically while casting our ballots for mayor, councilors and school trustees. Puzzling, when you consider far more citizens commit significantly more attention to provincial elections.

The motivation for the election-gag-law appears to be concern about the perceived influence of public policy advertising by well organized and funded organizations like the British Columbia Federation of Labour and the British Columbia Teachers Federation (BCTF).

Both of these organizations openly oppose the governing B.C. Liberals, and they have relatively deep pockets.

But, so what?

Critically thinking voters realize the BCTF represents the interests of public school teachers and that their point of view tends to be from the left side of the Canadian political spectrum.

Citizens need to remind their representatives that democracies do not limit free speech based on political perspective.

The BCTF does not hide its sponsorship of ads. Around every provincial election they spend significant dollars attempting to raise public awareness of issues important to the BCTF membership.

Ironically, if (as the muffling sections of Bill 42 seem to suggest) B.C. voters are short on civic engagement and critical thinking skills, then the logical starting point to address the deficit is education.

In fact, a real solution to the perceived problem of gullible voters (and one that is consistent with the freedoms many have fought hard to secure for Canadians) is clearly stated within the provincial government’s official 8-page mandate for B.C.'s K-12 school system: “Schools in the province assist in the development of citizens who are… thoughtful, able to learn and to think critically…capable of making independent decisions… aware of (their) rights and prepared to exercise (their) responsibilities…”

Is our publicly funding education system successfully implementing its mandate to prepare citizens for their civic responsibilities?

The short answer is "no".

Last fall, Polestar Communications conducted an independent review of the grade 8 to 12 B.C. social studies curriculum. Their report points to some concerns, “Fewer than a quarter (22 per cent) of educators feel that students have ample opportunity in required social studies courses to practice active citizenship, and many feel that the curriculum does not adequately help students feel connected to Canadian politics or develop the attitudes and abilities to be active participants in democratic society. Similarly, fewer than half of parents feel that adequate time and attention are devoted to developing students' citizenship skills or that students acquire a good grasp of how government works in our country from the social studies grades 8 to 11 curriculum.”

The Law Courts Education Society of B.C. began a 2-year assessment of B.C. law and citizenship curriculum in December 2007. The Ministry of Education is working with the project organizers and sits on their advisory committee along with representatives from several other organizations including the BCTF and the B.C. Principals and Vice Principals Association.

Anne Marie Goodfellow is the project manager, “Students are not graduating from high school with the requisite knowledge to be informed and active citizens. That is why so few vote once they reach the age of 18. It is because they don’t know what is going on or they think it doesn’t matter.”

As part of the current graduation requirements, students must successfully complete Socials 11, Civic Studies 11 or B.C. First Nations Studies 12.

Socials 11 is a content heavy course and includes some study of government and civics as well as some Canadian history post-1914. (Yes, it is possible to graduate from high school in BC without learning about most of our 20th century Canadian history including World Wars I and II.)

Developed in 2005, the aim of Civic Studies 11 is, “to enhance students’ abilities and willingness to participate actively and responsibly in civic life.”

It sounds like excellent preparation for civic engagement.

However, at least one B.C. school district (SD42 - Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows) did not offer Civic Studies 11 at any of its six secondary schools during the 2007/08 school year. Civics 11 will not be offered to SD42 public school students in 2008/09.

Goodfellow explains why we need to ensure every student graduates with a solid foundation in law and citizenship, "In order to make informed choices as citizens, individuals have to be familiar with the foundations of law. You can’t be a good citizen if you don’t know what the laws are and how your system operates."

"If you read something in the newspaper about what is happening in parliament, or a bill being passed, or a Supreme Court of Canada ruling, you should understand the implications and what it means to you. All of our students need to grasp the basic concepts."

Free speech is a hallmark of democracy and it should never ever be limited for trivial reasons such as a poorly educated population or a ruling government concerned about its prospects for re-election.

Back in 1820, Thomas Jefferson said it well, “"I know no safe depositary of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education.”

The BCTF has long paid for advertising to highlight their issues and concerns to the public. The ads elicit varying measures of support and opposition, but they also stimulate discussion and debate. The free exchange of opinions and ideas define a democracy, especially at election time.

The election-gag-law attempts to cure a symptom without addressing an underlying problem – a dearth of civics education.

This fall, Goodfellow’s group will be visiting schools to talk to teachers and students. In addition, materials will be posted on the internet for public feedback at http://www.bccitizenship.ca

It is past time to repair and strengthen the foundations of our democratic system, starting with B.C.’s citizenship curriculum.

Please get involved by investigating the state of civics education in your school district and in your schools, taking part in the review of civics and law curriculum and publicly sharing your opinion and ideas for improving the state of our democracy.

Even small things matter because they add up when repeated by many like minded citizens. For instance, if you have children or grandchildren, please make a point of having regular family discussions about government and politics.