Of What Difference? - National Abortion Federation

Trustees versus DelegatesLongley says legislators are “trustees”not “delegates”. Let’s examine the issue of“trustees” versus “delegates”• Under the delegate view, the legislatoracts simply as the “voice” of his or herconstituents.• Legislators are not to use their owndiscretion to make decisions. Theyare expected to represent constituentinterests on all issues at all times.• Standard to legislative voting (e.g.Legislators should cast their votesstrictly in accordance with thepreferences of their constituents).• Under the trustee view:– Constituents grant legislatorsrelatively wide latitude to makedecisions as legislators see fit.– This is justified on a number ofgrounds:– Legislators should be “leaders”and not “followers,”– Legislators must also servenational interests, and notsimply the interests of their ownconstituency.– No legislator should ever beforced to vote against his or herconscience on ethical and moralmatters• When Professor Longley discoveredthat MPs voting on the abortion issuedid not appear to be influenced bythe preferences of constituents, hedescribed it as evidence of “shirking”behaviour by legislators.– He’s wrong.• As elected officials, MPs are obligatedto uphold the Charter of Rights andFreedoms and protect the equal rightsof minorities. Human rights are notsubject to majority rule in a democracy.Role of an Elected Representative• Human rights are not subject tomajority rule in a democracy.• Should an MP represent theirconstituent’s views or their ownpersonal views on issues ascontentious as abortion?– The true role of the government andits MPs is to respect and supportwomen’s constitutional rightsby ensuring abortion access andfunding.– Politicians have no “right tochoose”—that is the sole domain ofwomen.The “Responsible” ElectedRepresentative:• ‘Representative democracy’• How do we know?• No $$$$ for polling• Town halls, tabulating phone calls,emails• Still a guess…– Was the question genuine?– Was the context explained?• The seduction of direct democracy…Miles to Go• Freedom, equality, safety• Dignity• Bias-free framework: Mary AnneBurke, Margrit Eichler; Global Forumfor Health Research• Research, trusted dataEqual Access?• Over half of abortions in Canada arestill done in hospitals because clinicsonly exist in the larger cities.61