A Participatory Budgeting Model for Canadian Cities

____________________________________________________________________ ii Chapter 1_____________________________________________________________________1 1. Towards Improving Representative Democracy in Canada _____________________________ 1 1.1. Defining Democracy: A “Dynamic Balance” ______________________________________________1 1.2. The Contemporary Model: Representative Democracy _____________________________________3 1.3. Criticisms of Representative Democracy _________________________________________________4 1.3.1. Voting __________________________________________________________________________4 1.3.2. Pluralism________________________________________________________________________6 1.4. Participatory Reforms: A Means To Improve Representation? ______________________________8 1.4.1. Participatory Democracy Improves Citizenship__________________________________________8 1.4.2. Participatory Democracy Improves Decision-Making _____________________________________9 1.4.3. Criticisms of Participatory Democracy _______________________________________________10 1.5. Cities: The Ideal Venue For Experiments In Participatory Democracy _______________________10 Chapter 2____________________________________________________________________12 2. Participatory Budgeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil _____________________________________ 12 2.1. A Short History of Port Alegre, Brazil __________________________________________________12 2.2. The Participatory Budgeting Process ___________________________________________________13 2.2.1. Sizeable Participation in the Participatory Budget Process________________________________18 2.2.2. Participatory Budgeting Produces Significant Social and Political Results ___________________19 2.3. Criticisms of the Participatory Budgeting Process ________________________________________20 2.3.1. Patronage in Participatory Budget Decision-Making Process______________________________20 2.3.2. The Participatory Budget Process Usurps the Power of the Chamber of Deputies ______________20 2.3.3. Rubber-stamping Government Initiatives at Thematic Meetings ____________________________21 2.3.4. The “Too-Many-Meetings” Problem _________________________________________________22 2.3.5. Popular Movement Co-option_______________________________________________________22 2.3.6. Fragmentation of the Popular Movement______________________________________________23 2.3.7. Participatory Budgeting Is Not Sustainable During Times of Fiscal Restraint _________________23 2.3.8. Decentralization Will Diminish Budget Control, Efficiency and Planning_____________________23 2.4. Conclusions ________________________________________________________________________24 Chapter 3____________________________________________________________________25 3. The Salford Budget Matrix Study _________________________________________________ 25 3.1. Overview of the Salford PB Model _____________________________________________________25 3.2. The Salford Budget Matrix System_____________________________________________________27 3.3. Critical Analysis of the Salford Budget Matrix Study______________________________________29 3.3.1. Geographical Boundary Selection ___________________________________________________29 3.3.2. Unclear Priority Identification ______________________________________________________30 3.3.3. Unfair Budget Matrix Weighting Mechanisms __________________________________________30 3.3.4. Investment Fund Inefficiency _______________________________________________________31 3.4. Conclusions ________________________________________________________________________32 Chapter 4____________________________________________________________________33 4. A Participatory Budget Model for Canadian Cities __________________________________ 33 4.1. Participatory Budgeting in Canada ____________________________________________________33 4.1.1. Conditions Required to Successfully Implement Participatory Budgeting _____________________33 4.1.2. Canadian Participatory Budgeting Challenges _________________________________________35 4.2. A Canadian Participatory Budgeting Model _____________________________________________36 4.2.1. Phase 1 – Preparation and Mobilization (January-April) _________________________________37 4.2.2. Phase 2 – District PB Meeting (May/June) ____________________________________________39 4.2.3. Phase 3 – Budget Matrix and Project Development (May-September) _______________________39 4.2.3.1. The Budget Matrix (May/June)__________________________________________________39