Diane Francis and Direct Democracy!

Diane Francis is a high profile writer (for the Globe and Mail?). Back in February she wrote a powerful piece about the need for Direct Democracy in Ontario. This was predicated by the Drummond report about Ontario's fiscal mess. He gave 360 steps that the government should take to get things back in shape.
But, she says - will they? The big flaw in our system, she says is - representative democracy. She says that politicians buy our votes by over-spending - especially from pressure by the huge chunk of our voting public which belong to the public sector. This huge unionized group represents our country's single biggest   disadvantage , she says.
Only where voters in their particular jurisdiction can vote, when wanted, upon such questions as - "how much of a budget increase, if any, should the city?province?federal governments be permitted next year?" can discipline be imposed upon our politicians. It would actually make their lives easier, she says.
She refers to a relative, a mayor of a small municipality in the US where they permit direct democracy by his electorate, who was grateful for this sort of involvement by his voters recently.
It is a proven way to overcome profligacy.
We must find a way, here in Ontario, to have this direct involvement by   ultimately accountable citizens to get back control over their government.  Thank you Diane.

The Power of the People, Where is it in Canada?

Did you read that article by Bob Hepburn in the Toronto Star of Dec. 5? Democracy just is not working here. He effectively pointed out the relative inadequacy of your elected representative in pursuing your ideas or agenda. It is the party line  to which that  person more often must adhere, and for which he spends most of his time.  Nothing new there. It has been the way it works - since, when - 200 years ago when parties first evolved?
What Hepburn does not well answer, however, is just what , in this modern era, one can do about it.  He does suggest a few ideas - try talking to him or her, more, for example. A recent poll indicated that over 80% of Canadians are not happy with democracy, here. Hepburn noted that.
But he does not get to the real answer - which is to press for the implementation of Direct Democracy. Then, when enough individuals are concerned about an issue (to sign a petition towards answering the issue), referendums can be voted  upon by the people. If passed, such ideas must become law.
That is the way it is done, often, in  about 20 of the United States,   within all three levels of government in Switzerland, etc. But, we must get to the member to have it implemented within party policy first - before it will become law. Why not do that? Tell your member to make that as a part of its party policy - or you won't vote for  him or her at the next election. That would get some proper answers to the problem.  Democracy would actually work, as designed - the power of the people would prevail, not the power of the party.