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.