Fed up with politics-as-usual? Most Canadians are. They (83%) want their MP to represent them and not a party in the House of Commons. Political parties, however, do not consider reforms that would shift significant power from them to citizens. Professor Lyon, breaking the party silence, "speaks" strongly in support of the interests of his fellow citizens.

Drawing on years of experience as a political activist and political scientist, he shows both why and how the desire of Canadians for this new form of representation should be acted on, now. He does this by presenting readers with a detailed model of the "new politics." He argues that adopting the model would establish the close collaborative relationship of citizens, their MPs, cabinet and civil servants needed to strengthen the performance of government.

Professor Lyon urges politicians to respect the desire of citizens for fundamental change. Party politics is, he states, l9th century politics, and fails to meet the needs of today.

Citizen politics for the 21st century is what he proposes and, he argues, Canada stands on the cusp of making the change to them.