I'd say not for democracy, but they are losing respect for any hope that democracy will be used properly now that our parties are pitted against one another and treat it like a hockey game.  An elbow here, a slash there, as long as you're not caught (and even if you are, the penalties are light) you can win. 

I'd dare someone to offer something better as a system of government - (speak up loud and clear please!)  I respect it as the right way to organize the voices of a nation, but these days, we've handcuffed the good guys and ushered the creeps to the top where they get to treat democracy as window-dressing.

The GOVERNMENT is losing its respect for democracy.  It's a fine and wonderful thing when it works.

Follow up-----how do we know what level of "respect" Canadians had for democracy in the first place?

I heard CBC interviews on street yesterday of person after person in Toronto who didn't even know there was an election for premier in Oct. and don't plan on voting. I would call that losing respect when people around the world (esp. the Middle East) are dying for the right to vote!!

There is NOT an election for premier in any province.  There is are elections for the LEgislative Assembly/Provincial Parlimen (Ontario)/National Assembly (Quebec).  ANd after those elections the person who has teh support of the most members of the House is invited to form a government.  BUt just like we do not elect a Prime Minister we do not elect Premiers

With the exception of Alberta which has never had democracy and doesn't seem to need it as they have Texas as an ally and the Canadian democratic system surrounding them ( rather like getting everyone else to get the polio shot and not getting one yourself)

Canadians get and like democracy.

However, we have crime running the gov't which doesn't like democracy.  The criminal overlord posterboy is Harper, who is like a Gretzky, you don't get to touch him.

What is interesting to us social democrats in the west is that the backlash to crime organizing government, its master and past master, Quebec has had a backlash of the people and taken on the NDP.  It will be interesting to see  how the NDP negotiates this.  It could quickly become another Social Credit. It may kill the party.  It may not.  Quebecois may understand what social liberation and social democracy truly is, but my guess is that they are too used to having it all done for them by an intangible bureaucratic hierarchy financed by old-boy criminal deals.

However, we are fortunate to have the Green Party in the wings. 

Just to speak pragmatically as a follower and reader of Canadian politics and history.  I also am not pretending people are who they are not.

I'm not sure Canadians have lost respect for democracy as a principle so much as lost respect for how it's done here in Canada.

Mendalla