Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Andrew Coyne sees the disproportionate influence wielded by the representatives elected by a minority of voters in Canada and the U.S. as evidence that both countries should move toward proportional representation: Two systems, both dysfunctional, in opposing ways. Is there nevertheless a common
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The Cracked Crystal Ball II: Harper: Bringing New Levels Of Accountable Government To You
It comes as no surprise that The Harper Government has spent a great deal of time and energy doing its level best to be as unaccountable as possible to voters. So it comes as little surprise that Suzanne Legault, The Information Commissioner of Canada is less than impressed with the games
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Tavia Grant reports on the most recent world happiness report from the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. And David Doorey points out a rather striking similarity among the countries at the top of the list, while Dan Gardner highlights Stephen Harper’s longstanding
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Lana Payne discusses Unifor’s goals in the wake of its founding convention: The hope is that, collectively, working people can push back in new and profound ways against what has been a decades-long, anti-worker agenda perpetuated by both governments and corporations. But just
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Stephen Harper Proroguing Parliament “To Avoid Accountability”
The opposition says PM Stephen Harper is proroguing Parliament to kill a tumultuous session that saw his Conservative government rocked by the Senate expense scandal. The post Stephen Harper Proroguing Parliament “To Avoid Accountability” appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Harper Gvt Withholds Docs on Controversial Canadian Mining Company: United Steelworkers
by: United Steelworkers | Press Release: TORONTO, July 11, 2013 – The United Steelworkers (USW) union is asking federal Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault to investigate the Conservative government’s failure, for more than eight months, to release information on a Canadian mining company’s controversial operations in Mexico. “This case reflects a
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: How Harper Made The Senate More Accountable, Even If Just A Little
If Justin Beiber was in the Canadian Senate it would be the most watched institution in all of government, and, undoubtedly, the most accountable.For if the Biebs walked down the Ottawan red carpet into that similarly coloured chamber, his every action…
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: How Harper Made The Senate More Accountable, Even If Just A Little
If Justin Beiber was in the Canadian Senate it would be the most watched institution in all of government, and, undoubtedly, the most accountable. For if the Biebs walked down the Ottawan red carpet into that similarly coloured chamber, his every action would be televised, sensationalized, and scrutinized. There wouldn’t
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: How Harper Made The Senate More Accountable, Even If Just A Little
If Justin Beiber was in the Canadian Senate it would be the most watched institution in all of government, and, undoubtedly, the most accountable. For if the Biebs walked down the Ottawan red carpet into that similarly coloured chamber, his every action would be televised, sensationalized, and scrutinized. There wouldn’t
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Murray Dobbin contrasts the B.C. NDP’s recent election loss against the type of popular focus which helped Saskatchewan’s CCF to earn a twenty-year stay in office in the face of far more hysterical opposition: You can design a campaign that projects a
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Justin Ling writes that the Cons’ aversion to accountability isn’t limited to their own government, as they’re one of the few holdouts against transparency in resource-sector reporting of payments to governments abroad. – Meanwhile, Stuart Trew discusses an international citizens’ initiative to
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On party positioning
Leaving aside whether Stephen Harper’s previously-undisclosed media monitoring is actually right in substance, Brian Jean isn’t entirely wrong as to why he and other Con MPs are facing it: Conservative MP Brian Jean, who is on the list, said he’s not sure why he was flagged, but also said he
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Arthur Haberman argues that our universal public health care system helps contribute to a more democratic society: There is something that political philosophers — those like Tocqueville and Mill in the 19th century — have come to call living democratically. By this it
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Normalizing secrecy
I haven’t commented yet on the story surrounding Tom Mulcair’s request for basic investigation into back-channel information between the Trudeau government and the Supreme Court of Canada – which seems best classified as a minor but reasonable request which has been blown out of proportion. But I’ll take a moment
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Federal Court dismisses former PBO Kevin Page’s application
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: The Federal Court of Canada has dismissed a request by former Parliamentary Budget Officer, Kevin Page, to clarify the office’s mandate. In his application, Page had also sought ”judgment affirming he has the jurisdiction to seek the information” relating to the $5.2 billion in fiscal savings outlined in
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Appalled by Harper’s decision to kill the Health Council of Canada
Council of Canadians denounces Harper decision to kill the Health Council of Canada By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: Canada`s leading progressive citizen’s advocacy group says it`s appalled by Harper’s decision to kill the Health Council of Canada. In a press release issued earlier this week, the Council of Canadians said it’s “sadly not shocked” by
Continue readingAlex's Blog: Celebrating Public Service
Public servants celebrating the enrolment of 5 million citizens in the Ontario Hospital Insurance Plan (1959, Archives of Ontario) Notes for talk at Public Policy Forum Dinner, April 11, 2013 I am delighted to be here with family, friends and colleagues this evening – an evening that can only be
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