The following I just sent off to the Justin Trudeau campaign. However, it might equally have been sent to other candidates running for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. In reading Justin Trudeau’s policy regarding electoral reform, I came across the following comment: “I do not support proportional
Continue readingTag: Democratic Reform
Challenging the Commonplace: LPC Leader Candidates Confused over Voting Systems & Ballots
The following I just sent off to the Justin Trudeau campaign. However, it might equally have been sent to other candidates running for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. In reading Justin Trudeau’s policy regarding electoral reform, I came across the following comment: “I do not support proportional
Continue readingImpolitical: From the emails
From the email inbox yesterday, a Liberal reacts to the debate (via blindcopy to me and submitted for publication elsewhere): Joyce Murray Justin Trudeau Leadership candidates, Liberal Party of Canada c. Elizabeth May, Leader, Green Party of Canada OPEN LETTER Dear leadership candidates: All praise to two western opposition MPs
Continue readingNot an Official Green Party Canada Site: Conservative Strategy to demonise the Courts?
The Liberal – Activist enemy? I have noticed something odd about the legislative agenda of the Conservative Party. Hey, I ain’t no lawyer, but it has struck me repeatedly that the Conservatives have been crafting legislation that would quickly be thrown out by the courts. It has struck others as
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Bravery and Democracy #nlpoli
“It is easy to be an armchair critic, tweeted natural resources minister Jerome Kennedy before Christmas, “but It takes real courage to stand for election.” In another context, John Steele offered this opinion about your humble e-scribbler.: “One thing that I respect about Ed is, he’s got balls enough to
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On bad bets
It’s been glaringly obvious to those of us paying attention that the Cons have set up plenty of means to keep dictating the terms of Canadian politics from beyond the political grave – with the most obvious being their continued stacking of the Senate …
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2013 Roundup
One might have thought that the final days of municipal elections around the province would make for a relatively quiet stretch in the Saskatchewan NDP leadership campaign. But instead, it looks like most of the campaigns are neatly using greater public awareness of politics generally to build interest in the
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Another sign of the democratic deficit #nlpoli
If you have a few minutes to spare, flip through the provincial government’s 2012 budget. Look for the work “donation”. You won’t find it. Nor will you find any amount of money set aside in the health department budget that would cover a donation by the provincial government to health
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content for your Friday reading. – The Cons’ latest line of talking-point addiction isn’t passing without some substantial comment from Canada’s political press. Today, Jeffrey Simpson lambastes Stephen Harper and his party for trying to wipe out their own history and promises, while Dan Gardner considers the Cons to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Democratic Renewal
I just got back from my Algonquin trip, so just a very brief post. In skimming today’s Star, there is a very interesting piece by Bob Hepburn on efforts at democratic renewal in Canada to combat the ongoing Harper attack on citizen engagement and voter participation. Small seeds can yield
Continue readingImpolitical: Ranked ballot system a possibility in Toronto’s future
A significant democratic reform initiative could be on its way in Canada’s biggest city: “Ranked ballots for 2018? Toronto city council may vote on changing its election system.” This would have a few advantages, some cited in the report: At present, a widely disliked councillor can be re-elected with the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Rick Salutin on Proportional Representation
The problem with parties is they don’t exist to represent the views of the public, or even sections of it, or even their own members. Maybe they once did, or maybe not. But now they exist to win elections. They’re “election-day organizations,” to quote political scientist Donald Savoie. They take
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Roy Romanow comments on Medicare as a major part of Canada’s identity: The achievement of universal health care took a long, acrimonious and protracted road. It is no surprise to me that Saskatchewan was at the forefront of this journey. The province’s
Continue readingNot an Official Green Party Canada Site: Complete Game Changer for the Liberal Party: ‘Supporter’ votes for Leadership.
I am betting that very few people indeed have given much thought to the Liberal Party’s new ‘supporter’ category of membership. I guess I can see why. Most Liberals thrive on the ins and outs, the manoeuvering and machinations of Leadership politics. The media are even more enthralled, as can
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Collins beats Kazakhstan #nlpoli
From a second rebuttal to justice minister Felix Collins, right (not exactly as illustrated) from the Center for Law and Democracy: In a speech to the House of Assembly on 14 June 2012, Collins used derogatory terms to refer to CLD, and claimed we had financial motives in publicising our
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: The Stacked House Filibuster #nlpoli
Democracy is a beautiful thing. The people of Newfoundland and Labrador are witnessing its full beauty in the filibuster against the Conservative government’s latest assault on openness, transparency and accountability. The opposition parties are into the second day of almost continuous debate on a bill that would gut the public’s
Continue readingWill recall remain a priority for a Wildrose government?
Democratic reform is a popular part of opposition party platforms, especially for populist parties who are trying to toss out a long standing party in power that is seen to have accountability issues. And so it goes for the 2012 Alberta general election. The Wildrose party is attempting to push
Continue readingWill recall remain a priority for a Wildrose government?
Democratic reform is a popular part of opposition party platforms, especially for populist parties who are trying to toss out a long standing party in power that is seen to have accountability issues. And so it goes for the 2012 Alberta general election. The Wildrose party is attempting to push aside the Progressive Conservatives whom … Continue reading Will recall remain a priority for a Wildrose government? →
Continue readingPop The Stack: Our Democracy is Leaving on a Jet Plane
This latest article by Andrew Coyne on the F-35 fiasco gave me chills, it’s a must read for anyone who still believes in honest, representative government. See this excellent article by Brian Stewart for more background on the growing secrecy in recent years surrounding the F-35 purchase and other activities at
Continue readingPop The Stack: Our Democracy is Leaving on a Jet Plane
This latest article by Andrew Coyne on the F-35 fiasco gave me chills, it’s a must read for anyone who still believes in honest, representative government. See this excellent article by Brian Stewart for more background on the growing secrecy in recent years surrounding the F-35 purchase and other activities at
Continue reading