A couple of years ago, I expressed my disgust with partisan politics and proposed a model that is intended to break the connection between party discipline, insularity, and policy platforms. One of the first things Danielle Smith has proposed in the wake of the UCP being shut out in Edmonton
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Cowichan Conversations: Rafe: How our “democracy” really works – the charade of party politics and whipped caucuses
Rafe’s ‘Dick and Jane’ version of how democracy works is both cynical and timely in its’ irreverence and accuracy. Does it have to be this way? No, it does not. How do we change it? Read more…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On The Training of Marine Mammals (a.k.a. MPs)
As I mentioned in a blog post the other day, I am currently reading Tragedy in the Commons, a book that examines the gross deficits to be found in Canadian parliamentary democracy. One of the recurring complaints of the former MPs interviewed for the book is the lack of independence
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On testing principles
It’s obviously tempting for opposition parties to turn the recent spate of stories about difference of opinion within the Cons into a simple matter of “they’re not united”. But it’s well worth emphasizing the substance of the issues – and particularly questioning whether the MPs who are challenging their partymates
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: The Rumbling Begins?
Harper’s leadership is becoming increasingly shaky in the wake of the Senate Expenses scandal. Rick Mercer’s Rant this week hit the nail on the head as far as Harper’s denials in the House of Commons are concerned: “Either he is psychotic or he was in on it” Perhaps more interesting
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Sean Holman on Corky Evans-The Failure of Discipline
Former NDP MLA Corky Evans Sean Holman former ‘Public Eye Online’ blogger is now living in Calgary and teaching Journalism at the University of Alberta. More recently he produced the documentary ‘Whipped’ that reveals the real story of political control over elected officials. It has been welcomed by many politicos
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Parliamentarians and the yoke of party discipline
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending a screening of Whipped, a documentary on party discipline by former BC legislature reporter Sean Holman. You can now stream the doc on the CPAC web site, and it’s well worth a look. While it’s focused on Victoria and BC
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Whipped
For those who haven’t yet seen Whipped, Sean Holman’s documentary on party discipline in the B.C. legislature is now available through CPAC’s website. And it’s well worth a watch (particularly on a stormy Saturday). But I will point out that there may be an important distinction between an elected representative
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Whipped Votes, Floor Crossing, and the Perils of Party Discipline
In Ottawa’s latest uptick of political drama, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair called on MP Claude Patry to resign his seat Thursday, after the latter joined the Bloc Quebecois. Noting that Patry, while still a New Democrat, voted with the rest of the caucus last year to ban the practice of
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Provincial-Federal Politicians Neutered In Our Present System Of Party Discipline
John Van Dongen-Independent MLA Our Canadian Democracy has been hijacked by the political party system for far too long. Slowly but possibly surely politicians are speaking out, most often it is when they are on their way out the door. Not all wait until retirement. Former BC Liberal Cabinet Minister John
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Failures of Our Political Representatives
The other day over at Trapped in a Whirlpool, blogger Kev wrote a post entitled Irrelevant by Choice. In it, he lamented the failure ofParliamentary-backbenchers to do the job they were entrusted with, the representation of their constituents. He wro…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Hyer Ground
When Lise St. Denis decided last year to leave the Official Opposition to move down the opposition back benches, I noted that the most important issue was likely less her individual choice than whether it would lead to more MPs following suit. (Which of course it didn’t.) And to a
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