Once again our hopes rise. Or do they? At their recent national policy convention the Liberals voted to back a citizens’ assembly on electoral reform. Specifically, the convention resolved that “the Liberal Party of Canada urge the Government of Canada to establish a non-partisan National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform
Continue readingTag: proportional representation
Song of the Watermelon: National Post Letter
Electoral reform opponents are once again pulling out the old Israel canard. I’ve responded with a letter attempting to set the record straight in today’s National Post: Electoral reform Re: Think you want electoral reform? Kelly McParland, July 9 According to Kelly McParland, “Israel has a proportional representation system of
Continue readingwmtc: electoral reform is way overdue (but ranked ballots won’t help)
Canada’s 2021 federal election made the case for proportional representation very plain. While Canada’s electoral system isn’t as insanely nondemocratic as the US’s winner-take-all (or “first-past-the-post”) by state, with the antiquated and antidemocratic electoral college intervening, it is still FPTP by riding. For US readers, ridings are roughly the equivalent
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Afternoon Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Katherine Wu writes about the much-needed update to COVID-19 vaccines coming this fall – and the challenge getting people to receive them after months of false messaging about the pandemic being over. – Steven Lewis discusses how the privatization of health care
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Geoff Thompson reports on new research showing that the cognitive decline caused by COVID-19 is worse than previously known, while the European Academy of Neurology finds a greater risk of neurodegenerative disorders. And the Economist reports on findings that the vaccine development and
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Can Proportional Representation Save Our Parliamentary Democracy
Parliament – Etymology The English term is derived from Anglo-Norman and dates to the 14th century, coming from the 11th century Old French parlement, “discussion, discourse”, from parler, meaning “to talk”.[2] The meaning evolved over time, originally referring to any discussion, conversation, or negotiation through various kinds of deliberative
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Evening Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Zak Vescera reports on leaked information showing that Saskatchewan’s COVID hospitalization rate has reached a record high just as Scott Moe decided to starve the public of information about the toll being taken by an ongoing pandemic. Meredith Wadman discusses the growing
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Post Election Calls For Electoral Reform
In the wake of voting for our 44th Parliament, there are numerous calls out there to move Canada to some form of Proportional Representation (PR). I am sympathetic to these calls for reform – our current system of elections really does not give us a government that reflects the diversity
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Katherine Wu, Ed Yong and Sarah Zhang set out six rules which will shape how we handle the next wave of COVID – including recognition that vaccination alone isn’t going to be sufficient to avoid a tragic human toll. – Yasmine Ghania reports
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: #Elxn44 Roundup
News and notes from the aftermath of Canada’s federal election. – Christo Aivalis is the latest to point out that nobody emerged from the election as a winner. And John Packer writes that there’s an ever-stronger case for a coalition government given the low level of popular support for the
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: #Elxn44 Roundup
The latest from Canada’s federal election campaign. – The Climate Emergency Alliance highlights the crucial climate change question which was left out of the federal debates – which is what parties will to do keep fossil fuel reserves in the ground when we manifestly can’t afford to exploit them. –
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The centennial of broken Liberal promises on PR
A recent newsletter from Fair Vote Canada reminded us that the Liberals have been promising proportional representation (PR) for 100 years. And not delivering. In 2021 we celebrate, if that’s the word, the centennial of broken promises. The Liberals 1921 campaign promise followed the party’s endorsement of single transferable vote,
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Singh writes a letter
Way back in 2004 the Liberals, led by Paul Martin, squeaked out an election win that resulted in a minority government. In order to remain in power, they needed the support of the NDP. Jack Layton, NDP leader, had said he would make proportional representation (PR) an ”absolute condition” for
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Jagmeet Singh Calling For a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform
Jagmeet Singh’s letter to Justin Trudeau calling for a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform by Fairvote Canada | Nov 5, 2020 Read the PDF copy of the letter Jagmeet Singh Read more… The post Jagmeet Singh Calling For a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform first appeared on richardhughes.ca.
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Greens cheated in B.C. election
The election in B.C. last Saturday should have elevated the Green Party to the status of power broker. It failed. The Greens’ 15 percent of the popular vote should have provided 13 seats in the legislature. It provided a grand total of three. The NDP’s 45 percent of the vote
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Calling all democrats
Every Canadian concerned about the quality of democracy in this country frets about the inability of our electoral system to do the thing it exists for—create a government that represents the people. We currently have a federal government formed by a party that only received the electoral support of a
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Vaughn Palmer discusses how British Columbia’s Site C megaproject had gone awry long before the coronavirus pandemic hit. And CBC News reports on new research showing that thousands of earthquakes can be traced to the province’s push toward fracking with no regard
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Afternoon Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Duncan Cameron writes that while the COVID-19 pandemic has been catastrophic, we shouldn’t pretend that it’s at all surprising – or that the necessary responses are in doubt: Though it has taken the world by surprise, the COVID-19 pandemic is a white
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Kate Aronoff offers a reminder that the right’s constant bleating about limiting government spending never applies to the cost of wars of choice. – Laura Glowacki reports on how Doug Ford’s choice to allow rent increases will only make matters worse for Ontario’s
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Bernie Sanders and Rashida Tlaib discuss Donald Trump’s holiday menu of serving the rich and feasting on the poor, while Paul Krugman comments on the cruelty of a Trump Christmas. And Nick Purdon and Leonardo Palleja tell the stories of people facing
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