The Harperites didn’t consult Marc Mayrand when they drew up their election “reforms.” And there was a reason they did everything they could to prevent him from testifying before the parliamentary committee looking into those reforms. But testify he did. And, Andrew Coyne writes, he shredded the bill: The chief
Continue readingTag: The "Fair" Elections Act
Politics and its Discontents: David Christopherson Rebukes Disruptive Tory Tactics; Pierre Poilievre Reassures All
Although the Opposition had been guaranteed uninterrupted testimony from Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand on the ‘Fair’ Elections Act, they didn’t get it. David Christopherson, NDP MP from Hamilton Centre, offered this trenchant rebuke: Meanwhile, on Power and Politics, Minister of State for Democratic Reform Pierre Poilevre made it clear
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Ed Broadbent Addresses The "Fair’ Elections Act
I write this blog for a number of reasons, the most important one being the hope that I might contribute a little something to the general body of knowledge on political and social issues. The progressive blogosphere seems especially well-informed, and I often find myself reading sources and commentary that
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On Democracy And Political Leadership
I have a somewhat busy morning ahead, so for the time being I offer the following: Is the answer to things like this, this? Re Manning Takes Aim at Tory Election Bill (March 3): The Conservatives’ Fair Elections Act is anything but. Instead, it’s about ensuring they’ll form another majority
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Some Days A Reactionary Just Can’t Catch A Break
At least if you are a reactionary in the Harper vein. First came the bad polling news showing increasing numbers of Canadians growing increasingly suspicious and weary of the relentless divide-and-conquer tactics of the so-called master tactician. Then came some stinging rebukes from that old icon of conservatism, Preston Manning,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: This Just In!
And it is very encouraging, in that it appears Canadians are beginning to wake up to the true nature of the Harper regime: Nearly two-thirds of Canadians believe that the ruling Conservatives are settling political scores with their Fair Elections Act, a new poll has found. You can read all
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Last Night’s At Issue Panel
The comments of guest panelist Althia Raj, from The Huffington Post, are worth the price of admission here as she declares, in no uncertain terms, that The Fair Elections Act is legislation aimed at voter suppression. In reaction, the attempt at stoicism by Peter Mansbridge, currently embroiled in his own
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Legislating Apathy
Yesterday, the Harper Party moved to limit debate on its so called Fair Elections Act. Three days, they said, is all it should take to debate the bill. The reason for the three day limit is abundantly clear: the longer the bill is exposed to sunlight, the more its real
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