Democracy is too expensive is a poor argument
There are lots of good arguments you can make that just adding more and more seats to the House of Commons to address shifting populations is a bad idea. For…
Jeff Jedras
Why Sheila Copps nearly made me scream at work
I should really turn off Twitter when I'm on the phone at work, because when I scanned my feed during a down moment in a conference call this afternoon and…
Primaries and mustaches
As promised earlier, I've written about the Liberal executive's open primary leadership election proposal. You've got to go over to Macleans.ca to read it though; I'll be occasionally writing for…
We need to make a Liberal membership worth having
I’m working on a piece about the Liberal executive’s open primary proposal that will hopefully run Friday, but rather than make it even longer I’d like to tackle some of…
What I’m looking for in a Liberal Party of Canada president
A key part of the Liberal Party of Canada’s reform process will be electing the next national executive at the biennial convention in January, and I’m glad to see we…
Are NDP leadership candidates showing up for work?
The proverbial "knock-out punch" in a political debate is a largely fictional, media-driven phenomenon. At best, it's rare. But if there was one during the leaders debate in this spring's…
“Occupy a voting booth” retort to protesters misses the point
I’m the last person to discourage someone from voting and getting involved in the organized political process. I joined a political party at age 16, and I’ve voted in every…
It won’t end with killing the gun registry
I won't bother writing a long obituary on the coming death of the long gun registry; I've made all my arguments previously and the issues pro and con have been…
It’s Jersey Shore meets The West Wing…
In another of those coming of the Apocalypse signs, the people that brought you (not me, as I don't watch it) The Jersey Shore are casting for a political reality…
Phoenix Coyotes vs. Winnipeg Jets
When I saw that the Coyotes would be playing their home-opener vs. the Winnipeg Jets the day after I was scheduled to leave Phoenix on my work trip, I knew…
The myth of the positive 2011 NDP campaign
There seems to be this impression out there that the 2011 NDP election campaign was all sunshine and lollipops. NDP leadership contender Brian Topp sought to re-enforce that impression yesterday,…
More belated political musings
I write this from Arizona, where I've been attending a work conference this week in the Phoenix area. I'm staying through the weekend to see some hockey, as the Coyotes…
Apparently the Liberals are dead. Who knew?
Like clockwork, there's been another rash of obituaries written proclaiming the death of the Liberal Party of Canada. And what they lack in actual data points and evidence, they attempt…
Why politics is stupid much of the time: the flip-flop attack
Trying to save is drowning campaign the day before e-day, Ontario C leader (I've redacted the P) Tim Hudak was in Mississauga today, where he used Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty's…
Stéphane Dion on senate reform
I've long argued that the Conservative strategy on Senate reform is deeply flawed, and bad for both Western Canada and effective governance.With debate underway on the latest Conservative Senate reform…
Belated random thoughts on political happenings
I've found myself too busy with work and what not lately to be blogging as much as I should be, so here's some short random thoughts on recent events until…
Will anyone stand-up for equality of parliamentary representation?
With our parliamentarians having returned to Ottawa this week, it seems appropriate to turn our attention to just how our parliament is composed. Representation in the House of Commons is…
Fundamental myths about the Liberal Party and the interim leader
Let me start by making one thing perfectly clear: there is no rule that prevents interim Liberal leader Bob Rae from deciding to seek the permanent leadership of the Liberal…
There can be no shortcuts for the Liberal Party
The Liberal Party of Canada's summer caucus meetings begin today in Ottawa, and I've already heard some rumblings and musings from those quarters that give me pause, and cause for…
We have, and need, more Jacks
As we begin to move forward now with Jack Layton's celebration of life behind us, and as we consider what his lasting legacy will be, I think it would be…