Dion Proposes New Voting System
Monday’s election results in Alberta demonstrate once again the strange outcomes that our First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) voting system can create. A difference in vote percentage between 43% and 34% leads to…
politics
Beautiful…
…yet simultaneously disgusting. I hope Albertans are not covered by a similar storm of the narrow-minded insularism, negativism and cynicism exemplified by the Wildrose Party. And yes, I can make…
Identity Politics and Some Numbers
The No True Scotsman fallacy often appears in arguments about philosophy or religion. It has some bearing on the change that is about to engulf Alberta. The fallacy would sound…
Bob Rae for Leader – Imagining the Debate
Personally, I am all for Bob Rae running for leadership. That said, I can just imagine some of the debates. "Of course I admire the efforts of my honoured adversary…
As Ned Stark would say…
… winter is coming… Trashy, Ottawa, Ontario
Larry O’Brien Loves Glenn Beck
I don’t pay much attention to Larry O’Brien. I know he was Ottawa’s mayor, but he had no direct impact on me or my life. The only thing I paid…
Serves us right…
… I guess, for laughing at the winter weather that the West was getting while we basked in +25 temps a while back. Oops! Trashy, Ottawa, Ontario
Alberta Election Tomorrow!
With Alberta seeming to have the choice between one right wing party and well another even more right wing party it seems like Alberta will have it’s first most exciting…
Reading today (when I’m not writing)
When I read it’s a bit like grazing in front of the dessert table (minus the diabetic considerations). So it is that I am currently reading, roughly a chapter…
Students, get engaged
The other day a group of journalism students were asking UofC students about their thoughts about the ongoing provincial election and youth engagement. Well, they picked the right person. They…
Oh now there you go, Dalton. That wasn’t so hard was it?
You’re almost there, premier McGuinty. Just a few more items and we’ll have something to be proud of. Something that runs counter to the current of nastiness emanating from the…
The Alberta Election – #FF – Just When You Thought It Couldn’t Get Any Worse…
The Alberta Candidates: Brian Mason (NDP), Alison Redford (PC), Raj Sherman (L), Danielle Smith (WR) So, I’ve had a few people ask me why I haven’t blogged about the Alberta…
Engage
Last night I was having several parallel conversations online, all pertaining to civic engagement (or the lack of it, more precisely). What comes first, the politicians willing to interact with…
The case for an NPD-Q
A year, now, since Québec first crested the Big Orange Wave, and still, the NDP continue to thrive. It prompts a brand-new big idea: isn’t it time to build a…
The Way to Toronto Heart is Public Transit!
A message to local Liberals, provincial Liberals and even federal Liberals. People want public transit funded! In a recent poll 74% of people in Toronto said that they would favor…
No Debate: FawcettFails To Attend Forum
A question that burned through my mind on Tuesday during the Calgary-Klein forum was “How did this guy ever get elected?” How did this guy get in? Fawcett wasn’t prepared.…
The world loses…
… another rock legend… Trashy, Ottawa, Ontario
Link Byfield – Another Thorn On The Wildrose
Though it took longer than I anticipated, it seems Wildrose leader Danielle Smith, gag order and all, has failed to contain the radical views held by some in her party…
The Pope is Still Catholic
In all likelihood, Toronto mayor Rob Ford will not attend this year’s Pride parade. That’s not news. What should be news is the fact that, once again, he refuses to…
Northern Gateway pipeline gets the advanced green light
Natural Resources minister Joe Oliver announced the ‘streamlining’ of the federal environmental assessment process. What was not mentioned in the press release or by the minister was that final approval…