What’s With Jagmeet Singh
New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh is receiving a great deal of criticism for saying the NDP will vote non-confidence in the Liberal government in the New Year and that…
proportional representation
Why I Dislike Ranked Ballot Voting & Why I Support It
After four years studying Political Science at Laurentian University and over thirty years working for the House of Commons I tended to approach electoral reform more as a political scientist…
Electoral reform—to be or not to be?
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…
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:…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 –…
#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…
#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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…