Five byelections won’t be a test of Trudeau but do mark end of an era: Hébert
Under the guise of the first large set of byelections since Justin Trudeau became prime minister, voters are about to turn a definitive corner on generational change on Parliament Hill. The vote to take place on April 3 in the immediate aftermath of the federal budget in five ridings spread across Quebec, Ontario and Alberta […]
“What do you think of Bill C-33 and how do you think it will improve Canadian elections?”
Kate Purchase Liberal strategist “When people vote they are doing far more than just filling out a ballot—they are joining a movement of people shaping Canada’s future. “That is why we have introduced Bill C-33, which will make it easier for Canadians to vote, ensure the views of young Canadians are heard, and build confidence […]
Trudeau can say what he wants, proportional representation best choice for Canada
On Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, the newly appointed Minister of Democratic Institutions, Karina Gould, announced that the government would not be pursuing its election promise of electoral reform, attracting much opposition and public protest. In the House, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau energetically defended this decision, saying that he would not do something that was harmful […]
Five byelections will be first real test for Liberal government
OTTAWA—Five byelections across three provinces will be the first real test for the Liberal government. With vacancies in former Liberal ridings, the pressure will be on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to grow his majority. Whatever happens, the outcome will likely result in a rise in diversity, as all ridings were formerly held by white men […]
Conservatives risk losing their war to win a battle
There are no doubt many bread-and-butter Conservative voters who care little about the rhetoric flying back and forth over Liberal MP Iqra Khalid’s Motion 103, denouncing Islamophobia. Lower taxes, smaller government, a strong criminal justice system—those are ballot-box issues for many of the party’s core voters. But they should care about the debate around M-103, for […]
No consensus on electoral reform? Prove it
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, you say there is no consensus on democratic reform. How do you know? Are we to take your word on that? You must have thought there was some level of consensus when you made it a campaign promise? Is that not the whole point of the move to proportional representation: to get […]
More questions on electoral reform
Could we have a Rhinoceros Party majority government with the first-past-the-post voting system? And should we, then, have a serious voting system with run-off elections like in France, or with a larger ballot with a spot where a voter could indicate a second choice when there are three candidates or more on the ballot? Marc […]
By abandoning electoral reform Trudeau will lose support of progressive voters, says Ottawa reader
Re: “Liberals have no one else to blame for bungled electoral reform,” (The Hill Times, Feb. 8, by Tim Powers). In a letter to the editor published in Britain’s The Guardian Weekly on Feb. 27, 2015, I predicted that Justin Trudeau would win the coming election in a landslide. His electoral reform and environmental protection programs looked […]
Did someone say Joe Trudeau? Trudeau-Trump meeting went smoothly, almost
They almost got through it without incident, Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump, in the meeting between the two leaders in Washington, D.C., last week. Mr. Trudeau didn’t get preachy, Mr. Trump didn’t say anything too crazy. There was a photograph that showed Mr. Trudeau looking at an outreached hand of the U.S. president with what […]
Feds’ Elections Act changes seen as ‘cover’ for broken electoral-reform promise
Changes to the Canada Elections Act, as proposed in Bill C-33, have the potential to increase voter turnout, but NDP MP Nathan Cullen says the legislation doesn’t go far enough. He added that it’s a “poor replacement” for changing the federal voting system and was introduced last fall to provide “cover” for the government. “This is […]
