Conservative letter to electors claims Liberal scheme to rig next election
A House of Commons mail-out to electors from an unknown number of Conservative MPs alleges a government plan to “rig” the next federal election by forcing through a new voting system that will favour the Liberal Party. “The Liberal Plan to Rig the 2019 Election And How You Can Stop It,” screams the mail-out in […]
Conservative party sets ultimatum for electoral reform: no agreement without referendum
The Conservative party has set a national referendum as a “bottom line” demand for its MPs to be part of any consensus from a special House of Commons Committee charged with investigating possible reforms to Canada’s federal electoral system. “We have a bottom line, there will be no consensus that includes the Conservative party that […]
A year in, Trudeau Liberals carving out risky, activist agenda
OTTAWA—A year ago on Thanksgiving morning, Justin Trudeau headed out into the last stretch of the election campaign. One of the first stops was a strip mall in the Ottawa suburbs, where the parking lot was unexpectedly packed with cars and people that bright holiday morning. The election was still up in the air as […]
‘I’m a full-spectrum conservative,’ but Scheer downplays his social conservatism, focuses on economy
Though he’s seen as one of his party’s flag bearers of social conservatism, Andrew Scheer is more interested in talking about the economy than getting into topics associated with social conservatism, like marriage and sexual morality, as he seeks the federal Conservative leadership. “I’m an unapologetic conservative. I’m a full-spectrum conservative,” Mr. Scheer (Regina—Qu’Appelle, Sask.) […]
Conservative race will be a fight to the finish: Nik Nanos
The battling that has already begun in the Conservative leadership race and the platoon-sized field of candidates forming means Canadians should brace for a brutal campaign as candidates try to “take each other out” and survive to the finish line next May, Nanos Research pollster Nik Nanos say. The number of likely and declared contenders […]
Real cause of phony majorities is single-member ridings
Re: “Run-off elections will address shortcomings of FPTP and PR,” (The Hill Times, letter to the editor, p. 8). Letter writer Mahmood Elahi demonstrates exactly why people support runoff elections—they don’t understand how they really work and haven’t taken the time to look at actual results. Whether we are talking real run-offs like those used […]
Errors of PR as electoral reform and merits of Canada’s electoral system
It is alarming to read the misrepresentations made by many electoral reform lobbyists, especially those advocating party voting to replace Canadian democracy through party proportional representation (PR). The House Special Committee on Electoral Reform struck by the Trudeau government and the less-than-representative consultations underway are notably stacked by electoral reform lobbyists. Canada’s Westminster-based parliamentary democracy […]
Mayrand’s right: broadest possible consensus needed before changing Canada’s electoral system
Elections Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand will be leaving his position at the end of the year, but he has a few important messages before doing so. The federal Liberal government shouldn’t make any massive changes to Canada’s first-past-post electoral system without consulting broadly with all federal political parties. And Canada’s federal elections need […]
Run-off elections will address shortcomings of FPTP and PR
Re: “It’s time for Liberals to get specific on electoral reform,” (The Hill Times, by Sarah Schmidt, Sept. 19). Sarah Schmidt is right when she says: “Of course, the push for status quo has been in display at the committee, with some witnesses stubbornly pushing to retain a 19th century system that most democracies in […]
A referendum on voting system would be undemocratic and immoral
TORONTO—The Conservatives and their media supporters have spent the summer beating the referendum drum, insisting than any change to Canada’s voting system must be approved by the electorate in a national vote. To its supporters, the position is so obviously the right one, they respond with incredulity when anyone raises objections. But holding a referendum […]
