Introduction of party labels on the ballot in 1972 was a seismic change to Canadian party politics: Alex Marland
Re: “The problem with the ballot,” by Nelson Wiseman, (The Hill Times, Jan.17, p.11). For decades, Canadian political scientists have muddied the date of when party labels first appeared on federal election ballots. Some literature says 1970, when the Canada Elections Act was amended, and some sources say 1972 when that act took effect in that […]
The problem with the ballot
TORONTO—For decades the NDP, and before it the CCF, claimed that shielding information about election financing allowed corporations to exert undue influence in the making of public policy and awarding of government contracts. The underlying assumption in the law at the time was that elections were fought only by candidates in constituencies, not by political […]
In politics, it’s all about having the right enemy
LONDON, U.K.—The right enemy can be a major asset in politics, as Chilean voters have just demonstrated once again. All the opinion polls had the two presidential candidates neck and neck before the Dec. 19 election, but a few days before the vote it came out that the father of far-right candidate José Antonio Kast […]
O’Toole expected to receive 2021 election post-mortem report before Jan. 31, says former Conservative MP Cumming
Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole, who is under some pressure for an early leadership review, is expected to receive the much-awaited campaign review next month on why his party lost the last election to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals. “We hope to complete [the report] by the end of next month,” said former Edmonton Conservative […]
Democrats in Chile right to be worried in presidential runoff
LONDON, U.K.—British journalist Claud Cockburn once claimed that he won a contest among the sub-editors on The London Times to write the dullest headline and actually get it published in the paper. His winning headline was “Small earthquake in Chile. Not many dead.” It must annoy Chileans, but elsewhere their country is a byword for […]
‘Perception is reality’: best political performers on social media ‘forge a personal connection’ with audience
The politicians who are good at social media will combine authenticity and self-expression and the ones who stand out offer the right mix of partisan politics and genuine personality, say experts. People are “increasingly using social media for identity affirmation and self-expression,” said Vincent Raynauld, an associate professor in communications studies at Emerson College. For […]
The continued mystery of the NDP’s existence
OTTAWA—During the post-election lull between choosing cabinet and the Speech from the Throne, I ruminated on the political issues that have shaped the year. And increasingly—now perennially—one question always sticks in my mind and will continue to in the years to come. Why does the NDP exist? No seriously. The recent pointless election was an […]
Riding boundary changes could pit some MPs from same parties in nomination races, say politicos
The upcoming redistribution of Canada’s electoral boundaries could pit some incumbent MPs from the same parties to run against each other for the nominations which means some may not be able to seek re-election in the next general election, say current and former MPs, and Hill staffers. “It’s [redistribution] a good thing for the general […]
‘This is just Maxime Bernier’s vanity project’: don’t expect surprises from PPC leadership review, say politicos
The leadership review that the People’s Party of Canada is currently running is a vanity project for founder Maxime Bernier, say critics, while Mr. Bernier and other political observers say it’s a well-intentioned exercise that’s no different from those of other political parties. Philippe Fournier, a columnist for Maclean’s and creator of poll aggregator 338Canada, […]
Conservatives’ national council strikes candidate nomination rules committee for next election, says Batherson
The Conservative Party’s national council, the highest elected governing body of the party, has set up a six-member ad hoc committee of councillors from across the country to make recommendations for the next election’s candidate nomination rules, says party president Rob Batherson. “So what we did at the national council meeting in the middle of […]
