All federal parties need to improve their leadership and nomination processes or risk losing credibility
In almost every nomination or leadership election, political parties have faced allegations from their own candidates of playing favourites or of making unfair decisions behind closed doors. But transparency and fairness are the two key ingredients of any legitimate nomination or leadership contest. Thanks to Elections Canada, our general elections are held to the highest […]
It’s time to fix the rules of the electoral game and widen the pool of players
So, you want to run for politics, but you are worried about the financial costs of taking time off work to campaign. Do you have a “political campaign emergency fund” set up? Probably not. Most of us don’t have access to the kind of money necessary to mount a political campaign, never mind the kind […]
Liberals start with a fairly strong lead, but achieving a majority looking like an uphill climb
OTTAWA—Six weeks ago, an election at summer’s end looked like a pretty good bet to produce a majority victory for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals. Canadians were buoyant about the apparent fading out of the pandemic, vaccination targets were being achieved, virus cases were way down, and the Liberals, enjoying public appreciation for […]
Money talks: Bloc’s fundraising may be cause for concern for Grits, Tories in Quebec
Politicos are gearing up for an impending election call with party leaders, incumbent MPs, and candidates already busy hitting the pavement, and Conservatives are heading into the likely election once again with the best-stocked war chest, having raised almost $6-million more than the Liberals in 2020. “Clearly, Conservatives have the advantage on better organization techniques […]
Universal basic income, transit, seniors care in focus for members heading into the Liberal policy convention
From universal basic income to a national transit strategy, Liberal Party members will be looking to debate a range of policies at the party’s upcoming policy convention, a debate they expect will unfold as usual, despite the fact this year delegates won’t be converging in person as a result of COVID-19. This year’s convention will […]
Political parties need to field as many women candidates as men
When Justin Trudeau shuffled his cabinet last month, he retained the gender balance that earned him headlines back in 2015. No one commented, because six years on, it’s become the default for the federal Liberals. That’s good news for the roughly 50 per cent of the population who identify as women. But it’s not enough—and […]
Redrawing the political landscape as COVID becomes a way of life
OTTAWA—Throne Speeches are always aspirational, but the blueprint for the future that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rolled out goes a step beyond. It stands as the kind of comprehensive policy wish list political parties normally accumulate over the course of an entire election campaign. Touching on the full spectrum of social and economic policy, […]
Elections Canada should oversee riding nomination elections
Nomination meetings to select candidates for ridings across the country are one of the key building blocks of democracy in any political system. Prior to every election, all party leaders vow to hold free, fair, and transparent nomination elections. But as soon as the nomination contests start, all major parties make national headlines facing allegations […]
‘We have to be part of it’: Indigenous MPs say there needs to be better representation
More electoral education, mentorships for rookies, and proactive party policies will help bring about a needed increase in Indigenous representation in federal politics, from the elected-level down, say Indigenous MPs and a former candidate. The last 150 years of Canadian history have shown the devastating impact government policy can have on Indigenous lives, the residential […]
Meslin’s first-ever book a condemnation of and prescription for all that ails modern Canadian politics
Author and activist Dave Meslin doesn’t mince his words in describing what he sees as an ailing political system in Canada, calling it a “childish circus” and a “demoralizing farce,” plagued by toxic discourse, and populated by unrepresentative party “cartels.” His prescription, as laid out in his new book: tear it all down, and rebuild […]
