__ __ _ _____ _ _ _
| \/ | ___| |_ __ _| ___(_) | |_ ___ _ __
| |\/| |/ _ \ __/ _` | |_ | | | __/ _ \ '__|
| | | | __/ || (_| | _| | | | || __/ |
|_| |_|\___|\__\__,_|_| |_|_|\__\___|_|
community weblog
Carney Liberals Secure Majority Government
After sweeping three by-elections yesterday, Canadian PM Mark Carney has now secured a majority in the House of Commons.
Dr. Danielle Martin won the riding of University-Rosedale. She won 64% of the vote.
Former Ontario NDP deputy leader Doly Begum won the riding of Scarborough-Southwest. She won 70% of the vote.
Tatiana Auguste won her court-ordered rematch in Terrebonne, reclaiming her title as youngest Black Canadian ever elected to Parliament. She won 48% of the vote, in a tough race against the Bloc.
The Liberals now have 174 seats in the House of Commons. The new MPs will join the 5 floor crossing-MPs from the CPC and NDP, the most recent of which being Ontario MP Marilyn Gladu, who has been controversial in the past for holding socially conservative views, but who has now promised to support the government in any future votes on abortion and queer rights.
PM Carney recently delivered the keynote address at the Liberal National Convention in Montreal. He is also expected to make an announcement today related to cost of living.
Under PM Mark Carney, the Liberal Party of Canada now has it's first majority government since 2019, and continues to soar in the polls.
posted by mrjohnmuller on Apr 14, 2026 at 4:57 AM
---------------------------
(Oops! Missed it on preview, but I misspelled "Tatiana Auguste" in the above link, dropping the last e. Apologies, and I invite the mods to correct my error. Désolé!)
posted by mrjohnmuller at 5:00 AM
---------------------------
Poilievre's position as leader of the conservatives is now in real jeopardy. Can't keep his caucus together, polls poorly, and they now have 3 years without an election so they can oust their leader without fear of having to go into an election leaderless or with a newly elected leader.
Not saying it'll happen but, if it happens I guess it'll be sooner than later, biggest obstacle probably remains who would take over?
posted by WaterAndPixels at 5:49 AM
---------------------------
I kinda hope he sticks around, honestly. He's such a loathsome rizzless little twerp. The last thing we need is for the CPC to ditch Poilievre and put someone in charge who could actually win elections. The longer Poilievre stays in charge, the more likely I think it is that we'll see mass CPC defections (there are already around 8 or 9 more potential floor-crossers, according to rumours) and that could spell the end of the modern Conservative Party. I would love it if they would fully devolve back into their Reform/PC factions, and for the Carney Libs to gobble up the PCs. That would basically neuter the electoral threat posed by the Canadian far-right for the foreseeable future.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 5:56 AM
---------------------------
Poilievre was pretty magnanimous last night:
"There's one thing that's worse than being uneducated and it's being badly educated. And Mr. Carney is very badly educated on economics."
Focusing less on CHUDs and turfing PP might be in the Tories general interests going forward.
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:06 AM
---------------------------
Lol at PP thinking a man whose job before becoming PM was economics doesn't know economics.
Well, we have a small c conservative government now, so I think they're just mad the Liberals have encroached on the Conservatives' turf.
posted by Kitteh at 6:10 AM
---------------------------
[Redacted a few errors as requested.]
posted by loup at 6:10 AM
---------------------------
Lol at PP thinking a man whose job before becoming PM was economics doesn't know economics.
Hahaha yeah that just about made me do a spit-take. One can say plenty of things about Mark Carney, but "badly educated on economics" is objectively not one of them. PP is *flailing*.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 6:14 AM
---------------------------
Like, that is a US politics level of dumb comment. Honestly, I think it's sus (as the youth say) that the PCs gave him such a high vote to remain head of the party because it hasn't been that long and well....there has been A LOT of floor crossing post that.
posted by Kitteh at 6:29 AM
---------------------------
He's trying to say Carney's got the wrong philosophy of economics, isn't he? ie. he's been educated by the wrong people, which is worse than knowing nothing at all.
Which makes sense if you're a Conservative who seems to be incapable of comprehending anything other than crony capitalism.
posted by sagc at 6:30 AM
---------------------------
Great post but I'd maybe be clear that
Ontario MP Marilyn Gladu, who has been controversial in the past for holding socially conservative views
By "socially conservative" views I'd say anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ, and vaccine-skeptic positions during COVID - including voting against the Liberal government's conversion therapy ban in 2021. This is not exactly calling someone a homophobic slur in college while drunk.
Yes, she said she'd now vote with the government, but this sort of shit is frankly rather repellant, and yes: I wish Carney had told her to fuck off, majority or no. As it turned out, her vote is not necessary any more.
posted by fortitude25 at 6:36 AM
---------------------------
fortitude25, I agree. She says she has changed her views, but I will believe it when the rubber hits the road. Like, I am not thrilled she crossed the floor because it makes the Liberal Party not look great.
posted by Kitteh at 6:39 AM
---------------------------
I suppose a small-c conservative, apparently big-tent majority government isn't the worst thing at the moment. Give everyone a chance to breathe, create some stability when we need it. It's not what I would want long-term, but for now, dealing with you-know-who, a Carney secure in his job looks pretty good.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:43 AM
---------------------------
I suspect it's a bit pragmatic / cynical on Gladu's part as she has never been in government and I can't imagine she was going to run again. So... One last gasp at power to pad her CV so she can run for mayor of Sarnia or something?
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:44 AM
---------------------------
The PM is speaking now. Federal Fuel Excise Tax is suspended until Labour Day.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 7:07 AM
---------------------------
will we be lopping off 'eads today, suh?
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:17 AM
---------------------------
Yes, she said she'd now vote with the government, but this sort of shit is frankly rather repellant
Hopefully Avi Lewis steps into the gap here and gives a real alternative.
posted by warriorqueen at 7:18 AM
---------------------------
historic win for Doly Begum, Canada's first Bangladeshi-born MP if last night's reporting is accurate. The crowd shot as they were reporting the votes showed some excited people
we see majority gov'ts turn into minority gov'ts, it's not often we see the reverse in Canada.
Mark Carney's Liberal Party has 2 solid years of getting shit done and a 3rd year to head into an election vs. Who Knows leading the CPC. In an ideal world the CPC replaces PP with someone who is a) competent and b) not a complete bastard.
still hoping for a wealth tax and electoral reform and I guess we'll have to wait another generation? let's see if Canada is still around for it
posted by runsrealgood at 7:22 AM
---------------------------
The Beaverton: Liberal bouncers tell MPs to wait in line to join party
"But my friends are in there," insisted a desperate Adam Chambers, Conservative MP for Simcoe North ...
posted by Kabanos at 7:27 AM
---------------------------
Why do election reform and relegate the radical right to the wilderness forever, when FPTP keeps them a viable threat to bully people into voting centrist?
posted by Reyturner at 7:41 AM
---------------------------
I would like to see electoral reform too (STV not MMP, but that's a different convo). The Liberals won't do it because many proportional voting systems reward fringe parties, and do not encourage big tent center parties like themselves.
posted by Popular Ethics at 7:45 AM
---------------------------
"In an ideal world the CPC replaces PP with someone who is a) competent and b) not a complete bastard."
So, not a conservative, then?
posted by sunimplodes at 7:45 AM
---------------------------
I could handle the return of Joe Clark conservatism to Canada
hell, many have compared Carney's Liberal Party to Mulroney conservatism
if we are on a one-way hellride to Shit Town then what is the point? honest question
posted by runsrealgood at 7:51 AM
---------------------------
I want PP out because a healthy opposition is good for a country. And I want a government with MPs from every part of the country to be possible; shutting out a region isn't healthy, no matter why.
There is also a short term existential threat to Canada coming from the right; specifically, a US-white-supremacist backed and funded Alberta separatist movement, followed by American little green men showing up to "keep the peace"; basically Moscow's Donbas playbook. PP's replacement could either be a quisling or a Canadian patriot, but as-is we have an ineffectual unprincipled gnome, which doesn't help.
PP's holding onto power was a vote-with-wallet event. Up to 13 people from each riding could pay 1000$ to attend; the MP, the current candidate, the president of the riding association, one person under 25, and 9 other members.
2600 delegates attended; a max of 4116-4459 could have if every riding selected the max of 12-13. So the limiting factor was *who was willing to pay to attend*; many ridings must have had no competition.
posted by NotAYakk at 7:52 AM
---------------------------
> The Liberals won't do it because many proportional voting systems reward fringe parties, and do not encourage big tent center parties like themselves.
This seems like a good thing to me. I understand wanting the left to have more say, but rewarding fringe parties also encourages the far right. I think they benefit more from fragmentation than the left does.
posted by I-Write-Essays at 7:52 AM
---------------------------
I suppose a small-c conservative, apparently big-tent majority government isn't the worst thing at the moment.
Isn't this what's happening in Hungary too? Magyar is a pro-EU conservative taking a big tent approach and winning in a landslide
posted by thecjm at 7:57 AM
---------------------------
Now that the Liberals have more qualified members, maybe the guy who got canned from his tv job for being Mark Carney's art dealer on the side can get turfed from his role as AI Czar.
And speaking of qualified members, I really hope Gladu gets left to rot on the backest of back benches. She's an absolutely vile person and has no business being in this party.
posted by thecjm at 7:59 AM
---------------------------
I think the arguments against electoral reform tend to come from fear, plus an unspoken recognition that other aspects of Canadian society are so broken that any changes to the system will be leveraged toward bad outcomes
if that's the case, then electoral reform won't fix things and it won't cause worse things to happen
I'm open to "now is not the time for electoral reform" but let's be honest about our fears and inadequacies. Is it a good thing to enter the year 2050 as a country with a FPTP system that is largely unchanged since 1867?
posted by runsrealgood at 8:02 AM
---------------------------
There is also a short term existential threat to Canada coming from the right; specifically, a US-white-supremacist backed and funded Alberta separatist movement, followed by American little green men showing up to "keep the peace"; basically Moscow's Donbas playbook
Yeah, that is the fundamental calculus that has been playing out in my head like a waking nightmare every moment since the US put Trump back in power. That's the essence of why the Carney Post-Partisanship is working. This is, essentially, the return of Union Government. The war with the US may not be hot, yet, but this is how Canada acts in wartime. Strange bedfellows and all.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 8:10 AM
---------------------------
Union Government
Exactly! This is a national unity government / grand coalition in a time of crisis. I am 1000% okay with that.
posted by saturday_morning at 8:16 AM
---------------------------
I want PP out because a healthy opposition is good for a country. And I want a government with MPs from every part of the country to be possible; shutting out a region isn't healthy, no matter why.
I think that is a generally good goal to aspire to but the Tories might benefit if some of their crankier members spun off into a federal Alberta Bloc party. They could focus on separation or sovereignty association or whatever made in Alberta solution they come up with and they can keep the Western fringe members happy. It doesn't even have to be a party for separation it could just be a party of Albertan interests. IMO, the BQ has contributed more to eroding the separatist cause than any other party or organization in Canada or Quebec so I can't see how an Albertan Bloc would be any better.
I'd love to see electoral reform (MMP ideally imo). But we are not going to get it while the Americans are in the state they are in. The NDP & the Greens need to get their act together first in anycase. Until those align? Another decade of first past the post.
Union Government
This is fine as long as we have someone better than the pro-conscription Borden.
posted by Ashwagandha at 8:31 AM
---------------------------
the Tories might benefit if some of their crankier members spun off into a federal Alberta Bloc party.
I give you the Buffalo Party of Saskatchewan
It doesn't even have to be a party for separation it could just be a party of Albertan interests.
That's sort-of where Reform started, which eventually gave us the modern PC party.
posted by warriorqueen at 8:36 AM
---------------------------
Yeah they need to go back to the pre-Reform days.
posted by Ashwagandha at 8:42 AM
---------------------------
I kinda hope he sticks around, honestly. He's such a loathsome rizzless little twerp. The last thing we need is for the CPC to ditch Poilievre and put someone in charge who could actually win elections.
Yeah unsure on this. You keep the crazies in charge and after a while it kinda becomes normalized.
My example for this would be the provincial Conservative party in Quebec, it's lead by a fucking cook of an imbecile, like seriously he makes PP looks smart & principled, but Duhaime banked on his popularity with the anti-vax/anti-COVID-measures crowd to get the C off the ground during the pandemic (where they were for years), and after years of cosplaying as a serious party leader the media is treating him like a legit politician instead of the attention seeking moron he is, and now they're poised to elect some MPs that'll be 100% as stupid or stupider than those idiots at the CAQ.
I understand the desire to see the C collapse back into the Reform & Progressive-Conservatives, and crush their chances to form a government, but it can be a dangerous game.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 8:47 AM
---------------------------
"loathsome rizzless little twerp" is now my favourite insult
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 9:23 AM
---------------------------
I thought this article raised a good argument to counter the separatist tendency in Alberta - do I understand it correctly, that any separatist move risks invalidating all treaties with First Nations, and is therefore unconstitutional? Maybe this is the referendum-killer?
posted by Lawn Beaver at 9:25 AM
---------------------------
thecjm: "Now that the Liberals have more qualified members, maybe the guy who got canned from his tv job for being Mark Carney's art dealer on the side can get turfed from his role as AI Czar.
And speaking of qualified members, I really hope Gladu gets left to rot on the backest of back benches. She's an absolutely vile person and has no business being in this party."
You missed a qualification. From a piece in The Walrus
"[Carney] recruited Solomon, who had moved to New York City to become publisher of GZERO Media, to join his team. (Diana Fox Carney, Mark Carney's wife, joined GZERO's parent company, Eurasia Group, as senior adviser in 2021.)"
So sadly, he's not going anywhere, even though he deserves to be booted from any kind of public role in this country from now until the end of time.
posted by sardonyx at 9:50 AM
---------------------------
any separatist move risks invalidating all treaties with First Nations, and is therefore unconstitutional?
if this isn't Canada's version of "surely the laws/constitution/rules will Stop Them" I don't know what is
what has been happening south of the border shows us very clearly what happens when someone says "I broke your rules, what are you gonna do about it"
posted by runsrealgood at 10:22 AM
---------------------------
I know lots of Canadians like to do this hoser doomerism but we aren't America: different rules, different history, different demographics, different sets of problems. Kevin O'Leary ain't coming back to Canada to be our Trump to push through separatism in Alberta. We have lived through decades of Quebec separatism threats and we still don't have that. And they have an actual culture that's different and legitimate historical grievances that go back longer than Alberta has existed. The support for Albertan separatism is a protest vote for people who can't get past their Trudeau (pere or fils) hangover.
posted by Ashwagandha at 10:32 AM
---------------------------
I think Carney is taking the "never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake" approach to the CPC / PP as leader.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 10:33 AM
---------------------------
The courts might shut down the separatism referendum because of Treaty violations, which would definitely be a good thing. The risk then becomes about how the regime in the US and the quisling factions in Canada react to having their shot taken. That outcome could actually bolster their argument, because they'd spout off about having their voices silenced, even though polls consistently show support for separatism in Alberta to be quite low. That risk notwithstanding, I still hope the court challenge against the referendum is successful, because that strengthens Indigenous sovereignty in Canadian law. Separatists can fuck off forever; there's nothing in Canada that's theirs to separate with.
But yeah. I'm not really afraid that Alberta will separate. I am definitely worried about what the regime in the US will do when the separatists fail.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 10:35 AM
---------------------------
This was predictable. It's almost like they DIDN'T need to accept Marilyn Gladu's terrible views into their party in the name of getting a majority. Surely, even the Liberals should have some standards.
posted by asnider at 10:35 AM
---------------------------
I know lots of Canadians like to do this hoser doomerism but we aren't America
I live in Alberta, that is def. colouring my view of things
I don't know that I'm doomering, but I will observe that many countries with histories that stretch back much further than Canada's, with cultures every bit as interesting and cool, with peoples every bit as passionate about their idea of nation, have fallen prey to powerful forces that required those countries to break apart
abusing the edit window to respond to this: I'm not really afraid that Alberta will separate. I am definitely worried about what the regime in the US will do when the separatists fail.
The Calgary-to-Houston pipeline has been a thing for many generations: the way Alberta is linked to the USA by energy sector is a huge part of the economy and history of this province. I'm not sure people closer to Ontario fully appreciate how connected Alberta is to the USA in history, migrations, etc. Alberta separatism and US interests are very much entwined.
posted by runsrealgood at 11:05 AM
---------------------------
We have lived through decades of Quebec separatism threats and we still don't have that.
but that 1995 vote came precariously close. In fact, were it not for a pretty much last minute "Unity Rally" organized by the federal Fisheries Minister, it probably would have gone the other way.
Not to counsel doom but to point out that action matters. Sometimes in a democracy (life in general), it actually matters what you do. So in the context of Alberta separation, I'm going to argue that it's deadly serious that we (Canadians in general) take the threat deadly seriously.
posted by philip-random at 11:09 AM
---------------------------
action matters
Yes, that's ultimately my point. We can't remain idle. Talk without action is worthless.
So yeah I approach the idea of Albertan separatism, which I will admit has been coloured by my own experience with Quebec separatism as Canadian French person, with a lot of scepticism but sure it must be treated with the seriousness it deserves. Thing is it will have to ultimately come down to Albertans making those choices. So for those of us outside of Alberta we have to trust in the Clarity Act and overtures by our federal politicians to deal with dissatisfaction in the province.
posted by Ashwagandha at 11:52 AM
---------------------------
The support for Albertan separatism is a protest vote for people who can't get past their Trudeau (pere or fils) hangover.
Albertan here, and this is both true and not true. I spent a chunk of time last summer with the Forever Canadian petition, which was an attempt to give this Premier and Govt an off-ramp, that they have blatantly avoided. (I am afraid the First Nations court cases are going to be another example of that; this government will do anything to side step the challenges to actually delivering a referendum). But to my main point - while I met a lot of great and wonderful people who were against the idea of separation, I also met quite a few from the other side who wanted to argue.
Some of them were frothing at the mouth about Trudeau and the grievances; but there were also a large number of people who really had no sense of the history or current moment; they just felt this was a way of showing everyone in Ottawa that we weren't to be "pushed around/ignored" or that this was a "bargaining chip" that could be used to cut a better deal, somehow. They were the group that bugged me the most, because they didn't want to separate but felt that the threat of it somehow made things better instead of worse (again, no sense of history and what happened to Quebec from just the threat). These are the people I worry about if the referendum happens - they think this is a game of chicken, and don't realize how their support is creating real risk.
posted by nubs at 12:00 PM
---------------------------
I will co-sign nubs' comment.
posted by mazola at 12:03 PM
---------------------------
a large number of people who really had no sense of the history or current moment; they just felt this was a way of showing everyone in Ottawa that we weren't to be "pushed around/ignored" or that this was a "bargaining chip" that could be used to cut a better deal, somehow
We have an example of how this worked and it's called Brexit. Don't underestimate the right-wing media.
posted by warriorqueen at 12:06 PM
---------------------------
There was a great piece on the Tyee recently. "Among the Separatists"
Key quote: The economic and political grievances expressed by the movement's leaders obfuscate what's really going on. I wanted Canadians to understand that Alberta separatism, at its heart, isn't motivated by equalization policies, Senate seats, carbon taxes or oil. These tired complaints may ride shotgun on independence, but bigotry drives the truck.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 12:21 PM
---------------------------
I found this video (~14 minutes long) pretty informative on the uphill battle the separatists face. I agree it's important to take it seriously but there are so many obstacles in their way, not least of which is that they're in the minority despite all of the noise.
posted by thebots at 12:51 PM
---------------------------
I have, as usual, no comment on Canadian political matters but Mark Carney and Finnish President Alexander Stubb showed up at the Ottawa Charge practice today and did drills with the women and I need to share my absolute joy over that somewhere.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:55 PM
---------------------------
they're in the minority despite all of the noise
Then all the propaganda machine has to do is turn up the noise.
Since the fascist playbook includes creating one's own enemy, we should watch for outliers among Forever Canada style activism committing violent or otherwise generally socially objectionable actions, egged on by online content they are unaware is not from who they think it is.
posted by CynicalKnight at 12:57 PM
---------------------------
Is it a good thing to enter the year 2050 as a country with a FPTP system that is largely unchanged since 1867?
I'm just so exhausted generally about the world that I'd like to hang on to what we have now rather than having to deal with the People's Party having seats in the Parliament.
posted by storybored at 8:03 PM
---------------------------
Ranked ballots are the baby step we need.
posted by mazola at 8:40 PM
---------------------------
The latest from Michael Harris (not any of the politicians but the journalist):
"...Carney's personal appeal cuts across party lines, regional differences and specific policies. That is perhaps why Carney has been able to draw floor-crossers from both the Conservatives and the NDP. Ideology doesn't seem to matter as much as pragmatic governance."
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:38 AM
---------------------------
I mean, as much as I have issues with the Carney government in certain government cuts, he does come across as the clear adult in the room. He projects a gravitas that PP very much lacks.
posted by Kitteh at 7:44 AM
---------------------------
Boring and a willingness to work on an issue is always better than catchphrases and bullying.
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:57 AM
---------------------------
Boring and a willingness to work on an issue is always better than catchphrases and bullying.
Hard agree. And particularly given the current crisis, I feel that Carney and his approach are what is called for. Biggest tent possible. Focus on outcomes. National unity as a priority. Even though I'm someone who used to consider himself to the Left of Justin Trudeau, I'd basically crawl over broken glass naked on the daily to make sure that Carney stays PM until Trump is in the ground, and his regime is in The Hague.
It's also why I'm not a big fan of Avi Lewis, even if he says things that are maybe ideologically closer to my opinions. That dude is never going to win an election. He's basically just spouting off political fanfiction, instead of trying to be constructive. And, similarly to Poilievre, his personality is acerbic and off-putting. He's the kind of guy that's great at dunking on his opponents and gassing up his base, but terrible at building it. A ripper, not a weaver. And I have had it up to here with these fucking men who want to move fast and break things. Give me thoughtfulness, competence, and yes compromise, if need be. Peace, Order, and Good Government.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 9:13 AM
---------------------------
Ranked ballots are the baby step we need.
couldn't agree more.
which assuming there's a referendum question to get us there, the question MUST include the clause that, after a set period of time (say ten years), there is a mandated second referendum, wherein we can either go back to First-Past-The-Post (FPTP), or move on to something more complex yet "fair" (proportional representation).
And anybody who thinks that shifting from parliamentary FPTP to proportional is not a complex concern -- well, I'm concerned about them. Because it is. Go ahead, explain to a reasonably smart twelve year old how proportional representation would work in one hundred words or less (not the broad strokes, the actual process that starts with filling in one's ballot). Hell, I'll make it easy for you. Explain it to reasonably smart sixty-five year old with a Masters degree.
Because you can explain both ranked ballots and FPTP with said hundred words. Easily.
posted by philip-random at 10:00 AM
---------------------------
In mixed-member proportional representation, your ballot gets two votes! First, vote for your local candidate -- the one who gets the most votes is your representative. Then, vote for a political party. The extra seats in parliament are filled with additional party representatives to match the share of votes the party got in the election. You get a local person who answers to you, and your party gets a fair share of seats in parliament!
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:14 AM
---------------------------
One of the difficulties, I think, using ranked ballot as a stepping stone to MMP is the fact that in the MMP model that's generally talked about for Canada, you use FPTP for local elections and that will seem like a strange step backwards.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:19 AM
---------------------------
but who chooses who gets to fill these extra seats in parliament, these "additional party representatives"? What's the process there, from my voting for Party B to some person I may never have heard of sitting in parliament, having a vote on things? I feel that requires some words.
Not for me. I get it. But for somebody who's never really thought about such stuff.
posted by philip-random at 10:25 AM
---------------------------
I know this is just a rhetorical stunt, but
... The extra seats in parliament are filled with additional party representatives from the best candidates who otherwise lost their local races, to match the share of votes the party got in the overall election. ...
That is very dependent on the specific MMP system in use. It's not "who got the most votes wins" simple but the explanation emphasizes the fairness of the system and where representatives come from. I'd probably go over 100 words to talk about dropping the most unpopular but nevertheless local-race winning members if there weren't enough total seats in parliament to ensure a proper ratio. (Adding extra seats as needed is sometimes what's done instead.)
Thanks for enticing me to go through this effort. I did not actually know how MMP worked, and now I do, and I like it a lot!
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:58 AM
---------------------------
I suppose my main point is that while I think some form of MMP is where we want to get to, I don't think we can get there in just one step. Not unless we first get a substantial chunk of the electorate thinking about such stuff, watching vids, reading articles, getting into arguments in bars. Which is itself a step. And perhaps the quickest way to make such a step is to have a ranked ballot election (or three). This:
A. gets us to see what change looks like, the good and bad of it (I happen to think that ranked ballot is far from perfect),
B. gets us accustomed to thinking that we can tweak our democracy, make changes toward getting things more equitable.
posted by philip-random at 11:21 AM
---------------------------
but who chooses who gets to fill these extra seats in parliament,
The same people who chose your local rep, the parties.
posted by Mitheral at 12:16 PM
---------------------------
April 14 opinion piece on electoral reform (Calgary Herald)
any system will have its detractors and there are risks, I guess it bears asking: what are the risks we don't acknowledge with our current FPTP system?
posted by runsrealgood at 2:08 PM
---------------------------
Politico: Carney and Stubb: Two centrist dads trying to save the world
posted by Ashwagandha at 8:58 AM
---------------------------
Yellowknife calls on Ottawa to introduce proportional representation [Cabin Radio]Flatt said he thinks people are paying more attention to electoral reform as they are concerned about the future of democracy in North America and abroad.
Noting the federal government has promised billions of dollars of investment and support for major projects in the North, he said under Canada's current electoral system, major projects and policies can face risks if the government changes.
"A system of proportional representation would make these sorts of projects much easier to handle and lead to a lot more stable and predictable development over the years," he said.
posted by mazola at 11:05 AM
---------------------------
Carney is not trying to save the world. He's trying to save rich people money. The rest of us get austerity, surveillance, and scraps.
posted by adrienneleigh at 11:23 AM
---------------------------
Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 12:05 PM
---------------------------
I'm not going stop being appalled about cutting up the healthcare for refugees. Dr Eva Purkey--who is the partner of one of Shepherd's lifelong friends--held a protest about it. Eva has traveled and continues to travel to refugee encampments to administer healthcare, in addition to her work as a family medicine doctor.
posted by Kitteh at 12:07 PM
---------------------------
Carney is putting gas taxes on hold for the summer. OK, price shocks are bad. Too bad they killed the carbon tax which A) would have given more room for relief and B) would have reduced structural use so that the shock wouldn't be as harsh.
posted by Mitheral at 12:18 PM
---------------------------
Too bad they killed the carbon tax
Well the rationale was that industrial carbon pricing made a bigger difference anyway. So negotiating that price would be key to climate action.
Cut to present:
Canadian oil and gas losing competitive edge due to industrial carbon price: industry leaders: Pushback against carbon levy hike come as producers seek new ways to reach markets [CBC]
posted by mazola at 1:06 PM
---------------------------
(but I agree, consumer carbon tax is a good market-based tool that would help 'evolve' an economy, if it can be evolved. I guess we can't have good things and 'shock' it will be)
posted by mazola at 1:10 PM
---------------------------
Pierre Poilievre attacks Mark Carney's economic credentials, says he presents "the illusion of knowledge"
Well, your party believes in the illusion of winning and I can guess what is more useful right now
posted by Kitteh at 6:14 PM
---------------------------