FUN FACT: Someone elected this person to congress. And she’s a contender for the presidential nomination.

Like most Canadians, I am disappointed at the results of yesterday’s election.

But wait! Didn’t the Conservatives win a large majority? How can I say that “most Canadians” don’t support this?

1. Seats vs. popular vote. The parliamentary system plus first-past-the-post contests in each riding means that a majority government (more than half of [...]

Hey young people of Canada: Vote! It really, really does matter.

Over the upcoming 6 weeks of the election campaign, Canadians will no doubt hear the Conservative Party talking point about a “coalition” being bad and scary and undemocratic. Here’s a quick reminder of recent history, which the Conservatives seem to have forgotten.

1. The Conservative Party of Canada formed from the merger of two [...]

September 9, 2004

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D. Governor General Rideau Hall 1 Sussex Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A1

Excellency,

As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the [...]

Listening to current Prime Minister Stephen Harper repeat the Conservative talking point that the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc Quebecois will form a coalition if the Conservatives earn only a minority government yet again after the election in May. It’s amazing how on-message the Conservatives have become already: “reckless coalition”, “illegitimate coaltion”, “unstable coalition”, “undemocratic [...]