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Electoral and Democratic Reform

‘Compassion Knows No Ideological Bounds’ is true – December 22, 2009
Feedback to Mark Milke's Compassion Has No Ideological Litmus Test Policy Note.
Compassion Has No Ideological Litmus Test – December 21, 2009
A few bad apples or someone’s bad day doesn’t indict the rest of us, regardless of how we peg ourselves in some less-than-perfect ideological description.
Subsidizing Separatism in Quebec – November 16, 2009
The Frontier’s new review of public subsidies to political parties is out: such subsidies have cost $330 million since 2000 and have mainly helped the sovereigntist movement in Quebec.
Media Release - Subsidizing Separatism in Quebec – November 16, 2009
Public subsidies have the pernicious effect of helping the Quebec sovereigntists do more campaigning and advertising than would otherwise be possible. Despite the opposition in late 2008 to ending taxpayer subsidies for political parties, continued subsidies are not in the interest of any federalist party interested in winning seats in Quebec.
How About a New Coalition—To Dump the Bloc’s Subsidies – August 13, 2009
The Tories, Liberals and NDP should work together to end political party subsidies for all parties—a sensible policy clearly now in their favour but not the Bloc’s.
Privatize City Hall – August 11, 2009
"Toronto’s municipal strike is over. Some 30,000 garbage and other workers are back on the job. That’s at least 15,000 too many. If the strike has taught Torontonians anything, it’s that the city does precious little for its residents."
Israel's Election System Is No Good – May 8, 2009
But it is becoming increasingly clear that electoral reform of some kind is imperative if Israeli democracy is to survive. The latest election reveals in an acute form the gaping inadequacies and, worse still, the looming dangers of the existing electoral process and the resulting political structure: indecisive, splintered and at times corrupt.
Let's Have Real Elections at the Assembly of First Nations – April 5, 2009
To be selected as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), one only need receive a majority of votes from chiefs, not citizens. By only speaking for chiefs, the AFN represents the institutional interests of the band system; they cannot be expected to criticize corruption and lack of accountability on reserves. The Frontier Centre's policy analyst Joseph Quesnel says the system needs to be democratized so that average band members select the national chief.
Political Storm Clouds Still There – January 13, 2009
Both Harper and Igtnatieff are play-acting. If Ignatieff saw a reasonable chance the defeat of the government would result in him being called upon to form a government without an election being called, he would seize the opportunity. The notion that Harper is willing to govern at the sufferance of the Liberals and NDP can be held only by those who understand neither government nor Parliament. To give the opposition a veto power or to implement only proposals acceptable to them is an abdication, rather than the exercise, of power.
Per-Vote Subsidies Still Provoking Debate – January 6, 2009
However, Canadians are divided about whether they want to support political parties with their tax dollars. And they are particularly unclear about whether the per-vote subsidies, which were introduced by the Liberals in 2003 to offset a ban on corporate and union donations, are a good thing.
Another Election isn’t Much More Costly than Continued Party Subsidies – December 3, 2008
Some argue that one option to the current political crisis in Ottawa, an election, should be forsworn because of the $300 million cost. But if all political party subsidies were done away with, the savings over five years would be $260-million.
Cheap, Dirty, But Maybe Healthy – December 1, 2008
If our parties are serious organizations, why don't they ask for contributions from their members and sympathizers, like Barack Obama did? His expensive campaign was in good part financed by millions of modest private donations via the Internet.
Yes Virginia, Santa Claus Should Stop Funding Political Parties – November 28, 2008
Regardless of any individual gain or loss for a political party, ending an annual subsidy that allows a separatist party to thrive would be a positive action to take for Canada.
Bloc's the Big Winner in Election Financing – October 27, 2008
In a bit of political perversity, it turns out Canadians are bending over backwards to provide financial sustenance to the Bloc Quebecois.
Once Again, Canadian Taxpayers Bankroll Quebec's Separatists – October 23, 2008
The shocker here is the Bloc Québécois, which received almost 12 times as much public financing as private financing in the 2007-2008 period. No other party even reaches the 3:1 level.
Voters Need to Nix the Narcissism Already – October 21, 2008
Voter turnout in the recent federal election might have been low, but the excuses for not voting fail the test of adulthood, which is supposed to be about recognizing limits, thinking beyond the crib, and taking responsibility.
Democratic Disappointment – September 9, 2008
Mr. Caplan concludes that those who seek to fiddle with electoral systems, for example by introducing proportional representation or reforming campaign finances, are misguided. Meanwhile, those who seek salvation in getting more non-voters to the polls are in fact promoting disaster, since non-voters tend to be less educated and thus even more likely to embrace dangerous ideas.
Unions Should Not Play Politics – September 2, 2008
While labour groups are correct to point out that management should not tell employees how to vote, they should recognize that they themselves are very partisan and should not be using members fees to support political causes.
A Political And Court Addiction To Speech Suppression – June 18, 2008
Every citizen has an interest and the right of citizens to try and protect or advance that interest in the public square should be respected.
Sidney Green – May 27, 2008
"I support the general law. Namely, that it is unlawful to bribe a politician otherwise I do not support laws with respect to financing because one, it is contrary to freedom of speech and secondly, because it is impossible to enforce them and it makes dishonest people out of honest people because they will find and seek out ways to get around stupid laws."

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