Archive for the ‘Governance Debates’ Category
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How the Tories’ ‘war on the media’ fills party coffers
What differentiates the Conservative appeals is not attacking the other parties and warning of their nefarious policies, but the idea that there are other institutions, elitist ones such as the “liberal media,” that are out to undermine the Conservative Party and conservatism. The fight is therefore not merely partisan politics, but against wider forces… that’s the way they see the world, facts notwithstanding.
Tags: ideology
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Who’s more progressive, the Liberals or the NDP?
What is remarkable, however, is the relatively moderate nature of both parties. There is no plan to significantly increase government revenues – the tax increases proposed by both parties are at least partially offset by tax cuts… The parties are operating in a box designed by the Conservatives, one where government revenues are constrained and, as a result of a desire among all leaders to be seen as good fiscal managers, spending is therefore constrained as well.
Tags: budget, child care, economy, ideology, Indigenous, standard of living
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In our politics, telling the truth gets you in trouble
… two-thirds to four-fifths of proven fossil fuel reserves will need to stay underground if we have any hope of keeping global temperature change under two degrees Celsius… And Canada recently committed to eliminating fossil fuels by the year 2100. To achieve any of this will require leaving much of Alberta’s sticky stuff in the ground… our politics do not allow for serious — and truly honest — discussion of the most pressing issues of our time.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, standard of living
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A referendum on Stephen Harper and his meaner Canada
Harper’s virtues… can be plainly seen in his successful attempt to roll back the federal government’s capacity to use its spending power to influence the lives of Canadians… His strategy as prime minister is to starve the federal government of resources by limiting spending, delivering benefits through the tax system rather than through programs, and cutting taxes wherever he could. Weaken the federal government enough fiscally and no future prime minister could ever again contemplate building a Just Society.
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, participation, privatization, standard of living, tax
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The neocon politics of cynicism and despair
Amongst the most persistent and egregious oft-repeated myths perpetrated by neocons is the one that they are the best stewards of the economy and that cutting taxes is the way to improve the financial health of Canada. The lion’s share of these tax cuts always go to the private sector and the wealthy while the messaging is tax cuts for the middle class… A second mantra of neocons is cutting the wasteful cost of government. This is how tax cuts are paid for and is code for their dedicated bias towards the dismantling of government, social programs and social opposition to Conservative policies…
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, privatization, standard of living, tax
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The disappearance of the moderate conservative
The virtually complete disappearance of moderate conservatives within the Harper Conservative Party mirrors, and draws inspiration from, the general drift toward sharper conservative ideology throughout English-speaking democracies… The older conservative idea of society as an organic whole and of the state’s capacity to defend and promote a common, collective interest, remembering the less fortunate among us, has all but disappeared in the Conservative Party.
Tags: featured, homelessness
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Everything you need to know about the parties’ platforms, from taxes and terrorism to the environment
Here’s your guide to the four main parties’ record and pledges as the campaign begins: Economy, Taxes And Pocketbook Issues / Security And Terrorism: / Energy And Environment / Infrastructure And Transport / Foreign Affairs And Defence / Social Issues / Democratic Reform And Governance / Justice / Aboriginal Issues
Tags: budget, child care, crime prevention, economy, featured, globalization, Health, ideology, Indigenous, pensions, poverty, rights, standard of living, tax
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Palliatives won’t save struggling post office
In the short term, Canadians who still have door-to-door delivery (about 26 per cent) would get relief from a NDP or Liberal government. In the longer term, they would be saddled with an expensive, inequitable white elephant… What’s needed is not a quick fix; it is rational plan to reconcile what Canadians want with what Canada Post does… The least tenable option is staying on the current trajectory.
Tags: budget, disabilities, economy, participation
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From the U.K., a lesson on judicial appointments
With the passage of the Constitutional Reform Act of 2005, an independent body for the appointment of judges and tribunal members was created to ensure that those holding judicial office are selected solely on the basis of merit, through a fair and open competition. The members of the Judicial Appointments Commission are themselves selected through open competition, other than the three members from the judiciary.
Tags: crime prevention, ideology, multiculturalism, standard of living
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Rewrite Ontario laws to help cities
Tighter conflict of interest law… a broader menu of sanctions to cover lesser violations — punishments such as temporary suspension from office or removal from a committee / A ranked ballot… would boost the chances of political newcomers, encourage diversity, give voters more ballot choices / New tax powers… to give… expanded revenue tools to cover… growing needs… [and] power to require developers… to set aside a certain percentage of units for low-income people.
Tags: budget, jurisdiction, participation, standard of living
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