Roundup: The slippery slope of civic ignorance

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With Justin Trudeau adding his voice to those of the other leaders in completely misreading how a Westminster democracy works with the formation of government (albeit acknowledging that the incumbent does get the first crack), I think it’s quite apparent we’re in a crisis of civic literacy in this country. While Kady O’Malley gives a refresher here, there was an interesting idea posited by Leonid Sirota that we may be witnessing the birth of a new convention. I’m a bit sceptical about that, and would agree more with Emmett Macfarlane that it may be a political convention as opposed to a legal one, but it should also be a warning signal to our political actors that ignorance of the system, whether genuine or deliberate, does have broader repercussions. The system works the way it does because, well, it works. That’s why it evolved the way we did. To try and move it past that for crass political purposes demeans it, and opens a number of cans of worms that will do nothing more than create problems down the road that will be even bigger headaches. Better to learn and apply the system as it exists, rather than try to change the rules for petty reasons. Also, we need to stop dismissing these kinds of conversations as boring or pedantic because they matter. The rules matter. If we don’t point out what the rules are and that they matter, then it makes it easier for people to break them without anyone raising a fuss.

https://twitter.com/pmlagasse/status/641312992257277953

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https://twitter.com/emmmacfarlane/status/641228423038238720

https://twitter.com/emmmacfarlane/status/641228866099417088

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https://twitter.com/emmmacfarlane/status/641231352986124288

On the campaign:

  • Stephen Harper promised more matching grants for RESPs.
  • Thomas Mulcair promised more support for the aerospace industry.
  • Justin Trudeau promised changes to the EI system.
  • Here is the Tuesday campaign trail roundup.

Good reads:

  • In the rest of his interview with Mansbridge, Trudeau talked about growing the economy, increasing transparency, and reducing the power of the PMO.
  • Here’s a look at the state of refugee intakes by this government, which has been declining and is a bit of a mess.
  • The premiers of Ontario and BC are stepping up on Syrian refugees, while Harper keeps deflecting and mumbling about security concerns (which are overblown).
  • Former General Rick Hillier, incidentally, wants a commitment for 50,000 refugees by year’s end.
  • John Geddes looks at the economic policy debate that we’re not having.
  • David Pugliese talks about the Conservatives‘ and NDP’s defence platforms.
  • Pundit’s Guide walks us through some of the intricacies of a genuine three-party race.
  • Susan Delacourt writes about candidate vetting and the Conservatives’ approach to privacy laws.

Odds and ends:

Thomas Mulcair’s Director of Communications apologised for old tweets swearing at the Pope, while a Conservative staffer was fired for her social media outbursts.

Her Majesty has now surpassed Queen Victoria’s record as longest serving monarch of both Canada and the UK. Raise a glass (preferably gin and Dubonnet) to her.