Roundup: Cullen tries to game the debate, again

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Nathan Cullen is at it again with his attempts to try and skew the electoral reform debate in his direction. Not content to try and game a future Commons committee with “proportional” (but actually not even remotely proportional) membership, Cullen insisted yesterday that the government set up a citizen’s assembly to run a parallel kind of consultative process in order to really make sure that they’re hearing from all the right voices, and so on. Of course, what Cullen isn’t saying is that this is but one more dishonest tactic in trying to hijack the process into delivering the system that his party prefers. But how do I know that this is what the outcome would be? Well, a couple of things, the first is of course the bias for reform that these kinds of assemblies are set up with, and in the kinds of “eminent Canadians” that Cullen seeks to lead this assembly. You can just about imagine the names on his shortlist (Ed Broadbent, Craig Scott, etc), but one really doesn’t have to look very far. Political academia is very much biased in favour of reform, as is the majority of punditry in this country. The fix is very much in when it starts. Also, the experience of the citizens assembly in Ontario that recommended MMP in advance of the ill-fated Ontario referendum on a new electoral system is a kind of demonstration as to how these assemblies become convinced as to the magic that these new systems will apparently bring – they are in an environment where the current system is not adequately explained or represented, and they wind up favouring a system which purports to maximise on the supposed benefits, in this case MMP. Fairness! Local representation! Cooperation! Votes counting! Forget the usual caveats about logical fallacies and magical thinking that these proponents engage in, they are essentially being sold a time-share in Mexico, and make no mistake that by the end, they will sign up for it. It also feeds into the narrative that PR-enthusiasts like to dine out on, about how people just don’t understand how great PR/MMP is, but because those in the citizen assembly really got to learn about it, they understood just how awesome and magical it is, so they really get it. Cullen is trying to tap into all of this – convince your assembly that the preferred MMP system is the way to go, you suddenly have moral authority to pursue it in parliament for all it’s worth, particularly if the government is reluctant to put it to a plebiscite. Cullen is more transparent than he thinks he is, which is why this new plan deserves to be treated with scepticism.

Good reads:

  • Trudeau’s final day in Washington included a visit to Arlington cemetery, American University and a Canada 2020/Centre for American Progress event.
  • Trudeau, incidentally, has faith in America’s “better angels” when it comes to the likes of Donald Trump.
  • It sounds like Justin Trudeau personally intervened to keep the Board of Internal Economy from settling the NDP satellite office case as an example to taxpayers.
  • The Finance Committee’s pre-budget consultation report has been tabled, and it’s chock full of self-serving requests, but also a request to study minimum income.
  • Judy Foote says the Canada Post review is coming soon, and that they will look at new businesses to help fund operations (which is code for postal banking).
  • The government confirmed that their predecessors quietly removed funding for First Nations education, and pledged to close the gap.
  • Kady O’Malley looks at ways to make the loss of Friday sittings work.
  • Laura Payton notes why political fashion stories are actually more than the fluff that they are dismissed as.
  • Scott Reid recalls Canada-US visits of the past, and how they are reflected in the chattering classes.
  • Susan Delacourt writes about branding the country and rewriting history to suit governments of the day.
  • Paul Wells gives a wrap on the Washington DC trip, and what Trudeau’s message to America was during their primaries.

Odds and ends:

Saudi Arabia is defending their human rights record in light of their LAV purchase.

The government has distanced themselves from Davie Shipyard’s unsolicited bid on icebreaker contracts.

One thought on “Roundup: Cullen tries to game the debate, again”

  1. I am very leery of ”Citizen’s Assembly” and so called eminent Canadians usually retired politicos and friends. If there is to be reform then let Parliament decide.

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