There is an interesting piece in yesterday’s Hill Times about the policy process of the Green Party as it struggles to grow from an activist movement into a serious political party. Despite the heavy reliance on commentary from the one non-party voice in particular, there are some interesting lessons therein about ways in which their current process is causing problems with resolutions around things like the BDS movement, which put it at odds with the leader. If you recall during the last election, it came to light that some of their platform policies around things like divorce laws were MRA propaganda, forcing them to do quick disavowals to go along with the shrugs of “hey, we’re a very open party” and “grassroots democracy!” And don’t get me wrong – grassroots engagement is a good and necessary thing in politics, but there does need to be framework around it that ensures that grown-ups are in charge and that really problematic contributions can be weeded out rather than thrown into the “open-chalkboard” approach that sets too low of a threshold for some of the more odious policy ideas to make it through without a really proper vetting. (Conversely, there needs to be enough power at the grassroots level so it’s not just the leader’s office deciding policy without any accountability for doing so, which the Liberals seem to be moving toward). What’s more concerning is that the attempts to move to some form of a proportional representation system that would allow for these more fringe views to gain seats without the party having matured into a credible political force that can deal with its crazies. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as being too open and too “grassroots” in politics, and it’s part of what is causing the implosion of the Republicans in the States, where the lack of controls in favour of more “direct democracy” primaries – alongside with this narrative that government is corrupt or illegitimate – has caused it to become completely unhinged. Some of these same messages are being echoed by the kinds of people within the Green Party, coded in language around the current electoral or party systems. It does become concerning, and it’s why these kinds of too-open endeavours start to make me nervous.

Good reads:

• As premiers started meeting in Whitehorse, Justin Trudeau is threatening to impose a carbon price if they can’t agree; Brad Wall is balking, naturally.
• Premiers also met with local Indigenous groups, some of whom have very successful communities, in order to help them learn what went right.
• Jody Wilson-Raybould reiterated that the government is committed to the UNDRIP; the question is simply how it will be implemented across different communities.
• Justin Trudeau has tasked the Clerk of the Privy Council to personally oversee dealing with the Phoenix pay system debacle.
• Our ambassador in Washington is pushing back against US senators making gross mischaracterisations against the softwood lumber industry here in Canada.
• The Child Care Benefit cheques started rolling out yesterday, and the targeted benefits will hopefully reduce child poverty.
• There are concerns that the leaked draft terms of reference for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women inquiry won’t adequately look at the role of police. Premiers, however, look largely ready to sign on.
• As the government tries to grapple with a process to nominate a new Supreme Court justice, it sounds like they’ll let people submit their own names as part of it.
• Canada is contributing a field hospital to the fight against ISIS in Mosul.
• At the current pace of consultations and procurement, our military are unlikely to get drone capability until 2026. No, seriously.
• The NDP are moaning that the government hasn’t done anything about housing prices in Vancouver. Because apparently it’s as easy as “Zap! You’re Frozen!”
• Some of Justin Trudeau’s elections filings have been held up by missing signatures.
• MPs spending on cupcakes and balloons for major riding events? OH NOES! Fire up the cheap outrage machine!

Odds and ends:

Kady O’Malley digs into the Elections Canada returns on riding association donations and expenses.

Bloomberg talks to John McCallum about immigration, globalization and trade.