Because we’re going to re-litigate this issue yet again over the course of the campaign, I’m going to remind you all that Trudeau’s decision to abandon electoral reform was a result of evidence-based policy as opposed to a lie or false promise. The issue was studied. They engaged in polling that was output-based, meaning what people wanted for outcomes rather than simply asking them which system they preferred, because that conditions people who are rote in their responses about what system they think they prefer, without necessarily understanding their outcomes. And the outcomes they were looking for had a lot more to do with status quo than most people like to believe.

Beyond that, the special committee that studied the issue in the House of Commons returned a report that was hot garbage. Its conclusions were to call on the government to design a bespoke version of proportional representation that fell below a certain threshold of what they consider vote percentages to seat allocations which would require a massive number of new seats to be even remotely possible, that also had to have a simple ballot and retained the ability to elect individual MPs who had a connection to the riding as opposed to choosing MPs from party lists. Such a thing is a virtual impossibility. The common talking point is that Trudeau killed it because it didn’t advance ranked ballots, which he preferred (never mind that the Liberals on the committee didn’t advance study of this system in any meaningful way), and both the committee and the media were caught up in one bullshit analysis that relied on a single poll of second choices that declared that the Liberals would have won more seats under such a system, where there is actually no evidence of that. (Seriously, look at how politics works in Australia’s House of Representatives, which is elected by ranked ballot). That was the dominant narrative, which made it poisonous for Trudeau to advance.

But we’re going to get a bunch of people continue to moan about that in this election, including some ridiculous assertions that if the Conservatives form government that it’s because Trudeau didn’t implement proportional representation. (Seriously, if you favour a voting system because you think it’ll keep a certain party out, then you’re a sore loser, not actually interested in democratic outcomes). And no doubt, we’ll see some more garbage journalism like this CBC piece which is obtuse about things like the Conservative platform, and getting comment from a single political scientist who favours reform. Seriously? That’s not how you do your job.

On the campaign trail:

• Justin Trudeau was in Welland, Ontario, to highlight pledges in the platform around extending pandemic benefits for businesses and a labour mobility tax credit.
• At a campaign stop outside of London, Ontario, Trudeau was pelted with gravel, marking an escalation in the protests he’s faced.
• Erin O’Toole was in Ottawa to promote his plans to double the Canada Workers Benefit, and came out with yet another position on gun control.
• When asked about his candidates saying O’Toole will still repeal gun laws, O’Toole says that “I’m the leader,” which is an odd way to think about how parties work.
• Jagmeet Singh was in Hamilton, Ontario, to promise more federally-regulated sick days, plus a higher federal minimum wage and enriched EI benefits.
• Analysis from the Star suggests the Conservative platform will spend an additional $100 billion over ten years, while claiming to balance the budget with no cuts.
• Here’s a look at the different parties’ policies around protection for precarious and gig workers, and why those policies may not be worth much.
• Heather Scoffield takes a swipe at Elections Canada for cancelling on-campus voting stations, and listens to students call it “voter suppression.”

Good reads:

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/1434977849266614278

This is a real stretch.

The PBO’s costing approach assumes status quo unless instructed otherwise. Their note on the minimum tax is clear it applies to *taxable income*. https://t.co/4sEmvkjDmY
Principle res has never been part of taxable income in Canada. #cdnpoli #Elxn44 https://t.co/gtDxJxJOVa pic.twitter.com/ldHsrZeRtp

— Dr. J Robson (@JenniferRobson8) September 6, 2021

Odds and ends:

Unless it's defending U of O prof Verushka Lieutenant-Duval's right to use the n-word in class.

Place your bets.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) September 7, 2021

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