Roundup: The allure of citizens assemblies

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Yesterday in the mother parliament in Westminster, a group of Extinction Rebellion activists “super-glued” themselves around the Speaker’s chair in the House of Commons. Their demand—somewhat ironically, to “let the people decide” on climate change. Now, it would be ironic given that they are literally in the chamber where the people do decide, but no, what they are demanding is a citizen’s assembly, which is antithetical to democracy. There is a particular romance around these assemblies, which are composed of selected individuals from a perfect cross-section of society, and they are supposed to work by consensus to come up with some kind of solution, under the guidance of experts. Of course, therein lies the problem with this whole system—the people did not elect this assembly, and there is no way to hold them to account for the decisions that they make. As well, evidence suggests that they are fairly manipulable with the right “experts” guiding them, which is why groups like Extinction Rebellion or Fair Vote Canada are enamoured with them—because they are certain that with the “proper guidance,” these assemblies will come to the “correct” decisions, without the mess or compromises of democracy, or more to the point, going through the trouble of organizing that democracy requires to actually make change. This is no way to make big decisions, and politicians shouldn’t pander to groups whose aims are anti-democratic.

Ukraine Dispatch, Day 191:

Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency remain at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and hope to have a full picture of the situation at the plant by early next week. Here is an explanation as to why this IAEA inspection is so important.

https://twitter.com/CFOperations/status/1565396106577690630

Programming Note: Because it’s a long weekend, posts will resume Wednesday.

Good reads:

  • The prime minister spent the day in the GTA touting the government’s plans.
  • The federal government is said to be developing a pathway to permanent residency for the estimated 500,000 undocumented workers in the country.
  • G7 finance ministers, including Canada’s, have pledged to impose a cap on the price of Russian oil in order to limit their revenues.
  • The public hearings into use of the Emergencies Act are being delayed because the commissioner need surgery.
  • The government has extended the mandate of CRTC chairman Ian Scott while they continue to look for his replacement (while the ideal candidate may not even exist).
  • Here is a look into the nuances of real estate data, and why the housing market really isn’t melting down as some people claim.
  • The Canadian Press profiles Scott Aitchison.
  • Erin O’Toole will offer a video message to the leadership “event” next week, but won’t appear in person (because why would he?).
  • The Star talks to O’Toole about his blueprint for victory document, which didn’t work out the way he hoped.
  • Jason Kenney defended Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor, and took more shots at Danielle Smith’s “cockamamie” plans for sovereignty legislation.
  • In the Quebec election, François Legault has admitted that his pledge to ensure everyone has a family doctor is simply “not possible.”
  • Mitch Heimpel explains the “stray voltage” tactics in politics, and why parties don’t have incentives to stop using it even if it’s leading to dangerous radicalization.
  • Jared Wesley traces Jason Kenney’s prosperity-first approach and dickish behaviour as the seeds that led to his eventually political downfall.
  • Chantal Hébert notes that Trudeau’s negatives are piling up, but that he hasn’t hit the point of no return yet and could yet salvage the furniture (or the party at least).
  • Paul Wells recounts the “post-COVID” atmosphere on the Legault campaign.
  • My weekend column on Alberta careening toward a constitutional crisis because its Lieutenant Governor couldn’t keep her mouth shut, and gave Danielle Smith ammo.

Odds and ends:

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One thought on “Roundup: The allure of citizens assemblies”

  1. A couple of lines from Rob Roy… “You will nae be a backstabber”
    As for finding a cogent leader with a defined set of policies…”One would have thought that a field so regularly plowed would have produced one good crop”
    Fits the Cons so well!

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