Political Science 2230E Chapter 1: Political Science 2230E Chapter : Democratic Reform: From Campaign Promise to Policy Change by Maxwell Cameron
27 Dec 2018
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Document Summary
2015 election ended a majority conservative government that practiced disciplined message control in its communications, centralized decision-making, and a strategic approach to legislation and policymaking. Public impression was that prime minister stephen harper chose to govern single-mindedly on behalf of his electoral base, which represented slightly under 40% of the electorate. Alienated voters who wanted change in government. Trudeau offered the biggest change in government. Liberals benefitted from first past the post. Ndp lost because liberals had best shot of beating pc. A majority in parliament gives the liberals the means to effect change, but paradoxically may diminish their motivation immediately after the election trudeau re-committed himself to an all-party committee to review the electoral system. A challenge for such a committee, however, will be to reach agreement among parties that are likely to advocate reforms that bene t their own party"s narrower interests. Solution 1: remove deliberation over the electoral system from the partisan arena.
