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Political Parties and Elections (Political Parties (Reforms (Should use…
Political Parties and Elections
Political Parties
Inclusiveness
Under-representation of new immigrant groups, women (candidates in winnable ridings)
Not entirely successful in ensuring that all groups see themselves in the parties
Participation
But still low participation in relation to pool of supporters
Contrast with (publicly-supported) US party primaries
Greatest competition is for nominations, to a lesser extent for party leadership
Responsiveness
Weak on policy roles, ability of activists to influence
Best organized to give voice to regions
Reforms
Should use taxpayer subsidies to require reforms
More diverse recruitment
More accessible and transparent personnel recruitment
Reform leader and constituency selection processes
Introduce proportional representation in the electoral system
National parties would take neglected areas more seriously
Would also invigorate party activists
Would make parties more competitive in more areas of the country
Create policy foundations → increase accountability
Also proposals to weaken party leader control over nominations, party discipline in Parliament (Chong)
Parties need to be better linked to civil society
Role
In Parliament
Provide the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition
Parties with standing have important roles in proceedings
Committees
Supported by House of Commons-financed party research staff
Question Period
Provide the Government and the Official Opposition
In elections
Election platforms provide a policy reference point
Choose the leader who is the candidate for Prime Minister
Provide the candidates for election to the House of Commons
Westminster system can be described as Party Democracy
Part of the unwritten Constitution
Canadian Parties
Currently
Non-Parliamentary parties are largely electoral machines
Primary roles: recruiting candidates, running local campaigns
Also parties based on social movements, political philosophies
Parties as such have limited policy role between elections
No permanent policy development or think tank capacity
Contrast with European “party foundations”
Long-standing strand of regionally based protest parties
Progressives (1920s & 1930s), Reform/Alliance (1990s & 2000s), Bloq Québecois (1990s to present)
Uneasy relationship with advocacy groups
Brokering and accommodating Canadian regions and elites
Especially the Liberals and Conservatives (“brokerage” parties)
Historically
First 50 years after Confederation major patronage role in appointments to the civil service
Seen as a form of democratic responsiveness
Largely eliminated with the introduction of merit-based appointments in 1919
Residual effects in Governor-in-Council appointments to boards and commissions, some other non-merit positions
Also varying but now reduced party's role in government purchasing
Major role in bringing about Confederation and on-going role in nation-building
Funding
Over the years there has been a gradual reduction in allowable size of private financial contributions to parties
Currently $1550 per donor, per year, exclusion of corporate or union donors
There are also significant levels of public financing of parties – governed by Canada Elections Act
Tax deductibility of individual contributions up to the limit
Reimbursement of national and riding election expenses
Argument that creates level playing field, reduces vested interests
Per vote subsidy – eliminated in 2015 by Harper government
Sources of party funding has been an ongoing concern
Subject of numerous scandals and inquiries in the past
Access to government decision-making and patronage has traditionally made them vehicles for wealthy interests
Elections
Direct Democracy
Referendums
1948: Newfoundland to join Canada – first indecisive, 2nd for
1980 & 1995: Quebec on sovereignty – both against
1992: national on Charlottetown constitutional Accord – defeated
Plebiscite
1942 national on WWII conscription – passed but action delayed
More frequent provincial votes
1898 national on prohibition – passed but not acted upon
Representative Democracy
At the federal level elections are held to elect the House of Commons
In the Westminster model, Parliaments are elected for a finite period, subject to regular re-election
Parliament has three broad functions
Acting on behalf of the voting public and the population as a whole
Choosing the government of the day from among its members and providing a government-in-waiting (Official Opposition)
Enacting laws and approving raising and spending of public revenues
Holding the government to account for its actions
Same principles in provinces, smaller scale
Electoral System
Plurality voting
Political party financing
Election management
Electoral districting
Voter registration
The Franchise
Vote weight, regionalism
Reforms
STV
MMP