Political Canadiana October 11–17, 2019

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Some of the most interesting political and historical Canadiana for October 11–17, 2019:

Federal election news:

• James Bowden writes on his blog about how some public servants are interpreting the ‘caretaker convention’ of Canadian elections too zealously.
• James Bowden writes on his blog about how the Governor General’s “special warrants”, which allow the Governor General to authorize financial spending to approve funds even without Parliamentary approval, work and how they’re being misinterpreted.
• Alex Brockman writes for the CBC about the disappointment many Northern Canadians feel with the lack of attention their issues have received from the federal parties.
• Duncan Cameron writes for Rabble.ca about how action on climate change requires voters to break the cycle of Liberal and Conservative governments.
• The CBC writes about the record number of Indigenous candidates running in this election.
• Scott Clark and Peter DeVries write on their blog about giving the Conservative party’s platform a fiscal ‘C’ grade.
• Martin Regg Cohn writes for the Toronto Star about Canada’s new ‘two solitudes’-environmental and electoral.
• Ben Cousins and Lisa LaFlamme write for CTV News about the rural Albertans who feel like they’ve been given the ‘cold shoulder’ this election.
• The editors of the Counterweights blog write about the possibility of a Conservative minority government.
• The editors of the Counterweights blog write about whether Monday’s election results will mirror those of 1972, when Pierre Trudeau relied on the NDP’s backing to retain power.
• Rachel Emmanuel writes for IPolitics about how Andrew Scheer is pledging that a Conservative government’s first act would be to repeal the Liberal carbon tax.
• John Geddes writes for Macleans outlining the possible scenarios of a minority government.
• Victoria Gibson writes for IPolitics about the Nunavut candidates who talk about the barriers to political in their territory.
• Chantal Hébert writes for the Toronto Star about why it’s getting harder and harder to imagine a majority government on Monday.
• David Macdonald writes for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Behind The Numbers blog about the impacts of the Liberals’ and Conservatives’ proposed tax cuts.
• Quito Maggi writes for IPolitics to predict a Liberal minority government.
• Rex Murphy writes for the National Post about why this election is about the future of Alberta.
• Karl Nerenberg writes for Rabble.ca about why Justin Trudeau can and should try to govern even if he wins fewer seats than Andrew Scheer.
• Pamela Palmater writes on her blog about how Indigenous issues have largely disappeared from the election campaign.
• Ajay Parasam writes for The Conversation about why Canadians should embrace a coalition-style ‘fellowship of parties’.
• The Post Millennial prints a letter from a frustrated Alberta voter to their counterparts in Ontario and Quebec, outlining what the stakes are for Alberta in this election and why Alberta’s concerns are important.
• A blogger with the screen name Rural writes on his blog about being forced to vote strategically because of the first past the post system.
• Rick Salutin writes for Rabble.ca about why there’s so much anger about the Liberals.
• Jonathan Scott writes for the Post Millennial about why he’s voting for Justin Trudeau and the Liberals.
• Katherine Scott writes for the Behind The Numbers blog to analyze the parties’ proposals to reduce poverty.
• Amy Smart writes for the CBC about how the slow progress on reconciliation and land rights risks causing Indigenous people to disengage from the election.
• Dale Smith writes on his blog about the grades the parties’ platforms have received.
• Dale Smith writes for Loonie Politics about why the post-election concerns about national unity are overblown.
• Kelli Stevens writes on her blog about why she supports a multi-party voting system that would allow more diverse choices.
• Paul Wells writes for Macleans about how the election seems to have become a choice between financial stability and taking action on climate change.
• Jody Wilson-Raybould talks to CBC’s The Current about how she’s hoping for a minority government and wants to work with whoever is in power if she’s re-elected as an independent MP.

Other items of interest:

• Stephen Buffalo, Sharleen Gale and John Paul write for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute about why the federal parties should be recognizing the benefits of Indigenous self-governance.
• Sean Carleton writes for Canadian Dimension about the Kanesatake Mohawk who’s begun a hunger strike to protest the ongoing fraudulent sale of land that rightfully belongs to the Mohawks.
• Martha Hall Findlay writes for the Canada West Foundation about how the people who produce and use fossil fuels shouldn’t be seen as the enemy in a polarized discussion.
• Matthew Hayday writes for the ActiveHistory.ca blog about how Canada’s first-past-the-post electoral system amplifies and distorts regional differences, as illustrated by the 1979 and 1980 elections.
• Markham Hislop writes an open letter to climate activist Greta Thunberg in EnergiMedia, advising her to criticize Alberta climate laggards, but to praise those oil and gas producers that are actively trying to decarbonize their operations.
• Amanda Follett Hosgood writes for the Tyee about how northern British Columbia could transition away from an oil and gas economy.
• Dwight Newman and Joseph Quesnel write for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute to question whether anyone is defending the rights of the federal government on energy development.
• Andrew Parkin writes for Policy Options about how divides between Canadians are more often regional, than between urban and rural citizens.
• Kathleen Petty writes for the CBC about whether Western Canada really ‘wants out’, and why the rallying cry needs to be heard.
• Christopher Ragan writes for Policy Options, reviewing the different parties’ climate platforms.