News

Election 2008

Harper's second minority suits the national mood

Don't expect an election, The Gazette (2009)

This opinion peace argues that despite the minority House, elections are not going to take place any time soon.

Canada set to avoid early election again, Reuters (2009)

This article offers information on the upcoming non-confidence vote that the Conservative minority has to face. As the New Democratic Party promised to help the Conservatives, election does not seem likely.

Canada's Harper moves closer to majority with by-election wins, Bloomberg (2009)

Two victories in yesterday's local by-elections to fill the vacant seats in the House of Commons, move Prime Minister Harper's Conservative Party closer to a majority in the national legislature.

Canada: Election-finance poison pill threatens three cabinet ministers, The Globe and Mail (2010)

Three Tories Cabinet members are accused of orchestrating a scheme to exceede the campaign spending limit during the 2006 federal election. Furthermore, 65 Tories are also accused of claimining reimbursements for money that they never spent. Elections Canada is still investigating.

Canada: Expense limits for elections?, BC Local News (2010)

This article reports the latest proposals to limit election spending for local elections in Canada. Local politicians in British Columbia are currently discussing spending limits with the elections task force.

Canada: Liberal candidate didn't break election laws, CBC News (2010)

A Canadian Liberal Party candidate, Roger Melanson, was photographed in several government photo-ops, even though elections will be held in September. The province's chief elections officer, however, stated that Mr Melanson did not violate the Elections Act or the Political Process Financing Act.

Elections Canada to contend Tories are subverting Parliament on campaign finance, The Global and Mail (2010)

This article comments on the Elections Canada's argument in the Court of Appeal for Ontario against the Conservative Party's campaign finance. The fight is over interpretations of election-financing laws, in particular over some refunds that parties receive from Elections Canada.

Canada: Elections chief can’t say if $30M election claims legit, Toronto Sun (2010)

Canada's chief electoral officer, Marc Maynard, believes that it is time to change the legislation that governs the parties' expense claims. Mr Maynard reported on this subject directly to the Parliament: political parties, he stated, should hand in evidence supporting their expense claims.

Elections Canada to contend Tories are subverting Parliament on campaign finance, Globe and Mail (2010)

This article discusses Elections Canada's ongoing case against the Conservative Party. Elections Canada contends that the Conservatives are attempting subvert the will of parliament through the courts.

Canada: Liberals are pitching, but NDP isn't catching, Edmonton Journal (2010)

Alberta Liberals reached out to the NDP through a newspaper ad, but the NDP have indicated that they are not interested in cooperating with the Liberals.

Tories have nine-point advantage in Canada, Angus Reid Global Monitor (2010)

This article presents the latest opinion poll in Canada. The Conservative Party holds a sound majority of possible votes (36%), while the opposition Liberal Party ended up second (27%) followed by the New Democratic Party (20%).

Native activists erect blockade to keep federal official out of election, The Globe and Mail (2010)

This article reports on the protests of the native activists against federal elections officials. Barriere Lake community leaders stated that the federal government is interfering with their right to hold independent elections, and that they will not let election officials from the federal government come into their reserve. Elections Canada officials replied that they have no authority in the reserve, and that they will not oversee the elections.

Canada: Party Financing: Yes, end the public subsidy, but raise the individual limit, The Globe and Mail (2010)

This article presents a commentary on the latest developments in the party financing law. The Conservatives have included in campaign platforms a promise to end public subsidies (after recent scandals), but experts believe that it just an empty promise.

Canada: Women in politics: why is it an issue? BCB News (2010)

This article discusses the gender issue in politics and elections in Canada. Women comprise more than 50% of the Canadians, but they are severely underrepresented. On a Federal level, only 22.1% of the Members of Parliament in the House of Commons are women, ranking Canada in the 51st position for female representation. On the state level, the situation is even worst: in New Brunswick, for example, only about 11% of the elected candidates are women (the highest percentage of women in state assembly is 31%, for an average of 23.4%).

Elections Canada shuts down Tory riding association that held Paradis fundraiser, The Globe and Mail (2010)

This article reports on the Election Canada's decision to shut down a Conservative riding association. Elections Canada will de-register this association for failing to comply with its annual reporting requirements.

Canada: Online voting coming to B.C. cities as early as fall, The Vancouver Sun (2011)

This article reports on the possibility of introducing Internet voting in British Columbia, Canada. The two biggest cities in the state, Vancouver and Surrey, are looking into online voting. The electoral authorities believe that a pilot project could be launched as soon as November. In the state, the average municipal voter turnout is just 35%, and supporters of this pilot project argue that Internet voting would improve the voter turnout.

Canada: Party leaders target key ridings, The Globe and Mail (2011)

This article reports on the political environment in Canada. A federal elections is not officially underway, but party leaders are already discussing possible government formations and making campaign-style announcements.

Canada: '50/50' chance of an election in 2011: Harper. The Montreal Gazette (2011)

This article reports on the Prime Minister's statements regarding possible early elections in Canada. PM Stephen Harper stated that there is a "50/50" chance of an early election in 2011.

Canada: B.C. Liberal caught up in criminal probe over election financing, The Globe and Mail (2011)

This article reports on an ongoing investigation for two counts of criminal breach of trust related to alleged financing irregularities during the 2009 election campaign. A candidate of the LIberal MLA, Mr Kash Heed is accused of failing to declare in the candidate's election expenses report, the payment of two campaign workers (for a total of 6,000 Canadian Dollars).

Canada: Court won't hear appeal from group alleging Harper broke election law, The National Post (2011)

This article comments the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada to reject the appeal from Democracy Watch, a democracy advocacy group, regarding alleged electoral law infringements. According to this group, Prime Minister Stephen Harper broke his own fixed-election date law in 2008, when he asked then-governor-general Michaelle Jean to dissolve the Parliament.

Canada: Key to winning elections, The Star (2011)

This article discusses the main issues of the electoral campaign in Canada. According tot he author, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is not supported by the majority of teh voters, but candidate Michael Ignatieff still does not have a strategy that would allow him to win.

Canadians don’t want spring election: Harper, The Toronto Sun (2011)

This article reports on the statements of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the possibility to hold early elections. The Prime Minister stated that a federal election this spring is not inevitable, and that the Canadian people do not want an election.

Bloc Québécois to Stephen Harper: pay up or face voters, the Montreal Gazette (2011)

This article reports on the possibility of early election in Canada. Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe stated that of Prime Minister Stephen Harper will not respond to Quebec's expectations, he will have to face voters.

Elections Canada spending surges with new regulations, minorities, The Vancouver Sun (2011)

This article reports on new statistics about the Electoral Management Body in canada, Elections Canada. Spending at Elections Canada has more than quadrupled over the last 10 years, from $2.6 millionin 1999 to (the expected) $30.9 million at the end of 2011, and the EMB explains the spending pattern by saying that in recent years it has been responsible for overseeing major legislative changes and minority governments.

Canada: NDP pitches referendum on scrapping the Senate, The Vancouver Sun (2011)

This article reports on a possible referendum in Canada. NDP leader, Jack Layton, stated that Canadians should vote in a special referendum to abolish the Senate. The party will present this proposal to the House of Commons on Tuesday, and it will also propose to create a parliamentary committee to review the electoral system. The New Democrats' leader believes that a mixed system of proportional representation and the current one would better reflect how Canadians vote.

Canada: The NDP is on the air, an election is in the wind, The Globe and Mail (2011)

This article reports and comments the new political advertisements currently on air in Canadian television. The NDP and the Conservative Party have released their new ads, and observers believe that the country is already in a pre-election campaign.

Canada: New wave of TV ads, partisan wars mimic election campaign, The Star (2011)

This article discusses the "pre-election" environment in Canada. Many observers believe that a new election is not scheduled for the spring, but parties and candidates are getting ready for a campaign. The New Democrats and the Conservatives released a new wave of TV ads, and the Liberal on the other hand have issued a preview of their future election platform.

Canada: The ins and outs of Stephen Harper and Elections Canada

This article reports and discusses the recent events in Canada. Elections Canada, the agency responsible for managing elections and overseeing party financing, have charged four high-ranking Conservatives incorrectly reporting election spending on television advertising in the campaign that brought the Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, to power in 2006.

Canada: Court rules against Tories on campaign spending, The Globe and Mail (2011)

This article reports on a Canadian federal court's decision to rule against Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party in its long-running feud with Canada’s elections watchdog, overturning a legal victory the Tories had argued offered them vindication in the matter.

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Canada to vote for new government on 2 May, BBC News (2011)

The article discusses the general elections in Canada. PM Harper's government resigned on Friday after a confidence vote. New elections are to be held on 2 May.

Canada’s first social media election is on, but will people vote?, The Globe and Mail (2011)

The article discusses electoral campaigning in Canada. Social media such as Twitter will most likely be used more than evern in the coming parliamentary elections.

Canada: Shopping for votes: Can you buy an election? Montreal Gazette (2011)

The article discusses campaign funding in Canada. In the coming 2 May elections, parties face strict spending rules from Elections Canada, but opposition has accused the governing party of spending public funding to promote its political programs.

Elections Canada looks for thousands of workers in Edmonton, Vancouver Sun (2011)

The article discusses voter registration in Canada. Elections Canada is employing thousands of workesr to go door-to-door and ensure that all eligible voters are on the voters' list.

Canada: Conservatives lose some ground in poll, Reuters Canada (2011)

The article discusses snap elections in Canada to be held on the 2nd of May. According to the latest opinion poll, the ruling Conservative Party has lost some support.

Canada: Advance polls reveal unexpected record turnout, The Globe and Mail (2011)

The article discusses advance voting in Canadian parliamentary elections. Voting at advance polls last weekend was 35 per cent higher than in 2008.

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RTNDA and RTDNA Oppose Canada Law Restricting Twitter, Facebook on Election Night, CNW (2011)

The article discusses Canadian legislation on publishing election results when polling stations are still open. Two major media associations oppose the current legislation which prohibits discussions about results on Fecebook and Twitter.

Canadian elections reshape political landscape, BBC News (2011)

The article reports the results of Canadian parliamentary elections. Conservative Party won the majority in the parliament gaining 167 of the 308 seats.

Elections Canada faces hurdles in prosecuting defiant tweeters, Toronto Star (2011)

The article discusses electoral legislation in Canada. An old provision in the Elections Act bans discussions on election results before the end of voting. The provision has been heavily criticized, and during the recent parliamentary election, results were widely discussed on Facebook and Twitter. Elections Canada can however take no actions unless someone complains about the dissemination of results.

Elections Canada probing hoax calls to voters, CBC (2011)

Canada's electoral organization body, Elections Canada, is investigating a report based on a troubling number of complaints that voters received fraudulent automated telephone calls that told them their regular polling station had changed. The calls are considered as conscious efforts to discourage citizens from voting. Although it has not yet commented on the specifics of its investigation, the electoral body is required to issue "a report within 90 days of the May 2 election chronicling all of the complaints and abuses reported during the course of the 2011 campaign."

Canada: Ontario moves against election trickery, Globe and Mail (2011)

After a significant amount of complaints from voters claiming they were called on election day and told their polling station had changed to what was actually a false address, Canada's most populated province has introduced legislation making it illegal to actively attempt to dissuade citizens from voting. The article touches on key aspects of this new legislation.

Canada: Infographic: Why people didn’t vote in the 2011 federal election, National Post (2011)

This article discusses the findings of the recently published findings of Statistics Canada on the primary reasons Canadians did not vote in the 2011 Federal election.

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Canada: Tories ask Elections Canada to investigate the NDP over union ‘sponsorships’, The Toronto Star (2011)

The article reports the recent request to Elections Canada, made by the conservative party, to open an investigation on the NDP's union sponsorships.

Canada: A call to civic action, The Toronto Star (2011)

In the article, the author discusses the different actions that could be undertaken in order to improve young Canadian’s political participation. According to him, the promotion of civic action through national events like Democracy Week or through civic courses at school can have a positive impact on the youth's intrest in politics.

Canada: Quebec's seat allotment in the Commons, The Montreal Gazette (2011)

The article discusses the raise of the number of seats in the lower chamber of the Canadian parliament. While provinces like Ontario, Alberta and British Colombia could obtain more seats, the province of Québec could possibly not get any. This could generate a relative underrepresentation of Québec’s population in the parliament since the province’s percentage of seats would be inferior to the Quebecers’ percentage of the Canadian population.

Canada: No more MPs please, Liberals say, The Toronto Star (2011)

This article reports the proposition made by the Liberal Party of Canada to leave the number of Members in the Parliament as it is. The Conservative government has recently announced their intent to raise the number of MPs to palliate the under representation of certain urban regions of Canada.

Canada: Opposition parties slam election dirty tricks campaign possibly linked to Tories, The Star (2012)

This news article says that Elections Canada is investigating ties between the federal Conservatives and an Edmonton-based company used to make automated phone calls that falsely diverted voters from polling stations in the 2011 election.

Elections Canada probing spending records of Conservative campaign in robocall scandal, Canada (2012)

This news article is about the robocall scandal during the Conservative campaign and the investigations by Elections Canada.