Will the coming federal election be the Liberal party’s last?
Canada’s looming federal election is already one of legend — it’s the first three-way race in our history, it’s been cause for ominous warnings about the entrenchment of an American-style permanent campaign, and it’s been preceded by Tory members of Parliament jumping ship as if their party were the doomed hybrid of the Titanic and the Lusitania.
But what if the most remarkable thing about the election is yet to come? What if it’s the last election for the country’s erstwhile “natural governing party” — the Liberal Party of Canada?
There’s a “law” in the social sciences named after French academic Maurice Duverger — who died last year at the over-ripe age of 97. The sociologist, jurist, and member of European Parliament enjoyed a long and distinguished career, but he’s best known for “Duverger’s Law.” It states that a plurality electoral system with single-member districts (like Canada’s first-past-the-post system) will tend towards a two-party system (split along left/right political lines).
The Liberal party is a staunch supporter of the Clarity Act. Other than that? What substantive role does a centre party fill in Canada in 2014 that a right- or left-wing party can’t? Damned if I can tell
read on:
David Moscrop: Why do we need a Liberal party? | National Post
Canada’s looming federal election is already one of legend — it’s the first three-way race in our history, it’s been cause for ominous warnings about the entrenchment of an American-style permanent campaign, and it’s been preceded by Tory members of Parliament jumping ship as if their party were the doomed hybrid of the Titanic and the Lusitania.
But what if the most remarkable thing about the election is yet to come? What if it’s the last election for the country’s erstwhile “natural governing party” — the Liberal Party of Canada?
There’s a “law” in the social sciences named after French academic Maurice Duverger — who died last year at the over-ripe age of 97. The sociologist, jurist, and member of European Parliament enjoyed a long and distinguished career, but he’s best known for “Duverger’s Law.” It states that a plurality electoral system with single-member districts (like Canada’s first-past-the-post system) will tend towards a two-party system (split along left/right political lines).
The Liberal party is a staunch supporter of the Clarity Act. Other than that? What substantive role does a centre party fill in Canada in 2014 that a right- or left-wing party can’t? Damned if I can tell
read on:
David Moscrop: Why do we need a Liberal party? | National Post
