Worth Reading - April 18, 2013

It has been a busy week. I have been helping to organize my first political event. This Saturday the Brampton West NDP will be holding a potluck social at South Fletcher’s Sportsplex. Check out the Brampton West NDP Facebook page for more details. As I may have mentioned previously, I am the Social Media Secretary and sit on the executive of the Brampton West NDP. Finally, on a personal note, today is my birthday. :)

The Conservatives have launched their first ads against Justin Trudeau (LPC – Papineau, QC). Andrew Coyne offers his take on negative advertising/attack ads. 

Similarly, Allan Gregg says that attack ads hurt our democracy more than political opponents. Gregg argues that these ads make us cynical and disconnect from politics.

Martin Regg Cohn suggests that major changes are needed to reverse the dismal trends in our voter turnout. Cohn argues that e-voting is the solution. While I am strongly opposed to e-voting some changes are definitely needed.

Maclean’s offers a summary of the NDP convention in Montreal. It is not a very favourable light, but it is well written.

Given Canada’s job training problems something like a temporary workers program is needed to fill gaps in the short-term until citizens or immigrants can fill the gaps. Tom Mulcair’s (NDP – Outremont, QC) scathing question in the House of Commons has brought attention to temporaryworkers being brought in for jobs that can clearly be filled by existing labour. 

Another from Cohn, the cancellation of the gas plants in Mississauga and Oakville reveal problems in both NIMBYism and privatization. I’ve been reading about public transit lately and there appears growing evidence that privatization has offered no benefits and just new problems. Clearly the cult of privatization needs to be challenged.

I love this piece. After a new poll showed again that Justin Trudeau would win a majority the NDP released a mock response. 

Justin Trudeau’s first day in the House of Commons as Liberal leader could have gone better. According to media reports Thomas Mulcair stole the show with his questions on the temporary foreign workers program. 

Michael Den Tandt in the National Post says that Trudeau’s appeal to the public will mean that both Harper and Mulcair will have to work on being more friendly political commodities.