There are no interim first ministers

My column this week on Loonie Politics not only looks at the confusion left in people's minds in the wake of Alberta premier Alison Redford's resignation and the appointment of an interim leader to become premier in her wake, but broadens it to look at how the Reform Act could further muddy the waters around leadership and accountability in our politics.

No, we don't need any more Officers of Parliament

I have a second column this week on Loonie Politics, in which I respond to Independent MP Brent Rathgeber's suggestion that we make the Speaker an Officer of Parliament. I have done a lot of reading by scholars of our political institutions who have made the case that the proliferation of Officers of Parliament have weakened the role of opposition in our parliamentary system, and I've witnessed this with the creation of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, and felt the need to respond to that suggestion.

Sun News Network - March 19 appearance

I made an appearance on "Straight Talk with Pat Bolland" on Sun News Network this morning, where I spoke about my Loonie Politics column this week and the issue of Alison Redford and her caucus dynamics given the way the leadership process works. It sounds like they were pleased with the appearance, and they sound keen to have me back when the Reform Act moves ahead.

Redford vs Caucus

My column this week on Loonie Politics looks at the situation of Alberta premier Alison Redford and the unrest in her caucus, and I tie it into the ongoing problems we're seeing in the Canadian party system with the methods of leadership selection in this country. Until we take a serious look at those methods of selection rather than how to deal with leaders once they're in place, I'm certain that we're likely to continue finding problems with keeping leaders accountable.

Inviting her to run

My column this week on Loonie Politics looks at the Liberals' social media campaign over the last weekend designed to encourage more women to run for office, and how it compares to past efforts by that party and others to try and make get that engagement. It was fun to write, and to try and engage some of the scholarship on that particular topic, along with tying it into the Samara study from a few weeks ago to put it into better context.

Government is Not Both Sides

My column this week on Loonie Politics looks at the wrong notion in Canadian politics that government involves "both sides" of the aisle, when in fact government and opposition each have their own vital roles to play. My thanks to Don Martin of Power Play for giving me the jumping off point to write this column.