New column day

Here, on the increasing attempts of executive government at all levels to declare democracy irrelevant - and how strong grassroots party structures may be the key to reversing the tide.

For further reading...
- Again, Andrew Coyne's column remains the definitive discussion of the issue at the federal and provincial levels.
- But I'll give credit to the Libs who have recognized that shutting down democratic debate is a serious problem - particularly Steve V, who also discusses Gerard Kennedy's outspoken criticism of the move. And we'll find out over the next few months whether the Libs' membership will see the importance of Kennedy's message, and set a higher standard for their own party's internal accountability than "Harper got away with it, so can we".

All about the turnout

Needless to say, the news that former MP and current party president Peggy Nash will run for the NDP in Parkdale-High Park is great to hear. But what will it take for her to win back the riding?

Interestingly enough, while Nash's 2006 share of the popular vote was lower than that received by the Lib winners before and after, her vote total of 20,790 in that election also represents the high-water mark for any candidate in the riding from 2000 onward. So it doesn't look like the difference between winning and losing resulted from a major swing vote; instead, it was largely a surge in turnout from a usual level of 64% to 70% that played a large part in putting Nash over the top.

As a result, Nash can win back the seat simply by earning back the votes she's already managed to win before. Which means that the NDP should place even more of a premium on boosting turnout in Parkdale-High Park than it figures to in other ridings - and should have an excellent chance to win the seat again if it's up to the challenge.

(Edit: added link.)

On reputations

I've wondered for quite some time whether anybody has actually paid attention to the NDP's track record of outworking its political opponents. But apparently the list includes Aaron Wherry for one:

But here is Mr. Kennedy now, looking into things, doing research, adding and subtracting large numbers, carrying the one and generally making it his job to hold the government to account on a daily basis. And such is the current state of things that such stuff has seemed no less than revolutionary. Indeed, if you weren’t paying sufficient attention, you might assume Mr. Kennedy was a member of the NDP caucus.