Canadians voted federally in September, and Albertans head back to the polls in October for municipal elections. But who has the right to vote in these elections? The right to vote is the foundation of democracy, and democracy cannot be established without it. Voting allows individuals to affect … [Read more...]
Vaclav Havel and the Meaning of Tragedy in Politics and Law
Vaclav Havel, who died in Prague shortly before Christmas in 2011, was a great dissident hero and champion of civil liberties who played a vital role in opposing the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia. He became a powerful rallying voice in the peaceful overthrow of the totalitarian political system … [Read more...]
The Gallant Yet Illegal Cause: Canadians in the Spanish Civil War
It was in Spain that men learned that one can be right and still be beaten, that force can vanquish spirit, that there are times when courage is not its own reward. It is this, without doubt, which explains why so many men throughout the world regard the Spanish drama as a personal tragedy. - Albert … [Read more...]
Teachers Talk Law Now: Mock Elections
LawNow magazine is an incredible resource for teachers. Each issue offers engaging articles about law in language suitable for students. Teachers Talk LawNow is a series of lesson plans for teachers based on these articles. Mock elections are a staple in schools and it’s easy to see why. The best … [Read more...]
Electoral Finance Rules at Home and Around the World
Non-partisan oversight of how political candidates and parties obtain donations for their campaigns, what they are allowed to spend that money on, and how much they are allowed to spend, is critical for transparent, democratic elections. Is there a link between the level of political freedom and … [Read more...]
Riding the Election Cycle: The Role of Elections Alberta
When it comes to election administration, there are always common questions that are asked. Does everyone have an equal opportunity to participate in our democracy? Who is responsible for the elections? What happens in between and after elections? Are election laws respected? Democracy isn’t … [Read more...]
Running for Office: A Candidate’s Journey
In April 2010, I was sitting in a hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia with a remarkable group of women from all around the world who were attending a conference of the World Movement for Democracy. Each of them had been a candidate for parliament in their home countries, many of them had not succeeded. Most … [Read more...]
Democracy After Post-Conflict Elections: Are we there yet?
“The election went reasonably well, millions voted, not too many died and the fraud was mostly detected and removed. But the elected members sit in a chaotic and dysfunctional assembly, concerned mainly to gain personal power and caring little for those whom they represent. As a result the … [Read more...]
American and Canadian Election Laws: Top 10 Differences
Introduction There are distinct differences in Canadian and American federal election law and practices. For example, while the processes differ, American primaries are essentially party nominations in Canada. The American process for drawing constituency boundaries (often referred to as … [Read more...]
Values, Ethics, and Civil Society
Often, people perceive ethics to be one of two things: an incomprehensible component of philosophy inherited from the Greeks of antiquity OR a strict set of rules set out by one profession or another. I suggest that ethics is part of the collective “we” at a much deeper and more profound … [Read more...]