139-491: Charles Cadman (February 21, 1948 – July 9, 2005) was a Canadian politician and Member of Parliament (MP) from 1997 to 2005, representing the riding of Surrey North in Surrey , British Columbia . Originally a Canadian Alliance MP, Cadman won re-election as an independent after losing a nomination race in his own riding. This history garnered him national media attention when, on May 19, 2005, Cadman cast
278-511: A libertarian perspective. Flanagan has written about his change of views regarding Métis leader Louis Riel : I had earlier accepted that the Métis had serious unresolved grievances; the government of Canada never gave a satisfactory response to the complaints; that Riel resorted to violence only after legal means of action had failed; and that he received a trial of questionable validity before being executed by vengeful government. As I sifted
417-551: A " just society " are constitutionally protected. Individual rights, equality and inclusiveness ( social equality ) have risen to the forefront of political and legal importance for most Canadians , as demonstrated through support for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms , a relatively free economy, and social liberal attitudes toward women's rights (like pregnancy termination ), divorce , homosexuality , same-sex marriage , birth control , euthanasia or cannabis use . There
556-652: A case-by-case basis, through a coalition government (which has only occurred once at the federal level, the Unionist government formed during World War I) or through a confidence-and-supply agreement (such as the one the Liberals and the NDP signed in 2022). As a federation, the existence and powers of the federal government and the ten provinces are guaranteed by the Constitution. The Constitution Act, 1867 sets out
695-787: A commentator until January 2013, when he began a "research and scholarship leave" from the University of Calgary prior to his retirement. Flanagan was born on 5 March 1944 in Ottawa , Illinois , US. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Studying political science under John Hallowell, Flanagan earned a Master of Arts degree in 1967 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1970, both at Duke University in North Carolina. He also studied at
834-658: A confidence vote not long after undergoing chemotherapy treatment for malignant melanoma , the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Cadman voted with the government on the 2005 budget, which had incorporated amendments proposed by the NDP, and forced a tie in the House of Commons . The tie was broken by Peter Milliken the Speaker of the House of Commons , who voted in favour of the Liberal budget (who explained he simply did so because
973-667: A deciding tie vote to save a minority Liberal government supported by the NDP that the Conservative party at the time was trying to defeat to trigger an election. Cadman was born in Kitchener, Ontario , and grew up in North Bay, Ontario . He was a guitarist with a band called The Fringe , which toured Canada. He also played backup to The Guess Who on CBC Television . He eventually settled in Surrey, British Columbia. He attended
1112-545: A federal and provincial level has experienced huge swings in seat shares, where third parties (e.g. NDP, Reform) end up (usually briefly) replacing the Liberals, the Progressive Conservatives or the Conservatives as the main opposition or even the government and leaving them as a rump. Such examples federally include the 1993 federal election with the collapse of the Progressive Conservatives, and
1251-435: A group of young people. In response to Jesse's death, Cadman and his wife Dona created the group CRY – Crime Responsibility and Youth – and counselled teens likely to become violent. He also campaigned for a tougher Young Offenders Act . His activism against youth violence propelled him into politics, first to carry on his fight against youth violence and for victims' rights. He was first elected to Parliament for Surrey North in
1390-401: A new age of land claims negotiations that would change the relationships between First Nations, Inuit and Métis of Canada. In 1973 Canadian law acknowledged that aboriginal title to land existed prior to the colonization of the continent Calder case (1973) It is not surprising then that there was a "virtual "explosion in Métis scholarship" that emerged in the 1970s, to determine the causes for
1529-838: A number of political parties whose base constituency is in western Canada. These include the United Farmers of Alberta , who first won federal seats in 1917, the Progressives (1921), the Social Credit Party (1935), the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (1935), the Reconstruction Party (1935), New Democracy (1940) and most recently the Reform Party (1989). The Reform Party's slogan "The West Wants In"
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#17327904883761668-464: A party had to receive 2% of the vote nationwide in order to receive the general federal funding for parties. Each vote garnered a certain dollar amount for a party (approximately $ 1.75) in future funding. For the initial disbursement, approximations were made based on previous elections. The NDP received more votes than expected (its national share of the vote went up) while the new Conservative Party of Canada received fewer votes than had been estimated and
1807-607: A press release. In a rare political libel case, Prime Minister Harper filed a libel lawsuit against the Liberal Party over statements on the party's website regarding the Chuck Cadman affair published under this title. With the filing of the suit, open political comment on the case effectively stopped, an example of libel chill . The suit was settled in February 2009 after Michael Ignatieff took over leadership of
1946-463: A provincial level, where opposing the federal government is a common tactic for provincial politicians. For example, in 2001, a group of prominent Albertans produced the Alberta Agenda , urging Alberta to take steps to make full use of its constitutional powers, much as Quebec has done. Canada is considered by most sources to be a very stable democracy. In 2006, The Economist ranked Canada
2085-509: A solid understanding of civics . This has been theorized to be a result of less attention being given to the subject in provincial education curricula, beginning in the 1960s. By 2008, a poll showed only 24 per cent of respondents could name the monarch as head of state . Likewise, Senator Lowell Murray wrote five years earlier that "the Crown has become irrelevant to most Canadians' understanding of our system of Government." As John Robson of
2224-467: A stereotyped image of First Nations as "uncivilized" and "unwilling to shake the social pathologies he suggests proliferate all reserve communities." But he felt that readers would have a more holistic understanding of the complexities of the debate by reading both books. Pamela Palmater , a Mi'kmaq lawyer who holds a new chair in indigenous governance at Toronto Metropolitan University , argued in her review that First Nations? Second Thoughts provides
2363-807: A strong sense of identity, and, in the Balfour Declaration of 1926 , the British government and the governments of the six Dominions jointly agreed that the Dominions had full autonomy within the British Commonwealth. In 1931, after further consultations and agreements between the British government and the governments of the Dominions, the British Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster , giving legal recognition to
2502-546: A summary of Flanagan's convictions that "since First Nations in Canada are uncivilized and their governments produce 'wasteful, destructive, familistic factionalism,' they should not be entitled to self-governing powers, special tax exemptions or federal funding, but should be assimilated and their reserves divided up into parcels of individually owned, ' fee simple ' lands available for sale to non-aboriginal people and corporations." In order to become self-supporting and get beyond
2641-566: A theory that Riel could be understood as a millenarian prophet, not just as a political figure. He translated and edited Riel's diaries and co-edited a volume of Riel's youthful poetry which won the 1978 Prix Champlain . He also published the book Louis 'David' Riel: ' Prophet of the New World ' , which won the Canadian Biography Award from the University of British Columbia . Flanagan later participated in
2780-508: A total of eight additional Senators). This power of additional appointment has only been used once, when Prime Minister Brian Mulroney petitioned Queen Elizabeth II to add eight seats to the Senate so as to ensure the passage of the Goods and Services Tax legislation. The House of Commons currently has 338 members elected in single-member districts in a plurality voting system (first past
2919-577: A tumour from his groin. He then ran as an independent in that election and was elected. He heard about the election call from his hospital bed. He was the only candidate not affiliated with a party to win a seat in the 2004 election, and remained an independent, refusing offers to rejoin the Conservatives. Originally sitting as the only independent in a minority government , Cadman held considerable power. ( Carolyn Parrish , David Kilgour , and Pat O'Brien – all elected as Liberals – would later sit as independents.) On May 19, 2005, Cadman flew to Ottawa for
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#17327904883763058-500: A vote of confidence in the House, or it may resign. If it resigns, the Governor General will ask the leader of the opposition party most likely to enjoy the confidence of the House to form a government; however, for the government to survive and to pass laws, the leader chosen must have the support of the majority of the House, meaning they need the support of the elected members of at least one other party. This can be done on
3197-411: Is a Chuck Cadman fonds at Library and Archives Canada. Archival reference number is R13269. Politics of Canada The politics of Canada functions within a framework of parliamentary democracy and a federal system of parliamentary government with strong democratic traditions. Canada is a constitutional monarchy where the monarch is head of state . In practice, executive authority
3336-472: Is also a sense of collective responsibility in Canadian political culture, as is demonstrated in general support for universal health care , multiculturalism, evolution , gun control , foreign aid , and other social programs . At the federal level, Canada has been dominated by two relatively centrist parties practising "brokerage politics", the centre-left leaning Liberal Party of Canada and
3475-412: Is another national-unity-related concept that enters into Canadian politics. Residents of the four western provinces, particularly Alberta, have often been unhappy with a lack of influence and a perceived lack of understanding when residents of Central Canada consider "national" issues. While this is seen to play itself out through many avenues (media, commerce, and so on.), in politics, it has given rise to
3614-437: Is cast directly for a candidate. The candidate in each riding who receives a plurality of votes ( first-past-the-post system ) is elected. An MP need not be a member of any political party: such MPs are known as independents . When a number of MPs share political opinions they may form a body known as a political party . The Canada Elections Act defines a political party as "an organization one of whose fundamental purposes
3753-595: Is concerned with its manufacturing base, and the Atlantic provinces strive to escape from being less affluent than the rest of the country. In order to ensure that social programs such as health care and education are funded consistently throughout Canada, the "have-not" (poorer) provinces receive a proportionately greater share of federal " transfer (equalization) payments " than the richer, or "have", provinces do; this has been somewhat controversial. The richer provinces often favour freezing transfer payments, or rebalancing
3892-830: Is entrusted to the Cabinet , a committee of ministers of the Crown chaired by the Prime Minister of Canada that act as the executive committee of the King's Privy Council for Canada and are responsible to the democratically elected House of Commons . Canada is described as a " full democracy ", with a tradition of secular liberalism , and an egalitarian , moderate political ideology. Extremism has never been prominent in Canadian politics. The traditional "brokerage" model of Canadian politics leaves little room for ideology. Peace, order, and good government , alongside an Implied Bill of Rights , are founding principles of
4031-413: Is permitted to exercise almost all of the monarch's royal prerogative ; though, there are some duties which must be specifically performed by the monarch themselves (such as assent of certain bills). In case of the governor general's absence or incapacitation, the administrator of Canada performs the Crown's most basic functions. Royal assent is required to enact laws. As part of the royal prerogative,
4170-495: Is stronger than in the United States and United Kingdom, and more parliamentary votes are considered motions of confidence , which tends to diminish the role of non- Cabinet members of parliament (MPs). Such members, in the government caucus , and junior or lower-profile members of opposition caucuses, are known as backbenchers . Backbenchers can, however, exert their influence by sitting in parliamentary committees, like
4309-1040: Is the Canada Health Act , which is a conditional grant of money to the provinces. Regulation of health services is, under the Constitution, a provincial responsibility. However, by making the funding available to the provinces under the Canada Health Act contingent upon delivery of services according to federal standards, the federal government has the ability to influence health care delivery. Except for three short-lived transitional or minority governments, prime ministers from Quebec led Canada continuously from 1968 to early 2006. People from Quebec led both Liberal and Progressive Conservative governments in this period. Monarchs, governors general, and prime ministers are now expected to be at least functional, if not fluent, in both English and French . In selecting leaders, political parties give preference to candidates who are fluently bilingual. By law, three of
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4448-513: Is to participate in public affairs by endorsing one or more of its members as candidates and supporting their election." Forming and registering a federal political party are two different things. There is no legislation regulating the formation of federal political parties. Elections Canada cannot dictate how a federal political party should be formed or how its legal, internal and financial structures should be established. Most parties elect their leaders in instant-runoff elections to ensure that
4587-727: The Calgary Herald , the National Post , and The Globe and Mail and the conservative magazine the Alberta Report . Flanagan did not visit any First Nation communities to research the publication nor did he quote any Aboriginal leader in support land privatization in exchange for the end of the reserve system (Belanger 2002:107). Belanger described Flanagan's tone as "distasteful", "militant", and "sensationalist." He claimed he echoed "the assimilation rhetoric of 19th century policy makers and politicians" which perpetuates
4726-417: The National Post opined in 2015: "Intellectually, voters and commentators succumb to the mistaken notion that we elect 'governments' of prime ministers and cabinets with untrammelled authority, that indeed ideal 'democracy' consists precisely in this kind of plebiscitary autocracy ." The function of constitutional monarchy is to personify the democratic state, to sanction legitimate authority, to assure
4865-527: The 1997 election as a member of the Reform Party of Canada . He introduced a private members bill which proposed to raise the maximum jail term for parents whose children commit crimes while under their supervision. This bill was later incorporated into Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act in November 2000. He was also known for wearing a ponytail and blue jeans in Parliament. He was re-elected under
5004-471: The 2011 election leaving the Liberal Party a (temporary) rump along with Bloc Québécois. Other examples include the changes of fortune for the Alberta NDP during the province's 2015 and 2019 elections, and possibly the 2018 Quebec elections with the rise of Coalition Avenir Québec taking government from the Liberals and Parti Québécois . On a provincial level, in the legislatures of western provinces
5143-561: The British Columbia Institute of Technology and became a certified electrical and electronics engineering technician. He worked for ten years as a microfiche camera technician for the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia . He married Dona Cadman in 1969; they had two children: Jodi and Jesse. On October 18, 1992, Cadman's 16-year-old son Jesse was stabbed to death in a random street attack by
5282-867: The Canadian Alliance . Flanagan managed Harper's leadership campaign, and Harper went on to win the Alliance leadership in March 2002. Flanagan then served for one year as chief of staff to Harper, who was then the Leader of the Opposition . Flanagan managed his leadership campaigns for the Canadian Alliance (2002) and the Conservative Party of Canada (2004). He also managed the Conservative Party's national election campaign in 2004. He
5421-594: The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a public policy research institution based in Washington, DC, had already observed the ascendancy of the role of Calgary-based academics on Canadian public policy, specifically the Calgary School of political science (Rovinsky 1998:10). In The Court Party, Knopff and Morton took on judicial activism. Cooper and Bercuson's Deconfederation undermined
5560-525: The Commonwealth of Nations , he nevertheless reigns separately as King of Canada , an office that is "truly Canadian" and "totally independent from that of the monarch of the United Kingdom or the other Commonwealth realms." On the advice of the Canadian prime minister, the sovereign appoints a federal viceregal representative —the governor general (currently Mary Simon )—who, since 1947,
5699-762: The Conservative Party , were based on his experiences as political adviser and campaign manager (discussed below). In 1996, Flanagan was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (Academy II). The citation mentioned his contribution to the study of Louis Riel and the Métis, Western Canadian history, and Canadian political parties. In their 2010 publication, Beyond the Indian Act: Restoring Aboriginal Property Rights , co-authors Thomas Flanagan, Christopher Alcantara and André Le Dressay, introduced
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5838-584: The First Nations Land Management Act (FNLMA) which he calls a "quiet success", are "quite simply inaccurate", and that the authors, while acknowledging the FNLMA’s "effectiveness in reducing transaction costs", would leave "each First Nation on its own to develop its own system of property rights and failed "to provide technical assistance in the form of model land codes and zoning regulations." Boutlier says that these "criticisms ignore
5977-541: The Literary Review of Canada (2010–12), Flanagan commented that, "Sylvia Bashevkin's plaintive cri de coeur confirmed my belief that conservatives are winning the war of ideas in Canada. The Calgary School of political science – Barry Cooper, Ted Morton, Rainer Knopff and I, along with our historian outrider David Bercuson – did not cause this transformation, but we and our students have played an honourable part in making it happen." Tom Flanagan joined
6116-802: The Public Accounts Committee or the National Defence Committee . Canada's governmental structure was originally established by the British Parliament through the British North America Act, 1867 (now the Constitution Act, 1867 ), but the federal model and division of powers were devised by Canadian politicians. Particularly after World War I, citizens of the self-governing Dominions , such as Canada, began to develop
6255-528: The Southam newspaper chain, arguing that his stewardship would provide for a "pluralistic" editorial view to counter the "monolithically liberal and feminist " approach of the previous management. Flanagan and Harper co-authored their last article in 2001. Flanagan was a key player in Stephen Harper's political rise to Prime Minister of Canada. In 2001, Flanagan helped Harper seek the leadership of
6394-549: The University of Calgary . He also served as an advisor to Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper until 2004. Flanagan has focused on challenging certain historical interpretations of Native and Métis history. In connection with his multi-year research and publications on Louis Riel , Flanagan published a reinterpretation of the North-West Rebellion , defending the federal government's response to Métis land claims. He began publishing works on Riel—leader of
6533-590: The assassination of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange . While appearing on the CBC television program "Power & Politics", he called for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to be killed. "I think Assange should be assassinated," Flanagan stated, before noting to host Evan Solomon, "I'm feeling pretty manly today." Flanagan subsequently retracted his call for the death of Assange while reiterating his opposition to WikiLeaks. Dimitri Soudas , spokesman to Prime Minister Stephen Harper , decried Flanagan's comments and said
6672-402: The centre-right leaning Conservative Party of Canada (or its predecessors ). "The traditional brokerage model of Canadian politics leaves little room for ideology" as the Canadian catch-all party system requires support from a broad spectrum of voters. The historically predominant Liberals position themselves at the centre of the political scale, with the Conservatives sitting on
6811-498: The royal sign-manual gives authority to letters patent and orders-in-Council . Much of the royal prerogative is only exercised in-council, on the advice of the Cabinet ; within the conventional stipulations of a constitutional monarchy, the sovereign's direct participation in any of these areas of governance is limited. The royal prerogative also includes summoning, proroguing , and dissolving Parliament in order to call an election and extends to foreign affairs, which include
6950-474: The "Louis Riel Project", collecting and publishing all of Riel's writings, which have been dispersed among more than 40 archives in Canada and the United States. The University of Alberta Press published the work in 1985 to commemorate the centennial of the North-West Rebellion . In connection with this work, Flanagan also published a reinterpretation of the North-West Rebellion, highlighting how
7089-537: The 'doctrine of the derivative aboriginal rights' (History)8. Among other things, the Calgary School political scientist has asserted that, during the Resistance in 1869-70, not only did the Métis "never describe themselves as an aboriginal people with special land rights" (Blais 160) nor demand "special treatment as an Aboriginal people" (History 73) but that there "was never a demand for special treatment of
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#17327904883767228-654: The 1885 North-West Resistance —in the 1970s, which evolved into a multi-year 'Louis Riel Project' that he coordinated. During the 2012 provincial elections he served as the campaign manager of the Wildrose Party , an Alberta libertarian/conservative provincial party. As part of his political activism, Flanagan began to write as a columnist in 1997 in The Globe and Mail , National Post , Calgary Herald , Ottawa Citizen , Maclean's , and Time . He regularly made appearances on Canadian television and radio as
7367-507: The Cadman material – some argued that the RCMP inaction was possibly due to political interference while others argued that the standard of proof for criminal law was too high to satisfy when an official was willing to commit perjury . Neither of these allegations were made through official channels. However, the bald statement that "Harper knew of Conservative bribery" did appear as the title of
7506-475: The Canadian government. An emphasis on multiculturalism and social justice has been a distinguishing element of Canada's political culture. Canada has placed emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion for all its people. The country has a multi-party system in which many of its legislative practices derive from the unwritten conventions of and precedents set by the Westminster parliament of
7645-895: The First Nations Lands Advisory Board, in existence prior to 1996, and the First Nations Land Management Resource Centre, operating since 1999 and incorporated in 2004, which provide exactly the support Flanagan and his co-authors say is lacking. Indeed, the 1996 Framework Agreement specifically states that the role of the Lands Advisory Board and the Resource Centre is “developing model land codes, laws and land management systems” as well as “assisting First Nation[s] in developing and implementing” such laws and systems." In 1986 Tom Flanagan became
7784-471: The First Nations Property Ownership Initiative (FNPOI). The book, with a foreword by C.T. (Manny) Jules, was a finalist for the Donner Prize . According to an 28 August 2016 article by Sasha Boutilier in Policy Options , they misrepresented the FNPOI in Canada, which Boutilier described as a "proposed piece of opt-in legislation that would have allowed First Nations to grant fee-simple interests to First Nations members". Boutilier said that their criticisms of
7923-447: The Free University of Berlin. Flanagan began teaching at the University of Calgary in 1968 and co-authored an introductory Canadian politics textbook. He served as Head of the Political Science Department and Assistant to the President of the University. Since January 2013 Flanagan was on "research and scholarship leave" and officially retired 30 June 2013. Since the 1970s Tom Flanagan published numerous scholarly studies "debunking
8062-429: The Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister to serve until age 75. It was created with equal representation from the three regions of Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes (originally New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, expanded in 1873 to include Prince Edward Island). In 1915, a new Western division was created, with six senators from each of the four western provinces, so that each of the four regions had 24 seats in
8201-585: The Liberals. The rules governing the funding of parties are designed to ensure reliance on personal contributions. Personal donations to federal parties and campaigns benefit from tax credits, although the amount of tax relief depends on the amount given. Also only people paying income taxes receive any benefit from this. The rules are based on the belief that union or business funding should not be allowed to have as much impact on federal election funding as these are not contributions from citizens and are not evenly spread out between parties. The new rules stated that
8340-413: The Manitoba Act of 1870." Flanagan has served as a witness for Alberta, Manitoba, and Canada in litigation involving native rights and land claims, providing testimony about the Numbered Treaties and the administration of federal programs for Métis and Indians in Western Canada. He has since stated that he will no longer be serving in this capacity for ethical reasons. The Blais decision, as well as
8479-401: The Meech Lake agenda of endless concessions to Quebec. In First Nations? Second Thoughts, I stood up against the juggernaut of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples . All these books were widely discussed in the media and have had some impact on the course of public affairs. He is also a senior fellow of the conservative think tank the Fraser Institute . In a jocular letter written to
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#17327904883768618-417: The Métis as a group" (Case against 316; Metis Rights 231), nor for a land grant or anything like it" (Reconsidered 2nd ed. 65) (O'Toole 2010:140)." Substantial grants of land provided to the Metis by the Manitoba Act were rapidly transferred from Metis to immigrants from Ontario who had arrived in large numbers. New research in the 1970s and 1980s shifted the blame to the government's lack of administration of
8757-423: The NDP in 2011. * Note: Chuck Cadman's share of the popular vote as an independent candidate declined by -12.31% from his share as the Canadian Alliance candidate in the 2000 election. Note: Conservative Party vote is compared to the total of the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative vote in the 2000 election. Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform Party vote in the 1997 election. There
8896-581: The NDP often is the left-leaning main party instead of that province's Liberal Party branch, the latter generally being a rump or smaller than the NDP. The other main party (right of the NDP) is either the Progressive Conservatives or their successor, or the Saskatchewan Party in Saskatchewan. According to recent scholars, there have been four party systems in [Canada] at the federal level since Confederation, each with its own distinctive pattern of social support, patronage relationships, leadership styles, and electoral strategies. Political scientists disagree on
9035-434: The Party. On July 9, 2005, Cadman died at his home after a two-year-long bout with malignant melanoma . Cadman's memorial service was held on July 16, 2005, at Johnston Heights Church in Surrey. Over 1,500 people were in attendance: in addition to family, friends, and politicians of all parties in the church itself, Cadman's constituents packed the neighbouring assembly hall and courtyard to pay their last respects by watching
9174-423: The Senate. When Newfoundland and Labrador joined Confederation in 1949, it was not included in an existing region and was assigned six seats. Each of the three territories has one seat. It is not based on representation-by-population. The normal number of senators can be exceeded by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister, as long as the additional senators are distributed equally with regard to region (up to
9313-429: The Speaker traditionally votes to continue a government). The budget was later passed in Cadman's absence on June 23, 2005. In an interview after the budget vote, Cadman said he voted in favour of the budget simply because he was obeying the wishes of constituents who did not want to face another election a year after giving the minority Liberals their shaky mandate. Dona Cadman says that her husband told her that prior to
9452-468: The United Kingdom. The two dominant political parties in Canada have historically been the Liberal Party of Canada and the current Conservative Party of Canada (as well as its numerous predecessors ). Parties like the New Democratic Party , the Quebec nationalist Bloc Québécois and the Green Party of Canada have grown in prominence, exerting their own influence to the political process. Canada has evolved variations: party discipline in Canada
9591-610: The University of Lethbridge, CBC News has taken the decision to end our association with him as a commentator on Power and Politics. While we support and encourage free speech across the country and a diverse range of voices, we believe Mr Flanagan's comments to have crossed the line and impacted his credibility as a commentator for us (McGuire February 28, 2013)". Flanagan subsequently apologized for his remarks, stating that his words were "badly chosen". On 5 March 2013 Flanagan, in an interview with The Agenda talk show host Steve Paikin, Flanagan defended his position, and explains that he
9730-420: The autonomy of Canada and other Dominions. However, Canadian politicians were unable to obtain consensus on a process for amending the constitution, which was therefore not affected by the Statute of Westminster, meaning amendments to Canada's constitution continued to require the approval of the British parliament until that date. Similarly, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Britain continued to make
9869-399: The banner of the Canadian Alliance in the 2000 election , and was appointed Justice Critic. However, prior to the 2004 election Cadman lost the nomination for the Conservative Party to Jasbir Singh Cheema, a former television news anchor who brought a very large number of new party members to the vote. Cadman was also diagnosed with cancer in early May 2004 and underwent surgery to remove
10008-417: The basic constitutional structure of the federal government and the provinces. The powers of the federal Parliament and the provinces can only be changed by constitutional amendments passed by the federal and provincial governments. The Crown is the formal head of state of the federal government and each of the ten provinces, but rarely has any political role. The governments are led by the representatives of
10147-437: The book, Flanagan claimed that "European civilization was several thousand years more advanced than the aboriginal cultures of North America" and colonization was therefore "inevitable" and "justifiable." Flanagan wrote a book on property rights in 1979, a book on game theory in 1988, and another about conservative Canadian political parties in 1995. His books on Preston Manning and the Reform Party , and Stephen Harper and
10286-573: The bribery allegations are explored in depth. His widow, Dona , endorsed Penny Priddy as Cadman's successor in the 2006 federal election . Priddy, a longtime member of the New Democratic Party , had been friendly with the Cadmans for many years despite their sharp political differences. Dona Cadman subsequently reconciled with the Conservatives and was elected to her husband's seat in 2008. She only held it for one term before it fell to
10425-673: The case for more representative government" which argued that the Liberal Party only retained power through a dysfunctional political system and a divided opposition. Harper and Flanagan argued that national conservative governments between 1917 and 1993 were founded on temporary alliances between Western populists and Quebec nationalists , and were unable to govern because of their fundamental contradictions. The authors called for an alliance of Canada's conservative parties, and suggested that meaningful political change might require electoral reforms such as proportional representation . "Our Benign Dictatorship" also commended Conrad Black 's purchase of
10564-625: The centre of a construct in which the power of the whole is shared by multiple institutions of government acting under the sovereign's authority. The executive is thus formally referred to as the King-in-Council , the legislature as the King-in-Parliament , and the courts as the King-on-the-Bench . Though the person who is monarch of Canada (currently Charles III ) is also the monarch of 14 other countries in
10703-419: The emergence of a "pan-Canadian system", which lasted until the 1990s. The 1993 election — categorized by Clarkson as an electoral "earthquake" which "fragmented" the party system, saw the emergence of regional politics within a four party-system, whereby various groups championed regional issues and concerns. Clarkson concludes that the inherent bias built into the first-past-the-post system, has chiefly benefited
10842-488: The evidence this became less and less convincing to me until I concluded that the opposite was closer to the truth: that the Métis grievances were at least partly of their own making; that the government was on the verge of resolving them when the Rebellion broke out; that Riel's resort to arms could not be explained by the failure of constitutional agitation and that he received a surprisingly fair trial. Flanagan developed
10981-400: The face of growing white settlement." "A Métis win would probably lead to high-stakes land-claim negotiations – and fulfil a prophecy made by Métis leader Louis Riel more than a century ago." In 1976 Tom Flanagan published The Diaries of Louis Riel . He was one of three Louis Riel biographers, along with Gilles Martel and Glen Campbell who collected and published Riel's poetry under
11120-801: The failed attempts to amend the constitution through the Meech Lake Accord and the Charlottetown Accord (the latter of which was rejected through a national referendum ). Since the Quiet Revolution , sovereigntist sentiments in Quebec have been variably stoked by the patriation of the Canadian constitution in 1982 (without Quebec's consent) and by the failed attempts at constitutional reform. Two provincial referendums, in 1980 and 1995 , rejected proposals for sovereignty with majorities of 60% and 50.6% respectively. Given
11259-466: The federal government to influence provincial policies, by offering funding in areas that the federal government cannot itself regulate. The federal spending power is not expressly set out in the Constitution Act, 1867 ; however, in the words of the Court of Appeal for Ontario the power "can be inferred" from s. 91(1A), "the public debt and property". A prime example of an exercise of the spending power
11398-527: The federal government's implementation of Treaty Six . Flanagan was also a witness for the University of Alberta in the Dickason case in which the Supreme Court of Canada ultimately upheld the validity of mandatory retirement for university professors. Tom Flanagan adopts a libertarian point of view and defends personal freedom, particularly in academia. He self-describes as a Hayekian and
11537-615: The final decision on criminal appeals until 1933 and on civil appeals until 1949. It was not until 1982, with the Patriation of the Constitution, that the role of the British Parliament was ended. Canada's egalitarian approach to governance has emphasized social welfare , economic freedom , and multiculturalism , which is based on selective economic migrants , social integration , and suppression of far-right politics , that has wide public and political support. Its broad range of constituent nationalities and policies that promote
11676-589: The first time received a sufficient share of the vote in the 2004 election. In 2007, news emerged of a funding loophole that "could cumulatively exceed the legal limit by more than $ 60,000", through anonymous recurrent donations of $ 200 to every riding of a party from corporations or unions. At the time, for each individual, the legal annual donation limit was $ 1,100 for each party, $ 1,100 combined total for each party's associations, and in an election year, an additional $ 1,100 combined total for each party's candidates. All three limits increase on 1 April every year based on
11815-563: The forced union of Upper and Lower Canada in 1840. The predominant and lingering issue concerning Canadian national unity has been the ongoing conflict between the French-speaking majority in Quebec and the English-speaking majority in the rest of Canada. Quebec's continued demands for recognition of its " distinct society " through special political status has led to attempts for constitutional reform, most notably with
11954-629: The former Tory strategist "should be charged with incitement to commit murder." The call for prosecution was joined by both Assange and Vancouver attorney Gail Davidson, who filed a police complaint against Flanagan. Ralph Goodale , deputy leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Commons, called Flanagan's remarks "clearly contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms." Flanagan apologized, acknowledging that his words were "glib and thoughtless." In November 2009, Flanagan
12093-635: The government had responded to Métis land claims. Flanagan was retained by the federal Department of Justice in litigation over Métis claims in Manitoba . His 1991 book Metis Lands in Manitoba , won the 1992 Margaret McDonald/McWilliams Medal, awarded by the Manitoba Historical Society for the best book of the year on Manitoba history. Flanagan later published the controversial First Nations? Second Thoughts , which critiqued
12232-436: The government). An audio tape suggests then-opposition leader Stephen Harper was not only aware of a financial offer to Chuck Cadman but gave it his personal approval. According to Dona Cadman, Harper "looked me straight in the eyes and told me he had no knowledge of an insurance policy offer. I knew he was telling me the truth; I could see it in his eyes." Cadman's daughter also acknowledged that her father had been disturbed by
12371-650: The heroism of Métis icon Louis Riel, arguing against native land claims, and calling for an end to aboriginal rights." Flanagan developed his concept of aboriginal orthodoxy in which he argued against aboriginal collective rights. He claimed that section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 , which stated that "The existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed" resulted in thousands of cases involving aboriginal and treaty rights – indeed thousands of cases including residential school claims. Flanagan decried
12510-674: The historical consultant and primary expert witness for the Federal Department of Justice in the Manitoba Métis Federation v Canada case (Flanagan, Metis Lands vii). He criticized the recognition of the Indian title of the Métis (1885 Reconsidered) and of the "Métis as an Aboriginal people in the Constitution Act, 1982 (Case Against; Metis Rights) and traced the original evolution of what can be called
12649-607: The ideas in First Nations? Second Thoughts should be made publicly available and read as a companion piece with Cairn's Citizens Plus . The books were written for very different audiences: Flanagan wrote First Nations? Second Thoughts (2000) for the lay reader while Cairns wrote for an informed academic audience. Belanger questioned why Flanagan as a professional academic did not access more robust peer-reviewed scholarly resources regarding analysis and statistics, preferring instead to make extensive use of newspaper clippings from
12788-553: The increased influence of the courts and "[t]he sheer volume of these cases" which threaten "to take policy-making out of the hands of elected representatives and put it into the hands of a small cadre of judges, lawyers, law professors, and expert witnesses." Although Flanagan admits that he has profited as expert witness, he also believes that "[this] flood of litigation is detrimental to democracy." Tom Flanagan has widely published in areas such as political science , public policy , political theory and aboriginal land claims , from
12927-498: The inflation rate. Two of the biggest federal political parties in Canada experienced a drop in donations in 2020, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the global economy. Tom Flanagan (political scientist) Provincial Provincial Thomas Eugene Flanagan CM FRSC (born 5 March 1944) is an American-born Canadian author, conservative political activist, and former political science professor at
13066-512: The land grants. Flanagan and Ens (1996) argued that the government acted appropriately and that the Metis had gained financially. The Manitoba Métis Federation has been in and out of provincial and federal courts for decades in a high-stakes land-claims negotiation. The case involves Prime Minister John A. Macdonald and Louis Riel and an unfulfilled promise of land for the Métis people. Manitoba Métis Federation v Canada & Manitoba court case
13205-486: The land provisions of the Manitoba Act ." Donald Sprague, a "historian retained by the Manitoba Métis Federation to undertake research into Métis land claims, argues that through a process of formal and informal discouragement, the Métis were victims of a deliberate conspiracy in which John A. Macdonald and the Canadian government successfully kept them from obtaining title to the land they were to receive under terms of
13344-403: The large scale migration of Métis in Manitoba. "With native political organizations and the governments of Canada and Manitoba embroiled in an on-going court battle, various scholars have received generous financial support to investigate Métis land claims in Manitoba." Tom Flanagan, acting as "historical consultant for the Federal Department of Justice" argued that the "federal government fulfilled
13483-519: The later Manitoba Metis Federation case, upheld the efficacy of the nineteenth-century distribution of land and scrip in extinguishing Métis land rights in Manitoba., but the decision was overturned on appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Benoit established that Treaty Eight did not grant immunity from taxation to Indians living off reserve. In Victor Buffalo , the Samson Cree band, located near Hobbema, Alberta, unsuccessfully challenged
13622-402: The legality of means, and guarantee the execution of the public will. It is my ardent desire that no citizen in my realms should suffer restraint. Elizabeth II , Queen of Canada, Quebec City , 1964 Canada is a constitutional monarchy, wherein the role of the reigning sovereign is both legal and practical, but not political. The monarch is vested with all powers of state and sits at
13761-409: The names and precise boundaries of the eras, however. Steve Patten identifies four party systems in Canada's political history Clarkson (2005) shows how the Liberal Party has dominated all the party systems, using different approaches. It began with a "clientelistic approach" under Laurier , which evolved into a "brokerage" system of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s under Mackenzie King . The 1950s saw
13900-659: The narrow federalist victory in 1995, a reference was made by the Chrétien government to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1998 regarding the legality of unilateral provincial secession . The court decided that a unilateral declaration of secession would be unconstitutional. This resulted in the passage of the Clarity Act in 2000. The Bloc Québécois , a sovereigntist party which runs candidates exclusively in Quebec ,
14039-515: The negotiation and ratification of treaties, alliances, international agreements, and declarations of war ; the accreditation of Canadian diplomats and receipt of foreign diplomats; and the issuance of passports . The bicameral Parliament of Canada consists of three parts: the monarch , the Senate , and the House of Commons . Currently, the Senate, which is frequently described as providing regional representation, has 105 members appointed by
14178-401: The nine positions on the Supreme Court of Canada must be held by judges from Quebec. This representation makes sure that at least three judges have sufficient experience with the civil law system to treat cases involving Quebec laws. Canada has a long and storied history of secessionist movements (see Secessionist movements of Canada ). National unity has been a major issue in Canada since
14317-589: The number of seats of every other party substantially. The NDP surge nearly destroyed the Bloc, reducing them to 4 seats, far below the minimum requirement of 12 seats for Official party status . Newfoundland and Labrador is also a problem regarding national unity. As the Dominion of Newfoundland was a self-governing country equal to Canada until 1949, there are large, though unco-ordinated, feelings of Newfoundland nationalism and anti-Canadian sentiment among much of
14456-442: The offer. Harper later stated in an August 2008 court deposition that he personally authorized an offer made to Cadman in 2005; however, this offer was of the normal amount offered to a candidate running in an election campaign. The Conservative Party, based upon analysis by forensic experts who concluded that the tape was edited, asked an Ontario court to order to Liberals to stop using the tape. But neutral expert testimony showed that
14595-554: The party leader, who is elected in only one riding, exercises a great deal of control over the cabinet and the parliament. Historically, the prime minister and senators are selected by the Governor General as a representative of the King, though in modern practice the monarch's duties are ceremonial. Consequently, the prime minister, while technically selected by the Governor General, is for all practical purposes selected by
14734-401: The party with the majority of seats. That is, the party that gets the most seats normally forms the government, with that party's leader becoming prime minister. The prime minister is not directly elected by the general population, although the prime minister is almost always directly elected as an MP within his or her constituency. Often the most popular party in an election takes a majority of
14873-458: The people: elected by all Canadians, at the federal level, and by the Canadian citizens of each provinces, at the provincial level. Federal-provincial (or intergovernmental, formerly Dominion-provincial) relations is a regular issue in Canadian politics: Quebec wishes to preserve and strengthen its distinctive nature, western provinces desire more control over their abundant natural resources, especially energy reserves; industrialized Central Canada
15012-537: The population. This is due in part to the perception of chronic federal mismanagement of the fisheries , forced resettlement away from isolated settlements in the 1960s, the government of Quebec still drawing inaccurate political maps whereby they take parts of Labrador , and to the perception that mainland Canadians look down upon Newfoundlanders. In 2004, the Newfoundland and Labrador First Party contested provincial elections and in 2008 in federal ridings within
15151-422: The post), meaning that members must attain only a plurality (the most votes of any candidate) rather than a majority . The electoral districts are also known as ridings . Mandates cannot exceed five years; an election must occur by the end of this time. This fixed mandate has been exceeded only once, when Prime Minister Robert Borden perceived the need to do so during World War I. A constitutional amendment
15290-791: The province. In 2004, then-premier Danny Williams ordered all federal flags removed from government buildings as a result of lost offshore revenues to equalization clawbacks. On December 23, 2004, premier Williams made this statement to reporters in St. John's , They basically slighted us, they are not treating us as a proper partner in Confederation. It's intolerable and it's insufferable and these flags will be taken down indefinitely. It's also quite apparent to me that we were dragged to Manitoba in order to punish us, quite frankly, to try to embarrass us, to bring us out there to get no deal and send us back with our tail between our legs. Western alienation
15429-490: The recording said "I know I didn't doctor any tape. So in a sense all this stuff that [Conservative MP] James Moore is saying is meaningless. I know what happened." In early July 2008, Dona Cadman swore an affidavit that challenged some of Tom Zytaruk's assertions. She denied specific public accounts by Zytaruk of how he came to meet Harper that day, and he professed himself "extremely surprised, disappointed and deeply distressed" by her statement. Liberals redoubled their use of
15568-624: The remarks was posted to YouTube overnight and his remarks proved controversial. Danielle Smith , who was mentored by Flanagan, and served as Wildrose Party leader in 2009, cut her ties with him saying "there is no language strong enough to condemn [his] comments". Andrew McDougall (the Director of Communications for the Prime Minister of Canada ) considered them to be "repugnant, ignorant, and appalling." CBC News immediately announced that, "In light of recent remarks made by Tom Flanagan at
15707-757: The report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples . The book received the Donner Prize for the best book of the year on Canadian public policy in 2000, and the Donald Smiley Prize from the Canadian Political Science Association for the best book on Canadian government and politics. In his 2002 review, Yale D. Belanger, compared Alan Cairn's publication entitled Citizens Plus with Flanagan's First Nations? Second Thoughts . He concluded that
15846-673: The right and the New Democratic Party occupying the left . Five parties had representatives elected to the federal parliament in the 2021 election : the Liberal Party who currently form the government, the Conservative Party who are the Official Opposition , the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Québécois , and the Green Party of Canada . Polls have suggested that Canadians generally do not have
15985-557: The right-wing populist Reform Party of Canada in 1990 and began working there in 1991 as director of policy research. Flanagan, who was among the most conservative of Preston Manning's advisers, was fired before the 1993 federal election. Tom Flanagan and Stephen Harper began publishing together in 1996-7 with "Canadian conservatism is at its strongest level in many years". Their controversial opinion piece entitled "Our Benign Dictatorship : Canada's system of one-party-plus rule has stunted democracy. Two prominent conservatives present
16124-453: The seats, even if it did not receive a majority of the vote. However, as there are usually three or more political parties represented in parliament, often no party takes a majority of the seats. A minority government occurs when the party that holds the most seats in the House of Commons holds fewer seats than the opposition parties combined. Where no party is given a majority, the defeated Ministry may choose to stay in office until defeated on
16263-483: The sense that they're just pictures?" Flanagan says no one complained or criticized his comment, and maintains that he used the phrase "just pictures" to shock students into questioning pre-held ideas, which is the job of a teacher. The University of Manitoba Aboriginal Students' Association wrote a letter of complaint to the head of the political studies department, George MacLean, but Flanagan's comments did not receive widespread attention. On 27 February 2013, Flanagan
16402-496: The service on television screens. Speeches honouring Cadman as a family man, parliamentarian, and advocate for victim's rights were made by Cadman's daughter, Jodi, Prime Minister Paul Martin , BC MLA Kevin Falcon , BC MLA Dave Hayer , Surrey City Councillor Penny Priddy and several others. On 15 March 2008, Vancouver journalist Tom Zytaruk published a biography of Cadman entitled Like A Rock: The Chuck Cadman Story , in which
16541-414: The social pathologies that are ruining their communities, aboriginal people need to acquire the skills and attitudes that bring success in a liberal society, political democracy, and market economy. Call it assimilation, call it integration, call it adaptation, call it whatever you want: it has to happen. -- Flanagan, 2000. First Nations? Second Thoughts p.195) According to Suzanne Methot's review of
16680-499: The system in their favour, based on the claim that they already pay more in taxes than they receive in federal government services, and the poorer provinces often favour an increase on the basis that the amount of money they receive is not sufficient for their existing needs. Particularly in the past decade, critics have argued that the federal government's exercise of its unlimited constitutional spending power has contributed to strained federal-provincial relations. This power allows
16819-488: The tape has not been edited. Under section 119 of the Criminal Code , it is illegal to bribe an MP. Accordingly, Opposition Liberal party Intergovernmental Affairs critic Dominic LeBlanc asked the RCMP in February 2008 to investigate the allegation that the Conservatives had offered Cadman a million-dollar life insurance policy in exchange for his support on the budget vote. In May 2008, the RCMP announced that there
16958-523: The third-most democratic nation in its Democracy Index , ahead of all other nations in the Americas and ahead of every nation more populous than itself. According to the V-Dem Democracy indices , in 2023 Canada was the 19th most electoral democratic country in the world. More recently, with the existence of strong third parties and first-past-the-post elections amongst other factors, Canada on
17097-446: The title Poésies de Jeunesse in 1977. Flanagan became the coordinator for a multi-year Louis Riel Project. In 1979 he published Louis "David" Riel: Prophet of the New World . In 1983 he published Riel and the Rebellion . In 1985 he co-edited The Collected Writings of Louis Riel/Les Ecrits complet de Louis Riel Tom Flanagan's research on Louis Riel situated him at the apex of debates on Métis rights and land claims. The 1970s saw
17236-446: The video of Flanagan's comments distinctly includes the protester exclaiming "Gotcha Tom!" as Flanagan responded. One of the protesters, "Levi Little Moustache," stood and quoted Flanagan's 2009 comments on child pornography. Flanagan responded that "I certainly have no sympathy for child molesters, but I do have some grave doubts about putting people in jail because of their taste in pictures. I don't look at these pictures." A video of
17375-463: The vote, two Conservative Party officials, later suggested to be Tom Flanagan and Doug Finley , offered her husband a million-dollar life insurance policy in exchange for his vote against the Liberal budget in May 2005, the rationale being replacement of the life insurance that is part of an MP's compensation package (since Cadman was not running for re-election and would thus not die an MP if he voted down
17514-399: The winner receives more than 50% of the votes. Normally the party leader stands as a candidate to be an MP during an election. This happens at leadership conventions . Canada's parliamentary system empowers political parties and their party leaders. Where one party gets a majority of the seats in the House of Commons, that party is said to have a "majority government." Through party discipline,
17653-410: Was an appropriate punishment. Flanagan is often described as a member of the Calgary School , which includes a group of conservatively inclined professors at the University of Calgary, such as Barry F. Cooper , F.L.(Ted) Morton , Rainer Knopff and history professor David Bercuson who are strongly committed to strategic and direct influence on public affairs with a long-term vision. By 1998,
17792-508: Was argued before the Supreme Court of Canada in 2012. In 2012 Tom Berger, the indigenous rights lawyer represented the Manitoba Métis Federation in the Supreme Court (SCC Case Information: #33880 Manitoba Métis Federation Inc., et al. v. Attorney General of Canada, et al.) claiming that the federal government never "lived up to the 1870 deal that settled the Red River Rebellion, fought by Métis struggling to hold on to their land in
17931-559: Was asked to refund the difference. Quebec was the first province to implement a similar system of funding many years before the changes to funding of federal parties. Federal funds are disbursed quarterly to parties, beginning at the start of 2005. For the moment, this disbursement delay leaves the NDP and the Green Party in a better position to fight an election, since they rely more on individual contributors than federal funds. The Green Party now receives federal funds, since it for
18070-404: Was attending a lecture on Canadian election campaigning at the University of Manitoba . He was asked about Stockwell Day 's claim that a lawyer that defends a person against child pornography charges is defending the legitimacy of child pornography. Flanagan responded, then made a "side-bar" comment: "But that's actually another interesting debate or seminar: what's wrong with child pornography, in
18209-652: Was considered among the most conservative members of the Reform Party in 1998. Flanagan adopts the philosophical analysis of John Locke and Emer de Vattel that European colonization of North America by Western civilization was justifiable and inevitable. He asserts that "European civilization was several thousand years more advanced than the Aboriginal cultures of North America both in technology and social organization" (Flanagan 2000:6). In 2010, Flanagan made controversial comments, later retracted, advocating
18348-430: Was cut off and unable to explain fully his position. He also states he was posing a question to provoke thought, as he would have done in his role as a professor. In his book Persona Non Grata , Flanagan explains that his remarks were taken as if he was in favour of child pornography or supportive of child molesters. In fact, he was intending to question whether mandatory jail time for simple possession of child pornography
18487-473: Was doctored on the tape. He said the Tories have also forgotten a huge part of the allegations – the testimony of Cadman's widow, Dona Cadman. In her affidavit, Dona Cadman "repeats very clearly her recollection of her husband's words to the effect that two Conservative operatives ... offered him a million dollar life insurance policy in exchange for his vote", said LeBlanc. Tom Zytaruk, the reporter who made
18626-489: Was echoed by commentators when, after a successful merger with the PCs, the successor party to both parties, the Conservative Party won the 2006 election. Led by Stephen Harper, who is an MP from Alberta, the electoral victory was said to have made "The West IS In" a reality. However, regardless of specific electoral successes or failures, the concept of western alienation continues to be important in Canadian politics, particularly on
18765-559: Was invited to give a speech on whether it was time to repeal the Indian Act to a group of students at the University of Lethbridge . Flanagan was warned that members of Idle No More were planning on attending and disrupting the speech. Flanagan learned after the event that the Idle No More protesters had organized the event with the intent of creating a "Gotcha!" moment and denouncing Flanagan's views on aboriginals. In fact,
18904-401: Was no evidence to support charges. James Moore , Conservative MP for Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam told a news conference June 4, 2008, that two top audio specialists found that the tape in which PM Stephen Harper confirms financial considerations had been offered to Chuck Cadman had been altered. But LeBlanc said on June 5, 2008, that the Tories have not been clear about what they claim
19043-416: Was passed, extending the life of the Parliament by one year, by the unanimous consent of the House of Commons. The size of the House and apportionment of seats to each province is revised after every census, conducted every five years, and is based on population changes and approximately on representation-by-population. Canadians vote for the election of their local member of parliament (MP) only. A vote
19182-441: Was really at issue. The Bloc, then, benefited (with a significant increase in seat total) from the impressions of corruption that surrounded the Liberal Party in the lead-up to the 2004 election. However, the newly unified Conservative party re-emerged as a viable party in Quebec by winning 10 seats in the 2006 election. In the 2011 election, the New Democratic Party succeeded in winning 59 of Quebec's 75 seats, successfully reducing
19321-512: Was started by a group of MPs who left the Progressive Conservative (PC) party (along with several disaffected Liberal MPs), and first put forward candidates in the 1993 federal election. With the collapse of the PCs in that election, the Bloc and Liberals were seen as the only two viable parties in Quebec. Thus, prior to the 2006 election, any gain by one party came at the expense of the other, regardless of whether national unity
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