1. 2024-05-01: Former PC Party vice-president appointed as Ontario judge. Province appointed 2 former staffers to a committee that helps select provincial judges in February
2. 2025-04-28: Ontario looking to fast-track judicial appointments, add more judges to courts. Legislation will address backlog of criminal cases, attorney general says
3. 2025-04-30: Ford rants about 'bleeding-heart judges' who are 'overruling the government'. Ontario premier denounced bike lane injunction, suggests judges should be elected like in U.S.
4. 2025-04-30: Doug Ford's judges 'rant' again sparks fears over judicial independence. Premier mused about electing judges and publicly posting justices’ bail records
5. 2025-05-03: Doug Ford’s attack on Ontario judges should not be shrugged off

Abstract

Research suggests that the degree of democracy in countries is correlated with certain characteristics of its citizens. A question is whether different types of government (e.g., autocratic vs. democratic) are associated with specific personality dispositions and the well-being of citizens. We addressed this question with a sample of over 200,000 persons from 75 countries. Using structural equation modeling and a strong measurement invariance approach we tested the association between national government type (autocratic, hybrid, flawed democracy, full democracy) and citizens report of socially aversive (malevolent) versus affiliative (benevolent) traits. As governments varied from autocratic to full democracy there were lower malevolent traits and higher benevolent traits. Further, established quantitative democracy indices predicted higher benevolent and lower malevolent traits in the total sample, while only benevolent traits were strongly associated with well-being. The findings highlight associations between governments and personality traits and how democratic practices might influence the well-being of its citizens.

In reference to: Damien Kurek, the Conservative MP-elect for Battle River-Crowfoot (Alberta), just announced he's stepping down to allow Poilievre to run in a by-election | CBC News.

Damien Kurek, the Conservative MP-elect for Battle River-Crowfoot, just announced he's stepping down to allow Poilievre to run in a by-election.

The riding, which Kurek has held since 2019, occupies a vast territory in Alberta between Calgary and Edmonton and has been a Conservative stronghold since it was created 10 years ago.

Kurek was first elected in the riding in 2019. In an emailed statement, Kurek said the decision is temporary, saying he'd hand over his seat to Poilievre "for the remainder of this Parliamentary session" and "run again here in Battle River-Crowfoot in the next general election."

It's unclear what that means for Poilievre afterward.

"Pierre Poilievre just finished a remarkable national campaign that received the highest vote share since 1988," Kurek said in the statement.

"An unstoppable movement has grown under his leadership, and I know we need Pierre fighting in the House of Commons to hold the Liberal minority government to account."

SmartVoting.ca on Bluesky

CPC takes two from the LPC in our latest update. But the Conservative vote continues to weaken nationwide meaning more is up for grabs.

FEDERAL SEAT PROJECTION

• LPC: 189 (218)
• CPC: 122 (86)
• BQ: 23 (25)
• NDP: 8 (11)
• GPC: 1 (3)
• PPC: 0 (0)

April 22, 2025 | MOE: +/- 10

#cdnpoli #election #canada

Media Ecosystem Observatory on Bluesky

With Meta’s news ban still in place, many Canadians are now completely missing traditional media in their feeds. @abridgman.bsky.social warns this could lead to “less broad understanding of politics and more hyper-focused issue orientations," : www.france24.com/en/live-news...

Fair Vote Canada 🗳️🍁 on Bluesky

Glad to see commitments from @canadiangreens.bsky.social and @ndp.ca to proportional representation!

With rising authoritarianism, our democracy is too important to leave to politicians elected with just 30–40% support.

Ask your candidates where they stand, and vote accordingly.

#cdnpoli

London North Centre GPO/ London Centre GPC on Bluesky

Today is Earth Day. If you didn't vote yet, then consider the future of young Canadians when casting your ballot. While there are many immediate issues affecting people, we need significant climate change mitigation efforts now. Ignore vote splitting arguments & vote GREEN for a better environment.

Our @canadiangreens.bsky.social candidates are: London Centre, @maryannhodge.bsky.social; London West, Jeff Vanderzwet and Middlesex-London, Jim Johnston. Vote for change; vote Green!