Reposted by Peter MacLeodMatthew Mendelsohn @mendelmatt.bsky.social · 5hIf only there was some system that could prevent this from happening. 171
Peter MacLeod @petermacleod.bsky.social · 06/10/2026This is only a 'great night for Quebec sovereignty' because we choose to live with the dumbest electoral system. 021
Peter MacLeod @petermacleod.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Really fun to spend an evening talking about Democracy's Second Act at the Picton Public Library. www.pictongazette.ca/post/democra...pictongazette.caDemocracy needs another Act - Picton Gazette | The Picton GazettePeter MacLeod is one of Canada's leading experts in democratic innovation and public deliberation. He sat down with Picton Gazette Publisher, York University Professor and English Literature PhD, Kare... 020
Reposted by Peter MacLeodAlberto Alemanno @alemanno.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Europe's offer of associate membership to Canada could serve EU integration more than the federalist dream, by renewing our understanding of interdependence in a post-Trump world. My latest for @projectsyndicate.bsky.social www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/e... 0149
Reposted by Peter MacLeodLiberal Currents @liberalcurrents.com · 28/09/2026"The evidence continues to grow. Social media, as it is currently constructed, redounds to the net benefit of illiberal regimes and their allies in democracies. The question is what to do about it." www.liberalcurrents.com/social-media... 13395120
Peter MacLeod @petermacleod.bsky.social · 18/09/2026What a terrific write up about citizens’ assemblies by Esther Dial. Of course, at their best they don’t replace politicians but they can certainly help with the hard stuff. www.thedial.world/articles/new...thedial.worldIs Democracy Better Without Politicians? — The DialBrussels is turning to citizens’ assemblies to fix democracy. Do they work? 132
Peter MacLeod @petermacleod.bsky.social · 18/09/2026It's just the best when you see former Citizens' Assembly members decide to seek public office. Congrats Alli and good luck! saanichnews.com/2026/09/17/h...saanichnews.comHunter and lifelong Saanich resident enters municipal politics - Saanich NewsAlli Deelstra will focus on financial responsibility, conservation and planning for future generations 020
Reposted by Peter MacLeodAurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 17/09/2026It was confirmed yesterday that the centre left coalition won the election in Sweden As predicted, with the far right performing poorly, coverage has almost entirely vanished from international media 3739021177
Peter MacLeod @petermacleod.bsky.social · 17/09/2026MASS is very happy to partner with @north.america.fidemocracy.org to train and support the team leading the first civic assembly in Cambridge, MA www.cambridgema.gov/news/2026/09... 030
Peter MacLeod @petermacleod.bsky.social · 17/09/2026PM names participation in Erasmus + during his speech today in Strasbourg, This would be an absolute game changer for Canadian students, universities and colleges. 🇨🇦 🇪🇺 060
Peter MacLeod @petermacleod.bsky.social · 15/09/2026A seemingly small thing, but vitally important. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...theglobeandmail.comEuropean Parliament to open office in Ottawa, further strengthening Canada-EU tiesNew office will help facilitate EU’s exchanges with Canadian MPs and senators, says European Parliament president 061
Reposted by Peter MacLeodThe Walrus @thewalrus.ca · 12/09/2026Canada’s global rankings have fallen across democracy, transparency, press freedom, and living standards. Writer and lawyer Matt Malone argues that reversing the decline requires rebuilding the institutions meant to hold government accountable. ow.ly/bAlL50ZMOIr 1812881
Reposted by Peter MacLeodCatherine McKenna @cathmckenna.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Great piece by @petermacleod.bsky.social in today’s @thestar.com about how Alberta separatism is a sign of a bigger problem in Canadian politics. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont... 14120
Peter MacLeod @petermacleod.bsky.social · 11/09/2026My latest commentary for the Toronto Star www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...thestar.comAlberta separatism isn’t just an Alberta problem. It’s a sign of a much deeper issue in Canadian politicsThe collapse of political competition and winner-takes-all mentality has allowed fringe elements to hijack mainstream political parties. 095
Peter MacLeod @petermacleod.bsky.social · 09/09/2026www.mehr-demokratie.de/en/mehr-wiss...mehr-demokratie.deFrance draws lots againJust months before the 2027 presidential election, France is seeing the launch of three new nationwide citizens’ assemblies. 020
Reposted by Peter MacLeodDale Smith @journodale.bsky.social · 08/09/2026This is what Carney's new Digital Transformation Canada should be doing, not trying to find new ways to implement digital asbestos. 5318112
Reposted by Peter MacLeodKetan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 04/09/2026The amount of oil use avoided by EVs in China in the first half of 2026 is the same as the amount of oil USED BY THE ENTIRE UK www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chi... 14511217
Reposted by Peter MacLeodCatherine McKenna @cathmckenna.bsky.social · 02/09/2026LAKE ONTARIO FOREVER! 🇨🇦 Lovely foggy swim at Cherry Beach this aft. Thanks to the awesome @toronto.ca lifeguards for your great work this summer! 🤛 1989
Peter MacLeod @petermacleod.bsky.social · 27/08/2026Took a long swim tonight in Lake Ontario, up here in Port Hope, the True North, Strong and Free 🇨🇦 💪 061
Reposted by Peter MacLeodThorsten Sterk @thorstensterk.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Citizens’ assemblies were long regarded as exceptional democratic one-off events. But a second generation of sortition-based democracy is emerging around the world. #CitizensAssemblymehr-demokratie.deWhen sortition becomes an institutionCitizens’ assemblies were long regarded as exceptional democratic one-off events. But a second generation of sortition-based democracy is emerging around the world. 054
Reposted by Peter MacLeodMayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 19/08/2026This stopped me in my tracks. An independent study by @qmul.bsky.social has found that after ULEZ was introduced, children’s lungs grew faster in Central London and have now caught up with children outside of the capital. Incredible. 1563369974
Reposted by Peter MacLeodThorsten Sterk @thorstensterk.bsky.social · 18/08/2026In 2026, South Korea created something that had never before existed at national level: a permanent, legally established Climate Citizens’ Assembly. #CitizensAssemblymehr-demokratie.deThe citizens’ assembly that Is here to stayIn 2026, South Korea created something that had never before existed at national level: a permanent, legally established Climate Citizens’ Assembly. 0125
Reposted by Peter MacLeodThorsten Sterk @thorstensterk.bsky.social · 07/08/2026A German model shows how provinces and federal states can give municipalities the funding and expertise to make citizens’ assemblies a regular democratic tool. #CitizensAssemblypolicyoptions.irpp.orgWhy provinces should fund municipal citizens’ assembliesProvincial funding and shared expertise could help municipalities use citizens’ assemblies to rebuild local democracy across Canada today. 032
Reposted by Peter MacLeodJörg Broschek 🇨🇦 @jbroschek.bsky.social · 07/08/2026Establishing a Royal Commission on Securing Canada's Future would have been one way to do this, as many demanded back in early 2025. Instead, we got Forward Guidance. policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/03/roya...policyoptions.irpp.orgOpen letter to the next prime minister: We need a royal commission on Canada’s future(Version française disponible ici) Sign up for A Stronger Canada for The Trump Era. A temporary newsletter with the latest Canada-U.S. analyses from Policy Options. There is no longer any room for dou... 1113
Reposted by Peter MacLeodMegan Mattes @meganmattes.bsky.social · 06/08/2026Baden-Württemberg's state agency for citizen participation helps municipalities design and fund citizens' assemblies. In my new piece in Policy Options (@policyoptions.irpp.org) I make the case for bringing this model to Canadian provinces. policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/08/fund...policyoptions.irpp.orgWhy provinces should fund municipal citizens’ assembliesProvincial funding and shared expertise could help municipalities use citizens’ assemblies to rebuild local democracy across Canada today. 132
Peter MacLeod @petermacleod.bsky.social · 03/08/2026I’d like to see tracking data on public sector comms vs journalists 000
Reposted by Peter MacLeodEmmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 @emmettmacfarlane.com · 03/08/2026The question is, Do you want more money or less? Carney repealing carbon pricing means you now have less. 79619
Peter MacLeod @petermacleod.bsky.social · 03/08/2026In the very near future, no one will believe we had a policy this good. www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/pe...theglobeandmail.comEnd of carbon tax rebates a financial hit for Canada’s poorest, research showsRebates were tax-free payments that compensated consumers for the cost of carbon taxes 413845
Reposted by Peter MacLeodAxeDame @axedame.bsky.social · 24/07/2026Andrew Leach nailing PP's war on carbon pricing: 39643
Reposted by Peter MacLeodCas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 30/07/2026The conservative bias of both journalists and politicians is one of the major problems of liberal democracy today. After ignoring, and often even dismissing, far-right voters for decades in the late 20th century, they have declared them "the people" in the early 21st century. 14114
Reposted by Peter MacLeodDaniel Munro @dkmunro.bsky.social · 18/07/2026When I was a kid, we worried about “acid rain.” Then a few adults in the room decided to address the problem. policyoptions.irpp.org/2012/04/acid...policyoptions.irpp.orgAcid rain: A case study in Canada-US relationsOn March 11, 1981, when Ronald Reagan visited Ottawa for the first time as president of the United States, he was greeted by thousands of protesters on Parliament Hill. They shouted and held placards ... 23413
Reposted by Peter MacLeodThorsten Sterk @thorstensterk.bsky.social · 16/07/2026Following a Citizens’ Assembly, the French National Assembly passed a law on 15 July 2026 legalising assisted dying and assisted suicide in France. #CitizensAssemblymehr-demokratie.deFrance legalises assisted dying following a citizens’ assemblyFollowing a Citizens’ Assembly, the French National Assembly passed a law on 15 July 2026 legalising assisted dying and assisted suicide in France. 0115
Reposted by Peter MacLeodLauren Dobson-Hughes @ldobsonhughes.bsky.social · 16/07/2026Now we need a 'defence against help' strategy for smoke 4185
Reposted by Peter MacLeodStephanie Carvin @stephaniecarvin.bsky.social · 16/07/2026Strong agree with this editorial co-authored by Jeff Collins - where is Canada’s civil defence spending? www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...theglobeandmail.comOpinion: As Canada burns, defence spending must go toward fighting wildfiresFires in Canada are growing year and year, our fleets of water bombers should too 35426
Peter MacLeod @petermacleod.bsky.social · 15/07/2026How bad is the air quality? So bad that everybody’s automatic headlights are on while driving the 401 at 4 PM 020
Reposted by Peter MacLeodAdam Radwanski @aradwanski.bsky.social · 14/07/2026I’m always reluctant to directly attribute any one weather event to climate change. But Canada’s current fossil-fuel boosterism does hit a bit harder while considering whether we have to keep our 6-year-old home from the baseball camp he’s been excited about, because of potential record heat. 719554
Reposted by Peter MacLeodNatalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 13/07/2026We already knew that social media-fed disinformation and ragebait is terrible for liberal democracy. Powered by AI text generation it's of course worse.irishtimes.comAI software that generates ‘rage bait’ developed by Germany’s far-right AfDAlternita platform uses Google Gemini, OpenAI and Claude to create provocative social media posts 043
Reposted by Peter MacLeodJim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 11/07/2026UBS 2026 Global Wealth Report confirms the typical (ie. median) Canadian is 2x wealthier than the median American. Cda ranks 7th on median wealth, US 28th. Galactic hoards of Musk, Bezos, et al inflate the US average but virtually none flows to most Americans. #canlab #cdnecon /2 79665
Reposted by Peter MacLeodAmanda Katz @katzish.bsky.social · 09/07/2026NEW in @porchparty.bsky.social: The Civic Standard is a strange, compelling nonprofit in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom that combines food, theater, and "giving people a ride." Cofounder Rose Friedman talked to me about what she's learned about building community www.porchpartynews.com/p/civic-stan...porchpartynews.com'Pay attention.' How an unusual Vermont nonprofit builds communityThe Civic Standard offers everything from participatory theater to killer mac and cheese. Cofounder Rose Friedman has some advice on bringing neighbors together. 46622
Reposted by Peter MacLeodPetter Törnberg @pettertornberg.com · 07/07/2026‘Polarization’ has become the master concept for diagnosing our current democratic crisis. But this is not polarization. It is the radicalization of the political right. By misdiagnosing it, we risk becoming complicit in the crisis. 🧵 Just out in Perspectives on Politics doi.org/10.1017/S153... 4834491432
Reposted by Peter MacLeodThorsten Sterk @thorstensterk.bsky.social · 07/07/2026For the North Sea island of Sylt, the high number of tourists is becoming an increasing burden. Randomly selected residents are working together with other stakeholders to develop a tourism strategy for the future. #CitizensAssemblymehr-demokratie.deCitizens help shape Sylt's tourism strategyFor the North Sea island of Sylt, the high number of tourists is becoming an increasing burden. Randomly selected residents are working together with other stakeholders to develop a tourism strategy f... 043
Reposted by Peter MacLeodNatalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Agree with every word of @emmettmacfarlane.com's analysis here. The past decade has seen lots of truly excellent, accomplished, public-minded people appointed to the Senate. Returning to crassly partisan appointments is the very last thing Canada needs.emmettmacfarlane.substack.comMark Carney returns to grubby patronage and damages the renewed SenateIn the Golden Age of Twitter, before it was bought up by a white supremacist oligarch and transformed into a wasteland of disinformation and hate, the Canadian politics nerds used to half-joke about h... 0119
Reposted by Peter MacLeodAkshat Rathi @akshatrathi.bsky.social · 06/07/2026Correct your priors: Private money is going after clean energy, governments are using public money to prop up fossil fuels "About 59% of all money spent on the fossil fuel system came from taxpayers in 2015. By 2025, that climbed to 68% and spiked at 78% in 2022." www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...bloomberg.comWho’s Really Keeping Fossil Fuels Alive? TaxpayersTo judge by the way many people discuss the energy transition, we’re engaged in a fight between green idealogues in government and academia on the one hand, and a more realistic private sector that re... 22754461
Reposted by Peter MacLeodhclark @hclark.bsky.social · 03/07/2026As the U.S. prepares to celebrate its 250th, icymi: @mdrohan.bsky.social tells @spaikin.bsky.social about American founding father Benjamin Franklin's failed attempts to annex Canada. Don't know this story? She says that's because Canadians let the losers write the story: youtu.be/71XcY7OgYe8?...youtu.beMadelaine Drohan: Long Before Trump, Franklin Failed to Annex Canada | TVO Today LiveYouTube video by TVO Today 173