On Sunday, aspiring federal NDP leader Avi Lewis promised that “under my leadership, the next time the NDP holds the balance of power in parliament, we’ll have one demand: proportional representation.” Which is a bit weird, right? Lewis seems to be conceding that the balance of power (which is basically something a party lucks into, rather than plans for) is the best the NDP can hope for. And that, if he had it, he would for some reason proactively limit himself to a single demand; and that he would insist on that demand being proportional representation (PR) as opposed to something that might help people (more dental coverage, day care, school lunches, what have you). Read More