[URL="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081114.wnunavutprem... names new premier[/URL]
Her name is Eva Aariak, and she was the only woman elected to the territorial assembly in last month's election.
New premier of Nunavut
Sat, 2008-11-15 00:36
#1
New premier of Nunavut
Wed, 2008-11-19 13:49
#2
Does anyone know about her policy orientations and what this new government stands for? All I know is that federal NDPer Hunter Tootoo is now in cabinet.
Sun, 2008-11-23 17:01
#3
They don't govern based on partisan politicking the same way we do. The MLAs are elected independently, and the Premier is chosen from among the elected representatives. Consensus is how they get things done.
Sun, 2008-11-23 19:31
#4
Refuge
They don't govern based on partisan politicking the same way we do. The MLAs are elected independently, and the Premier is chosen from among the elected representatives. Consensus is how they get things done.
I don't understand how they pick someone through secret ballot among the MLA's and call it consensus. Isn't consensus getting everyone to agree with a decision?
Tue, 2008-11-25 10:55
#5
Consensus doesn't mean everybody has to vote the same way before anything can be done at all. A consensus system tries to get as close to that as possible, certainly, but all it requires is majority support followed by an agreement that once the decision is made, everybody stands behind it whether they agreed with it or not.
Tue, 2008-11-25 14:55
#6
Refuge
ConsensusDiscussion of the item: The item is discussed with the goal of identifying opinions and information on the topic at hand. The general direction of the group and potential proposals for action are often identified during the discussion.
Formation of a proposal: Based on the discussion, a formal decision proposal on the issue is presented to the group.
Call for consensus: The facilitator of the decision-making body calls for consensus on the proposal. Each member of the group usually must actively state their agreement with the proposal, often by using a hand gesture or raising a colored card, to avoid the group interpreting silence or inaction as agreement.
Identification and addressing of concerns: If consensus is not achieved, each dissenter presents his or her concerns on the proposal, potentially starting another round of discussion to address or clarify the concern.
Modification of the proposal: The proposal is amended, re-phrased or ridered in an attempt to address the concerns of the decision-makers. The process then returns to the call for consensus and the cycle is repeated until a satisfactory decision is made.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consensus_decision-making#Process
This agrees with what I have always known as consensus. Secret ballots would undermine the process as someone voting against should raise their concerns so there would be no need for a secret ballot as it would be obvious who says no.
Following this logic most people who voted in Canada for their federal representative agreed so are the federal representatives voted in by consensus?
Tue, 2008-12-16 16:59
#7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consensus_government
While consensus models of discourse often require that a true consensus be reached, in
consensus government policies advanced by the government are decided
upon by majority vote; the government must therefore support policies
that please a majority of the entire legislature if it wants them to
pass. Notions of party discipline are not relevant to such
deliberations.
Wed, 2008-12-17 00:22
#8
Refuge
in consensus government policies advanced by the government are decided
upon by majority vote; the government must therefore support policies
that please a majority of the entire legislature if it wants them to
pass.
I am still trying to understand - so does that mean the Canadian government is a consensus government since that is how our legislature works?
Fri, 2009-06-05 23:59
#9
Consensus is a misnomer as applied to the northern governments. The political system here is no different than many city councils in Canada - except in the way that the Premier is chosen.