Election Dysfunction and Bozo Eruptions

Apr 7, 2025

Alex Marland, a Canadian politics professor at Acadia University, dives into the evolving landscape of political loyalty in Canada. He unpacks the rarity of independent candidates, noting that only a handful have made it to office without party backing. Marland discusses the impact of social media and the marketing strategies of political parties, which often suppress independent voices. He also highlights the tension between personal integrity and party loyalty, illustrated by recent political controversies, emphasizing the cost of sacrificing diversity in representation.

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ANECDOTE

Unexpected Candidate Invitation

Jesse Brown shares that the Liberals invited him to run for office despite his lack of political experience.
He highlights the party's desperation to find candidates.

INSIGHT

Vetting and Opposition Research

Parties scrutinize potential candidates heavily, prioritizing avoiding scandals over qualifications.
Alex Marland explains how opposition research is used strategically, timed for maximum impact during campaigns.

INSIGHT

Caucus Control and Chilling Effect

Party loyalty is enforced through caucus meetings where staff monitor MPs' behavior.
This creates a chilling effect on dissent and limits independent thought.

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In the last 50 or so years the number of independent first-time political candidates elected to office in Canada could fit in a car. Five candidates have made it to, albeit a very small portion of political power, without party support. That covers both provincial and federal elections.

As Canadian elections become increasingly presidential affairs, focusing on the personality at the top of the ticket, the quality that seems most necessary in an aspiring MP is fealty to the Party, the leader, the mantra.

The pressures of social media, political parties’ reliance on marketing data, and the 24-hour news cycle all play a part in the clamping down on new or maverick voices.

What is the cost of canceling out the independent voice in our MPs? And how did we get here?

Alex Marland, author of No I in Team: Party Loyalty in Canadian Politics and Whipped: Party Discipline in Canada has interviewed hundreds of politicians trying to answer those questions.

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor & Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)

Fact checking by Julian Abraham

Additional music by Audio Network