Canada

Peter Facey (Unlock Democracy): Today one part of North America is waking up to a new government. No, you did not miss the US Presidential election yesterday - Canada had its 40th General Election. Oh well, you may say, and go back to worrying about the banks and the race between Obama and McCain.
 
But Canada may actually have more things to teach us about are own political future than you think. When Stephen Harper the Conservative PM called the election the polls predicted that the Conservatives would be returned with an absolute majority. Instead Canada is waking up today to another hung parliament and its third minority government in a row. It looks like, in the midst of an economic storm, Canada decided it did not want any one party in total control.

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Thanks to Direct Democracy I've just seen  this report on their regular email: "The Economist reports that the province of Ontario in Canada is to hold a referendum on introducing Proportional Representation (Mixed Member PR for the electoral reform anoraks) to replace the current first-past-the-post system used for provincial elections. The referendum was the main outcome of an independent citizens' assembly on electoral reform set up by the provincial government last year. The Economist suggests that If the referendum produces a 'yes' vote in Ontario, it is likely that it will also be introduced at federal level in the near future."

Guy Aitchison (Bristol, OK): The Canadian province of Ontario is gearing up for a vigorous, hard-fought political campaign ahead of a referendum on electoral reform on October 10. Ontarians are being asked to vote on recommendations made by a Citizens' Assembly to replace first-past-the-post with a mixed member proportional (MMP) system. This article in the globeandmail, a Candian national daily, has some humorous discussion of how the campaign is likely to play out, finishing with the call for a fair but lively ice hockey-style battle of ideas: "So keep your nose clean and your stick on the ice. Game on."