In this episode of Off the Ledge, Mark and Jesse pour over the election results. They take stock of election night coverage, speculate on what's next for newly elected MLAs and the government, and consider the future of electoral reform on Prince Edward Island.

Off Script: Atlantic Canada Politics

Off the Ledge #4: If you don't know ... form a government!

Mark and Jesse are joined by a special guest who actually lives on PEI and knows something about asking the right question. We unpack a few highlights from this week's CBC leader's debate, explore whether PEI politics is as civil as it appears, and talk about even more hypothetical election and referendum outcomes.Follow us on Twitter: @SpringtideCo / @MarkCoffin / @JesseHitchcock / @jbgreenan

Off the Ledge #3: Leaders debate, civility contests, and waxing hypothetical

Mark and Jesse dive into the issues surrounding the Prince Edward Island referendum on electoral reform. In this episode, we explore the question, the rules, and the politics of the referendum.References Mentioned:- Electoral Systems Referendum Act- Much-amended P.E.I. referendum legislation passes (CBC)Follow us on Twitter: @SpringtideCo / @MarkCoffin / @JesseHitchcockFollow Springtide on Facebook and Instagram

Off the Ledge #2: 'If you don't know, don't vote'

In the first episode of the Off the Ledge series, hosts Mark Coffin and Jesse Hitchcock talk through the last several years of politics in Canada's smallest province in order to better understand how exactly we reached the current political moment. If you're not familiar with Island politics, buckle up. Here's where things are at:- The Green Party of PEI is leading in the polls, in a province that's never had anything but majority Liberal or (Progressive) Conservative governments.- A referendum is set for the same date as the general election, where Islanders will be asked to choose between a new, mixed-member proportional voting system, or to keep the first-past-the-post system.In this episode we explore how we got here, and what some of the potential outcomes of the election and referendum vote might involve.

Off the Ledge #1: The politics and possibilities of the PEI Election

This week we bring you some important news about the future of podcasts at Springtide.To chime in on the future of this show, contact me at mark@springtide.ngo Support the podcast.

Springtide and the future of our podcasts

This week, we have some questions for our listeners. Why do you listen to this show? What need does it serve for you? And how can we serve that need better. Answer us at offscript@springtide.ngo or tweet @SpringtideCo.And in honour of April of 2018 being the 100th anniversary of the first time women voted in Nova Scotia elections, we share a re-run of an episode we produced last year - about the women of Nova Scotia politics past. We explore the unique experiences of the women who ran for and won seats in the Nova Scotia legislature – the challenges they faced in getting there, and the challenges awaiting them once they arrived.-- SUPPORT THE PODCAST

REPLAY: Women in Nova Scotia Politics - Former MLAs reflect on their experience

This week we're joined by Halifax councillor Waye Mason. Waye currently serves as the Deputy Mayor of Halifax. We chat about the politician's perspective on how the new bike lane coming to South Park street came to be. We explore some of the super-powers of the deputy mayor. We also talk about how Waye makes decisions when his constituents are divided on an issue. Support the podcast

#31: Interview with Waye Mason: "Cars are the least important thing - that's the law in Halifax!"

The first time Prince Edward Islanders voted on electoral reform, they voted to keep the status quo. That was in 2005. Mark Greenan was involved in the campaign then, and ended up writing a masters thesis on the topic. The second time Islanders voted on electoral reform was in a 2016 plebiscite where 52% of voters expressed a preference for a mixed-member proportional system. The voters were ready, but the government wasn't. Citing low voter turnout, the Government is choosing to hold another vote. When the upcoming provincial election happens (at a date of the Government's choosing between now and next October), Islanders will be asked to choose between the current system and a Mixed Member Proportional one. Mark Greenan has been at the forefront of the movement for proportional representation on PEI since it began. On this episode of the Off Script podcast, we speak with Mark about the Island's lengthy journey towards electoral reform (and his own journey). Support the podcast.

#30: The Battle for Proportional Representation on PEI - Interview with Mark Greenan

We all know the importance of getting more people engaged in elections, politics, and civic life, but it can be challenging to know how to do so effectively. Mark moderated a panel discussion between three Halifax-based activists as a part of an event hosted by Springtide called "Engaging the Disengaged - A Workshop for the Already Engaged".- Jalana Lewis is a Social Justice Lawyer who is passionate about championing voices that aren’t often heard. She was the campaign manager for Halifax councillor, Lindell Smith.- Steve Estey is an advocate for persons with disabilities who works with the Nova Scotia League for Equal Opportunity. Steve is a former candidate for MLA in the riding of Dartmouth east.- Jenna Brookfield is a Health and Safety activist who is a part of the labour movement in Nova Scotia. Jenna has a background in projects that engage traditionally underrepresented segments of the population in politics and government more broadly.Support the podcast.

#29: [LIVE] Engaging the Disengaged (A podcast episode for the already engaged)

Last Tuesday, Halifax municipal councillors voted in favor of approving a 1.5 kilometer stretch of protected bike lane on South Park Street in Halifax. Today on the podcast, Mark speaks with Kelsey Lane who is the executive director of the Halifax Cycling Coalition (HCC). The HCC has been leading the charge for more (and better) bike lanes in Halifax.We talk about the changes coming to South Park Street, and (as we often do) we explore the ‘how’ of what happened. We unpack the kind of behind the scenes, online, and (quite literally) on-the-street work that goes into getting politicians to make the streets safer for cyclists.Support the podcast

#28: How Halifax cyclists won a 1.5km protected downtown bike lane

On Thursday March 1st - the Nova Scotia Government is expected to introduce its education reform bill that will dissolve all English Language School boards in the province.Cindy Littlefair is one of the members of the Halifax Regional School Board grappling with the challenge of how to serve the public in the dying days of School Boards in Nova Scotia. In this episode of the podcast we speak with Cindy about this. We use the remarks she shared at last week's HRSB meeting as a starting point for our conversation. What is a conscientious board member to do in this moment? Go away quietly?Resist the dissolution?Carry on their duties as a school board trustee in exile?Support the Off Script podcast.

#27: How to serve the public on a dying school board | Interview with Cindy Littlefair HRSB Member

On January 25th, PEI Progressive Conservative Leader James Aylward released a discussion paper about the need to reform the way that the Prince Edward Island legislature works. It's a topic that is unlikely to catch the attention of many newsreaders on the best of days, but we think it's an important one, so one month after the fact we're bringing him onto the show to talk about it. Read the discussion paper. Share this episode using the shortlink: http://www.springtide.ngo/os26Support the podcast: http://www.springtide.ngo/offscriptsupport

#26: PEI PC Leader wants to change the way the legislature works

This week we're sharing an episode from our other podcast, Govern Yourself Accordingly. - Most of us have not sat in the backrooms of politics, the places where decisions are really made. But today’s guest on the Govern Yourself Accordingly podcast has. And, he’s done the rest of us a favour - especially those of us who try to have an impact on the decisions being made in our communities, states, provinces, and countries.  Graham Steele is the former finance minister for Nova Scotia. In his new book, The Effective Citizen: How to Make Politicians Work for You, he has drawn a road-map of the politician’s brain. He’s codified the thought-patterns, the behaviour, and the patterns of speech that even the best of our politicians use as crutches. He’s done this so that we (as citizens) can understand them. Beyond that, he’s taken it a step further and mapped out how citizens can use that information to be more effective at advocacy to influence policy change. He explores the big picture: how patient and persistent advocacy can have a major impact, but he also talks about the granular: like how to follow-up on a meeting with a decision maker so they’re more likely to do what they told you they’d do. Follow @steelegr on Twitter--- Share this episode using the shortlink http://www.springtide.ngo/gya3Resources from this episode: Graham’s new book: The Effective CitizenGraham’s first book: What I Learned About Politics

Special Episode - The Effective Citizen with Graham Steele

It’s been just over a year since Justin Trudeau’s government announced it would not be pursuing its platform commitment to make the 2015 federal election the last Canadian election held using first-past-the-post. This week we compare what Justin Trudeau and others have been saying about proportional representation with what the research says about countries that use proportional systems. Matt Risser (@mattrisser) joins us to unpack how systems of proportional representation work in other countries, and how they might work in Canada. Resources MentionedBetter Choices: Voting System Alternatives for Canada (Paper)Better Choices: Voting System Alternatives for Nova Scotia (Paper) Audio Clips Sampled: Justin Trudeau in Yellowknife 2017 (CBC) - Justin Trudeau Explains Electoral Reform U-Turn Justin Trudeau in Yellowknife 2017 (CBC) - Should Kellie Leitch Have Her Own Party?  Justin Trudeau on CBC’s ‘The House’

#25: Justin Trudeau’s Criticisms of Proportional Representation vs. Actual Research

This week we’re talking about the power women in Canadian politics have begun to wield over the last seven days. Michelle Coffin joins the show to help us unpack last weeks news, including the sudden resignation of Nova Scotia PC Party Leader, Jamie Baillie. Michelle shares some of her personal experiences from her time in politics, and we explore what the broader implications of the #MeToo movement hitting Canadian politics. Michelle worked for several different leaders of the Nova Scotia Liberal party, including its current leader before he became Premier. She’s a professor of political science at Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s universities in Halifax and is a regular commentator on Nova Scotia politics for CBC Radio in Halifax. - Share this episode using the shortlink: http://www.springtide.ngo/os24

#24: #MeToo hits Canadian Politics: Interview with Michelle Coffin

Off Script is a podcast for engaged citizens, public leaders and activists in Atlantic Canada. In April of 2019, this podcast will be dedicated to exploring the politics and possibilities surrounding the April 23 provincial election and referendum on electoral reform. Join hosts, Mark Coffin and Jesse Hitchcock, as they try to make sense of it all.Explore our past episodes for conversations with former Nova Scotia MLAs (Season One), and conversations with active elected officials and activists in Atlantic Canada (Season 2).

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Off Script: Atlantic Canada Politics

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