Stephane Dion, a former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and a current member of the Canadian Parliament, representing a district in Montreal, has this op-ed advocating proportional representation. The op-ed is published in the April 22 issue of the National Post, one of Canada’s national daily newspapers.

The op-ed is very specific in promoting one particular type of proportional representation, a type that is now used in Finland. The system he describes gives voters the opportunity to choose the candidate as well as the political party. Thanks to Rob Richie for the link.

This story reveals that many U.S. House candidates in New York have had their primary ballot access petitions challenged this year. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for the link.

Southern California hosts two minor party presidential debates this weekend.

On Sunday, April 22, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the four Peace & Freedom Party presidential candidates will debate each other at the Westside Peace Center, 3916 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City. They are Stewart Alexander, Rocky Anderson, Stephen Durham, and Peta Lindsay. The Peace & Freedom Party asked the Secretary of State to list all four of these candidates on its presidential primary ballot this year. So far the Secretary of State has resisted putting Lindsay on the ballot. A U.S. District Court will decide on April 26 whether to add Lindsay to the ballot.

A multi-party presidential debate is scheduled for Saturday, April 21, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Echo Park United Methodist Church, 1226 N. Alvarado St., Los Angeles. All four of the Peace & Freedom Party candidates will participate. Also, the three Green Party presidential candidates who are on the California Green Party presidential primary will participate. They are Roseanne Barr, Kent Mesplay, and Jill Stein. Also, James Ogle, who is seeking the Libertarian Party presidential nomination, will participate. Thanks to Casey Peters for this news.