Vancouver Secrets

What Ever Became Of Garth Turner?

Just so Garth doesn’t slip into the dustbin of Canadian politics, you might want to check out his latest post and leave a “thank-you for blessing the blogosphere”:

I was made aware of the thesis she (Tamara Small) had written about you and I, which has recently been published in the Canadian Political Science Review. Her 21-page opus not only puts this blog in the context of others in Canada, but also in other jurisdictions, and has a close look at you – citizens and voters who come here to read and be read.

Her conclusion:

On the blog, Garth Turner claims to be “Canada’s Digital Democracy leader.”

This analysis shows the claim is not without its merits.

Though Turner readily admits the claim is aggrandizing, he is very clear about his desire to ‘lead by example’ in Canadian parliamentary politics. This examination suggests that he is certainly achieving this goal.

In terms of being a leader, while most current Canadian parliamentarians are online with their own web sites promoting the consituency and party activities, Turner is the only one of a few parliamentarians that embraced blogging in its full capacity.

Even when compared with genuine blogs, it outperforms. Given the small proportion of legislators in the United States and United Kingdom who blog, what Garth Turner is doing is striking. He does not just present the opportunity of the interface for Canadians to engage with him, Canadians actually do so.

Garth Turner Unedited allows for exactly what it says it does, unfettered discussion between posters and the blogger.”

I wonder if the writer is related in some way?

Full pdf here for those that want the full essay on political blogging, featuring this remarkable man.