Young, LisaStewart, DavidColetto, David2017-12-182017-12-182010Coletto, D. (2010). A matter of quality?: candidates in Canadian consituency elections (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/3447http://hdl.handle.net/1880/104448Bibliography: p. 265-274Most students of Canadian elections emphasize the role of national campaigns in deciding the outcome of these elections. I challenge this orthodoxy as incomplete and argue that we need to pay more attention to who runs for Parliament. Without studying what happens in the constituencies and among the individuals who seek to become parliamentarians, we cannot fully understand the process of Canadian electoral politics. For that reason, I shine some light on the hundreds of individuals who run for Canada's Parliament during each general election. In doing so, I seek to identify the ways in which candidates might matter in Canada and then test a number of hypotheses related to their effect on Canadian elections. This study is the first empirical examination of the role candidates play in Canadian elections. I classify candidates as being either quality or non-quality based on their previous political experience and occupation. The American political science literature suggests that quality candidates are better candidates. They raise and spend more money; they attract more volunteers; and, they are more likely to win their elections. Testing this American concept on the 2004, 2006, and 2008 Canadian General Elections, I find that American findings hold true in Canada. Quality candidates, in contrast to non-quality candidates, are more strategic and nm when conditions are favourable. They also raise more money and perform better on Election Day, all else being equal.ix, 281 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.doctoral thesis10.11575/PRISM/3447