"...the idea took hold that it was beset by a clutch of institutional and electoral problems known as the "democratic deficit." In reality, the democratic deficit was little more than opposition code for Liberal hegemony, so fixing the democratic deficit meant limiting or hindering the power of the federal government."

Uh, no Andrew. The "democratic deficit" was the result of a continuing slide in voting participation. And the term did not simply refer to federal politics, it was heard throughout many provinces. BC, Ontario, PEI, New Brunswick and Quebec all formed a task force or commission to explore electoral reform with 3 of the 5 triggering referendums. 

It's one thing to write a polemic, it is another to manufacture facts. And you might have heard some complaints about our electoral system in the last election and the deliberate failure of the special committee. If you listen hard enough or read beyond the headlines, you will realize the democratic deficit is alive and well.