05) STOP THE "UNFAIR ELECTIONS ACT"

 

People's Voice Editorial

 

            Like a runaway freight train, the so‑called "Fair Elections Act" will be difficult to stop, and the results could be just as disastrous. In a typical example of Tory double-speak, when Bill C-23 was tabled in Parliament by the minister of state for "democratic reform", Pierre Poilievre, he claimed the changes will "increase democracy." One day later, Poilievre moved to cut off the first round of debate in the House of Commons.

 

            By now, everyone knows that the Conservatives blatantly lied about holding "consultations" with Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand about this legislation. The bill denies Elections Canada the powers it needs to investigate election fraud such as the Tory robocalls and other abuses of the 2011 campaign.

 

            In fact, the Unfair Elections Act is intended to facilitate the Conservative "voter suppression" strategy, borrowed directly from the U.S. Republican party. Bill C-23 will make it more difficult for hundreds of thousands of Canadians to cast a ballot, especially Aboriginal people, students, low-income seniors, and others who often lack all the valid ID required to vote. The legislation even gives the Tories an extra edge in fundraising, raising the maximum individual donation limits by another $300.

 

            Yet the Harper government has refused Opposition demands for public hearings across the country. Why? Because, as Mr. Poilievre admits, such hearings would reveal massive rejection of this fundamentally anti-democratic legislation.

 

            In short, an attempt is underway to steal the 2015 federal election, right before our eyes. In response, we urge union locals, community groups and other organizations to demand full public hearings. Bill C-23 must be stopped, before it's too late!

 

(The above article is from the March 1-15, 2014, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)