Dear Silo and the Canadian media- Pierre Poilivere out right lies when he says that Canadians support the provisions of the “Fair” Elections Act. Who are these people? Can he name some – other then members of his own party who have been brow beaten into submission? This is the text of an Email I sent to our Senators on April 4. To date I have received a reply from four of them – Nancy Raine, Jane Cordy, David Wells, and Grant Mitchell. The rest of them appear to be sleeping soundly – or perhaps they have been drugged.
Dear Senators,
A long time ago John Lennon wrote a song to Paul McCartney about the break up of the
Beatles, the greatest rock band the world has ever known, entitled “How do you
sleep? I am not a song writer so I have to use prose and this is my question to you
– How do you sleep? The current government is systematically breaking down all of
the things that made Canada one of the greatest countries the world has ever known.
The latest and perhaps most insidious is the “Fair” Elections Act.
Presumably you originally got into politics because you felt a calling to help other
people. If you didn’t and you were just after money, a secure and highly lucrative
pension, power and influence, feel free to junk this Email (like many others you no
doubt have received) and go back to sleep. However, if there is even the tiniest
shred of conscience and backbone left in you, it is time to wake up. The Fair
Elections Act is anything but fair, and anyone with any kind of intelligence and
ability to think independently can see that it presents a real and present danger to
democracy in Canada.
It is time to stand up for Canada and oppose this truly horrible piece of
legislation by any means that you have.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Catherine Oliver
Supplemental- Read the Full Document Fair-Elections-Act Learn more- Bing Search Fair-Elections-Act
An amended version of this act was passed. Here’s what some people have been saying:
Henry Etta
May. 13, 2014
11:10 PM
Overhauls are reforms. Seems the Harper Conservative government is fundamentally still behaving like the extreme reform party. The only reason why this bill was softened was because of the outcry of every person with common sense and reasonableness in Canada. Without any objection and if the public remained passive, we would all be victims of a ridiculous bill. The original bill the Harper government tried to push through was extreme and it stunk. No one I know trusts the Harper Reform government.
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RWW
May. 13, 2014
11:00 PM
In the Canadian Government under Mulroney it was the Meech Lake Accord and the size of the debt and increasing deficit that destroyed the party, with the Harper Government it will be the size of the debt, the senate, the lack of transparency and the Fair Elections Act which will be their down fall. If this Act was so good why was it not held as a free vote instead of it being forced down the commons throat.
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Randy
May. 13, 2014
10:47 PM
It is very telling that the Conservatives greatly limited debate over changes to how elections are conducted. There was next to no effort to build confidence beyond their own boundaries. As I write this I am reminded how that they have largely governed in that restricted way. The problem is our democracy needs to be based on consensus building, not I have the power so I will have it my way. We’re not a backward country but such behaviour speaks loudly.
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Lloyd R
May. 13, 2014
10:46 PM
Oh my – the crowd is turning into a seething mob. Angered that Canada is no longer a Democracy and it’s not worth living here …. only one answer to that. Go burn down your homes and move on ….. Drama Queens in a “one up me” frenzy.
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guy
May. 13, 2014
10:42 PM
Is this the comment page where I write about hating all things about this bill even though I do agree with the assertion that Marc Mayrand was wanting more power, more money and less accountability. Once the senate recommendations were put in and the big money grab taken out, about the only thing to whine about was having to have an id to vouch for someone and sign a statement so elections Canada can keep track of who is vouching. But when I look at how the LIBERALS and NDP have shut down freedom of speech and introduced thought control, I think I will vote for the Cons this time.
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John
May. 13, 2014
10:36 PM
Very simple….show your ID, everyone has one, what’s the big deal about this. Every province in Canada requires voters to show ID. Give tour head a shake.
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Sceptic
May. 13, 2014
10:34 PM
Where was this in the Conservative campaign in the last election? If it wasn’t there then we, the voters, did not give them permission to introduce this act. Anything with PP involved should cause everyone concern because all he knows is partisan politics having never had a job outside of same.
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Bill
May. 13, 2014
10:29 PM
the usual suspects with their usual nonsense. This legislation isn’t perfect (no law ever is), but it’s a damned sight better than what we had before.
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Brett in Montreal
May. 13, 2014
10:25 PM
Every time I’ve voted be it local, provincial and federal, I’ve had to show a valid I.D. It’s been like that for decades in my case. What’s the big deal?
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Raj
May. 13, 2014
10:10 PM
I for one am happy about it. Roll on 2015, these guys will be back in. That’s what governments with a majority do, how many times did Chrétien ram something through. Good for them I say
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bob
May. 13, 2014
9:48 PM
this is the start of how big corporations will start buying governments in the near future, similar to the american ones. Sad day for canada
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western realist
May. 13, 2014
9:48 PM
Larry 1 Ontario @ Once again I am flabbergasted by those who post comments. This is not only to you but to all posters who only know one thing, they hate Conservatives and blame the Prime Minister for everything. I have written it before here. At least have the common sense to research. Your own province (Ontario) Election Act specifies that in order to vote in a electoral district you must pre register with … gasp.. Identification , that proves your residence. what? ID? I think you are to rough on yourself. You said you would never vote Conservative. Thank You. So when you foolishly denounce the federal government, for merely doing what Ontario, Quebec and other provides have been doing for some time. phritz @ I agree this IS a farce & a joke. Caveat, do NOT accept my word for it. Use your computer to download the brochure from Elections Ontario, page 3, I believe.
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taxpayer
May. 13, 2014
9:20 PM
Jackboot politics. I believe this is an admission by the Cons that the next election is lost and they are trying to tidy up it extremist agenda before it is to late.
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Jeremy
May. 13, 2014
9:06 PM
One party just fundamentally changed how elections are decided in this country. Just as the founding fathers would have wanted it I’m sure.
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Larry I Ontario
May. 13, 2014
8:29 PM
I will never vote conservative because of the arrogance of forcing this horrible bill. They have ignored everyone who had input on this and simply in”bully style” just rammed it down our throats. Although they have a majority they have used it unwisely to force us to take this. Shameful shameful government. In true dictaor form Harper could not care less what anyone thinks. Hopefully everyone will remember this on voting day. Peopl in Ontario take note because Hudak is no different. These right wingers have their agenda and they could not care less what anyone thinks of them.
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A Koster
May. 13, 2014
8:22 PM
The article says everything.. so that the only comment I might make is spelling out the obvious.. that we don’t live in a democracy after all.
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Tim
May. 13, 2014
7:58 PM
Listened carefully? Listening carefully doesn’t include completely ignoring everyone, stating that the bill is perfectly fine as it is while attacking everyone who dared to speak against it. The only reason the bill was changed at all was because the senate shot it down and sent it back. Only then did you start to “listen”, Pierre.
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Sophie J
May. 13, 2014
7:49 PM
An important step in protecting Canadian democracy…
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Sam G
May. 13, 2014
7:35 PM
Oh roll on 2015 and you know why, Harper!
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Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/conservatives-push-through-controversial-overhaul-of-election-rules-1.1820115#ixzz31gggxlDs