Now that the federal election period has begun it is a good time to reflect on the value of our democracy and recent events that have threatened to diminish the freedom and power of one citizen one vote.
As you read this letter a former Conservative MP and a former conservative staffer occupy jail cells as a result of election fraud in the last election. Running afoul of election law and Elections Canada resulted in successful convictions.
One unexpected result of these convictions is that Elections Canada was barred from having the power to subpoena witnesses in any future investigations. The government legislation that denied this power to Elections Canada also prevented Elections Canada from promoting voting.
Can you imagine?
At a time when election participation is at all time lows the government has passed legislation to prevent effective investigation of fraud and to assure lower voter participation. In addition to those anti-democratic measures voter ID laws have been passed to prevent virtually non-existant participation by ineligible voters. Of course the real purpose of voter ID laws is to lower the participation of the poor and minorities. Similar laws have been passed for generations in the American South by right of centre parties wishing to suppress votes of more left-leaning minority voters.
Regardless of which party you might consider voting for this fall I urge you to vote for democracy first and send the message to your Conservative candidate that anti-democratic laws and election fraud will not be tolerated by those who value our rights in our democracy.
Matt Pearce, Prince George
