Topic
Change flow of money to parties and you control Parliament. Harper's plan for locking in a permanent Conservative advantage.
Harper's effort to tip election financing towards wealthy goes back years.
New website, not affiliated with any party, identifies races where political donations pack most punch against Conservatives.
A vote for the Tories this time could mean the end of Canada as we know it.
Stephen Harper vs. Canada is not a left wing rhetorical device, but an actual Supreme Court challenge launched by our prime minister when he was president of the National Citizen's Coalition.
His goal? To strike down legal restrictions on third party spending during national elections on the basis that this violated the charter rights of freedom of speech.
It seems that Harper was miffed that wealthy interest groups like the one he represented were only allowed to spend $150,000 nationally on advertising and $3,000 per riding. He was also seeking to strike down a prohibition on election day advertising, and a requirement that campaign expenses be reported to Elections Canada.
The Supreme Court disagreed, stating: "Promoting electoral fairness by ensuring the equality of each citizen in elections, preventing the voices of the wealthy from drowning out those of others, and preserving confidence in the electoral system, are pressing and substantial objectives in a liberal democracy."
Harper-style spending rule won in US
To see what might have occurred to Canada if Mr. Harper had succeeded in undoing limits on how much cash wealthy interest groups could inject into our elections, we only have to look across the border.
Just five years after Stephen Harper vs. Canada was rejected, a similar 2009 court challenge in the U.S. went the other way, leading to a flood of corporate money in the American democratic process.
At the time, President Obama warned "this ruling strikes at our democracy itself... I can't think of anything more devastating to the public interest."
The New York Times stated, "The Supreme Court has handed lobbyists a new weapon. A lobbyist can now tell any elected official: if you vote wrong, my company, labor union or interest group will spend unlimited sums explicitly advertising against your re-election."
A poll by ABC News showed that more than 80 per cent of Democrats and 70 per cent of Republicans opposed the ruling, which undid protections to the democratic process that had been on the books since Teddy Roosevelt was president.
These fears were not unfounded. More than $5 billion was poured into last year's midterm elections, dwarfing the $1 billion that was spent on the 2008 presidential race. Almost 80 per cent of the seats that changed hands during these midterms had the victor outspending the loser.
Third party groups such as Wall Street banks and the pharmaceutical industry no longer have to report election spending to the government. This means whoever is bankrolling TV, radio and newspaper ads aimed at affecting the outcome of the U.S. democratic process and contributing to the Tea Party movement can remain comfortably hidden from view. Some observers estimated that midterm corporate donations were flowing to Republicans ten to one over Democrats.
Most US citizens opposed Harper-style election spending rules despite their highest court’s ruling. Source: ABC News.
Harper's bold gambit in 2008
If Stephen Harper vs. Canada had succeeded, we might be looking at a similar situation during this election, and a very different country.
Stephen Harper has shown remarkable interest in campaign financing. His first prorogation of Parliament was triggered by his announcement after the 2008 election that he would eliminate taxpayer subsidies to political parties -- a move that Harper's own former top advisor Tom Flanagan termed "a death sentence for the Liberals," because Conservatives draw from a much deeper reservoir of private and corporate donations.
Sheer survival compelled the Liberals and NDP to seek a coalition government, which Harper sought to fend off by proroguing Parliament.
As the struggle proceeded, Harper accused opposition parties of attempting an "undemocratic seizure of power" after forming a coalition they had not campaigned on.
Likewise, however, Harper had not campaigned on undoing this fundamental aspect of Canadian electoral financing law.
Harper majority will tip funding power to wealthy
There is no such uncertainty in this election. Harper has already announced his intention to eliminate public financing of political parties if he wins a majority.
This would certainly benefit his party since it raises more money than all other federal parties combined.
And if Harper wins a majority, he would no longer have to bother going to the Supreme Court to undo third party spending restrictions during elections. He could finally be victorious in the long battle of Stephen Harper vs. Canada. ![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
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Dan the socialist
2 years ago
Everyone should watch that
Everyone should watch that Tommy Douglas Speech "Mouseland' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEYwVb-6TeE& before they vote.
Rolf Auer
2 years ago
Harper in 2004:
Mr. Harper said in 2004, “We can create a country built on solid Conservative values, not on expensive Liberal promises, a country the Liberals wouldn’t even recognize, the kind of country I want to lead.”--http://canadaandtheworld.com/politiciansnottrusted.html
Sorry, Mr. Harper, I want to live in a Canada I can recognize. Goodbye!
Please vote!--@Rolf_Auer
Fiat lux
2 years ago
Great photo of Stevie !
Great photo of Stevie !
I've seen those eyes under Totenkopf and Red Star caps and they've been scaring me for the past 20 years. Totally without any human feelings, or mercy.
How on Earth anybody could vote for that maniac is beyond comprehension.
After 4 years under a Harper government Canada would be just another fascist, multinational corporate mafia, branch economy.
Mulroney was only a two bit opportunist to enrich himself, but Harper is a mental case of the most dangerous kind.
Ed Deak.
ron wilton
2 years ago
corporate 'donations'
Paragraph 5 revised
To see what would have occurred to Canada if Harper had succeeded in undoing limits on how much cash wealthy interest groups inject into elections, we have only to look at Alberta and British Columbia.
redandwhite
2 years ago
Please Vote
I agree with Ed. Mr Harper is a Taurus. So is Adoph Hitler and Queen Elizabeth 11.
See and similarities?
I think Canadians should pull off a Blindside, just like on Survivor.....
dashwood
2 years ago
scary steve
ed deak you are so right.
harper is the most dangerous person to attain power that canada has ever seen.
he makes gordon campbell look ndp.
i cannot believe the federal liberals have not run with the comment iggy made about harper being uncanadian.
that desciption fits harper like a coat of paint.
he also will be unable to deny the facts when asked by the press. if they ask.
what are they waiting for?
if the shoe were on the other foot, harper would kick his opponent in the nuts during the handshake.
he is disrespectful to canadians and canadian values, and would change them drastically if given a chance.
[ANY INSINUATIONS TOWARD VIOLENCE OR OUTRIGHT ADVOCATING FOR VIOLENCE IS NOT PERMITTED IN THE TYEE COMMENT FORUM. COMMENT REMOVED. -MODERATOR.]
kick his ass until he stops and goes home.
Fiat lux
2 years ago
Harper has a great string of
Harper has a great string of , multimillion dollar directorships waiting for him by the corporate mafia at any time he's out of politics, and thankfully, our lives.
Ed Deak.
jwstewart
2 years ago
He spawned a movement.
It is the Anti-Harper movement.
I don't recall in recent memory seeing a political movement against anyone. Usualy it's a movement in support of a person or party.
In any case, the solution to the financial blackmail of elected officals described in the article is to follow the leaders past their political careers.
Ed, this would mean protesting and boycotting the corporations that hire (reward) them after thier term in office.
Being glad they are gone won't be enough, payback works.
bcsmalltownboy
2 years ago
I have never understood why
I have never understood why people have never referred to the national citizens coalition by the obvious acronym of NAT CC"S.
morechatter
2 years ago
Harper wants to abolish gun registry
So we can be more like the States so when Billy goes off to school for show and tell you will never know if he is going to end up with a bullet in his head. I was just reading about three six year old children accidentally being shot at school yesterday. A six year old brought it to school for show and tell. There where other 6 year olds who also have been arrested for carrying guns.
It happens all the time in the US kids bringing guns to school and especially the little ones, it is unbelievable how lax the gun laws are. It shows how people treat the weapons when government has no regard.
SharingIsGood
2 years ago
Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa would have included Harper in with Tammy Fae & Jimmy Baker and the politicians he mentions in this 70s era video. This is purely for comic relief and preaches to the reverted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQcE2dq3YD0&NR=1
jwstewart
2 years ago
Morechatter
You comments about the behaviour of children in the US is disingenuous.
The US and State govts all have gun laws, some more restrictive than in Canada, that prevent children from obtaining firearms.
What you're describing is a parenting failure, not a legal failure.
OhCanada
2 years ago
Waking up, eh?
I have always said that look at the person's body language and you'll see what kind of person he is. It is no accident that he was portrayed as a robot on most of the Air Farce shows. A man with no heart and feelings - like a robot.
And look at the eyes. The eyes are the windows to the soul. That should tell you everything!
The only thing is missing from this picture is a [GODWIN'S LAW INVOKED HERE...]. Harper's actions and plans are = to a dictator [...AND HERE. -MODERATOR.].
People need to wake up, put aside their differences and vote for the government that will effectively get this psychopath out. He is a dangerous politician.
As a society we only succeed if we work together and take care of each other!!!
No society has ever survived where greed, secrecy and fear was a motivator. When the threshold was reached and many people's lives were destroyed a revolution balanced out the playing field and people created a kind of society that was based on respect, honesty and trust.
Now, why would anyone want to have a revolution in their children's life?
Remember that!
morechatter
2 years ago
I'm talking about a gun culture
Americans and their guns as children as young as 6 end up with a gun as a gift. It is common for children in the US to be caught carrying fire arms. There was an incident yesterday and another one on the 6th of the month another 6 year old with caught with a gun. And it is the norm in the US and despite all those laws 6 years old still haven't figured it out. Americans demand the right to own guns to protect their families only watch out for their kids they could have a deadly aim.
"Americans also have a right to defend their homes, and we need not challenge that. Nor does anyone seriously question that the Constitution protects the right of hunters to own and keep sporting guns for hunting game any more than anyone would challenge the right to own and keep fishing rods and other equipment for fishing – or to own automobiles. To "keep and bear arms" for hunting today is essentially a recreational activity and not an imperative of survival, as it was 200 years ago. "Saturday night specials" and machine guns are not recreational weapons and surely are as much in need of regulation as motor vehicles." — Ex-Chief Justice Warren Burger, 1990.[82]
rantnic
2 years ago
There is only one real reason.
EDITED for encouraging lethal violence. TYEE MODERATOR
Fiat lux
2 years ago
Violence is not the answer
Violence is not the answer to anything, as it causes more and more, and in some cases for generations.
Violence, crime and war are the ultimate degrees of economic competition and we have seen what they have brought to the world for the past million years.
The ultimate economic cost reduction, which means the reduction of real, physical and not of imaginary monetary costs, is cooperation that can be proven very easily, at any time.
The reason this so called "right wing" the so called "conservatives", in reality fascists, are urging and forcing on the world is an excuse to take over economic systems and enslave people.
The capitalists are now the best bedfellows of communists, because they're brothers under the skin, pushing the same collectivized economic and people control for the benefit of ruling classes.
Ed Deak.
OhCanada
2 years ago
Paranoids
I am just a dumb European living in Canada.
Never wanted to live in the US because I think the country is full of paranoids - they are always afraid of someone is going to pull a gun on them, therefore they want to have the right to own a gun. Uh?
Then they have to protect themselves because the Arabs will invade them so they go and bully every nation with oil in their country. Thanks God my other homeland has no oil.
Then they say everyone creates his own luck so those who can't get ahead in society are lazy. Now that is a very humanistic and compassionate way of looking at things.
And then they go around and do big deeds like the extreme makeover for the less fortunate and they are very proud of themselves that they are such a caring nation. But we all know that many of these people who get help aren't lazy bums. It just happened that the Great American System called GREED totally failed many of its citizens. Because you can't have a society that builds on greed. The American Dream is a hogwash.
A totally idiotic society and now Harper wants us to be like the Americans.
No thank you.
I like the Canadians. At least they have some common sense left in them and a tiny more social sensitivity for the less fortunate than the big neighbor will ever have. I hope people will use that common sense and sensitivity when they go and vote.
Just ask yourself what kind of Canada do you want?
Frank
2 years ago
Help the less fortunate
"Just ask yourself what kind of Canada do you want?"
I have a feeling I want the same Canada you wanted.
OhCanada
2 years ago
The cream separator
Frank, I think the big majority of Canadians want a Canada that is socially responsible to its people, builds on respect and equality in every way.
That is what made Canada such an appealing and respected country around the World!
What happened? People aren't proud of this country anymore?
Or we just got too comfortable in having such a good life and higher standards of living so we don't care anymore?
Did we Canadians became snobs and with that attitude we only think about ourselves and we don't care about democracy and society? Gee, sounds like we are becoming like the Americans??!
That would be just pathetic.
People watch this little movie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE5fOJfKRNk
I found it on the same section where Dan the socialist pointed us to the mouseland movie. Thanks for that link! ... and enjoy!
OhCanada
2 years ago
Job and the environment
If I think about it that this speech was made in 1983 about jobs and the environment ... gee ... we still have a long way to go - and it won't happen with a Harper government.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TommyDouglasTube#p/u/4/iTCZvXS2ewA
mary jane
2 years ago
hope enough say NO to harpo
lets see
contempt
It seems like sulking
mud slinging to people in his own party
no orice for planes
the planes I hear won't have engines
I believe he wants more USA style health care
It seems to me he is an elitist
I am sure we could get a list in the way we had for gordo - marks against having harpo run
canada
Janize
2 years ago
I like to believe those who vote for Harper...
This is ultimately another piece I've been trying to inform others about. We are fortunate in a sense that theres a documented failure in this system proven by the States and for us not to follow in. I really hope those who vote for conservatives will think twice for they can still be conservatives.. but ultimately.. i like to believe.. they are still Canadians.. and truly want to maintain what Canada is built on and believed in.
realisticman
2 years ago
Worth Considering
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/04/20/ignatieff-linked-to-iraq-war-planning
Also has a good portrait for all those that put so much stock in the visage.
G West
2 years ago
Ummm! You REALLY want to go there R/Man?
Here's a few Pee Wee quotes for you - and I didn't even do any deep digging for them:
...we support the war effort and believe we should be supporting our troops and our allies and be there with them doing everything necessary to win.
Montreal Gazette, April 2003
I don't know all the facts on Iraq, but I think we should work closely with the Americans.
Report Newsmagazine, March 25 2002
We should have been there shoulder to shoulder with our allies. Our concern is the instability of our government as an ally. We are playing again with national and global security matters.
Canadian Press Newswire, April 11, 2003
emphasis added.
realisticman
2 years ago
How about Ships?
Esquimalt stands to maybe lose a massive amount of work if the Liberals are elected.
"The Liberals promised in Quebec City last week to change a deadline so the nearby Davie Shipyard could stay in the running for a massive shipbuilding contract.
The promise raises the possibility that a Liberal government could interfere with the procurement process, which could push the Halifax Shipyard out of contention.
"(Liberal Leader Michael) Ignatieff’s proposal to interfere in this independent process is simple political opportunism," said Rona Ambrose, the Conservative public works minister.
NDP shipbuilding critic Peter Stoffer said the move would be "a huge mistake."
The Liberals say they only want to maximize the competition.
Five Canadian shipyards are seeking to become one of two that would end up winning $35 billion in work as part of the government’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.
Irving’s Halifax Shipyard and Vancouver Shipyards are thought to be the front-runners, but there are also two Ontario yards and Davie, which has been a national player in the past.
But Davie — located in Lévis, across the St. Lawrence River from Quebec City — is in bankruptcy protection, and the procurement process requires all shortlisted firms to demonstrate solvency by May 18.
At the end of March, Davie announced that it is in talks with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and that it was seeking to finalize its ownership in time to meet the deadline. "
The Chronicle Herald
By STEPHEN MAHER Staff Reporter
Wed, Apr 13
WHATEVER it takes, to insure that politics and not competency are used to give out the big, fat contracts!
"The LPC and Francis Laforesterie commit to the recovery of Davie Yards
Posted on April 9, 2011
Lévis – April 8 2011 – The Liberal Party of Canada’s candidate for Lévis-Bellechasse, Francis Laforesterie, announced that a Liberal government led by Michael Ignatieff will support the recovery of the Davie shipyard. It will extend, necessary, the change of ownership requirement so that Davie Yards is not excluded from the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy, valued at $35 billion. ..."
https://www.liberal.ca/newsroom/news-release/lpc-francis-laforesterie-commit-recovery-davie-yards/
Watch out Esquimalt, Juan de Fuca, there are many jobs on the line.
OhCanada
2 years ago
Election 2011 - dark fiction
This is a really good article by Margaret Atwood - pass it on.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/election-2011-a-dark-fiction/article1991748/
One more reason to vote against this m-o-r-o-n.
The Dude
2 years ago
I was going to write some ironic and satirical comment
But Harper's spooks are [COMMENT MODERATED BECAUSE THE TYEE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND HUMOR - ANY INSINUATION OF HUMOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED - THE TYEE IS PREPARING FOR A HARPER MAJORITY - MODERATOR] watching!
Now I understand why all those super-prisons are being built. They will legalized owning un-registered [COMMENT REMOVED DUE TO IRONY OVERLOAD - MODERATOR] and then throw all non-party members into [THIS HAS BEEN A MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA - OUR ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN IS WORKING - MODERATOR] where fascists belong.
David Beers
2 years ago
The Dude, let's be clear
Writing satiric, ironic posts about killing people is not welcome on Tyee threads. Perhaps there are other web sites that offer a forum for that sort of 'humour'. Ours does not.
The Dude
2 years ago
Did you read my post David Beers?
Obviously you did not, because it was one line, that said nothing about any person or made any reference to a person, or made any reference about other people doing anything to any person. Just what I'd be able to do IF someone gotta majority. Something that actually would be legal if that person got what he seeks. It is actually been something that person has been saying for decades and campaign about and probably received millions of votes for that stance. Get your [MODERATOR HAS EDITED 50 EXPLETIVES OUT]. So let's be clear, you shouldn't post things if you don't know $hit! Perhaps there is an educational institute in China that advocates for your sense of moderation, but I live in Canada. So go [MODERATE] yourself... I would also like the moderator to edit David Beers post which is baseless accusations... thank you...
The Dude
2 years ago
Irony Overload - David Beers = Stephen Harper
What is especially ironic is the moderator who's own posts are just like Harper's own politics. Just complete lies, funny that. Perhaps there are other jobs you could do David, join the Conservative Party, they seem to embrace lies such as your posts ...
zalm
2 years ago
Dude
Your first comment about getting a long gun was plain wierd. You need to get some balance on this thread. Mebbe go comment on some other thread.
Sheesh! If for no other reason, Harper should go because he provokes exactly this kind of reaction in people wherever he goes - on both sides.
I've seen flaming Harperites foaming at the mouth at raging Greenies who are simply dancing with righteous indignation back. It's one of the ugliest campaigns I've ever seen, and the one man who should own responsibility for it all.... is the one who says he needs a majority.
Yugoslavia's civil war (during and after WWII) was exactly like this - royalists, communists, socialists, bourgeoisie, fascists, each furious at the others because all were simply incapable of seeing another point of view except as an abhorrent and life-threatening counter to their own. King Petar had little or no power, even constitutionally, during this time; the socialists had no money; the bourgeoisie, though often civil, had lost a lot in the war, and weren't exactly happy about losing more; and the fascists - well, they dominated the press, military and government. They showed up to a knife fight with guns, and all of a sudden the war was on. That sparked a natural sense of outrage among the others, and virtually overnight, the Communists went from a tiny rump to a militant organization of perhaps 2 million.
The fascists created that problem in 1940.
Who's creating this one?
David Beers
2 years ago
The Dude
Please read this
http://thetyee.ca/Comments/FAQ/#7