Stephen Harper was the first Canadian Prime Minister to ever run attack ads outside of an election campaign. He did it with Stephane Dion, managing to turn Canadians away from the Liberals last time around, but it also turned people off politics altogether.If we really want our country to be a democracy, we need to make the election process more democratic. Many Conservative bloggers claim that it is in their best interest to encourage voters to stay home. But is it in ours?
Now a bill is before senate that may end the practice of such ads, by having their costs included in election campaign advertising limit, if one takes place within three months. I like the idea very much.
Liberal bill aims to end pre-election ad binges
May. 26 2009
The Canadian Press
OTTAWA -- The Liberals have introduced a bill in the Senate aimed at stopping political parties from going on pre-election advertising binges.
Senator Dennis Dawson's bill - which is aimed at the cash-rich Tories - comes amid renewed election speculation on Parliament Hill.
Currently, parties can spend as much as they like on advertising in the months leading up to an election call.
Such pre-writ advertising is not considered part of a party's election expenses, which are strictly limited once an election campaign is under way.
Dawson's bill would amend the Canada Elections Act to classify all advertising in the three months prior to an election call as an election expense.
Dawson says his bill closes a loophole that has allowed parties with overflowing war chests to circumvent election spending limits.
The Liberal Party can rebound from these ads, but can voters? When will we say enough is enough and just give up? If that's what Harper is hoping for to stay in power, it's just one more reason why he has to go.
No comments:
Post a Comment