Democracy as a partisan issue?

The Prime Minister is right about one thing. At this time there does not appear to be any hard evidence linking the RoboScam (a term I thought up just now and think I'm going to use from here on out) to the Conservative Party of Canada. I can't deny that. Although, the recent testimony of Michael Sona that the Conservative Party of Canada has been smearing and lying about his involvement does raise interesting questions. However, Canada is a country in which we believe in the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty.' Prime Minister Harper has not been found guilty in any wrong-doing.



The problem lies in the Prime Minister's lack of concern for democracy in this country. Dean Del Mastro, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for Peterborough, and Peter Goldring, the Member of Parliament for the riding of Edmonton East - which may or may not exist, were both elected as Conservative candidates. I submit the Goldring has since decided to sit as an independent identifying himself as a "civil libertarian". They have both commented that their supporters were also contacted in an attempt to dissuade them from voting. These are serious allegations. Allegations that should be taken very seriously. Del Mastro and the Prime Minister have been doing just the opposite; asserting that these are just the claims of "sore losers." More interesting it has made democracy an issue that is now drawn down party lines. Members of the NDP, Liberal Party, Green Party, Bloc Quebecois, and even Mr. Goldring have come to the defence of democracy. Prime Minister Harper has decided to oppose it. And in doing so has encouraged Conservative partisans across this country to do the same.

I don't believe Conservatives actually oppose democracy. Frankly, I believe in not calling an inquiry they are making an intelligent political manoeuvre. The Gomery Inquiry still haunts former Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin and the Liberal Party of Canada, at large. But calling an inquiry into alleged scandal was necessary. It put the Prime Minister on the side of the Canadian people - even if he did up carrying record of a scandal from which his involvement was ultimately exonerated. I don't actually believe that Prime Minister Harper had/has in-depth knowledge into the day to day operations of RoboScam, but I do believe he is afraid to call an inquiry into an issue that may just stick to him. That is unfortunate. Canadians deserve better. Canadians deserve to have faith in their democracy. Canadians deserve a Prime Minister that will defend their democracy. Unfortunately; for the time being, Canadians have none of those things.