Liberals want more gag laws
Well the federal Liberals are once again declaring war on free election speech.
Recall in 2000 it was Prime Minister Jean Chretien who imposed the infamous election gag law on Canadians -- the law which makes it a crime for citizens to spend their own money to express their own views during federal election.
That was bad enough.
Now Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff wants to extend that gag law so that it also covers the period three months prior to the election.
This is sad but not surprising.
Once you buy into the logic that it's OK to squelch free expression you start heading down a slippery slope; you can always justify further restrictions.
First the gag law was only supposed to be in force during elections; now the Liberals also want to gag Canadians before elections.
Before you know it, it will be illegal for citizens to run political ads at any time.
Recall in 2000 it was Prime Minister Jean Chretien who imposed the infamous election gag law on Canadians -- the law which makes it a crime for citizens to spend their own money to express their own views during federal election.
That was bad enough.
Now Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff wants to extend that gag law so that it also covers the period three months prior to the election.
This is sad but not surprising.
Once you buy into the logic that it's OK to squelch free expression you start heading down a slippery slope; you can always justify further restrictions.
First the gag law was only supposed to be in force during elections; now the Liberals also want to gag Canadians before elections.
Before you know it, it will be illegal for citizens to run political ads at any time.
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