Friday, December 26, 2008

Gutter Play


If you thought Prime Minister Stephen Harper's attempt to remove government financing for political parties was ugly and entirely partisan, then what do you make of Premier Gordon Campbell's new law restricting political advertising?

This is transparently aimed at unions, who actually have war chests available and at the ready for the May 12th election.

The problem is that TV campaigns have to be planned months in advance and nobody knows this better than Campbell.

I am no fan of the BCTF, but I must give them full credit for challenging this law in court and for getting to the press to keep this issue before the public.

The BC Supreme Court is taking its royal time on this attempt by the unions to have the law declared unconstitutional and its very delay aids and abets what should be seen as a Campbell law bordering itself on criminality.

The law is an offense to common sense and democratic process.

I don't care how many photo ops the premier takes of himself hugging bantam hockey players, he's a thug.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

David,

A lawyer I'm not, but wouldn't this "law" impinge on the freedom of speech protection under our Charter? Surely this action limits the ability of citizens who collectively want to express their views about their government. Are we only to be allowed as individuals to purchase our own TV time?

I can't decide whether Campbell is (a) Power Mad; (b) in early Dementia; or (c) Harper's evil twin. Or is he that worried that he won't be able to attend his coronation as King of Whistler Castle in 2010?

DC

MurdocK said...

C'mon David,

You are expecting the courts to actually move quickly on anything?

If you want something squashed now the best machine to grind the opposition into dust with is the courtroom.

Take it to the streets and the court of popular opinion, otherwise do not waste your efforts in the courtroom.