WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Democratic Rights
The Issue
Since forming a minority government in 2006, the Conservatives have initiated a series
of policies that undermine Canadians’ democratic rights. Prime Minister Harper has
abused his authority to prorogue Parliament and his government introduced a “Fair
Elections Act” that is anything but fair. The Harper government has attacked unions and
public advocacy organizations, suppressed research that informs public policy, and
introduced laws that legal experts say abrogate Charter rights.
Attack on Individual Rights
The Fair Elections Act, 2014 ostensibly addresses government concerns regarding voter
fraud. Critics of the bill charge that it will reduce the ability of marginalized Canadians to
vote by preventing eligible voters to vouch for voters who don’t have identification with
home addresses. The bill also limits the ability of Elections Canada to sponsor public
education campaigns to foster voter participation. Both policies amount to vote
suppression. Even more concerning are the provisions of the new Anti-terrorism Act,
2015, which would, among other things, expand the power of Canada’s spy agency and
allow Canadians to be arrested on mere suspicion of future criminal activity. Legal
experts have serious concerns that the bill contravenes the Charter. Others contend that
the law promotes an irrational fear of the threat of terrorism in Canada and fosters
racism, particularly against Muslim Canadians.
Attack on Union Rights
The Conservatives are unabashed in their opposition to union rights. In 2009, the
government imposed caps on salary increases for federal employees. In 2011, it forced
locked-out postal workers back to work and imposed contract conditions that resulted
in a wage settlement that was lower than the employer’s last offer. In 2012, it imposed
a back-to-work settlement on Air Canada employees, removing their right to strike.
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In June 2015, after months of debate in the House of Commons and the Senate,
Parliament passed Bill C-377, a private member’s bill that requires unions to disclose
their expenditures on advocacy and lobbying. The new legislation does not apply to
business organizations or professional associations. Its intent is to foster dissent within
unions and lay the groundwork for union members to opt out of their union or stop
paying dues. The Canadian Bar Association argues that the bill violates Canadians’
Charter rights to free expression and association by excessively interfering with unions’
internal administration and operations.
Advocacy Chill
Soon after being elected, the Harper government cut funding for charities and voluntary
organizations, including a number of progressive women’s groups. In 2012, the
Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) initiated a series of “political activity” audits of
charities. The audits have resulted in a chilled advocacy environment and have required
organizations to allocate considerable resources, time and effort away from their core
responsibilities. The Broadbent Institute, which has conducted a study on the issue,
characterizes the CRA audits as “a political tool to exert pressure on critics of the
government.”
Suppression of Research
The Harper government has undermined the capacity for research to inform
government decision-making by cancelling the long-form mandatory census in 2010.
The lack of current census data undermines the ability of all three levels of government
to plan for the future. Without census data, governments and researchers can’t gauge
the impact of immigration trends, labour market changes, or tax policies. Canada is also
ill-equipped to monitor and respond to the serious issues facing our First Nations, Métis
and Inuit peoples, Canada’s fastest growing demographic. The Canadian Chamber of
Commerce, whose network represents 200,000 businesses across the country, is
publicly calling on the federal government to restore the mandatory long-form census.
So are municipal governments and social policy researchers.
The government has eliminated the position of National Science Advisor, cancelled
research programs, and muzzled government scientists, particularly those employed by
Environment Canada whose research reportedly contradicts the government’s position
on climate change. In 2012, government scientists and their supporters held a mock
funeral on Parliament Hill mourning the “death of evidence.” The protest was
specifically sparked by the federal government’s decision to cancel funding for the
Environmental Lakes Area project, but also focused on the general muzzling of scientists
and cuts to research.
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Questions for Candidates
1. If elected, what action would your party take in terms of repealing the Fair Elections
Act, 2014?
2. If elected, what action would your party take in terms of repealing the Anti-terrorism
Act, 2015?
3. If elected, what action would your party take in terms of repealing Bill C-377, the
Income Tax Amendment Act (requirements for labour organizations), 2015?
4. What is your party’s position on the Canadian Revenue Agency’s current policy on
conducting audits of charities’ advocacy work?
5. If elected, what would your party do about reinstating the long-form census?
Sources
The Broadbent Institute (2014). Stephen Harper’s CRA: Selective Audits, Political Activity, and
Right-Leaning Charities. Ottawa
Grant, Tavia (January 29, 2015). “Cities footing the bill for data gap after long-form census
scrapped.” The Globe and Mail.
Linnit, Carol, (2013). “Harper’s attack on science: No science, no evidence, no truth, no
democracy.” Academic Matters.
www.academicmatters.ca/2013/05/harpers-attack-on-science-no-science-no-evidence-no-truthno-democracy/ July 22, 2015.
Roach, Kent and Forcese, Craig (2015). Bill C-51 Backgrounders.
www.antiterrorlaw.ca March 13, 2015.
VM:VO
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