For those who think campaign finance reform in the US was encroachment on freedom of speech…
Get a load of this;
“Furthermore, on balance, the contextual factors favour a deferential approach to Parliament in determining whether such limits are demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society. While the right to political expression lies at the core of the guarantee of free expression and warrants a high degree of constitutional protection, there is nevertheless a danger that political advertising may manipulate or oppress the voter. Parliament had to balance the rights and privileges of all the participants in the electoral process.”
That, ladies and gentlemen, is from the decision* handed down yesterday by the Supreme Court of Canada., upholding the law that curtails spending during elections by “special interest groups”. The law limits spending to only $3000 per riding.
A decision, by the way, conveniently pushed forward to coincide with the eve of a federal election campaign – which, courtesy of new Liberal government legislation, will be directly funded by taxpayer dollars.
Lucky us.
Kevin Steel says he’s calmed down a little. He does a better job of covering the implications than I could hope to.
I don’t think I’d want to see him angry.
*link updated 2014