Posts Tagged ‘Democracy’
Last Night It Was Dalton McGuinty Vs. Free Speech – Free Speech Took a Hit, but Won the Fight
Last night as I was waiting for protesters to arrive at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus for Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberal BBQ, I was approached by two of the Premier’s Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) bodyguards and asked if I was John Laforet and if I was planning on holding a protest. I replied that both of those statements were true and then told that the campus was private property and we could protest but would have to do it from the shoulder of the road (hundreds of metres away from the event). When I informed the Premier’s bodyguards of my democratic freedoms, and the University of Toronto’s policy on free speech and it’s very liberal protection of the right of protest, their response was to reaffirm that this was not the case tonight, and that because the Ontario Liberal Party had rented a building on campus we could not protest on campus.
I explained that I knew Dalton McGuinty didn’t like democracy but that this was a little far even for him, especially because we were there over his attack on our rights as citizens under the Green Energy Act. That’s when I was told I would be arrested if I chose to stay on campus to protest Dalton McGuinty. I asked the officers for their names and badge numbers and told them that I was calling Campus Police as they were the authority responsible for securing the campus and protecting my right of free speech and I would not be letting the Premier, or them interfere with it, simply because Dalton McGuinty is too cowardly to face his citizens. His response was to ask me how I spelt my name and what my birthday was.
I called Campus Police and asked that they send an officer to enlighten the Premier’s bodyguards and to protect my right of free speech from this assault. An officer arrived, spoke to the bodyguards and came back to tell me that I in fact did not have the right of free speech tonight because the Ontario Liberal Party had rented a building on campus and it was private property. I pointed out that the University of Toronto free speech policy wasn’t ‘for rent’ and even if Dalton McGuinty wanted to prevent me from exercising my rights, I do still have them and would not be letting anyone take them away by threatening to arrest me. That’s when the University of Toronto campus police told me that I would have to leave the property and he was simply acting as an agent for the University. He added that if I did not, I would be arrested.
I offered a quick lesson in media relations to the Premier’s bodyguards and the Campus Police and advised them that when the media arrived those three gentlemen and Dalton McGuinty’s new, frightening low in tolerance for democracy would be the new story considering we were present anyways over his attack on our rights and never assumed he would dare try to remove our constitutional rights. I advised campus police, I would ensure this issue stayed alive on campus because this went against everything the university and democracy are supposed to be about. I had was three guys looking back at me, each with the power to arrest me, at least two prepared to do so, even if I knew I had fundamental rights as a Canadian and as someone on the University of Toronto campus exercising free speech. They didn’t care. Not tonight at least. Dalton McGuinty was in town.
So I looked at them and said ‘the police are supposed to protect people and their rights. Who is one supposed to call when it is the police taking away rights you know you have and they won’t listen?’ Blank stares all around. I asked the Campus Police to tell me who suspended the free speech policy for the Premier’s visit and asked if he could get that individual on the phone as this was sure to become a major embarrassment for all involved. I voluntarily removed myself from the property and protesters set up along the driveway as Liberal guests began arriving.
Media arrived, the bodyguards split and I explained what had just happened, while the campus police officer looked on from within the grounds of this newly private, protest free zone. About fifteen minutes later, a representative from the University of Toronto came out to tell me that we would be allowed on campus and that the free speech policy was in effect. The reporters came to listen to the conversation and I asked why I had been threatened with arrest on campus for exercising free speech, why campus police did nothing to prevent that from happening and why the sudden change. He was answer-less.
After hearing the news, I crossed the road yelling to the protesters ‘free speech has been restored, we’re now allowed back on campus’.
At the end of the day the following was clear. Dalton McGuinty’s bodyguards were wrong when they attempted to intimidate me. Campus police was wrong when they concurred, and the University of Toronto was wrong for allowing the Premier to think he would be entitled to a protest free environment. That is not how democracy works.
The threat of arrest for exercising your rights is a very frightening prospect. The only reason to control protests is to control the message. The reality is Dalton McGuinty doesn’t have as rosy a picture in Scarborough as he would like or would like to project, and it is clear that this Premier’s view of democracy is one of personal entitlement for him, and not something those who disagree should be allowed to participate in.
If we’re to maintain our democracy we must always question authority, and challenge things we know not to be true. We must stand up for justice and fairness and not let guys like Dalton McGuinty try to use his bodyguards as some sort of constitutional right busters. They were wrong from the start, and clearly counting on the fear of my impending arrest to make me comply with what was not a legal request. But I didn’t. I stood up. And I stood up again to the next person who tried to intimidate me into doing what the Premier’s people wanted me to do, but could not legally force me to. It took that standing up to make Dalton McGuinty’s bodyguards to back down on an order that clearly came from well beyond the realm of the OPP.
Being arrested in defense of free speech is something I would be prepared to do if I was not confident that the University would bend under pressure and reason. Frankly, from the road as I waited for the name of the individual who decided to suppress free speech for the Premier, I was looking down the driveway and planning how I would slowly walk back in, up the middle of the road, very purposefully in my step to call their bluff, relying on the fact that even if I was arrested, any court in the land on any day would recognize the clear violation of my charter rights, and the University of Toronto’s free speech policy and blame for that violation would land at the foot of Dalton McGuinty, a man who proves how much he dislikes democracy with each bill he passes to limit it, each use of public money for partisan gain, and each attempt to intimidate people into giving up their rights.
Last night was not McGuinty’s night. Free speech won out in the end, but only because I stood up and refused to be intimidated. That is the lesson for everyone. Stand up for yourselves, and your rights. Question authority and don’t bow to pressure.
It is clearer to me now than ever that Dalton McGuinty is not deserving or fit to be Premier of Ontario. Forget about the HST, doubling the debt, E-Health, and all the rest of his scandals. The fact is that Dalton McGuinty is a man who attacks democracy at every turn and that is far more serious than even the worst policy decision he makes. Those can be easily fixed. Erosion to our democratic system cannot.
Think about it.
Do something about it.
Last night I did.
9 Comments »Jack Layton and Stephen Harper Agree: Elizabeth May belongs in the debates
Dion on May’s Exclusion:
Speaking at a roundtable of women candidates this morning in Streetsville, Ont., Mr. Dion criticized Conservative Leader Stephen Harper and NDP Leader Jack Layton for not supporting her participation.
“They don’t have the courage to explain their position,” said Mr. Dion, suggesting his rivals are hiding behind the consortium’s decision. - Globe and Mail, posted September 10th at 10:14am
Layton’s Response:
Dogged by protesters and divisions within the ranks of his own party, Mr. Layton told reporters during a visit to a solar-panel company here Wednesday that the debate about the debate has become an unwanted distraction.
“I have only one condition for this debate, that the Prime Minister is there, because I want to debate the issues with him,” said Mr. Layton. “I don’t want to be debating the debate forever.” - Globe and Mail posted September 10th 2:24pm
Harper’s Response:
Mr. Layton’s change of heart put the onus squarely on the shoulders of Mr. Harper to decide where the block against Ms. May will remain.
Conservative spokesman Kory Teneycke said the Tories are dropping their opposition to Ms. May participating in the debate, saying they don’t want to be the odd man out on the matter. - Globe and Mail posted September 10th 2:24pm
The media oligarchs have not yet replied… perhaps the crow they must be eating for lunch isn’t sitting well.
Question for Stephen Harper… is Stephane Dion still not a leader? Does he just set the agenda?
Comments OffElizabeth May Belongs in the Leaders Debate
I have to say I was pretty angry when media executives decided to deprive Elizabeth May of a spot in the debate because three party leaders were being foolish. Jack Layton’s party has been relegated to forth place in many bi-elections after May took the helm of the Green Party. That admittly sucks if you’re Layton. If I was Layton or a New Democrat this would make me uncomfortable too. If I were Stephen Harper watching Tories finish third to the Green Party in Ontario bi-elections would probably worry me too. But denying her a right to speak is wholly undemocratic. Stomping your feet and strong arming weak kneed media executives is not becoming of a leader either.
The Bloc runs candidates in only 75 of 308 ridings and Duceppe has a seat in the debate. The Green’s are running candidates in ridings, except Dion’s and have a current MP who although not elected as a Green is running under their banner for re-election. The Green’s receive the same public financing as all other political parties based on each vote they receive but Canadians do not have the same opportunity to hear where the Green Party stands on the issues. In 1993, the Reform Party had one MP as a result of a bi-election, the Bloc had not had a single MP elected under their banner. Both of their Leaders were allowed in the debate. Neither party had electoral records as impressive as the Green Party’s current record.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a devout Liberal, and will cast my vote in support of my local Liberal candidate, but I strongly believe all Canadians should be able to hear the views of all publicly financed political parties. Why should media executives and nervous party leaders decide who has a right to be heard? Why are media executives even deciding the rules for the Leader’s debate in the first place?
I would support Elections Canada, who determines who is a political party, who is entitled to issue tax receipts and who recieves public financing to also decide who participates in Leader’s Debates.
I do hope May finds a way to be heard. I would love to see her do something like live-blog her responses to questions posed to Leaders during the debates to allow Canadians to bypass the media and hear her views directly online. Failing that maybe she could find a media executive who is prepared to stand up to whining party leaders and their competitors and challenge the other party leaders to a live televised debate. I know Dion will be there. Have Harper, Layton and Duceppe duck debating the Leader of the fifth party if they are afraid to do so. That would be equally ridiculous.
Voters who are considering supporting the NDP or Conservatives should really take a look at how truly democratically minded their party leaders are. There is no greater threat to democracy than Leaders who only support democratic principles when it suits their purpose. I could not support someone who would go out of their way to purposely deprive one of their opponents from having an equality of opportunity in expressing their views. Let’s hope the good people of Central Nova send a strong message to Stephen Harper and Jack Layton by defeating Peter MacKay and telling those party leaders that they support basic tenets democracy, even if those leaders may not entirely. Harris Decima says 77% of Canadians believe May belongs in the debate, hopefully Central Nova conveys that message in their voting.
Harper, Layton and Duceppe are not by any stretch of the imagination visionary, but perhaps each could try out one of Voltaire’s most quoted concepts for the good of our country and it’s democracy when it comes to all of their opponents.
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” – Voltaire
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