The Nation's Editorial Boards: Harper Voter Suppression Stonewalling Bad For Democracy

At least that seems to be the consensus at the following newspapers:

The National Post

The Vancouver Sun

The Hamilton Spectator

The Toronto Star

The Calgary Herald

The Lethbridge Herald

The Ottawa Citizen

The St. John's Telegram

And the list goes on, with one predictable exception, of course: The Toronto Sun

So far, Canada's self-proclaimed newspaper of record, as far as I can determine, has not deigned to offer its editorial insights on the crimes.

Today's Star Editorial Cartoon

Works on more than one level, doesn't it?

Doug (In-AndOut-Scandal Finley) Tells Us To Relax and forget About Robocalls

Senator Doug Finley, the mastermind behind the in-and-out crimes committed by the Harper Conservatives, and husband of the Tory's go-to-girl, Diane Finley, narrowly escaped justice in those illegal acts thanks to a plea bargain by the Conservative Party.

Now this same paragon of virtue is telling us to all rest easy, that any instances of (voter suppression) wrongdoing will be unveiled as isolated incidents carried out by local volunteers.

Thanks Doug. I for one can rest easier tonight, knowing that you are on the job protecting our democratic freedoms.

Rick Mercer Has Harper's Number

Voter Suppression: Canadians Continue To Vent Their Fury

While the rogue Prime Minister continues to deny his party's involvement in voter suppression, Canadians continue to vent their fury.

And While We Were Concerning Ourselves About Tory Crimes of Voter Suppression

...That go-to party loyalist, Tory minion Diane Finley, has just made it harder for our young people to find summer employment.

The Tory Strategy of Fostering Voter Disengagement

I have long believed that a good part of the Conservative strategy to become Canada's natural governing party rests on a strategy of disenfranchisement. By lowering the tone of public debate, by acting in high-handed and undemocratic ways, by hobbling data-gathering apparatuses, and by employing a myriad of other tactics very ably outlined recently by Lawrence Martin, Harper and his wrecking crew have been systematically convincing more and more people that politics is not worth their time, and that their vote doesn't count. As I have written previously, that leaves the voting field open for Conservative true-believers to wield a disproportionate influence on election outcomes.

Tim Harper has written an important piece on this problem in today's Star, must-reading for those concerned about this very dangerous trend.