The BC government has imposed a number of advertisement restrictions on the activities of third-party conservation groups and other organizations during the election period. This has essentially acted to support partisan politics and reduce the voice of the people. And what type of democracy is that?
In the Elections Act it reads that “an advertising message that takes a position on an issue with which a registered political party or candidate is associated” can’t be shared on the internet by any environmental organization. So, for example, the many environmental organizations out there that have been researching and documenting oil spills and oil tankers for who knows how many years cannot share facts or information about spills during the election period if it can have an impact on a candidate who’s running in the election.
This reinforces little repercussion to corporations that engage in environmentally harmful activities, and it negates BC residents’ voices on critical issues that they are concerned about. It’s sickening to see another situation where the public isn’t endowed with the influence they should be entitled to in a democracy. Having these voices that are speaking out is crucial so that when we elect a leader, the leader actually represents the public and fights for the public.
Yep, up on a soapbox sounding preachy. But who else will do it? Our politicians? Ha! Private organizations? They would if they could, but not now with the new rules. Anything that influences the vote in a “negative” way, or, in other words, in a way that would reveal some slimy facts, is unacceptable. What type of government could ever run a train without checking for breaks before running down the tracks? It’s akin to running on faith.
Politicians rarely believe in running on faith, and yet these rules certainly promote practices based on short-sighted values. Stop hiding the underbelly already and bring things out into the open so that they can be worked with. Let everyone have a voice and run a real democracy where everyone influences the vote. Give people more benefit of the doubt and let them make their own decisions.