A Commentary by Doug Draper
Okay, so where is our big tough law and order man now?
Niagara Falls, Ontario MP and Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson
Yes, I’m talking about Canada’s answer to an old-time southern American judge – our Niagara Falls MP and ‘lock-‘em-up-and-throw-away-the-key’ federal justice minister Rob Nicholson.
Never mind the predictable responses coming from spin masters in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office that the Conservative Party of Canada had nothing to do, except perhaps as “inadvertent mistakes,” with “robo-calls” and scripted messages coming from phone centres – messages that were disguised as ones from Elections Canada officers, directing voters with a record of voting Liberal or NDP in closely-contested ridings across the country to the wrong voting stations during last year’s federal election.
Given the fact that anyone misrepresenting themselves as an Elections Canada officer may be found to be committing a criminal act, and given the possibility that enough voters could have been sent to the wrong polling stations last May 2nd’s election to change the outcome in at least a few ridings, you would think that Nicholson, with his stern stance on crime, would be the first one out of the gate to call on police to launch a criminal investigation.
Yet during question period in parliament this February 27, Nicholson sat there and said nothing while Harper and other Conservative government members repeatedly threw it back to every Liberal and NDP representative who demanded a probe on what the national media is now framing as a “robo-call and voter-suppression scandal” to report any evidence they may have directly to Elections Canada. In other words, stop any more of this pointing of fingers at the Conservatives in the House of Commons.
It is not surprising to see any government try to deflect responsibility when faced with an emerging scandal. Yet one would think that a stern-talking justice minister like Nicholson, who would clog up Canada’s courts and prisons, dishing out mandatory jail terms even for minor, nonviolent marijuana offenses, would be the first to jump on any possibility the country’s election process has been subverted.
If the federal Conservative Party had nothing to do with orchestrating these calls across possibly more than 40 ridings in a number of ridings across the country, then it should have nothing to fear from an all-out criminal investigation.
Come on Mr. Justice Minister. Here is a chance to show us how tough a crime fighter you can be when nothing less than the integrity of the country’s election process is at stake.
(Niagara At Large invites our readers to tell us what you think on this issue. You can share your views in the comment boxes below, and please remember that NAL only posts comments by individuals who attach their real first and last names to them.)
Niagara At Large 
Increasingly clogged up courts (with mandatory sentences) mean cases will be thrown out.
Where’s the law and order in the tarsands regulatory anarchy?
Where’s the law and order with the abrogation of the Kyoto Accord?
LikeLike
The Harper government has about 1,500 PR (spin masters) people, which is unprecedented.
LikeLike
The more I hear about this story the more dazed and confused I get. Is this for real? (Doug, just being rhetorical)
LikeLike
Fascism is razing it’s ugly head and like Godzilla we are in its sights.We all need a Knight in shining armour to slay the beast.
LikeLike
Just like the “in/out” scam and the G20 expenses misappropriation of yours and my tax dollars the Harperites were caught up in, they will do nothing except blame everyone and everything else! I can see the back room boys and girls now going into overdrive to spin this criminal activity into :”some mistakes were made.” They already have experience getting away with contempt of Parliament (remember the infamous Bev Oda incident and misappropriation of funds by Tony Clement) so getting away with criminal activity such as this shouldn’t prove to be too challenging. How I wish we could recall our MP’s.
LikeLike
Wake up people – you elected these Idiots and no matter the party they are all at the trough. The whole system has to be changed – none of them give a damn what you think after they have been elected.
LikeLike
Are the “robo calls” and example of “unreported crimes”?
LikeLike
I have to agree that there is a crying need for a full, independent inquiry – hopefully the RCMP investigation will result in some action. I am sick and tired, as I suspect most other Canadians are, with the self-serving focus of today’s politicians. Whatever happened to people going into politics to help improve the life of all people. Nowadays, we have too many “professional politicians” who have never done an honest day’s work in their lives. And that applies to ALL political parties – none of them are worth a pinch of ****.
LikeLike
Much has been said above but when “THIS” Federal party finally got a solid “MAJORITY” a dictatorship was born. Many of the hierarchy of this party are ex-Harrisites and are well versed in the art of defamation, slight of tongue and dubious actions that have little to do with representation of the electorate. May the Gods help us…..amen
LikeLike
Could it be, that we were seduced by the Conservatives when they said the country was strong with not having the economic woes of the US and Europe and we should stay with the Captain Harper and his crew while we steam through the sea filled with icebergs and give them our trust, is our Canada heading for a collision beyond our making? this year is the centennial of the Titannic.disaster 1912 – 2912
LikeLike
This reeks of Republican intervention but then again our PM and his cronies seem to be very ardent supporters of a corporate society where the blue collared are nothing more than “SERFS” (or more basic “slaves”) Now I ask how did these people and the Provincial Government ever get elected and re-elected.? Is it laziness, not giving a damn or is it corruption within our voting system? Me? I firmly believe it is all of these elements. Especially when Consulting firm engaged in ROBO-CALLING is allowed.?????
LikeLike