Photo: Chapter activist Marion Moore in South Shore
Yesterday, there were ‘Let People Vote!’ protests in front of the offices of at least 31 Conservative Members of Parliament across the country with people expressing opposition to the Harper government’s so-called ‘Fair Elections Act’.
As noted in a media release, “Citizens delivered an 80,000-strong petition that opposes the unnecessarily strict voter ID requirements that could stop hundreds of thousands from voting in the next election, and calls for election fraud investigators to be given the power to compel political operatives to testify. The ‘Let People Vote!’ national day of action was supported and facilitated by Leadnow.ca, the Council of Canadians, and the Canadian Federation of Students.”
The Prince Albert Daily Herald reports, “Approximately 30 people attended the local demonstration…. Speakers at the Prince Albert rally included local organizer Terra Lennox-Zepp and Council of Canadians member Rick Sawa, who strongly criticized what protesters mockingly referred to as the ‘Unfair Elections Act’. …Changes in the power of elected officials to investigate fraud was a major focus of remarks by Sawa. Noting the Council’s opposition to the Fair Elections Act, Sawa said the legislation ‘fails to give the Commissioner of Elections the authority to compel witnesses to give audience.'”
Photo: Board member/ chapter activist Rick Sawa in Prince Albert. Herald photo by Matt Gardner.
On Facebook, we’ve noted posts about Council of Canadians chapters and staff rallying in South Shore (MP Gerald Keddy), North Vancouver (MP Andrew Saxton), Edmonton (MP Laurie Hawn), Nanaimo (MP James Lunney), and Ottawa (MP Pierre Poilievre). Update: We are now also hearing of chapter actions in Fredericton (MP Keith Ashfield) and Comox Valley (MP John Duncan).
Photo: Board member/ chapter activist Paul Manly in Nanaimo
Photo: Chapter activist Penny Tilby, Ron Peterson and organizing assistant Brigette DePape in North Vancouver
Photo: Media officer Dylan Penner in Ottawa
Photo: Organizing assistant Aleah Loney in Edmonton
Photo: Comox Valley chapter.
Photo: Fredericton chapter activist Margo Sheppard.
Photo: Guelph chapter activist Norah Chaloner. Video still from Guelph Mercury report.
News reports also noted protests in Cobourg (MP Rick Norlock), Belleville (MP Daryl Kramp), Sarnia (MP Pat Davidson), Winnipeg (MP Joyce Bateman), Victoria (MP Murray Rankin), Vernon (MP Colin Mayes), Barrie (MP Patrick Brown), Regina (MP Tom Lukiwski), and even in Halifax (NDP MP Megan Leslie).
A great mobilization that sent a clear message against C-23 to Conservative MPs!
