Dear editor,
In a recent letter (Future bright on Vancouver Island, Record, Aug. 22), R. Sanders stated that the proposed division of the Comox Valley by new federal riding boundaries will ensure Conservatives are elected in both old and new riding areas.
I'm sure he or she would deny that such a thing (known as gerrymandering) is an intentional move by the Harper government to manipulate the electoral system to its own advantage.
Similarly vote suppression, electoral fraud, vote moving, election overspending, kickbacks, forged documents and other delights of the 2011 election yet to be uncovered are routinely disowned by Conservative supporters.
I don't blame R. Sanders for being gleeful that the Conservatives gained a majority by hook or by crook (or both), but the generally accepted practice among Harper supporters is to deny impropriety, not to crow about it in the press.
The riding of Vancouver Island North, as yet undivided, is one of seven whose vote results will be examined by the courts due to reports of election fraud.
It may happen that the Conservatives will lose this seat long before they gain a second one.
Anne Bauman,
Cumberland