Dear editor,
Stephen Harper, a proven autocrat found guilty of contempt of Parliament and elected with only 38 per cent of the popular vote, shows no respect to the duly elected opposition Members of Parliament and has shown little respect or confidence in his own party members by stifling them.
We must now decide if we want to elect a Parliament that will have its many voices and ideas heard and considered in the governing of this country or if we want to continue the top-down 'Do as I say or shut up' style of governing that the Conservatives have allowed our government to become.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May, quoted by the Toronto Star in the 2008 campaign, urged Canadians to do all they can to throw Prime Minister Harper out of office. She wanted Canadians to examine their riding and figure out how best to keep the Tories from winning.
"I won't say, `You've got to vote Green if you believe in our policies.' I'll say, `Here's our policies, figure out what you need to do because, frankly, the Green party has to put progress (on climate change) and principle above short-term power ... because his policies are too dangerous," she said then.
Our democracy is under threat by the Stephen Harper government.
In this riding, we have the opportunity to help reverse this degradation of our Parliament. Last election results: Conservative 26,166, NDP 23,681, Greens 4,567, Liberal 2,391.
A vote as suggested by Ms. May will vote Harper out and democracy in.
Mel McLachlan,
Comox