Community reaction to Vancouver protests for robocall inquiry

In his Feb. 24 column "No clear case for strategic voting pact", Greg Fingas looks back, not forward, in criticizing NDP leadership candidate Nathan Cullen's proposal for progressive parties to co-operate. Comparisons to the right's recent divisions are also inaccurate.

When the right was divided, it was in two parts: Reform and the old PC Party. Progressive divisions were three-fold: the NDP, many Liberals and, crucially, Quebec. (Four-fold, if you include the Greens.) When Quebec's biggest party changed from separatist to federalist, it helped create possibility elsewhere. It's that possibility that Cullen embraces.

His proposal is not rooted in failed strategic voting strategies of the past. It looks forward. By asking New Democrats to be open to cooperating with Liberals and Greens in Tory seats - competing to see which party faces the Conservative - he underlines that Canada's progressive majority exists and deserves better than a Stephen Harper majority.

The election on May 2 changed things. The issue isn't what was true before. Rather, it's what can be made true now.

Jamey Heath, Toronto Heath was communications director for the late Jack Layton from 2002-06 and is co-manager, Nathan Cullen campaign.

• "I don't care who did it. What I want is justice. The people who did do it [should be] punished, the ridings affected need to have, bare minimum, by-elections to rectify it, and if necessary a new election. In addition, to make this happen the government needs to call a full national inquiry to accomplish this." - Hybrovi
• "Defend democracy or lose it. Good to see the protest growing." - richardvollo
• "... why is the PM shirking his constitutional responsibility to protect Canadian democratic institutions? All this garbage about the other parties and how they have no policies, are just as corrupt, are sore losers, are complainers, or whatever, is nonsense. But worse, it all comes off as deflection and blame games. And that leaves people wondering why! . . . get Mr. Harper to launch an independent investigation, call a public inquiry or order by-elections in the ridings where the fraud is proven to have occurred!" - widman
• "Look at the picture at the top of the article and you will notice that the protesters aren't just from one slice of the population. I see people from all demographics united together to get their point across. This isn't just a controversy affecting one segment of the population and the photo shows it." - Salieri

Many made sure to say that an inquiry is in the interest of every Canadian, regardless of political leanings.

• "This is a non-partisan issue. Regardless of whether or not you feel the Conservative government had anything to do with this, it has become clear that evidence is emerging to show that SOMEONE compromised our democratic process!" - Nightingale12
• "This is indeed the most important issue in Canada seen in many years. It is a threat to democracy and it exposes just how corrupt and self-serving our political system has become . . . The entire country should be marching in the streets today. One thing they missed is the will of the people." - Defeated
• "The fundamental issue is that there was a deliberate attempt to interfere in the voting process and the government is now steadfastly refusing to launch an inquiry. This is not about trying to smear Liberals, New Democrats or Conservatives. It is about trying to get to the truth. Why is the truth such a bad thing?" - phoque

Some readers, however, said Elections Canada should finish its investigation before a public inquiry is considered. Others pointed out the limitations of inquiries and offered alternatives.

• "Public inquiries only manage to waste money. In Canada we are very lucky to have a world renowned agency which overseas our electoral process, let's let them do their job, then decide if a public inquiry is worth the waste." - Drew Gress
• "I think the best way to approach this is to appoint a commission or other similar type body composed of highly qualified and respected individuals from across Canada. I submit that the Governor General would be a perfect candidate to chair that commission. GG David Johnson, while himself a Conservative appointee, strikes me as an extremely decent and honest man with a very distinguished legal background. I think he would be capable of performing the task with total and complete impartiality." - Dustin Wakeford
• "A public inquiry won't help much. Governments can shut them down at will, or restrict the scope. A wide open judicial inquiry is needed." - Paula Subity

A smaller but vocal contingent said an inquiry would be a waste of resources. Many said too many are pointing fingers prematurely.

• "This too will pass. There has already been way too much air and press time on this topic and no kind of inquiry will resolve it. Perhaps the companies doing the calls were given the wrong information." - Don McFarlane
• "Vancouver robocall protesters demand a public inquiry - who is going to pay for it? YOU SHOULD pay for it out of your own pocket as you are the ones who are screaming for it. Why should I have to pay for what others want?" - yourenotwithit
• "The problem with a mob mentality is they already have determined what outcome they want, and if the finding of a public inquiry is different than what they want they will not accept it."
• "This whole thing is a Chicken Little scenario. What began as a simple acorn or a handful of people quickly grew to a meteor the size of Toronto and 31,000 people, all due to mass hysteria. Just look at the posts here for proof of that!" - RBK in Alberta
• "At LeadNow you can send a letter to various people demanding an inquiry. I would suggest you edit the content as it is not really about an inquiry as much as it is an accusation against the Conservatives. Sad that a site like this with a title "LeadNow" is not leading but following." - Eggs Benedict

Original Article
Source: CBC
Author: cbc