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"We need more people voting, not less. We need more strigent oversight to prevent election fraud, not less. We need more accountability from those involved in the process, not less. This legislation undermines the entire process." — James Clancy, NUPGE National President.
Ottawa (10 Feb. 2014) — In response to the introduction of the federal government's revised Elections Act, and subsequent ramming it through the House of Commons, a massive "phone-in" is being planned for February 10.
Between 12:30 p.m. and 6: 30 p.m. (EST), the public will target Conservative Members of Parliament to pressure them to not support the new legislation.
Elections Act would not prevent abuses in the system
Harper’s new Unfair Elections Act:
- would make it harder for people to vote
- would disproportionately impact students and youth, Indigenous people, seniors, people on low-incomes, and people who didn’t vote Conservative in previous elections
- does nothing to bring to justice the people behind the widespread election fraud in 2011
- would actually make it harder to catch perpetrators of election fraud like Pierre Poutine
In-person and online Canadians will tell the Conservatives how this legislation will damage democracy
On Febraury 10 at 1:00 p.m. a Member of Parliament will receive the petition for it to be tabled in Parliament. You can still sign it here.
For those in Ottawa, people are encouraged to join together by the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, to bring a cellphone, and join a mass call-in to MPs.
If you are not in Ottawa, grab a phone and call your closest Conservative MP. You can find the contact information for your closest Conservative MP or search online for your MP based on your postal code.
If you are on Twitter, you can also find Conservative MPs here. Tell them to vote against this Bill.
"We need a strong targeted approach against this anti-democractic election legislation," says James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "We need more people voting, not less. We need more strigent oversight to prevent election fraud, not less. We need more accountability from those involved in the process, not less. This legislation undermines the entire process."
"Our democracy is being dragged out from under us, bit by bit," Clancy continued. "This Act does not represent our values as Canadians. Raising our voices, together, will tell the Conservatives that."
The action is organized by the Council of Canadians and the Canadian Federation of Students.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE