GETTING POLITICAL ABOUT BILL C-10

The Toronto Star and Maclean’s magazine are reporting today that the Senate will hold hearings on Bill C-10, promising to review it before its passed into legislation. I consider that good news, and I’m glad newspapers are taking a stand on their editorial pages (see The Edmonton Journal).


This matter has sparked considerable soul-searching about the issues of journalistic objectivity, and not taking “a side,” more than anything I’ve ever written about. A journalist must stand away from a story to observe and report on it. But there’s so much that is fundamentally wrong about this, it’s almost impossible to not have an opinion.


Today, I decided to put being a citizen first and a journalist second and wrote a letter to the Prime Minister. That was a first. As much as I’ve already written about C-10, I wanted a letter – and my voice – to be counted as one of the many Canadians who are opposed to the changes within Bill C-10. I didn't go completely Norma Rae, but close...


The text is below, and was copied to all members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce (mailto:%20banking_banques@sen.parl.gc.ca).



Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing regarding Bill C-10, the amendment to the Income Tax Act.

I have reviewed the text pertaining specifically to new guidelines governing tax credits for the Canadian TV & Film industries, and am quite concerned about how this amendment has gone through the legislative process – in a manner I consider entirely in opposition to the principles of a free and democratic society.

Regardless of its content, I am deeply offended by the manner in which this amendment was introduced, buried within a near 600-page omnibus tax bill.

Aside from Mme. Verner’s offerings that the government will behave responsibly, the fact remains that the amendment affords a new and higher level of power to government and creates a situation where censorship is possible. That is a massive shift in public policy, and in my opinion, allows the government to subordinate the Charter right to freedom of expression.

This is not how legislation, with such profound potential impact, should become law in a democratic society. Period.

This has much broader implications for the legal and legislative process. This ought to have been fully debated in Parliament. It’s horrifying that both the NDP and Liberal parties passed this bill in the House of Commons on Oct. 29, 2007, without realizing what was contained therein (as has been reported in the press).

Let Canadians have a say in this matter. A change achieved through these means, essentially by hoodwinking opposition parties, is a disgrace to Canadian principles, values and our history as a democratic nation.

If the government truly believes in the content of the amendment, then allow debate on the matter. Encourage the Senate to hold hearings and allow people to be heard.

Letting this stand in light of the concerns raised about it goes against all that is democratic and morally right.

I remain yours truly,