Democracy Day celebrated - and defiled - in Victoria

Some days you just can't make this stuff up.

First - this news release from Elections BC:

B.C. STUDENTS CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY DAY

VICTORIA - B.C.’s middle and secondary students are celebrating the second annual United Nations International Day of Democracy, September 15, 2009, by creating a YouTube video about democracy.

Co-sponsored by Elections BC and the Public Education and Outreach office of the Legislative Assembly, the “Democracy on Location” contest invites students to create a two-minute video about democracy in their lives at school, home or with their friends. Student videos are to encourage youth participation in democracy and illustrate the values and principles of democracy.

The winning video will be chosen by Chief Electoral Officer Harry Neufeld and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Honourable Bill Barisoff. The creator(s) of the winning video will travel to Victoria to be interview for Hansard TV, tour the Parliament Buildings and learn more about professional video production and broadcasting.

The contest runs from September 15 - November 15, 2009 and submissions can be viewed on YouTube and Elections BC’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elections-BC/67197771286.

And then the BC Liberals show how they celebrate Day of Democracy in their own special way:

September 14, 2009

Ministry of Attorney General

ATTORNEY GENERAL’S STATEMENT ON BILL 42

VICTORIA – Attorney General Michael de Jong made the following statement today regarding the Province’s appeal of a B.C. Supreme Court decision on Bill 42, the Election Act:

“Counsel for the Attorney General have been instructed to advance the appeal of a B.C. Supreme Court decision that struck down those provisions of the Election Act (Bill 42) that restricted advertising by third parties in the period immediately prior to the campaign for scheduled Provincial general elections.

“The appeal is being advanced in order to obtain a ruling and direction from the highest court in British Columbia on the constitutionality of restrictions on third-party advertising in the context of determined or scheduled election dates.

“The Supreme Court of Canada has already ruled that advertising restrictions are constitutional during the campaign period. Canada’s highest court has said limits on candidate, party and third-party spending are not only permissible, but may be necessary for truly fair elections. However, the decision of the B.C. Supreme Court suggests British Columbia cannot constitutionally restrict spending outside of the writ (campaign) period. In the Province’s view, this decision does not advance the interest of fair elections. Therefore, we are seeking further guidance from the B.C. Court of Appeal.

So there you have it - students making a video about Democracy and the BC Liberals trying to save the sorry Gag Law they introduced to stifle Democracy before the 2009 election!

Welcome to BC!

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