Let the voices of dissent ring out
Re Queen’s Park moves to silence dissent on electricity, Opinion Jan. 4 This is a well written article about the Liberals shutting down any outside voices on energy through Bill 122. What is alarming to me is that I am watching all voices of dissent being shut down at both the provincial and federal level. Recently, we have watched online newspapers like the Star decide to stop allowing comments. The CBC has done so and other online newspapers as well.
The federal Liberals have decided a referendum is not necessary on changing the way we vote because it was one of their many platforms, thereby deciding that everyone voted for them based on that one “campaign promise.” It seems as if supporters of the Liberals are protecting them by shutting down other voices.
All of this is much more unhealthy than allowing the voices of dissent to ring out. It also smacks of everything that was hated about the Conservative government. Doing this to Canadians is wrong and Canadians deserve better. Yes, there will always be people who go over the edge with their opinions but using them as an excuse to shut down real discussion is wrong.
The long-term consequences will be irreversible and it will only lead to more of the same. Ruth Gilmour, Puslinch,Ont. This article raises a number of concerns, not the least of which is the very name of the legislation. The “Strengthening Consumer Protection and Electricity System Oversight Act” is hardly the first time we have seen legislation given a title that oozes irony, since the bill’s sole intent is to achieve the precise opposite of what is suggested by the title.
As Brady Yauch points out, the bill’s purpose is to deny access by independent intervenors and give the Liberal government unchecked authority to do as it pleases.
Such highly ironic titles became commonplace under the former Conservative governments of Mike Harris and Stephen Harper. We are left to wonder why the government of Kathleen Wynne has chosen to emulate this practice. Steve Soloman, Toronto