From The Hotline, Spring, 2009

Gag Law now in effect as BC election on the horizon

by Jim Greenwell,
Senior ABM, Local 258, IBEW

On Feb. 13, 2009, Gordon Campbell violated free speech to silence his critics

On that day, the Campbell government’s Bill 42 took effect and will remain in place for three full months until the provincial election is held on May 12, 2009.

Disguised as a law that would limit the influence of money in the democratic process, Bill 42 is really an attempt to silence groups that might criticize the record or policies of the provincial government.

Bill 42 imposes severe spending restrictions on groups, large and small, that prevents them from communicating with the public. Bill 42 however does not limit the amount of dollars that can be donated by business and corporations that will help to bankroll the Liberal party in the upcoming election.

“Gordon Campbell is afraid of legitimate criticism and dialogue on important public issues and he doesn’t mind violating constitutionally protected free speech rights to silence his critics,” says BC Federation of Labour President, Jim Sinclair.

Michelle Laurie, Local 258 IBEW President and Board Chair of Citizens for Public Power, says, “This draconian law will limit our ability to get out the message that we need public ownership of or energy resources and we pledge to protest this gagging of our membership”.

The Campbell government’s Gag Law goes far beyond any other election spending restrictions in Canada. When it was introduced last year, it was roundly criticized and ridiculed by groups from across the political spectrum as well as editorial writers, political pundits and opposition politicians.

Sinclair goes on to say, “When Gordon Campbell was in opposition, he loudly and vehemently opposed much more reasonable spending limits that were put into law at that time. Now that he has been in power for 8 years, he has introduced this anti-democratic law so he can hang on to power”.

Four BC unions have launched a court challenge against Bill 42. The BC Federation of Labour is calling on the Attorney General, Wally Oppal, to suspend the law pending a ruling by BC Supreme Court Justice F.W. Cole.