"Reprehensible" Tactics

That sounds a little harsh: 'reprehensible'. But as a diversionary tactic, an attempt to have voters think twice about whom they will vote for in the next election, and to leave doubts in their minds about the status of the man for whom they did vote, it's a pretty low tactic. Why the Conservatives would seek to target someone like Liberal MP Irwin Cotler is a bit of a mystery.

Obviously, they covet the seat he holds in Montreal's Mount Royal riding. Irwin Cotler has a wide and admiring following. His dedication to upholding human rights has made him an admired figure. Not only within Canada but internationally. He has done outstanding work in that arena, second to none. His reputation is unassailable. He was a credible and creditable Cabinet Minister.

So why would the Conservatives, whose party has finally achieved the majority ruling status they so long sought and worked to achieve, target this man? Most definitely ill advised and ill considered. Bringing no gloss to their reputation whatever. The House of Commons Speaker, Andrew Scheer, after due deliberation on the matter, proclaimed it his opinion that the Conservatives' campaign to poll Mount Royal voters did not after all impair Mr. Cotler's ability to perform in the House.

Mr. Scheer was, however, unequivocal in his opinion about the noxious decision-making that led to the Conservatives' campaign to implant doubt in the minds of Mount Royal voters as to whether they could depend on their elected Member of Parliament to stay the course, the four-year stint to which he was elected as their Liberal MP.

It can only be characterized as a "dirty-trick" campaign, just as Mr. Cotler declared it to be. "I am sure that all reasonable people would agree that attempting to sow confusion in the minds of voters as to whether or not their member is about to resign is a reprehensible tactic and that (Cotler) has a legitimate grievance", Mr. Scheer ruled.

Agreed.

Yet the Conservatives MPs who entered into the contract with a polling firm linked to senior Conservatives, to conduct that poll in the manner in which they proceeded, insist that this was a fair practise, and represents nothing untoward whatever. Claiming that if the ruling by Mr. Scheer declared against the Conservatives it would be a blow against free speech.

Wrong. They should be shame-facedly partaking of a meal of crow.