Comment 126817

By rolandjtanner (registered) - website | Posted May 23, 2019 at 10:35:07

In 2014, or possibly 2011, I can't recall, an Ontario Liberal executive member had to resign during the election because she was caught on tape suggesting she had offered cigarettes to people if they promised to vote (just to vote - not necessarily to vote Liberal). There was a minor fuss, she quickly resigned, and the opposition made as much hay with it as they could, naturally enough.

But Doug Ford, handing out $20 bills in 2013? How have I never heard about this before?

Ontario's election law says:

"Bribery 96.1 No person shall, directly or indirectly,

(a) offer, give, lend, or promise or agree to give or lend any valuable consideration in connection with the exercise or non-exercise of an elector’s vote;"

The punishment for contravening this law is up to $25,000 or 2 years in prison. There is no limitation on this stipulation that it only applies during an election period.

I guess it just confirms your point. Having Googled it, I see Doug's response was "Everyone knows the Fords are not corrupt".

If we imagine Kathleen Wynne handing out $20 bills to constituents, and the response that would have received, we can appreciate even more clearly how the populists are completely rewriting the rules of democracy ... but only for themselves.

Comment edited by rolandjtanner on 2019-05-23 10:40:00

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