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The
National Citizens Coalition is asking the candidates for
the leadership of the Conservative Party to sign a "Free
Speech Protection Pledge" that will commit them to
scrapping the federal election gag law.
"We
think it's important that Conservative Party supporters
know where the candidates stand on this important issue,"
says NCC vice president Gerry Nicholls. "We also
believe the new party should make a public commitment
to protect the right of free election speech."
The
federal election gag law makes it a crime for private
citizens and non-partisan, independent organizations to
freely and effectively communicate views and opinions
during a federal election.
"We
were in the Supreme Court of Canada a few weeks ago to
argue that the gag law is unconstitutional," says
Nicholls. "If the court rules against us then it
will be up to our elected leaders to safeguard our freedoms.
That's why this pledge is so important."
Nicholls
says by signing the "Free Speech Protection Pledge"
the candidates would be committing themselves to repeal
the election gag law even if the Supreme Court upholds
it.
For
more information regarding the gag law visit the NCC's
website at www.morefreedom.org
Here
is the wording of the pledge:
I,
___________, pledge if elected Prime Minister to protect
the democratic freedoms of all Canadians by immediately
repealing those sections of the Canada Election Act
(commonly known as the election gag law) which deny
all Canadians the opportunity to freely and effectively
participate in the democratic process.
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Contact:
Gerry
Nicholls, Vice President
National Citizens Coalition
www.morefreedom.org
Phone:
416-869-3838
Fax: 416-869-1891
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