Why do the Harper Conservatives dislike students?

[Harry]

Mob is right, as in thuggery.

Wannabe Lawyerism

http://simplemassingpriest.blogspot.com/2011/04/wannabe-lawyerism.html

[Bonam]

The reason that politicians are not showing a genuine interest in students is because they don't show up their radar. They are not in the working middle class who would benefit from childcare or home renovation initiatives. Nor are they in the high income bracket that might take a keen interest in lower taxes or income-splitting. They are not even in the most vulnerable categories that would feel the effects of the strengthening of the social safety net. For the most part, university students are dependents who will not feel the effects of any policy unless it is filtered through their parents or guardians. That's why, for example, the Liberal party would introduce the $1,000 per-year incentive to all high school students who qualify to go to university. That policy has nothing to do with students. It has everything to do with the parents who foot the bill for their kids' education.

Let's be honest: Students didn't become interested in the political system so much as politics made its way in to social media. Once their language was being spoken, the students' sense of entitlement kicked in. For years, voter turnout in all elections by those 18-25 has been abysmal. Now, all of a sudden, when our nation's “leaders of tomorrow” found out from Twitter that there was a general election going on, they expect all of the major parties to drop everything to accommodate them? Not so fast. When they can demonstrate that they are independent members of society who might do their due diligence on all of the parties and the issues involved, only then can they expect the party leaders to talk to them. Students can take a step in the right direction by casting a ballot on May 2nd if they aspire to one day be taken seriously.

This is all a bunch of careless generalizations against the young. Myself, I voted in every election, both provincial and federal, since I was 18. By the way, many, I'd guess most, young people in Canada who go to university pay their own way at least partially, rather than being funded by their parents. Post-secondary students that I know definitely pay attention to what various parties and leaders say about education funding since it impacts us very directly.

[Saipan]

young people in Canada who go to university pay their own way at least partially, rather than being funded by their parents.

Unless they are indinas or half indians, whose education is fully paid by all taxpayers.

[guyser]

Unless they are indinas or half indians, whose education is fully paid by all taxpayers.

Sorry, not true.

If you think so, post a cite.

[Harry]

Harper has to now apologize for harrassing these students and trying to void their votes. Just disgusting behaviour by the Conservatives who obviously have little respect for democracy.

Elections Canada rules on U of G special ballot

GUELPH — Votes cast by approximately 700 students in a special ballot held Wednesday at the University of Guelph are valid, Elections Canada ruled Friday afternoon.

http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/517455--elections-canada-rules-on-u-of-g-special-ballot

[capricorn]

Elections Canada has ruled that votes cast at the U of G special ballot are valid. Furthermore, Elections Canada will not allow any further special ballots of this nature across Canada.

Elections Canada also ruled Friday that no other special ballot will be authorized anywhere else in Canada.

“In light of the focus on youth and student electoral participation at the 41st general election, and on efforts to increase voter interest and turnout among this group, a well-intentioned returning officer undertook a special initiative to create an opportunity for students at the University of Guelph to vote by special ballot,” the media release read. “Once Elections Canada officials were made aware of the local initiative in Guelph, the returning officer was instructed not to engage in any further activities of a similar nature. All returning officers have received this instruction.”

http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/517455--elections-canada-rules-on-u-of-g-special-ballot

That settles the question of what will be done with the ballots cast by students in this case.

It does raise one question for me. Since these special ballots are legit and with the worrisome decline in voter participation especially among young voters, why is Elections Canada putting a lid on such measures? Shouldn't Elections Canada be pro-active in encouraging voter participation?

[capricorn]

Link to the Elections Canada press release.

http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=med&document=apr1511&dir=pre〈=e

[scribblet]

Interesting, in light of the fact that it was not pre-authorized by EC, and was an RO who took it upon herself to do this, I'm surprised EC has ruled in their favour, they should not have, it was wrong.

n light of the focus on youth and student electoral participation at the 41st general election, and on efforts to increase voter interest and turnout among this group, a well-intentioned returning officer undertook a special initiative to create an opportunity for students at the University of Guelph to vote by special ballot.

Once Elections Canada officials were made aware of the local initiative in Guelph, the returning officer was instructed not to engage in any further activities of a similar nature. All returning officers have received this instruction.

While the initiative at the University of Guelph was not pre-authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer, the Canada Elections Act provides that electors may apply for and vote by special ballot. A special ballot coordinator, appointed by the local returning officer, oversaw the activities at the University of Guelph. All information at our disposal indicates that the votes were cast in a manner that respects the Canada Elections Act and are valid.

[punked]

Interesting, in light of the fact that it was not pre-authorized by EC, and was an RO who took it upon herself to do this, I'm surprised EC has ruled in their favour, they should not have, it was wrong.

They didn't really rule in their favor. They ruled in the favor of not throwing out votes however they went on to say there would no more advanced polls like this in the future anywhere else. So they said it was wrong but it would be worse to make votes from voters invalid. Split decision.

[Harry]

Attempting to steal a ballot box full of ballots.

Criminal charges will be laid here against the Conservatives - yes?

Edited April 15, 2011 by Harry

[punked]

Criminal charges will be laid here against the Conservatives - yes?

Nope in saying no more polls like this would be done they said the Conservatives had a point with what they said.

[capricorn]

Nope in saying no more polls like this would be done they said the Conservatives had a point with what they said.

Jack is asking for an investigation.

[punked]

Jack is asking for an investigation.

Sure they can investigate all they want but this ruling is tilting towards the Conservatives because they are saying "this process was wrong, it should not have been done, and wont be done again." I am just saying what the election ruling says to myself.

[capricorn]

Punked, I read that there was campaign literature in the room where the voting was taking place. That is a clear breach of Election laws. There has to be one student at least who would have caught a picture with their cell phone. Bet we haven't heard the end of this.

[scribblet]

The campus liberals were passing out flyers to those standing in line to vote, how is that not wrong. How is is not wrong for a RO to decide one her/his own that this would happen.

Yet in a similar case in the past when the Liberals complained they ruled against the ballot, but no surprise here that Elections Canada has shown a clear anti-Conservative bias.

[punked]

Punked, I read that there was campaign literature in the room where the voting was taking place. That is a clear breach of Election laws. There has to be one student at least who would have caught a picture with their cell phone. Bet we haven't heard the end of this.

Yah but they aren't going to discount the 20 or so votes that were cast and they ruled they wouldn't have this done anymore so I bet we just move past it. Elections Canada learned a lesson here not anyone else.

[scribblet]

The lesson learned here is that liberals and student mob voting rules.

[Harry]

The University of Guelph vote was overseen by a special ballot coordinator and the votes were cast in a manner that respects the Elections Act, the statement says.

[PIK]

The libs use the students to their advantage and make you all look like idiots that can't figure out anything on thier own unless someone tells you. Sorry to say it harry but you have just proved me and many other right. You base everything on emotion and not on facts. If you expect the goverment to look after you ,then vote liberal.

[Harry]

The libs use the students to their advantage and make you all look like idiots that can't figure out anything on thier own unless someone tells you. Sorry to say it harry but you have just proved me and many other right. You base everything on emotion and not on facts. If you expect the goverment to look after you ,then vote liberal.

Don't be so rude. You sound like you are foaming at the mouth.

Edited April 15, 2011 by Harry

[scribblet]

the Liberals shut down some special ballot collection at the University of Toronto, too bad they didn't do the same for the Conservatives... can you say bias...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/archives/article809170.ece

[Harry]

This Conservative operative, Michael Soona (sp?) is working for one of the Conservative candidates in the Guelph area, and he had a voter suppression plan. He tried to grab the ballot box and run away. Apparently he was blocked from stealing the ballot box by a female polling officer who was grabbed by him as well. His directive probably came the PMO and/or Harper himself.

Everybody knows why this happened. It is going to be a close race in the riding and the Conservatives were concerned that very few of the students would vote for the Conservatives, so they thought they would disenfranchise the student vote.

Edited April 15, 2011 by Harry

[treehugger]

So Yvonne and her fellow students at Guelph U are going to be quite crushed when they discover Harper has tried to void their vote. It seems only when they can control it does democracy work for the Conservatives. Does Harper have no shame?

We sincerely need help in that case!

[scribblet]

Sorry, not true.

If you think so, post a cite.

Natives do get fully funded university, you must know that.

[scribblet]

--------------------

Everybody knows why this happened. It is going to be a close race in the riding and the Conservatives were concerned that very few of the students would vote for the Conservatives, so they thought they would disenfranchise the student vote.

How about some truth here, the directive did not come from the PMO, but if you have proof to the contrary please provide it.

No, everyone does not know why this happened, it's only your biased misguided misinformed,opinion.

Soona should not have grabbed the ballot box, but he knew at that time that this was an unauthorized poll (BTW what part of that don't you understand)and that there where other irregularities such as Liberals handing out literature to voters and so on. The whole thing was illegal, yet even though EC supported a similar Liberal request a few years ago, they upheld this illegal polling station.