There are many reasons to fear a Harper majority – contempt for the parliamentary process, squandering the surplus he inherited, his Republican-style of politics, the long for Census scandal, the in and out scandal, the Bev Oda debacle, the Afghan detainee scandal, etc – but one of the biggest ones has somehow managed to be largely overlooked in the campaign: the Supreme Court.
If Harper gets his coveted majority he will be in a position to name at least three new justices to the court over the course of the next four years. Harper has already been very adept at lurching Canada further to the right even though his party has only ever been in power as a minority. If Canada hands Harper the keys to the nine member Supreme Court, the damage he could do in this country could be felt for generations.
As we enter the final weekend of the campaign, every progressive must spread the word, however possible – via social media, knocking on doors, making cold calls, whatever – that Canada cannot afford to let Harper shape the Supreme Court.
The contempt of court charges and the litany of scandals don’t appear to have had much effect on the electorate. Hammering home the idea that Harper could influence for many years after he’s left office should be the ticket to convince any progressive and liberal to deny Harper his majority.
One needs only to look at America to see how George Bush nominated some far right judges to the Supreme Court and what that has done to American society. It’s a nightmare, and it’s exactly what Harper would do here if given the chance.
Vote ABC – anyone but conservatives – but do it strategically.
