Dion blasts PM for date of election

Stephen Harper’s decision to call the federal election on a Jewish religious holiday will leave many Jews unable to exercise their democratic rights, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion says.

Dion used a visit to a Jewish community centre in Winnipeg to condemn the prime minister’s choice of Oct. 14 – the first day of the festival of Sukkot - for the national vote.

“I believe holding the election on this day violates the right of many Jewish Canadians to equal participation in the electoral process,” Dion told a crowd of students at the Asper Jewish community centre.

“This did not have to happen,” Dion said, noting that Harper’s election call flies in the face of the Conservatives’ own legislation which set October 2009 as the date of the next vote.

The Conservatives have defended their choice of election day, saying that Jewish voters can respect the holiday by casting their ballots at advance polls.

But Dion said that response deprives them of the chance to take in developments in the final weeks and days of the election that could sway their choice.

“Jewish voters have the same right as other Canadians to take into account the last week of an election campaign,” he said to applause.

And he noted that many Jews will not be able to work as campaign volunteers or at Elections Canada.

“Many Jews will not be able to participate as fully as they would like to on election day,” he said.

- From Bruce Campion-Smith

Comments

[Emran Virgi]

Canada is a multicultural society with many different religions. Dion can't expect Stephen Harper to consider every single religious holiday. The Jewish community may have a greater influence or a stronger representation within the government, but that should not give them greater rights over others.

Jewish voters can cast their votes in advance polls and participate in the electoral process prior to their religious holidays, which is fair and reasonable.

[Wascally Wabbit]

It will be interesting to see which side the fence former Liberal loyalist Warren Kinsella jumps on this one...he's been pimping Harper as an impressive leader for months now...and in the last few days has been dumping on Elizabeth May for some remark he claims she made about Jews...
Could he be hoisted on his own petard and actually have to praise Dion and condemn Harper on this one?

[Gail Nestel, M' Ed candidate, Leadership Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Victoria]

Mr Dion is to be Congratulated!

Bill C-16 section 56.2 in the Election Act, provides for voting days to be extended if mult-faith or multi-cultural days prevent full participation. Advanced polls on the other hand, are for individual vacationers or business travel, not religious or cultural groups.