(The following articles are from the May 1-15, 2008, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

People's Voice Editorial, May 1-15, 2008

The Harper Tories narrowly won a minority government two years ago, largely on their promises to clean up Liberal corruption. Now, the Conservatives have been caught red-handed, ripping off the public purse for about a million dollars. Their "in-and-out" scheme was essentially a scam to make taxpayers foot the bill for a massive advertising blitz during the 2006 election campaign. Coming on top of the Cadman scandal and their attacks on rights of immigrants and women, it's no surprise that voters are increasingly anxious to drive this obnoxious gang of corporate thugs out of office.

     There's another, rarely mentioned side to the latest scandal. The same Conservatives who feel free to fill their bank accounts from the trough of public dollars are among the most determined foes of equal public funding for all political parties. The Communist Party and other small registered parties are carrying on a lengthy court battle to get the same $1.75 per vote annual subsidy that the major parties all receive. If Stephen Harper and his MPs had any shame, they would be deeply embarrassed by their hypocrisy. But the history of the Conservative Party in this country shows that they are utterly shameless. In spite of this, the legal and political struggle for fair electoral laws will continue.