MPP Randy Hillier Arrested and Charged

 

Randy Hillier

For the survival of Canadian democracy, the government’s pressing of charges against Ontario MPP Randy Hillier is extremely dangerous. I cannot believe any longer they are simply being reckless. The Canadian government, in the broadest sense, is either hysterical, incompetent, or genuinely trying to destroy Canadian democracy.

It is a grave matter to charge an opposition politician with a crime related to his political activity. That obviously looks like an attempt to intimidate opposition. Democracy functions only so long as we all observe a gentleman’s agreement that those in power will not go after those out of power. If and when that agreement is violated, opposition and peaceful alternation in power becomes no longer possible. You have a dictatorship.

As far as I have heard so far, the charges are not even plausible. Hillier is being charged when an ordinary citizen would not be. This is a politically-motivated prosecution. And timed to silence him, by the bail conditions, for the next Ontario election.

Canada has been a model democracy. We have never had to earn this through any great struggle or suffering, as other nations have. As Ukraine is now. It was all bequeathed to us by the British.

 I wonder if, put to the test, we have the mettle to defend it.