By Pepper Parr
April 14th. 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
The goons have won again.
A group of citizens who have served the city very well for decades organized an event that is a critical part of a federal election – they organized an event that would have the candidates debating issues in a public forum.
But then the goons decided they would interrupt the event by convoying from Hamilton to the Port Nelson United Church.
They weren’t invited. The organizing group had sound reasons for not inviting the PPC, along with several other fringe parties.
They were following guidelines used by those who organize the televised debates.
In their media release the organizers said: ”
It is our opinion that in providing this platform for the parties not part of the formal proceedings, we have given them an excellent opportunity to engage with voters. We would be interested in knowing whether any other citizens group has afforded them the same opportunity.
It is also worth noting that we are a private group of citizens and not aligned with or receiving funding from any outside group. We have conducted candidates’ meetings at the municipal, provincial and federal level and have done our very best to be fair in doing so.
As far as we know, we are the only group conducting these meetings open to the public, which we think is a shame.
Whether as part of the question-and-answer proceedings or not, we have given all seven parties running candidates in our riding the opportunity to engage with voters which we believe is a great service to the voters of this riding.
It is ironic that although we were being accused of a ‘denial of free speech’ (their words) by PPC, it is in fact they who by their actions are denying voters of the opportunity to be fully informed. It is also ironic that, by their actions, they are denying themselves a platform to reach voters which is likely better than any other available to them in this riding.
As a society we need to be able to conduct our affairs in a manner that suits us. People who attend election events want to hear what the leading candidates have to say.This debate should have been held.
Regional Police Chief Stephen Tanner: Let the goons know that you will not permit disruption of an important public event.
Would it not have been possible for the Regional police to follow the convoy to the church location and block traffic a few blocks away?
Let a representative with literature attend and hand out their message to those who are interested.
Could the public not hear from the Chief of police who would publicly advise that any attempt to disrupt would not be tolerated?
This bullying and pushing people around is unfair to people who care enough about what the candidates have to say.
We are letting the civility that makes us what we are as a society get away from us.
There is another option.
A report from one of the polling organizations has the NDP winning just 8 seats, which means they will not have party status.
Liberal candidate: Karina Gould
Conservative candidate: Emily Brown
So – could Karina Gould call Emily Brown (or vice versa) and ask her if she would agree to a virtual debate – just the two candidates – let’s be real here – we are at an existential point in the direction this country goes – it is going to be Mark Carney or Pierre Poilievre; those are the candidates the public wants to hear from.
Every seat is going to count. The public has a right to hear what they have to say. Karina, Emily – one of you has to call the other.
Show real leadership – please!
If the PAC is available lets do it. The day a well me@ning group can host an event such as this may be “over”.
Tanner has his own set of rules for himself. It was OK for him to leave Canada during the Covid lockdown with Carrs blessing. Some members of our current council have the “do as l say, not as l do”attitude. Must be nice to get paid to work from home, while others are held up in the terrible burlington traffic. Time to get some politicians who show up with solutions not just for the photo-ops.
Editor’s note: Regional Chair Gary Carr had nothing to do with the Regional Chief of Police being out of the country during the pandemic – it was a matter handled by the Regional Police Services Board.
The reason that this event had to be cancelled is inexcusable. What have we become?
Since this past June I have asked the Mayor and members of council to have a by-law passed that would provide a “safe zone” of 100 meters around places of worship, schools and the hospital.
The reason for this was because of a pro-Palestinian group that was circling and coming into Brant Hills Community Centre trying to disrupt a private meeting of parents and representatives from the city and government. The purpose of the meeting was to try to come up with solutions on how to protect students that were being bullied in their schools in Burlington.
The Chief of Police who was in the meeting indicated that he could do nothing in making them leave.
After contacting the Mayor and Council Members on many occasions I have to thank the Mayor who made this an agenda item in February. I sent a letter as my delegation concerning this matter.
“THE ASK – we would ask that council consider amending this motion to include the following:
– Create a policy that allows Council to deem an event or part of an event unsafe or non-inclusive.
– Create a process for community input on materials or presentations that are against city policy.
– Allow private facilities to use the public conduct policy to guide cancellations.”
This was sent back to legal to see if any of these requests could result in a city by-law.
IF THIS had been addressed in the summer this current event would NOT have been cancelled. The police would have had to enforce this by-law.
TIME FOR THIS TO BECOME A BY-LAW.
All candidates, “fringe” or otherwise should be invited to a local debate. What the PPC did is wrong, but the answer isn’t narrowing the field, narrowing democracy, even further. Show real consistency – please!
What and harass seniors and create chaos in a residential area and trespass on private property ? Pepper’s calling them goons is a complement I can think of
a better but un- printable description.