If you are acting as a group, say so, register and live within the $150,000 limit. However, Blogging Tories did not registry and yet is on the record as working as a group and for the CPC.

If you are working for a political party, just say so and label your material as such and declare the expenses.

If you work as an individual, then blog to you heart’s content. [Aside: But don't form an organized group (beyond links), don't raise money together, don't advertise together officially, don't officially tell the world you are the CPC's attack dog. Don't advertise the CPC's endorsement of you etc etc etc.]

If you do the above, without the negative examples noted, then you can talk all you want…. and so you should! It’s your country… love it and speak up for it.

In Summary: Either work as an Individual, or as a Group (Third Party), or as part of a Party… but just be open about it and live with in the rules for each. There is vast latitude within each way to participate in an election so long as you declare and follow the rules – which amount to declare which way you are participating and don’t over spend.

N.B. But again, be open about which way you are participating - to falsify your declaration may put you in violation of the Canada Elections Act.

Eugene Parks

I have no problem with any blogger or group raising money and using blogs for their political agenda. I do not want to see any one stifled, nor do I want to see blogs misused.

I don’t know enough about election law to know where the internet will take us. I don’t want to see draconian clamp downs - I’d far rather see people and groups operate openly within the law we have.

I’m not privy to the investigative procedure Eugene…if blogs are operating out of the bounds we have I see two things that need to take place. One, file complaints if they do, and two, adapt electoral law for newer forms of communication.

1. Stephen Taylor is a member of the CPC
2. he is a volunteer for the CPC
3. he is working to elect Stephen Harper
4. he advertised blogging Tories at the CPC convention and was sanctioned by MPs
5. he was working as part of a team of at least 10 2 and more to elect conservatives
6. Blogging Tories is his volunteer effort as part of a team 10 2 and more (to elect conservatives)
7. He is directly connected to the CPC electronically
8. He has “journalistic” connections within the CPC
9. He has released unique stories from the CPC
10. He has posted stories voluntarily at the request of the CPC
11. Blogging Tories were raising money for the CPC (even during the election)
12. Both the Blogging Tories and the CPC stated they were using the Internet to minic George Bush’s campaign in the coming election to get conservatives elected

Stephen Taylor is its Webmaster and Editor. As Taylor self states, the Blogging Tories is his volunteer effort for the CPC. His volunteer Internet efforts went live on January 4th 2005. Later, he openly promoted his site at the first Conservative Party of Canada convention in March 2005 and was endorsed by its MPs, party officials, and members.

Previously, the CPC stated its plain intent to find a content channel to spin news in the coming election mimicking George Bush’s campaign war room’s use of web logs. After some months of technical frustration, Taylor’s site was directly linked electronically to the CPC.

He began receiving unique “news” tips from the CPC pressroom and staff.

His site moved from being a mere box on an American Service Provider to being a truly CPC team effort. Scores of CPC members, including

MPs, Association President, National Council Members, joined the effort. His site became a conscious group effort for the CPC with forethought and intent by both himself and the CPC. Make no mistake about it, this was a CPC team effort - not that of just individuals as Taylor would have us believe.

Now of note recently, the Canada Election Act allows one to contribute to an election in one of three ways. A) as an individual, B.) as a registered third party, or C.) as part of a political party).

As a party of a political party your professional contribution, such as a website, needs to be expensed and declared and the material you distribute on behalf of the party must be identified as coming from the party.

As a registered third party, well, you have to register and work within spending limits. And as an individual, you have to work as an individual and live within personal spending limits.

In the case of blogging Tories, it was not an individual effort and it was done in conscious coordinated effort with the CPC.

Stephen Taylor has stated that is was his volunteer effort for the CPC and the CPC was feeding him. Further, MPs were endorsing him and scores, even hundreds, of CPC members were engaged.

The Blogging Tories was not a legal third party as it was not legally registered.

Lastly, the Blogging Tories did not label its literature’s source nor declare itself openly as an agent of the CPC despite the direct connection.

So, the question - where is the integrity here in regards to the Canada Elections Act? Only the Chief Electoral Officer or a judge are qualified to make a judgment.

Most certainly there is enough documentation that the question be answered.

Except when it would cause significant harm, laws should not prevent one from speaking any truth that you are willing to put your name to as your own material nor should you be prosecuted for doing so. Additionally, the law must also protect the integrity of free speech by requiring that authors identify their source, particularly if one is not truly the full source of that speech. Freedom of speech includes the responsibility of authors to own the words they use. Otherwise, free speech can be reduced to propaganda - even reduced to being a lie. When our free speech is part of democratic decision-making, equal weight to each citizen’s voice should be given. During elections when sources of partisan information is not disclosed and monetary limits are not evenly respected by all debating parties, then the integrity of our free speech and debate is compromised.

Eugene Parks