Hello from Minnesota!
Hello, everyone,
I am a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Minneapolis and St. Paul are very left-leaning cities, but for some reason our DSA local here is just a talking society, despite my efforts to get them to do stuff.
I have long had an interest in Canadian politics (Surprising to hear from an American, right?), and have actually visited two NDP conventions as an American observer, in Halifax in 1991, and the leadership convention in Ottawa in 1995.
Currently I am a semi-retired teacher, now doing substitute teaching (as I can't afford to retire!).
I enjoy reading Babble, to follow what is going on up there.
I was thinking about coming up there for a while to volunteer for a federal NDP campaign, but then I read about a Canadian law which states that a non-Canadian can not urge a Canadian to vote in a particular way!
I am very concerned about the path my country is taking in its foreign and domestic policy, as well as the increasing take-over of our politics by wealthy right-wingers. I will do whatever I can to do what is right for my country.
You should check with the party or Elections Canada to find out what what actually means. It's not as if Canadian parties don't hire Americans to help them sometimes. Driving people to polling stations is not telling them how to vote.
*waves howdy to MNdemocsocialist and congratulations on your de-lurking (if that is actually the right word for it)*
Welome, MN!
While growing up in Montreal many years back, some of the best material I ever read on the relevance of socialism to North American realities was written by DSA's founder Michael Harrington. So consider yourself amongst friends - though be warned that sometimes we do knock about the furniture in animated discussion.
Now, as to the legal issue you raise, this issue got some profile here following the 2011 election when various dirty tricks of the (winning) Conservatives were gradually exposed by the media.
This particular one is summarised in this news article: Tories may have broken 2011 election rules with US Republican campaigners in Ontario
U.S. directors from Front Porch Strategies worked “in the trenches” for Tory candidates in 2011, going door to door and openly campaigning for Conservative candidates, the firm's Canadian liason said....
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/2012/04/09/republicans-ground-canada-helped-elect-harpers-tory-government?page=0,2
The article cites the related clause in the Elections Act.
Under the Canada Elections Act section 331 (Non-interference by Foreigners), it is illegal for a non-resident to directly participate in election campaigns in Canada: “No person who does not reside in Canada shall, during an election period, in any way induce electors to vote or refrain from voting or vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate unless the person is (a) a Canadian citizen; or (b) a permanent resident.”
I haven't seen any follow-up on this case, so do not know if there is any further clarification as to what exactly "inducing voters" involves or doesn't involve. So can't help you any further than that.
A quick follow-up to the note above re the clause in the Elections Act concerned with 'Non-interference by Foreigners'.
Following the revelation of Conservative candidates deploying American campaign workers in 2011, a Canadian NGO (Democracy Watch) sought clarification on how the Electoral Commissioner interpreted that clause. But the Commissioner refused to clarify.
So, the good news is that they're unlikely to prosecute offenders. The bad news (risk factor) is that sometimes justice here is not wholly blind, and what works for the establishment does not equally apply to dissenters. (But I don't have to tell a member of DSA that!)
Elections Canada refuses to clarify key measures in federal elections law – Democracy Watch again calls for clarification of recent flawed ruling
Elections Canada refuses to clarify key measures in federal elections law – Democracy Watch again calls for clarification of recent flawed ruling. Ruling means no foreigner will likely ever be prosecuted, and raises questions about enforcement standards being applied in robocall and many other cases. Public inquiry is clearly needed to disclose and audit rulings on more than 3,000 complaints filed with the Commissioner since 1997 to ensure past enforcement has been proper and effective, and will be in the future...
http://democracywatch.ca/20120828-relsaug2812/