WINNIPEG: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation takes extreme exception to the NDP's desperate attempt to evade election accountability by muzzling the rights of CTF members and the rights of citizens to participate in the democratic process. Amendments to the Manitoba Elections Act limiting citizen group advertising are an afront to freedom of expression. The CTF will fight the Byzantine election changes every step of the way.

"The NDP are taking the most extreme measures to tread over citizen's freedom of speech at the most critical point of the democratic process - an election," said Victor Vrsnik, CTF provincial director. "Citizen group advertising is paramount to political elections insofar as policy goals or ideas are advanced outside the limited confines of a three party system. Since when are the three parties the pillars of truth This is an issue fundamental to our constitutional freedoms."

Big Brother Gary Doer is trying to silence not only CTF members, but other groups like labour, Chambers, and neighbourhood associations trying to participate in the democratic process.

It's a mystery why the Anti-Democratic Party is trying to pass identical legislation that was struck down by the B.C. Supreme Court in March this year. The court ruled that a $5, 000 restriction on citizen group advertising in B.C. was an unjustified violation of free speech. The Manitoba amendment is unconstitutional.

"No credible academic evidence on the face of the earth will support the contention that citizen group advertising determines elections," added Vrsnik. The BC Supreme Court arrived at the same conclusion.

"The government cannot control their own spending but are bent on limiting the spending of Canadians at the most crucial time of the general election. Canadians are the best judges of how their money should be spent, not the government," said Vrsnik.

The CTF is considering all options to block or reverse this amendment.

"Today is another dark day for democracy in Manitoba courtesy of the NDP. First they announced a review leading to restrictions to our access to information laws. Now they are trying to undermine the rights of groups to participate in the political process. The Big Brother comparison is too close for comfort," concluded Vrsnik.