Young Liberals Offer Challenge To Conservative Party
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Young Liberals Of Canada Ask Stephen “Mr Muzzle” Harper: “What Are You So Afraid Of?”
The Young Liberals of Canada have issued a challenge to Stephen “Mr. Muzzle” Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada to show the courage to let their young supporters to speak up and speak out.
“The Young Liberals challenge the Conservative Party to take the muzzle off their own youth. This weekend the party will debate a motion to form an independent youth commission. Yet the Conservative Party leadership has made it clear that they believe young people are to be seen and not heard,” said Richard Diamond, President of the Young Liberals of Canada. “This kind of attitude is typical of Stephen ‘Mr. Muzzle’ Harper’s attempt to silence anyone that might actually give voice to the truth of his party’s extreme views.”
Poking fun, the Young Liberals wish to remind the Conservative Party of innovative ‘new’ ways that young people like to communicate in this country. So the Young Liberals have launched a website on something called ‘The Internet’.
The new site – www.muzzlegate.ca – chronicles Stephen Harper’s efforts to keep opinions within his party well hidden from public view.
Brigitte Legault, President of the Young Liberals of Canada (Quebec), pointed out that the Conservative Party has been quick to condemn the effort to create a youth commission as exist within other mainstream political parties – including the dead and buried Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Jeremy Harrison (Conservative, Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River), one of “Mr. Muzzle’s” henchmen, recently referred to a youth wing as both “dangerous” and as a “special interest group” (Toronto Star, March 11, 2005).
There are two options before the Conservative convention this weekend: the formation of an independent youth commission or a youth committee with no real influence or independence. The latter would not command – as do the Young Liberals for example – a guaranteed representation of delegates to party conventions, an independent national youth executive nor any arms-length budget allocation of party resources.
“We just want someone to debate ideas with,” exclaimed Ms. Legault. “From bilingualism to a woman’s right to choose to respect for minority rights under the Charter, the Conservative Party seems to be afraid to let young Canadians know where they really stand.”
“We’re “Mr. Muzzle’s” worst nightmare,” added Richard Diamond. “A group of principled young Canadians willing to speak out for the things we believe in. Imagine the horror!”
Editor note: There has been no official response from the Conservative Party, nor from their youth wing. If a response is made, we will publish it here.
@ March 17, 2005