Tories accuse elections watchdog of political activism against reform bill

OTTAWA – The Harper government has opened up a new front in its war with the chief elections watchdog, accusing him of engaging in political activism against its controversial overhaul of the country’s election laws.

Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski says it is wrong for chief electoral officer Marc Mayrand to criticize the government’s proposed electoral reform bill during a private meeting with his staff.

Lukiwski is parliamentary secretary to the government House leader and the Conservatives’ lead hitter on the Commons committee charged with studying the bill.

He says Mayrand’s private remarks to Elections Canada staff — as reported in the Ottawa Citizen based on the account of one anonymous source — is inappropriate for a watchdog who is supposed to be scrupulously impartial.

Mayrand has publicly criticized the bill, including a provision he believes would prohibit him from communicating with people about anything other than the mechanics of how to vote.

The government denies its aim is to muzzle Mayrand.

However, Lukiwski suggests the chief electoral officer should reserve his remarks until he’s invited by the committee to give his views on the bill.