Let Emerson off hook? Not a chance.

Fellow pro-democracy activist Manuel Pereda, who was one of four arrested during a sit-in at Emerson’s constituency office on February 24th, had a meeting with David Emerson today. (Emerson’s defection an opportunity for democratic reform)

Manuel today said that he’s no longer interested in calling for David Emerson’s resignation and a by-election for Vancouver-Kingsway. That’s not news – he moved to that position in the days immediately following the sit-in two months ago. While he is certainly entitled to his opinion, neither I nor the Campaign to De-Elect David Emerson share Pereda’s views.

Less than 24 hours after the last ballot was counted on January 23rd, David Emerson and Stephen Harper through his emissary started negotiating away the votes of 46,168 voters in this riding. That’s not real democracy.

Political change does not happen unless the kettle remains on the boil. Both Emerson and the Conservative Party leader, Stephen Harper, desperately want this issue to be put on the back burner to quietly run dry.

That’s not going to happen.

What Harper and Emerson did was wrong the day after the election, was wrong when they were sworn in on February 6th, and remains wrong now. More than 100 days later pro-democracy Canadians of all political stripes continue to this fight for democracy, and we’ll continue to do so for as long as it takes.

When Canadians next go to the polls, be they for federal, provincial or municipal elections, voters will again be reminded just how little some politicians regard our votes and voices. Imagine how people will view their ballots next time they walk into a polling station. Tens of thousands of Vancouver area voters will not forget what was done here in Vancouver-Kingsway.