My name is May Moore and I work for the program counterSpin on CBC Newsworld. Please pass this on to those you think would be interested.
Thursday, October 26, on counterSpin, we will be debating the issue of the Toronto Police Union's True Blue Cop Campaign. Should police unions get involved in politics? Last winter the Toronto Police Association and its president Craig Bromell were raising funds to bankroll the Association's campaign against police critics on the Toronto Police Services Board (made up of elected city officials) and also Toronto city council. Now, Bromell has publicy endorsed candidates for the upcoming municipal election and may even endorse federal election candidates. In a democracy, police should be accountable to politicians. The Police Services Act states that police officers are prohibited from using their status as police officers to support or oppose candidates during an election. Bromell and the police union says they are not technically acting as officers and therefore aren't bound by the Act.
What do you think? Should police and politics mix? What are the implications? Who are the police really accountable to? Is the SIU a toothless organization?
If you are interested in being a part of the audience for this show, please give me a call?
Thanks,
May Moore, Audience Producer
counterSpin
(416) 968-9358
Courtesy of the OBARRI
October 25, 2000