Several things of no interest happened this week. J.D. Bixby did not win Canadian Idol. Zach was eliminated from the Big Brother 8 House, leaving my least favorite players in the running for first and second places. The news was pretty much the same crap as usual.

The biggest story this week seemed to be the fighting between all three major political parties and Elections Canada, the governing body of all that is right and proper in electon procedures. What are they fighting about this time? Well, for once the political parties are in agreement on an issue. Contrary to the parties, EC has declared that conservative Muslim women are permitted to have their faces covered by Burkas or scarves while voting.

This decision is in complete contrast t Bil C-31 which states that all Canadian voters must be identifiable when casting votes. Simply put, if you can’t see a preson’s face they are unidentifiable and therefore unable to vote.

Pierre Cote is quoted by CTV News as saying,

“When one is in a polling station, they must be clearly identified or else you run the risk of fraud,”

Personally, I think this is a very valid argument. How many times should one person be able to vote? Once makes sense to me. However, with this ruling, Elections Canada has opened up the possibility for Muslim women to vote numerous times as numerous people. Certainly not all Muslim women would be cheaters, but the possibility is there for it to happen. All one need do is present identification of people who aren’t available to vote, either being out of the country or for some other reason unavailable. Simply put, a woman in a black dress with her face covered could very well be ANYONE.

According to a CTV article, Muslim women weren’t even consulted regarding whether or not they wanted this exemption in place. Why then all the kerfuffle? Elections Canada is a body put in place to enforce the elections laws in Canada, not re-write them or create their own. Simply put, Bill C-31 is the bill governing this issue and must be adhered to by the enforcement body, Elections Canada.

The argument is not one of religious freedom, or of ethnicity. In ths country elections are free and democratic (supposedly). They are open to everyone. Unfortunately the entire populice is not honest. Safeguards have to be in effect to ensure the validity of the vote. Identifying voters and ensuring they each cast one vote is the sole duty of Elections Canada. By their own ruling they are enabling the less than honest to cheat.

In a system where some ridings decisions have been known to hang on a spread of 15-20 votes one person voting two or three times could change the whole colour of the riding. Sheila Copps lost an election with a spread of 14 votes. Upon recount it was verified that she had indeed lost by this margin. For argument’s sake, let’s say 8 people had voted for her twice, would the will of the people have been realized?

The whole issue of voting aside, the niqabs and burkas have long been an issue for modern muslim women. They don’t want to wear them. They are a sign of male domination and control. Along with other tenets of ultra-conservative even radical Islam, they have no place in Canadian culture, at least not to the point of interfering with the Canadian way of operating.

Some journalists and others have gone as far as to say, “If you don’t want to follow our laws, abide by our procedures, and if you want to live in a backwards society, simply don’t come here.” I agree. All are welcome to live here. However, residence and access to our democratic way of life means giving up certain archaic and medievil concepts. If you want to practice ancient rites and traditions that are contrary to our way of life, do them in your own home. Do not expect us to be forever bending our traditions and values to accomodate you.

When in Rome do as the Romans do.