Here is a guest blog from principled conservative Connie Fournier, co-founder of Free Dominion and long-standing supporter of OpenMedia. Connie looks at how the Trans-Pacific Partnership contravenes core conservative principles, and how the government’s refusal to publish the text means Canadians are forced to vote blindly on October 19. A few months ago I wrote an article where I said that Canadian Conservatives don't deserve a majority government.  I based that opinion, in large part, on the Harper government's "anti-Terror" legislation, Bill C-51. Now, as we close in on the final hours before election day, I feel even more strongly than ever that Stephen Harper has betrayed the core principles of conservatism that he purports to represent.  This is evidenced once more by his support for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

A few months ago Canadians sent a loud, clear message to the Canadian government to StopSpying.ca. This followed the introduction of warrantless Online Spying Bill C-30, a bizarre piece of legislation that would grant ‘authorities’ with unrestricted access to Canadians’ private information, leave our personal and financial information less secure, and implement costly spying technology that taxpayers would have to fund. When Public Safety Minister Vic Toews proclaimed that Canadians who didn’t support his bill were standing with child pornographers, the outrage was palpable, and citizens made sure Parliament heard us. In short order, online spying bill C-30 was quietly sent directly to Committee and it has yet to come back to the floor to be debated again.