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A fundamental principle of democracy is the principle of one person, one vote. To maintain public confidence in our democracy, we must do everything in our power to maintain the credibility and integrity of our voting process.

One issue has struck at the core of the integrity of that process. It's the ability of individuals to conceal their face while voting. In recent years, there have been numerous examples of individuals purposefully concealing their face while voting. The federal government believes this is wrong. If someone is able to conceal their face, what is stopping them from voting over and over again?

In October 2007, our government introduced legislation to require voters to show their face before voting. For women who wear head and face coverings there's a provision in the legislation allowing them to unveil in private in front of another woman. There's also an exemption for people who cover their face for legitimate medical reasons. The bill is a simple, common-sense measure to improve transparency in the voting process.

However, the Liberal Party opposes this simple change and tried to block the bill from proceeding. Unless the Opposition parties stop opposing our bill, there's no prospect that it will pass. If the Ignatieff Liberals will listen to Canadians and agree to support legislation that requires voters show their faces, then we will reintroduce our bill. In the meantime, we're moving forward with other democratic reform initiatives including the Expanded Voting Opportunities Bill and legislation to modernize the Senate.

STEVEN FLETCHER

Minister of State (Democratic Reform)

Few places where May can win a seat

Elizabeth May and the Green Party have resurfaced to pronounce their uppermost priority will be to elect her as their leader.

Good show I say, as the party is convinced that May should be the principal envoy for the Greens of which she should have been before the preceding federal election.

The question remains, where might she win a seat? Running in Central Nova, against popular Defense Minister Peter MacKay, is categorically a death wish. The resignation of Nova Scotia's Independent Bill Casey will not guarantee her a win, inasmuch as the riding will revert to the Conservatives.

There are two options in Ontario and conceivably one in British Columbia where she might get lucky. It is projected May will make her inclination known prior to Labour Day.

Whichever choice she formulates seemingly will put the NDP on the defensive, as they're on thin ice no matter where they opt to run a nominee.

May has chosen to conscript musician/activist Sarah Harmer and activist/writer Farley Mowat as campaign supporters. May's odds could vary ever so slightly.

Letters to CTV and CBC in a quest of reassurance she would be included in the televised leader's debate, have received no answer or comment, nor should it. Unelected leaders ought not to be included in the debate.

Liberal leader Ignatieff has said there will be no free rides this time around, nor abstentions of Liberal candidates from any ridings. Presumably, he will adhere to his declaration.

RONALD YASCHUK

Quispamsis

We need corporate pay-back laws

Our free-enterprise system has prospered for the very rich while the general population has benefitted in proportion to their hours working in the system. Seldom, if ever, does the capitalist class look upon workers as meriting performance bonuses or the right to a cut of the profit. Yet the working class truly built this society while the capitalist segment continues to grow rich.

But we are now at an impasse in which the entrepreneurs have come to our federal government asking for relief during this recession. The irony is that though one would have expected that the bulk of the dollars put into the federal pot should have come from the capitalist class, such is not the case. Tax laws provide numerous loopholes and tax exemptions for the rich so it is the working man's tax money that is being used to keep society from going under.

Here's how we can start to re-balance the system for having paid the rich man's bills with the working man's dollars. Starting today, contracts should be put in place committing those recipients of those large federal bailouts to substantial pay backs to the public infrastructure and general societal welfare programs. If we allow the auto companies, large manufacturers and the financial giants just to take the cash and remain solvent just to watch them gouge the working class again in the near future, we will have accomplished nothing. Corporate pay-back legislation for the post-recession period should be a simple concept to work on.

AUBREY SMITH

Grand Falls-Windsor, NL

Ottawa's actions are abhorrent

Excerpts of a letter to Rodney Weston

We received your "Proud to be Canadian Campaign" package. Thank you.

I've kept my peace and said very little, except to send a letter to Stephen Harper, regarding his inaction on Guantanamo that has left a child who has grown to manhood imprisoned.

Just to be straight, although you're probably a good guy, your handler in Ottawa runs my veins hot with injustice.

I want our troops brought out of Afghanistan. Your politics have taken a country once proud of its abilities as peacekeeper to one that sends young men and women to die. Each time one does I'm personally hurt and offended.

As a proud Canadian, if foreign troops invaded my country you can bet I'd be the first one with a gun in my hand. But I'd say that Harper's complicity with the U.S. in places like Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East has shaken the world's view of what Canadians are and always have been. Our hands are dirty.

That Harper has to have the courts force him to do the right thing and stand up for the rights of Canadians, I find abhorrent. That he professes to be acting in our economic interests by cutting CBC funding is a tragedy, if we allow it.

So I'll fly the Canadian flag on Canada Day, because I'm a proud Canadian and I believe we are a great nation, not because of a campaign started by a perfectly well meaning MP.

LINDA GODSOE EWART

Saint John

Global Fund will save lives

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria would need an additional $5 billion to save human lives and to support poor countries. This represents less than one-half of one per cent of what G8 countries have approved, over a three-month period, to bail out failing private banks.

As demand has soared and successful proposals for funding from the world's poor continue to pour in, donor funding has not kept pace. Without infusion of support from countries like Canada, it's clear that several men, women and children will die needlessly.

To those who would argue that Canada has other priorities in the actual economic downturn, I would like to recall that the sole Canadian military budget now totals nearly $20 billion.

BRUNO MARQUIS

Gatineau, Que.

Recall initiative shows discontent

Having been away for a couple of weeks I missed the start up of the 'recall the mayor' initiative.

Whether or not this achieves its goal - and I am certainly for anything that would bring relief from this mayor - it is but of one the symptoms of discontent that are rife in this city. It is worse now than at any time I can recall in the 33 years I have lived here.

The city workers seem to have little or no respect for their senior management. The citizens seem to have little or no respect for the mayor and most of the councillors.

We have had our share of lackluster mayors and councillors over the years but to me the present bunch take first prize in the mediocrity stakes.

The poor decisions that city management, mayor and council are making have the potential to cripple this city for many years to come.

BRIAN STONE

Saint John

Change time on hospital meters

I have been wondering why we pay the parking meter at 7 a.m. at St. Joseph's and the meters start at 8 a.m. everywhere else. We get gouged enough.

I can bet it is because you can go for blood work at 6:30 a.m.

It is time that people start complaining about this. It is unfair to all who go to the hospital at this hour. It should be 8 a.m. like the rest of the meters. Let's get this changed.

MARG DUNBAR

Saint John