Updated below. And updated again. And updated a third time.
The challenge to the election results in seven ridings that's being underwritten by the Council of Canadians (COC) is back in court today for pre-trial motions. The CBC takes the opportunity to review the Conservative motion that the applicants put up approximately $250,000 against the possibility that they lose and the defendants are awarded costs. That motion on the part of the CPC had already been reported but this article does include a good summary of the COC's argument against it.
...the COC argues that it would impede access to justice if voters are required to deposit large amounts of money in order to contest an election...
The council also says that its voter clients are public-interest litigants, and that the money raised to set up a defence fund for them comes from donors' pockets with no hope of a tax receipt. Meanwhile, the Conservative MPs, whose legal bills are being paid by the Conservative Party, can issue generous tax receipts for donations to their campaigns, and the party can as well, the COC says.
There are more motions than this to be considered and I would imagine there will be reports coming our way around the end of business today so if you're impatient for news on this, stay tuned.
Adding... Someone with the Council of Canadians is live-tweeting the hearing so if you're really impatient for news, follow @CouncilofCDNs. Or @glen_mcgregor of the Ottawa Citizen who also appears to be on the scene.
Update:
Glen McGregor already has a story up at the Ottawa Citizen on this morning's events. So far it's lawyers arguing back and forth about money. Steven Shrybman on behalf of the applicants makes the point that the same Conservatives who are demanding his clients put up a large security deposit against costs are the ones who are driving costs up by filing so many motions.
I'll post more links to coverage as I come across them.
Update the second:
The CBC story at the link at the top of the post has been revised to report on today's hearing. And there's a live-blog of the proceedings by the CBC's Leslie MacKinnon here. The court reserved judgement so now we can wait on that the same way we're still waiting on the Supreme Court to rule on Etobicoke Lakeshore. The wheels grind slowly and all that. (Hey! There's a future title!)
Update the third:
The story at the Ottawa Citizen link in the first update has been rewritten and is now a joint effort by Glen McGregor and Stephen Maher reporting on all of today's hearing. If the paywall is in your way, you can also read it at canada.com. Notable quote:
In Toronto this week, lawyers will cross examine witnesses in closed-door hearings ahead of an open hearing where a federal judge will hear arguments in December.
I thought there was more to this week's hearings than just the motion about the security deposit. I'll watch for any reporting on these additional sessions but if there's anything of interest, I'll start a new post. This one has done its duty.
