The government has grumbled that no senator should be allowed to push his way into what it deems to be its legislative territory. MPs have all been receiving bushels of genuine mail supporting the bill, so they have been getting progressively more nervous about voting against it. In fact, many of them would like to vote for it, just on conscience. But they need a nudge. Which is why I am asking citizens from every riding in the country to badger their candidates about whether they are going to vote for this bill when it is reintroduced in the next Parliament.
Badger is a strong word.
Reason brutally with them. Tell them that you, your family, and everyone that you can put in a headlock is going to vote against them unless they promise publicly, no weaseling, to support this bill. While I have the opportunity, allow me to badger you if you are someone who thinks that smoking is one of those acts of youthful rebellion that nobody can do anything to stop. A poll that S-20's supporters conducted in Toronto recently showed that the bill enjoys powerful public support. Two-thirds of those people changed their minds immediately when they were told what has happened in California.