We Canadians like to believe we're a different bunch than our neighbours south of the border.
We don't shoot each other as often, we don't fly into a blind rage at the thought of a national health-care program, and we don't engage in the same kind of scorched earth political campaigning frequently seen in the United States.
Regrettably, that last part isn't really true any more. In the past few years, our political culture has taken a nasty turn. Politicians and their staffers seem increasingly willing to vault over ethical and even legal boundaries in their quest for electoral victory. If we let this become the new normal, it will discredit our democracy and damage our very identity as Canadians.
Elections Canada has a tremendous opportunity to right our crooked ship of state. Complaints made by tens of thousands of citizens alleging fraudulent "robocalls" that sent them to the wrong polling station during last year's federal election must be investigated. Vicious online attacks against public figures should have consequences beyond the odd staffer losing his or her job. It has to be made clear that as a nation, we won't tolerate being governed from the gutter.
Chasing all those allegations is no small task. It will take time and cost money. But the federal government must provide Elections Canada with the resources it needs to get the facts, clear the air, and hold any guilty parties responsible.
Our voter turnout numbers are already abysmal. Let's not give our fellow Canadians another reason to stay home.
