satire
sat·ire [sat-ahyuh  r] 
noun
the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc. 

lampoon
lam·poon  [lam-poon] 
noun
a sharp, often virulent satire directed against an individual or institution; a work of literature, art, or the like, ridiculing severely the character or behavior of a person, society, etc.

A balloon shaped that may or may not look like a certain Senator “from” Prince Edward Island: both satire and lampoon.

On Monday, Dec. 2, we had hoped to be in Victoria, on the grounds of the Legislature – the People’s House – to talk about Senate issues with the Legislative Press Gallery. As you may know, the CTF has been pushing for a national referendum on abolishing the Senate as a way to build public support to break a potential constitutional logjam.

To build interest, we commissioned a 30 foot tall balloon that some people believe looks like a well-known independent Senator. This balloon was a sensation at its debut in Ottawa in early summer, with Andrew Coyne calling it “maybe the best media stunt ever.”

The balloon reappeared a couple of weeks later in Regina, right out of the Saskatchewan Legislature. Leg staff even allowed us to use an outlet to plug the balloon air pump in.

Not coincidentally, a few months later, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall led a motion, passed unanimously, in the Legislature to repeal the province’s Senate election mechanism and instead call for the abolition of the Upper Chamber.

We want B.C. to do the same thing. While there is no Senate election act in B.C., it was promised by Premier Christy Clark in the 2011 BC Liberal leadership campaign. Such an act would only serve to legitimize a flawed institution that is completely unrepresentative of B.C.

So the balloon made its way west. I applied for event permission with the Legislature, had a lovely conversation with very helpful staff members, who then forwarded it on to the Speaker, Richmond MLA Linda Reid, for what I thought was a rubber stamp.

The Speaker turned us down and a letter was issued with no reason given. Numerous attempts to appeal her decision fell flat, although an indication was given that the Speaker may feel the balloon was “disrespectful.”

The way our tax dollars are wasted by some of these Senators is what *I* find disrespectful. The balloon is merely satire, a lampoon – something that has been used in political criticism for centuries.

Further, the Legislature has hosted all sorts of events over the years. Marijuana smoke-ins, Occupy. Gordon Campbell was once burned in effigy by 20,000 protestors in 2002. Yet our balloon was kicked to the curb (literally – we were told to try the sidewalk; as if a 30 foot tall balloon wouldn’t spill into traffic – or terrify motorists that close to a moving vehicle).

So no balloon in Victoria on Dec. 2^nd. But stay tuned – it’s a big province, and the Speaker can’t forbid democratic expression everywhere…