This page contains copies of the monthly and yearly reports that RODC sends to its Supporters across Canada.
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RODC 2013 Year End Report to Supporters
We at Reclaim Our Democractic Canada wish you a Happy Holiday Season and we hope for success in our work for real Democracy in Canada in the New Year.
RODC has been active this year, creating a new brochure and a new poster.
Our new brochure employs the bully, bullied and bystander theme. Check it out at our web site.
RODC organized and/or took part in the following demonstrations:
>Members showed up at the demonstration at the Ford Plant in Oakville while the Prime Minister spoke inside on January 4, 2013.
>RODC carried out an action on January 28 to show its support for Common Causes and the Idle No More movement.
>February 20: More than a dozen RODC members attended a round table on Aboriginal Issues with Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux.
>Get up! Stand Up! May 4 An extraordinary day that explored the importance of our democratic voice.
>Mass Rally in Niagara on the Lake July 25, 2013 to support medicare.
>Table at Eden Mills Writers Festival: Sunday, September 15, 2013 to pass out brochures and dialogue on democracy.
>October 4: SUNSET VIGIL in Oakville
>October 10: Elizabeth May's Save Democracy from Politics Cross Canada tour
>On Saturday November 16, RODC worked with Lead Now to coordinate a National Day of Action, entitled Defend our Climate Defend Our Communities.
>In addition, RODC members have attended meetings and workshops with other social action groups is Oakville and Toronto, written letters to editors, and spoken to our member of parliament.
There are details and pictures of these events on our web site.
To conclude this report, we would like to draw your attention to just one of many published articles that expresses our views about
What binds us together, what pulls us apart
Journalist and author Michael Valpy has done an investigation into social cohesion in Canada. The Atkinson Series 2013 is an investigation into social cohesion in Canada.
Valpy suggested four ways to advance social cohesion:
1. Mandatory voting
2. A proportional representation electoral system
3.A guarantee of basic income
4. Protections for the Precariat
To read this story go here.
====================================
RODC Report to Supporters
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RODC Report to Supporters
September 2013
What to read. Samara in partnership with The Writers’ Trust of Canada has created a list of “The Best Canadian Political Books of the Last 25 Years”. This project offers readers a selection of the very best in Canadian political writing, as chosen by Canadians. Check out their list here.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meeting
2. Recent Events
3. Coming Up
4. Current Campaign
5. New Brochure
------------------------
1. Monthly Meeting: Discussion Topic: Building an Eco friendly house. We held our monthly meeting in the new house built by Hart and Daniella Jansson. They showed pictures of the house in progress and explained the lengthy process of obtaining permits for the various design features.
2. Recent Events:
-In Niagara-on-the-Lake Thursday July 25 at 11 am: a mass rally was held in support of national public medicare and a renewed health accord. Details can be found in “Past Actions” and a slide show on the home page of our web site.
-Eden Mills Writers Festival, September 15: We rented a table and passed out many of our new flyers and held many conversations about democracy,
3. Coming Up: At our Monthly Meeting, we will be analyzing the nine point plan created by Leadnow and deciding how we can support them in the months leading up to the 2015 election.
4. Cooperate for Canada and Election Reform including On Line Voting
We are working on this current campaign in conjunction with Leadnow.
5. New Brochure: We have created a new brochure for Common Causes that can be used by groups and people at rallies anywhere, expressing our significant concerns about the Harper government. The chosen theme is The Bully, The Bullied and the Bystander. The text is on our web site, and the three column layout is available in Word on request.
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Reclaim Our Democratic Canada
=====================================
RODC Report to Supporters
RODC 2013 Year End Report to Supporters
We at Reclaim Our Democractic Canada wish you a Happy Holiday Season and we hope for success in our work for real Democracy in Canada in the New Year.
RODC has been active this year, creating a new brochure and a new poster.
Our new brochure employs the bully, bullied and bystander theme. Check it out at our web site.
RODC organized and/or took part in the following demonstrations:
>Members showed up at the demonstration at the Ford Plant in Oakville while the Prime Minister spoke inside on January 4, 2013.
>RODC carried out an action on January 28 to show its support for Common Causes and the Idle No More movement.
>February 20: More than a dozen RODC members attended a round table on Aboriginal Issues with Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux.
>Get up! Stand Up! May 4 An extraordinary day that explored the importance of our democratic voice.
>Mass Rally in Niagara on the Lake July 25, 2013 to support medicare.
>Table at Eden Mills Writers Festival: Sunday, September 15, 2013 to pass out brochures and dialogue on democracy.
>October 4: SUNSET VIGIL in Oakville
>October 10: Elizabeth May's Save Democracy from Politics Cross Canada tour
>On Saturday November 16, RODC worked with Lead Now to coordinate a National Day of Action, entitled Defend our Climate Defend Our Communities.
>In addition, RODC members have attended meetings and workshops with other social action groups is Oakville and Toronto, written letters to editors, and spoken to our member of parliament.
There are details and pictures of these events on our web site.
To conclude this report, we would like to draw your attention to just one of many published articles that expresses our views about
What binds us together, what pulls us apart
Journalist and author Michael Valpy has done an investigation into social cohesion in Canada. The Atkinson Series 2013 is an investigation into social cohesion in Canada.
Valpy suggested four ways to advance social cohesion:
1. Mandatory voting
2. A proportional representation electoral system
3.A guarantee of basic income
4. Protections for the Precariat
To read this story go here.
====================================
RODC Report to Supporters
October 2013
The throne speech sounded like the first shot in the election
campaign –“We did well and we will continue to do the same thing.” Harper
doesn’t think that voters care about the workings of the government and cannot
discern whether its functioning is truly democratic or not. RODC’s mission is
to actively document and resist the dismantling of democracy in Canada. There is
lots of work to do in the next two years to point out where this government
didn’t do well.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meeting
2. Recent Events
3. Coming Up
4. Current Campaign
5. New Books
------------------------
1. Monthly Meeting: Discussion Topic: At our Monthly
Meeting, we analysed the nine point plan created by Leadnow and decided how we
can support them in the months leading up to the 2015 election. Since many of
their points indicate work at the riding level, we have offered to create an
action plan to assist in “running campaigns to hold this government accountable
on the issues that matter most to this community. Together, we’ll create a list
of the worst damage done by this government and build a powerful campaign to get
the NDP, Liberals and Greens to commit to undo that damage after the
election.”
2. Recent Events:
October 4 Oakville RODC Members met for a sunset vigil:
Each year on October 4th communities across Canada come together to honour the
lives of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. Pictures and report
here.
October 10:
Several RODC members heard Leader of the Green Party Elizabeth May speak at a
Town Hall at Hart House in the University of Toronto, as part of her
cross-country tour called “save democracy from politics”. Details are available
on our
site.
3. Coming Up:
November 1: As a counterpoint to the Conservative
Policy Convention in Calgary, Common Causes has organized a teach-in presented.
So far confirmed speakers are: David Suzuki, Andrew Nikiforuk, Brigitte du Pape
(the Government Page), Maude Barlow and Crystal Lameman (Beaver Lake Cree).
Details here.
N.B. To watch the speeches on Livestream, click
here.
November 16: RODC is joining Leadnow in a
coalition of citizens and groups by organizing a national day of action called
“Defend our Climate, Defend our Communities” on Saturday, November 16th. Details
on our web site.
4. Cooperate for Canada and Election Reform including
On Line Voting
We are working on this
current campaign.
5. New Books: We have established a new section on our
web site that recommends books on political subjects. Check it out here.
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Reclaim Our Democratic Canada
RODC Report to Supporters
September 2013
What to read. Samara in partnership with The Writers’ Trust of Canada has created a list of “The Best Canadian Political Books of the Last 25 Years”. This project offers readers a selection of the very best in Canadian political writing, as chosen by Canadians. Check out their list here.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meeting
2. Recent Events
3. Coming Up
4. Current Campaign
5. New Brochure
------------------------
1. Monthly Meeting: Discussion Topic: Building an Eco friendly house. We held our monthly meeting in the new house built by Hart and Daniella Jansson. They showed pictures of the house in progress and explained the lengthy process of obtaining permits for the various design features.
2. Recent Events:
-In Niagara-on-the-Lake Thursday July 25 at 11 am: a mass rally was held in support of national public medicare and a renewed health accord. Details can be found in “Past Actions” and a slide show on the home page of our web site.
-Eden Mills Writers Festival, September 15: We rented a table and passed out many of our new flyers and held many conversations about democracy,
3. Coming Up: At our Monthly Meeting, we will be analyzing the nine point plan created by Leadnow and deciding how we can support them in the months leading up to the 2015 election.
4. Cooperate for Canada and Election Reform including On Line Voting
We are working on this current campaign in conjunction with Leadnow.
5. New Brochure: We have created a new brochure for Common Causes that can be used by groups and people at rallies anywhere, expressing our significant concerns about the Harper government. The chosen theme is The Bully, The Bullied and the Bystander. The text is on our web site, and the three column layout is available in Word on request.
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Reclaim Our Democratic Canada
=====================================
RODC Report to Supporters
July 5, 2013
As Bev cuts the cake at the celebration of our fourth birthday, it is time to consider what impact RODC has had on the movement to reclaim our true democracy in Canada. Have we had any effect in four years? I think we have, and others will point out other indicators, I am sure.
What has been noticeable, especially in the last year, is that commentators in the media have become more blatant and open in their opposition to the Harper style of government. On one side, their columns have encouraged us and others like us to be more active, and in turn our actions have encouraged writers to be more vociferous. The combination must have effected many citizens in our country.
As a result, I think we have had a profound effect on our members and Supporters, and in a more general way on the media and the population of Canada.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meeting
2. Recent Action
3. Coming Up
4. Current Campaign
5. New Brochure
------------------------
1. Monthly Meeting: Discussion Topic: We are developing a brochure for Common Causes that can be used by groups and people at rallies anywhere, expressing our significant concerns about the Harper government. The chosen theme was The Bully, The Bullied and the Bystander. Nicole distributed her draft for the brochure and led a brainstorming session . See #5 below.
2. Recent Events:
An Evening with Trish Hennessy, Director with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. June 6, 7-9:00 Oakville Central Library. A FREE event sponsored by Oakville NDP. Report.
Wrestling for Democracy by Dennis Pilon Tuesday June 18, 2013 At The Kings Arms, Oakville
Dennis Pilon spoke about his new book.
Topic of discussion was the state of democracy in Canada today. Report.
3. Coming Up:
In Niagara-on-the-Lake Thursday July 25 at 11 am: a mass rally in support of national public medicare and a renewed health accord. Details.
4. Cooperate for Canada and Election Reform including On Line Voting
We are working on this current campaign.
5. New Brochure: We have created a new brochure that can be used by anyone simply by changing the organizational name. The text is on our web site here, and the three column layout is available in Word on request.
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Reclaim Our Democratic Canada
As Bev cuts the cake at the celebration of our fourth birthday, it is time to consider what impact RODC has had on the movement to reclaim our true democracy in Canada. Have we had any effect in four years? I think we have, and others will point out other indicators, I am sure.
What has been noticeable, especially in the last year, is that commentators in the media have become more blatant and open in their opposition to the Harper style of government. On one side, their columns have encouraged us and others like us to be more active, and in turn our actions have encouraged writers to be more vociferous. The combination must have effected many citizens in our country.
As a result, I think we have had a profound effect on our members and Supporters, and in a more general way on the media and the population of Canada.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meeting
2. Recent Action
3. Coming Up
4. Current Campaign
5. New Brochure
------------------------
1. Monthly Meeting: Discussion Topic: We are developing a brochure for Common Causes that can be used by groups and people at rallies anywhere, expressing our significant concerns about the Harper government. The chosen theme was The Bully, The Bullied and the Bystander. Nicole distributed her draft for the brochure and led a brainstorming session . See #5 below.
2. Recent Events:
An Evening with Trish Hennessy, Director with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. June 6, 7-9:00 Oakville Central Library. A FREE event sponsored by Oakville NDP. Report.
Wrestling for Democracy by Dennis Pilon Tuesday June 18, 2013 At The Kings Arms, Oakville
Dennis Pilon spoke about his new book.
Topic of discussion was the state of democracy in Canada today. Report.
3. Coming Up:
In Niagara-on-the-Lake Thursday July 25 at 11 am: a mass rally in support of national public medicare and a renewed health accord. Details.
4. Cooperate for Canada and Election Reform including On Line Voting
We are working on this current campaign.
5. New Brochure: We have created a new brochure that can be used by anyone simply by changing the organizational name. The text is on our web site here, and the three column layout is available in Word on request.
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Reclaim Our Democratic Canada
============================
RODC Report to Supporters
May 31, 2013
If you have been reading the papers lately, you will have noticed the
number of commentators who have focused on the Senate scandal and Mr. Harper’s
attempts to make “the distraction” go away. As a journalist, Senator Duffy would
have been all over this story, holding the government of the day to account for
its unethical acts. On this date, he is at his PEI cottage, still a senator
although outside the Conservative caucus. The party will miss his fund raising
services for the next election.
Mr. Harper appears to be running out of
gas, possibly deflated by the kind of scandal that he used against the
Liberal government seven years ago. Will he stonewall now and resign later? Here
is some entertaining speculation on
that topic.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meeting
2. Get Up. Stand Up!
3. Coming Up Locally
4. Some Senate Scandal Links
5. Updates on Campaigns
-------------------------------------------
1. Monthly Meeting: Discussion Topic: What is the greatest threat to
Canada today? What do we have the power to do about it?
The preview and a substantial section of the film Revolution were shown.
Clare felt that if the oceans die, mankind dies and this must surely be the
greatest threat to Canada or anywhere.
Link to the Revolution
Movie flyer.
Link to the section on Ocean
Acidification.
Other people listed many threats to Canada and provided some solutions.
Details are available on our site under Monthly
Meetings.
2. Get Up. Stand Up! On a glorious Saturday, RODC members and 400 others
gathered in Convocation Hall University of Toronto to hear six activist
speakers, who all stand up for Democracy, with moderators Carol Off of CBC
Radio’s “As It Happens” and Gillian Findlay of CBC TV’s “5th estate” to try to
control proceedings and also to record the Q&A sessions for CBC. Full
Report.
3. June Events Locally:
An Evening with Trish Hennessy, Director with the Canadian Centre for
Policy Alternatives. June 6, 7-9:00 Oakville Central Library. A FREE event sponsored by Oakville
NDP.
Wrestling for Democracy by Dennis Pilon Tuesday June 18, 2013 At The
Kings Arms, Oakville
6.45 Fair Vote Canada AGM
7.30 Dennis Pilon will speak about his
new book.
You are invited to come and join the discussion on the state of democracy
in Canada today.
4. Some Senate Scandal Links:
Senate Finance Data collected and collated by the Toronto Star. View
here.
Harper returns to Ottawa as ethics committee considers hearings on
Wright-Duffy affair. View
here.
Key moments in the Senate expenses controversy. View
here.
Serial breaches of trust will doom the Harper machine. View
here.
5. Updates on RODC Campaigns:
ROBOCALLS MAY 2013: A federal judge found that an entity did in fact
employ robocalls to influence the election. In a clear and bold statement, Judge
Richard Mosley wrote: "I find that electoral fraud occurred during the 41st
General Election."
CBC: Friends of Canadian Broadcasting Ian Morrison addresses the
Finance Committee. Video.
POLICY NOT POLLS: Our Policy Not Polls campaign in 2011 focused on
the media, which make polls the story when they have nothing to say about the
issues or the candidates in an election.
This campaign was ahead of its time, as demonstrated by the 2013
election in BC when the NDP were called to win by a large margin by the
pollsters, but when the Liberal party won by a large margin instead.
The pollsters were dead wrong. Media would have been better to focus
on the candidates and the party platforms.
Read about it in
The Star.
Cooperate for Canada and Election Reform including On Line
Voting
We are working on this current campaign.
===============================
RODC Report to Supporters
April 25, 2013
We've had a particularly busy month focusing on collaboration with
like-minded groups. We were encouraged by MP Joyce Murray's effort for
cooperation and electoral reform in the Liberal Leadership Race. Our concerns
are "out there" and polls reflect a hunger in Canada for change.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meeting
2. Common Causes Update
3. Aboriginal Issues Report: Wab Kinew
4. Canadian Electoral Alliance Update
5. Current Campaign
------------------------
1. Monthly Meeting: Elka Enola led an animated discussion on various
aspects of cooperation among parties to defeat the Harper government in 2015.
RODC is planning ways to support and promote cooperation at the next election.
Organization of a town hall meeting in Oakville later in the year has begun. The
problem so far is to schedule the members of parliament that we wish to
invite.
2. Common Causes: Common Causes is an assembly of social movements
dedicated to defending democracy, the environment, and human rights. It is
planning demonstrations on June 28-30 in Calgary at the Conservative Party
Convention. We hope that our Supporters in Calgary will join up with those
demonstrations.
Check their web site.
3. Aboriginal Issues: Understanding “Idle No More” with Wab
Kinew
Presented by the Halton Catholic District School Board and the Halton
Regional Police Services, this evening on April 2 featured a presentation by Wab
Kinew, known as the host of CBC’s “8th Fire”.
“8TH Fire draws from an Anishinaabe prophecy that declares now is the
time for Aboriginal peoples and the settler community to come together and build
the '8TH Fire' of justice and harmony.”
Watch it here.
4. Canadian Electoral Alliance: Host of a Town Hall meeting, April
4, 7-9:00 p.m.
Topic: Take Back Parliament: Is Proportional Representation the way?
Featuring: Peggy Nash, NDP; Carolyn Bennett, Liberal; Jim Harris,
Green.
We co-sponsored CEA’s town hall, and several members attended.
Check out their web
site.
5. Current Campaign: Cooperate for Canada and Election Reform
including On Line Voting
-Cooperate for Canada has published the following survey:
Canadians support electoral reform, would vote for cooperation candidates –
new national poll. Read the
article.
-Check out the April Monthly Meeting of RODC on Cooperation here.
-Read this article in the Star regarding online voting here .
================================
RODC Report to Supporters
March 25, 2013
April, as T.S. Eliot could have said, is the coolest month. There is so
much going on that we are stressed to attend all of the Town Halls and
presentations as well as keep up with our own initiatives.
Contents:
1. Committee of the Whole
2. Common Causes
3. Aboriginal Issues: Wab Kinew
4. Canadian Electoral Alliance
5. Cooperation
------------------------
1. Committee of the Whole: On March 6, 2013, RODC members met on our
continuing theme of Aboriginal Issues with Janet Wilson as guest
presenter.
Janet Wilson, renowned illustrator and author, showed slides and told
of her experiences in researching for her book Shannen and the Dream for a
School. The school of the title is in Attiwapiskat. Check out Janet’s web site
and see Shannen speak.
2. Common Causes: We are participating in their weekly national telephone
conferences. The organization is just getting started.
Check their web
site.
3. Aboriginal Issues: Understanding “Idle No More” with Wab Kinew
Presented by the Halton Catholic District School Board and the Halton
Regional Police Services, this evening on April 2 will feature a presentation by
Wab Kinew, known as the host of CBC’s “8th Fire”.
“8TH Fire draws from an Anishinaabe prophecy that declares now is the
time for Aboriginal peoples and the settler community to come together and build
the '8TH Fire' of justice and harmony.”
Watch it here.
4. Canadian Electoral Alliance: Host of a Town Hall meeting, April 4,
7-9:00 p.m.
Topic: Take Back Parliament: Is Proportional Representation the way?
Featuring: Peggy Nash, NDP; Carolyn Bennett, Liberal; Jim Harris,
Green.
We are co-sponsoring CEA’s town hall, and several members are
attending.
Check out their web
site.
5. Cooperation: RODC is planning ways to support and promote cooperation at
the next election. Organization of a town hall meeting in Oakville later in the
year has begun. The problem so far is to schedule the members of parliament that
we wish to invite. More news on this next month.
================================
RODC February Report to Supporters
February 28, 2013
We are working on strengthening our muscle by cooperating with and
supporting other groups. Please check our main web site for the latest
information on our activities. Click on the links to other pages and
sites.
Contents:
1. January 28 Action: Get off the Omnibus!
2. Common Causes
3. Aboriginal Issues
4. Committee of the Whole
5. Hangout
------------------------
1. Common Causes Demonstration January 28
RODC rented a van and toured key spots in Oakville to attract attention
and hand out leaflets starting at the GO station at 8:00. The theme was “Get
off the Omnibus” pointing to the omnibus bills that the government has passed
without serious consultation. These bills remove many of the environmental
safeguards that we have had in the past. Photos and links to this demonstration
can be found on our main web
site.
RODC encourages Supporters to organize a demonstration or join an Idle No
more event in your community.
2. Common Causes: On January 28th, Common Causes, a new assembly of
social movements, was launching across the country.
Check their
web site.
3. Aboriginal Issues: The Challenges, the Way Forward: Several
members of RODC attended a round table with Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, Ph.D., who
is engaged in a variety of initiatives across Canada. She is a member and
resident of the Chippewa of Georgina Island First Nation in Lake Simcoe.
Photo and story here.
4. Committee of the Whole: Members of RODC meet monthly at a space
in Oakville where speakers can be accommodated or videos shown. The purpose of
the gatherings is to discuss current issues that fall within the mandate of the
RODC. At the first meeting of 2013, Che Marville discussed our
democratic concerns with the members.
At the March meeting, Janet Wilson, writer and illustrator, author of
Shannen and the Dream for a School, will present her experiences in researching
for this book including visits to Attiwapiskat. Janet’s
web site.
5. Hangout Software: Together with Fair Vote Halton, we are
considering a visit by one or more federal candidates who are in favour of
Cooperation. However, the suggestion has been made that we hold a virtual town
hall meeting employing Google+ Hangout instead. To that end and anticipating
other uses, we have been practicing with the software.
================================
RODC January Report to Supporters
January 23, 2013
A new year brings hope for reclaiming our fragile democracy after the
lifting of the Reform-Conservative Party’s rule, but it won’t be an easy lift,
so we are working on strengthening our muscle by cooperating with and supporting
other groups. Please check our main web site for the latest information on our
activities. Click on the links to other pages and sites.
1. RODC has completed its final report “Action For Democracy” on the
November Symposium. The report with notes on the speeches is available at our
Symposium 2012 web site.
2. Common Causes Demonstration January 28
RODC has rented a van and will tour key spots in Oakville to attract
attention and hand out leaflets starting at the GO station at 8:00. The theme
is “Get off the Omnibus” pointing to the omnibus bills that the government has
passed without serious consultation. These bills remove many of the
environmental safeguards that we have had in the past. There is a link to this
campaign on our main web
site.
RODC encourages Supporters to organize a demonstration or join an Idle No
More event in your community.
3. Common Causes: On January 28th, Common Causes, a new assembly
of social movements will be launching across the country and invites you to take
action!
Check
their web site.
4. Idle No More: Grassroots Founders and Organizers from across
Canada, in Solidarity with Common Causes - a new initiative bringing together
social justice, environmental, labour and other Activist Groups…
- UNITED we are planning IDLE NO MORE WORLD DAY OF ACTION on January
28th, 2013.
This day of action will peacefully protest attacks on Democracy,
Indigenous Sovereignty, Human Rights and Environmental Protections when Canadian
MPs return to the House of Commons on January 28th.
Check their web site.
5. Letters to MPs and the Media: RODC is supporting Idle No
More in their opposition to Bill C-45. We have created two letters, one for
your member of parliament and one for your local media. You may adapt the
letter to suit your local situation. We encourage you to mail or e-mail letters
like these.
