RODC 2014 Year End
Report to Supporters
We at Reclaim Our Democratic Canada wish you a Happy Holiday Season and we hope for success in our work for real Democracy in Canada in the upcoming election year.
Contents:
1. Updated brochure
2. Demonstrations
3. Stephen Lewis Roars
4. ABC Under Harper
1. RODC has been very active this year, updating the brochure (available on our site) and holding planning sessions to get organized for the few months leading up to the federal election of 2015. Our mission: To elect a government that will reclaim our democratic Canada.
Our Goals:
1. To inform and engage Canadians on issues and threats to democracy in Canada
2. To increase voter participation
3. To promote electoral reform in the shape of proportional representation
4. To take direct action to defend or enhance democracy.
For our Strategic Action Plan 2015, we have chosen seven actions ranging from public speeches to an all candidates meeting to supporting the LeadNow Vote Together Campaign. There are details of this Plan on our web site.
2. RODC organized and/or took part in the following demonstrations:
>Inter-Continental Day of Action, Friday, January 31, 2014 Silent March vs NAFTA and TPP from the Mexican Consulate marching to U.S. Consulate on University.
>DEMONSTRATION Tuesday March 25, at Terence's office at 265 Cross Avenue
We were joined by several members of Unifor in this demonstration against the unfair elections act, our response to Leadnow's call for action in the "Let People Vote" campaign.
>Book Launch: Tragedy in the Commons, May 5 with Michael McMillan
>RODC Members supported the demonstration to Bring Back Our Girls in Towne Square, Oakville at 6:30 Wednesday May 14.
>Because of the Provincial Election: June 12 we co-hosted an All Candidates Meeting with Unifor and the Oakville and District Labour Council.
>Table at Eden Mills Writers Festival: Sunday, September 15, 2013 to pass out brochures and dialogue on democracy.
>October 4: Candlelight VIGIL in Oakville
>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.
3. We would like to draw your attention to just one of many published articles that expresses our views.
Stephen Lewis Roars
Lewis told the Symons Lecture on the future of confederation:
∙ Canada’s world standing is in free fall.
∙ The Harper government’s contempt for Parliament and its traditions has degraded political life and fostered voter cynicism.
∙ Its attitude to aboriginals is not paternalistic, it is racist.
∙ Harper’s refusal to join the rest of the world and move toward renewable energy sources is endangering future generations and contributing to a looming planetary meltdown.
∙ Civil society and the ideas it fosters have been slapped down and censored, subverting democratic norms.
Read the whole article.
4. ABC Under Harper: the latest RODC publication. Harper said, “You won’t recognize Canada when I get through with it”. This book is the ABC to XYZ of how he has achieved his goal so far. Check it out here.
RODC Report to Supporters
September 2014
After a quiet summer, RODC is starting to be re-energized for the last year before the 2015 election. We are currently in a long term planning mode with high hopes for a progressive future for Canada.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meetings: Electoral Reform
2. Recent Events: Table at Eden Mills Writers’ Festival; Candlelight Vigil
3. Coming Up: Planning meetings
4. New Books
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1. Monthly Meeting: Electoral Reform
One of our major objectives is to have the electoral system reformed by the next government so that parliament will reflect more accurately the will of the voting public.
At our September Monthly Meeting, we viewed a Fair Vote Canada video and discussed the issue.
2. Recent Events:
Table at Eden Mills Writers' Festival
RODC rented a table on Publishers’ Way at the annual writers’ festival to pass out our brochures and speak with passers by about democracy.
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL
To remember and honour the lives of missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls. Saturday October 4th at 7:30 p.m. with opening remarks by Ms. Sherri Seavil, Halton Catholic School Board Aboriginal Liaison Officer.
In the Garden of St. Jude’s Church,160 William St. (Downtown Oakville)
3. Planning Meetings: The October and November Monthly Meetings will be dedicated to a long range plan for the 12 months leading up to the election in 2015. Our outcome is “The election of a Government that will reclaim our democratic Canada”. We will define our goals and strategies that will contribute to that outcome.
To stimulate discussion, we will watch excerpts from the video of “Imposed Ignorance -On what evidence does Ottawa base its policies.”
To watch the video, click here.
4. New Books: We have established a new section on our web site that recommends books on political subjects. Check it out here.
The latest book to be added is The Nature of Economics by Jane Jacobs
It relates to many of the concerns of RODC - inequality, environment, government policies, and makes a case for human economy being part of the ecosystem.
"What are economies for? ... surely human needs include fair and just sharing of economic production?"
"I think economic life is for teaching our species it has responsibilities to the planet and the rest of nature." -Jane Jacobs
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Reclaim Our Democratic Canada
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RODC Report to Supporters
April-May 2014
April was a quiet month, but May brought the promise of spring and political action took off.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meetings: What Happened to our Democracy??
2. Recent Events: Book Launch
3. Coming Up: All Candidates Meeting
4. Elections Act Bill C-23: What’s new?
5. New Books
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1. Monthly Meeting What Happened to our Democracy??
April Meeting: Theme : What does Fair Elections mean in a democracy?
Among other aspects of holding fair elections, we discussed on line voting, a favourite issue of ours. This article in the Toronto Star is worth reading.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/06/24/elections_ontario_says_its_time_for_a_pilot_project_on_online_voting.html
May Meeting: Instead of the regular discussion meeting, RODC created an event –the book launch of Tragedy in the Commons by Alison Loat and Michael McMillan.
This links will take you to the Meetings page on our web site. http://reclaimourcanada.blogspot.ca/p/2014-montly-meetings.html
2. Recent Events: Michael McMillan spoke about the process of interviewing 80 past Mps and collecting their responses into the book, Tragedy in the Commons. He fielded questions from former MP Bonnie Brown, MPP Kevin Flynn, Mayor Rob Burton, provincial NDP candidate Che Marville and Liberal hopeful Jennifer Malabar, among many others. RODC hosted this public event at O’Finn’s Irish Temper in Oakville with an excellent turnout of about 70 people.
Pictures and details are available here. http://reclaimourcanada.blogspot.ca/p/2014.html
3. Coming Up: Again, instead of the regular Monthly Meeting of the group, RODC has organized an All Candidates Meeting the week before the provincial election. All of the Oakville and North Oakville candidates have been invited
4. Reminder: About the “Fair Election Act”
The act has now passed parliament and is at the Senate. After widespread resistance to the bill, the government finally agreed to some amendments. It is unclear how the final version of the bill will change the election process.
Here are two examples of objections to the Elections Act.
Let People Vote video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht_sOeGJJG4&list=UUFl4sDPX3MMo1QM8V03Jowg
And the Rick Mercer Rant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1cV9WnHndQ&list=UUt3Ag7rdgR6mtzOMEhd_v6g
5. New Books: We have established a new section on our web site that recommends books on political subjects. Check it out here.
http://reclaimourcanada.blogspot.ca/p/books.html
Just added:
“In Tragedy in the Commons, Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan, founders of the non-partisan think tank Samara, draw on an astonishing eighty exit interviews with former Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum to unearth surprising observations about the practice of politics in Canada.”
http://www.randomhouse.com/book/217230/tragedy-in-the-commons-by-alison-loat-and-michael-macmillan
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Reclaim Our Democratic Canada
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RODC Report to Supporters
March 2014
Wind and snow forced us to cancel our February meeting and postpone our March meeting until March 19, but we persisted. How Canadian of us.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meeting
2. Recent Events: Let People Vote!
3. Coming Up
4. Elections Act Bill C-23
5. New Books
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1. Monthly Meeting: The March meeting focused on “Speaking out about our government and the environment”. We showed these videos to stimulate discussion:
>Leadnow’s animated video, since this was our Leadnow Contact Event.
>Neil Young was interviewed on Q concerning his outspoken views on the Harper administration.
>Professor Dayna Scott on the environment.
There are links to these videos on our web site.
2. Recent Events: Let People Vote! Tuesday March 25, at Terence Young's office
RODC members were joined at the local MP’s office by several members of Unifor in this demonstration against the unfair elections act, our response to Leadnow's call for action in the "Let People Vote" campaign. It was cold and windy at noon when we met the Unifor members to sign a petition and a letter to Oakville’s MP. The Leadnow petition and our letter were left at the office to inform Terence of the objections against the so-called Fair Elections Act.
CBC and CTV covered the demonstration at various points across Canada. The March 31 Star lead editorial calls for Bill C-23 to be overhauled.
The local press covered the event. There is a good photo of the group on our site.
3. Coming Up: We are planning to hold a public meeting in Oakville to launch the book “Tragedy in the Commons”. (See “New Books” below.) The authors are travelling across the country launching their book in various communities. We are negotiating a date to host the Oakville launch. Check here for a date in your community.
4. Reminder: The government is pushing the Election Act through parliament, so immediate action is needed if it is to be modified or blocked. Call your MP.
5. New Books: We have established a new section on our web site that recommends books on political subjects. Check it out.
“In Tragedy in the Commons, Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan, founders of the non-partisan think tank Samara, draw on an astonishing eighty exit interviews with former Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum to unearth surprising observations about the practice of politics in Canada.”
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Reclaim Our Democratic Canada
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RODC Report to Supporters
February 2014
Such a cold month! Will it ever be spring? Wind and snow forced us to cancel our February meeting, but we have high hopes for March.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meeting
2. Recent Events
3. Coming Up
4. TPP
5. New Books
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1. Monthly Meeting: The February meeting was cancelled because of dangerous driving conditions.
2. Recent Events: Inter-Continental Day of Action, Friday, January 31, 12:30 near Yonge at 11 King West in Toronto.
Several members of RODC joined the silent March to protest against the secret negotiations surrounding TPP. Report and pictures. http://reclaimourcanada.blogspot.ca/p/2014.html
3. Coming Up:
(A) Fair Vote Canada is speaking at a Town hall on Democratic Reform hosted by MP Kyle Seeback: The Reform Act and Proportional Representation
http://www.reclaimourcanada.blogspot.ca/p/2014.html
(B) At our Monthly Meeting we will discuss “Speaking out about our government and the environment”
Videos to be shown for discussion: You can watch these videos. Check the web site for links. http://reclaimourcanada.blogspot.ca/p/2014-montly-meetings.html
1. Leadnow video
2. Neil Young on Q 1 min 24 sec
2. Professor on the environment 13 min
4. Reminder: What is the TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP? It is a proposed Trade Agreement currently being negotiated between 12 countries: Canada, the United States, Mexico, Australia, New-Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Brunei, Peru, Chili and Vietnam.
The economic power of the twelve countries is close to 40% of the world economy.
TPP will affect three-quarters of a billion people and potentially more (Source: Foreign Affairs) and people, elected politicians are not being consulted.
Yet a leaked list of the 600 advisors to the American negotiators include Exxon, Monsanto, Wal-Mart, Halliburton, Chevron, Pharmaceutical companies etc….
TPP IS ABOUT CORPORATE GLOBALIZATION!
5. New Books: We have established a new section on our web site that recommends books on political subjects. Check it out here.
http://reclaimourcanada.blogspot.ca/p/books.html
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Reclaim Our Democratic Canada
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RODC Report to Supporters
January 2014
What is the TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP? It is a proposed Trade Agreement currently being negotiated between 12 countries: Canada, the United States, Mexico, Australia, New-Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Brunei, Peru, Chili and Vietnam.
The economic power of the twelve countries is close to 40% of the world economy.
TPP will affect three-quarters of a billion people and potentially more (Source: Foreign Affairs) and people, elected politicians are not being consulted.
Yet a leaked list of the 600 advisors to the American negotiators include Exxon, Monsanto, Wal-Mart, Halliburton, Chevron, Pharmaceutical companies etc….
TPP IS ABOUT CORPORATE GLOBALIZATION!
Contents:
1. Monthly Meeting
2. Recent Events
3. Coming Up
4. Current Campaign
5. New Books
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1. Monthly Meeting: We watched a TED Talk to stimulate dialogue on democracy in Canada.
We watched the video of a summer 2013 Toronto TED talk by Darrell Bricker, CEO of IPSOS Public Affairs. He pointed out that changing immigration patterns and population distribution by age means that the Canada we think we know is a thing of the past. He urged advertisers and political organizers to take note of the changes.
He concluded that the West and the 905 area around Toronto are now the most influential areas in Canada. These are populated by conservative “immigrant strivers” who support traditional family values and law and order. There was considerable discussion about whether these statistics really do influence voting patterns and if so, what can be done with the information.
Darrell Bricker, CEO of IPSOS Public Affairs.
To watch this video, click here. http://www.tedxtoronto.com/talks/darrell-bricker/
2. Recent Events:
a) Members of RODC attended a workshop put on by CANADIAN ELECTORAL ALLIANCE AND FAIR VOTE CANADA: How to Lobby 101 and PR 101 Workshop
Campaign to make 2015 the last unfair election in Canada
b) Visit to our Oakville MP Terence Young to talk about PR:
John Kinnunen of Fair Vote Halton, Pat Froio, June Wright and Tina Agrell of RODC met January 23rd at MP Terence Young’s constituency office in Oakville.
c) Inter-Continental Day of Action, Friday, January 31, 12:30 near Yonge at 11 King West in Toronto.
Several members of RODC joined the silent March to protest against the secret negotiations surrounding TPP.
3. Coming Up: At our Monthly Meeting we will discuss Speaking out about our government and the environment
Videos to be shown for discussion: You can preview these videos ahead of time. Check the web site for links.
1. Neil Young on Q 1 min 24 sec
2. Professor on the environment 13 min
4. Cooperate for Canada and Election Reform including On Line Voting http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/06/24/elections_ontario_says_its_time_for_a_pilot_project_on_online_voting.html
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.
http://reclaimourcanada.blogspot.ca/p/books.html
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Reclaim Our Democratic Canada
