RODC Report to Supporters
February 14, 2016
The election changed everything: we have lost the enthusiasm for protesting that we had when there was a secretive prime minister and a dark government in Canada; we feel lighter and brighter about the future. Many of us are involved in other organizations that take time and energy, so we decided that RODC should take a break and assess the political situation when the new government has had a year to rebuild our Canadian democracy.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meeting
2. Watch This Changes Everything
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1. Monthly Meeting: February 10, 2016
A. Sabbatical: The final decision at this meeting was to take some time off to give the current government time to implement the changes that will rebuild our democratic Canada. Individuals will be able to support other groups that match their interests.
B. Discovery Session: We decided to meet on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, to assess the state of democracy in Canada and to create a report card that we can share among ourselves and possibly pass on to our MPs if that seems appropriate.
C. A Chapter of the Council of Canadians: There are at least 5 members who are thinking of initiating an Oakville or Halton chapter of the CofC at a later date.
D. The group has been renamed Rebuilding Our Democratic Canada and the web sitehas been updated to reflect the new reality.
2. CBC TV will broadcast This Changes Everything on February 18 at 8:00 p.m.
Preview here.
This documentary, based on the book This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate by Naomi Klein, is well worth seeing.
We hope that all of our Supporters will approve of these actions.
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Rebuilding Our Democratic Canada
========================Rebuilding Our Democratic Canada
RODC Report to Supporters
October 2015
RODC has worked diligently for seven years to draw attention to the sad state of our democracy under this Harper government. Monday is the time to change direction and elect a government that will restore respect for our democratic institutions.
Let’s get out and VOTE!
Recent Events: Over the summer and through September, members of RODC worked to organize an effective All Candidates Meeting that would include everyone from the Oakville riding and a new riding called Oakville North-Burlington. It turned out to be a well-organized, standing room only event with seven candidates participating, but without the two conservative candidates. They declined our invitation.
For more details of this and other local events that RODC members participated in, check the 2015 Actions page on our web site.
To Come: We are planning a party for the 21st which we expect to be a happy event.
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Reclaim Our Democratic Canada
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RODC Report to Supporters
April 2015
Did you like the budget? Did it spoil your enjoyment of the spring weather? Did it rain in your parade? The Harper government has 100% of the power with 39% of the vote, so it will pass as concocted. The election date in October is the time to show our displeasure. We are working on that.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meeting: Long Term Plan Review
2. Recent Events: Michael Harris, Party of One
3. Worth Reading: Andrew Coyne: A telling 24 hours in Stephen Harper’s world
4. LeadNow: Vote Together
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1. Monthly Meeting: Long Term Plan Review
The group decided to focus their efforts and resources on organizing two all candidates events, one in the Oakville riding and one in the new Burlington-North Oakville riding. RODC members will continue to write letters to the media and to their representatives in the effort to draw attention to the erosion of democracy in Canada and how to reclaim it.
2. Recent Events: On April 15, RODC flew in Michael Harris, author of Party of One, from his Nova Scotia home to speak on the topic of his best selling book. We arranged for Unifor’s large union hall in expectation of a huge audience at this event and about 250 people showed up to hear him. While he was in Ontario, Michael spoke to other groups and was interviewed by Steve Paikin on The Agenda.
For more details of this and other RODC events, check the 2015 Actions page on our web site here.
3. Worth Reading: Andrew Coyne: A telling 24 hours in Stephen Harper’s world
He Concludes: “The point is, this was all in the space of 24 hours. If one were to draw up an indictment of this government’s approach to politics and the public purpose, one might mention its wholesale contempt for Parliament, its disdain for the Charter of Rights and the courts’ role in upholding it, its penchant for secrecy, its chronic deceitfulness, its deepening ethical problems, its insistence on taking, at all times, the lowest, crudest path to its ends, its relentless politicization of everything.
“But you’d think you would need to look back over its record over several years to find examples. You wouldn’t think to see them all spread before you in the course of a single day.”
Read More
4. LeadNow: The Vote Together project. The Vote Together campaign is about bringing people together - people who have voted NDP, Liberal, and Green, first-time voters, and even some unhappy Conservative voters - to pick the best local candidate who can defeat the Conservatives in their riding and move Canada forward.
For more information on that project, click this link.
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Reclaim Our Democratic Canada
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RODC Report to Supporters
February 2015
After a the holiday season, RODC has organized two local events to stimulate interest and involvement in the upcoming election. We have high hopes for a progressive future for Canada.
Contents:
1. Monthly Meeting: Long Range Plans
2. Recent Events: John Dupuis on The Government’s War on Science
3. Coming Up: Party of One author, Michael Harris
4. The ABC Book: ABC Under Harper
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1. Monthly Meeting: The January meeting reviewed our long range plan and received reports on steps taken. For example, Hart has been to several meetings with the LeadNow group working in Etobicoke South on the Vote Together project. For more information on that project, click here.
2. Recent Events: Fifty people gathered to hear John Dupuis, science librarian an York University, speak about the Government’s War on Science. In contrast with the Harper government, Dupuis provides a mass of evidence for all his statements on issues, such as this quote: No evidence, no truth, no science, no democracy. To see his slide show, click here.
3. Coming Up: On April 15, RODC is flying in Michael Harris, author of Party of One, from his Nova Scotia home to speak on the topic of his best selling book. We have arranged for Unifor’s large union hall in expectation of a huge audience at this event. For more details of this and other RODC events, check the 2015 Actions page on our web site .here
4. The ABC Book: Tina has created a useful booklet, which is funny if it weren’t so serious, listing the ABC to XYZ of how Harper has made Canada unrecognizable. A member of the RODC shows and reads ABC Under Harper in this video.
Clare Henderson for the Steering Committee
Reclaim Our Democratic Canada
