Bill C-38 Needs to be Stopped.

So it's been ages since we've published. A big reason for that is the disillusionment experienced around the IO lately regarding politics in Canada. It seems that every thing that makes us want to rant, rage, and otherwise bang out pages of dissent and opinion just falls by the wayside, ignored by most other Canadians.

However, Bill C-38 is a different beast altogether. It's an attempt by the Conservative government, to ram over 70 individual pieces of legislative changes down the throats of unsuspecting Canadians disguised as a budget bill. In over 430 pages, 30% of which deal with major changes to environmental protection and regulation, we find an agenda that we can only imagine was expected to be lost in the morass of paper. But people noticed. Changes to EI, old age security, fisheries and protected marine habitats, indigenous healthcare, environmental watchdogs, streamlining the process for pipeline construction - it's all sneaky, underhanded, and severely anti-democratic.

A number of websites have sprung up encouraging you to speak out and stop Bill C-38 from passing. People are encouraging you to contact your local MP. But we here at the IO think this issue is big enough to warrant something a little different.

If only 12 Conservative MPs decide to vote against the bill, it will not pass. In an effort to make this happen, we here at the IO have compiled a handy list of all Conservative backbenchers that are little more than whipped votes for their party. We feel that by appealing to their humanity, morality, and sense of fairness that the Canadian public may just sway 12 of them to temporarily defect. In that interest, here is the list of Conservative backbencher's email addresses. Please put the time in to write them - blind CC the list, ask them to defend Canada, defend our environment, stand up in the face of an assault on our democracy in the form of these Frankenstein omnibus bills.

Here's the list, just copy/paste into your email;

Eve.Adams@parl.gc.ca, Mark.Adler@parl.gc.ca, leona.aglukkaq@parl.gc.ca, Dan.Albas@parl.gc.ca, harold.albrecht@parl.gc.ca, Chris.Alexander@parl.gc.ca, mike.allen@parl.gc.ca, dean.allison@parl.gc.ca, Stella.Ambler@parl.gc.ca, rob.anders@parl.gc.ca, david.anderson@parl.gc.ca, scott.armstrong@parl.gc.ca, keith.ashfield@parl.gc.ca, Jay.Aspin@parl.gc.ca, Joyce.Bateman@parl.gc.ca, leon.benoit@parl.gc.ca, james.bezan@parl.gc.ca, steven.blaney@parl.gc.ca, kelly.block@parl.gc.ca, ray.boughen@parl.gc.ca, peter.braid@parl.gc.ca, garry.breitkreuz@parl.gc.ca, gord.brown@parl.gc.ca, lois.brown@parl.gc.ca, patrick.brown@parl.gc.ca, rod.bruinooge@parl.gc.ca, Brad.Butt@parl.gc.ca, paul.calandra@parl.gc.ca, blaine.calkins@parl.gc.ca, ron.cannan@parl.gc.ca, John.Carmichael@parl.gc.ca, colin.carrie@parl.gc.ca, Corneliu.Chisu@parl.gc.ca, michael.chong@parl.gc.ca, rob.clarke@parl.gc.ca, Joe.Daniel@parl.gc.ca, pat.davidson@parl.gc.ca, bob.dechert@parl.gc.ca, barry.devolin@parl.gc.ca, earl.dreeshen@parl.gc.ca, rick.dykstra@parl.gc.ca, ed.fast@parl.gc.ca, Kerry-Lynne.Findlay@parl.gc.ca, royal.galipeau@parl.gc.ca, cheryl.gallant@parl.gc.ca, Parm.Gill@parl.gc.ca, shelly.glover@parl.gc.ca, Robert.Goguen@parl.gc.ca, jacques.gourde@parl.gc.ca, nina.grewal@parl.gc.ca, richard.harris@parl.gc.ca, Bryan.Hayes@parl.gc.ca, russ.hiebert@parl.gc.ca, Jim.Hillyer@parl.gc.ca, randy.hoback@parl.gc.ca, candice.hoeppner@parl.gc.ca, ed.holder@parl.gc.ca, Roxanne.James@parl.gc.ca, brian.jean@parl.gc.ca, randy.kamp@parl.gc.ca, gerald.keddy@parl.gc.ca, greg.kerr@parl.gc.ca, ed.komarnicki@parl.gc.ca, daryl.kramp@parl.gc.ca, mike.lake@parl.gc.ca, guy.lauzon@parl.gc.ca, Ryan.Leef@parl.gc.ca, Kellie.Leitch@parl.gc.ca, pierre.lemieux@parl.gc.ca, Chungsen.Leung@parl.gc.ca, Wladyslaw.Lizon@parl.gc.ca, ben.lobb@parl.gc.ca, james.lunney@parl.gc.ca, colin.mayes@parl.gc.ca, phil.mccoleman@parl.gc.ca, cathy.mcleod@parl.gc.ca, Costas.Menegakis@parl.gc.ca, larry.miller@parl.gc.ca, rick.norlock@parl.gc.ca, tilly.oneillgordon@parl.gc.ca, Ted.Opitz@parl.gc.ca, lavar.payne@parl.gc.ca, pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca, joe.preston@parl.gc.ca, james.rajotte@parl.gc.ca, brent.rathgeber@parl.gc.ca, Michelle.Rempel@parl.gc.ca, blake.richards@parl.gc.ca, greg.rickford@parl.gc.ca, andrew.saxton@parl.gc.ca, gary.schellenberger@parl.gc.ca, Kyle.Seeback@parl.gc.ca, bev.shipley@parl.gc.ca, devinder.shory@parl.gc.ca, joy.smith@parl.gc.ca, robert.sopuck@parl.gc.ca, kevin.sorenson@parl.gc.ca, bruce.stanton@parl.gc.ca, brian.storseth@parl.gc.ca, Mark.Strahl@parl.gc.ca, david.sweet@parl.gc.ca, david.tilson@parl.gc.ca, Lawrence.Toet@parl.gc.ca, brad.trost@parl.gc.ca, Bernard.Trottier@parl.gc.ca, Susan.Truppe@parl.gc.ca, merv.tweed@parl.gc.ca, Bernard.Valcourt@parl.gc.ca, dave.vankesteren@parl.gc.ca, maurice.vellacott@parl.gc.ca, mike.wallace@parl.gc.ca, mark.warawa@parl.gc.ca, chris.warkentin@parl.gc.ca, jeff.watson@parl.gc.ca, john.weston@parl.gc.ca, rodney.weston@parl.gc.ca, David.Wilks@parl.gc.ca, John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca, stephen.woodworth@parl.gc.ca, terence.young@parl.gc.ca, Wai.Young@parl.gc.ca, Bob.Zimmer@parl.gc.ca

Do your part - spread the word, ask these people for their help. There's plenty of information out there about this 'budget' bill and what you can do to make a difference. Here's a couple of websites to check out;

http://www.facebook.com/groups/429355157084052/?ref=ts

http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/06/06/a-rough-guide-to-bill-c-38/

http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?cat=370

http://heroes.leadnow.ca/

Duckin' and Jivin' Part Deux: La Fracas En Francais!

Yes, the French version of the Leaders Debate is cooling on the windowsill of public opinion as we speak; freshly baked and half-risen like some sad baguette.

Wow, Harper, way to suck. Thank goodness. Your French wasn't good and your responses were dull. You didn't have the same stage-presence as last night, you looked considerably less comfortable, and hopefully it'll resonate with Quebec voters - you didn't win this gunfight.

Ignatieff was much more fluent and his ideas seemed to flow even better than during the English Language version, however it was almost a carbon copy of last night's lines and tack. You seemed more confident, less angry, and again you paid careful attention to sticking to the questions asked, addressing the other leaders directly, and throwing last night's punches to the same spots on Harper's torso. There was a little less intensity around Harper's democratic assault, a little more flair and less mild flubbing - good job.

Jack's interpreter was phenomenal. The voice was perfect for Jack's mannerisms and facial expressions. It's always hard when you're watching and listening to an interpreted debate; (for us, anyway) a lot of the physical language is lost due to the dissonance of the voice overlay; but not with Mr. Layton tonight somehow. He was good; predictable, again, like the rest of the group, repetitive with last night's responses and message, but there were no slip-ups. A special thank you to the Voice.

Gilles - oh, Gillesy... How loved you are at the IO. Because you only need to woo Quebecers, and of course this was Quebec's debate night, you generally enjoy the ability to avoid generalizations and the long sweep of political language that those scrambling for votes across a wider spectrum - not to mention geography - need to employ. You nailed Harper, Ignatieff and Layton equally. Fortunately, speaking in your first language brought clarity to your ideas and arguments that isn't always in evidence when using English; sorry, dude - it's the truth.

Hopefully Ignatieff gained some ground in Quebec - he sorely needs it - and if he didn't, that Duceppe has at least convinced the electorate to vote Bloc instead. Unfortunately, the sad truth is that we here at the IO believe Canada's future is truly in safer hands with the sovereigntists in parliament than we are with Harper's Conservatives. A fact that speaks volumes to Harper's treatment of traditional Canadian ideals, institutions, and respect for human rights and democracy. At least the sovereigntists understand what real values are - even if you disagree with their core ideal of Quebec independence. At least they have basic moral comprehension in their political make-up.

If you missed the debate, we'll post the link soon. Apparently there's an issue with last night's link, but we got our people on it.

Now let's see what happens when the ink hits the page tomorrow morning, (or the pixels hit the screen this eve). What happens now, Canada? That's the only question really worth asking.

And it's a question not to be taken for granted - one earned with blood, written in tears - a question unasked of millions of oppressed peoples around the world that, thankfully and dutifully only you can answer. Make your voice heard. Vote on May 2nd.

Duckin', Jivin' and a Dancin' Steve Paikin

Well, the English language debate is now officially over, and the post-op surgery is being performed by the talking heads - yes, and folks like us.

Watch it in full here.

In general, the first three quarters were particularly interesting. Good ol' Gilles got it off to a perfect start when he said, after Harper was first to address a question posed by an average-joe Canadian, "I'd like to congratulate Mr. Harper for answering a question from a citizen for the first time during this campaign." Ah, Gilles - wonderful!

There were no major hits, although the pressure on Harper was strong enough; Ignatieff slamming him for his undemocratic behaviour, including the use of the stacked Senate to cancel a bill passed by the House of Commons. In other words, and for some who might be less-than-passionate about this kind of stuff, that means that a piece of legislation that was voted on twice by the elected members of our government was quashed by people - some of whom are now under fraud charges - who were PUT there by Prime Minister Harper. You don't get much less democratic than that kind of heist of the system.

Iggy got it too, however - and most of us at the office weren't aware, as Jack Layton so gleefully pointed out, that he had missed 70% of the votes in the HoC. Pretty sad record, that.

All in all it was an enjoyable hour and a half followed by a no-hit quarter of the kind of stuff you might see during Question Period, should you ever watch it, not debate-level ducks and jabbin's.

The only other thing that surprised us at the IO; not once did Harper mention the dreaded 'C' word - - 'coalition'. Duceppe brought it up when he discussed the hotel-room-born, written and signed 'alternative' to the dissolution of Parliament that Harper, Layton and Duceppe threw together should Martin's government fall.

Democracy was discussed, Ignatieff brought up the contempt issue, the G20 expenditure, (not the blatant disregard of the Charter - you can only wish so much), Jack looked blissful and held his ground well, especially with his barb against Ignatieff regarding attendance at the HoC.

So if you missed it, you didn't really miss much. There were a few great scenes, there are a few good lines you'll see in newspapers and on television over the next couple of days - but for the most part, it was more of the same. Some dirt thrown, accusations made, lies spun and hits taken. Steve Paikin, as he did two years ago, managed a complex dance between allowing a few seconds longer to finish a point, and moving the debate forcefully back to the schedule and keeping time for each speaker. Way to go, sir - once again you balanced the high-flow verbage like a four-armed waiter. A simile that sounded way cooler in editorial discussion than it looks in text.

Now it's a wait and see what the media does with it, and most importantly, what you do with it. Go watch it now - once again, the full debate is here. We'll understand should you shut it down after the first hour - but watch some of it. This, unlike so many other things that fill our daily lives, is of great importance.

Read, Watch, Learn. VOTE!

This Message is Not For You.

There is something deeply disturbing about the tactics of the Harper campaign in the last few days; the banning of certain members of the public from campaign rallies. Find more of the story here.

In the last week, an advocate for homeless veterans, two students who had participated in a non-partisan pro-vote rally the same day, a University of Guelph student who had a picture of Ignatieff on her Facebook page, and a man with a bumper sticker that read, 'Don't blame me, I voted NDP', were all kept out of Harper's rallies - and by the RCMP, no less.

So we have the misuse of a public police force to throw into the serious issue of barring people from hearing your campaign messages. And we obviously have people screening registered attendees via social media sites - and we have people wandering the parking lot looking for unsavouries.

Well, don't worry, you're sending one message out loud and clear, one that doesn't require pre-approval to hear it - exclusion is the name of your game. Sorry, Harper, but that just doesn't cut it in a democracy; you can't ban people for having a different or contrary viewpoint. It's a disgusting tactic that speaks volumes to your leadership style, paranoia, and iron-fisted control policy. Hopefully this will spark the youth vote - against you. And if you're so worried about an individual due to his bumper stickers, or who's on their Farcebook page, how should I trust you with running a nation?

Keeping on the subject of keeping people out, Harper has also effectively banned any real media scrutiny of his campaign - by keeping reporters behind the crowd and behind fences - yes, fences! - and by limiting questions to just five per stop. You won't see Steve in a coffee shop surrounded by average Canadians. You won't see him sit down in a restaurant to engage the public. This man acts like he's ready to dive into a hole in the ground at the slightest provocation; how can anyone support a man like that?

This assault on the media - and all Canadian citizens by proxy - begs one response; quit showing up to his stops. We here at the IO know that's never going to happen, but wouldn't it be great if the TV channels, newspapers - anyone with a pen and a meaning to forward what's said and done - just stopped attending? Oh, the glory!

The IO may not be your traditional news outlet; we're well aware around the office that what we do is punditry and opinion, so it's not a slight against us - if anything, it's feeding us ink to feed the presses, (or rage to tap the fingers, as it were). But to limit the news media to five questions - four for national press and one for a local scribe - is akin to keeping the Canadian public out of the picture - and this goes beyond bumper sticker politics. That's what reporters are, Mr. Harper - they are the eyes, ears, and voice of a nation; no country is truly free without a truly free press - when you limit press freedoms - especially during an election campaign - what you're showing is, (once again!) true democracy is not on your priority list - except perhaps as something to marginalize and avoid meaningful contact with. Your tactics of control are a disservice to the nation you so badly want to rule by majority - you know, the way you've already been pretending...

And so we see a true American-style 'front-runner' campaign from Stephen Harper; smear opponents, say nothing else, do nothing else - just coast through and hope that those with something to lose manage to do so. Perhaps Harper's best friend in this whole campaign is simply the stunning apathy of the Canadian voter; he doesn't think you care, and for that very reason, you'll only get the official message. Reporters be damned - and the same goes for anyone with an offending bumper sticker, different values, different politicians on their Facebook, anyone who isn't a stalwart supporter of the party, or who is a stalwart supporter of free speech and democracy - none of you are invited into the Harper tent - this message is not for you.

Fear and Loathing in the Great White North

It's good news for those of us who are politically inclined - for those who understand the importance of voting and try to hold those in power to account for their actions - and inactions; it's election time, folks! For political junkies, this is the Stanley Cup play-offs, the Superbowl and the Olympics all rolled into one - but so much better because it's not about waste, distraction, or ignorance, which major sporting events - even global ones - always are.

...

Alright so this *is* still about waste, distraction and ignorance - but at least it's important. It affects our lives; broadcast sports rarely should.

And we're off to a good start. The puck was dropped today in the house of commons by Michael Ignatieff. It's about time he did something, because other than driving around in a bus last summer, the only activities he is confirmed as having done in the last year is take in sustenance and changing his clothes once every 24 hour period. Seriously - why hasn't this guy, who's supposed to be an intellectual, is a published author of many poli-sci titles, gained any ground on a man who represents exactly the kind of frightening politics - the very kind of ideology that Ignatieff himself has written about? Useless.

Until today, that is, as he grabbed the Harper Government, (no longer the Canadian Government on official masthead, no, no), and with the help of Duceppe and Layton, pulled it down from power in a vote of no-confidence. Why? Because the HG won't release enough information regarding it's legislation for parliamentarians to do a proper job. No - you don't say - the very same asinine gang of thugs that gutted Statistics Canada? The same ones that ripped a giant funding hole in environmental funding for monitoring - wiping out a record of temperatures, rainfall patterns, and other variables recorded over decades? The same one that attacks information wherever it might chafe against it's ideological inanity? Of course they don't want to give out information. To them, information is deadly. The truth defeats them - it's really the only thing that will ever take down a real bad asshole like Stephen Harper.

Harper has already begun referring to Ignatieff and the 'coalition' of the opposition bringing him down.

We here at the IO have difficulty containing our rage when BS like this is used to propagandize, belittle, stupefy and disturb the Canadian public.

HEY ASSHOLE - THERE IS NO COALITION - EITHER YOUR PARANOIA OR YOUR HATE-ON FOR THE TRUTH OR YOUR PROPAGANDIZING - IS CAUSING YOU TO SPEW BULLSHIT!

We apologize for the language. And yes, you're supposed to be more savy if you can express your disgust without resorting to the age ol' go-to of cussin'. But unfortunately folks, the blood's boiling a little too hot here at the IO to do without the profanity. This is a multiple re-write - cussin' reduced by 79%!

Stephen Harper and his cronies will be sure to continue using this phrase over and over again in an effort to continue to distract from their own corruption, ignorance, and outright disbelief in what is considered to be logical reality. We cannot allow them to continue to abuse our nation's laws for their own benefit, to blind our lawmakers with assaults on information, or stand up in parliament and scoff at honest concerns about where Canadian democracy is headed.

Unfortunately, there's no honest alternative. Ignatieff told the Canadian people immediately after session today that a vote for anyone but the Liberals was a vote for more of the same - a Harper minority.

So on one hand we have our leader - oh, excuse me, no - our very recently EX-leader, (let's keep it that way!), Stephen Harper; a bald-faced, fact-fucking liar, and Michael Ignatieff's claim that the only way to boot the asshole is to strategically vote - for him. So if you don't like Harper, there's room in bed beside me - and I'm your only other choice, so balls to you.
Then you've got the vote only valid in Quebec, for a Separatist. And Jack Layton.

The drama will still be enjoyable, but the theater is a toss up between a comedy and a tragedy. There is no discussion of the real issues; just this petty, ignorant posturing all while standing ass-deep in bullshit, and the spitting out of more.

The IO will not endorse any candidate in this election; except a campaign to bring truth, integrity and intelligence back into Canadian politics - as well as proportional representation.

Strategic voting may help, and it may not. An 'anyone but Harper' campaign would be nice - but so would someone other than 'anyone' - and there ain't.

It's like that radio station that proudly proclaims, "80's, 90's, and whatever!" No - I do not want whatever.

Give us a leader. Give us someone who can rise above the din of the distraction and obfuscation that has become the main thrust of political campaigns. We can no longer afford to accept the system as it stands; and we recommend you say you don't.

But enjoy the show anyway. Just be warned - it might not have a happy ending.

CRTC Update

Canadians be proud! Your voice was heard this past week, and the changes announced by committee regarding CRTC news regulations - allowing broadcasters to disseminate false information as news - has been abolished. Why? Because the people spoke up! A petition at AVAAZ.org had over 100,000 signatures, and many people submitted public comments at the CRTC website. The language of the regulation will stay the same; news broadcasters in Canada must report the truth, and will have a very hard time issuing news as barely-disguised right-wing propaganda. Today is a very good day for the truth in Canada. Good work, us!

A Snack Pack of Opinions

Egypt did it, and they did it right - a relatively peaceful revolution; so long as it continues... Although the army restrained themselves much to everyone's good fortune and democracy seems to be readying to bloom in the only soil it ever does; the loam of the people, the party did turn a bit nasty this week. I only hope the real purpose - which should be demonstrated in a people's march, soon-planned - is remembered. Even though, this is still one for the history books, folks - don't expect to see something quite so unforeseen, or needed, or accomplished in such little time again in your lives, as the ripple effect continues to spread. The IO doesn't.

Onto Bev Oda, good ol' Lying McLiarpants. So here's the full story, and now in Snack Pack size; she gets a document on her desk signed by the head of the Canadian International Development Agency, (which funds the group KAIROS - and has for decades), and the President of KAIROS itself, authorizing over $7 million from the federal government to fund their foreign aid operations. While it had already been signed and approved by others, she instructed a staffer to put 'not' in front of the approval for funding; and KAIROS lost the $7 million. She then testified to a Parliamentary committee that she "didn't know" where the 'not' added to the document came from.

Bullshit - and she admitted as much on Monday. Now the opposition is calling for her to be canned, (and rightly so), and the IO is calling for an election. The Harperites have done far too much damage to democracy, and now they're trampling on common decency as well. Enough!

AVAAZ.org is the site for online activism. They regularly roll out online petitions and awareness campaigns. This one has to do with a little known change in regulations being proposed over at the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission. Basically, the idea is to water down the regulations around honesty in reporting. Why, you ask? Well, it could be because Canada won't allow the same insane, right-wing nutcases to grace our airwaves as the decrepit news media in the United States regularly does. So they're changing the lingo of broadcast regulations to allow a bit of leeway in reportage; effectively nullifying the validity of any news reports so long as the broadcaster doesn't 'know' it will cause public harm. Looks like the propaganda arm of the Harper government that's set to launch later this year - Sun News - is being given the red-carpet roll out. Who will be the Canadian Bill O'Reilly? The Great White North's Glenn Beck? If the idea of that style of 'reporting' - broadcasting unflinching, and more specifically, untrue, 'news' in support of Mr. Harper and hard 'C' conservativism into the homes of millions of Canadians - bothers you, get over there and sign the petition. And do it now. They're at almost 70,000 signatories.

And finally, yet another example of how Canada continues to fail it's indigenous peoples - as if we needed any more examples... The federal government used to run a subsidy program for high arctic communities; they put forward money to offset the cost of food transportation to the high North, thereby keeping prices down. In April, all that changes - they start giving the cash not for transportation - but directly to grocery suppliers, who are then 'expected' to pass the savings on to the consumer. But as the transition begins, prices are rising. Read it here.


And there's your Snack Pack. We had a sweet to start'er off and some indignancies for the finale. We hope you're satisfied.