Stop the Hogs!

Common Causes launches in communities across Canada January 28

http://canadians.org/commoncauses/index.html

People in communities across Canada are coming together under a banner of “Common Causes” on January 28 as MPs head back to the Hill and Parliament resumes. The Council of Canadians, with tens of thousands of members, is one of 47 groups and organizations that is part of this unprecedented social movement.

Common Causes/Causes Communes is an assembly of movements dedicated to defending democracy, social justice, the environment and human rights.

It brings together groups and individuals across the country to act together for a better society in the face of the current Conservative government’s agenda that is weakening environmental protections, cutting public services and jobs, ignoring workers’ rights, attacking civil liberties and eroding democracy.

The assembly believes that coordinated action is needed to take a strong stand against the current federal government agenda that is changing society in critical areas such as the economy, the environment, labour rights, health care, food safety, education, social programs, culture, civil liberties, peace and poverty.

For more information about Common Causes/Causes Communes, and for all the latest updates visit commoncauses.ca. You can also join the discussion on Facebook (don’t forget to “like” us!) and on Twitter using #commoncauses.

We invite you to join in this demonstration of support and commitment for progressive change.

January 28th – A Common Causes Call for Action (PDF)

- - - - - - -

REPORT: Common Causes: Progressive forces acting together to build a better society,

http://www.canadians.org/documents/
CC/CC%20-%20Maude%20Report.pdf

By Maude Barlow for The Council of Canadians, January 2013 (Report | Summary)

- - - -

January 28, 2013 Events

There will be many spontaneous events in Canada and around the world in support of #CommonCauses and #IdleNoMore on January 28. Please be sure to join one in your community!

Ottawa – March and Rally
Contact: Anil Naidoo anil@canadians.org
11:10 am Victoria Island March - gather at #CommonCauses banner and march together in solidarity to Parliament Hill for Speeches.
2:15 pm Parliament Hill - Maude Barlow delivers a message on behalf of Common Causes.

Nanaimo – Rally
Contact: Paul Manly paulmanly@shaw.ca
12:00 noon – Diane Krall Plaza (in front of the Library) 90 Commercial Street, Nanaimo

Sechelt/Sunshine Coast – Rally action along Sunshine Coast Highway
Contact: Jef Keighley keighley@dccnet.com
4:00-5:30 pm - Gather at the corners of Wharf Street and the Sunshine Coast Highway

Vancouver – Rally w/INM
Contact: Harjap Grewel hgrewal@canadians.org
12:00 noon at 1138 Melville Street, Vancouver, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

Courtney/Comox – Rally
Contact:; Kathie Woodley riverside11@shaw.ca
12:00 noon at 3310 Comox Road across from the I-Hos Gallery.

Kelowna – Rally at Enbridge Hearings
Contact: Lois B, loandcoagain@hotmail.com
12:30 pm at the Sandman Inn, 2130 Harvey Street, Kelowna

Kamloops – Information Evening w/INM
Contact: Anita Strong, dnastrong1@gmail.com
6:00 pm at the Smorgasbord Deli, 225 - 7th Ave. Kamloops.

Edmonton –Solidarity Event
Contact: Bill Moore-Kilgannon billmk@pialberta.org
12:15 pm – Churchill Square

Saskatoon - Townhall
Contact; Rick Sawa rj.sawa@inet2000.com
11:00 am - Multi-purpose room at Station 20 West 1120 20th Street West, Saskatoon

Prince Albert – Video Release
Contact: Rick Sawa rj.sawa@inet2000.com
Video and press release on January 28th of weekend action.

Toronto – Banner Drop
Contact: Mark Calzavara mcalzavara@canadians.org
8:00-9:00 am - Banner Drop along Don Valley Parkway at Wynford overpass (North of Eglinton)
Banner Message -Don’t Sell Out Canada’s Future commoncauses.ca

Guelph – Screening and Discussion
Contact: nrchaloner@hotmail.com
7:00 pm - Room 103 – University Centre, University of Guelph – Toxic Trespass screening with Q &A
Possible mid-afternoon march – TBC

London – Rally
Contact: jkennedy@golden.net
10:30 am – 546 King Street (at William), London - in front of Conservative MP Susan Truppe’s constituency office.

Oakville
Contact: Clare Henderson reclaimcanada@gmail.com
8:00 am Oakville GO Station start, The Reclaim Our Democratic Canada Get off the Omnibus Tour

Windsor – Rally
Contact: Douglas Hayes dhayes18@cogeco.ca
4:00 pm - 186 Talbot Rd. Essex. Windsor - in front of Conservative MP Jeff Watson's constituency office

Montreal - Film Screening and Solidarity Statements
Contact: Abdul Pirani abdul.pirani@cgocable.ca
7:00 pm, Concordia H110, Hall Building, 1455 Maisonneuve W. Montreal

Halifax – March and Rally
Contact: Angela Giles – agiles@canadians.org
10:00 am – Gathering at the Holiday Inn parking, March across the MacDonald Bridge, rally at either Halifax Commons or Citadel Hill

Summerside – Rally – Note the Change
Contact: Leo Broderick - lcb45@eastlink.ca
11:00 am - 250 Water Street in front of National Revenue Minister Gail Shea’s MP Office

Saint John - Townhall
Contact: Leticia Adair adairl@nb.sympatico.ca, 506 633-0398
7:00 pm - Saint John Arts Centre, 20 Hazen Avenue
Town Hall with Rob Moir, Pat Riley and Stephanie Merrill

Note: Event Below is scheduled for January 30th
Peterborough
Date: Wednesday, January 30
Contact: Roy Brady rbrady1@cogeco.ca
7:00 - 9:30 pm, George St. United Church

Other Events in Process and To Be Confirmed...

COMMON CAUSES/CAUSES COMMUNES

http://commoncauses.ca/

People in communities across Canada are coming together under a banner of “Common Causes” on January 28 as MPs head back to the Hill and Parliament resumes. The Council of Canadians, with tens of thousands of members, is one of 47 groups and organizations that is part of this unprecedented social movement.
MORE:

REPORT: Common Causes: Progressive forces acting together to build a better society,
http://www.canadians.org/documents/CC/
CC%20-%20Maude%20Report.pdf
By Maude Barlow

RAPPORT : Causes communes: Les forces progressives collaborent au renforcement de la société,
http://canadians.org/documents/CC/
CC%20-%20Maude%20Report%20-%20FR.pdf
par Maude Barlow

= = = = = =

NEWS: Common Causes backs Idle No More rallies across the country

http://canadians.org/blog/?p=19046

UPDATE: Barlow speaks at Idle No More rally on Parliament Hill
By Brent Patterson, Monday, January 28th, 2013
Postmedia News reports, “Idle No More protesters are set to gather in at least 30 Canadian cities and will be joined by solidarity protests around the world as the indigenous grassroots movement marks a global day of action on Monday.”

- - - - -


Actions held in 25 Canadian cities to launch Common Causes

http://canadians.org/media/other/2013/28-Jan-13.html


- - - - - -
UPDATE: Barlow speaks at Idle No More rally on Parliament Hill
By Brent Patterson
CBC reports this hour, “An estimated 300 Idle No More demonstrators have gathered during a heavy snowfall on Parliament Hill today.”


= = = = = =



COMMON CAUSES: Working Together to Defend Democracy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 28, 2013

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan—January 28, 2013—Opposition to Stephen Harper’s hidden agenda has stepped up yet again with action launched in Prince Albert. Community members gathered as part of the launch of Common Causes, a new collaboration of Canadians to defend democracy, the environment, and human rights, against the Harper agenda. The day of action is being planned jointly with Idle No More grassroots founders and organizers from across Canada.

“We have shown that we can work together to send a clear and loud message to Ottawa.” said Rick Sawa. “In Prince Albert, we are ready to take collective actions to speak out and defend what is right for our community.”

Community members gathered to send a strong message to Stephen Harper by videotaping representative voices of the collaboration. Sawa, Council of Canadians, Craig Thebault, Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, Elaine Sukava, Food Secure, Murdine McCreath, Renewable Power—Intelligent Choice, and Angus McLean and Ashley Marie Wilson, Idle No More, all spoke eloquently.


Thebault listed the harm done to workers and their families with legislation around retirement and EI, “Canadian workers shouldn’t have to worry if they fall out of work, they will not fall into poverty.” Sukava said, “Changes to food safety inspection, seed security, and protection of fish species, waterways, and species at risk, are only a few stripped protections connected to healthy landscapes and foodways.”

McCreath stressed, “There is a disconnect with the current economic model which is short sighted, irresponsible, narrow and lacking a sense of responsibility [for the environment].”

McLean and Wilson again and again mentioned future generations. McLean noted Harper as an MP declared that an omnibus bill would put MPs in conflict and said, “If an omnibus budget bill of 21 pages was undemocratic in 1994, it cannot become any more democratic in 2012 when the legislation is 436 pages longer.” The video is available at http://youtu.be/hOHPUG2eWBQ.

“Through organizing this action, we have reached out like we have not before in this community and beyond,” added Sawa, “We are ready to send a clear message by bringing together workers, students, parents, seniors, members of various groups including Idle No More to show that we will be united to fight Harper’s attacks.”

Common Causes is a new assembly of social movements dedicated to defending democracy, the environment, and human rights. Common Causes was launched today with several community actions taking place across the country as well as a press conference held in Ottawa.

Twitter: @Common_Causes & @CausesCommunes | Facebook.com/CommonCausesCausesCommunes | www.commoncauses.ca -30-

For more information, or to arrange an interview contact:

Rick Sawa, Council of Canadians Prince Albert Chapter

306-922-3851 rj.sawa@inet2000.com

Murdine McCreath, Renewable Power Intelligent Choice

306-764-7199 murdine@sasktel.net


= = = = = =




Neoliberalism no more: Making common cause to defeat the Harper agenda

http://rabble.ca/news/2013/01/neolibera ... per-agenda

By Archana Rampure, | January 28, 2013


Stephen Harper has an agenda and it is all about turning Canada into a resource-extraction economy. He would like to make sure that nothing and no one stands in the way of exploiting the oil and the gas, the minerals and the water.


When Aboriginal people stand up for their rights and demand that they be consulted before natural resources are ripped out of the earth, the racist rhetoric begins to fly. When environmentalists suggest that this is a short-sighted, unsustainable and one-time-only plan, they are called radicals and terrorists. NGOs that network with the Global South peoples whose resources we exploit find themselves replaced by mining companies.


The list goes on: trade unions are demonized as big labour and compared to big corporations as though there is any real comparison between the power and influence wielded by corporations and that of the union movement. Aboriginal communities are abandoned by a Federal government which accuses their leaders of financial mismanagement.


These are the smoke-screens being put up to obscure a neo-liberal agenda that will brook no opposition. What I remember from my first anti-free trade protest more than a decade ago still rings true: deregulation, privatization and globalization is still the name of the game.


To me, much of this comes down to the sharp new focus on bilateral trade agreements that this Federal government has made its trademark. Free trade agreements and foreign investment promotion and protection agreements seem to be the Harper Conservatives answer to every problem we are facing. Their relentless drive to negotiate a free trade agreement with the EU is emblematic of their mistaken policies: at a time when Canada`s industrial heartland is struggling with the loss of unionized manufacturing jobs, we are deep in the final stages of negotiating an agreement that might open up other sectors of our economy to transnational competition.


The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a“next generation”free trade agreement that Canada and the EU have been negotiating since 2009. Make no mistake about this -- it might not be called a free trade agreement but it will be Canada's most expansive free trade initiative since NAFTA. It will impact the ability of our elected governments to regulate and it will have a huge impact on how municipal and provincial governments use procurement for local economic development or for environmental sustainability. As far as we can tell from the leaked documents that have been made public so far, the provisions that it will include on investor-state dispute resolution will once again allow foreign corporations to bypass our legal system and appeal to secretive tribunals. The EU's demands around intellectual property translate into billions of extra dollars for brand-name pharmaceuticals.


And the Canada-EU CETA is only one among the stack of free trade deals that the Harper government has tied itself to: there are now on-going negotiations on free trade between Canada and India, Japan, Korea, Morocco, the Ukraine, the Dominican Republic and a number of other countries. There are also multi-lateral trade agreement negotiations that we are participating in such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.


Investment promotion and protection agreements are another key feature of this government’s foreign policy initiatives: in 2011 and 2012 alone, FIPAs have been negotiated between Canada and the Czech Republic, Romania, Latvia, the Slovak Republic, Benin, Kuwait, Senegal, Tanzania, China – the now infamous one! – and Mali.


At a time when Canada is supporting a resource war in Mali, and when we “partnering” with multinational mining corporations as part of our international “development” work, it hardly surprising that this government is so enthusiastically supporting Canadian “investment” and “investors” in places such as sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe.
MORE:

http://rabble.ca/news/2013/01/neolibera ... per-agenda

= = = = =



SIGN PETITION - LEADNOW: http://www.leadnow.ca/cooperate

“I call on the opposition party leaders to support political cooperation for electoral reform.
During the next federal election, I call on the NDP, Liberals and Greens to work together in key ridings to defeat Stephen Harper's government. After the election, I call on them to cooperate to pass electoral reform and make sure our government better reflects the values and priorities of all Canadians.”
= = = = =


CANADIAN ELECTORAL ALLIANCE:

http://www.electoralalliance.ca/content ... l-alliance


= = = = = =


Make 2013 the Year of Canada's Democracy Coalition

http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2013/01/28/Ca ... Coalition/
If Liberal and NDP leaders aren't pressured to co-operate they'll enable another Harper majority.

By Murray Dobbin, January 28, 2013 TheTyee.ca

When historians write the chapter on the current period of social democracy in Canada they might well conclude that the worst thing that happened to it was the 2011 election when the NDP got 103 seats it hadn't really earned. It was such an unexpected event that the NDP could not cope with it. You could see it in the euphoria of election night -- the same night that the dismantling of the country (whose best government features the party could take much credit for) would begin in earnest with a Harper majority.

The delusion set in that night and it continues to today. While the party always talked as if it would become government it was always an article of faith, not reason. The election put that article of faith on steroids and the reward for the faithful was to be allowed to believe even more strongly. That blind faith will destroy social democracy in Canada and hand Stephen Harper the additional four years he needs to dismantle the country. After transforming the country in the post-war years into a modest social democracy without ever coming to power, the NDP's false dream of actually coming to power threatens to wipe out its legacy. If that isn't irony I don't know what would qualify.

The only hope of delivering a fatal blow to the Harper Conservatives is a one-time agreement between the opposition parties focused on a single policy agreement: a coalition to defeat Harper in the House and establish proportional representation.

Layton's Backfire . . . .

MORE:
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2013/01/28/Ca ... Coalition/



= = = = =



QUOTE: "(Joyce) Murray is the only one of nine Liberal leadership aspirants to support any form of co-operation with other opposition parties. Her rivals — most of whom appear to be tilting right in a bid to woo back so-called business Liberals who've defected to the Tories — have adamantly ruled it out."

- - - - -


Liberal, NDP, Green Alliance Pushed By Joyce Murray In Bid To Beat Tories

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/27 ... 60606.html

CP | By Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press Posted: 01/27/2013 4:05 am
EST | Updated: 01/27/2013 2:01 pm EST

Elizabeth May, Liberal NDP Coalition, Thomas Mulcair, Joyce Murray, Joyce Murray Elizabeth May, Joyce Murray Greens, Joyce Murray Ndp,
Liberal Green Alliance, Liberal Green Coalition, Liberal Leadership, Liberal Leadership Race, Liberal Ndp Alliance, Canada Politics News Liberal Ndp Green Alliance

An electoral alliance between Liberals and Greens could ensure the defeat of the Harper Conservatives — even if New Democrats refuse to go along, Grit leadership hopeful Joyce Murray says. (CP)

OTTAWA - Electoral co-operation between Liberals and Greens could be a "game-changer" that ensures defeat of the Harper Conservatives — even if New Democrats refuse to go along, Grit leadership hopeful Joyce Murray says.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair has flatly rejected any kind of collaboration with the Liberals, whom he deems untrustworthy.

But Murray thinks Mulcair could still change his mind, persuaded by the many New Democrats — including House leader Nathan Cullen — who support co-operation.

Even if he doesn't, the Vancouver MP said that wouldn't cripple her proposal for a one-time non-compete pact among progressive parties in vulnerable Conservative ridings during the 2015 election.

The Liberals could still join forces with the Greens, whose leader, Elizabeth May, is an enthusiastic advocate of the idea.

"If necessary, yes, of course, we could do this with just the Green party," Murray told The Canadian Press in a wide-ranging interview, adding that May has told her she's interested in exploring the idea with her.

"I haven't crunched the numbers but I think that would be a game-changer as well."

MORE:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/27 ... 60606.html

[/b]

COMMON CAUSES/CAUSES COMMUNES

www.commoncauses.ca

People in communities across Canada are coming together under a banner of “Common Causes” on January 28 as MPs head back to the Hill and Parliament resumes. The Council of Canadians, with tens of thousands of members, is one of 47 groups and organizations that is part of this unprecedented social movement.
Click here to read more.

REPORT: Common Causes: Progressive forces acting together to build a better society, By Maude Barlow

RAPPORT : Causes communes: Les forces progressives collaborent au renforcement de la société, par Maude Barlow

= = = = = =

NEWS: Common Causes backs Idle No More rallies across the country

http://canadians.org/blog/?p=19046

UPDATE: Barlow speaks at Idle No More rally on Parliament Hill
By Brent Patterson, Monday, January 28th, 2013
Postmedia News reports, “Idle No More protesters are set to gather in at least 30 Canadian cities and will be joined by solidarity protests around the world as the indigenous grassroots movement marks a global day of action on Monday.”

- - - - -

Actions held in 25 Canadian cities to launch Common Causes

http://canadians.org/media/other/2013/28-Jan-13.html

- - - - - -

UPDATE: Barlow speaks at Idle No More rally on Parliament Hill

By Brent Patterson
CBC reports this hour, “An estimated 300 Idle No More demonstrators have gathered during a heavy snowfall on Parliament Hill today.”

= = = = = =


COMMON CAUSES: Working Together to Defend Democracy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 28, 2013

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan—January 28, 2013—Opposition to Stephen Harper’s hidden agenda has stepped up yet again with action launched in Prince Albert. Community members gathered as part of the launch of Common Causes, a new collaboration of Canadians to defend democracy, the environment, and human rights, against the Harper agenda. The day of action is being planned jointly with Idle No More grassroots founders and organizers from across Canada.

“We have shown that we can work together to send a clear and loud message to Ottawa.” said Rick Sawa. “In Prince Albert, we are ready to take collective actions to speak out and defend what is right for our community.”

Community members gathered to send a strong message to Stephen Harper by videotaping representative voices of the collaboration. Sawa, Council of Canadians, Craig Thebault, Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, Elaine Sukava, Food Secure, Murdine McCreath, Renewable Power—Intelligent Choice, and Angus McLean and Ashley Marie Wilson, Idle No More, all spoke eloquently.

Thebault listed the harm done to workers and their families with legislation around retirement and EI, “Canadian workers shouldn’t have to worry if they fall out of work, they will not fall into poverty.” Sukava said, “Changes to food safety inspection, seed security, and protection of fish species, waterways, and species at risk, are only a few stripped protections connected to healthy landscapes and foodways.”

McCreath stressed, “There is a disconnect with the current economic model which is short sighted, irresponsible, narrow and lacking a sense of responsibility [for the environment].”

McLean and Wilson again and again mentioned future generations. McLean noted Harper as an MP declared that an omnibus bill would put MPs in conflict and said, “If an omnibus budget bill of 21 pages was undemocratic in 1994, it cannot become any more democratic in 2012 when the legislation is 436 pages longer.”
The video is available at http://youtu.be/hOHPUG2eWBQ.

“Through organizing this action, we have reached out like we have not before in this community and beyond,” added Sawa, “We are ready to send a clear message by bringing together workers, students, parents, seniors, members of various groups including Idle No More to show that we will be united to fight Harper’s attacks.”

Common Causes is a new assembly of social movements dedicated to defending democracy, the environment, and human rights. Common Causes was launched today with several community actions taking place across the country as well as a press conference held in Ottawa.

Twitter: @Common_Causes & @CausesCommunes | Facebook.com/CommonCausesCausesCommunes | www.commoncauses.ca -30-

For more information, or to arrange an interview contact:

Rick Sawa, Council of Canadians Prince Albert Chapter

306-922-3851 rj.sawa@inet2000.com

Murdine McCreath, Renewable Power Intelligent Choice

306-764-7199 murdine@sasktel.net

= = = = = =

Neoliberalism no more: Making common cause to defeat the Harper agenda

http://rabble.ca/news/2013/01/
neoliberalism-no-more-making-common-causes-defeat-harper-agenda

By Archana Rampure, | January 28, 2013

Stephen Harper has an agenda and it is all about turning Canada into a resource-extraction economy. He would like to make sure that nothing and no one stands in the way of exploiting the oil and the gas, the minerals and the water.

When Aboriginal people stand up for their rights and demand that they be consulted before natural resources are ripped out of the earth, the racist rhetoric begins to fly. When environmentalists suggest that this is a short-sighted, unsustainable and one-time-only plan, they are called radicals and terrorists. NGOs that network with the Global South peoples whose resources we exploit find themselves replaced by mining companies.

The list goes on: trade unions are demonized as big labour and compared to big corporations as though there is any real comparison between the power and influence wielded by corporations and that of the union movement. Aboriginal communities are abandoned by a Federal government which accuses their leaders of financial mismanagement.

These are the smoke-screens being put up to obscure a neo-liberal agenda that will brook no opposition. What I remember from my first anti-free trade protest more than a decade ago still rings true: deregulation, privatization and globalization is still the name of the game.

To me, much of this comes down to the sharp new focus on bilateral trade agreements that this Federal government has made its trademark. Free trade agreements and foreign investment promotion and protection agreements seem to be the Harper Conservatives answer to every problem we are facing. Their relentless drive to negotiate a free trade agreement with the EU is emblematic of their mistaken policies: at a time when Canada`s industrial heartland is struggling with the loss of unionized manufacturing jobs, we are deep in the final stages of negotiating an agreement that might open up other sectors of our economy to transnational competition.

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a“next generation”free trade agreement that Canada and the EU have been negotiating since 2009. Make no mistake about this -- it might not be called a free trade agreement but it will be Canada's most expansive free trade initiative since NAFTA. It will impact the ability of our elected governments to regulate and it will have a huge impact on how municipal and provincial governments use procurement for local economic development or for environmental sustainability. As far as we can tell from the leaked documents that have been made public so far, the provisions that it will include on investor-state dispute resolution will once again allow foreign corporations to bypass our legal system and appeal to secretive tribunals. The EU's demands around intellectual property translate into billions of extra dollars for brand-name pharmaceuticals.

And the Canada-EU CETA is only one among the stack of free trade deals that the Harper government has tied itself to: there are now on-going negotiations on free trade between Canada and India, Japan, Korea, Morocco, the Ukraine, the Dominican Republic and a number of other countries. There are also multi-lateral trade agreement negotiations that we are participating in such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Investment promotion and protection agreements are another key feature of this government’s foreign policy initiatives: in 2011 and 2012 alone, FIPAs have been negotiated between Canada and the Czech Republic, Romania, Latvia, the Slovak Republic, Benin, Kuwait, Senegal, Tanzania, China – the now infamous one! – and Mali.

At a time when Canada is supporting a resource war in Mali, and when we “partnering” with multinational mining corporations as part of our international “development” work, it hardly surprising that this government is so enthusiastically supporting Canadian “investment” and “investors” in places such as sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe.

MORE:

http://rabble.ca/news/2013/01/
neoliberalism-no-more-making-common-causes-defeat-harper-agenda

= = = = =

SIGN PETITION - LEADNOW:

http://www.leadnow.ca/cooperate

“I call on the opposition party leaders to support political cooperation for electoral reform.

During the next federal election, I call on the NDP, Liberals and Greens to work together in key ridings to defeat Stephen Harper's government. After the election, I call on them to cooperate to pass electoral reform and make sure our government better reflects the values and priorities of all Canadians.”

= = = = =


CANADIAN ELECTORAL ALLIANCE:
http://www.electoralalliance.ca/content ... l-alliance

= = = = = =

DOBBIN: Make 2013 the Year of Canada's Democracy Coalition

http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2013/01/28/Ca ... Coalition/

If Liberal and NDP leaders aren't pressured to co-operate they'll enable another Harper majority.

By Murray Dobbin, January 28, 2013 TheTyee.ca

When historians write the chapter on the current period of social democracy in Canada they might well conclude that the worst thing that happened to it was the 2011 election when the NDP got 103 seats it hadn't really earned. It was such an unexpected event that the NDP could not cope with it. You could see it in the euphoria of election night -- the same night that the dismantling of the country (whose best government features the party could take much credit for) would begin in earnest with a Harper majority.

The delusion set in that night and it continues to today. While the party always talked as if it would become government it was always an article of faith, not reason. The election put that article of faith on steroids and the reward for the faithful was to be allowed to believe even more strongly. That blind faith will destroy social democracy in Canada and hand Stephen Harper the additional four years he needs to dismantle the country. After transforming the country in the post-war years into a modest social democracy without ever coming to power, the NDP's false dream of actually coming to power threatens to wipe out its legacy. If that isn't irony I don't know what would qualify.

The only hope of delivering a fatal blow to the Harper Conservatives is a one-time agreement between the opposition parties focused on a single policy agreement: a coalition to defeat Harper in the House and establish proportional representation.

Layton's Backfire . . . .

MORE:
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2013/01/28/Ca ... Coalition/



= = = = =

QUOTE: "(Joyce) Murray is the only one of nine Liberal leadership aspirants to support any form of co-operation with other opposition parties. Her rivals — most of whom appear to be tilting right in a bid to woo back so-called business Liberals who've defected to the Tories — have adamantly ruled it out."

- - - - -

Liberal, NDP, Green Alliance Pushed By Joyce Murray In Bid To Beat Tories

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/27/
liberal-ndp-green-alliance-joyce-murray_n_2560606.html

CP | By Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press Posted: 01/27/2013 4:05 am
EST | Updated: 01/27/2013 2:01 pm EST

TAGS: Elizabeth May, Liberal NDP Coalition, Thomas Mulcair, Joyce Murray, Joyce Murray Elizabeth May, Joyce Murray Greens, Joyce Murray Ndp,
Liberal Green Alliance, Liberal Green Coalition, Liberal Leadership, Liberal Leadership Race, Liberal Ndp Alliance, Canada Politics News Liberal Ndp Green Alliance

An electoral alliance between Liberals and Greens could ensure the defeat of the Harper Conservatives — even if New Democrats refuse to go along, Grit leadership hopeful Joyce Murray says. (CP)

OTTAWA - Electoral co-operation between Liberals and Greens could be a "game-changer" that ensures defeat of the Harper Conservatives — even if New Democrats refuse to go along, Grit leadership hopeful Joyce Murray says.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair has flatly rejected any kind of collaboration with the Liberals, whom he deems untrustworthy.

But Murray thinks Mulcair could still change his mind, persuaded by the many New Democrats — including House leader Nathan Cullen — who support co-operation.

Even if he doesn't, the Vancouver MP said that wouldn't cripple her proposal for a one-time non-compete pact among progressive parties in vulnerable Conservative ridings during the 2015 election.

The Liberals could still join forces with the Greens, whose leader, Elizabeth May, is an enthusiastic advocate of the idea.

"If necessary, yes, of course, we could do this with just the Green party," Murray told The Canadian Press in a wide-ranging interview, adding that May has told her she's interested in exploring the idea with her.

"I haven't crunched the numbers but I think that would be a game-changer as well."

MORE:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/27/
liberal-ndp-green-alliance-joyce-murray_n_2560606.html

Out of a collective distaste for the Harper agenda, Common Causes was born.

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/Local/Politics/2013-01-30/
article-3167446/Groups-galvanize-against-the-Harper-agenda/1

January 30, 2013

Topics : Prince Albert , UN , Renewable Power , Canada

The Tories’ proroguing of Parliament, election fraud allegations, increasingly expensive F-35 fighter jets and a multitude of items within two omnibus budget bills have all drawn the criticism of various groups and organizations, local member Rick Sawa said.

Representing the Council of Canadians’ Prince Albert chapter, Sawa represents one of many groups that banded together by joining Common Causes -- a nation-wide effort that launched on Jan. 28.

“All of them were working in isolation on individual causes,” he said of Common Causes’ membership. “Well, we’ve all come together now and said (that) there are some common issues that we all have to work together towards.

“Only 25 per cent of eligible voters voted for a Conservative, so that means there’s 75 per cent of people out there that either didn’t vote at all or didn’t vote for a Conservative, so we’re trying to get that 75 per cent together and have them speak out against what’s happening.”

Of the Common Causes’ group membership, the one to receive the greatest media attention in recent weeks has been Idle No More -- a group that initially galvanized over frustrations related to Bill C-45 and later expanded to include criticism of other Harper agenda items.

“They were not consulted and that violates section 35 of the constitution, as well as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” Sawa said of First Nations’ concerns related to Bill C-45.

Local Common Causes supporter Murdine McCreath has centered a big portion of her Harper government frustration on the Tories’ omnibus budget bills.

“It’s impossible to … fight them or to change them,” she said. “I find the omnibus bills really frustrating, confusing -- they’re overloaded with things, and I guess the main thing is that they don’t allow public or parliamentary debate.”

As a member of the local environmental group Renewable Power -- Intelligent Choice, McCreath said that the omnibus bills will be harmful the environment, and that by eliminating red tape the government is also weakening environmental stewardship.

“Canada is slipping so far behind. We’re acting as though non-renewable resources won’t have an ending, and it’s an extremely narrow view of the economy,” she said.

“It isn’t the economy or the environment -- you don’t have one without the other.”

WATCH VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOHPUG2eWBQ


MORE:

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/Local/Politics/2013-01-30/
article-3167446/Groups-galvanize-against-the-Harper-agenda/1