Democracy – Page 3

@FairVoteWRC, @TransitionKW and @LeadnowCA present Connect — 8 March 2014, 1:30pm

Fair Vote Canada Waterloo Region Chapter

The Fair Vote Canada Waterloo Region Chapter, TransitionKW and Leadnow.ca are teaming up to present Connect:

What: FairVoteWRC, TransitionKW and Leadnow.ca — Connect
When: Saturday, 8 March 2014 2014 1:30pm to 3:30pm [iCal]
Where: Queen Street Commons Cafe, 43 Queen St. S., Kitchener [map]
Register: Leadnow Connect registration page or on the Connect — Leadnow event on Facebook

Here is the message from Leadnow:

It may not feel like it yet, but the 2015 federal election is just around the corner. If we start working together now, we can help hold this government accountable at the ballot box, and elect people with a strong mandate for action on democracy, climate, and inequality. More than that — we can help build a movement strong enough to push for real changes after the election.

Between February 27th and March 9th, people are going to gather in communities across the country to talk about a plan to organize for and beyond the 2015 election. Join TransitionKW on Facebook and Fair Vote Waterloo for Connect!

You can register and learn more at the Leadnow Connect registration page or on the Connect — Leadnow event on Facebook

Please join us there, we need to work together to ensure positive change for Canada in 2015!

Hosted By:

Sylvie Spraakman

Refreshments:

This event is a potluck. You are invited to bring food to share with other guests.

Note:

Food and drinks will be available for purchase from the Commons Cafe. Food is very reasonably priced, and you’re not required to make a purchase.

Fair Vote Waterloo Region Chapter: Walk, Rally, Talk and Pub Night – Monday, 16 September 2013

Fair Vote Canada

Sunday is International Day of Democracy, but on Monday, 16 September 2013 the Waterloo Region Chapter of Fair Vote Canada is celebrating by holding a Walk, Rally, Talk and Pub Night.

Meet at Kitchener City Hall at 6:00pm to walk to Waterloo Square. Banners, placards, whistles, pots & pans are all welcome to make a lot of noise for electoral reform!

At 6:45 Craig Scott, MP for Toronto Danforth and NDP electoral reform critic and Anita Nickerson, FVC’s Executive Director will address a short rally at Waterloo Square. At 7:00pm Craig will speak at First United Church, 16 William North about the the NDP’s policy on electoral reform and listen to our concerns about electoral reform.

This is a great opportunity to share with the NDP the need to make electoral reform a major election issue in 2015 & highlight the need for electoral reform to our community.

Following the Walk, Rally, and Talk the Waterloo Region Fair Voters, Friends, and Relations will retire to The Duke of Wellington Pub to continue the conversation.

Petitions for a Better Canada

In her latest newsletter, Eleanor Grant writes of several local events, followed by a number of petitions on federal issues as Canada Day approaches ….

ACTION: Are you sick of scandals and secret deals in Ottawa? Democracy Watch has launched 2 campaigns for better ethics rules:

Government Ethics Campaign | Democracy Watch

and Stop Fraud Politician Spending | Democracy Watch

————————————–

ACTION: Tell Harper to support the G8 plan on closing Tax Havens: Canada Must Support the G8 Tax Haven Action Plan | Canadians for Tax Fairness

————————————–

ACTION: “Fix the Bill” on banning Cluster Bombs. Canada has ratified a Convention to ban cluster bombs, but the bill to implement it, Bill S-10, is full of loopholes: Petition at Mines Action Canada. There is also a write to your MP tool on Mines Action Canada’s website tailored to the Bill S-10 issues. From the group that brought the ban on Landmines.

————————————–

ACTION: NO to Genetically Modified Alfalfa: GM Alfalfa has now been Registered for use in Canada. CBAN says, “Our government is siding with multinational companies against the best interests of farmers and our food system. I do not accept this. Do you?” Email your MP instantly from Stop GM Contamination: Stop GM Alfalfa / Take Action – Canadian Biotechnology Action Network – CBAN

————————————–

And don’t forget the MultiCultural festival next weekend June 22-23, and the Nonviolence festival Sat July 13 – both in Victoria Park.

Eleanor Grant writes a semi-regular e-mail newsletter on social justice issues. You can contact Eleanor at eleanor7000@gmail.com

FairVoteWRC Film Screening: Whipped – Monday, 24 June 2013

@FairvoteWRC presents Whipped: The secret world of party discipline, Mon 24 June 2013, 7pm at WLU

Sharon Sommerville, Co-chair for the Fair Vote Canada Waterloo Region Chapter writes:

Hello Everyone,

“WHIPPED“, Sean Holman’s new documentary on the topical and controversial issue of party discipline is coming to Waterloo Region along with the filmmaker! To whom do MP’s owe their greatest allegiance: their party, their constituents or their conscience?

On Monday, June 24 at 7pm at Laurier’s Bricker Academic Building, Room 210, FVC-WR and co-sponsors KWNDP, KWGP, KWFLA and YCYC/VCVC are pleased to screen, “WHIPPED” and host a post screening panel with the filmmaker Sean Holman, Larry Aberle, President of the KWNDP and Karen Redman, former Liberal MP and party whip.

This is going to be a great evening of political education for all. We will be taking donations at the door to help cover expenses for this event. Suggested donation is $10 or what you can spare!

Hope to see you on June 24 for an exciting evening of political discussion.

Kind regards,

Sharon Sommerville, Co-Chair
FVC-WR

Who: Fair Vote Canada Waterloo Region Chapter
What: Film Screening of “WHIPPED: The secret world of party discipline”
When: Monday, 24 June 2013, 7:00pm
Where: Room 210, Bricker Academic Building, Wilfrid Laurier University, Bricker St., Waterloo, Ontario map
Donation: Suggested $10 donation at the door
More information: Sharon Sommerville at shareonsommerville@gmail or Anita Nickerson at anita.nickerson@fairvote.ca

Two Actions: Protect CBC, Ontario Budget

Petition to Protect the CBC

Sign the petition to protect the CBC from political interference.

To Prime Minister Harper and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty: Keep your hands off the CBC. Remove the CBC amendment from the budget bill.

(from Sum Of Us in partership with LeadNow.ca)

Have your say in the Ontario Budget

Should Andrea Horwath press for more changes to the Ontario budget? Such as improvement in minimum wage and welfare rates? Fill in the survey at Your Say Ontario or send an e-mail to Andrea Horwath at ahorwath-qp@ndp.on.ca

Have Your Say on Casinos

Waterloo:

Web comment form: Take Survey: Casino Feedback
Phone: +1-519-957-9727
E-mail: casinofeedback@waterloo.ca

The deadline to submit feedback is April 30, 2013

Notice: City of Waterloo seeks input on casino

Kitchener:

CasiNO – Kitchener Public Consultations –
When: Tuesday, 23 and 30 April 2013 starting at 6:00pm with a presentation from OLG; public consultations for those who have registered to speak will follow. A second session will be held April 30. Pre-registration for the 30 April session is not mandatory but is strongly recommended and can be done on the City of Kitchener’s Casino web page or by calling Linda Korabo at +1-519-741-2200;ext=7591

Location: Kitchener City Hall Council Chambers, 200 King St. W., Kitchener, Ontario (map)

Notice: Public Consultation on a Casino in Kitchener

News release: Council votes in favour of public consultation on casino

An online survey will be available from April 15 – May 1, 2013.

Support the Region of Waterloo’s Official Plan for Smart Growth

Citizens are organizing to support the Region of Waterloo’s Official Plan for Smart Growth, in face of the OMB ruling against it in January, which favoured developers and urban sprawl.

See Smart Growth Waterloo Region’s What Can I Do.

A great deal is at stake here:

Waterloo’s precious remaining farmland, that can never be replaced.
Democracy – the right to make local decisions, and not have them struck down by an unelected commission.
The precedent it sets for all of Ontario.

Your are urged to visit Smart Growth Waterloo Region, where there’s more info as well as actions you can take.

Test

Just testing . .

Oct 23: Yves Engler talk on Harper’s foreign policy

Announcement from Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East:

Yves Engler to speak on his book:
THE UGLY CANADIAN: STEPHEN HARPER’S FOREIGN POLICY
Tues. Oct. 23 at 7 pm

Wilfred Laurier University
BAB202 – Bricker Academic Building, room 202
75 University Avenue West
(Talk location is closer to intersection of Clayfield Ave and Bricker Ave)
Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5
TICKET INFO
Admission is free.

Home page of sponsoring organization:
http://www.cjpme.org/

Another Secret Trade Deal – with China

Please visit this link on Leadnow’s site, and tell PM Harper not to sign on to yet another secret trade deal: this time the “Foreign Investment Protection Agreement” with China.

http://www.leadnow.ca/canada-not-for-sale

Here’s the scoop:

In days, Prime Minister Harper could approve the Chinese National Offshore Oil Company’s $15 billion takeover of Nexen, a Canadian oil company,

and pass a sweeping Canada-China trade deal allowing Chinese companies to overturn Canadian laws in secret courts.

These deals would pave the way for a massive natural resource buyout,

and restrict Canadians’ democratic control over our economy, environment and energy – even when Canadian lives are at stake.

Tell PM Harper and your MP that Canada is not for sale.