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Driven to Dismantle Community
Monday, June 18th, 2012
June 18, 2012
Yet in the decades since the free trade deals were first signed we have gradually stopped talking about community and have perhaps forgotten just how critical it is to human health and indeed what it is to be human. The hyper-competitiveness promoted by neo-liberalism and the politicians it has captured is completely at odds with our social natures. Community — the commons — is at the core of what we have lost and reclaiming it will be at the core of any successful social movement that halts and reverses the current trends.
Tags: budget, ideology, participation, rights, standard of living
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
Now Is the Time to Talk up Big Ideas
Monday, May 21st, 2012
May 21,2012
While it may seem counterintuitive, now is the time for Canadians who actually believe in government and nation building to be contemplating big ideas, the ones that will take us the next step to equality, economic stability and environmental sustainability. Why? Because if we don’t try to get what we want we won’t even get what we need…. Capitalism will be around for a while yet but its current incarnation, the savage capitalism of Wall Street and deregulation needs to be put to rest… The experiment with government ‘getting out of the way’ of business has been an abject failure.
Tags: economy, ideology, participation, standard of living
Posted in Debates | No Comments »
Is the ‘Living Wage’ Enough?
Monday, May 14th, 2012
May 14, 2012
Reports in the days to come will detail the merits and drawbacks of a guaranteed annual income and of government wage subsidies… “The [guaranteed] income is looking at people who are on welfare, ensuring that they have a dignified existence and [getting] rid of the bureaucracy, whereas the living wage looks at the working poor… a living wage would allow those who have been taking the most from our social safety net to start paying back into it… to become fully engaged, productive, contributing members of society.
Tags: disabilities, ideology, pensions, poverty, rights, standard of living
Posted in Social Security Debates | 1 Comment »
The Problem with Food Banks
Monday, April 30th, 2012
April 25, 2012
Canada signed and ratified the UN Declaration of Human Rights in 1967 — and other international agreements following — that guarantee the right to food. But it’s not entrenched in our constitution, our domestic law. The right to food is particularly problematic in the Canadian context, because social rights, like welfare for example, are provincial responsibilities. “It’s the old problem of Canadian federalism… It becomes messy in terms of whose government is really responsible for this.”
Tags: budget, ideology, philanthropy, poverty, standard of living
Posted in Social Security Debates | No Comments »
Taking on the Feds for Aboriginal Equality
Monday, April 23rd, 2012
20 Apr 2012
Ten years ago she led FNCFCS on a mission to work with the government of Canada to bring equality to all Aboriginal people. But after five years of government rejecting proposal after proposal for fair education, safe housing and clean drinking water on reserves, FNCFCS took them to court. On April 18, FNCFCS won their case in Federal Court, and will head back to the Canada Human Rights Tribunal for another hearing.
Tags: Indigenous, rights, standard of living
Posted in Equality Delivery System | No Comments »
A Fix for Ugly Politics
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
April 3, 2012
There is a very simple way to quickly put an end to robo-call scandals, dramatically increase voter participation, reduce negative political advertising and strengthen democracy — without spending any additional money. The solution: compulsory voting in elections… robo-call mischief only works in close races with low turnout where it makes a difference if a small number of voters can be dissuaded from voting by illegal or at least immoral means… Mandatory voting could also seriously reduce attack ads, since part of their intent is voter suppression… And because they have to vote, more citizens spend more time examining public issues and the parties’ positions on them, boosting democratic engagement.
Tags: participation, rights
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
A New Device to Correct Political Spin
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
April 2, 2012
In February, Statistics Canada made access to most of its data free… The change now makes it possible for anyone to fact-check many political claims. To demonstrate how easy it is to access and use this free data, a good start is to watch the five minute CANSIM tutorial.
Tags: economy, featured, ideology, standard of living
Posted in Governance Policy Context | No Comments »
Understanding Harper’s Evangelical Mission
Thursday, March 29th, 2012
26 Mar 2012
Almost daily, more evidence surfaces that Canada’s government is guided by tribalists averse to scientific reason in favour of Biblical fundamentalism — or what some call “evangelical religious skepticism.”… From where does the government’s extreme animus towards journalists, environmental groups, First Nations and science… a partial list of victims… arise? The moment demands we take a close look at Stephen Harper’s evangelical beliefs.
Tags: ideology
Posted in Governance Debates | 2 Comments »
Lawful Access Signals Canada Is Open to ‘Big Brother Inc.’
Friday, March 23rd, 2012
28 Feb 2012
Most of the attention on the recent introduction of Internet surveillance legislation has focused on the mandatory disclosure of Internet and telephone subscriber information without court oversight. But just as troubling is the plan to create a massive new surveillance infrastructure within the Canadian Internet. Bill C-30 requires Internet providers to acquire the ability to engage in multiple simultaneous interceptions and gives law enforcement the power to audit their surveillance capabilities… In addition to the surveillance requirements, the bill would also give the government the power to install its own equipment directly onto private Internet provider networks.
Tags: ideology, participation, rights
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
The Tories’ Dirty Tricks Catalogue
Friday, March 23rd, 2012
29 Feb 2012
The Conservatives have been caught up in many shady activities since coming to power. The revelation that they may have been behind a robocall operation to suppress voting for opposition parties would rank, if proven, among the more serious offences… To the misfortune of Team Harper, its record on duplicitous activities is hardly one to inspire confidence that its hand are clean. There follows a list — is Harperland becoming Nixonland? — of dirty tricks, black ops and hardball tactics from the Conservatives’ years in power.
Tags: featured, ideology, participation, rights
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
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