Here is a message from Don Davies, Vancouver-Kingsway's
new Member of Parliament (MP):
Dear friends,
I am writing to thank you for all of your work, support, and encouragement throughout this long election campaign.
Thanks to your effort, and that of so many others like you, I now have the privilege of representing the citizens of Vancouver Kingsway.
This is a responsibility that I take most seriously, with an attitude of great humility, and in full recognition that this was only accomplished through the hard work, talent and commitment of people like you.
It is my intent to represent the constituents of this riding to the very best of my ability, whether standing in Parliament to add my voice in support of the progressive values of New Democrats, working to highlight issues of concern in our neighbourhoods, or being involved in the activities and events of our community.
One of our first tasks will be to establish a constituency office, to which the door will always be open to anyone who cares to enter. We will make this a place where people are made to feel welcome and a place to raise concerns, whether large or small, in all matters of federal jurisdiction.
I will work my utmost to restore honest and effective representation to the people of Vancouver Kingsway.
Thank you once again for all your efforts in affording me this opportunity to serve, so that we can now work together toward a fairer, most just, and more compassionate society.
If you have any opinions, ideas or questions please do not hesitate to contact me at any time.
Together, we were elected - together, we will represent Vancouver Kingsway.
Sincerely,
Don Davies
For those who want to stay in the loop:
E-mail Don @ dondaviesndp@gmail.com
Or, from his web page
Don Davies' webpage
Don Davies Facebook page
***************************
Don Davies makes lone victory speech at NDP party
By Pieta Woolley. October 15th 2008. The Georgia Straight.
The NDP crowd was hungry for a victory, so when Vancouver-Kingsway
candidate Don Davies walked into Heritage Hall, it might as well have
been Posh ’n’ Becks.
The thick crowd pounded their applause, and chanted "Davies, Davies!"
The ruddy-cheeked first-time MP-elect, followed by his wife and teenaged
daughter, was scrummed by a pack of news-starved TV crews. He took the
stage, did the requisite Rocky-inspired victory fist shake with B.C.
NDP president Jeff Fox, and let the noise die down.
"I wrote a victory speech and a defeat speech," Davies told the crowd,
"and my defeat speech is better."
Someone in the crowd shouted, "Defeat sucks!"
After thanking a crew of folk, Davies said he had two pledges.
"The last person elected here put the king in Kingsway," he said, to more cheers. "Tonight, we put the constituent into constituency!" The crowd
went ballistic.
"Second," he said, "I will work hard to serve you, and I will strive
mightily to listen. I'll bring democracy, fairness, and a voice to the
ones who may not be able to speak for themselves."
Of the four NDP candidates at Heritage Hall tonight, Davies was the
only one elected.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
New Blog & Election Information
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who read the election blog.
I've started a new blog, come check it out.
Westcoast Indie News
Two more elections to go here in BC in the next eight months:
The municipal election: November 15, 2008
Frances Bula has posted a slate of her blog:State of Vancouver
2008 VANCOUVER CIVIC ELECTION CANDIDATES
BC Provincial By-Election: October 29th 2008
Vancouver-Fairview
Vancouver-Quadra
BC Provincial Election: May 12 2009
Electoral Finance: see who's been contributing money to parties.
I've started a new blog, come check it out.
Westcoast Indie News
Two more elections to go here in BC in the next eight months:
The municipal election: November 15, 2008
Frances Bula has posted a slate of her blog:State of Vancouver
2008 VANCOUVER CIVIC ELECTION CANDIDATES
BC Provincial By-Election: October 29th 2008
Vancouver-Fairview
Vancouver-Quadra
BC Provincial Election: May 12 2009
Electoral Finance: see who's been contributing money to parties.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Omar Khadr Documentary: CBC violates Canada's Rights to Freedom of the Press
If there is any doubt in our minds that the CBC is in service to Stephen Harper and the neoConservative government, lay that to rest.
Airing on CBC on October 16th - just two days after the Canadian federal
election, The US vs. Omar Khadr, a documentary by Terence McKenna, which is openly critical of Harper and the Canadian government for failing to act in the best interests of this Canadian child, who has been imprisoned, tortured and abused FOR YEARS in Guatanomo Bay.
It is the grossest abuse of the responsibility and duty of the press to freedom, justice, liberty and democracy that the CBC, our taxpayer funded media, chose to supress the showing of this important documentary. This is an abuse of the human rights of all Canadians.
If the leadership of the CBC will not reform themselves and remember whose interests they are there to serve, Canadians, then it is time for the leadership of the CBC to resign.
Omar Khadr Project
Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms
Fundamental Freedoms
2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
a) freedom of conscience and religion;
b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
d) freedom of association.
Enforcement of guaranteed rights and freedoms
24. (1) Anyone whose rights or freedoms, as guaranteed by this Charter, have been infringed or denied may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain such remedy as the court considers appropriate and just in the circumstances.
************************
Canada re-elects Stephen Harper
Murray Dobbin: Harper will continue to dismantle social democracy
Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper was re-elected this week, as his Conservative Party won its second minority government. Harper called an early election last month after accusing the Canadian Parliament of being dysfunctional. Observers called it a calculated political move, meant to take advantage of his lead in the polls, with the aim, to secure a majority for his party.
With another minority parliament Murray Dobbin thinks Stephen Harper "will really hate this situation" and ultimately feels Harpers move for an early election could be the cause of his own demise. If Harper doesn't work with the other parties which has been the case in the past Dobbin claims "We'll go in to a recession…..he'll start cutting things and that will bring about his defeat."
Dobbin says with Harpers reluctance to use government spending as a way to stimulate the economy and his "60 billion dollars in tax cuts which completely ties his hands, we'll be in a deficit position by December or January unless he goes back on his tax cuts."
"The future of Canada has been in trouble for 20 years ever since the free trade agreement" according to Dobbin, with Harper back with his minority government the dismantling of the social democratic system will continue.
You can find complete coverage of this story on our website: The Real News
Airing on CBC on October 16th - just two days after the Canadian federal
election, The US vs. Omar Khadr, a documentary by Terence McKenna, which is openly critical of Harper and the Canadian government for failing to act in the best interests of this Canadian child, who has been imprisoned, tortured and abused FOR YEARS in Guatanomo Bay.
It is the grossest abuse of the responsibility and duty of the press to freedom, justice, liberty and democracy that the CBC, our taxpayer funded media, chose to supress the showing of this important documentary. This is an abuse of the human rights of all Canadians.
If the leadership of the CBC will not reform themselves and remember whose interests they are there to serve, Canadians, then it is time for the leadership of the CBC to resign.
Omar Khadr Project
Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms
Fundamental Freedoms
2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
a) freedom of conscience and religion;
b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
d) freedom of association.
Enforcement of guaranteed rights and freedoms
24. (1) Anyone whose rights or freedoms, as guaranteed by this Charter, have been infringed or denied may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain such remedy as the court considers appropriate and just in the circumstances.
************************
Canada re-elects Stephen Harper
Murray Dobbin: Harper will continue to dismantle social democracy
Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper was re-elected this week, as his Conservative Party won its second minority government. Harper called an early election last month after accusing the Canadian Parliament of being dysfunctional. Observers called it a calculated political move, meant to take advantage of his lead in the polls, with the aim, to secure a majority for his party.
With another minority parliament Murray Dobbin thinks Stephen Harper "will really hate this situation" and ultimately feels Harpers move for an early election could be the cause of his own demise. If Harper doesn't work with the other parties which has been the case in the past Dobbin claims "We'll go in to a recession…..he'll start cutting things and that will bring about his defeat."
Dobbin says with Harpers reluctance to use government spending as a way to stimulate the economy and his "60 billion dollars in tax cuts which completely ties his hands, we'll be in a deficit position by December or January unless he goes back on his tax cuts."
"The future of Canada has been in trouble for 20 years ever since the free trade agreement" according to Dobbin, with Harper back with his minority government the dismantling of the social democratic system will continue.
You can find complete coverage of this story on our website: The Real News
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
WOOHOO DON DAVIES WINS VANCOUVER-KINGSWAY!!!
That is just the bomb, way to go Vancouver-Kingsway and the NDP team!!!!!
Looking forward to Don Davies representing us in Ottawa.
Boohiss!!! to everyone across Canada who voted Conservative. Someday, Canada will look back and know what you've done. And I want to remind everyone that Stephen Harper spent over $300 million dollars of tax payer money to have an election where he is still the minority government and yes, I did say he is the government . Virtually everyone who voted neoConservative voted for candidates who did not speak, or listen, to constituents during the election because Harper put a gag on all of them. Good luck with your representation now that you elected them.
Ironically, it was Salomon "regular blood donor" Rayek, the Conservative candidate in V-K who turned out to be the strategic monkey wrench to the Liberals winning this riding. For that we gotta thank you, Mr. Rayek, way to go.
I want to send a shout out to Wendy Yuan and her campaign team for a strong, tough fight.
Also, way to go to the other candidates, who put on a worthy fight for reminding us what democracy is all about.
A BIG HUGE hug and kiss to Quebec for seeing what the Conservatives are all about and saving Canada from a Conservative majority, Quebec is the hero in this election.
Vancouver-Kingsway numbers
BC Voting Results
Thanks to everyone who made this little election blog experiment so successful.
Looking forward to Don Davies representing us in Ottawa.
Boohiss!!! to everyone across Canada who voted Conservative. Someday, Canada will look back and know what you've done. And I want to remind everyone that Stephen Harper spent over $300 million dollars of tax payer money to have an election where he is still the minority government and yes, I did say he is the government . Virtually everyone who voted neoConservative voted for candidates who did not speak, or listen, to constituents during the election because Harper put a gag on all of them. Good luck with your representation now that you elected them.
Ironically, it was Salomon "regular blood donor" Rayek, the Conservative candidate in V-K who turned out to be the strategic monkey wrench to the Liberals winning this riding. For that we gotta thank you, Mr. Rayek, way to go.
I want to send a shout out to Wendy Yuan and her campaign team for a strong, tough fight.
Also, way to go to the other candidates, who put on a worthy fight for reminding us what democracy is all about.
A BIG HUGE hug and kiss to Quebec for seeing what the Conservatives are all about and saving Canada from a Conservative majority, Quebec is the hero in this election.
Vancouver-Kingsway numbers
BC Voting Results
Thanks to everyone who made this little election blog experiment so successful.
It's SHOW TIME: Get the Vote Out Canada
Well, we're down to the wire, it's SHOW TIME folks.
Here are the final few stories making the rounds in Vancouver-Kingsway.
I hope those voting remember that our next elected Member of
Parliament is a representative to all of us in the riding, a wide and diverse range of voters.
I hope that people get out and vote, no matter what riding you live in, with the knowledge that this is one of THE most important elections in Canadian history.
Wendy Yuan 3rd Party Advertising
Of thousands of candidates running in 308 ridings across the country only one candidate - Wendy Yuan - appears to have multiple third party individuals running election advertising in her support.
Vancouver-Kingsway: Race Card Played?
Mike Watkins.
Additionally, an official advertisement released by the Yuan campaign exhorts:
Please unite, on 10/14 cast a vote for your ethnic Chinese candidate, Wendy Yuan.
Patrick [Tam] points this out as a racist appeal for votes and I agree. Candidates shouldn't be asking for the vote based on their race or skin colour, and nor should their supporters.
Sadly this approach typifies much of campaign 2008 where the politics of
attack and division have dominated over that of ideas and the future.
Critic accuses Liberal Yuan of prejudice (Oct 13, The Tyee)
A local photographer accused Vancouver-Kingsway Liberal candidate Wendy Yuan of prejudice after the appearance of two Chinese-language ads that
promote her ethnic background.
“[Yuan] is dumbing down the Chinese voters,” he said. “One
should vote for the most able candidate, not because of their ethnicity.”
Tam said the ads set a bad precedent for Canadian politics.
Wendy Yuan’s Policy Emptiness is Bad for Vancouver-Kingsway
Posted by Stephen Elliott-Buckley on October 13, 2008. Politics ReSpun
A vote for the NDP and Don Davies is a vote for progress, humanity and real political representation in Vancouver-Kingsway.
A vote for the Liberals and Wendy Yuan is a vote for the federal Liberal party “brand”, elitist and pro-corporate policies and the Paul Martin-David Emerson gang.
Worst of all, NOT voting is a vote for Wendy Yuan. Here’s why:
As far as I can tell, Wendy Yuan seems like a nice person: earnest, believing in the importance of a prosperous future for Canada [she owns a small business so you do the math] and somewhat down to earth.
But in the context of who we want representing us in parliament, she’s an empty vessel and fully uninspiring on the issues.
Don Davies has actually lived and volunteered in the riding for years, works for human rights and social and economic justice, and is interested in his fellow citizens in the riding and our concerns as opposed to pro-corporate issues or concerns of people who own big homes in Richmond like Wendy Yuan.
And without going into Wendy Yuan’s foibles which you can read about elsewhere:
* the tragic optics of the apartment she rented last fall in Collingwood to go along with her house in Richmond
* her probably good work with SUCCESS, the Richmond Economic Advisory Committee and SFU in Surrey [as opposed to any real work in Vancouver-Kingsway]
* whether she was involved in nomination meeting voter shenanigans, racially-divisive advertising, or supporting or failing to oppose China’s practice of murdering Falong Gong members for lucrative organs,
on what she actually brings to the table, she is a disastrous pick for MP.
You can review it for yourselves in a few places. Her YouTube site has a few vignettes of true policy emptiness that reflect her party’s abject refusal to address issues of real people. Its three features are so free of issues that we hear our anthem, see some pictures of her showing up at public events and trust-based service pledges. Empty otherwise.
She also seemed quite useless at the all-candidates meeting on October 7, 2008. While these videos may have neglected her best moments, what we do see is cringe-inducing.
Vancouver-Kingsway Riding Talk on CBC
Final Vancouver-Kingsway 2008 comments:
It looks like the race here in V-K is going to be a tight one. Here are some things to consider:
Conservative candidate - Salomon "regular blood donor" Rayek- He does not live in the riding, nor work here, has never spent one moment volunteering here, or had any involvement in community work, or improving the health & wellbeing of our community.
- He lives in Richmond and has long been on the executive of the Richmond-Delta East Conservative Riding Association.
- During this election, he has snubbed constituents by not showing up for 2 different All Candidates meetings.
- His office will not return e-mails to me, a constituent.
- He has not done one thing that would demonstrate he has a commitment to the people of this riding. If he has refused to show up, won't talk, or listen to constituents & voters DURING AN ELECTION - why would we have any hope he will be there if we need him as a MP?
A vote for Salomon Rayek is a wasted vote for Vancouver-Kingsway.
Wendy Yuan - Liberal Party- She moved to the riding in preparation for the election, she has never spent a moment working, or volunteering, nor has she been involved with any community groups working to make V-K a better place for all.
- I saw her in action at both All Candidates meetings and her performance at both was substandard. She was inarticulate, easily rattled by simple questions, did not do her homework, was not prepared, did not even know her own party's platform & was reading it verbatim, but was accusing other candidates of not having their facts straight. She was a poor public speaker and was evasive in answering questions she didn't want to answer, or that she didn't know the answer to.
- Ms. Yuan has managed to incur very serious hostility and anger from the Chinese Falun Gong and other practitioners due to her hands off opinions about China's human rights abuses.
- Ms. Yuan has not learned that just because you want something really, really bad, doesn't mean you will be any good at it.
Don Davies - NDP- He has lived in the riding for years, his kids go to school in it and he has volunteered and been part of the community for years.
- At each All Candidates meeting he was smart, articulate, knew the issues, could provide facts, details & background easily.
- He knew his party's platform, has been inclusive and interested in the needs & issues of a wide range of constituents.
Vancouver-Kingsway needs a strong representative in Ottawa, someone who will represent a wide range of constituents. It isn't right that someone wins this riding due to race, since we are a very diverse riding. Let's vote for the most capable, strongest and most prepared and knowledgeable candidate to re-store pride to Vancouver-Kingsway. Happy voting day Canada.
Here are the final few stories making the rounds in Vancouver-Kingsway.
I hope those voting remember that our next elected Member of
Parliament is a representative to all of us in the riding, a wide and diverse range of voters.
I hope that people get out and vote, no matter what riding you live in, with the knowledge that this is one of THE most important elections in Canadian history.
Wendy Yuan 3rd Party Advertising
Of thousands of candidates running in 308 ridings across the country only one candidate - Wendy Yuan - appears to have multiple third party individuals running election advertising in her support.
Vancouver-Kingsway: Race Card Played?
Mike Watkins.
Additionally, an official advertisement released by the Yuan campaign exhorts:
Please unite, on 10/14 cast a vote for your ethnic Chinese candidate, Wendy Yuan.
Patrick [Tam] points this out as a racist appeal for votes and I agree. Candidates shouldn't be asking for the vote based on their race or skin colour, and nor should their supporters.
Sadly this approach typifies much of campaign 2008 where the politics of
attack and division have dominated over that of ideas and the future.
Critic accuses Liberal Yuan of prejudice (Oct 13, The Tyee)
A local photographer accused Vancouver-Kingsway Liberal candidate Wendy Yuan of prejudice after the appearance of two Chinese-language ads that
promote her ethnic background.
“[Yuan] is dumbing down the Chinese voters,” he said. “One
should vote for the most able candidate, not because of their ethnicity.”
Tam said the ads set a bad precedent for Canadian politics.
Wendy Yuan’s Policy Emptiness is Bad for Vancouver-Kingsway
Posted by Stephen Elliott-Buckley on October 13, 2008. Politics ReSpun
A vote for the NDP and Don Davies is a vote for progress, humanity and real political representation in Vancouver-Kingsway.
A vote for the Liberals and Wendy Yuan is a vote for the federal Liberal party “brand”, elitist and pro-corporate policies and the Paul Martin-David Emerson gang.
Worst of all, NOT voting is a vote for Wendy Yuan. Here’s why:
As far as I can tell, Wendy Yuan seems like a nice person: earnest, believing in the importance of a prosperous future for Canada [she owns a small business so you do the math] and somewhat down to earth.
But in the context of who we want representing us in parliament, she’s an empty vessel and fully uninspiring on the issues.
Don Davies has actually lived and volunteered in the riding for years, works for human rights and social and economic justice, and is interested in his fellow citizens in the riding and our concerns as opposed to pro-corporate issues or concerns of people who own big homes in Richmond like Wendy Yuan.
And without going into Wendy Yuan’s foibles which you can read about elsewhere:
* the tragic optics of the apartment she rented last fall in Collingwood to go along with her house in Richmond
* her probably good work with SUCCESS, the Richmond Economic Advisory Committee and SFU in Surrey [as opposed to any real work in Vancouver-Kingsway]
* whether she was involved in nomination meeting voter shenanigans, racially-divisive advertising, or supporting or failing to oppose China’s practice of murdering Falong Gong members for lucrative organs,
on what she actually brings to the table, she is a disastrous pick for MP.
You can review it for yourselves in a few places. Her YouTube site has a few vignettes of true policy emptiness that reflect her party’s abject refusal to address issues of real people. Its three features are so free of issues that we hear our anthem, see some pictures of her showing up at public events and trust-based service pledges. Empty otherwise.
She also seemed quite useless at the all-candidates meeting on October 7, 2008. While these videos may have neglected her best moments, what we do see is cringe-inducing.
Vancouver-Kingsway Riding Talk on CBC
Final Vancouver-Kingsway 2008 comments:
It looks like the race here in V-K is going to be a tight one. Here are some things to consider:
Conservative candidate - Salomon "regular blood donor" Rayek- He does not live in the riding, nor work here, has never spent one moment volunteering here, or had any involvement in community work, or improving the health & wellbeing of our community.
- He lives in Richmond and has long been on the executive of the Richmond-Delta East Conservative Riding Association.
- During this election, he has snubbed constituents by not showing up for 2 different All Candidates meetings.
- His office will not return e-mails to me, a constituent.
- He has not done one thing that would demonstrate he has a commitment to the people of this riding. If he has refused to show up, won't talk, or listen to constituents & voters DURING AN ELECTION - why would we have any hope he will be there if we need him as a MP?
A vote for Salomon Rayek is a wasted vote for Vancouver-Kingsway.
Wendy Yuan - Liberal Party- She moved to the riding in preparation for the election, she has never spent a moment working, or volunteering, nor has she been involved with any community groups working to make V-K a better place for all.
- I saw her in action at both All Candidates meetings and her performance at both was substandard. She was inarticulate, easily rattled by simple questions, did not do her homework, was not prepared, did not even know her own party's platform & was reading it verbatim, but was accusing other candidates of not having their facts straight. She was a poor public speaker and was evasive in answering questions she didn't want to answer, or that she didn't know the answer to.
- Ms. Yuan has managed to incur very serious hostility and anger from the Chinese Falun Gong and other practitioners due to her hands off opinions about China's human rights abuses.
- Ms. Yuan has not learned that just because you want something really, really bad, doesn't mean you will be any good at it.
Don Davies - NDP- He has lived in the riding for years, his kids go to school in it and he has volunteered and been part of the community for years.
- At each All Candidates meeting he was smart, articulate, knew the issues, could provide facts, details & background easily.
- He knew his party's platform, has been inclusive and interested in the needs & issues of a wide range of constituents.
Vancouver-Kingsway needs a strong representative in Ottawa, someone who will represent a wide range of constituents. It isn't right that someone wins this riding due to race, since we are a very diverse riding. Let's vote for the most capable, strongest and most prepared and knowledgeable candidate to re-store pride to Vancouver-Kingsway. Happy voting day Canada.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Video of All Candidates Forum
There is a whole schwack of video footage from the All Candidates debate on this
YouTube page.
I encourage voters to have a look at the different question & answer panels to get an idea for yourself whether the candidates (those that showed up) know the issues, how they articulate themselves and respond under pressure.
Of course Conservative Salomon "Regular Blood Donor" Rayek did not grace constituents with his presence, so he isn't there to see in action.
***********************
Thanks to Mike Watkins for pointing us in the direction of the Vancouver-Kingsway webpage where the questions & videos are all linked up for easier viewing.
Also check out Mike Watkins web page for a lot more information about the Conservatives bungling. You won't be reading these things in the mainstream media.
YouTube page.
I encourage voters to have a look at the different question & answer panels to get an idea for yourself whether the candidates (those that showed up) know the issues, how they articulate themselves and respond under pressure.
Of course Conservative Salomon "Regular Blood Donor" Rayek did not grace constituents with his presence, so he isn't there to see in action.
***********************
Thanks to Mike Watkins for pointing us in the direction of the Vancouver-Kingsway webpage where the questions & videos are all linked up for easier viewing.
Also check out Mike Watkins web page for a lot more information about the Conservatives bungling. You won't be reading these things in the mainstream media.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Where is the Liberal Party?More on Wendy Yuan's Troubled Election Bid
Liberal candidate Wendy Yuan condemned for playing the race card
By Charlie Smith. October 11, 2008. The Georgia Straight.
Vancouver photographer Patrick Tam has called upon Vancouver Kingsway Liberal candidate Wendy Yuan's campaign to apologize for a Chinese-language ad that plays up her Chinese heritage.
Tam, a long-time supporter of New Democratic Party candidates, sent the Straight a copy of the ad, which compares Yuan to her NDP rival Don Davies.
The ad, which appeared in Sing Tao yesterday according to Tam, describes Yuan as a successful entrepreneur who will cut taxes and who speaks Chinese. Davies is described as having a union background who will increase taxes and who doesn't speak Chinese.
"Please unite on 10/14 and cast a vote for our Chinese community candidate, Wendy Yuan," the ad states.
Tam claimed in his e-mail that the ad is "racist" because it basically says: "Vote for me because I'm the same race as you."
Tam stated in his e-mail that he knows Yuan personally, and he is "very saddened and disappointed that she allowed her team" to place the ad.
"It makes us Chinese look bad in the eyes of the other Canadians," Tam claimed.
2008-10-10 SingTao Daily - page B16 - Wendy YUAN Ad
Verbatim translation of this ad.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE FOR WENDY YUAN
NDP candidate - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Liberal Party candidate
Don Davies - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Wendy Yuan
union background - - - - - - - - - - - - - - successful entrepreneur
increase taxes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - cut taxes
do not speak Chinese- - - - - - - - - - - - speaks Chinese
no [CHN] community leader support - has [CHN] community leader support
This federal election, the Conservative party candidate is so unknown that he's
only an also-run. Please unite, on 10/14 cast a vote for our Chinese community candidate, Wendy Yuan.
Thank you!
Authorised by Yi Xin Chen
**********************************************
Don Davies Response - Chinese Ad (Translated)
In the last few days, Wendy Yuan's ads contain messages that mislead the voters.
The truth is:- The Liberal's carbon tax will increase your hydro bill, fuel bill and home heating expenses.
- The NDP's policies will not increase personal or corporate income tax.
- Don has a few successful careers. He was a successful government worker, a successful lawyer and a successful consultant in labour relations.
- In the Kingsway riding, Don has the support from all ethnic groups and community leaders.
- The Liberal Party lost the last election because of scandals and the lost of trust of the voters.
- The main reason that Wendy Yuan plays such an important role in the Liberal Party is because in the last federal election she stepped aside as the Kingsway candidate and let David Emerson run.
Wendy Yuan is misleading you, she's not worth your trust.
Only the NDP have the courage to fight Harper and the Conservatives.
We need the truth and respect for politics.
Oct 14, for you and your family, please cast your vote for Don Davies and the NDP.
Paid and authorised by the official agent for Don Davies.
***********************************
Follow up:
Liberal candidate Wendy Yuan denies playing the race card
By Charlie Smith. October 11th. Original story modified, Georgia Straight.
Yuan's campaign, however, sent a reply to Tam denying responsibility for the ad and insisting it was bought by a third party.
"In reply to Patrick Tam's comment let us be very clear that this was a 3rd Party Ad and it was not published by the Wendy Yuan campaign. We did not authorize it and had no prior knowledge of it."
The Yuan campaign added: "As Patrick and others know, Wendy has worked exceptionally hard in all communities in Vancouver Kingsway. In reality she is an individual that is committed to building bridges. It is true she has an ability to communicate in other languages and knows well the realities that many face in making Canada their home. She is a proud Canadian and she will work with all the residents of Vancouver Kingsway to make our community stronger and to assist people in realizing their aspirations and dreams."
Davies will be endorsed by the following supporters: MLA Jenny Kwan, UBC medical school professor and Vision Vancouver council candidate Kerry Jang, lawyer and former NDP federal candidate Tommy Tao, COPE activist Meena Wong, NDP MLA Adrian Dix, Jack Ho, head-tax activists Grace Schenkveld and Ron Mah, Raymond Ying, Thomas Yip, Inderjeet Hundal, unsuccessful Vision Vancouver council hopeful and Filipino community leader Rey Umlas, Ronnie Nicolasora, NDP MLA and long-time human-rights activist Raj Chouhan, Katrina Chen of the Taiwanese Association, and multiculturalism advicate Todd Wong.
***************************************
I’m sorry, readers and voters have to be reminded of the little tidbit below. Ms. Yuan has a long history of denying her involvement in things that are a bit on the sketchy side during nomination, or election bids. Once again, she was caught out, outright slamming her opponent and appealing to Chinese voters by playing one of the only things she has going for her, her ability to speak Chinese.
I also have to take serious exception to this statement: The Yuan campaign added: "As Patrick and others know, Wendy has worked exceptionally hard in all communities in Vancouver Kingsway.”
I’d like Ms. Yuan to tell voters EXACTLY what “hard work” she has done with ANY communities in V-K? Because I’ve read her election brochure and her bio and she hasn’t done one damn bit of community work in this riding, if she had, she would have shouted that from the rooftops in this election. The ONLY community work SHE mentions is her work on the board of SUCCESS, which is a great organization, that primarily provides services strictly to the Chinese community.
I’ve had enough of this window dressing and I think A LOT of other voters have too. The REAL DEAL is that Ms. Yuan has always positioned herself in this riding and her party wants her in this riding because they are PLAYING THE RACE CARD, due to the high population of Chinese voters. She doesn’t really live here (except for the election), she doesn’t work here (her business is in South Vancouver) and she hasn’t spent one moment contributing to the health and wellbeing of ALL of the citizens of the Vancouver-Kingsway constituency by being involved in our community.
An additional issue is Ms. Yuan, her campaign and the Liberal Party’s concerted effort to ignore the statements she has made about China’s human rights abuses of the Falun Gong. This has turned into an election issue for many, both in the Chinese community and a more broad base of voters. I know this, because they are e-mailing me and I saw it at the All Candidates meeting, where Ms. Yuan was offensive,in her evasiveness, to Chinese citizens who was asking her a legitimate question: to confirm whether she had stated "For Falun Gong, our policy is not to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs.”
I think it is an important issue to delve into, especially considering Ms. Yuan’s possible positioning as a Liberal candidate, who would likely be placed into a position where she will be a liaison to the Chinese government on issues of trade and commerce if the Liberals were to win the riding. I think all constituents of Vancouver-Kingsway deserve to know where Ms. Yuan and the Liberal party stand on trade initiatives with a nation whose human rights abuses of all citizens, not just Falun Gong, impact all of us at a global level.
**************************************
In 2004, Yuan stepped aside to allow David Emerson , to run as a Liberal in Vancouver Kingsway. Here’s an interesting little e-mail controversy that came up during 2006 nominations for the Liberal riding candidate where it is alleged that Wendy Yuan's campaign manager. allies and insiders may have had something to do with changing the addresses of registered party members so people would be ineligible to vote in the riding nomination contest against Mason Loh. In the end, it didn’t matter since Emerson elbowed everyone else when he was placed in the riding by the Liberals and we all know how that went. More about how the big guns from Liberals HQ denied Loh's appeal.
Wendy Yuan denied she knew any of this. She continued to stress that her campaign was clean and she's done nothing against the book. Since Loh has already filed an appeal, she wouldn't comment on the matter.
The Loh's camp claimed that at least 20 other addresses were changed at the last minute, almost all of them were Loh's supporters.
*******************************
From the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong
Liberal Candidate Wendy Yuan’s View on Rights Abuses against Falun Gong in China Consistent with Chinese Communist Party Line
CIPFG Calls on Dion to Reject Yuan’s view, and to affirm that party policy is to the contrary
Vancouver – At an all candidates debate organized by Chinese Radio AM 1320 in the Vancouver-Kingsway riding on October 4, 2008, Liberal Party candidate Wendy Yuan spoke of Liberal Party policy regarding the rights abuses against Falun Gong in China.
Ms. Yuan stated: "For Falun Gong, our policy is not to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs.” Aside from Ms. Yuan, all the other candidates spoke in favour of protecting the basic rights of Falun Gong practitioners.
Clive Ansley, chairman of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), is demanding that Liberal Party Leader Stephane Dion disassociate the Liberal Party from Ms. Yuan’s indefensible position which in effect holds that the torture, genocide, and mass murder of Falun Gong practitioners for the purpose of harvesting their organs is an internal Chinese issue, and that Liberal Party policy is to turn a blind eye toward these atrocities.
“Human Rights are universal and non-partisan,” said Mr. Ansley.
“It was shocking to hear from Ms. Yuan that the Liberal policy toward genocide, torture, and murder for the theft of organs is to cooperate with the Chinese Communist Party’s cover-up of its crimes. Under International Law, Human Rights abuses and Crimes Against Humanity can never be considered the internal affairs of any sovereign state. No state is permitted, under International Law, to violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention Against Torture, or the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity. It is imperative that Stephan Dion, in the light of Ms. Yuan’s troubling statement, make absolutely clear whether the Liberal Party stands on the side of International Law or on the side of the Chinese Communist Party — the most prolific perpetrator of Crimes Against Humanity in this era.”
We have written to Dion and still await his reply,” said Lucy Zhou and Sue Zhang, Falun Dafa Association of Canada.
Posted by Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong to Vancouver-Kingsway 2008 at October 11, 2008 10:37 PM
By Charlie Smith. October 11, 2008. The Georgia Straight.
Vancouver photographer Patrick Tam has called upon Vancouver Kingsway Liberal candidate Wendy Yuan's campaign to apologize for a Chinese-language ad that plays up her Chinese heritage.
Tam, a long-time supporter of New Democratic Party candidates, sent the Straight a copy of the ad, which compares Yuan to her NDP rival Don Davies.
The ad, which appeared in Sing Tao yesterday according to Tam, describes Yuan as a successful entrepreneur who will cut taxes and who speaks Chinese. Davies is described as having a union background who will increase taxes and who doesn't speak Chinese.
"Please unite on 10/14 and cast a vote for our Chinese community candidate, Wendy Yuan," the ad states.
Tam claimed in his e-mail that the ad is "racist" because it basically says: "Vote for me because I'm the same race as you."
Tam stated in his e-mail that he knows Yuan personally, and he is "very saddened and disappointed that she allowed her team" to place the ad.
"It makes us Chinese look bad in the eyes of the other Canadians," Tam claimed.
2008-10-10 SingTao Daily - page B16 - Wendy YUAN Ad
Verbatim translation of this ad.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE FOR WENDY YUAN
NDP candidate - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Liberal Party candidate
Don Davies - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Wendy Yuan
union background - - - - - - - - - - - - - - successful entrepreneur
increase taxes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - cut taxes
do not speak Chinese- - - - - - - - - - - - speaks Chinese
no [CHN] community leader support - has [CHN] community leader support
This federal election, the Conservative party candidate is so unknown that he's
only an also-run. Please unite, on 10/14 cast a vote for our Chinese community candidate, Wendy Yuan.
Thank you!
Authorised by Yi Xin Chen
**********************************************
Don Davies Response - Chinese Ad (Translated)
In the last few days, Wendy Yuan's ads contain messages that mislead the voters.
The truth is:- The Liberal's carbon tax will increase your hydro bill, fuel bill and home heating expenses.
- The NDP's policies will not increase personal or corporate income tax.
- Don has a few successful careers. He was a successful government worker, a successful lawyer and a successful consultant in labour relations.
- In the Kingsway riding, Don has the support from all ethnic groups and community leaders.
- The Liberal Party lost the last election because of scandals and the lost of trust of the voters.
- The main reason that Wendy Yuan plays such an important role in the Liberal Party is because in the last federal election she stepped aside as the Kingsway candidate and let David Emerson run.
Wendy Yuan is misleading you, she's not worth your trust.
Only the NDP have the courage to fight Harper and the Conservatives.
We need the truth and respect for politics.
Oct 14, for you and your family, please cast your vote for Don Davies and the NDP.
Paid and authorised by the official agent for Don Davies.
***********************************
Follow up:
Liberal candidate Wendy Yuan denies playing the race card
By Charlie Smith. October 11th. Original story modified, Georgia Straight.
Yuan's campaign, however, sent a reply to Tam denying responsibility for the ad and insisting it was bought by a third party.
"In reply to Patrick Tam's comment let us be very clear that this was a 3rd Party Ad and it was not published by the Wendy Yuan campaign. We did not authorize it and had no prior knowledge of it."
The Yuan campaign added: "As Patrick and others know, Wendy has worked exceptionally hard in all communities in Vancouver Kingsway. In reality she is an individual that is committed to building bridges. It is true she has an ability to communicate in other languages and knows well the realities that many face in making Canada their home. She is a proud Canadian and she will work with all the residents of Vancouver Kingsway to make our community stronger and to assist people in realizing their aspirations and dreams."
Davies will be endorsed by the following supporters: MLA Jenny Kwan, UBC medical school professor and Vision Vancouver council candidate Kerry Jang, lawyer and former NDP federal candidate Tommy Tao, COPE activist Meena Wong, NDP MLA Adrian Dix, Jack Ho, head-tax activists Grace Schenkveld and Ron Mah, Raymond Ying, Thomas Yip, Inderjeet Hundal, unsuccessful Vision Vancouver council hopeful and Filipino community leader Rey Umlas, Ronnie Nicolasora, NDP MLA and long-time human-rights activist Raj Chouhan, Katrina Chen of the Taiwanese Association, and multiculturalism advicate Todd Wong.
***************************************
I’m sorry, readers and voters have to be reminded of the little tidbit below. Ms. Yuan has a long history of denying her involvement in things that are a bit on the sketchy side during nomination, or election bids. Once again, she was caught out, outright slamming her opponent and appealing to Chinese voters by playing one of the only things she has going for her, her ability to speak Chinese.
I also have to take serious exception to this statement: The Yuan campaign added: "As Patrick and others know, Wendy has worked exceptionally hard in all communities in Vancouver Kingsway.”
I’d like Ms. Yuan to tell voters EXACTLY what “hard work” she has done with ANY communities in V-K? Because I’ve read her election brochure and her bio and she hasn’t done one damn bit of community work in this riding, if she had, she would have shouted that from the rooftops in this election. The ONLY community work SHE mentions is her work on the board of SUCCESS, which is a great organization, that primarily provides services strictly to the Chinese community.
I’ve had enough of this window dressing and I think A LOT of other voters have too. The REAL DEAL is that Ms. Yuan has always positioned herself in this riding and her party wants her in this riding because they are PLAYING THE RACE CARD, due to the high population of Chinese voters. She doesn’t really live here (except for the election), she doesn’t work here (her business is in South Vancouver) and she hasn’t spent one moment contributing to the health and wellbeing of ALL of the citizens of the Vancouver-Kingsway constituency by being involved in our community.
An additional issue is Ms. Yuan, her campaign and the Liberal Party’s concerted effort to ignore the statements she has made about China’s human rights abuses of the Falun Gong. This has turned into an election issue for many, both in the Chinese community and a more broad base of voters. I know this, because they are e-mailing me and I saw it at the All Candidates meeting, where Ms. Yuan was offensive,in her evasiveness, to Chinese citizens who was asking her a legitimate question: to confirm whether she had stated "For Falun Gong, our policy is not to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs.”
I think it is an important issue to delve into, especially considering Ms. Yuan’s possible positioning as a Liberal candidate, who would likely be placed into a position where she will be a liaison to the Chinese government on issues of trade and commerce if the Liberals were to win the riding. I think all constituents of Vancouver-Kingsway deserve to know where Ms. Yuan and the Liberal party stand on trade initiatives with a nation whose human rights abuses of all citizens, not just Falun Gong, impact all of us at a global level.
**************************************
In 2004, Yuan stepped aside to allow David Emerson , to run as a Liberal in Vancouver Kingsway. Here’s an interesting little e-mail controversy that came up during 2006 nominations for the Liberal riding candidate where it is alleged that Wendy Yuan's campaign manager. allies and insiders may have had something to do with changing the addresses of registered party members so people would be ineligible to vote in the riding nomination contest against Mason Loh. In the end, it didn’t matter since Emerson elbowed everyone else when he was placed in the riding by the Liberals and we all know how that went. More about how the big guns from Liberals HQ denied Loh's appeal.
Wendy Yuan denied she knew any of this. She continued to stress that her campaign was clean and she's done nothing against the book. Since Loh has already filed an appeal, she wouldn't comment on the matter.
The Loh's camp claimed that at least 20 other addresses were changed at the last minute, almost all of them were Loh's supporters.
*******************************
From the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong
Liberal Candidate Wendy Yuan’s View on Rights Abuses against Falun Gong in China Consistent with Chinese Communist Party Line
CIPFG Calls on Dion to Reject Yuan’s view, and to affirm that party policy is to the contrary
Vancouver – At an all candidates debate organized by Chinese Radio AM 1320 in the Vancouver-Kingsway riding on October 4, 2008, Liberal Party candidate Wendy Yuan spoke of Liberal Party policy regarding the rights abuses against Falun Gong in China.
Ms. Yuan stated: "For Falun Gong, our policy is not to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs.” Aside from Ms. Yuan, all the other candidates spoke in favour of protecting the basic rights of Falun Gong practitioners.
Clive Ansley, chairman of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), is demanding that Liberal Party Leader Stephane Dion disassociate the Liberal Party from Ms. Yuan’s indefensible position which in effect holds that the torture, genocide, and mass murder of Falun Gong practitioners for the purpose of harvesting their organs is an internal Chinese issue, and that Liberal Party policy is to turn a blind eye toward these atrocities.
“Human Rights are universal and non-partisan,” said Mr. Ansley.
“It was shocking to hear from Ms. Yuan that the Liberal policy toward genocide, torture, and murder for the theft of organs is to cooperate with the Chinese Communist Party’s cover-up of its crimes. Under International Law, Human Rights abuses and Crimes Against Humanity can never be considered the internal affairs of any sovereign state. No state is permitted, under International Law, to violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention Against Torture, or the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity. It is imperative that Stephan Dion, in the light of Ms. Yuan’s troubling statement, make absolutely clear whether the Liberal Party stands on the side of International Law or on the side of the Chinese Communist Party — the most prolific perpetrator of Crimes Against Humanity in this era.”
We have written to Dion and still await his reply,” said Lucy Zhou and Sue Zhang, Falun Dafa Association of Canada.
Posted by Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong to Vancouver-Kingsway 2008 at October 11, 2008 10:37 PM
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Generational Divide: Time to Fight for Canada's Survival
We are living in unprecedented times my fellow citizens and voters.
A time, where our sitting Prime Minister, Stephen Harper & his
neoConservative government have incurred the biggest backlash coast
to coast of any government that has sat in Canada's history. And all of
this is occurring in the midst of an election Mr. Harper himself called,
albeit illegally. See here and here for more on that.
Without a doubt, the rallying assault of voices against Harper & his pack of neoConservatives has been strengthened and boosted by the global world we all inhabit. Canada is one of the jurisdictions with the highest Internet access of
any around the world. It has made joining ranks and spreading the anti-Harper and neoConservative word all the more effective and risen this to a national pastime over the course of this campaign. At least amongst those who have climbed on board this wagon and know that the very survival of Canada is at stake in this election.
The Generational Divide: Who Represents "Our" Voices
What makes this election different too is that the many Internet campaigns,
the media and information available have brought more and more younger and more diverse voters into the political and electoral fray, something we should all be thankful about. Politics for too damn long has been an old white man's game to the exclusion of any other voices, to the detriment of the needs, interests and issues of those who don't have the luxury of running for
office, of soliciting funds from other rich white men who attach strings to
their support.
The generational divide is nowhere more noticeable than by taking a look at
the mainstream media, with the big "old boys" club using their club and might
to promote Stephen Harper for Prime Minister in their editorials. If there was any doubt in my mind, that has been resolved: the mainstream
corporate media (MSM) has ceased to have relevancy, credibility,
or retain a single shred of an idea about the public's thirst for
new leadership amidst an awakening of the deceit, bigotry and
unethical conduct of Stephen Harper and his neoConservative government.
Quite simply put, the corporate media has ceased to be viewed as a legitimate
media and information source in Canada by a growing number of citizens,
especially those on the other side of 40 because they serve their
neoConservative and corporate masters and have forgotten their purpose in
a free and democratic society - to provide news & information to the public,
for the public, in the public good. See Who Killed Canada for more.
Mainstream media is dead in Canada, I don't think they know it yet and no
amount of blogging by their beleaguered journalists is going to change that.
*******************************************
The Truth of a Person's Character will Always be evident by their Actions
It is the duty of men to judge men only by their actions. Our faculties furnish us with no means of arriving at the motive, the character, the secret self.
We call the tree good from its fruits, and the man, from his works.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
* What exactly is happening, why are Harper & his neoConservatives melting
down in front of our eyes?
* How have things gone off the rails so quickly?
* Why is it not only public opinion is rapidly shifting, but also those
closely watched polls of voters?
These are some of the reasons and all of them are related to Harper's character
and judgement:
Harper heads a Party for White, older Rich folks who already have Theirs - The neoConservatives really only resonate with a very small
bunch of people - older, richer, whiter, more small c conservative, those
who feel like crime is running rampant (it isn't) and people aren't being
punished hard enough (they are). It's called fearmongering, and the
Conservatives are masters at creating problems where there are none
to scare people. People who don't like those "junkies," people who take what
they read in the Vancouver Sun as gospel and who are perhaps too intellectually lazy to move beyond the pablum of the masses brought to them by the corporatized media. Because there is so much more than the crap these corporate hacks put out for their political masters. Last night I watched one of Harper's media appearance, making a big deal about nothing over Dion's brain fart & the whitewash in the background (his supporters) was an indication of what a narrow appeal Harper & his Conservatives have. From coast to coast, it's a party made by white men, for white men. Check out the candidates to see if I'm exaggerating.
Lack of Respect, Dignity & Voice for Canadians (Ie. Arrogance of
the Elite) - Harper & his neoConservative backroomers, who include more than a few Americans, have made THE biggest mistake of any election anywhere by muzzling and directing candidates not to attend All Candidate forums and debates, and preventing them from talking to local media, constituents and voters. To deny the people of Canada the right and opportunity to meet with, to hear from and see candidates in action is one of the grossest breaches of democracy I have ever seen in my life. And this neoConservative strategy proves that this is a one-man government, ALWAYS and FOREVER. If the Conservative candidates won't meet with and face voters now, during an election, what makes anyone think they will have one minute to spare listening to the needs & issues of Canadians if they get voted in. Will they even be allowed to? Just look at the numbers of neoConservative candidates who are failing Canadians during this election and these are only the ones being reported.
Manipulation & Lack of Judgement - Harper, while sitting as Canada's Prime Minister, is alleged to have listened to and approved plans for his Conservative members to offer a million dollar life insurance policy to Chuck Cadman, while he was dying from cancer, to swing his vote their way. Then, when caught, Harper is alleged to lie about it & denies his VERY OWN words. Then, to deflect from his abysmal judgement, he files a lawsuit against the Liberals (on taxpayer's dime, no doubt), accusing them of deceit. And now we have it, Harper's own expert has confirmed that the audiotape was not tampered with, was not edited, or in any
way altered. This means only one thing - Stephen Harper, as Prime Minister of Canada, knowingly approved a plan for his people, other neoConservatives, to offer money to a dying man to influence his vote in OUR CANADIAN PARLIAMENT.
What I'd like to know is where the hell are the RCMP in this? Maybe instead
of operating as Harper's neoCon private police force they can investigate the fact that our Prime Minister quite possibly, allegedly, may have committed a few criminal code violations, ones that had the possibility of impacting an entire nation of Canadians.
" Under cross-examination in August, Mr. Harper said he believed Mr. Zytaruk had altered the tape.
“He asked me a question about the insurance policy for $1-million. And my answer was that I did not know about that. The answer is not contained there,” Mr. Harper said under oath."
Hear for yourself exactly what Harper told Mr. Zytaruk during the interview and ask yourself, why is Harper keep Dona Cadman, Chuck's widow, away from the media and voters so strenuously and using the RCMP has her bodyguard and private police force to do so.
Read more about "the Chuck Cadman bribe controversy" here.
I think it is fair for voters & Canadians to ask what kind of moral and ethical compass does Mr. Harper have?
Is this really the kind of person that we want in our leader, as Canadians? Or to represent us internationally?
Don't Canadians deserve better?
Zero Openness, Transparency & Accountability - Although he knew he was calling an election, Harper waited until just days ago, over a month in,
to release the neoConservative "party platform," which is a whole lot more of nothingness for most of Canada. Over 1.5 million Canadians went to the ballot box before the neoConservative party even released their party platform. In fact, Harper waited until after the advanced polls closed to release his platform. If that does not offend you as a Canadian and demonstrate the
neoConservatives lack of commitment to fairness and democracy, AND a profound contempt for the people of Canada, I don't know what will.
Harper is the Washington's Toady - Harper's role as a handmaiden to the Bush regime and it's continuing plan for assuming more control of Canada's natural resources and cracking open our country and systems to American corporate greed and domination make Harper the most dangerous Prime Minister Canada has ever seen, except for Mulroney, also a Conservative, who foisted NAFTA on us, which has been hurting us ever since. And let's not forget the Liberals involvement as well.
To be crass, Canadian politicians used to have balls, used to stand up proudly and independently protecting and representing Canada as a sovereign nation on the international stage and especially in Washington, DC. We were never anyone's bitch until the neoConservative swing that has seen our "leaders" on their knees, groveling at the feet of the American hegemony that is causing the ruin of our entire global village. Yet even when faced with that, Stephen Harper misled to the Canadian public and denied the Canadian economy was in trouble.
Harper is fast tracking Canada's "deep integration" into the United States under the Security & Prosperity Partnership (SPP), the North American Union (NAU) and now apparently he's also working to integrate Canada into the European Union. Lets get this straight, with an election ongoing, our sitting Prime Minister, Harper & his people, our people (?)have been holding secret meetings for months and have come up with a draft agreement with the European Union that would see Canada become part of the EU, opening up our country to even more corporations eager for access and ownership of our natural resources and to corporatize our systems & Harper doesn't even bother to tell us about it, won't release the draft agreement & hasn't told us about his meeting with the EU on October 17th, 3 days after the federal election?
Is this in the best interests of Canadians?
Shouldn't we have an opportunity to know more?
Shouldn't we have an opportunity to voice our opinions about our continuing status as a sovereign nation?
The Gas Tank is Running on Empty - Harper & the neoConservative gene & talent pool is so low that it stretches the imagination that he could even develop a roster of Cabinet ministers. My God, hasn't Canada suffered enough humiliation and indignity with the likes of Tony Clement, Maxime Bernier, & Jim Flaherty? If these were the best Harper could do last time, what does this say about Canada to the rest of the world? It's an embarassment and a disgrace to Canada and as citizens, we deserve so much better than these clowns and idiots. Not to demean the former, or the latter, who might not want to be associated with the likes of those neoConservatives.
There are many clever souls who have been keeping running tabs on all the BIG and little things and reasons Canadians shouldn't vote for Harper & his neoConservatives and they are making it easier for all of us to access that information too:
100 Reasons not to Vote fpr Harpers' Conservatives
Exclusive: Harper Running Deficit... NOW
Mikewatkins.ca
Conservative leader Stephen Harper continues to claim that Canada is enjoying a surplus, yet his Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty this calendar year has racked up an operational deficit in six of the past seven reported months, totaling over $23 billion dollars, or $20.3 billion for this fiscal year to date. In either case these amounts are unprecedented during this decade
sCandelpedia
Fifty-two important reasons to drive out Harper's Tories
The Straight Slate to Stop Stephen Harper
Editorial. October 9th 2008. Georgia Straight.
The stakes are so high that we're urging a vote for the candidate
with the best chance of defeating Stephen Harper in your riding.
Excerpt:
Harper has aligned Canada closely with the United States in this competition for scarce energy resources. Harper has also taken several steps to bring Canadian economic, climate-change, and military policies in line with the debt-saddled superpower to the south. Last February, for instance, the Harper government quietly signed a deal with the Bush administration to permit U.S. troops to enter this country in an emergency.
The relatively high price of oil has also been the catalyst for an international investment frenzy in the Alberta tar sands, causing widespread environmental destruction. To appease the oil industry, the Harper government has provided millions of dollars in subsidies and muzzled government scientists to prevent them from commenting on the environmental effects of tar-sands developments.
Harper, the son of a former Imperial Oil executive, once described the Kyoto Protocol to limit greenhouse gases as “a socialist scheme to suck money out of wealth-producing nations”. The Conservatives, like their Republican counterparts in the U.S., have refused to cap greenhouse-gas emissions to curb climate change.
Meanwhile, Harper’s Security and Prosperity Partnership with the United States and Mexico is another step along the road to continental integration. Some of Harper’s ideological friends at right-wing think tanks like the Fraser Institute have also promoted a common North American currency. Don’t be surprised if Harper moves in this direction if he wins a majority government.
In previous elections, the Georgia Straight has recommended the best candidates in each riding. Because the stakes are so high this year, we’re joining the cross-country grassroots movement to promote strategic voting and deny Harper a majority. We have examined the polls, looked at previous voting patterns, and assessed the impact of each party’s campaign in B.C. in 2008. After doing this, we’ve recommended the candidate with the best chance of defeating the Conservative.
Vancouver Kingsway
Don Davies (NDP)
It’s not likely that the Conservatives will take Vancouver Kingsway. Davies, a lawyer and former political aide in Alberta, is hard-working, humble, and understands the legislative process. The NDP’s high standing in the polls in this region suggests it could pull off an upset in this riding if people vote strategically. In 2004, New Democrat Ian Waddell would have defeated David Emerson in Vancouver Kingsway by 1,126 votes if the anti-Emerson and anti-Conservative vote coalesced around the NDP. Davies’s main competitor, Liberal Wendy Yuan, is a businesswoman who wouldn’t be a disaster, unlike Emerson. Green candidate Doug Warkentin is earnest and knowledgeable, but probably doesn’t stand a chance of winning this time.
Should Canadians be worried about Conservatives not taking questions?
By Susanna Ng. Georgia Straight. Also see Chinese in Vancouver.
Surprise: Gays Don't Vote for Tories
XTraWest.
Yes, I’m Scared Of Stephen Harper!
Vive le Canada.
Harper's government as acolytes to the American Empire and neo-conservatives values have taken a fatal hit.
Harper’S Political Death Watch
Stephen Harper: Bulking Up Pentagon North
Vive le Canada.
************************************
From their mouths to our eyes & ears:
Jim Flaherty - neoConservative Minister of Finance:
On the homeless
"I will make homelessness illegal and jail people who persist in living on the street. It will be illegal to live on the street it will be illegal to live in public places... on the streets and in the parks." Jim Flaherty, Deputy Premier of Ontario, (Montreal Gazette, A10, Feb 15, 2002)
On aboriginals and ‘real people’
"The federal department of health delivers health-care services only to aboriginals -- all the provinces have the responsibility for delivering health-care services to real people in real towns, hospitals, doctors, nurses.” (Toronto Sun, Jan 23, 2002)
*************************************************
Canada Vote Swap
This group is a forum for those who oppose Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party. It is imperative that they do not obtain a majority in the 2008 federal election. To prevent this from happening, those on the broad left and those concerned about the environment must cooperate.
The campaigns to stop Harper
Election race narrows as Liberal Party polls within 4 points of Conservatives.
Senior Editor Paul Jay sat down with Rick Salutin to discuss the sudden rise in the polls of the Liberal Party, just days before the Canadian election. Salutin talked about the fact that the Conservative Party of Stephen Harper has never really represented a majority of Canadians' values and as such many Canadians have been looking for a reason not to give them a mandate to see-through their vision of the country. Rick also talked about the vote-splitting which allows the Conservatives to get into office in the first place and summarizes some of the innovative ways that Canadians are organizing to overcome this electoral phenomenon that the Canadian party system presents.
Go to The Real News website to read more & find out how you can join the campaign to stop Stephen Harper & his neoConservatives.
**********************************************
Who Killed Canada - A 2008 Election Primer
Mel Hurtig & John Riddell - The Dream of Canada
Mel Hurtig - Pay the Rent of Feed the Kids: The Tragedy and Disgrace of Poverty in Canada
At no time since the Great Depression has the gap between rich and poor been so wide and the outlook for poor people been so grim. Hard-hitting and outspoken, Hurtig builds a compelling portrait of Canadian society under the rule of the “neo-Neanderthals.” He puts together the latest and most reliable statistics with stories told by people on the front lines of the poverty wars.
******************************************************
A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the sound of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. - Jawaharial Nehru
If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost. - Aristotle
A time, where our sitting Prime Minister, Stephen Harper & his
neoConservative government have incurred the biggest backlash coast
to coast of any government that has sat in Canada's history. And all of
this is occurring in the midst of an election Mr. Harper himself called,
albeit illegally. See here and here for more on that.
Without a doubt, the rallying assault of voices against Harper & his pack of neoConservatives has been strengthened and boosted by the global world we all inhabit. Canada is one of the jurisdictions with the highest Internet access of
any around the world. It has made joining ranks and spreading the anti-Harper and neoConservative word all the more effective and risen this to a national pastime over the course of this campaign. At least amongst those who have climbed on board this wagon and know that the very survival of Canada is at stake in this election.
The Generational Divide: Who Represents "Our" Voices
What makes this election different too is that the many Internet campaigns,
the media and information available have brought more and more younger and more diverse voters into the political and electoral fray, something we should all be thankful about. Politics for too damn long has been an old white man's game to the exclusion of any other voices, to the detriment of the needs, interests and issues of those who don't have the luxury of running for
office, of soliciting funds from other rich white men who attach strings to
their support.
The generational divide is nowhere more noticeable than by taking a look at
the mainstream media, with the big "old boys" club using their club and might
to promote Stephen Harper for Prime Minister in their editorials. If there was any doubt in my mind, that has been resolved: the mainstream
corporate media (MSM) has ceased to have relevancy, credibility,
or retain a single shred of an idea about the public's thirst for
new leadership amidst an awakening of the deceit, bigotry and
unethical conduct of Stephen Harper and his neoConservative government.
Quite simply put, the corporate media has ceased to be viewed as a legitimate
media and information source in Canada by a growing number of citizens,
especially those on the other side of 40 because they serve their
neoConservative and corporate masters and have forgotten their purpose in
a free and democratic society - to provide news & information to the public,
for the public, in the public good. See Who Killed Canada for more.
Mainstream media is dead in Canada, I don't think they know it yet and no
amount of blogging by their beleaguered journalists is going to change that.
*******************************************
The Truth of a Person's Character will Always be evident by their Actions
It is the duty of men to judge men only by their actions. Our faculties furnish us with no means of arriving at the motive, the character, the secret self.
We call the tree good from its fruits, and the man, from his works.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
* What exactly is happening, why are Harper & his neoConservatives melting
down in front of our eyes?
* How have things gone off the rails so quickly?
* Why is it not only public opinion is rapidly shifting, but also those
closely watched polls of voters?
These are some of the reasons and all of them are related to Harper's character
and judgement:
Harper heads a Party for White, older Rich folks who already have Theirs - The neoConservatives really only resonate with a very small
bunch of people - older, richer, whiter, more small c conservative, those
who feel like crime is running rampant (it isn't) and people aren't being
punished hard enough (they are). It's called fearmongering, and the
Conservatives are masters at creating problems where there are none
to scare people. People who don't like those "junkies," people who take what
they read in the Vancouver Sun as gospel and who are perhaps too intellectually lazy to move beyond the pablum of the masses brought to them by the corporatized media. Because there is so much more than the crap these corporate hacks put out for their political masters. Last night I watched one of Harper's media appearance, making a big deal about nothing over Dion's brain fart & the whitewash in the background (his supporters) was an indication of what a narrow appeal Harper & his Conservatives have. From coast to coast, it's a party made by white men, for white men. Check out the candidates to see if I'm exaggerating.
Lack of Respect, Dignity & Voice for Canadians (Ie. Arrogance of
the Elite) - Harper & his neoConservative backroomers, who include more than a few Americans, have made THE biggest mistake of any election anywhere by muzzling and directing candidates not to attend All Candidate forums and debates, and preventing them from talking to local media, constituents and voters. To deny the people of Canada the right and opportunity to meet with, to hear from and see candidates in action is one of the grossest breaches of democracy I have ever seen in my life. And this neoConservative strategy proves that this is a one-man government, ALWAYS and FOREVER. If the Conservative candidates won't meet with and face voters now, during an election, what makes anyone think they will have one minute to spare listening to the needs & issues of Canadians if they get voted in. Will they even be allowed to? Just look at the numbers of neoConservative candidates who are failing Canadians during this election and these are only the ones being reported.
Manipulation & Lack of Judgement - Harper, while sitting as Canada's Prime Minister, is alleged to have listened to and approved plans for his Conservative members to offer a million dollar life insurance policy to Chuck Cadman, while he was dying from cancer, to swing his vote their way. Then, when caught, Harper is alleged to lie about it & denies his VERY OWN words. Then, to deflect from his abysmal judgement, he files a lawsuit against the Liberals (on taxpayer's dime, no doubt), accusing them of deceit. And now we have it, Harper's own expert has confirmed that the audiotape was not tampered with, was not edited, or in any
way altered. This means only one thing - Stephen Harper, as Prime Minister of Canada, knowingly approved a plan for his people, other neoConservatives, to offer money to a dying man to influence his vote in OUR CANADIAN PARLIAMENT.
What I'd like to know is where the hell are the RCMP in this? Maybe instead
of operating as Harper's neoCon private police force they can investigate the fact that our Prime Minister quite possibly, allegedly, may have committed a few criminal code violations, ones that had the possibility of impacting an entire nation of Canadians.
" Under cross-examination in August, Mr. Harper said he believed Mr. Zytaruk had altered the tape.
“He asked me a question about the insurance policy for $1-million. And my answer was that I did not know about that. The answer is not contained there,” Mr. Harper said under oath."
Hear for yourself exactly what Harper told Mr. Zytaruk during the interview and ask yourself, why is Harper keep Dona Cadman, Chuck's widow, away from the media and voters so strenuously and using the RCMP has her bodyguard and private police force to do so.
Read more about "the Chuck Cadman bribe controversy" here.
I think it is fair for voters & Canadians to ask what kind of moral and ethical compass does Mr. Harper have?
Is this really the kind of person that we want in our leader, as Canadians? Or to represent us internationally?
Don't Canadians deserve better?
Zero Openness, Transparency & Accountability - Although he knew he was calling an election, Harper waited until just days ago, over a month in,
to release the neoConservative "party platform," which is a whole lot more of nothingness for most of Canada. Over 1.5 million Canadians went to the ballot box before the neoConservative party even released their party platform. In fact, Harper waited until after the advanced polls closed to release his platform. If that does not offend you as a Canadian and demonstrate the
neoConservatives lack of commitment to fairness and democracy, AND a profound contempt for the people of Canada, I don't know what will.
Harper is the Washington's Toady - Harper's role as a handmaiden to the Bush regime and it's continuing plan for assuming more control of Canada's natural resources and cracking open our country and systems to American corporate greed and domination make Harper the most dangerous Prime Minister Canada has ever seen, except for Mulroney, also a Conservative, who foisted NAFTA on us, which has been hurting us ever since. And let's not forget the Liberals involvement as well.
To be crass, Canadian politicians used to have balls, used to stand up proudly and independently protecting and representing Canada as a sovereign nation on the international stage and especially in Washington, DC. We were never anyone's bitch until the neoConservative swing that has seen our "leaders" on their knees, groveling at the feet of the American hegemony that is causing the ruin of our entire global village. Yet even when faced with that, Stephen Harper misled to the Canadian public and denied the Canadian economy was in trouble.
Harper is fast tracking Canada's "deep integration" into the United States under the Security & Prosperity Partnership (SPP), the North American Union (NAU) and now apparently he's also working to integrate Canada into the European Union. Lets get this straight, with an election ongoing, our sitting Prime Minister, Harper & his people, our people (?)have been holding secret meetings for months and have come up with a draft agreement with the European Union that would see Canada become part of the EU, opening up our country to even more corporations eager for access and ownership of our natural resources and to corporatize our systems & Harper doesn't even bother to tell us about it, won't release the draft agreement & hasn't told us about his meeting with the EU on October 17th, 3 days after the federal election?
Is this in the best interests of Canadians?
Shouldn't we have an opportunity to know more?
Shouldn't we have an opportunity to voice our opinions about our continuing status as a sovereign nation?
The Gas Tank is Running on Empty - Harper & the neoConservative gene & talent pool is so low that it stretches the imagination that he could even develop a roster of Cabinet ministers. My God, hasn't Canada suffered enough humiliation and indignity with the likes of Tony Clement, Maxime Bernier, & Jim Flaherty? If these were the best Harper could do last time, what does this say about Canada to the rest of the world? It's an embarassment and a disgrace to Canada and as citizens, we deserve so much better than these clowns and idiots. Not to demean the former, or the latter, who might not want to be associated with the likes of those neoConservatives.
There are many clever souls who have been keeping running tabs on all the BIG and little things and reasons Canadians shouldn't vote for Harper & his neoConservatives and they are making it easier for all of us to access that information too:
100 Reasons not to Vote fpr Harpers' Conservatives
Exclusive: Harper Running Deficit... NOW
Mikewatkins.ca
Conservative leader Stephen Harper continues to claim that Canada is enjoying a surplus, yet his Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty this calendar year has racked up an operational deficit in six of the past seven reported months, totaling over $23 billion dollars, or $20.3 billion for this fiscal year to date. In either case these amounts are unprecedented during this decade
sCandelpedia
Fifty-two important reasons to drive out Harper's Tories
The Straight Slate to Stop Stephen Harper
Editorial. October 9th 2008. Georgia Straight.
The stakes are so high that we're urging a vote for the candidate
with the best chance of defeating Stephen Harper in your riding.
Excerpt:
Harper has aligned Canada closely with the United States in this competition for scarce energy resources. Harper has also taken several steps to bring Canadian economic, climate-change, and military policies in line with the debt-saddled superpower to the south. Last February, for instance, the Harper government quietly signed a deal with the Bush administration to permit U.S. troops to enter this country in an emergency.
The relatively high price of oil has also been the catalyst for an international investment frenzy in the Alberta tar sands, causing widespread environmental destruction. To appease the oil industry, the Harper government has provided millions of dollars in subsidies and muzzled government scientists to prevent them from commenting on the environmental effects of tar-sands developments.
Harper, the son of a former Imperial Oil executive, once described the Kyoto Protocol to limit greenhouse gases as “a socialist scheme to suck money out of wealth-producing nations”. The Conservatives, like their Republican counterparts in the U.S., have refused to cap greenhouse-gas emissions to curb climate change.
Meanwhile, Harper’s Security and Prosperity Partnership with the United States and Mexico is another step along the road to continental integration. Some of Harper’s ideological friends at right-wing think tanks like the Fraser Institute have also promoted a common North American currency. Don’t be surprised if Harper moves in this direction if he wins a majority government.
In previous elections, the Georgia Straight has recommended the best candidates in each riding. Because the stakes are so high this year, we’re joining the cross-country grassroots movement to promote strategic voting and deny Harper a majority. We have examined the polls, looked at previous voting patterns, and assessed the impact of each party’s campaign in B.C. in 2008. After doing this, we’ve recommended the candidate with the best chance of defeating the Conservative.
Vancouver Kingsway
Don Davies (NDP)
It’s not likely that the Conservatives will take Vancouver Kingsway. Davies, a lawyer and former political aide in Alberta, is hard-working, humble, and understands the legislative process. The NDP’s high standing in the polls in this region suggests it could pull off an upset in this riding if people vote strategically. In 2004, New Democrat Ian Waddell would have defeated David Emerson in Vancouver Kingsway by 1,126 votes if the anti-Emerson and anti-Conservative vote coalesced around the NDP. Davies’s main competitor, Liberal Wendy Yuan, is a businesswoman who wouldn’t be a disaster, unlike Emerson. Green candidate Doug Warkentin is earnest and knowledgeable, but probably doesn’t stand a chance of winning this time.
Should Canadians be worried about Conservatives not taking questions?
By Susanna Ng. Georgia Straight. Also see Chinese in Vancouver.
Surprise: Gays Don't Vote for Tories
XTraWest.
Yes, I’m Scared Of Stephen Harper!
Vive le Canada.
Harper's government as acolytes to the American Empire and neo-conservatives values have taken a fatal hit.
Harper’S Political Death Watch
Stephen Harper: Bulking Up Pentagon North
Vive le Canada.
************************************
From their mouths to our eyes & ears:
Jim Flaherty - neoConservative Minister of Finance:
On the homeless
"I will make homelessness illegal and jail people who persist in living on the street. It will be illegal to live on the street it will be illegal to live in public places... on the streets and in the parks." Jim Flaherty, Deputy Premier of Ontario, (Montreal Gazette, A10, Feb 15, 2002)
On aboriginals and ‘real people’
"The federal department of health delivers health-care services only to aboriginals -- all the provinces have the responsibility for delivering health-care services to real people in real towns, hospitals, doctors, nurses.” (Toronto Sun, Jan 23, 2002)
*************************************************
Canada Vote Swap
This group is a forum for those who oppose Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party. It is imperative that they do not obtain a majority in the 2008 federal election. To prevent this from happening, those on the broad left and those concerned about the environment must cooperate.
The campaigns to stop Harper
Election race narrows as Liberal Party polls within 4 points of Conservatives.
Senior Editor Paul Jay sat down with Rick Salutin to discuss the sudden rise in the polls of the Liberal Party, just days before the Canadian election. Salutin talked about the fact that the Conservative Party of Stephen Harper has never really represented a majority of Canadians' values and as such many Canadians have been looking for a reason not to give them a mandate to see-through their vision of the country. Rick also talked about the vote-splitting which allows the Conservatives to get into office in the first place and summarizes some of the innovative ways that Canadians are organizing to overcome this electoral phenomenon that the Canadian party system presents.
Go to The Real News website to read more & find out how you can join the campaign to stop Stephen Harper & his neoConservatives.
**********************************************
Who Killed Canada - A 2008 Election Primer
Mel Hurtig & John Riddell - The Dream of Canada
Mel Hurtig - Pay the Rent of Feed the Kids: The Tragedy and Disgrace of Poverty in Canada
At no time since the Great Depression has the gap between rich and poor been so wide and the outlook for poor people been so grim. Hard-hitting and outspoken, Hurtig builds a compelling portrait of Canadian society under the rule of the “neo-Neanderthals.” He puts together the latest and most reliable statistics with stories told by people on the front lines of the poverty wars.
******************************************************
A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the sound of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. - Jawaharial Nehru
If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost. - Aristotle
Friday, October 10, 2008
Open letter to Wendy Yuan from former MP Simma Holt
Open letter to Wendy Yuan
Dear Wendy Yuan,
(Liberal Candidate for Kingsway-Vancouver)
I was really shocked when I heard you talk at a town hall meeting last week of the "sovereignty" of China and the suggestion that the Falun Gong is a sort of an outlawed/criminal organization.
Have you any idea how China has interfered in Canadian sovereignty, for example and only one of many, manipulated the CBC to doctor Peter Row's documentary "Beyond the Red Wall", and how the consul in Vancouver has used our police, our courts, and our government to harass the Falun Gong.
Though I am not a member of that organization or a "practitioner" as I gather they are called, they are beautiful moral peace people. Like the Monks of Burma and Tibet in their spirituality, their wonderful commitment to their three principles of ‘Truth-Compassion-Tolerance’—I ask you how evil is that?
By supporting the butchers of Beijing and their crimes again humanity -- yes even worse than Hitler and Stalin combined -- you become complicit in those atrocities. Surely you know and the whole world knows that people were displaced in order to put on the Big Show called the Olympics in August. And remarkably, there are people who like to pretend that this is not a repetition of Hitler's 1936 show Olympics as he was preparing his extermination plans.
I know of no Chinese friend or the thousands who are not Chinese here and in 60 or more countries around the world who are not aware of the fact that China is building its military to be the most powerful on earth, in military hospitals where they seize the organs of healthy people, primarily Falun Gong and any person they dislike, for sale to the rich transplant tourists from around the world --prices range from $70,000 to $200,000 an organ, and like MacDonald's you get two organs for cheaper -- called supersizing when it comes to McDonald fast food. It is Communist China’s fast organs. You can get an organ in three or four days; they kill to order. In the rest of the world instead of two or three days it takes two or three years to get an organ.
As I mentioned earlier, I am not a Falun Gong member. But I admire them greatly. It might interest you to know, also that even though I am Canadian born, a journalist here for 30 years, a Member of Parliament, daughter of one of Canada's earliest pioneers from Europe (in Alberta before it joined confederation in 1905) I have been harassed by the agents from the Communist consul. That is respect for our sovereignty?
And to think that the Canadian Chinese with whom I was so close, who worked so hard for me, and who I served from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland--all of them came to me for their cases to be handled as a journalist seeking social justice for them or as an MP with problems of immigration, family, or just because they were my friends. I was supported by the Chinese Benevolent Association, Chinese Merchants Association and they were all my friends. I attended family parties and weddings and every community event with these friends. Now they are willing to call out the police against me...and I might tell you that the police, who have been my friends for years, were amused but angry because they know they are used by the Chinese Communists in Canada to harass Falun Gong and their friends.
Yes, my father was a Canadian pioneer -- in Alberta-- there before it joined the confederation in 1905. So you can imagine how much I despise those who owe some sort of allegiance and love of China, who are silent when a young man is pistol whipped (twice) outside the Chinese consulate compound at 5 a.m. ...and I know that there are thousands of illegals here serving the Communist Chinese government.
And you dare to talk of their sovereignty!
What about the country you owe your allegiance to—the sovereignty of Canada?
I am told however, that you have a vested interest as did David Emerson--a personal agenda--business with China. I hope my information is wrong ...
Simma Holt, former MP - Vancouver BC
Liberal MP for Vancouver-Kingsway between 1974 and 1979
******************
Simma Holt: An Inventory of Her Papers at the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections
They don't make people, or speeches like this anymore:
Simma Holt: The Power Manipulators and Who Runs Canada.
The Empire Club of Canada Speeches 1977-1978, Edited by Hermant, Peter (Toronto, Canada: The Empire Club Foundation, 1978) pp. 407-426.
Dear Wendy Yuan,
(Liberal Candidate for Kingsway-Vancouver)
I was really shocked when I heard you talk at a town hall meeting last week of the "sovereignty" of China and the suggestion that the Falun Gong is a sort of an outlawed/criminal organization.
Have you any idea how China has interfered in Canadian sovereignty, for example and only one of many, manipulated the CBC to doctor Peter Row's documentary "Beyond the Red Wall", and how the consul in Vancouver has used our police, our courts, and our government to harass the Falun Gong.
Though I am not a member of that organization or a "practitioner" as I gather they are called, they are beautiful moral peace people. Like the Monks of Burma and Tibet in their spirituality, their wonderful commitment to their three principles of ‘Truth-Compassion-Tolerance’—I ask you how evil is that?
By supporting the butchers of Beijing and their crimes again humanity -- yes even worse than Hitler and Stalin combined -- you become complicit in those atrocities. Surely you know and the whole world knows that people were displaced in order to put on the Big Show called the Olympics in August. And remarkably, there are people who like to pretend that this is not a repetition of Hitler's 1936 show Olympics as he was preparing his extermination plans.
I know of no Chinese friend or the thousands who are not Chinese here and in 60 or more countries around the world who are not aware of the fact that China is building its military to be the most powerful on earth, in military hospitals where they seize the organs of healthy people, primarily Falun Gong and any person they dislike, for sale to the rich transplant tourists from around the world --prices range from $70,000 to $200,000 an organ, and like MacDonald's you get two organs for cheaper -- called supersizing when it comes to McDonald fast food. It is Communist China’s fast organs. You can get an organ in three or four days; they kill to order. In the rest of the world instead of two or three days it takes two or three years to get an organ.
As I mentioned earlier, I am not a Falun Gong member. But I admire them greatly. It might interest you to know, also that even though I am Canadian born, a journalist here for 30 years, a Member of Parliament, daughter of one of Canada's earliest pioneers from Europe (in Alberta before it joined confederation in 1905) I have been harassed by the agents from the Communist consul. That is respect for our sovereignty?
And to think that the Canadian Chinese with whom I was so close, who worked so hard for me, and who I served from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland--all of them came to me for their cases to be handled as a journalist seeking social justice for them or as an MP with problems of immigration, family, or just because they were my friends. I was supported by the Chinese Benevolent Association, Chinese Merchants Association and they were all my friends. I attended family parties and weddings and every community event with these friends. Now they are willing to call out the police against me...and I might tell you that the police, who have been my friends for years, were amused but angry because they know they are used by the Chinese Communists in Canada to harass Falun Gong and their friends.
Yes, my father was a Canadian pioneer -- in Alberta-- there before it joined the confederation in 1905. So you can imagine how much I despise those who owe some sort of allegiance and love of China, who are silent when a young man is pistol whipped (twice) outside the Chinese consulate compound at 5 a.m. ...and I know that there are thousands of illegals here serving the Communist Chinese government.
And you dare to talk of their sovereignty!
What about the country you owe your allegiance to—the sovereignty of Canada?
I am told however, that you have a vested interest as did David Emerson--a personal agenda--business with China. I hope my information is wrong ...
Simma Holt, former MP - Vancouver BC
Liberal MP for Vancouver-Kingsway between 1974 and 1979
******************
Simma Holt: An Inventory of Her Papers at the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections
They don't make people, or speeches like this anymore:
Simma Holt: The Power Manipulators and Who Runs Canada.
The Empire Club of Canada Speeches 1977-1978, Edited by Hermant, Peter (Toronto, Canada: The Empire Club Foundation, 1978) pp. 407-426.
Wendy Yuan, the Liberal Party & China's Human Rights record
Here is some of the fallout I referenced to Ms. Yuan's appearance at the All Candidates Forum on Monday, October 6th.
Thanks to Anonymous who posted this to our blog:
Leeshai Lemish: The Games are over, the persecution continues
National Post blog.
An Open letter to Wendy Yuan & the Liberal Party from the Falun Dafa Association of Canada - representing members of the Falun Gong in Canada.
Dear Liberal Candidates,
I am writing with our serious concerns that the Liberal Party candidate Ms. Wendy Yuan, speaking of the Liberal Party policy regarding the torture and killing of Falun Gong in China, stated "for Falun Gong, our policy is not to interfere other country's internal affair" at an all-candidate debate in Vancouver on October 4, 2008, while all the rest of the Candidates all spoke for protecting the basic rights of Falun Gong practitioners.
We were shocked beyond belief to hear this statement from Ms. Yuan about the Liberal Party's policy. Why would the Liberal Party’s policy on Falun Gong reflect the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s policy? For the purpose of stopping the condemnation and criticism from the international community toward its horrific human rights abuses, CCP has already claimed their rights abuses to be “internal affairs”.
However, human rights abuse is not an internal affair. The murder and torture of world citizens for their beliefs is NOT an internal affair. It is a crime against humanity and against all human, international, and constitutional laws! We hereby write to you to seek answers and clarifications from the Liberal Party on its position of the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong. We would start with giving you the necessary background:
What is happening to Falun Gong in China
First of all, Falun Gong is a spiritual practice with a principle of "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance" and five sets of gentle exercises and meditation. It was widely accepted in China before 1999 when the persecution started because of Falun Gong’s popularity. The CCP leader at the time, Jiang Zemin, declared that the CCP must defeat Falun Gong.
For the past nine years, the persecution of Falun Gong has been a crucial and essential part of the human right abuses in China and the persecution has been happening systematically across the nation. UN Special Rapporteur Manfred Nowak reaffirmed in his 2007 report that Falun Gong practitioners accounted for 66 percent of victims of alleged torture while in government custody. US State Department annual reports indicated that Falun Gong adherents constituted at least half of the 250,000 officially recorded inmates in reeducation-through-labour camps, while the real number could be even higher.
The Hon. David Kilgour, former Liberal MP, and Mr. David Matas, renowned human rights lawyer, concluded in their independent investigation report that "there has been and continues today to be large scale organ seizures from unwilling Falun Gong practitioners" by the "the government of China and its agencies in numerous parts of the country"; “The widespread killing of Falun Gong practitioners for profit to provide organs for transplants is "so shocking that it represents a new form of evil on this planet.”
According to the Falun Dafa Information Center more than 3,100 practitioners have been tortured to death to date. Many more cases of detention and death remain unreported, as the Chinese regime imposes an information blockade, and reporting these cases to outside authorities constitutes a severe “crime” of "leaking state secrets."
Millions upon millions of Falun Gong practitioners have lost their jobs, housing, education, and all basic rights and have been incarcerated and tortured for refusing to give up their belief. No lawyer was allowed to defend them. Lawyer Gao Zhisheng, "the conscience of Chinese lawyers," lost his license to practice, his law firm was shut down, and he was incarcerated himself for defending a Falun Gong practitioner, and for writing to Chinese leaders calling for an end to the persecution.
Persecution affects Canadians
The persecution also affects Canadians. Currently, thirteen family members of Canadians and practitioners of Falun Gong are currently incarcerated in China for their belief in Falun Gong. Yue Yao, wife of Canadian resident Wenyu Liu in Calgary, is one of 12 jailed practitioners with Canadian ties. In 2001 Ms. Yao was sentenced to 12 years in prison for downloading information from Falun Gong websites and printing leaflets for distribution. Mr. Jian Ma, husband of Ms. Yao Lian in Montreal, is currently serving 2.5 years in forced labor camp for having Falun Gong-related documents at his home.
What is the responsibility of the international community
We have appreciated the help from members of the Liberal Party, such as Prof. Irwin Cotler, who was instrumental in rescuing Canadian Falun Gong practitioner Kunlun Zhang in 2001. There are also others who have supported us; I will not list their names one by one here.
It is disheartening, however, to see statements from your candidate that your current policy on this issue is not to "interfere with China's internal affairs".
Now the victims of the persecution are not just practitioners of Falun Gong. The persecution of Falun Gong is a persecution of the human conscience of our elected officials, and the candidates for the elections also. When facing such a "new evil on this planet", should the candidates and your elected officials be turning a blind eye to such atrocities in exchange for business, trade, and other interests under the excuse of so-called “engagement”? Should the international community label it a Chinese “internal affair” to avoid their moral and social responsibility?
Dr. Martin Luther King said: "Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere." China is a signatory of the UN Declaration of Human Rights; so is Canada. Does Canada also have a responsibility to urge the stop of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners?
With this letter, we seek clarification from the Liberal Party on your policy regarding:
1. the ongoing human rights abuses in China against Falun Gong in general; and
2. efforts in rescuing the family member of Canadians who are incarcerated in China for their Falun Gong belief.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Lucy Zhou
Falun Dafa Association of Canada
Thanks to Anonymous who posted this to our blog:
Leeshai Lemish: The Games are over, the persecution continues
National Post blog.
An Open letter to Wendy Yuan & the Liberal Party from the Falun Dafa Association of Canada - representing members of the Falun Gong in Canada.
Dear Liberal Candidates,
I am writing with our serious concerns that the Liberal Party candidate Ms. Wendy Yuan, speaking of the Liberal Party policy regarding the torture and killing of Falun Gong in China, stated "for Falun Gong, our policy is not to interfere other country's internal affair" at an all-candidate debate in Vancouver on October 4, 2008, while all the rest of the Candidates all spoke for protecting the basic rights of Falun Gong practitioners.
We were shocked beyond belief to hear this statement from Ms. Yuan about the Liberal Party's policy. Why would the Liberal Party’s policy on Falun Gong reflect the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s policy? For the purpose of stopping the condemnation and criticism from the international community toward its horrific human rights abuses, CCP has already claimed their rights abuses to be “internal affairs”.
However, human rights abuse is not an internal affair. The murder and torture of world citizens for their beliefs is NOT an internal affair. It is a crime against humanity and against all human, international, and constitutional laws! We hereby write to you to seek answers and clarifications from the Liberal Party on its position of the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong. We would start with giving you the necessary background:
What is happening to Falun Gong in China
First of all, Falun Gong is a spiritual practice with a principle of "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance" and five sets of gentle exercises and meditation. It was widely accepted in China before 1999 when the persecution started because of Falun Gong’s popularity. The CCP leader at the time, Jiang Zemin, declared that the CCP must defeat Falun Gong.
For the past nine years, the persecution of Falun Gong has been a crucial and essential part of the human right abuses in China and the persecution has been happening systematically across the nation. UN Special Rapporteur Manfred Nowak reaffirmed in his 2007 report that Falun Gong practitioners accounted for 66 percent of victims of alleged torture while in government custody. US State Department annual reports indicated that Falun Gong adherents constituted at least half of the 250,000 officially recorded inmates in reeducation-through-labour camps, while the real number could be even higher.
The Hon. David Kilgour, former Liberal MP, and Mr. David Matas, renowned human rights lawyer, concluded in their independent investigation report that "there has been and continues today to be large scale organ seizures from unwilling Falun Gong practitioners" by the "the government of China and its agencies in numerous parts of the country"; “The widespread killing of Falun Gong practitioners for profit to provide organs for transplants is "so shocking that it represents a new form of evil on this planet.”
According to the Falun Dafa Information Center more than 3,100 practitioners have been tortured to death to date. Many more cases of detention and death remain unreported, as the Chinese regime imposes an information blockade, and reporting these cases to outside authorities constitutes a severe “crime” of "leaking state secrets."
Millions upon millions of Falun Gong practitioners have lost their jobs, housing, education, and all basic rights and have been incarcerated and tortured for refusing to give up their belief. No lawyer was allowed to defend them. Lawyer Gao Zhisheng, "the conscience of Chinese lawyers," lost his license to practice, his law firm was shut down, and he was incarcerated himself for defending a Falun Gong practitioner, and for writing to Chinese leaders calling for an end to the persecution.
Persecution affects Canadians
The persecution also affects Canadians. Currently, thirteen family members of Canadians and practitioners of Falun Gong are currently incarcerated in China for their belief in Falun Gong. Yue Yao, wife of Canadian resident Wenyu Liu in Calgary, is one of 12 jailed practitioners with Canadian ties. In 2001 Ms. Yao was sentenced to 12 years in prison for downloading information from Falun Gong websites and printing leaflets for distribution. Mr. Jian Ma, husband of Ms. Yao Lian in Montreal, is currently serving 2.5 years in forced labor camp for having Falun Gong-related documents at his home.
What is the responsibility of the international community
We have appreciated the help from members of the Liberal Party, such as Prof. Irwin Cotler, who was instrumental in rescuing Canadian Falun Gong practitioner Kunlun Zhang in 2001. There are also others who have supported us; I will not list their names one by one here.
It is disheartening, however, to see statements from your candidate that your current policy on this issue is not to "interfere with China's internal affairs".
Now the victims of the persecution are not just practitioners of Falun Gong. The persecution of Falun Gong is a persecution of the human conscience of our elected officials, and the candidates for the elections also. When facing such a "new evil on this planet", should the candidates and your elected officials be turning a blind eye to such atrocities in exchange for business, trade, and other interests under the excuse of so-called “engagement”? Should the international community label it a Chinese “internal affair” to avoid their moral and social responsibility?
Dr. Martin Luther King said: "Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere." China is a signatory of the UN Declaration of Human Rights; so is Canada. Does Canada also have a responsibility to urge the stop of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners?
With this letter, we seek clarification from the Liberal Party on your policy regarding:
1. the ongoing human rights abuses in China against Falun Gong in general; and
2. efforts in rescuing the family member of Canadians who are incarcerated in China for their Falun Gong belief.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Lucy Zhou
Falun Dafa Association of Canada
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Predictions & Polls
People have been asking me about poll numbers for the riding, here is a link to Susanna Ng's blog, Chinese in Vancouver, where she is posting the predictions from 3 different sources. These latest numbers were from October 8th. These are the sources:
Election Prediction Project
Vote for Environment
democraticSPACE
Canada Federal Election 2008 Polls
Election Opinion Polls - SFU
Harris/Decima - 2008 Federal Election Tracking
Ipsos-Reid Election Polls
Election Prediction Project
Vote for Environment
democraticSPACE
Canada Federal Election 2008 Polls
Election Opinion Polls - SFU
Harris/Decima - 2008 Federal Election Tracking
Ipsos-Reid Election Polls
More on the Developing Conservative Republic of Canada
Bill Tielemann broke this on his blog:
From: Lorne Mayencourt - Information [mailto:lorne.mayencourt.info@gmail.com]
Sent: October 07, 2008 3:21 PM
To: lorne.mayencourt.info@gmail.com
Subject: Important Invitation from Lorne Mayencourt!
The Prime Minister will attend a major rally in Vancouver.
Details are as follows:
Date: Wednesday, October 8th
Where: The Westin Bayshore Hotel, 1601 Bayshore Drive, Vancouver, BC
Doors Open: 6:00pm
Rally Starts: 7:00pm
Registration: MANDATORY, call 1-778-565-4965
For RCMP security reasons, you must pre-register by phoning 1-778-565-4965. You will need to include your name, address and phone number.
Please note that large bags, satchels, backpacks or similar items will not be allowed in. Campaign signs on metal or wooden sticks will not be permitted either.
*******************
Not only did people have to provide their names, addresses & phone numbers AND pre-register, people were advised to ensure they had identification to provide if asked.
This is to attend a public appearance, during an election with two candidates, where one of those is our very own Prime Minister??? Is this really happening in Canada?
**************************************
From his lips, to our eyes & ears, Mr. Harper himself:
'You've got to remember that west of Winnipeg the ridings the Liberals hold are dominated by people who are either recent Asian immigrants or recent migrants from eastern Canada: people who live in ghettoes and who are not integrated into western Canadian society.'
- The Report newsmagazine
'These proposals included cries for billions of new money for social assistance in the name of child poverty and for more business subsidies in the name of cultural identity. In both cases I was sought out as a rare public figure to oppose such projects.'
- The Bulldog, National Citizens Coalition
'Canada is a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term, and very proud of it.... In terms of the unemployed... don't feel particularly bad for many of these people. They don't feel bad about it themselves, as long as they're receiving generous social assistance and unemployment insurance.'
- Speech to the US Council for National Policy
'Fixed election dates prevent governments from calling snap elections for short-term political advantage. They level the playing field for all parties and the rules are clear for everybody.'
- CBC News
'The government is clear that it will not be seeking an early election. At any time Parliament can defeat the government and provoke an early election, if that is what the opposition irresponsibly chooses to do.'
- Hansard
Does Stephen Harper have a hidden agenda?
*******************************************
Naomi Klein: “It’s time to grow the hell up”
Briarpatch: It's time to fight the War on Error.
Excerpt:
“I think we need to be extremely wary of how a new Harper government would fit in as this (U.S.) crisis migrates to Canada.”
“It’s an important time for 800 people to gather,” she said, referring to the overflowing hall. “We can fall apart and look to leaders to save us, or we can rise to the occasion. We can regress or we can grow up – and it’s time to grow the hell up.”
Afterwards, people remained in the hall to discuss strategic voting in the federal election. Klein recommended a national coalition called VotePair, which has set up a vote-coordinating web site.
The site includes a ‘vote exchange’ system where voters can ‘trade’ Green, NDP and Liberal votes across the country, according to which ridings a particular vote will have the most impact in turning back Conservatives.
Also see Canada Vote Swap:
OUR MISSION:
Our mission is to ensure that Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party do not obtain a majority in the 2008 federal election.
We have a way to ensure you get the best bang for your vote at the polls.
Anti-Harper Vote Swap Canada on Facebook
Facebook's Pair Vote (Swap) - Canada Election 2008's Notes
From: Lorne Mayencourt - Information [mailto:lorne.mayencourt.info@gmail.com]
Sent: October 07, 2008 3:21 PM
To: lorne.mayencourt.info@gmail.com
Subject: Important Invitation from Lorne Mayencourt!
The Prime Minister will attend a major rally in Vancouver.
Details are as follows:
Date: Wednesday, October 8th
Where: The Westin Bayshore Hotel, 1601 Bayshore Drive, Vancouver, BC
Doors Open: 6:00pm
Rally Starts: 7:00pm
Registration: MANDATORY, call 1-778-565-4965
For RCMP security reasons, you must pre-register by phoning 1-778-565-4965. You will need to include your name, address and phone number.
Please note that large bags, satchels, backpacks or similar items will not be allowed in. Campaign signs on metal or wooden sticks will not be permitted either.
*******************
Not only did people have to provide their names, addresses & phone numbers AND pre-register, people were advised to ensure they had identification to provide if asked.
This is to attend a public appearance, during an election with two candidates, where one of those is our very own Prime Minister??? Is this really happening in Canada?
**************************************
From his lips, to our eyes & ears, Mr. Harper himself:
'You've got to remember that west of Winnipeg the ridings the Liberals hold are dominated by people who are either recent Asian immigrants or recent migrants from eastern Canada: people who live in ghettoes and who are not integrated into western Canadian society.'
- The Report newsmagazine
'These proposals included cries for billions of new money for social assistance in the name of child poverty and for more business subsidies in the name of cultural identity. In both cases I was sought out as a rare public figure to oppose such projects.'
- The Bulldog, National Citizens Coalition
'Canada is a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term, and very proud of it.... In terms of the unemployed... don't feel particularly bad for many of these people. They don't feel bad about it themselves, as long as they're receiving generous social assistance and unemployment insurance.'
- Speech to the US Council for National Policy
'Fixed election dates prevent governments from calling snap elections for short-term political advantage. They level the playing field for all parties and the rules are clear for everybody.'
- CBC News
'The government is clear that it will not be seeking an early election. At any time Parliament can defeat the government and provoke an early election, if that is what the opposition irresponsibly chooses to do.'
- Hansard
Does Stephen Harper have a hidden agenda?
*******************************************
Naomi Klein: “It’s time to grow the hell up”
Briarpatch: It's time to fight the War on Error.
Excerpt:
“I think we need to be extremely wary of how a new Harper government would fit in as this (U.S.) crisis migrates to Canada.”
“It’s an important time for 800 people to gather,” she said, referring to the overflowing hall. “We can fall apart and look to leaders to save us, or we can rise to the occasion. We can regress or we can grow up – and it’s time to grow the hell up.”
Afterwards, people remained in the hall to discuss strategic voting in the federal election. Klein recommended a national coalition called VotePair, which has set up a vote-coordinating web site.
The site includes a ‘vote exchange’ system where voters can ‘trade’ Green, NDP and Liberal votes across the country, according to which ridings a particular vote will have the most impact in turning back Conservatives.
Also see Canada Vote Swap:
OUR MISSION:
Our mission is to ensure that Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party do not obtain a majority in the 2008 federal election.
We have a way to ensure you get the best bang for your vote at the polls.
Anti-Harper Vote Swap Canada on Facebook
Facebook's Pair Vote (Swap) - Canada Election 2008's Notes
Canadian Republic Broadcasting (CRB)
I want everyone reading this to understand how much CBC, our Canadian tax payer funded broadcasting news, is censoring and limiting free speech and dialogue of citizens and constituents during this election.
I've been following discussions on the CBC's Vancouver-Kingsway riding page and have been shocked to find that they are censoring and refusing to print comments I am trying to add to the dialogue, as well as invitations to constituents to read more on my blog. I'm very careful in writing my posts, non-libelous, stick to facts and observations that have basis in reality and experience (ie. what happened at the debates).
As far as I'm aware this humble little blog is the ONLY one reporting on the only two All Candidates meetings that took place in V-K leading up to the election, CBC sure as hell wasn't there & hasn't reported a damn thing about this riding.
It is this blog and maybe one other that are reporting critically on the invisible Conservative candidate and the inept Liberal candidate. CBC is censoring and limiting dialogue about cogent facts that voters in our riding need to help them make decisions on voting. This is what our national media has become under a neoConservative leadership, a state-funded propaganda machine & barrier to free speech. I think it's time for a re-brand and new name, lets call it: the Canadian Republic Broadcasting (CRB), because the censors are behaving no differently than state-owned media in the People's Republic of China. He who owns the press owns the dissemination of information & the people.
I can't help but wonder, am I the only person that the CBC is censoring and
limiting? I can't be. There are only 41 comments on the CBC riding site & I know there are A LOT of people interested, involved and invested in ensuring fairness during this election. Please e-mail me, or make a comment on this blog if the CBC has censored you too.
Here is another story about how fast Canada is sliding into dangerous territory, when you add in Stephen Harper using the RCMP in Surrey as bodyguards to shield Dona Cadman, Conservative candidate from constituents and local media, we can see where our "national police force" is heading too. Notice also how the media is sanitizing the story. The RCMP member was in RCMP uniform AND used a taxpayer bought RCMP vehicle to deliver lawn signs for the Conservative candidate, former RCMP Staff sergeant.
Voter says uniformed RCMP officer helped candidate
Incident alleged to have happened at Tory campaign office
David Hutton
The StarPhoenix
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
A La Ronge resident says he witnessed a uniformed RCMP officer delivering campaign signs for a Conservative candidate in northern Saskatchewan, a violation of the police force's strict neutrality policy.
Bill Layman, a longtime northern resident who's in the mining exploration business, said the uniformed officer was delivering large campaign placards on Monday around noon to the downtown constituency office of Rob Clarke, the Conservative candidate in the Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River.
The officer was using a marked RCMP pickup truck. Layman was driving to an advanced polling station to vote when he saw the officer taking signs out of the truck.
"This was a big freaking sign," Layman said. "I'm not into partisan politics . . . but this guy was 100 per cent totally delivering this stuff."
Layman tried to approach the man, he said, but the officer was "incredibly dismissive."
"He was very offhandish, like it was no big deal. He gave me a kind of Valley girl stare like it was no big deal, what's your problem?"
RCMP say the officer was off-duty at the time and was on his way to nearby Southend, where he is stationed. An investigation has been launched into the complaint, RCMP Sgt. Carole Raymond said.
"Any activity that our members do that seems that we're supporting any party is not something the RCMP supports," she said. "If we start taking sides then we're going to come across as supporting certain policies."
Clarke, the Conservative incumbent, won the riding in a byelection earlier this year. He was the RCMP sergeant in charge of the Spiritwood detachment in 2006 when three constables were fired on. Two of them, constables Robin Cameron and Marc Bourdages, died. He enjoys strong support among RCMP members because of his involvement, members of his campaign team said.
Russell Ullyatt, Clarke's campaign manager, said the organization has more than 500 volunteers and doesn't "have control over what they do.
"If the story is true, it's very unfortunate," he said.
Liberal party candidate David Orchard, Clarke's main rival in the riding, said it was "totally inappropriate" for a uniformed Mountie to be involved in campaigning during a federal election.
"It's completely (unacceptable) in a democracy for the national police force to be using its vehicles, openly, on the main street of a town, to drop off signs for a candidate," Orchard said. "It's a gesture of intimidation. It's frightening and unacceptable."
Layman said several people have accused him of playing partisan politics after he alerted media and other campaigns of what he saw. But, ironically, he cast his vote for Clarke at the advanced polling station a mere 10 minutes later, he said.
"This just really bothers me," Layman said. "This is about perception. It doesn't matter that he was off-duty. It's that he was doing it."
dhutton@sp.canwest.com
-------------------
For Immediate Release
October 7, 2008
RCMP investigating the Conservatives for abusing police resources during the campaign
OTTAWA - With the RCMP now investigating why an off-duty officer used a police vehicle to transport campaign signs for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River Conservative Candidate Rob Clarke, Conservatives must immediately stop the outrageous and unacceptable practice of using RCMP resources for their own political ends, said Liberal Candidate David Orchard.
"Our tax dollars are used to purchase RCMP vehicles so they can be used to protect our communities, not transport Conservative lawn signs," said Mr. Orchard. "The Conservatives have been caught politicizing the RCMP throughout this campaign. This is entirely unacceptable in a democracy and this abuse must end immediately."
Media reports confirm that that an off-duty, but uniformed RCMP officer used an RCMP vehicle to deliver campaign signs to the Conservative campaign office of Mr. Clarke. The fact that Mr. Clarke is a former RCMP officer makes the optics involving this incident even worse.
Throughout this campaign Conservative staffers have been trying to use the RCMP to do their political bidding.
At a recent campaign event in Surrey, British Columbia, Prime Minister Harper's staff demanded the RCMP block journalists from speaking with Dona Cadman about the financial offer she says her husband told her the Conservatives made to get him to join their party on the eve of a crucial confidence vote.
Again, on September 11, 2008, Mr. Harper's press secretary was caught on tape directing the RCMP to block reporters from questioning the Prime Minister saying, "I want that camera out of here."
The RCMP were also reportedly involved in assisting Conservative staffers in physically subduing a Conservative supporter at a rally who had made the apparent "error" of making a comment during the Prime Minister's speech.
"The job of the RCMP is not to campaign for the Conservatives or protect the party from media scrutiny. It should never be used as a political tool or resource by anyone during an election campaign," said Mr. Orchard.
-30-
Contact:
Liberal Party of Canada Press Office
613-783-8888
**********************
RCMP apologize for campaign gaffe
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 8, 2008. CBC News
I've been following discussions on the CBC's Vancouver-Kingsway riding page and have been shocked to find that they are censoring and refusing to print comments I am trying to add to the dialogue, as well as invitations to constituents to read more on my blog. I'm very careful in writing my posts, non-libelous, stick to facts and observations that have basis in reality and experience (ie. what happened at the debates).
As far as I'm aware this humble little blog is the ONLY one reporting on the only two All Candidates meetings that took place in V-K leading up to the election, CBC sure as hell wasn't there & hasn't reported a damn thing about this riding.
It is this blog and maybe one other that are reporting critically on the invisible Conservative candidate and the inept Liberal candidate. CBC is censoring and limiting dialogue about cogent facts that voters in our riding need to help them make decisions on voting. This is what our national media has become under a neoConservative leadership, a state-funded propaganda machine & barrier to free speech. I think it's time for a re-brand and new name, lets call it: the Canadian Republic Broadcasting (CRB), because the censors are behaving no differently than state-owned media in the People's Republic of China. He who owns the press owns the dissemination of information & the people.
I can't help but wonder, am I the only person that the CBC is censoring and
limiting? I can't be. There are only 41 comments on the CBC riding site & I know there are A LOT of people interested, involved and invested in ensuring fairness during this election. Please e-mail me, or make a comment on this blog if the CBC has censored you too.
Here is another story about how fast Canada is sliding into dangerous territory, when you add in Stephen Harper using the RCMP in Surrey as bodyguards to shield Dona Cadman, Conservative candidate from constituents and local media, we can see where our "national police force" is heading too. Notice also how the media is sanitizing the story. The RCMP member was in RCMP uniform AND used a taxpayer bought RCMP vehicle to deliver lawn signs for the Conservative candidate, former RCMP Staff sergeant.
Voter says uniformed RCMP officer helped candidate
Incident alleged to have happened at Tory campaign office
David Hutton
The StarPhoenix
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
A La Ronge resident says he witnessed a uniformed RCMP officer delivering campaign signs for a Conservative candidate in northern Saskatchewan, a violation of the police force's strict neutrality policy.
Bill Layman, a longtime northern resident who's in the mining exploration business, said the uniformed officer was delivering large campaign placards on Monday around noon to the downtown constituency office of Rob Clarke, the Conservative candidate in the Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River.
The officer was using a marked RCMP pickup truck. Layman was driving to an advanced polling station to vote when he saw the officer taking signs out of the truck.
"This was a big freaking sign," Layman said. "I'm not into partisan politics . . . but this guy was 100 per cent totally delivering this stuff."
Layman tried to approach the man, he said, but the officer was "incredibly dismissive."
"He was very offhandish, like it was no big deal. He gave me a kind of Valley girl stare like it was no big deal, what's your problem?"
RCMP say the officer was off-duty at the time and was on his way to nearby Southend, where he is stationed. An investigation has been launched into the complaint, RCMP Sgt. Carole Raymond said.
"Any activity that our members do that seems that we're supporting any party is not something the RCMP supports," she said. "If we start taking sides then we're going to come across as supporting certain policies."
Clarke, the Conservative incumbent, won the riding in a byelection earlier this year. He was the RCMP sergeant in charge of the Spiritwood detachment in 2006 when three constables were fired on. Two of them, constables Robin Cameron and Marc Bourdages, died. He enjoys strong support among RCMP members because of his involvement, members of his campaign team said.
Russell Ullyatt, Clarke's campaign manager, said the organization has more than 500 volunteers and doesn't "have control over what they do.
"If the story is true, it's very unfortunate," he said.
Liberal party candidate David Orchard, Clarke's main rival in the riding, said it was "totally inappropriate" for a uniformed Mountie to be involved in campaigning during a federal election.
"It's completely (unacceptable) in a democracy for the national police force to be using its vehicles, openly, on the main street of a town, to drop off signs for a candidate," Orchard said. "It's a gesture of intimidation. It's frightening and unacceptable."
Layman said several people have accused him of playing partisan politics after he alerted media and other campaigns of what he saw. But, ironically, he cast his vote for Clarke at the advanced polling station a mere 10 minutes later, he said.
"This just really bothers me," Layman said. "This is about perception. It doesn't matter that he was off-duty. It's that he was doing it."
dhutton@sp.canwest.com
-------------------
For Immediate Release
October 7, 2008
RCMP investigating the Conservatives for abusing police resources during the campaign
OTTAWA - With the RCMP now investigating why an off-duty officer used a police vehicle to transport campaign signs for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River Conservative Candidate Rob Clarke, Conservatives must immediately stop the outrageous and unacceptable practice of using RCMP resources for their own political ends, said Liberal Candidate David Orchard.
"Our tax dollars are used to purchase RCMP vehicles so they can be used to protect our communities, not transport Conservative lawn signs," said Mr. Orchard. "The Conservatives have been caught politicizing the RCMP throughout this campaign. This is entirely unacceptable in a democracy and this abuse must end immediately."
Media reports confirm that that an off-duty, but uniformed RCMP officer used an RCMP vehicle to deliver campaign signs to the Conservative campaign office of Mr. Clarke. The fact that Mr. Clarke is a former RCMP officer makes the optics involving this incident even worse.
Throughout this campaign Conservative staffers have been trying to use the RCMP to do their political bidding.
At a recent campaign event in Surrey, British Columbia, Prime Minister Harper's staff demanded the RCMP block journalists from speaking with Dona Cadman about the financial offer she says her husband told her the Conservatives made to get him to join their party on the eve of a crucial confidence vote.
Again, on September 11, 2008, Mr. Harper's press secretary was caught on tape directing the RCMP to block reporters from questioning the Prime Minister saying, "I want that camera out of here."
The RCMP were also reportedly involved in assisting Conservative staffers in physically subduing a Conservative supporter at a rally who had made the apparent "error" of making a comment during the Prime Minister's speech.
"The job of the RCMP is not to campaign for the Conservatives or protect the party from media scrutiny. It should never be used as a political tool or resource by anyone during an election campaign," said Mr. Orchard.
-30-
Contact:
Liberal Party of Canada Press Office
613-783-8888
**********************
RCMP apologize for campaign gaffe
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 8, 2008. CBC News
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Report from 2nd All Candidates Meeting - Vancouver-Kingsway
Report from All Candidates Meeting - October 7th
Collingwood Neighbourhood House
Candidates:
Kimball Cariou - Communist Party
Don Davies - NDP
Matt Kadioglu - Libertarian
Donna Petterson - Marxist-Leninist Party
Doug Warkentin - Green Party
Wendy Yuan - Liberal Party
Format:
- Introductions from the candidates
- Questions from the audience
- Concluding remarks from candidates
Summary
There was a standing room only crowd, with several different media
outlets there. This was a much better format, although it wasn't possible
to ask all of the questions citizens placed into the question box, which
was disappointing, since issues of far more importance than those asked
didn't make it on the radar.
The moderator pointed out, with no small irony, that in her years of moderating these election debates, this was the first time a candidate from a major party had declined to participate. Yes, neoConservative imaginary candidate Salomon "Regular Blood Donor" Rayek was a no-show to meet the voters in the riding for a second time.
The evening started with the moderator asking each of the candidates to promise the constituents of the riding that they would not cross the floor of parliament if they were to be elected. Each candidate very earnestly and emphatically made this promise and were reminded there was now a roomful of people and video footage to hold them to their word.
Some of the questions asked & answered:
What promises to constituents have that the candidates won't cross the floor?
What would the parties do to protect pensions for seniors?
Explain your understanding of the role of the Senate?
Where do you stand on the arts?
What legacy will you leave as a MP and what legacy will your party leave on Canada?
What will your party do to pay down the national debt?
What will your party do about electoral reform?
There was a question about what will parties do about proposed copyright legislation?
How will you support small business?
What is your position and your parties position on the Security & Prosperity Partnership (SPP)?
What will you do to improve immigration?
It's really beyond me to report the answers of each candidate to these questions.
In a general sense, Don Davies, Kimball Cariou & Donna Petterson were the most articulate, knowledgeable and well-informed about the issues and
where their parties stood on them.
Impressions of the Candidates
Kimball Cariou (Communist) is open and states he doesn't live in the riding, he knows he's not a major contender in this election. He is a witty, clever fellow and is interested in challenging the status quo of the market economy and how it's working for working people. He was also able to get a plug in for the
upcoming municipal election in his closing statement.
Matt Kadioglu (Libertarian) also knows he's not a contender, he spoke so low it was hard to hear him most of the time. Like all libertarians everywhere, he positions the party against a lot of rules, regulations, more privatization and self-determination and is not in favour of borders between countries. He was not a crowd pleaser.
Donna Petterson (Marxist-Leninist) is whip smart, articulate and well informed on the issues presented and did a very good job for a party that has no hope of winning. I think she earned some respect from the audience, although
not for the party. Her biggest hook was democratic reform and power to the people.
Don Davies (NDP) was the most well versed, well prepared, articulate, calm, and intelligent in a way that appeals to everyone (ie. not "too smart" as to come across as arrogant). He was able to maintain focus on the questions, didn't get flustered, was concise in his answers and positioned himself and his party as being most concerned about regular working folks and families. He again articulated his commitment to the riding, as a resident himself, and to constituent concerns.
Doug Warkentin (Green Party) is a bright, well spoken candidate. He knows his party's platform and is able to speak on the issues in an informed way. He is the kind of guy you want to invite to a Saturday night potluck, or to your community event. In my opinion, he doesn't have the stuff to represent V-K in Parliament. He's more of of a local and community activist,which the world needs more of.
Wendy Yuan (Liberal) again made a poor showing. I can't help but feel bad for Ms. Yuan. She is earnest, hardworking, but she kept repeating over & over how she came to Canada with $25 and a dream and that got stale. She wasn't able to articulate her answers well, she wasn't as informed about many of the topics and was reading directly from the Liberal platform at one point. She was also lobbed a very mean and uncalled for question that I'm not even going to repeat here and it was unfair this was put in the question box and the moderator should never have even put this question out there. She was also heckled for not answering a question and that was uncalled for as well.
Ms. Yuan was clearly rattled and instead of maintaining focus on her party's positions and promises, she kept going on the offensive and at one point very strangely said she stated she wasn't sure the other candidates had their facts straight (when she was the one who had little in the way of facts to offer) and also said something about not wanting to say too much in case her NDP colleague might say something to attack her, or something odd like that.
Overall, I stand by my position of yesterday, just because someone wants something badly (in this case Ms. Yuan really, really wants to win this election) doesn't mean they are up to the job, or have the knowledge, skills and abilities to do it competently. From what I've seen of Ms. Yuan over the last 2 evenings of debate is that she could barely keep her head above water in these small, relatively benign venues. There is no way in hell she would survive in Parliament, or the cutthroat world of Ottawa.
The Declared Winner: Don Davies - NDP
Mr. Davies put in 2 solid forum/debate performances over the last 2 nights. He is what he is: a hard working, community and family oriented professional. He's not the kind of guy who is putting it on, he's been representing working class folks in his career as a labour and employment
lawyer for years, has connections and has lots of volunteer experience in
the riding and with a diverse range of community groups.
Collingwood Neighbourhood House
Candidates:
Kimball Cariou - Communist Party
Don Davies - NDP
Matt Kadioglu - Libertarian
Donna Petterson - Marxist-Leninist Party
Doug Warkentin - Green Party
Wendy Yuan - Liberal Party
Format:
- Introductions from the candidates
- Questions from the audience
- Concluding remarks from candidates
Summary
There was a standing room only crowd, with several different media
outlets there. This was a much better format, although it wasn't possible
to ask all of the questions citizens placed into the question box, which
was disappointing, since issues of far more importance than those asked
didn't make it on the radar.
The moderator pointed out, with no small irony, that in her years of moderating these election debates, this was the first time a candidate from a major party had declined to participate. Yes, neoConservative imaginary candidate Salomon "Regular Blood Donor" Rayek was a no-show to meet the voters in the riding for a second time.
The evening started with the moderator asking each of the candidates to promise the constituents of the riding that they would not cross the floor of parliament if they were to be elected. Each candidate very earnestly and emphatically made this promise and were reminded there was now a roomful of people and video footage to hold them to their word.
Some of the questions asked & answered:
What promises to constituents have that the candidates won't cross the floor?
What would the parties do to protect pensions for seniors?
Explain your understanding of the role of the Senate?
Where do you stand on the arts?
What legacy will you leave as a MP and what legacy will your party leave on Canada?
What will your party do to pay down the national debt?
What will your party do about electoral reform?
There was a question about what will parties do about proposed copyright legislation?
How will you support small business?
What is your position and your parties position on the Security & Prosperity Partnership (SPP)?
What will you do to improve immigration?
It's really beyond me to report the answers of each candidate to these questions.
In a general sense, Don Davies, Kimball Cariou & Donna Petterson were the most articulate, knowledgeable and well-informed about the issues and
where their parties stood on them.
Impressions of the Candidates
Kimball Cariou (Communist) is open and states he doesn't live in the riding, he knows he's not a major contender in this election. He is a witty, clever fellow and is interested in challenging the status quo of the market economy and how it's working for working people. He was also able to get a plug in for the
upcoming municipal election in his closing statement.
Matt Kadioglu (Libertarian) also knows he's not a contender, he spoke so low it was hard to hear him most of the time. Like all libertarians everywhere, he positions the party against a lot of rules, regulations, more privatization and self-determination and is not in favour of borders between countries. He was not a crowd pleaser.
Donna Petterson (Marxist-Leninist) is whip smart, articulate and well informed on the issues presented and did a very good job for a party that has no hope of winning. I think she earned some respect from the audience, although
not for the party. Her biggest hook was democratic reform and power to the people.
Don Davies (NDP) was the most well versed, well prepared, articulate, calm, and intelligent in a way that appeals to everyone (ie. not "too smart" as to come across as arrogant). He was able to maintain focus on the questions, didn't get flustered, was concise in his answers and positioned himself and his party as being most concerned about regular working folks and families. He again articulated his commitment to the riding, as a resident himself, and to constituent concerns.
Doug Warkentin (Green Party) is a bright, well spoken candidate. He knows his party's platform and is able to speak on the issues in an informed way. He is the kind of guy you want to invite to a Saturday night potluck, or to your community event. In my opinion, he doesn't have the stuff to represent V-K in Parliament. He's more of of a local and community activist,which the world needs more of.
Wendy Yuan (Liberal) again made a poor showing. I can't help but feel bad for Ms. Yuan. She is earnest, hardworking, but she kept repeating over & over how she came to Canada with $25 and a dream and that got stale. She wasn't able to articulate her answers well, she wasn't as informed about many of the topics and was reading directly from the Liberal platform at one point. She was also lobbed a very mean and uncalled for question that I'm not even going to repeat here and it was unfair this was put in the question box and the moderator should never have even put this question out there. She was also heckled for not answering a question and that was uncalled for as well.
Ms. Yuan was clearly rattled and instead of maintaining focus on her party's positions and promises, she kept going on the offensive and at one point very strangely said she stated she wasn't sure the other candidates had their facts straight (when she was the one who had little in the way of facts to offer) and also said something about not wanting to say too much in case her NDP colleague might say something to attack her, or something odd like that.
Overall, I stand by my position of yesterday, just because someone wants something badly (in this case Ms. Yuan really, really wants to win this election) doesn't mean they are up to the job, or have the knowledge, skills and abilities to do it competently. From what I've seen of Ms. Yuan over the last 2 evenings of debate is that she could barely keep her head above water in these small, relatively benign venues. There is no way in hell she would survive in Parliament, or the cutthroat world of Ottawa.
The Declared Winner: Don Davies - NDP
Mr. Davies put in 2 solid forum/debate performances over the last 2 nights. He is what he is: a hard working, community and family oriented professional. He's not the kind of guy who is putting it on, he's been representing working class folks in his career as a labour and employment
lawyer for years, has connections and has lots of volunteer experience in
the riding and with a diverse range of community groups.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
All Candidates Forum: Appearances, Absence & Credibility on the Line
Attended the All Candidates Forum @ the Polish Community Centre last night, although I suppose that is a misnomer, since Salomon Rayek of the Conservatives failed to show. From coast to coast, Conservative candidates are in Stealthmode, so much so, a new website Harpocracy.ca has sprung up to maintain a running count of all of the neoConservatives who have been muzzled by their Brigadier General, Stephen Harper.
I really don't know what could be more shocking... during an election,
candidates are refusing to meet with constituents, refusing to explain their
parties' positions, refusing to participate in DEMOCRACY for heaven's sake.
Again, if this is their conduct during an election, what can any of
us expect if they get in? How can Canadians even consider voting for a party that conducts itself in such a way?
The Main Event
Candidates Present:
Kimball Cariou - Communist Party of Canada
Doug Warkentin - Green Party of Canada
Wendy Yuan - Liberal Party
Donna Petterson - Marxist-Leninist Party
Don Davies - NDP
Right off the bat, the format of the forum was not popular and a lot of people actually left gradually as it played out. It was designed so candidates pulled straws and sat at different tables (Children & Youth,Women's Issues, Immigration & Multi-cultural issues & Poverty Reduction & Housing) and a facilitated discussion took place amongst the parties at the tables.
The Candidates rotated to other tables and then reported out to the larger group. It was good to have some time with candidates, however, it was only one candidate, for a short time, with important discussion carrying on, but not reported on.
Question Time
The question & answer part of the evening also caused some frustration for those asking questions and the candidates. Individuals could direct a question to one candidate and then only one other candidate could get answer the same question. It was just not a succcessful way of proceeding, since constituents had very little
chance to actually hear the differences of the different party platforms.
No offense to the candidates for the Communist & Marxist-Leninist parties and I appreciate the fairness involved in inviting them, but this detracted from being able to hear from the real contenders in this election:
Don Davies, Wendy Yuan & Doug Warkentin.
The Performances
Right off the bat, Wendy Yuan's public speaking challenges became apparent when she was reporting out from the small group discussions. Anyone seeing her last night would have had to developed some serious misgivingsabout her experience and ability to speak in Parliament as our representative. She was not articulate, she said
"uh" almost constantly, isn't a quick thinker on her feet, her command and facility of English is still coming along, she wasn't able to connect with the audience, she was easy to throw off, she was evasive and quite simply was unable to discuss some of the issues.
Right off the hop, Ms. Yuan committed a cardinal sin of public speaking, especially in an election panel. When asked what her party's position was on the Security & Prosperity Partnership (SPP) and Canada's integration into the European Union, she told the audience she thought Canada's involvement with Europe was good, that the Liberal party didn't have a position on the SPP and that she would talk to the questioner "privately" on the matters. There was a collective gasp from the audience at that last bit.
Ms. Yuan also appeared to have sparked some serious anger and hostility from some of the Chinese Falun Gong members in the audience, when she was evasive in answering whether she had stated in a speech the previous day in the Chinese community that China's human rights issues were something they needed to handle internally. It was quite interesting that when the second Falun Gong person was attempting to ask her to confirm her previous answer that she was almost playing some sort of game and she asked him three times to repeat himself, as she didn't understand him. It almost
seemed like some sort of mocking of the man's English. Finally, another woman came over to explain and Ms. Yuan really offended this contingent, who were angrily stating that she was lying to the crowd and they have what she said on tape.I did not get the impression they would leave this one to die and I'd be worried if I were Ms. Yuan.
Now, what was interesting was Don Davies (NDP) followed up with some comments about meeting with a delegation of Falun Gong members in his office recently to discuss the issues, ensuring that the crowd got a glimpse of him as an inclusive and compassionate person, interested in the human rights of all.
Mr. Davies also made two promises to those in attendance.
1. He would never walk across the floor.
2. That he would always have an open door to his constituents.
Mr. Davies also "outed" Ms. Yuan, telling the audience that she rented an apartment in the Collingwood neighbourhood for appearances going into the election. Ms. Yuan had told the audience she, her husband and son had been living in a place in the neighbourhood for over a year. She called this a cheap shot by Mr. Davies, but he was following up with questions asked by a constituent - do you live in the riding, for how long & if you don't, why do you think you can represent the neighbourhood? It was in this set of questions that the frustration of the candidates with the format could also be seen.
There really wasn't a lot more that stood out for me. These were the impressions I was left with:
Ms. Yuan - Despite really wanting to be the V-K candidate, just does not have the leadership, or political experience, the
public speaking, nor credibility to represent this constituency. She also doesn't have the connection to the diverse people of the community and it is really difficult to understand how she would be able to represent the interests of all citizens
in the riding. Last night demonstrated that she has managed to let down, or even betray members of the Chinese community.
I think one of the things last night did for me was demonstrate that although someone can be a hard worker, "successful" (Ms. Yuan made sure we knew she was a successful businesswoman) and wants something really, really badly, doesn't mean they are qualified, or would be good at what they want. And when we're talking about something as huge as representing a constituency like ours, that means a lot.
Doug Warkentin - He came across as a sincere, bright and committed person. But, as his bio points out, he's more of a local leader and activist, he doesn't have the experience, or credibility to move into the big political leagues. We're lucky though
we have someone of his calibre living in V-K and working with us and on our behalf on local initiatives.
Don Davies - He came across as thoughtful, focused, intelligent, a quick thinker, and committed to representing the interests the wide range of citizens in the riding. I think in all honesty, his track record in the riding and the community, as well as his
performance last night demonstrate he is the best candidate to represent the interests and needs of Vancouver-Kingsway.
***********************************************************
Some other things - Someone actually stole my Don Davies - NDP sign right off my lawn last night and although I certainly can't say who it was, Salomon Rayek's people were leafletting in the neighbourhood yesterday as well.
And I have to say, his brochure leaves me VERY unimpressed with the following:
President of a local Electoral District Association for the Conservative Party. Lets be clear - Mr. Rayek has no ties to Vancouver-Kingsway at all. He's been involved with the Richmond-Delta East Conservative Association since at least 2006.
He doesn't live, or work in the riding and in fact is strongly tied to Richmond. I find this choice of language deceptive and unacceptable for a candidate running in this riding.
Also, Mr. Rayek's brochure informs us he is a "regular blood donor," which although that qualifies for my Laugh of the Day, it certaintly doesn't make me feel he's qualified to run to represent our riding in any way.
When one examines About Salomen Rayek, we can see he hasn't done one single thing in this riding, has no political, or community involvement (except with his synagogue, his "place of worship in the riding"), has no political, or community experience beyond holding positions within the neoConservative party. When you add on that he won't attend All Candidate Forums, he won't speak to local media, and he won't meet with constituents in public gathering, why on Earth would anyone waste a vote on this guy? And that is what a vote for Salomon Rayek would be - a waste of a precious Vancouver-Kingsway vote.
===================================================================================
Second All Candidates Meeting tonight
Date: Tuesday, October 7th 2008
Time: 7pm
Location: Collingwood Neighbourhood House
5288 Joyce (@ Euclid, just down from the Skytrain station).
I really don't know what could be more shocking... during an election,
candidates are refusing to meet with constituents, refusing to explain their
parties' positions, refusing to participate in DEMOCRACY for heaven's sake.
Again, if this is their conduct during an election, what can any of
us expect if they get in? How can Canadians even consider voting for a party that conducts itself in such a way?
The Main Event
Candidates Present:
Kimball Cariou - Communist Party of Canada
Doug Warkentin - Green Party of Canada
Wendy Yuan - Liberal Party
Donna Petterson - Marxist-Leninist Party
Don Davies - NDP
Right off the bat, the format of the forum was not popular and a lot of people actually left gradually as it played out. It was designed so candidates pulled straws and sat at different tables (Children & Youth,Women's Issues, Immigration & Multi-cultural issues & Poverty Reduction & Housing) and a facilitated discussion took place amongst the parties at the tables.
The Candidates rotated to other tables and then reported out to the larger group. It was good to have some time with candidates, however, it was only one candidate, for a short time, with important discussion carrying on, but not reported on.
Question Time
The question & answer part of the evening also caused some frustration for those asking questions and the candidates. Individuals could direct a question to one candidate and then only one other candidate could get answer the same question. It was just not a succcessful way of proceeding, since constituents had very little
chance to actually hear the differences of the different party platforms.
No offense to the candidates for the Communist & Marxist-Leninist parties and I appreciate the fairness involved in inviting them, but this detracted from being able to hear from the real contenders in this election:
Don Davies, Wendy Yuan & Doug Warkentin.
The Performances
Right off the bat, Wendy Yuan's public speaking challenges became apparent when she was reporting out from the small group discussions. Anyone seeing her last night would have had to developed some serious misgivingsabout her experience and ability to speak in Parliament as our representative. She was not articulate, she said
"uh" almost constantly, isn't a quick thinker on her feet, her command and facility of English is still coming along, she wasn't able to connect with the audience, she was easy to throw off, she was evasive and quite simply was unable to discuss some of the issues.
Right off the hop, Ms. Yuan committed a cardinal sin of public speaking, especially in an election panel. When asked what her party's position was on the Security & Prosperity Partnership (SPP) and Canada's integration into the European Union, she told the audience she thought Canada's involvement with Europe was good, that the Liberal party didn't have a position on the SPP and that she would talk to the questioner "privately" on the matters. There was a collective gasp from the audience at that last bit.
Ms. Yuan also appeared to have sparked some serious anger and hostility from some of the Chinese Falun Gong members in the audience, when she was evasive in answering whether she had stated in a speech the previous day in the Chinese community that China's human rights issues were something they needed to handle internally. It was quite interesting that when the second Falun Gong person was attempting to ask her to confirm her previous answer that she was almost playing some sort of game and she asked him three times to repeat himself, as she didn't understand him. It almost
seemed like some sort of mocking of the man's English. Finally, another woman came over to explain and Ms. Yuan really offended this contingent, who were angrily stating that she was lying to the crowd and they have what she said on tape.I did not get the impression they would leave this one to die and I'd be worried if I were Ms. Yuan.
Now, what was interesting was Don Davies (NDP) followed up with some comments about meeting with a delegation of Falun Gong members in his office recently to discuss the issues, ensuring that the crowd got a glimpse of him as an inclusive and compassionate person, interested in the human rights of all.
Mr. Davies also made two promises to those in attendance.
1. He would never walk across the floor.
2. That he would always have an open door to his constituents.
Mr. Davies also "outed" Ms. Yuan, telling the audience that she rented an apartment in the Collingwood neighbourhood for appearances going into the election. Ms. Yuan had told the audience she, her husband and son had been living in a place in the neighbourhood for over a year. She called this a cheap shot by Mr. Davies, but he was following up with questions asked by a constituent - do you live in the riding, for how long & if you don't, why do you think you can represent the neighbourhood? It was in this set of questions that the frustration of the candidates with the format could also be seen.
There really wasn't a lot more that stood out for me. These were the impressions I was left with:
Ms. Yuan - Despite really wanting to be the V-K candidate, just does not have the leadership, or political experience, the
public speaking, nor credibility to represent this constituency. She also doesn't have the connection to the diverse people of the community and it is really difficult to understand how she would be able to represent the interests of all citizens
in the riding. Last night demonstrated that she has managed to let down, or even betray members of the Chinese community.
I think one of the things last night did for me was demonstrate that although someone can be a hard worker, "successful" (Ms. Yuan made sure we knew she was a successful businesswoman) and wants something really, really badly, doesn't mean they are qualified, or would be good at what they want. And when we're talking about something as huge as representing a constituency like ours, that means a lot.
Doug Warkentin - He came across as a sincere, bright and committed person. But, as his bio points out, he's more of a local leader and activist, he doesn't have the experience, or credibility to move into the big political leagues. We're lucky though
we have someone of his calibre living in V-K and working with us and on our behalf on local initiatives.
Don Davies - He came across as thoughtful, focused, intelligent, a quick thinker, and committed to representing the interests the wide range of citizens in the riding. I think in all honesty, his track record in the riding and the community, as well as his
performance last night demonstrate he is the best candidate to represent the interests and needs of Vancouver-Kingsway.
***********************************************************
Some other things - Someone actually stole my Don Davies - NDP sign right off my lawn last night and although I certainly can't say who it was, Salomon Rayek's people were leafletting in the neighbourhood yesterday as well.
And I have to say, his brochure leaves me VERY unimpressed with the following:
President of a local Electoral District Association for the Conservative Party. Lets be clear - Mr. Rayek has no ties to Vancouver-Kingsway at all. He's been involved with the Richmond-Delta East Conservative Association since at least 2006.
He doesn't live, or work in the riding and in fact is strongly tied to Richmond. I find this choice of language deceptive and unacceptable for a candidate running in this riding.
Also, Mr. Rayek's brochure informs us he is a "regular blood donor," which although that qualifies for my Laugh of the Day, it certaintly doesn't make me feel he's qualified to run to represent our riding in any way.
When one examines About Salomen Rayek, we can see he hasn't done one single thing in this riding, has no political, or community involvement (except with his synagogue, his "place of worship in the riding"), has no political, or community experience beyond holding positions within the neoConservative party. When you add on that he won't attend All Candidate Forums, he won't speak to local media, and he won't meet with constituents in public gathering, why on Earth would anyone waste a vote on this guy? And that is what a vote for Salomon Rayek would be - a waste of a precious Vancouver-Kingsway vote.
===================================================================================
Second All Candidates Meeting tonight
Date: Tuesday, October 7th 2008
Time: 7pm
Location: Collingwood Neighbourhood House
5288 Joyce (@ Euclid, just down from the Skytrain station).
Monday, October 6, 2008
Election Issue Alert: Canada's Integration with the EU & United States
These issues are not on the radar at all and as we head into a week of All Candidates forums & debates and a final week before we go to the ballot box, this has become one of the pressing issues of this election.
Ask the candidates where do their parties stand on the Security & Prosperity Partnership (SPP)? Anything less than scrapping it will not do.
Where do the parties stand on Canada's "Deep Integration" with the European Union?
Parties must push for the draft of this agreement to be released by the Harper government and must fight against this Canada-EU agreement.
Where do the parties stand on Canada's "Deep Integration" with the United States of America, the North American Union?
What is at stake?
~ Canadian sovereignty forever
~ Canadian natural and human resources & capital
~ Canadian water, electricity & hydro
~ Canadian ownership and decision-making of our health care system & services
~ Canadians being sued in our own courts by foreign corporations for protecting Canadian businesses and domestic ownership of our industries and systems. Canada is already being sued under NAFTA by American corporations that want to expand private health clinics, turning our national health care system into a for-profit industry for American corporations. Ask yourself, do you want American-style health care here in Canada?
These agreements will affect every facet of Canadians lives - work, employment & income, water, energy, security, military, more involvement in more American wars, civil & human rights & liberty, safety, regulations & inspection standards, transportation & border mobility & costs, identification & freedom of Canadian citizens.
Integrate This: Challenging the Security & Prosperity Partnership
Integrate This! is about challenging the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP), an executive-level pact between the governments and corporate sectors of Canada, the United States and Mexico, which has never been debated publicly or voted on in any of the three countries. There are over 300 initiatives in the SPP aimed at harmonizing North American policies on:
work, employment & income, water, energy, security, military, more involvement in more American wars, civil & human rights & liberty, safety, regulations & inspection standards, transportation & border mobility & costs, drugs/pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, trade, immigration, the environment, standards & industry regulation, personal identification & freedom
Behind Closed Doors: What they're not telling us about the Security And Prosperity Partnership (PDF 10.7 MB)
Deep Integration
Canada and the European Union (EU) are set to begin preliminary discussions on deeper economic integration a mere three days after the election. It has been reported that the proposed trade deal will far exceed NAFTA. Some see this as an opportunity to possibly update the 15 year-old accord. Stephen Harper is busy telling Canadians that only a Conservative majority government will be able to bring confidence back and stabilize the economy. That is why I find it a little strange that this has not become a pillar of the Conservatives economic platform. Harper has decided not to release the full text of the draft proposal until after the election on October 14. The reality is that such an agreement with the EU will be no different than NAFTA in the sense that it will be used to further advance corporate interests.
Canada-EU trade proposal rivals scope of NAFTA
DOUG SAUNDERS. On-line 18/09/08 02:00 AM
LONDON — Canadian and European officials say they plan to begin negotiating a massive agreement to integrate Canada's economy with the 27 nations of the European Union, with preliminary talks to be launched at an Oct. 17 summit in Montreal three days after the federal election.
A newly completed study of the proposed deal, which European officials said Prime Minister Stephen Harper decided not to release until after the election, concludes that the pact would increase bilateral trade and investment by at least $40-billion a year, mainly in trade in services.
Ottawa officials say they have overcome what they see as their biggest hurdle: the resistance of provincial governments to an agreement that would force them to allow European corporations to provide their government services, if their bids are the lowest.
Although Ottawa’s current list of foreign-policy priorities does not include European issues, European and Canadian officials say Mr. Harper has been heavily engaged with the proposed trade pact.
Europe to Canada: Get your act together
DOUG SAUNDERS (dsaunders@globeandmail.com)
October 4, 2008
Excerpt:
BRUSSELS -- The two presidents of the European Union will arrive in Montreal on the Friday after Canada's Oct. 14 federal election for a meeting that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has studiously avoided mentioning.
That night, the three of them will announce the economic and political engagement of the two federations. They still haven't agreed on the name of the thing, though they are leaning toward Economic Partnership Agreement.
It will just be the preliminaries, but many people hope it will result, after a period of talks, in the consummation of a complex and potent marriage between Europe and Canada.
Two weeks ago, when I revealed that there had been months of secret meetings, led by Quebec officials and involving serious engagement by Mr. Harper and Mr. Sarkozy, to arrange what some European officials call "deep integration" talks, the idea proved to be enormously popular with Canadians.
"Deep Integration": Timeline of the Progress Toward a North American Union
by Vive le Canada. Global Research, December 20, 2006.
North American Union (NAU)
The North American Union (NAU) is a theoretical continental union of Canada, Mexico and the United States similar in structure to the European Union, sometimes including a common currency called the Amero.
*******************************************************
BushHarper.com
*******************************************************
ACTION ALERT: Release the Canada-EU 'deep economic integration' text!
September 18, 2008
As reported in the Globe and Mail on September 18, "Canadian and European officials say they plan to begin negotiating a massive agreement to integrate Canada's economy with the 27 nations of the European Union, with preliminary talks to be launched at an Oct. 17 summit in Montreal three days after the federal election." The article continues, "...a senior EU official involved in the talks described (them) as 'deep economic integration negotiations.'”
DEAL WOULD EXCEED SCOPE OF NAFTA
The article states, "The proposed pact would far exceed the scope of older agreements such as NAFTA by encompassing not only unrestricted trade in goods, services and investment and the removal of tariffs, but also the free movement of skilled people and an open market in government services and procurement – which would require that Canadian governments allow European companies to bid as equals on government contracts for both goods and services and end the favouring of local or national providers of public-sector services."
TEXT OF THE DEAL WON'T BE RELEASED DURING THE ELECTION
The Globe reports, “Because of the election, Mr. Harper appears to have decided not to unveil a full text of the proposed agreement, but instead to use the summit to inaugurate the trade talks with the launch of a 'scoping exercise' that will quickly set the goals of the pact and lead to formal 'comprehensive trade and investment negotiations' to begin in 'early 2009,' according to communications between senior Canadian and European officials examined by The Globe and Mail…The two governments have completed a detailed study of the proposed agreement that will be unveiled shortly after the election, should the Conservatives win. Both Ottawa and Brussels have had staff work on a draft text for a deal they had hoped would be introduced at a Canada-EU summit, to be attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Mr. Harper in Montreal on Oct. 17.”
BIG BUSINESS BACKS THE DEAL
While the public has not been allowed to see the study or the draft text, apparently large corporations have. The article notes, "Proponents, including all of Canada's major business-lobby organizations, are in favour of the deal..."
TAKE ACTION
E-mail Prime Minister Stephen Harper at pm@pm.gc.ca today and demand that the full text of the proposed agreement and the detailed study of it be released immediately.
cc.Stephane Dion, Liberal Party of Canada, Dion.S@parl.gc.ca; Jack Layton, New Democratic Party of Canada, Layton.J@parl.gc.ca; Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Québécois, Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca; Elizabeth May, Green Party of Canada, leader@greenparty.ca.
The full article can be read here.
**********************************
Layton would reopen NAFTA negotiations
Title: Layton would reopen NAFTA negotiations
Topic: Globalisation and Trade
Written By: NAUWATCH
Date: Sunday, September 28 at 09:47
An NDP government would fight to reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement to enhance protection for Canadian jobs, NDP leader Jack Layton said yesterday in Hamilton, Ont.
"We want a new NAFTA. We want a North American fair trade agreement," Layton told supporters. "We want a fair deal, not a sellout."
With the prospect of the reopening of NAFTA if the Democrats win the U.S. election, Layton said his party, among other things, would fight to add "meaningful" labour and environmental standards to the deal - and reform the energy provisions, which require the export of fossil fuels to the United States.
Layton's plan would remove NAFTA's contentious "Chapter 11" provision that permits foreign investors to legally challenge Canadian policies if it threatens their investments.
============================================================
Please consider all of this as we prepare to vote.
Our current Prime Minister, Stephen Harper & his (neo)Conservative minions have been having secret meetings for months to create this agreement with the European Union. We go to the ballot box in one week (some have already voted in advanced polls) & THE MAN WHO LEADS OUR NATION HAS NOT AND DOES NOT PLAN TO MENTION, OR RELEASE THE DRAFT AGREEMENT FOR DEEP INTEGRATION OF CANADA INTO THE EUROPEAN UNION. IS THIS THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP CANADA NEEDS? THIS IS NO LITTLE OVERSIGHT, OUR PRIME MINISTER IS LITERALLY HANDING CANADA OVER TO OTHER NATIONS ON A PLATTER, BOTH THE UNITED STATES & THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. I'VE GOT A FEW CHOICE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS TO ME, HOW ABOUT YOU?
PLEASE DON'T LET STEPHEN HARPER GET AWAY WITH THIS, HELP KEEP CANADA A SOVEREIGN NATION.
Ask the candidates where do their parties stand on the Security & Prosperity Partnership (SPP)? Anything less than scrapping it will not do.
Where do the parties stand on Canada's "Deep Integration" with the European Union?
Parties must push for the draft of this agreement to be released by the Harper government and must fight against this Canada-EU agreement.
Where do the parties stand on Canada's "Deep Integration" with the United States of America, the North American Union?
What is at stake?
~ Canadian sovereignty forever
~ Canadian natural and human resources & capital
~ Canadian water, electricity & hydro
~ Canadian ownership and decision-making of our health care system & services
~ Canadians being sued in our own courts by foreign corporations for protecting Canadian businesses and domestic ownership of our industries and systems. Canada is already being sued under NAFTA by American corporations that want to expand private health clinics, turning our national health care system into a for-profit industry for American corporations. Ask yourself, do you want American-style health care here in Canada?
These agreements will affect every facet of Canadians lives - work, employment & income, water, energy, security, military, more involvement in more American wars, civil & human rights & liberty, safety, regulations & inspection standards, transportation & border mobility & costs, identification & freedom of Canadian citizens.
Integrate This: Challenging the Security & Prosperity Partnership
Integrate This! is about challenging the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP), an executive-level pact between the governments and corporate sectors of Canada, the United States and Mexico, which has never been debated publicly or voted on in any of the three countries. There are over 300 initiatives in the SPP aimed at harmonizing North American policies on:
work, employment & income, water, energy, security, military, more involvement in more American wars, civil & human rights & liberty, safety, regulations & inspection standards, transportation & border mobility & costs, drugs/pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, trade, immigration, the environment, standards & industry regulation, personal identification & freedom
Behind Closed Doors: What they're not telling us about the Security And Prosperity Partnership (PDF 10.7 MB)
Deep Integration
Canada and the European Union (EU) are set to begin preliminary discussions on deeper economic integration a mere three days after the election. It has been reported that the proposed trade deal will far exceed NAFTA. Some see this as an opportunity to possibly update the 15 year-old accord. Stephen Harper is busy telling Canadians that only a Conservative majority government will be able to bring confidence back and stabilize the economy. That is why I find it a little strange that this has not become a pillar of the Conservatives economic platform. Harper has decided not to release the full text of the draft proposal until after the election on October 14. The reality is that such an agreement with the EU will be no different than NAFTA in the sense that it will be used to further advance corporate interests.
Canada-EU trade proposal rivals scope of NAFTA
DOUG SAUNDERS. On-line 18/09/08 02:00 AM
LONDON — Canadian and European officials say they plan to begin negotiating a massive agreement to integrate Canada's economy with the 27 nations of the European Union, with preliminary talks to be launched at an Oct. 17 summit in Montreal three days after the federal election.
A newly completed study of the proposed deal, which European officials said Prime Minister Stephen Harper decided not to release until after the election, concludes that the pact would increase bilateral trade and investment by at least $40-billion a year, mainly in trade in services.
Ottawa officials say they have overcome what they see as their biggest hurdle: the resistance of provincial governments to an agreement that would force them to allow European corporations to provide their government services, if their bids are the lowest.
Although Ottawa’s current list of foreign-policy priorities does not include European issues, European and Canadian officials say Mr. Harper has been heavily engaged with the proposed trade pact.
Europe to Canada: Get your act together
DOUG SAUNDERS (dsaunders@globeandmail.com)
October 4, 2008
Excerpt:
BRUSSELS -- The two presidents of the European Union will arrive in Montreal on the Friday after Canada's Oct. 14 federal election for a meeting that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has studiously avoided mentioning.
That night, the three of them will announce the economic and political engagement of the two federations. They still haven't agreed on the name of the thing, though they are leaning toward Economic Partnership Agreement.
It will just be the preliminaries, but many people hope it will result, after a period of talks, in the consummation of a complex and potent marriage between Europe and Canada.
Two weeks ago, when I revealed that there had been months of secret meetings, led by Quebec officials and involving serious engagement by Mr. Harper and Mr. Sarkozy, to arrange what some European officials call "deep integration" talks, the idea proved to be enormously popular with Canadians.
"Deep Integration": Timeline of the Progress Toward a North American Union
by Vive le Canada. Global Research, December 20, 2006.
North American Union (NAU)
The North American Union (NAU) is a theoretical continental union of Canada, Mexico and the United States similar in structure to the European Union, sometimes including a common currency called the Amero.
*******************************************************
BushHarper.com
*******************************************************
ACTION ALERT: Release the Canada-EU 'deep economic integration' text!
September 18, 2008
As reported in the Globe and Mail on September 18, "Canadian and European officials say they plan to begin negotiating a massive agreement to integrate Canada's economy with the 27 nations of the European Union, with preliminary talks to be launched at an Oct. 17 summit in Montreal three days after the federal election." The article continues, "...a senior EU official involved in the talks described (them) as 'deep economic integration negotiations.'”
DEAL WOULD EXCEED SCOPE OF NAFTA
The article states, "The proposed pact would far exceed the scope of older agreements such as NAFTA by encompassing not only unrestricted trade in goods, services and investment and the removal of tariffs, but also the free movement of skilled people and an open market in government services and procurement – which would require that Canadian governments allow European companies to bid as equals on government contracts for both goods and services and end the favouring of local or national providers of public-sector services."
TEXT OF THE DEAL WON'T BE RELEASED DURING THE ELECTION
The Globe reports, “Because of the election, Mr. Harper appears to have decided not to unveil a full text of the proposed agreement, but instead to use the summit to inaugurate the trade talks with the launch of a 'scoping exercise' that will quickly set the goals of the pact and lead to formal 'comprehensive trade and investment negotiations' to begin in 'early 2009,' according to communications between senior Canadian and European officials examined by The Globe and Mail…The two governments have completed a detailed study of the proposed agreement that will be unveiled shortly after the election, should the Conservatives win. Both Ottawa and Brussels have had staff work on a draft text for a deal they had hoped would be introduced at a Canada-EU summit, to be attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Mr. Harper in Montreal on Oct. 17.”
BIG BUSINESS BACKS THE DEAL
While the public has not been allowed to see the study or the draft text, apparently large corporations have. The article notes, "Proponents, including all of Canada's major business-lobby organizations, are in favour of the deal..."
TAKE ACTION
E-mail Prime Minister Stephen Harper at pm@pm.gc.ca today and demand that the full text of the proposed agreement and the detailed study of it be released immediately.
cc.Stephane Dion, Liberal Party of Canada, Dion.S@parl.gc.ca; Jack Layton, New Democratic Party of Canada, Layton.J@parl.gc.ca; Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Québécois, Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca; Elizabeth May, Green Party of Canada, leader@greenparty.ca.
The full article can be read here.
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Layton would reopen NAFTA negotiations
Title: Layton would reopen NAFTA negotiations
Topic: Globalisation and Trade
Written By: NAUWATCH
Date: Sunday, September 28 at 09:47
An NDP government would fight to reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement to enhance protection for Canadian jobs, NDP leader Jack Layton said yesterday in Hamilton, Ont.
"We want a new NAFTA. We want a North American fair trade agreement," Layton told supporters. "We want a fair deal, not a sellout."
With the prospect of the reopening of NAFTA if the Democrats win the U.S. election, Layton said his party, among other things, would fight to add "meaningful" labour and environmental standards to the deal - and reform the energy provisions, which require the export of fossil fuels to the United States.
Layton's plan would remove NAFTA's contentious "Chapter 11" provision that permits foreign investors to legally challenge Canadian policies if it threatens their investments.
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Please consider all of this as we prepare to vote.
Our current Prime Minister, Stephen Harper & his (neo)Conservative minions have been having secret meetings for months to create this agreement with the European Union. We go to the ballot box in one week (some have already voted in advanced polls) & THE MAN WHO LEADS OUR NATION HAS NOT AND DOES NOT PLAN TO MENTION, OR RELEASE THE DRAFT AGREEMENT FOR DEEP INTEGRATION OF CANADA INTO THE EUROPEAN UNION. IS THIS THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP CANADA NEEDS? THIS IS NO LITTLE OVERSIGHT, OUR PRIME MINISTER IS LITERALLY HANDING CANADA OVER TO OTHER NATIONS ON A PLATTER, BOTH THE UNITED STATES & THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. I'VE GOT A FEW CHOICE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS TO ME, HOW ABOUT YOU?
PLEASE DON'T LET STEPHEN HARPER GET AWAY WITH THIS, HELP KEEP CANADA A SOVEREIGN NATION.
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