Voting Conservative Will Undermine Canada

Today was a Day of Dissent, a national call-out for Canadians to make their views known on the war in Afghanistan. The majority of Canadians do not want this war to continue. We want our troops removed immediately; not one more soldier should die needlessly in a war we do not belong in and cannot win.













The Women's Alliance Party (WAP) believes that if you vote Conservative - you are voting to support the inimical war in Afghanistan!

Because we are simpletons (e.g. simple minded-Canadians), we are not thinking of how supporting Harper advances his government's glorious war:









Length of war: 10 years + (Ten years and counting)
Cost of war: 2,000,000,000 (Two billion dollars)
Number of soldiers: 2500 (twenty five hundred)

Equals: $800,000 (eight hundred thousand) per soldier per year!

"Are we getting our money's worth?" asks Stephen Stewart, our own war correspondent. "No," he says, "Canadians probably want to spend more so we need to get Mr. Harper to buy more useless jets and stuff so we can reach the one million mark per year per soldier. Then we'll be competing with the 'big guys'!"

Vote for war and an end to health care! Vote for Harper.

This poster shows another aspect of our complicity in the war.

Canada! Here Comes Your Revolution!

Elections 2011! Sigh. Many of us think finally, we can get rid of that person, about whom Cathleen Kneen of the Raging Grannies writes “One should not stoop to calling names”. She goes onto say that “a sober analysis of the conduct of Stephen Harper as Prime Minister carries way too many resonances of what happened in Germany as the National Socialists were coming to power. Stephen Harper is not a dictator. But if his right-wing coalition government gets back in power, as another Prime Minister famously said, "Just watch me!"

The issues at stake are not only about dictatorship, but about the kind of dictatorship Mr. Harper will introduce - legally and with our consent - if he is elected. Here is a foretaste of the things to come.

On April 5th, a couple of interested and curious Canadians attended the very low-key but high-powered meeting at Peace Tower Church on Bronson. The Church¹ is new to Ottawa, but has a great outreach program. This was evident when we arrived and saw the faithful filling the pews on Wednesday night. The atmosphere was electric and full of joyful expectation. Outside a chauffeur-driven black bullet proofed car was parked with a couple of important looking people coming out and being led in the Church. The topic of tonight’s meeting: Canada celebrates Israel, the Land - the People.

Music sets the tone of the celebration

We learned from the program that this was the third day of a four-day blitz tour organized by the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus together with other Christian groups such as Christians for Israel, For Zion’s Sake, Return Ministries, among others. From Vancouver (meeting in Tsawwassen First Nations Longhouse with Elders), to Montreal, to Ottawa and ending with Toronto, three members of the Israeli Government Knesset and the leaders of the Canada Celebrates Israel Delegation were given assurances that Canada stood by its Prime Minister who stood by Israel, no matter what.

The delegates were piped in with great solemnity and an RCMP constable led the flags and procession of the Nations, too many to count and be identified. We were invited to sing both the Canadian and Israeli national anthems as all the lower flags bent down towards the two flags up on the altar.

Chief Blacksmith of Gathering Nations International² introduced the Ambassador of Israel to Canada, Miriam Ziv, who addressed the assembly. She was followed by the MP for Kootenay, Columbia, John Abbott. We listen through a pre-recorded message by Mr. Stockwell Day who, we were told, was not really leaving. A group of Klez players had many people clapping and dancing merrily.

Then we were treated to a film advertising Israel’s technological assets, know-how and advances in R&D. Very impressive.

Finally we were able to hear from the Knesset delegation on how Israel was the only democracy in the Middle East, the only partner the West could possibly have, and the only country with a real concern for human rights. This was repeated again and again, with references to Mr. Harper and implicit hints that all good Christians vote for the Conservatives. The Christian pastors and Canadian members also managed to throw in a few sentences with the words Muslim, Palestine, terrorism and the devil mixed together. It didn’t make sense but many people shook their heads knowingly and sighed piously.

Knesset members receiving gifts

Finally, and this is where there is a link to what Cathleen wrote above, everyone was invited to stand up and speak out the pledge/declaration which is printed below in full. People were asked to distribute this pledge far and wide. Take a look and draw your own conclusions.

One of our group just sat rooted to his pew. “I can’t, I just can’t stand up,” he said, shocked to the bones by the unholy alliance of Church, State and First Nations representatives. The people spoke in one voice and the Israeli and Canadian security men, gun showing through their jackets, took a good look at us.

But it is the many Canadians, appalled by this flagrant alliance in our name, who say to Mr. Harper: “Just watch us”.

“This is so much like fascism,” our friend said bitterly, as we left before the Master of ceremonies, the Rabbi of Machzikei Hadas Congregation, closed the celebratory evening. The Black bullet-proofed car was purring, ready to shoot off, as we got out in the cold spring night.

RCMP constable Adam Cossette standing among the many flags

Israel-Canada Declaration/Pledge³ Spoken and then signed

WHEREAS, we the undersigned, friends of Israel, affirm the eternal and steadfast love of God for Israel and the Jewish People as clearly decreed in the Word of God.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

WE AFFIRM the noble stand that our Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper has taken in support and solidarity of Israel:

“The Jewish state can expect the full support and friendship of Canada.” Oct. 19, 2009 Toronto

WE AFFIRM our Prime Minister’s explicit statement in his speech addressing the delegation of International Parliamentarians and global leaders at the International Conference to Combat Anti-Semitism, when he declared:

"When Israel, the only country in the world whose very existence is under attack, is consistently and conspicuously singled out for condemnation, I believe we are morally obligated to take a stand. Demonization, double standards, delegitimization - the three D's - it is a responsibility of us all to stand up to them. As long as I am Prime Minister...Canada will take that stand, whatever the cost." Nov. 8, 2010 Ottawa

WE AFFIRM, as stated in the Bible, that people, nations and leaders will be blessed when they bless Israel.

“I will bless those that bless you (Israel) and whoever curses you (Israel) I will curse.” Genesis 12:3

WE AFFIRM that the State of Israel, like Canada, has a right to exist, prosper, thrive and defend her people against the pernicious onslaught of terror, racism and anti-Semitism targeted against them.

WE AFFIRM the Abrahamic Covenant of God with Israel, and His promises, and in the giving of the land to the Jewish People as their everlasting homeland and eternal inheritance.

“I will give you this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.” Genesis 17:8

WE WILL PRAY, in accordance with the Word of the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, for the peace of Jerusalem and Israel.

“Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.’ For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say: ‘Peace be within you.’ ” Psalm 122:6-7.

1 http://www.peacetowerchurch.ca/index.cfm?i=11659

2 http://sites.advancedministry.com/gniuser/

3 http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/canada_israel_declaration/

A Note to Mr. Ignatieff

Dear Mr. Ignatieff,

The Women's Alliance Party has written a couple of times asking that, for the sake of our future, you work together with the good people from the other parties to bring about the changes we need. My consistent request is that you examine the election system we have and that the Liberal party undertake to adopt election reforms, so that more voices are represented in parliament.

I urge you to read the Law Commission's report of 2004 on electoral reforms. The recommendations are very serious and need to be implemented as soon as possible.

I understand that a popular party would not wish to 'share' power but really, this is what democracy is all about, listening to the different voices and making decisions not on the basis of a single party's agenda, but on the basis of what serves the majority of citizens the best.

Please consider to add this essential overhaul of our dysfunctional FPTP system as a real campaign goal and go all the way. We do not need fixes but a new vision.

Good luck with your campaigning efforts.

Esther Matharu
www.womensallianceparty.ca

A note from Mireille B:

There are many issues that are of interest to me. However I have been particularly interested in Canadian political issues in view of the lack of democracy that Harper has demonstrated since his tenure in parliament. I demonstrated during the last prorogation of parliament and have been a member of Fairvote & Harper22 since. Although all issues are important, I believe that our political system as it stands now is not working anymore and we need political reform. How our country is govern will affect how all other issues are dealt with. I have also read a lot about the global economic crisis.

There are many challenges that await us, or that are already here .... the aging population and health care, a school system that is stretched to the limit, education that is becoming more and more expensive, the poor getting poorer and the rich getting richer.... as well as pressing environmental issues that need to be addressed now or it will be too late.... natural resources that will be depleted not so far in the future... provinces that only care about "their provinces" vs Canada...... lack of patriotism when we live in the best country in the world, ..... not to mention the global economic crisis following the US banking crash and the recent catastrophe in Japan which is bound to affect our economy ... two major economic forces on which Canada depends, too much so with the US. And I forgot, .... war... in which we are involved in (because the US says so), with an inadequate defense system... should I go on?

How can we afford some idiot in parliament? We cannot.

How do we get people involved in the electoral process so that they feel their vote makes a difference. How do we fight Canadian apathy?

Where is integrity and transparency in government.... it's never been perfect, but transparency has gone out the window completely with Harper..... and integrity, well, that's hard to get in politics, isn't it?

That's my bit for tonight.

I just feel so powerless, like many Canadians do, to bring about change.

Dear Mireille,

Your questions are deep and real, and ones we share.

Especially the apathy of Canadians....we spoke at Ottawa U to young women and few were interested in politics, in changing things. But then a few were very engaged. I think we do not need to be many, but just a few of us who are really focused, who hold in our sight a vision that inspires.

The first step is to expose the lies that have allowed our voices to loose the capacity to inform, to inspire and to call for change. This starts at home and then our friends and then whomever we meet, write to, and call to account: our leaders, our councillors etc.

The hardest thing, I have found, is to get people to work together. In numbers there is strength and in joining our voices there is power, so I too belong to these groups, but when I talk about collaboration, their faces go blank!

And then, it requires so much energy to go out there and work for change!
At least we are attempting transformation.

Thank-you for your words.

Esther

Understanding Democracy

“There are many ways of understanding democracy,” said the Federal Appeals Court judge this morning during the session about whether a ruling to force the CRTC to include Ms. May in the televised leaders' debate could take effect. Despite popular outcry and the many voices calling for a review of the guidelines that the CRTC cooked up at the onset of election period, the judge made clear that he would not be swayed from his peculiar understanding of democracy.

He simply, and with very few words, threw out the request to expedite a ruling on Monday 11^th April.

To be fair, the judge, however openly prejudiced he was, seemed to realise that he was in a very difficult position. If he allowed the ruling, the consortium could scream about interference by government. If he disallowed the ruling, he would have to face accusations of partiality with leanings towards undemocratic powers, which have been shown to be swaying Canada off its course of reason, common sense and democracy.

By the end of the day we are left wondering what has happened to a country we felt was able to safeguard and protect our institutions, our poor, our marginalised and our minorities. Any broadcasting corporation that excludes voices, especially during this time when they have a clear mandate - a duty in fact - to provide and ensure equal treatment of all political parties is biased when it refuses to include a party that represents 6% of the people.

The Women’s Alliance Party stands by the Green Party’s legitimate demands, even more so that this party is led by a courageous woman who cares for the Canada we want. She ought to be invited to debate with the other leaders without bias and prejudice, instead of having to beg and fight for this right on behalf of the electorate.

WAP continues to stress that until Canadians wake up to the fact that the current FPTP electoral system is deeply flawed and accepts to have reform that will allow all votes to count, we will continue to suffer the inevitable erosion of our democratic space.

What it boils down to is that we, the citizens, have the right to receive information delivered in a fair and neutral way, to make crucial decisions for our future and the future of the next generation.

No matter what, it was a great media opportunity for Ms. May and the Greens. That, in itself, was good strategy!

Students Have Voting Power

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL

Vote Harper out of government

The Editorial Board

Published on April 4, 2011

Stephen Harper has called the May election “unnecessary,” and claims he wants to get back to the job of governing. In the past year, Harper’s government has had four senior Conservatives charged by Elections Canada for intentionally exceeding campaign spending limits in the 2006 election, barred his ministers from speaking to the press, and acted with complete disregard for the principles of accountability. These events culminated in the Conservative government becoming the first in Canadian history to be found in contempt of parliament, as a result of the refusal to publicize the full cost of crime legislation and corporate tax cuts.

This style of government has given us five years of large-scale funding cuts to key social programs – such as arts funding, Aboriginal women’s programs, and programs to help immigrants – and the abandonment of any environmental responsibility, exemplified through the government’s continued support of the Tar Sands.

This election is crucial. If granted a majority, the Conservatives will take it as a mandate from Canadians that their style of governance, their lack of transparency, and their lack of social responsibility are acceptable. We have a duty as voters to tell them that this is not the case.

To prevent the Conservatives from winning a majority and unseat the Harper government, it is both a viable and legitimate option to cast your vote strategically. We, as students, have a unique opportunity because we can both choose where to vote – in our home ridings or here in Montreal – as well as which party to support.

http://www.mcgilldaily.com/2011/04/vote-harper-out-of-government/?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4d9a5a194fdcab30%2C0

What the Conservatives Have Cut

This is a list compiled by Dennis Gruending, a former NDP Member of Parliament. Is it any wonder that we need to keep an eye on what's going on?

Originally, the Women's Alliance Party was going to be called the Women's Watch Party. We weren't far off the track with that name. S.

Stephen Harper's firing range: A list of 87 organizations and people attacked in five years

April 1, 2011

The Conservative government, or the Harper government as it insists upon being called, has either fallen or engineered its own defeat and the election is upon us. This is perhaps a good time to take stock of who the Harperites have spent their time attacking in the past several years. They have also lavished favour on their own, appointing them to be judges, to the Immigration Review Board, the CRTC, the Senate or other federal agencies.

The list of organizations that have been shut down and cut back, and the individuals bullied, is a long one and we can expect it to grow if, as seems likely, Harper is reelected.

I have written extensively about some of these actions, including the government's attack on the ecumenical group KAIROS and the shameful treatment of the Rights and Democracy organization, but I cannot claim that my list is comprehensive. The following list was compiled primarily by Judith Szabo and by Pearl Eliadis for "Voices," a coalition of organizations and individuals which describes itself as "united in defence of democracy, free speech and transparency in Canada."

Organizations/ watchdogs whose staff have been fired, forced out, publicly maligned, or who have resigned in protest:

• Canada Firearms Program (Chief Supt. Marty Cheliak, Director General)

• Canadian Wheat Board [1] (Adrian Measner, President and CEO)

• Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (Linda Keen, chair)

• Foreign Affairs (Richard Colvin, diplomat)

• Military Police Complaints Commission (head, Peter Tinsley)

• Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces (Yves Coté)

• Parliamentary Budget Officer (Kevin Page) (funding cut)

• RCMP Police Complaints Commission (Paul Kennedy, chair)

• Rights & Democracy (International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development - Rémy Beauregard, President)

• Statistics Canada (Munir Sheikh, Deputy Minister)

• Veterans Ombudsman (Col. Pat Stogran)

• Victims of Crime, Ombudsman (Steve Sullivan)

Community organizations, NGOs and research bodies reported to have been cut or defunded.

"Defunding" is the term used by Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. In many instances, it is about turning down grant applications rather than cutting off funding midstream, but for organizations who rely on renewed program funding to support their work, and have done so for many years, it amounts to the same thing.

• Action travail des femmes

• Afghan Association of Ontario, Canada Toronto

• Alberta Network of Immigrant Women

• Alternatives (Quebec)

• Association féminine d'éducation et d'action sociale (AFEAS)

• Bloor Information and Life Skills Centre: Citizenship and Immigration Canada Cut or significantly reduced their principal funding -- approximately $471,000. Source: Globe and Mail.

• Brampton Neighbourhood Services (Ontario): Cut in the last few years [2] by federal government because of alleged mismanagement.

• Canadian Arab Federation

• Canadian Child Care Federation

• Canadian Council for International Cooperation

• Canadian Council on Learning

• Canadian Council on Social Development

• Canadian Heritage Centre for Research and Information on Canada

• Canadian International Development Agency, Office of Democratic Governance

• The Office of Democratic Governance, which channeled much of Canada's democracy funding, has been disbanded by CIDA.

• Canadian Labour Business Centre

• Canada Policy Research Networks

• Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women

• Canada School of Public Service

• Canadian Teachers' Federation International program

• Canadian Volunteerism Initiative

• Centre de documentation sur l'éducation des adultes et la condition feminine

• Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA)

• Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples (Toronto)

• Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada

• Childcare Resource and Research Unit, Specialink

• Climate Action Network

• Community Access Program, internet access for communities at libraries, post offices, community centres

• Community Action Resource Centre (CARC)

• Conseil d'intervention pour l'accès des femmes au travail (CIAFT)

• Court Challenges Program (except language rights cases and legacy cases)

• Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Centre Toronto: (Funding cut by CIC in December 2010).

• Democracy Council: A forum for discussion and collaboration among Canadian democracy promotion agencies. It has reportedly disappeared despite stated earlier commitments and interest from both government and NGOs to see it continue and even expand.

• Department of Foreign Affairs, Democracy Unit

• Folded into the Francophonie and Commonwealth division.

• Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women Toronto: (Funding cut by CIC in December 2010).

• Environment: Youth International Internship Program

• Eritrean Canadian Community Centre of Metropolitan Toronto (Funding cut by CIC in December 2010)

• Feminists for Just and Equitable Public Policy (FemJEPP) in Nova Scotia

• First Nations Child and Family Caring Society

• First Nations and Inuit Tobacco Control Program

• Forum of Federations

• Global Environmental Monitoring System

• HRD Adult Learning and Literacy programs

• HRD Youth Employment Programs

• Hamilton's Settlement and Integration Services Organization (Ontario)

Cut in the last few years by federal government because of alleged mismanagement: Source [2]

• Immigrant settlement programs

• Inter-Cultural Neighbourhood Social Services (Peel)

Cut in the last few years by federal government because of alleged mismanagement: Source [2]

• International Planned Parenthood Federation

• Kairos: Including Anglican Church of Canada, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Mennonite Central Committee, Presbyterian Church in Canada, United Church of Canada, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Canadian Religious Conference, and the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund.

• Law Reform Commission of Canada

• Mada Al-Carmel Arab Centre

• Marie Stopes International, a maternal health agency -- has received only a promise of "conditional funding IF it avoids any and all connection with abortion.

• MATCH International

• National association of Women and the Law (NAWL)

• Native Women's Association of Canada

• New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity

• Northwood Neighbourhood Services (Toronto: Funding cut by CIC in December 2010).

• Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH)

• Ontario Association of Transitional Housing (OAITH)

• Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care

• Pride Toronto

• Réseau des Tables régionales de groupes de femmes du Québec

• Riverdale Women's Centre in Toronto

• Sierra Club of BC

• Sisters in Spirit

• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

• South Asian Women's Centre: The Centre has lost $571,000 -- all of its federal funding -- which represents nearly 70 per cent of its overall budget. Source: Globe and Mail.

• Status of Women (mandate also changed to exclude "gender equality and political justice" and to ban all advocacy, policy research and lobbying)

• Tropicana Community Services

• Womanspace Resource Centre (Lethbridge, Alberta)

• Women's Innovative Justice Initiative -- Nova Scotia

• Workplace Equity/Employment Equity Program

• York-Weston Community Services Centre Toronto

Since this story was first published, several commentators have suggested adding the Aboriginal Healing Foundation [3] to the list.