RODC PRESENTS
M i c h a e l H a r r i s I N O a k v i l l e
Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00 at the Galaxy 707 Banquet Hall, 475 North Service Road, Oakville
Award winning Canadian Author, investigative journalist & documentary filmmaker
GO BEYOND THE TITLE of his latest book PARTY OF ONE
Awarded a Doctor of Laws for his “unceasing pursuit of justice”.
His 8 books include: Justice Denied: The Law Versus Donald Marshall,
Unholy Orders: Tragedy at Mount Cashel,
Lament for an Ocean, and Con Game.
His investigative work has led to four commissions of inquiry.
Three of his books have been made into movies including the NFB docudrama
The Boys of St. Vincent based on Unholy Orders.
F R E E – donations appreciated
More details here.
======================================Canada’s democracy is threatened by the proposed
“Fair
Elections Act”
The Act
muzzles Elections Canada. Elections Canada has always been independent of political
influences and the guardian of democracy. The proposed Bill prevents the CEO of
Elections Canada from encouraging voting and civic participation. The
Commissioner of Elections would now be in the office of the Director of Public
Prosecutions, a government department. The Commissioner will not be allowed to
communicate the details of any investigation to the public or to Parliament or
to compel witness testimony (a significant obstacle in a recent investigation
of electoral fraud).
The Act Reduces
the Right to Vote. It prohibits
the use of vouching and of Voter Information Cards to establish a citizen’s
identity, residency and eligibility to vote. (Although there is no evidence
that vouching leads to voter fraud.) These rule changes would prevent an
estimated 120,000 seniors, students, economically disadvantaged people and
First Nations citizens from voting.
The Act
Increases the Influence of Personal Wealth in Elections. It would exempt “fundraising expenses” from
the spending limits for political parties. Political parties would not have to
provide supporting documentation for their expenses. The caps on individual
donations would increase and a gap would be created between the allowable
campaign contributions of ordinary citizens and the contributions of candidates
to their own campaigns.
The Act
Fosters Partisan Bias. The winning political
party will be able to recommend names for poll supervisors, introducing the
possibility of partisan bias·. Exempting
“fundraising expenses” will create a bias in favour of parties with longer
lists of donors– currently, the governing party.
The Proposed Act is Being Rushed into Law in
Parliament. In the past, electoral reform in Canada has involved widespread
consultation with Elections Canada, the opposition parties and the citizens at
large. The Harper Government has cut off debate and discussion in order to
enact the Bill as soon as possible.
What Can You Do?
Call your MP to express
your concern!!
Reclaim
Our Democratic Canada
Actively
documents and resists the dismantling of Democracy in Canada.
Our Canadian
Democracy is in Trouble - Here’s Why!
Voter Turnout Is Dropping
Like a Stone
·
In the last 20 years voter turnout has fallen
from approximately 80% to below 60%.
·
Fewer than 40% of young people aged 18-24 voted
in the last election. This was due in
part to apathy, disgust, and in part to voter suppression.
·
In 2011 246 out of 308 ridings had inappropriate
Robocalls.
The proposed “Fair Elections Act” could muzzle the
Chief Electoral Officer and remove his or her ability to increase voter
turnout. It would prevent Canadians from
vouching for their fellow citizens at polling stations (120,000 Canadians were
able to vote after being vouched for in 2011.)
“The crisis in
Canadian democracy is not that Canadians are voting more than once. It is that they are voting less than once.”
Elizabeth May – Green
Party of Canada.
The proposed “Fair Elections Act” is far From Fair
The Act would allow unelected
Senators to veto any new democratic reforms, such as on-line voting.
It would increase the maximum donation amount from $1200 to
$1500. Currently Conservative supporters
make twice as many maximum donations as supporters of all other parties
combined. Which party stands to benefit the most?
Conservatives are Rushing to
Pass the Bill.
The last major Elections Act spent 49 days being
discussed in the House before passing second reading. This one has spent just 4 days being discussed in the House.
It’s time to demand true democracy in Canada.
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