January 2007 Archives
5 entries filed this month:
When Stephen Harper and his crew tell Canadians that they are the greenest folks around, check behind their back for crossed fingers. Harper has embarked on an ambitious sales campaign to buff up his own sorry historical record, and tear down everyone elses, in the hopes that Canadians will be worn down and unable to think for themselves.
Don’t fall for it. The current incarnation of “conservatives” is the least environmentally friendly group of politicians (Gordon Campbell’s “liberals” rate a close second) that this country has ever seen.
We (the Campaign to De-Elect David Emerson and Real Democracy) have been demanding that Emerson resign and run in this riding.
Under pressure, Emerson said to the national media that yes indeed, he would run, in Vancouver—Kingsway, in the next general election. Stephen Harper also quipped that Emerson’s constituents would have the opportunity to pass judgement on the man and his decisions in the next election.
Will Emerson be too chicken to run? Or will Harper be too chicken to let him run?
Its almost one year since the last federal election where 46,168 residents here in Vancouver—Kingsway voted and sent David Emerson to Ottawa, as a Liberal, to represent our riding as a member of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in the House of Commons.
Its almost one year since we learned that Emerson was in secret negotiations with Stephen Harper and his representatives, less than 24 hours after the last ballot had been counted, to ignore our votes and become an insta-Conservative and sit in Harper’s cabinet.
Riding residents and people from all over the province and country rose up as one to protest Emerson’s duplicity and Harper’s attack on democracy. The fight is far from over.
Here in the riding on Saturday February 3rd at the Cambrian Hall (17th 1 block east of Main) we are going to celebrate our successes, have fun, re-energize and re-connect with people, and keep the democratic spirit alive.
Kids under 12 are free, advance tickets are $10 (call (604–322-4957), and a limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $12. Live music, a DJ with great tunes, food and refreshments – everyone is welcome.
Details: Dance for Democracy. This event is being organized by the hard working all-volunteer citizen advocacy group Real Democracy – come out and support them!
Help yourself to the images.
On Friday January 5, 2007, Mississauga—Streetsville M.P. Wajid Khan flips the bird to his constituents, 45% of home believed they sent a member which supported the Liberal Party aims and goals. “Just kidding, kept you fooled”, we imagine Khan saying to no-one in particular.
One year earlier, on January 23rd, 2006, voters sent Liberal cabinet minister David Emerson back to Ottawa to represent Vancouver—Kingsway from the Opposition benches, expecting Emerson to live up to his election-eve promise to be Stephen Harper’s “worst enemy”. Despite riding electors overwhelmingly rejecting the Conservatives, before the ink on the election returns was even dry, the very next morning Emerson was in secret negotiations with Stephen Harper’s Conservatives. His reward? A new cabinet position.
Vancouver—Kingsway constituents didn’t even get a t-shirt, much less a responsive member of parliament, out of the dirty deal.
These and other politicians have sold themselves during elections as standing for a set of policies and principles when in reality we’ve seen them deliver completely contradictory performances. The jaded will sigh and exclaim “its just business as usual”, but in reality we’ve been witnessing an escalation of the devaluation of the very meaning of our vote and democracy. Thankfully many Canadians were shaken from their slumber and are awake to the danger confronting our society.
The public reaction to the Emerson Affair proved that apathy no longer rules; that people will demand more than pithy promises and loose moral performances from their politicians. Just wait until the next election when voters across the country are reminded just how little some political leaders value their votes. After all, Stephen Harper has proven twice now in one parliament that if you don’t vote for him, Harper will not think twice about stealing your vote.
Its time to get tough on such crimes and put Harper behind bars.
Figuratively speaking there of course—a permanent electoral timeout will suffice.
Busy day. Lots of plans to make, schemes to devise, people to rally.
Mississauga—Streetsville Member of Parliament Wajid Khan, twice elected as a Liberal, in a riding and region which hasn’t sent a “conservative” to Ottawa since 1988, decided today that he wanted to sit on the Conservative government side of the house. Pure, vile, rank, opportunism.
His constituents had absolutely no say in the matter.
That isn’t Real Democracy.
If you believe that a member of parliament ought to have a legitimate mandate from electors and if you further believe that switching parties (and therefore changing policies and priorities) ought to be reason enough for an MP to resign and run in a by-election, then head off and sign this petition: M.P. Wajid Khan Resign Petition right now, and stay tuned for much more.
Khan pulled an Emerson. Harper no doubt believes that the public isn’t as interested in Khan, a relatively minor figure, as they were with Emerson. The Conservative spin will paint this as somehow different, which will only be useful to those of us on the side of democracy who can use such lame tactics to prove that Harper just doesn’t get it.
And if Bob Klager, senior communications strategist responsible for hapless Conservative cabinet ministers, is still reading this… just wait Bob, we have some fun stuff planned for Emerson, Fortier, and now Khan… real soon now.