Grassroots movement to defend democracy against Harper building fast

Am I the only one who saw Stephen Harper's nose grow on the National last night? As he responded to Peter Mansbridge's question about how he had changed, he said that partisanship was now really the terrain of the Opposition. Perhaps he hadn't consulted with his old pal Tom Flanagan who explained in today's Globe in a piece called Polarization, Ad Hoc Alliances and Fear of Election [3] how completely partisan Harper's strategy is. Harper is in perpetual campaign mode, says Flanagan. Maybe this time, Harper has outsmarted himself.

Growing public opposition to Harper shutting down Parliament is being felt at every level of Canadian society. Whatever you are doing, whatever your issue, however cynical you may be about electoral politics, please join this profound grassroots rebellion against Stephen Harper's assault on democracy. If Harper behaves in such a highhanded way in minority, closing Parliament whenever he is worried about losing the so-called confidence of the House, attacking anyone who disagrees with him with all the power he has -- from cutting off funding, to attack ads, to firing civil servants -- what's he going to do with a majority?

The Facebook groups [4]opposing the proroguing have well over 85,000 members now, and there are rallies [5] being planned across the country for Jan 23. If you are not on Facebook you can go to Citizens for Democracy [6] and see all the events as well as several videos, and sign a petition too. A la 350.org, if your town is not included on the growing list of rallies then add it and let the organizers know by posting it on one of their pages. In the meantime, or if rallies are not your thing, write your MP or vote in one of the many online media polls about the questions, all of which so far are running at least 8 to 1 against proroguing.

This is a truly grassroots uprising. In an article entitled "Grassroots fury greets shuttered Parliament [7]" Susan Delacourt finds that an Anthropology student at University of Alberta who does not see himself as an activist started the Facebook page, and similarly, students at campuses across the country are taking up the call for the rallies. I am hoping that unions, ENGOs and other organzed groups with staff will come out to the organizing meetings and provide support to this grassroots leadership organizing under the slogan, "Get back to work!"

But it isn't just a grass roots rebellion -- the media has turned against Harper on this too. The Globe ran a full page editorial against proroguing. The Toronto Star is on what looks like a campaign against it. And columnists and op-ed writers are filling up pages with denunciations of Harper's varous assaults on democracy. Rick Mercer is up to his old brilliance with a rant [8] also published in the Globe and Mail that includes, "This prime minister has gone from the promise of an open, accessible and accountable government to a government that is simply closed."

The Opposition parties are also angry of course, but the Liberals have announced that they will go back to Parliament as scheduled on Jan 25. Continued organizing might convince them and the NDP to enter the Parliament buildings and insist on being seated.

In some ways, this is like the grassroots opposition to Elizabeth May's initial exclusion from the Leader's debate last year, and the brief but powerful grassroots organizing that supported the coalition attempt, but it seems to be much broader and more powerful. What's more, it has media support, which is rare for any grassroots opposition to anything these days.

Given the weakness of the opposition, this is our best chance to deal the Tories a body blow, and let them and every other government know that Canadians will not sit still and watch the erosion of our democracy.

Comments

Submitted by M. Spector on January 8, 2010 - 8:46pm.

Funny how "defending Parliament" is deemed synonymous with "defending democracy", considering that Canada's Parliament is profoundly undemocratic...

Submitted by skepticanuck on January 8, 2010 - 1:34am.

The ugly truth is that it is not only the avoidance of parliament to produce the documents,

It is not only the avoidance of committee and perliamentary scrutiny.

It is more than the fact that the consevatives are doing the budget and other government

business with out any parliamenatry scrutiny. It is more than the attack on the senate,

and the parliament(bodies which though maligned,have done a very good job of sustaining

Canada itself). It is more than the contempt harper is showing toward the very institution of

democracy. It is more than the arrogant disregard,and contempt for the people of Canada.

It is more than the act of treason that started all of this (Cadman affair). It is more than

the colosal fossil, It is more than torture, or renditions. It is more than a contempt of law.

It is more than the fact that every one of his "fabled" beliefs are all broken. It is more than

the election spending games. It is more than the attack on unions,and fair wages. It is more

than watching over the end of Canadian manufacturing. It is more than isotopes. It is about

more than patronage ( 5 new rush limbaugh's coming to the senate). It is more than an end

to an independant court. It is more than an attack of civil liberty. It is more than Canada's

position in the world is vanishing...
Unless you want King harper, This governmemt, is an attack on the very things that make

Canada, Canada

Submitted by alan smithee on January 8, 2010 - 5:03pm.

Just a few things to point out about the Harper regime.

Is it just me or does the Reform Party have a majority government? It's incredibly disturbing that a minority government is so capable of what these people are doing to this country.It's unprecedented and the thought of this regime with a majority is terrifying.

Being from Quebec,I've been checking the official Bloc Quebecois blog and when staunch sovereignists are outraged by a federal governement they perceive as spitting on the institutions and values of Canadians,you know that this regime is out of control and so far to the right that sovereignists are very,very concerned.I can't tell you how many times the Harper regime is compared with the old Bush administration,there is a collective concern that Canada will soon give up its own sovereignty and become the 51st American state.

Besides proroguing government without just cause,here's a few disturbing facts about the Reform Party.

1 - Whether you think this is a 'Cheech & Chong' issue or not,the fact that the senate is delaying the Tories crime bill is not because the majority Liberal senate is pro-crime. It's because there are previsions in this bill that go way too far.The anti-drug legislation will see potheads subject to prison only a few years after a senate committee headed by Tory senator Pierre-Claude Nolin recommended cannabis prohibition must be scrapped.Does anyone else remember that cannabis was to be decriminalized in 2003? Ask your average Canadian if people caught with small amounts of marijuana should be thrown in jail. Canadians are a little too intelligent than to support such legislation.

2 - Cutting off funding and labeling groups which support the plight of the Palestinian people or recognize the ongoing apartheid in Israel as antisemitic terrorist supporters is very disturbing.Why is the Reform Party pandering to the ultra-right wing current Israeli state?Really,I don't understand,what is their motivation? So Canada can have the same unconditional relationship with Israel that the U.S. has? So Canada can become a regular target to extremists who'd want to kill Canadians just as much as Americans? Remember,it's the U.S.'s relationship with Israel that has groups wanting to blow them up....I believe that's the main issue with extremists.

3 - The Promise Keepers.This aspect of the Reform Party is very,very disturbing.A majority Reform Party government would turn our institutions over to the religious right.All we as Canadians have to do is take a look at our American neighbours and all the BS that has surfaced since the religious right got power in January 1981.Do Canadians really want that?

4 - $6.3M of tax payer money spent on a smear campaign against the Liberals labeling the party anti-semitic terrorist sympathizers.That,my freinds,is absolutely appallingly disgusting greasy partisan politics at its worst.

What happened to the progressive,tolerant,peaceful,empathetic secular Canada that existed just a few short years ago? Have Canadians changed or has our government unilaterally flushed those values down the toilet and spinned the overhaul as a move to cut our taxes?What price do you put on your freedom? Judging by the tax cuts,about $10 a month.

Submitted by M. Spector on January 8, 2010 - 8:44pm.

alan smithee wrote:

What happened to the progressive, tolerant, peaceful, empathetic secular Canada that existed just a few short years ago?

Um, how many years ago exactly was that, alan?

Submitted by alan smithee on January 8, 2010 - 9:07pm.

I think Canada was progressive in 1968 through to 1988...The Mulroney conservatives took a strong turn to the right to appease Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagen/King George I and that ultimately started the downfall of the Tories which ended with a decimated PC party with only 2 seats in Parliament in 1993.

Canada was progressive during the Chretien years,like him or not,and Canada has never been as socially conservative as we are now.We have always been much more progressive than the United States and if you doubt that ask yourself when the last time an abortion clinic got bombed in Canada or when someone was sentenced to jail for possession of small quantities of drugs or take a look at our health care system and our tradition of social justice.I believe that the Canadian government was always much more open to the science of stem cells and has always governed with purely secular policies.

Whether you like it or not,Canada had a reputation in the global community of a progressive,peace loving democracy that was inclusionary and just.

sorry to inform you that that reputation is gone....perhaps you're happy...many people are not.

Submitted by M. Spector on January 9, 2010 - 2:29am.

Yes, I'm happy that reputation is gone - based as it was on lies and myths.

Between 1968 and 1988 you obviously weren't poor, or First Nations, or female, or gay, or black, or disabled. You obviously also completely missed out on the anti-war movement that exposed Canada's cynical complicity in the war on Vietnam. Nor were you around in 1970 when the War Measures Act was used to suspend civil liberties in Canada and arrest and detain, without trial or even bail, some 497 people.

Submitted by alan smithee on January 9, 2010 - 10:34am.

Who says I don't remember the War Measures Act of 1970? Who says I'm unaware of the near genocide of the First Nations people?(Although most of that oppression was done generations ago)...And on topic of Natives,the Northern communities are living in near third world squalor..so am I aware? Of course I am. Was I poor between 1968 and 1988...unlike our neighbours to the south,as of today we still have social programs..The level of poverty in Canada,although very evident in our cities in particular,is not in dire straits like the U.S. Why do you think there are neighbourhoods in the U.S. that are veritable war zones? The American policy on poverty is more cops,more laws and more jails...We're not there....YET.But I'll also admit that social programs vary from province to province so it's not equal.

Vietnam...didn't know Canada was involved...When did Canada have a draft again? It certainly wasn't the Vietnam sham...uh,I mean war.Why do you think Americans were running to Canada for asylum? And guess what? They were given asylum by Canada...Yeah,pretty cynical.

Being gay in Canada....again,compared to our neighbours to the south,we are VERY tolerant and I don't see things like gay marriage as being a huge controversy as it is in the States.

And,as of today,unlike our neighbours,a woman's choice is protected...again with very little controversy---unlike the U.S.

Where did black slaves escape to back in the days of slavery? Yes,Canada is not immune to racism but Canada has traditionally been racist towards Natives and the Chinese.I could go on about this subject but I'd have to write a book....I'll spare everyone from that.

The War Measures Act was Trudeau's black eye...That was a disgusting page out of our history...I won't deny it.BUT what if the FLQ was active today?How do you suppose the Reform Party would respond to domestic terrorism?

As of today,we have it SO much better than the U.S. but not as good as our European brothers and sisters.The Reform Party wants us to become a mirror image of the U.S. Personally,I'd rather die than be American...I don't hate Americans,I despise their government...their system and policies.Canadians who want an American system with American policies should do themselves and this country a great service and pack up and move to the U.S.

I,speaking for myself,like progression over regression.I think Canada needs an official Progressist Party.It seems the Harper regime is working hard to divide Canadians and dig a trench between the progressives and the moderates in an attempt to change Canadian political opinion and will. I will fight that any which way I can.

Submitted by M. Spector on January 9, 2010 - 12:16pm.

Smug white middle-class males make excuses for the racism, sexism, and imperialism of Canada's past. And they'll be doing the same for Harper's regime in twenty years' time.

I guess that counts for being "progressive" in Canada.

Submitted by Miss Ann Thrope on January 9, 2010 - 2:01pm.

GREAT comments alan smithee (and i love your filmwork too *wink*)

Mind if I quote some of your posts on other forums? :)

Submitted by alan smithee on January 9, 2010 - 3:58pm.

Thank you Miss Ann Thorpe and by all means feel free to do so.

M.Spector...I have to laugh.Who's making excuses? Nobody is going to deny the near genocide of the Native people.Nobody is going to deny residential schools either.Those are 2 ugly stains on Canadian history but Canada has progressed immensely since then.In the history of the world,alot of travesties have been committed but most have been corrected.Are you still going to consider Germans public enemy #1? Something ugly happened 70 years ago due largely through the veil of nationalism and a constant,unrelenting propaganda from all German media.(Sound familiar,Faux News?)Germany has come a long way from its past and although you can't ignore or forget the past,you have to move forward and the days of conquest in Canada is long over.So there's no excuses or denials,you can only move on and improve relations with those you've done wrong to in the past.

Again,sexism...I'm not clear at what you're referring to.How long have women had the right to vote?You're going to tell me that it's only been 20 years? Please,give me an example of Canadian 'sexism'. BTW,are you aware that there are senators in U.S. congress that are against women having equal pay to their male counterparts? Did you know that there are senators(they're all Republican by the way)that voted against a bill that would put an end to corporations such as Haliburton protecting male employees in cases of rape? Think I'm making it up? Google Al Franken's proposed bill. Again,you want to talk about sexism,google what the Promise Keepers are all about and their 18th century view of women's rights. Oh and what party are the Promise Keepers members of? I'll give you a hint...it's NOT the opposition.

As for imperialism...what do you think is going on in the world today? The Roman Empire died and so did the British Empire...Who are the imperialists today? And Canada was NEVER imperialist because Canada was never an empire.I'm not a monarchist in the least but if we were to change our currency's figurehead from that of the Queen,what or who would we replace her with? Mulroney's mug? Plus,I don't mind that our British past and roots are on our currency. It really distinguishes ourselves from the Americans. But I will admit that I'd like to maybe see Louis Riel or Tommy Douglas commemorated on our currency one day.

Don't get me wrong...I have voted Liberal in the past NOT because I think or thought that they are or were a great party but they are the lesser of 2 evils and although the Libs are not nearly as progressive as I'd like them to be,they are head and shoulders and miles and miles more progressive than the Reform Party.I'd like to see a new progressive party start in Canada but until then.....

Submitted by dwatch on January 10, 2010 - 7:08pm.

Even if Parliament opens Jan. 15, Canada's federal government will still be far from democratic.

As a result of Democracy Watch's campaigns and nation-wide coalitions, about 65 undemocratic and accountability loopholes and flaws have been closed/corrected in the federal government in the past 15 years, but see details about the 90 loopholes that still need to be closed to make the federal government democratic (and a link to an Action Alert to write a letter to federal party leaders about closing the loopholes) at:
http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/SummaryOfLoopholes.html [20]

And Harper has not eroded Canada's democracy any more than any other federal Liberal or Conservative government in the past 20 years. For example, Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien prorogued Parliament 4 times, one of which was to call a snap election when conditions were favourable for the Liberals, and another of which was to avoid the release while he was Prime Minister of the Auditor General's report on the Liberals' Adscam sponsorship scandal. Chrétien also shut down the inquiry into deaths of detainees at the hands of Canada's military in Somalia, and the inquiry into deaths of Canadians because of tainted blood.

For a comprehensive, detailed report card on what Harper has actually done, and not done, in the area of democratic reform, good government and government accountability, go to:
http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/RelsDec1609.html [21]

And to see a comprehensive, detailed report card on what all the federal parties promised in this area in the 2008 election, go to:
http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/RelsOct1008.html [22]

So while the arbitrary prorogation of Parliament may be the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back" -- the lightning rod that provoked voters' anger at the Harper Conservatives, it is very likely not the real source of the anger (secrecy, lack of action on climate change and other environmental protection issues, the dedication to the war in Afghanistan, lack of action on gouging by banks and other big businesses, patronage and cronyism in Cabinet appointments are likely more important issues to most voters).

And again, opening Parliament on Jan. 25 (which is all the movement is calling for) will not make Canada a democracy.

Hope this helps.

Duff Conacher, Coordinator
Democracy Watch

P.O. Box 821, Stn. B
Ottawa, Canada
K1P 5P9
Tel: (613) 241-5179
Fax: (613) 241-4758
Email: dwatch@web.net [23]
Internet: http://www.dwatch.ca [24]

Since 1993, making governments and corporations more accountable to you, and changing Canada into the world's leading democracy