Category Archives: The Issues

Consider, Federal, Issues

Sue the Fedeal Government and Elections Canada?

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I was speaking with two homeless gentlemen who had just been order to move their tent from the location on Gladys Avenue where they had erected it.

The discussion concerned their right to camp there in light of last weeks follow up court ruling that Victoria’s recently enacted bylaw (enacted after the original BC Supreme Court ruling that the homeless had a right to camp on city property when the city had failed to provide alternative housing choices) that required the homeless to take down their tents and camps every morning.

The new ruling confirmed that the homeless have the right to camp undisturbed in BC cities where sufficient housing alternatives are not available.

I pointed out that with the City of Abbotsford choosing to deny them their legal right to camp what was required was for them to take Abbotsford to court as had been done in Victoria.

Further discussion lead to me conceding that the costs involved were a barrier; but it was a barrier all non-wealthy citizens of BC faced whether they were homeless or were, at least for the moment, housed. As the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada noted in her recent BC speech.

The conversation lead to me pointing out that if I wished to assert my right to be a candidate in the next federal election, a right protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms but currently denied to me, I would need to sue the Government of Canada and Elections Canada.

Which lead to the explanation that while Elections Canada on their own website acknowledges that “The right to be a candidate in a federal election is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and that unless specifically declared to be ineligible under section 65 of the Canada Elections Act any person qualified as an elector may run for election”, they proceed to deny me the right to seek election to Parliament.

That the requirement “At the same time as the witness files the nomination paper and other documents with the returning officer, he or she must submit a deposit of $1,000 in Canadian funds…” denies me my right to seek office.

With the financial reality of my life the required $1,000 deposit denies me (and a growing number of other Canadians) my right to seek election to Parliament.

As a result of this entire conversation I find myself beginning the process of seeking a Supreme Court of Canada injunction preventing Elections Canada and the Canadian Government from holding an election with rules that deny me my right as a Canadian citizen to seek election to Parliament.

Leaving me to seek advice, ideas as well as legal representation that fits within my financial resources and budget of – $0.

I never said that asserting ones rights when one is not wealthy would be easy, just that it was possible to sue the government and assert one’s rights.

Indubitably the injunction would spare us another immediate federal election.

Municipal

Is not Listening contagious?

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Listen: to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing;

Mayor Peary’s recent comments on the budget have once again demonstrated city hall’s need for a dictionary. As the above definition makes clear, listening involves paying close attention in order to hear what was actually being said.

My fellow citizens of Abbotsford need to look around their homes for any dictionary or dictionaries they can spare and deliver the dictionary (ies) to Mayor Peary at city hall. Thereby delivering the message that city hall needs to listen to citizens.

Considering that a local paper also reported that the Ratepayers Association suggested scrapping the parks, recreation and culture department it appears that listening problems are contagious for anyone spending to much time at city hall.

Those present at the Ratepayers Association’s presentation having active listening skills were no doubt as astonished as me to hear claims that the Ratepayers had suggested abolishing parks, recreation and culture.

The failure to listen to or to consider ideas and suggestions they do not want to hear obviously remains a problem at city hall.

As to the departments that the Ratepayers did suggest cutting, social planning and economic development, and the mayor’s statement “These fellas have never been in to see what goes on in these departments.” This statement is true of almost every citizen of Abbotsford. Rather than a dismissive ‘I know best’ statement the mayor should have provided evidence of the accomplishments of these departments that demonstrate their value and effectiveness to the citizens of Abbotsford.

I know the personnel in the social planning department, considering them highly competent and professional. Unfortunately they face the barrier presented by city council and its lack of listening skills.

Mayor Peary’s dismissive entertainment and sports centre comment: “You don’t build a $65 million project and then mothball it” underscores that an important component of listening is to actually think about what has been said.

Responsible government will ‘build a $65 million project and then mothball it’ if that is the responsible action to take. Indeed other jurisdictions have built expensive facilities and mothballed them until they had the funds to open and operate them.

What the ratepayers called upon city council to do, and I have previously called upon city council to do, is to not open the entertainment and sports centre at this time of economic recession when the city cannot afford to squander the funds needed to cover the negative cash flow that will result from opening the centre.

To quote the ratepayers “These losses have been illustrated on multiple occasions at other facilities of the same size. We would be happy to provide City staff and Council with our research in this area.

So, until a business plan showing verifiable revenue projections and operational costs can be produced… we suggest that the new Entertainment complex remain dark.”

Which would seem to this taxpayer to be advice to be listened to and considered, not dismissively pooh-poohed?

Federal

More Conservative attack ads – NOW?

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It is January 26th and earlier today Canadians heard an insipid and uninspired throne speech as parliament returned to sitting after Stephen Harper’s behaviour and attitude united the opposition parties against him.

One would have thought/hoped that Stephen Harper would have learned something during his mad scramble to hold onto power by proroguing Parliament. Unfortunately Mr. Harper gives every evidence of continuing to believe that being elected Prime Minister, even with a minority, grants him the right to rule with the Divine Right of Kings and impose whatever whim takes his fancy on Canadians.

Lamentably it sounds as if Stephen Harper has learned nothing. Worse it is clear that not only has Harper not listened to Canadians but he does not understand Canada or the economic realities the majority of Canadians face.

Parliament has just returned to sitting; Stephen Harper heads a minority government; Canada is facing economic turmoil – perhaps even crisis; Canada and Canadians need a budget to address the economy and what is Stephen Harpers’s response?

Attack ads. At a time when cooperation and compromise are crucial to the economic health of the country Stephen Harper is playing political games and launching Conservative attack ads.

One has no way of knowing if this is a result of Stephen Harper being so egocentric that he cannot or will not hear what others and Canadians are telling him or whether Harper is incapable of paying attention to the needs of any other Canadian(s) but his own.

Which would be good news if, as these attack ads seem to suggest, Stephen Harper is so egomaniacal as to be willing to ignore the expressed wishes of Canadians and the economic welfare of Canada in order to provoke an election in hopes of achieving the majority government he lusts after.

Whatever the reason, these attack ads make clear that Canadians do need to speak with their MPs – their Conservative MPs.

We need to tell our Conservative MPs to stop pandering and knuckling under to Stephen Harper. It is past time that they started acting in the best interests of their constituents, Canadians and Canada.

The Conservative caucus needs to replace Stephen Harper with a leader strong enough to compromise and cooperate; a leader more concerned about Canada and Canadians that himself and his Divine Right to Rule.