There is a lot of rhetoric going around in the current BCTF/BC Liberal Government battle over teachers contracts. To set a context; BC teachers have been without a contract since last January and have, since September, been working using limited job action (filling out report cards and supervising recess) but
Continue readingAuthor: Ryan Painter
Mulcair or Dewar: My Brain or My Heart
The Federal New Democratic Party leadership race has entered it’s final weeks and I’m completely torn. Let me start off by saying that Thomas Mulcair has been floating back and forth between my first, and second, choice for a while now. It’s true, I’ve come out full force in support
Continue readingIt’s #ndpldr Voting Time
Starting today members of the NDP (New Democratic Party) will start to receive their voting information in the mail. Members can choose to vote immediately upon receiving their information. Below are the details on how to vote as released from Leadership 2012 How To Vote There are four ways you can vote for the next
Continue readingUpdate-Odd Happenings in Mont-Royal (Investigation Edition)
This is an update to my first post on the Irwin Cotler affair wherein misleading calls were made to his constituents telling them he was resigning. You can find a detailed article on the story here. An update today from CBC reports that Campaign Research, the firm that conducted the
Continue readingEnough Scandals to Make Sponsorship Perps Blush
A great read from Lawrence Martin today, c/o the Tyee and iPolitics. Also this very funny cartoon: The Tyee – The Tories’ Dirty Tricks Catalogue. Filed under: Progressives Tagged: Harper, Lawrence Martin, Robocalls
Continue readingDean Del Mastro Has a Sudden Case of Memory
The Robocall controversy that been front and center for the last few news cycles has been interesting to say the least. We now have about forty to fifty ridings that the NDP and Liberals have claimed were targeted by fake Elections Canada Robocalls, directing voters to the wrong pooling station. As well,
Continue readingThis Just in: Conservative Government Votes No-Confidence in Elections Canada
Thanks to Glen McGregor of the Ottawa Citizen I made my way to this article, which seems to be an editorial. It’s amazing that the Conservatives show complete contempt for this body, the very body that oversees elections in our country. I probably shouldn’t be too surprised though, since it
Continue readingWhen Dealing With Harper, It’s About Tone
Over the years many on the political left in Canada have been quick to demonize Harper as “the devil” or “out to destroy Canada”. Demonizing Harper is one sure-fire way to do several things A)Work to his advantage because he can easily say the opposition are emotional and over sensitive
Continue readingRPS Podcast: Privacy and Surveillance, The Vikileaks Edition
My new podcast is up. You can listen to it here. Enjoy Filed under: Harper Government, Harper Majority, Progressives Tagged: Ethics, OpenMedia.ca, Privacy, Surveillance, Vic Toews, Vikileaks
Continue readingOpenmedia.ca Video on (Un)Lawful Access
An excellent video (special thanks to The Tyee where I found this video) with experts in the field of privacy, ethics, surveillance and technology. Enjoy Filed under: Harper Government, Progressives Tagged: Bill C-30, Privacy, privacy ethics, Vic Toews, Vikileaks
Continue readingVikileaks is Vic-ciously Ironic
A new twitter account popped up today that lit a real fire over Canadians citizens private information and how it’s dealt with. After introducing bill C-30, which many have called Canada’s answer to SOPA/PIPA, the new twitter account has published some pretty scandalous information regarding the private life (but for
Continue readingMurray Dobbin Repost: Bow Down Canadians, Corporations Are King
Two recent stories out of Ottawa underline the ongoing political and economic assault on ordinary Canadians. More Canadians are now working for low wages than at any time in decades, continuing a trend that began in the early 1990s, and Stephen Harper has announced major changes to retirement benefits — including delaying Old
Continue readingChristopher Evans Get’s No Sympathy from Me
If you haven’t heard about Christopher Evans and his ridiculous lawsuit against the VPD, he’s this guy: Nice guy eh? According to Evans he was frustrated after four buses passed him over and took his anger and frustration out on the door/window of the bus and was verbally abusive to the bus driver (who
Continue readingEver Wonder How Sweden and Norway Became the Comparison?
As a social advocate I’m constantly referencing how egalitarian and supportive Scandinavian governments are. Sure taxes are high, but there are high levels of unionization and the population always rates high in OECD and happiness rankings. I use them as examples but never really stopped to think just HOW these
Continue readingVernon Morning Star – Service loss silences mom and daughter
This is such a sad story from my community back home and I just had to share it. A woman who is deaf and her mother who is blind were relying on a trial run of VRS (video relay system) to communicate. This was introduced by the CRTC (Canadian-Radio Television
Continue readingHow’s That Finger in the Eye Taste, Harper
I expect I’m likely going to be eaten alive by this post. I’ll pass you the dipping sauce for ease of consumption Brad Trost, the Conservatiave MP from Saskatchewan, has made himself out to be a martyr for democracy. His leader and Prime Minister Stephen Harper has stated repeatedly that he will
Continue readingMy, Ahem, OFFICIAL Official Endorsement for #NDPLDR
Well, that time has come. After watching the debates in Halifax tonight, going over the platforms and consulting various tweeps and others within the NDP I made my decision. For the 2012 Leadership Convention of the NDP, to be held March 24th, I will be voting for Member of Parliament
Continue readingBack From Vacation, Back to Work
Hi all. Just a quick entry to let everyone know that I’m back home in China from my ten day vacation in Chiang Mai Thailand. Not a moment too soon either. Lots has been going on that I plan to comment on in the coming week. Parliament is coming back
Continue readingExit Stage Left
So yesterday I officially withdrew my support of Peggy Nash as leader of the NDP. My reasons are as follows: I felt she was weak on policy. I was not impressed with the lack of raw numbers in her policy statements. After some consideration I feel that she represents the
Continue readingPeggy Nash unveils plan to make Canada a global leader in innovation.
Peggy Nash, my choice for leader of the New Democratic party, released her place to return Canada to the head of the pack as a global leader in innovation. Filed under: NDP, New Democratic Party Tagged: #ndpldr, Peggy Nash
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