This post is based on my notes on a talk by David Heap, supplemented by graphics from David’s presentation, about his experience as part of the Canadian Boat to Gaza. To see David’s presentation in its entirety, go here. It was videoed and put online by Paul S. Graham (with
Continue readingTag: human rights
wmtc: gaza’s ark: trade, not aid, to challenge the blockade
As I mentioned, I recently had the opportunity to hear my friend and comrade David Heap speak about his experience attempting to bring supplies to the people of Gaza, as part of the Canadian Boat to Gaza. David concluded his talk with a look at a new initiative. I’ll begin
Continue readingwmtc: teen arrested for asking kenney about refugee health care cuts
Cheers for Bashir Mohamed! He interrupted a speech by Jason Kenney, trying to ask questions about refugee health care, was removed and arrested, and now he’s challenging the illustrious Minister to a debate. Video here. An Edmonton teenager was arrested Saturday after grilling federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney during his
Continue readingArt Threat: Duets for Abdelrazik help keep human rights abuses in spotlight
Sam Shalabi joins Stefan Christoff on stage at the June 16 launch of Duets for Abdelrazik. To understand the grotesque, inhuman and criminal depths to which the Canadian government will go in order to deny one of its own citizen’s legal rights, one need look no further than the case
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Bill C10: Vic Toews Met With Lobbyist for U.S. Prisons Profiteer GEO
During the heated public debates on the omnibus crime Bill C-10, Canadian progressives argued that the Harper Government’s controversial legislation was the beginning of the privatization of Canada’s prison system. Turns out that a leading U.S. prison profiteering company lobbied the federal Public Safety Minister and other Canadian officials. So
Continue readingwmtc: and the jason kenney award goes to… jason kenney
Have you all seen this petition? The Honourable [sic] Jason Kenney asks us to sign a petition thanking none other than Jason Kenney. Macleans found it amusing, and the National Post has the Twitter talk. But it took Dan Murphy, cartoonist with The Province, to really do it justice. Please
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Oh We’re Totally Post-Feminism…
I see and hear this little piece of dudely wisdom far, FAR, too often. It represents such an massive break from reality, and yet this harmful trope continues onward. The usual suspects make their appearances, privilege, misogyny the unexamined life – reasons but not excuses for not being in
Continue readingPaul S. Graham: Video: Niki Ashton – “Mr. Harper — if you’re not part of the solution, YOU are part of the problem.”
Churchill MP Niki Ashton gave an impassioned speech at the July 11th Winnipeg rally for a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women. In addition to posing the video, I’m providing a transcript because it neatly sums up this ongoing tragedy and the Harper government’s decisions that have served
Continue readingPaul S. Graham: Video: Manitoba’s Grand Chiefs demand provincial, national & international inquiries into missing & murdered women
Winnipeg: July 11, 2012: Three of the several hundred demonstrators who marched through downtown Winnipeg demanding public inquiries into the the deaths and disappearances of 600 hundred indigenous women in Canada. Photo: Paul S. Graham More than 600 indigenous women in Canada are believed to have gone missing or been
Continue readingwmtc: "dissenting doctors do canada proud" as harper and kenney follow a familiar pattern
The fightback over the Interim Federal Health Program (health coverage for refugees) is being noticed. So is the typical pattern of propaganda staged by the Harper GovernmentTM when it wants to kill another piece of what makes Canada a decent country. First, Janet Bagnall in the Montreal Gazette nails the
Continue readingwmtc: canadian health care professionals continue to speak out for refugee health care
The chorus of health care professionals publicly opposing the Harper Government’s cuts to refugee health care services is growing stronger and louder. Every major health care professional association is speaking out against the Harper-Kenney regime’s attack on refugees. The Harper government may be prepared to call every Canadian doctor, nurse,
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Enbridge executive’s company awarded first crime Bill C-10 $38.5-million prison project
Executive and company have strong and lucrative ties with the Canadian military and Harper government. Opponents of the Conservative government’s crime Bill C-10 were justified to argue that private companies would profiteer from the new jail system the legislation proposed for Canada. On Tuesday, the Canadian Press reported that a
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Bev Oda’s Sweet Double Resignation
GOOD RIDDANCE! The minister responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has resigned from both Stephen Harper’s cabinet and her elected position as Conservative MP for the Ontario riding of Durham. The controversy-plagued Oda announced her resignation this morning without giving a clear explanation. No doubt, the resignation is a
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: On Canada’s Independence Day, #DenounceHarper & #HappyCanadaDay
This is Canadian political dissent like never seen before. For two reasons. First and especially, the dissent is taking place on Canada’s Independence Day. Second, it’s directed against a prime minister supposedly elected with a majority just over a year ago, on May 2. Once again, Canadians are using the
Continue readingwmtc: jason kenney calls refugees "illegal immigrants", scolds us for caring about them
My disgust at Jason Kenney reached new heights today, and that is really saying something. It’s not enough to destroy the Federal Interim Health Program, leaving thousands of vulnerable people without health insurance in a country that claims to have universal health care. When Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews wrote a
Continue readingwmtc: homophobic much? queer man challenges blood donation law, is arrested
Someone check the calendar. What century is this again? Are queer men still denied the right and responsibility of blood donation in 2012? Do we think a response on a questionnaire is adequate protection against the HIV virus entering the blood supply? Of course not. All the damn blood has
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: Trans rights bill supporters being targeted. Also, a flag for you.
On Wednesday June 6th, Parliament voted to send Private Member’s Bill C-279: An Act to Amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code (gender identity and gender expression) to committee for review as part of its trek toward passage. I had expressed concerns at that time about some possible
Continue readingJimmy Carter, drone attacks and moral authority
Jimmy Carter was, in the opinion of this non-American, one of the better presidents the United States has had in recent history. Americans didn’t agree of course, and dumped him after one term, but his record speaks in his favour. And nowhere, does it speak more eloquently than on the
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Worst Canadian in The World: Senator Patrick Brazeau
Meet Patrick Brazeau (pictured), the sexist Canadian senator who called Ottawa-based reporter, Jennifer Ditchburn, a bitch yesterday. Her crime: she’d done her job by highlighting his poor attendance record in Canada’s appointed upper house of Parliament. He immediately issued a “reluctant” apology. Why did Brazeau call the reporter a bitch?
Continue readingwmtc: 59 cents campaign: stand up for health care for refugees
On Facebook: We at the 59 Cents Campaign find the Canadian Government’s decision to cut portions of refugee healthcare by means of the Ministerial Order of Hon. Jason Kenney, published April 25, 2012 to be unacceptable. We believe that if Canadians stop to consider the effect which these changes will
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