Every so often I have to clear out my browser tabs, or the whole thing bogs down. Most of them are about federally based stories today, which is just as well – on a long weekend, local stories tend to dry up (except, in this case, for the one big ongoing story).
Excellent piece in the Globe about federal Bill C-38 and the slow death of Parliament at the hands of the Harper Tories. It’s brief, it’s cogent, and you should read it.
Canada used to have a terrific, world-class freshwater research station on a lake system in northwestern Ontario. It ran for 40 years and produced key studies about acid rain, the effects of phosphates on ecosystems and other pieces of ecological knowledge important not just in Canada but to the world’s aggregate knowledge of how freshwater lakes work.
Not any more. Tories have closed it down.
Last week, a United Nations Special Rapporteur came to Canada and pointed out that although we’re a relatively affluent country, “one in ten families with a child under six is unable to meet their daily food needs.” UN guy Olivier de Schutter suggested Canada might consider a national food strategy. Jason Kenney blew him off.
The retirement of Madam Justice Marie Deschamps from the Supreme Court will leave another seat open for a Tory appointment. Keep an eye on that space.
What? 01:32 on 2012/05/21 Permalink
I don’t want to be that guy that shares stories, but tonight bothered me.
I was there at the beginning, and from their speaker van the police told us we were allowed to be protesting if we stay peaceful. They told us if its declared illegal, we have to leave.
So we march for 30-some minutes. I was close to the front. Out of nowhere, the police roll up and make the first, fresh announcement that it has been declared illegal. It was drowned out in boos, but they let off their warning firework as soon as they announced it.
But instead of giving anyone any time to leave, I kid you not that we didn’t have 60 seconds before a flash bond was shot right at us. And we were cornered from either 2 or 3 sides of the intersection, so we had no time to run.
Now I don’t get mad when police do police things, and if it was illegal then so be it. But we didn’t have even 60 seconds. And we had nowhere to go. I was going to leave. Instead it went off so close to me I had black powder on the hand I used to cover my face. How am I supposed to protest ‘legally’ if the switch to ‘illegal’ only permits less than a minute for me to trample and claw my way out of a narrow street?
And I’ll say again. This is not your typical ‘we were being peaceful’ nonsense. Its that until that very moment we were still declared legal. And at the FIRST declaration illegality, we weren’t given even the slightest chance to obey the law and walk away.
Hamza 04:28 on 2012/05/21 Permalink
I sincerely but naively hope that those who drafted and voted for this disgusting travesty of a law are one day prosecuted for enacting it. Charest has now joined the likes of Bull Connor and Hosni Mubarak in the history books. Well done mon premier.
paul 08:46 on 2012/05/21 Permalink
Bull Connor: enforced racial segregation and denied civil rights to African American citizens
Hosni Mubarak: 30+ years as dictator, currently facing charges of premeditated murder of peaceful protestors
Jean Charest: has required protestors to give their protest route in advance and refrain from blocking others’ access to school or risk facing major fines – over a tuition increases of $250 over seven years
I can see how you could make the comparisson between the 3 men without hyperbole. Hopefully we can overcome this unjust oppression on our basic human rights.
Raoul 08:47 on 2012/05/21 Permalink
I saw the whole thing on CUTV, including the CUTV team getting attacked more than once (though their commentary was annoying as fuck, reporters report, they dont become players).
I might have disagreed with the students, but i have no love for the cops this morning, and its gone way beyond tuition at this point. This will either end with an election or the army.
I dont like the PQ but they have my vote, anythings’ better than a mafiocracy.
paul 08:53 on 2012/05/21 Permalink
I agree Raoul, I am leaning towards the army – but wonder whether an election or the army would bring any lasting resolution.
Its funny how this situation has driven people to political parties they would otherwise have never supported; I know many who have now latched on to the Liberals for the same reasons who had no intention of voting for them before.
A side question to anyone in the know:
-what happens to those arrested during the protest? are they cuffed, processed and fined? do they face criminal charges or just monetary fines? also, what are the reprocussions for refusing to pay the fines??
Thanks
Raoul 09:02 on 2012/05/21 Permalink
The political enforcers said they would hold anyone they arrest over the weekend. Weather we believe them any more than our politicians is another question.
qatzelok 09:04 on 2012/05/21 Permalink
@ paul: “I know many who have now latched on to the Liberals for the same reasons who had no intention of voting for them before. ”
Who were these neo-Liberals voting for before? The klan?
Raoul 09:15 on 2012/05/21 Permalink
I dont understand why anyone would latch on to the liberals this point – they can’t negotiate, they cant restore the peace, they avoid all accountability and transparency though they expect it from student leaders. Hypocrisy is hardly surprising, were talking about a liberal PM who used to be Brian Mulroneys’ (conservative) minister of state for youth (the irony).
Hamza 09:17 on 2012/05/21 Permalink
The comparison was in regards to tactics but I can see how fascists can misunderstand that sort of thing. I’d suggest sending us all off to re-education camps but Im afraid you’d jack the rates up by 75%. Leaning towards the army indeed.
Raoul 09:33 on 2012/05/21 Permalink
I also saw some livestreams of what went on in those countries… and until we have snipers on the roofs, i think its a little disrespectful to compare both situations. Those people were fighting for the right to chose their leaders, we already know the french poodle has less than a year left.
Raoul 09:49 on 2012/05/21 Permalink
http://youtu.be/W05MoKEEYAk
Kevin 21:03 on 2012/05/21 Permalink
Don’t ever move to New York @Hamza. There you will have to tell police five whole days in advance of your protest route.