|
|
|
|
May, 2008 News and Opinions
Blog Posts May 31, 2008 - Canadian Freedom Watch - News and Opinions
U.S. ambassador marks NORAD anniversary in Manitoba capital
The Not Democratic Party of Manitoba
May 31, 2008 - Canadian Freedom Watch - Toronto Gun Ban
Bylaw could mean end of local shooting ranges in Toronto
Canadian Olympic pistol shooter Avianna Chao and others will be forced to go elsewhere for practice. She refers to the principle of personal responsibility for our actions: "We're talking about responsibility and whether you're a responsible person or not. Because all of these other things - cars, alcohol, kitchen knives - can do harm. It's about responsibility." It much be such an alien concept to our political masters and the control freaks who dominate acceptable opinion: Holding people responsible for their actions and not punishing those who are living productive lives when they train for sports or self-defence. I wonder if Chao's views reflect majority opinion. I'm hopeful that it's only a fascist minority that actually disagrees. I bet that a large number would actually agree with her if they had a chance to think. Almost nobody owns handguns anyway because of current restrictions, so those directly affected by this are a small number of easy targets - a minority - but their victimization by this bylaw will represent the destruction of everyone's rights and a victory for the slow and gradual approach to the destruction of gun rights by Canadian political elites. And yes, it's happening under a Conservative federal government - of course. The whole idea is to pick on law-abiding citizens - these are the easy targets and the ones who actually pay taxes and are inclined to follow the law. So those who respect the rights of others are those targeted by government. Easier to chase after the peaceful prey then hunt down fellow predators. That's the way the system works. The ability to train and fire weapons will be left in the hands of the police and military who stand by to search homes, vehicles and bank accounts whenever there is a good excuse - those who are supposed to serve the public but whose basic function is to carry out the will of the State - so similar to the street gangs they are supposedly concerned about. I mean, that must be the actual reason for these bans on the legal use of firearms. They can't stand the idea that every Canadian should have the same rights as State entities and that political institutions should not have unlimited rights to tax and oppress. Canadians should have the same rights as police and military and have the ability to resist crime or police state invasions if that ever comes about as it has in many countries. In any case, we should have the legal right as individuals to decline paying taxes for "services" that we disagree with - and the right to directly challenge all oppressive regulations and injustices that we have to deal with - but for some reason we don't have much of that. Have you noticed? But we have a lot of land management laws and "smart growth" central planning and other invasions of property rights attached to various excuses - the war on drugs, anti-smoking, environmentalism, drinking and driving - all sorts of excuses and fake causes that expose individuals to possible and inevitable State abuse and predation. Notice what kind of disgusting criminal attitudes are actually behind this: it says they are also planning to suppress free speech - the "promotion of firearm use" in city facilities - facilities paid for by our tax dollars. How far does that go? Does that mean that library books and magazines on firearms and gun rights in city libraries will have to be eliminated? And teachers and students will not be allowed to debate firearm use in city schools? Does it mean suppression of dissent in public streets and squares? Banning of certain websites on city computers? Will this ban be another possible excuse for a total crackdown on dissenting political expression in Canada? Think of all the novel complexities that come about in attempting to impose bans on freedom of expression in Canada. Think about how BLOODY SHAMEFUL AND EMBARRASSING AND DIFFICULT THAT WOULD BE FOR THE BUREACRATS attempting to impose more speech bans on Canadians. But oh no, they're not ashamed to dream it up and brag about it anyway - because they know you're not paying attention. Remaining liberties in Canada are being destroyed at all levels, but especially it appears at the local level. Total violation of charter rights and the principle of freedom of expression will now proceed. We need to oppose these types of municipal bylaws while there is still time. This proposal to destroy more liberties - by fooling people into believing they will be safer from armed criminals - is scheduled to be discussed by the Toronto executive committee on Tuesday June 3 and there will be a public meeting on September 10. By then it will be too late and the bylaw will be ready for approval. So are you a believer in personal responsibility or just another bully who supports the destruction of our freedoms? Take a side - by all means. --Alan Mercer May 29, 2008 - Canadian Freedom News and Links
Canada serious about environment, Harper tells skeptical Europe
Nothing in this article indicates that Harper advocates the restoration and protection of property rights in Canada and a common law type of approach towards pollution. Everything in this article indicates that Harper believes in continuing the state central planning of the environment and economy in Canada. Everything in this article indicates that Harper (and his boss in the U.S.administration) buy in to man-made global warming propaganda and the idea that the production of non-polluting carbon dioxide gas needs to be controlled. Harper renews ties with Sarkozy
Fighting the seal products ban is fine with me. Reducing trade barriers sounds fine (if that's what it really is rather than a push for global government). But Ukraine's defence policy is no business of the Canadian government. The purpose of Canada's defence policy should be to defend Canada, not Ukraine. It seems to me that expanding NATO to Ukraine might provoke Russia. Why would Harper want to provoke Russia? I don't think that is in the best interests of Canadians. Probably it's in the best interests of weapons manufacturers and other businesses that benefit from war. And no doubt it's an assignment from Harper's boss - the U.S. government. Just like carbon capture technology (the "war" against carbon dioxide) will benefit some companies at the expense of Canadians in general, wars against human beings will benefit weapons manufacturers and other special interests at the expense of Canadians in general. The purpose of NATO is to act as a war-making tool for the West and to provide a cover and backing for as many wars as possible. Collective "security" means "all for one and one for all" and is one of the most dangerous ideas in the world and the complete opposite of "mind your own business". Since the latter is the most sensible and politically incorrect policy, I am not allowed to mention it, because it rules out resource grabs in Africa that pose as "humanitarian" interventions. Are Canadians ever going to get a vote on whether we should be part of NATO? Will continuing membership in NATO and the expansion of NATO provoke war with the rest of the world and involve Canadians in other peoples' conflicts? Yes, I think that's the idea. Not much "security" and "defence". Why do we have to be enemies of Russia and China? And Iran? And Muslims? Give the whole thing a rest and shut down NATO. Alternatively, if NATO "expanded" (its main function apparently) to encompass every nation - and merged with a global U.N. force - then that would achieve the ultimate "one world government". In that case, all war-making would be directed towards dissenters and separatists on a global scale. I suppose that's the "ideal" for some. Surveillance, ID cards, control of speech, small arms, culture, religion, currency, trade, resources, and suppression of civil liberties. To shore up the power of those who already have power, and to finish off the individual rights of taxpayers and bring the scope of their lives within narrow boundaries determined by the latest lies about terrorist threats and global warming. When NATO reaches this point, the ruling ideology of power - "capitalism", "communism", "conservatism", "environmentalism", whatever - will have finally "won" the Cold War that NATO was created for. Hey, hmmm.. that can't be right. It sounds unlikely, but I suppose it's possible to imagine each national leader selling out their nation's sovereignty in order to cash in on that kind of global enterprise. After all, that's what the leaders of Canada and Mexico do with the Security and Prosperity Partnership - they sell out Canadian sovereignty, civil liberties and independence to U.S. sovereignty. This is one of the major flaws in the idea of the modern nation state. Our leaders know they're temporary and have no vested interest in representing the best interests of Canadians - protecting property rights and allowing us to keep what we earn. They would rather prance around the world advocating on behalf of other governments and commercial interests, and negotiating the means of our oppression. This is where we need to be creative and consider solutions such as replacing the idea of government by representatives with the idea of direct democracy where people can argue for and defend their rights directly. I would like to see a forum or "virtual parliament" where ordinary citizens can debate and decide important questions such as NATO membership. --Alan Mercer May 28, 2008 - Canadian Freedom News and Links
Provinces angry over drug rules
Challenge to B.C.'s Carbon Tax
Safe-injection site in B.C. wins court protection
May 25, 2008 - Congratulations to New Libertarian Party of Canada Leader! I want to congratulate the new Libertarian Party of Canada leader, Dennis Young of Calgary, Alberta, on his win at the convention in Edmonton. I've included some links below that give details on the results of the leadership battle between us. Congratulations also to the new Deputy Leader, Savannah Linklater, and the new Board of Directors, which includes a lot of new volunteers. Thank you to the other convention organizers and volunteers who did such a great job. The convention was very eventful and we had help from a professional parliamentarian, Dan Lynch, who presided on Sunday. I was pleased that all the guest speakers I heard had a libertarian message to deliver. It appears that attitudes have shifted due to Ron Paul's influence, so there tends to be a clearer consensus now on critical policies such as the war and civil liberties. I think the party is gearing up for an activist media approach and that's another area of consensus too where there is broad agreement about strategy. Marc Emery made his influence felt at the convention. I believe Afghanistan, the drug war and free speech will be issues in the sights of the new leader, who is a veteran of the Bosnian conflict. All of these are critical issues for the Canadian freedom movement. There was intense discussion about party direction on Saturday night and on Sunday afternoon between the two main leadership contestants, myself and Dennis. None of it really had to do with policies at all as we're both fairly "radical" to be honest with you. The proposals I introduced to amend the Statement of Principles did not succeed although they had some support. The constitution has locked them in place and requires a 7/8 vote of delegates to change. I guess I should discuss that separately. Otherwise, I think people felt the convention was productive and they enjoyed it. It was definitely a full event. I think it became very emotional for different reasons. It really felt more real to hang out with people you actually agree with on so much and meet them in person. I think the leadership debates, Q&A's, and business sessions became fairly intense as delegates definitely took an interest in what was discussed. And I like to think they got their money's worth from the event. I wish I did have a transcript of the whole event, but I believe the LPC is planning to release footage of the guest speakers in any case. I'll be helping with transition but I decided to leave managing the party to new people because it just got to be too much. The workload needs to be spread among a group of people and I think the new group is very capable of helping the Libertarian Party of Canada make progress in becoming an effective activist organization. -Alan Mercer Event coverage:
May 10, 2008 Comments to Libertarian Party of Canada Members about Leadership Contest First of all, please come out to the Freedom Fair and Convention. The Freedom Fair on May 17 in Edmonton - go to www.libertarian.ca for details - is open to the public for $10 and is a great opportunity meet other libertarians. 11 AM - 5 PM. Guests and eligible members can register for all events for $65. Bio: I have been a director since May, 2005 and president of the Libertarian Party of Canada since February, 2006. I have a regular job in the software industry as a quality assurance software analyst. I have a BSc. in Mathematics from the University of Toronto. I'm married and live in Toronto, and have run provincially and federally in Scarborough--Rouge River. I have written press statements for the Ontario Libertarian Party and the LPC and an environmental platform for the OLP, and a platform for the LPC. My talents are more with writing. I can afford to pay for myself, as much as I have been able to afford being president part-time. As leader I would be prepared to make regular appearances, even weekly, but especially to focus on press releases. But it's true that I would not be able to afford air travel and I don't believe it is productive to make long trips and take up time and resources traveling. In fact, I disagree very much with the idea of "leaders" as being symbolic of the party and I think this is a lot of authoritarian baggage that the Canadian electorate is fooled into. I think a libertarian party should be a coalition of individual activists who represent their pro-liberty causes and that's what my leadership campaign will be representing. My leadership campaign (this week - whatever time I have for it) will be about the direction of the party and how we can grow and start pushing for reforms of attitudes and institutions in our society - withdrawing consent - levelling authoritarian institutions - appealing to the public to make these reforms. The party - and especially the main body of members - should be speaking out regularly on issues. I would like the public to pay attention to the Libertarian Party because it represents some of their real concerns and issues they don't even understand yet or aren't aware of. The Libertarian Party of Canada should be a vehicle for ordinary people to help push back the power of the State. I was libertarian-inclined since I was a teenager. I was supportive of the Conservative Party and followed the conservative movement. I read Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged in the 90's and was inspired by that, and some of her other books. I was very religious but found I had to drop some of those beliefs as they were weighing down my life. I became agnostic. After Sept. 11, 2001, I was still a Bush supporter for a while and read National Review. But more and more I started detecting a lot of lies and secrecy from the U.S. government. I started hearing militaristic rhetoric and reading pro-draft articles. Fortunately, Jonah Goldberg started mentioning libertarianism in his columns and I switched over to a website called Antiwar.com where Justin Raimondo wrote up a storm of fascinating and politically incorrect material, challenging neo-conservative tenets. I read Lewrockwell.com and Joseph Schlomberg and I didn't have to be conflicted about bombing peoples' homes anymore. I knew I was against that and would never support invading other peoples' countries. And I could learn more about the history of propaganda and the secret history of modern imperialism. So I became free of all that and could think more clearly and in an open-minded way about history also. Of course I read a lot of Rothbard's articles and books and am basically inclined to his way of thinking about many things (and his ideas overlap with other writers). Life seems to be all about breaking free. And the concept of an external authority that's propped up by other people and elevated above us in order to rule over us needs to be removed. I think the party should pick the most qualified in general, and people should run themselves as leader if they believe they are more qualified. For our party, I think it's also important to reform the constitution and the Statement of Principles in order to grow. We need to allow for maximum tolerance in the party for libertarians of different views and priorities - and total decentralization. That means our members should be active making public statements that represent their beliefs and priorities and that are consistent with libertarianism, but that may conflict with statements that other groups or individuals in the party make. In every case, it helps promote the party without the forced unity that Canadian politics suffers from so much. I think it's shameful how MP's are subservient to their party leader in Canada. I think there has been a lot of tolerance from the current LP leadership, but we need to institutionalize tolerance. People do not need to agree with each other. I see the same conflicts in the U.S. LP about how LP members are embarrassed by other members' beliefs. Stop worrying so much about what others think and start arguing for your own beliefs and causes. That's how we need to promote a *libertarian party*. And that's what I mean by coalition of individuals. -Alan Mercer Libertarian Party of Canada Convention and Freedom Fair - Edmonton - May 17 - 11 AM - 5PM - Guest Speakers http://libertarian.ca/english/news/LPC_convention_agenda.html Libertarian Party of Canada 2008 Convention, Freedom Fair and Liberty Lectures Posted: May 8, 2008 Questions: info@libertarian.ca
Notify us in advance if you plan to register as an eligible voting member or guest. For details and registration fee, see http://www.libertarian.ca/english/news/convention_2008.html
Location: Holiday Inn Express, 10010 – 104 Street, Edmonton, Alberta Date: Saturday May 17 and 18, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
8:00 AM – 9:45 AM Convention Registration -- Meet & Greet Reception for registered members and guests. Holiday Inn Express, 10010 – 104 Street, Edmonton, Alberta
9:45 AM – 10:30 AM Opening remarks by LPC Leader Jean-Serge Brisson Registration issues Approval of agenda and rules Reports by LPC Officers Q&A Party business adjourns
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM Break
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Freedom Fair and Liberty Lectures Open to the public. $10 ($5 with student card)
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM "Issues in the Libertarian Movement" Panel
Michael Wagner is the author of Standing on Guard for Thee: The Past, Present, and Future of Canada's Christian Right. Michael is a freelance writer and homeschooling father with a BA (Honours) and MA in Political Science from the University of Calgary, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Alberta. He lives in Edmonton with his wife and nine children.
Paul Geddes is a leading libertarian activist and regular political candidate in British Columbia. He has been an instructor of economics at Columbia College for twenty five years. He is married with two daughters.
11:45 AM Break for lunch
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM National Security Panel
Liberty vs. Security Speaker #1 – Lorne Gunter – National Post Speaker #2 – Dr. Moin Yahya – University of Alberta
Lorne Gunter is a columnist and editorial board member at the National Post and a columnist with the Edmonton Journal. He has been a commentator on political and social issues since 1995 and has published nearly 2,000 pieces in that time. He also maintains a blog at www.nationalpost.com
An occasional panelist on the CBC's The National, Lorne is also a frequent guest on Adler Online on the Corus Radio Network. He has published essays and opinion pieces in various newspapers and magazines, including Readers' Digest, National Review, the Weekly Standard, TechCentralStation and others.
In addition to his journalism, Lorne is the past-president of Civitas – a society for conservative and libertarian academics, think-tankers, lobbyists and journalists – and a former member of the advisory board of the Canadian Constitution Foundation.
Moin A. Yahya is an assistant professor of law at the University of Alberta, where he is also the associate dean for graduate studies and the acting associate dean for research. He has a B.A. (Hons) in Economics and a M.A. in economics from the University of Alberta; a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Toronto. He has a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was the articles editor of the law review. He researches Corporate, Antitrust, Criminal, and Intellectual Property Law. Yahya is a libertarian and a director with the Canadian Constitution Foundation.
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
Speaker #1 – Peter Jaworski – Western Standard Speaker #2 – Scott Hennig – Canadian Taxpayers Federation
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM Environment Panel
Speaker #1 – Global warming politics - Prof. Jan Narveson Speaker #2 – Global warming politics - Lorne Gunter
Philosopher Jan Narveson is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. His publications include The Libertarian Idea and Respecting Persons in Theory and in Practice. In 1989 he was elected to membership in the Royal Society of Canada and in 2004 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. http://philosophy.uwaterloo.ca/people/narveson.html http://www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/~jnarveso/biographical.html
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM Justice Panel
Speaker #1 – Dr. Grant Brown – philosopher, author Speaker #2 – Marc Emery – Cannabis Culture
Grant A. Brown has a B.A. and an M.A. in philosophy from the University of Waterloo. The title of his D.Phil. thesis at Oxford University is "Functional Libertarianism." He taught at the University of Lethbridge from 1990 until 1999. He obtained his LL.B. from the University of Alberta in 2002, and since then has practiced law in Alberta. He recently quit the practice of law and is writing a book on his experiences as a family-law lawyer called Deadbeat Judges: How Courts Disenfranchise Fathers.
Marc Emery is a successful entrepreneur based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He's also an outspoken libertarian, an activist for the legalization of cannabis and the bane of law enforcement in Canada and the U.S. Emery, also known as the Prince of Pot, has earned millions over the years in his many pot-related ventures, including his website, www.emeryseeds.com, which sold 350 varieties of marijuana seeds before being shut down by the US DEA; his magazine, Cannabis Culture; his online Pot TV network and the BC Marijuana Party Bookstore in downtown Vancouver. Emery has been featured by CNN, ABC, Rolling Stone, Time, The Wall Street Journal, The National Post, The Globe and Mail, The Vancouver Sun and the Toronto Star. He currently faces extradition to the US on charges related to selling marijuana seeds. 5:00 PM End of Freedom Fair / Liberty Lectures Break for dinner
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Leadership Contestant & Member Presentations / Q&A 15 minute speeches from each candidate / 15 minutes of moderated Q&A. Also scheduled: R. Bussières, T. Audain
Sunday, May 18, 2008 Libertarian Party of Canada Business Open also to registered guests as observers.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Opening remarks by officers and all registered members as to their views and suggestions for strategy and priorities. Q&A about party structure.
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM Break
10:15 AM – 12:00 Proposed Amendments to Constitution, Statement of Principles, Bylaws
12:00 - 1:15 PM Lunch
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Proposed Amendments to Statement of Objectives
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Break
2:30 PM - 5:00 PM Nominations and elections for party offices · Party Leader (15 min limit each candidate) · Deputy Leader (15 min limit each candidate) · Board of Directors - 8 positions (5 min limit) · Ethics Committee - 9 positions (5 min limit) Concluding remarks by newly-elected Party Leader
5:00 PM – 5:15 PM Meeting of new Directors
END Lew Rockwell: What About the Children?
L. Neil Smith: Time for a Purge? The way the factions talk about each other in the U.S. LP is very troubling to me and I can't see how they can come to an understanding, especially if some of it is due to basic fear of not being accepted by society and being considered a crazy person because of so-called radicals you are associated with. "We will never win if we are seen as radical". Actually you will never appeal to anybody if you compromise your principles or fail to apply them correctly. Besides, the radicals are the ones who are most motivated and zealous. Booster seats now mandatory in New Brunswick
Parents have to spend even more money now, but they should be able to decide how to spend their own money, and may actually have more important priorities for their families. It would be strange if many families were actually able to afford booster seats. This is more interference and oppression from governments and it's nothing new, already in Ontario. Business as usual. Good for the booster seat industry too. The main hook for government tyranny continues to be exaggerated concerns about the safety and health of children just like with the plans to ban smoking in cars. None of them are going hungry? None of them are getting sick? Why don't you get out of peoples' lives and let them keep their money for their priorities? This should be left to consumers. It is also another surveillance stick to beat people over the heads with when they're pulled over. But we go along with these things like good little slaves. When we're told what to do and threatened with abuse by the government, yes, then we jump to it. "It's a good idea. I'm not doing it because I'm threatened with abuse by the government." Sure, defend it. The government doesn't abuse anybody, right? All that trained guilt is kicking in. Reach for your wallets. Privacy Violations at Border Travel group warns: Corporate data at risk from laptop searches at border
UNREPENTANT: KEVIN ANNETT AND CANADA'S GENOCIDE (documentary) Kevin Annett & The Truth Commission - www.hiddenfromhistory.org "...This documentary reveals Canada's darkest secret - the deliberate extermination of indigenous (Native American) peoples and the theft of their land under the guise of religion. This never before told history as seen through the eyes of this former minister (Kevin Annett) who blew the whistle on his own church, after he learned of thousands of murders in its Indian Residential Schools..." The documentary is very convincing and substantial. One subject discussed is the biowarfare effort involving tuberculosis and small pox. And eugenics. The motives for the government policies of removing native children from their parents and other atrocities appear to be very clear: violating natural rights - stealing land and resource rights which appears to be what governments and their enablers (churches, businesses, voters, etc.) are good at. |
|
|
|
||