Groups unite to say no to the nanny state

Terry Kilrea, Jean Serge Brisson, Randy Hillier and Mike Kennedy to lead Ottawa rally in support of personal freedom

Ottawa – April 19, 2005. The Ontario Libertarian Party (http://www.libertarian.on.ca), the only provincial party that strives to minimize government control over people’s daily lives and maximize personal responsibility, is holding a public meeting entitled “Who Controls Who?” at The Ottawa Citizen Conference Centre on Saturday, April 23rd [2005] from 4:00-600 p.m. Topics of focus include the vulnerability of property rights, the injustice of oppressive smoking bylaws, forced bilingualism and government waste and corruption.

It’s the government’s job to defend our freedom [?] but instead, our government – at varying levels – seems obsessed with taking that freedom away. They punish people for smoking; they bury people in paperwork; they force people to wear seatbelts; they threaten to seize the property of otherwise law-abiding people and put them in jail for a variety of victimless things; they tell people how to run their businesses; they tell people what they can and cannot say; yet they are the ones who hire based on race.

The event is unique in that the topics appeal to a range of political affiliations, including conservatives, because it’s an issue of freedom: personal choice, free enterprise and self governance.

“This meeting is one of a series sponsored by the Ontario Libertarian Party to spark the creation of a culture of freedom in Canada,” said Jean Serge Brisson, party member and leader of the Libertarian Party of Canada. “We want to change the way people think about the proper role of government because government is, quite simply, the only entity with the legal right to initiate force against individuals. That monopoly of force must be strictly limited and controlled.”

Smokers’ rights advocate Mike Kennedy will make a presentation and provide an update on his lawsuit against the City of Ottawa. “Since starting Smoker’s Choice, I have been forced to prove my innocence and I’m now in a position to do so,” said Kennedy.

Ottawa mayoralty candidate Terry Kilrea, a staunch conservative and realist who managed to generate 36% of the vote in the 2003 race, says Ottawa is essentially on life-support. “The Mayor and Council not only support double digit tax increases, they now support crack cocaine use – which is illegal. This is a sign of out-of-control government so let’s take our city back.” Kilrea will speak about his vision for a sensible approach to municipal government.

Libertarians oppose the notion that the government knows what’s best for us and that they have a right to mold our lives and dictate what we do with our own property, including our businesses and bodies. “We reject the idea that government can force us, through taxation, to support projects which we would not willingly support on the free market” Brisson said. “Our battle is an educational one and although our success is not guaranteed, there are many signs that Libertarianism is an idea whose time has come.”

Other presenters include Randy Hillier of the Lanark Landowners’ Association who will speak on property rights, and Jean Serge Brisson, leader of the Libertarian Party of Canada who will discuss the value of running for office. A variety of elected officials are also expected to attend.

All members of the public and the media are invited and encouraged to attend this free meeting.

Saturday, April 23, 2005, 4-6 p.m.

The Ottawa Citizen Conference Centre
. . .

Contact Information

Ontario Libertarian Party (Direct)

info@libertarian.on.ca

http://www.libertarian.on.ca

(Original Post)