Wednesday, January 31, 2007, 11:22 AM - Miscellaneous
“I am not politically minded”
How often have we said this to ourselves? We’re all busy with so many other things... raising our family, furthering our careers, church involvement, or the pursuit of other interests. Our finances are tied up with children’s braces, little league and philanthropy.
There are times when we don’t have the energy or finances left over to take on another task.
But we are seeing a crisis in this country which should involve all of us at some level.
We are seeing our Charter freedoms eroded, as in the increased conviction of people by Human Rights Tribunals.
A clinical psychologist, such as Dr. Chris Kempling, is not allowed to speak his conviction that homosexuality can be treated. The question here is not whether homosexuals can become heterosexual but whether a registered clinical psychologist can offer to treat those who wish to be treated. We all know the end result. Dr. Kempling, and if we take this as a test case all psychologists, may not publicly offer treatment to homosexuals... even if the homosexual wants treatment. How will those who wish treatment find it if our psychologists must work underground on this matter?
What about our political freedoms? Dr. Kempling was again brought before a Human Rights Tribunal for presenting the platform of the registered political Party which he represents. Is our future one that prohibits us from dissent from government opinion? There is a name for regimes like that... dictatorships.
We are not all able to get involved in political activity, however, we should all support political activity. The men and women who are able to go on the frontlines do so at the personal expense of themselves and a few supporters.
Do you believe that the Christian Heritage Party reflects your political viewpoint? Have you supported the CHP by joining as a member? This affirms your support for our political direction.
If you’re a member, are you supporting us nationally and/or our Electoral District Association, with your prayers, words of encouragement and with your finances? This helps ensure that there are candidates to run in an election. It helps to ensure that funds are available to promote this Party both locally, provincially and nationwide.
Many hands make light work. Will you offer two hours to set up and host a ‘kitchen meeting'? This is not a great time commitment but has incredible value to me and the Christian Heritage Party.
We may not all be politically minded but we do all need to enter into the politics of this country. This needs to be done, not just by voting, but between elections. This ensures that Canadians, and in particular residents of York-Simcoe, are given a choice to support a Party that will fight for the freedoms once taken for granted in this country.
Get involved! Copy the membership application and forward it to our EDA or you may also sign up online at www.chp.ca
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Monday, January 15, 2007, 04:13 PM - Taxes
I hope you all had a joyous and blessed Christmas and New Year.
With a new leader of federal Liberal Party, it seems like a good time to notice what he's saying.
Stephane Dion, leader of the federal Liberal Party, would introduce tax measures to encourage Canadians to choose appliances that conserve electricity, cars that use the least amount of gas and for retrofitting homes to reduce heating fuel consumption.
''We want to make a link between your wallet and the planet,'' he said, adding that such measures will be part of the party's next election platform. ''It's the way you change the culture.''
While I appreciate Mr. Dion's concern for the environment. Most of us are concerned about the environment. Most of us, for economic reason's as well as environmental concerns, are trying to find ways to cut our fuel consumption. Some of us have turned down our heat in the winter and raised our air conditioning temperature in the summer. Some of us have installed fans rather than air conditioners. Our efforts to conserve benefit our environment, which we're all concerned about, along with which our efforts are done according to what we can afford to do.
Canadians work hard for their money and to be penalised by our (prospective) government because Mr. Dion wants a link between our wallet and anything is outrageous. If we are less highly taxed we can choose to upgrade our appliances. But we should not have our money taken from us and given back only if we will spend it according to Mr. Dion's priorities. That is an infringement on our liberties.
What about the people whose finances are so close to the wire that they can't afford to retrofit their homes? What about those who don't own their own home? They are penalised, by not qualifying for tax incentives, because they can't afford to spend according to Mr. Dion's priorities.
No thank you, Mr. Dion. I want my taxes lowered so I can decide what would benefit my home, my family and my environment best. I am a reasoning, functioning adult and I'm able to do this.
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Friday, December 29, 2006, 04:23 PM - Miscellaneous
;)
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Thursday, December 21, 2006, 10:50 AM - Miscellaneous
Have a Blessed Christmas and 2007
Vicki
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Friday, December 15, 2006, 05:51 PM - Electoral Reform
TOP SECRET!
Key dates for Ontario's democratic revolution:
January 31, May 15 and October 4.
Do not – repeat, do NOT – let this information get into the
wrong hands. Forward only to trusted friends.
An Open Letter to Fellow Ontarians:
Is the idea of fundamental democratic reform so frightening that Ontario's major media are afraid to cover the Ontario Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform?
Your guess is as good as ours, but the headline above summarizes their apparent attitude. The unfortunate result is that most Ontarians remain unaware of an unprecedented and historic opportunity to dramatically reform Ontario's political system.
What's the Big Deal With the Citizens' Assembly?
The Ontario Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform, composed of 103 randomly chosen voters, has been empowered by the Government of Ontario to study and recommend a new provincial voting system. Their recommendation will be put to Ontarians in a referendum to be held next fall.
What's At Stake?
Political power. The future direction of our province. Legislation on issues like health care, education, the environment.
The voting system matters. It matters a lot, because the voting system allocates political power, creates parliaments and determines who forms governments. That in turn determines who calls the shots on issues that affect our families, our communities, our society and the environment.
How Bad is the Current System?
It's intolerable. Ontarians (and all Canadians) suffer the effects of using the world's worst electoral system – first-past-the post.
Typically, a party gets about 40 percent of the votes, wins 60 percent or more of the seats and then wields 100 percent of the power, as though it had a majority mandate. Meanwhile opposition voices are diminished and other minority voice are completely shut out of the political process.
In each election, millions of Ontarians cast wasted votes that elect no one. Results are so distorted the last time we elected a legitimate majority government – one actually put in place by a majority of votes cast – was in 1937.
Are There Better Ways to Vote?
Yes. Almost all major Western democracies scrapped first-past-the-post voting last century, and adopted voting systems designed to treat all voters equally and give fair and proportional election results.
More than 80 democracies now use these fair voting systems. Each has developed a version to fit its own distinctive political culture and geography. Ontario can do likewise.
What Are the Key Dates for Our Democracy Revolution?
The Ontario Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform will issue its final report by May 15. If the Assembly recommends a new voting system, Ontario will have a referendum on that recommendation on October 4 in conjunction with the next provincial election.
The Citizens' Assembly members have invited Ontarians to tell them what electoral values and principles matter most to you and/or what type of voting system you would like to have. Between now and January 31, citizens can make their views known through online submissions or by attending and speaking at one of the Assembly's public consultation meetings.
What Can You Do To Make It Happen?
Fair Vote Canada, through our Fair Vote Ontario campaign, is leading the fight to encourage the Ontario Citizens' Assembly to recommend a fair voting system based on proportional representation. When the Assembly does, we will then lead the Yes campaign for the October 4, 2007 referendum.
Here is what you can do between now and January 31:
1) Most important: forward this email to friends and other email lists!
2) Check the Assembly's website www.citizensassembly.gov.on.ca. Review their public consultation guide.
3) If the Assembly is holding a public meeting in your community, plan to attend, take your friends, and speak up.
4) If you cannot attend a meeting, submit your comments on the Assembly's web site, encouraging Assembly members to scrap first-past-the-post and recommend a new, fair voting system.
5) Visit the Fair Vote Canada www.fairvote.ca and Fair Vote Ontario www.fairvote.ca/ontario website. Learn more about the issues and our campaign.
6) Volunteer to help the Fair Vote Ontario campaign and help win the October 4 referendum: Ontario@fairvote.ca
Democratic reform is a do-it-yourself project for citizens. We cannot depend on the media or those in positions of power to lead the democracy revolution. It's up to us! Let's do it!
Yours for a strong democracy,
Larry Gordon
Executive Director
Fair Vote Canada
26 Maryland Blvd.
Toronto, ON M4C 5C9
www.fairvote.ca
info@fairvote.ca
Ph: 416-410-4034
Fax: 416-686-4929
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Wednesday, December 6, 2006, 12:41 PM - Electoral Reform
Taking a look at the new leader of the Liberal Party, Stephane Dion, I have to wonder how much protecting our democracy is worth to him.
This article gives us some insight:
“But Dion said for now it's important to think strategically.
"If we have a party vote, he'll say that I muzzled my MPs and that if I had let them vote freely the motion would have passed," Dion said of Harper.
"Maybe from a strategic point of view, it would be better to have a free vote."
The meaning of democracy is government by the people. Canada is a representative democracy. Rather than all of us voting on every issue that arises, we elect people to vote on our behalf.
Mr. Dion’s reason for allowing a free vote is not to protect the integrity of our democratic system. It is because he is thinking strategically.
Mr. Duceppe and Mr. Layton are not at all concerned about the democratic process. They require their MPs to vote according to party line.
We, Canadians, must see that there is a something very much at the centre of voting along party lines. This is, whether or not Canada will remain a free country.
These leaders, by playing on our emotions, gain our ascent to restrict other Canadian’s democratic right to vote according to traditional moral values. However, that is not democratic.
There should be no whipped votes in Parliament.
Canada is still a free country!!
Let's preserve our democratic process!!!
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