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Standing Rock demonstration shows us a different way

9/25/2016

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PictureBy David McLaren, Labour Rep
​You won’t have heard much about the Standing Rock protest in North Dakota in the mainstream corporate media, even the CBC. But it’s a big deal.
 
Briefly (very briefly) the Dakota Sioux are standing (literally) in the way of the Dakota Access pipeline being pushed through their traditional territory and, more to the point, through burial grounds and archaeologically rich sites. Thousands of tribal and First Nations people have joined the stand-off at Standing Rock. ‘Dakota’, by the way, means ‘friend’ or ‘ally’.
 
Dakota Access had neither the science nor the permits to do what they’ve done so far. There is a Canadian connection. If the Dakota pipeline goes through, it will be a hop, skip and a jump to get the Alberta oil sands oil down to the Gulf of Mexico via Enbridge’s Line 3 (maps).
 
Now 50 tribes in the US and Canada have signed a Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion. It calls on signatories to resist the transportation of oil sands oil across their traditional territories. It says, in part: “As sovereign Indigenous Nations, we enter this treaty pursuant to our inherent legal authority and responsibility to protect our respective territories from threats to our lands, waters, air and climate.”
 
And this is what most people miss. We and our governments are being confronted (finally) with another way of looking at the world. There is nothing in the treaties or our history that says First Nations have surrendered the rivers, streams and lakes on their ancestral land (in fact the land claim of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation in Grey-Bruce asserts this). There’s nothing to suggest they gave up their laws or their languages in which those laws are encoded.
 
I know that workers’ jobs are at stake and the affiliates of the AFL-CIO are divided on their support for Standing Rock protesters. But if we are to be true to reconciliation, we are going to have to recognize that Indigenous peoples have a different understanding of things. And that includes trying to understand what they are telling us when they act on that understanding.
 
Besides, the scientists are now giving us 17 years to get off fossil fuels or we pass a point of no return—a global warming of 2oC. To do that, we have to leavewhat’s still in the ground, in the ground.
​

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At Standing Rock – Joshue Rivas in www.yesmagazine.org
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Standing rock camp at the Cannonball River ND – Thane Maxwell in www.yesmagazine.org. It is a peaceful protest and you can support it. Follow on facebook.
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Book Review: ‘Dark Money’ by Jane Meyer

9/25/2016

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PictureReview by Hugh Evans, Treasurer
​I just finished a great book called Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right by Jane Mayer who is a staff writer for The New Yorker.
 
If you’ve ever wondered why Americans in the United States can have such far right wing political opinions and views, then this is the book for you. Jane Mayer makes an interesting case for why there has been a marked shift to the right in American political thinking: it’s ‘dark money’—campaign financing that’s hidden from view.
 
She outlines how the radical right wing with financial support from a few multimillionaires have taken over the political scene in the United States. The billionaires are lead by the Koch brothers, Charles and David. They are really libertarians who believe in small government or no government. They think government should only exist to protect private property rights (their property of course) and has no business in regulating private business or in funding the public good, ie, welfare, healthcare, environmental protection.
 
It comes down to money—their money and their ability to make more. That means busting unions (ironically by government regulation), and opposing restrictions on capital (again, by changing government legislation—or governments).
 
So how do they do it? Well, in a nutshell the multi-billionaires donate large amounts of money to foundations that they control. That includes foundations that fund the Tea Party. Of course it's a tax write off and they can direct the money to be spent on implementing their ultra-right wing political agenda.
 
The US Supreme Court decision in Citizens United (2009) opened the flood gates for dark money. The Court said that restricting donations from ‘third parties’ (corporations and unions) was a restriction on free speech. Both the Democrats and Republicans then courted big donors for their Super PACs (Political Action Committees).
 
There are rules around how Super Pacs relate to the candidate. But those rules are given lips service, as Rep Gov Walker in Wisconsin has demonstrated.
 
Never too concerned with rules, the Koch brothers and their friends have used their money to infiltrate the media, universities and even the judiciary. But the real prize is the Republican Party. Moderate Republicans have all but disappeared having been replaced by their well-financed far right wing candidates who have the billionaires’ support. Once elected, she shows (and other research confirms) these politicians influence government policy in ways that benefit their financers.
 
Throughout her book Ms. Mayer follows the money to proves her point time and again. She has hit the nail on the head and it must have been a direct strike, judging by how hard the Kochs and their ilk have tried to discredit her—something she documents in the book. The book is well written and well-documented. It's all scary stuff. The very essence of democracy is at stake.
 
I highly recommend Dark Money. I would suggest that it’s required reading if you want to understand American politics and what to look out for in Canadian politics. It's available at the Owen Sound and Union Public library, call number 320.520973 MAY.
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A very busy month ahead 

9/25/2016

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PictureMichael McLuhan, EDA President
​I hope you take the time to read through this edition of the BGOS eNewsletter—it’s got lots of good news and information. One of the things we aim to do is provide folks with another way of viewing the world than the neoliberal one that has ruled Western governments for the past two generations.
 
But first I’d like to welcome two new members to the Executive: Scott Maxted and Ron Martin. Ron has recently relocated here from Saskatchewan where he was long involved with the NDP there. Scott should need no introduction ... a long time advocate on environmental and labour issues.
 
It is with a mix of trepidation and satisfaction that I have watched events unfold in the past month. Relations with First Nations peoples are not improving. Justin Trudeau has not kept his pre election promise to meaningfully consult (as our laws demand) with First nations affected by megaprojects that will impinge on their rights and treaties. Some are calling for the Justice Minister’s resignation. Yet there is also a silver lining in all of this turmoil: an opportunity to redefine our Nation to Nation relationship with our First Peoples.
 
We took part in the annual Labour Day Parade in Port Elgin (pics below). It was great to walk with so many unionists—many of whom were bussed in from other areas to take part. They know what it takes to fight for a decent wage and decent benefits that go with the job … and how easy it is to lose both.

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​If you believe in time off work for sick leave, having children, to grieve for the loss of loved ones without having to worry whether you’ll have a job afterward, thank the unions. If you think vacation time and company pensions are a good idea, thank the unions. If you think employers should help make sure the workplace is safe and healthy, thank the unions.
 
That sense of collective responsibility was demonstrated by Unifor in its recent negotiations with GM. The union not only got a higher wage for workers (who had given up pay during the Recession) and for first hires, but it also won commitments from GM that the Oshawa plant would stay open and production moved from Mexico to St Catharines. 
 
You’ll see below, under ‘Upcoming’ a number of events and deadlines we are paying attention to. But I’d like to draw your attention to two of them.
 
First, Larry Miller’s phone ‘town hall’ for constituents on Tuesday (Sept 27). Here is a good opportunity to tell our MP directly how you think our electoral system should be reformed. The NDP (and the BGOS Executive) would like to see Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) with an open ballot—that is, everyone who is running for Parliament should be on the ballot. That’s something Larry himself insists on. But the Conservatives want to send the whole question to the public for a referendum—a proven recipe for no reform. I think they want to keep first past the post (the system we have now) and the Liberals want a preferential ballot (your first and maybe second choices count—they’re betting ‘Liberal’ will be everyone’s first or second choice). More information is here.
 
Second, there is a public town hall on electoral reform in Paisley on October 3rd, 7 pm at the Legion. It’s another chance to hear about the alternatives and to engage in a discussion of them.
 
Below is what an MMPR open ballot might look like. You vote for the candidate you like in your riding (as you do now). But you also vote for either the Party you like or one of several candidates running in the region (which may take in more than one riding). These candidates are elected according to the proportion of votes cast for them.
 
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​As always, members and supporters are welcome at our monthly Executive meetings, even if it’s just to share our potluck dinners. We eat at 5:30 pm and start our meetings around 6:30, usually at the BDO Building in Owen Sound (1717 2nd Street E, 3rd Thursday of the month).
 
And if you want to contribute something to the monthly eNewsletter—a book review, or film, or a well-worded rant—send it to team@bgos-ndp.ca.
 
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BGOS President Michael McLuhan & Treasurer Hugh Evans took a shift at the NDP booth during the International Ploughing Match on September 23.
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Electoral Reform Town Hall in Paisley Oct 3.

9/23/2016

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As part of the public consultation on electoral reform, the all-party committee on electoral reform (ERRE) has invited Canadians to host electoral reform dialogues and events. These are conversations focused on gathering your thoughts on changes you would like to see in our voting system. The feedback from each dialogue will be reported to ERRE to inform their recommendation. On December 1, the ERRE committee will make a final recommendation.

A local citizen has stepped forward to host an electoral reform town hall!
Please show up to discuss electoral reform, invite and share with friends, and voice your support for a made-in-Canada system of proportional representation. 

​When: Monday October 3, 7:30 PM

Where: Paisley Legion, 338 Goldie St, Paisley, ON N0G 2N0
Contact: Sibylle walke@bmts.com

Thanks for supporting the campaign to make every vote count!
PLEASE share your experience, comments or questions below this article

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Tuesday September 27, 7 PM: Electoral Reform Town Hall by Telephone with MP Larry Miller!

9/23/2016

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Larry Miller is having a "Telephone Town Hall" on Tues. Sept. 27, 7 - 8 PM, seeking input on electoral reform. "An automated call will go out at the start of the town hall. 

Those who do not receive a call and wish to participate can call
1-877-229-8493 & enter passcode 114139
...

There will be opportunities to provide your input and ask any questions you may have.

During the election Larry Miller said he couldn't support any reform in which all the candidates names did not appear on the ballot. That seemed to be his only criterion. But I know he was as annoyed as I was that the Liberals won their majority with less than 40% of the vote. Larry, along with the Conservative Party, wants to see a referendum on electoral reform. In the past this has been a recipe for no reform at all.
The only reform that would satisfy both concerns (which are legitimate) is Proportional Rep with an Open Ballot ... a system that's now used in a number of countries and the one favoured in an extensive report on electoral reform done by the Canadian Law Association. “ David McLaren
For more, see: 
http://www.fairvote.ca/

​PLEASE share your experience, comments or questions below this article

more details ...

As part of the government consultation on electoral reform, MPs have been invited to hold town halls. This is our chance to show up and speak up for proportional representation! What the MPs hear from constituents at the town halls - how much support there is for proportional representation - will be reported back to the all-party committee. Please call if you can and invite others. 

Opponents of reform are organizing and attending these events. Unfortunately Mr. Miller has not been a supporter of PR in the past. However, he is one of a handful of Conservatives who are offering constituents this kind of opportunity. We need to be there to speak up for a vote that counts.

When: Tuesday September 27, 7:00pm
Details: http://www.larrymiller.ca/mp-larry-miller-to-host-electoral-reform-telephone-town-hall-meeting/
How to Join: CALL 1-877-229-8493 ENTER PASSCODE 114139
Share on facebook here

If you are able to attend the town hall please let me know so I can touch base with you afterwards. Please let us know how the town hall goes by sending a summary to mpreports@fairvote.ca.
If you are are constituent and not able to attend: Please email Larry at Larry.Miller@parl.gc.ca or call his constituency office at  519-371-1059. Identify yourself as a constituent who is unable to attend the town hall but would like to let him know you support proportional representation and ask that your feedback be included in his report. 
At town halls and consultations, we are focusing on communicating our core values:
 
- Proportional Representation: 30% of the vote should equal 30% of the seats
- Voter Equality: every voter should be able to elect an MP who reflects his/her values
- Diversity: Our Parliament should reflect our diversity, including the political diversity within each region
- Collaboration: proportional representation means parties working together, and policies supported by parties representing a majority of voters
Thanks so much for your help at this important time.
Anita Nickerson
Fair Vote Canada Action Coordinator

P.S. Please take a moment and send Fair Vote Canada's submission to ERRE to your MP using this easy platform!
Resources
1) How the all-party committee's guiding principles relate to PR
2) Videos: PR-STV (see also STV+), MMP and MMP with ranked ballot and Rural-Urban Proportional Representation. (links to printable pamphlets here)
3) Evidence for Proportional Representation - a good summary of the research on PR.
4) Make Every Vote Count - a printable one page handout for events
5) Myth/Fact Sheet - a two page handout addressing common myths
​


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What Could Reconciliation Look Like in Grey-Bruce? October 1st

9/18/2016

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A couple members of the NDP Executive are involved in this initiative, and we thought it was important for our members and supporters to know that there are grass-roots efforts at reconciliation at work in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound.
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Please join us for a pot-luck Harvest Reconciliation Dinner October 1st and discussion with First Nations women who can help lead the way and share knowledge. Shirley John – Strong White Buffalo Woman of Saugeen First Nation, and Joyce Johnston and Martha Pedoniquotte, both committed to Truth and Reconciliation through the Nawash United Church’s projects,

They will discuss what reconciliation in Grey-Bruce might look like. Please attend as we are so fortunate to have such wisdom in our community!

WHERE: Owen Sound’s First United Church, located on traditional Saugeen Ojibway territory, 435 21st St. West

WHEN: 4:00 pm early POT-LUCK dinner, followed by our honoured speakers, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1

WHAT TO BRING: Your best harvest food, donation if possible, open heart and mind

WHY: “No relationship is more important to me and to Canada than the one with Indigenous peoples.”- Justin Trudeau

TO CONFIRM ATTENDANCE

CONTACT:

DONNA ELLIOTT donnajelliott@rogers.com OR
LAURA ROBINSON: laura.robinson@sympatico.ca
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Showing off the Orange at 2016 Labour Day Parade

9/16/2016

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