Impact Democracy is an initiative established as a forum for Canadians to actively engage in our democracy, through our monthly meeting or online through the defined monthly actions. The monthly meeting will be held to discuss and inform ourselves on issues that affect our country. People will be encouraged to participate in the defined actions for that month that will range from a letter, a phone call, attending a rally or simply sharing information, with others who may be interested, in the actions that month. The actions will focus on our Justice system, Health, Education, Aboriginal issues, the Military, the Environment, and others. To recieve our monthly newsletter e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.org
Impact Democracy looks to facilitate and encourage an informed discussion of the topics that will be debated in parliament that month. People with expertise in the various issues will be called upon to attend the monthly meeting or to share their knowledge on-line. The information will also be posted on this site, providing the opportunity for anyone interested in participating to also take action and have an impact.
Monthly Action - Canada's Environment
The Environment has always been important to those who have lived in this Northern land. We have always relied on our water, our air, our soil as a means to survive. This summer our Federal government began our own Canadian austerity measures by cutting Federal jobs. One of the first departments to be held under the axe is Environment Canada, 300 posts are to be eliminated and the Environment Minister Peter Kent, confirmed that as many 776 positions would be affected. Canadian scientific research is being impacted - more than 1/2 of the scientists in the department's Ozone Science Branch have been informed their positions will be affected by downsizing. The Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences is to be closed, that organization funds the majority of climate and atmospheric science in the country. The magazine Nature described the reaction to the changes at Environment Canada's Ozone Network. A protest against the Tar sands and the Keystone pipeline drew hundreds of protestors, with many arrested on Parliament Hill on Monday September 26th. We encourage you to pick at least one action and take part.
1. Write a letter to your member of parliament to share your thoughts regarding Canada's Environment or contact our Minister of the Environment - Hon. Peter Kent (email@example.com) to pass on your thoughts on this matter.
2. Write a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper - (firstname.lastname@example.org) to express your concerns over Keystone Pipeline.
3. Send a global e-mail to all members of parliament that describes why Canada's environment is important to you and your concerns with respect to it's protection.
- Federal Labour cuts - As many as 776 positions cut from Environment Canada
- Canadian Ozone Network faces the axe
- Canadians and Americans unified in protest of the Keystone pipeline project
- Protest of the Keystone Pipeline - Dalai Lama against the pipeline
Questions for Discussion
- The Oil sands - How do we as Canadians come to grips with the contradiction between the Oil Sands and our concern as Canadians for the environment
- Can we develop an energy policy in Canada that is aligned with the protection of our environment
- How do we address the issues of overpackaging?
- Achieving improvements in fuel economy of vehicles
- Justice - A crime debate without facts or arguments
- Justice - A Tory crime bill much like failed U.S. model
- Justice - Mandatory minimum terms push restorative justice aside
- Justice - Crime Bill won't help victims
- Justice - A Meaner Canada - Junk Politics and the Omnibus crime bill
- Justice - Police reported crime statistics
- Justice - Crime and Punishment:Inside the Tories plan to overhaul the Justice System
- Justice - Address roots of crime - NWT Supreme Court Justice John Vertes
- Justice - Lilley - Tory crime bill
- Justice - Tough on crime approach won't work
- Justice - Drug Treatment Courts - Justice Paul Bentley