C4D Canadians4Democracy: May 2021

Monday, May 31, 2021

Part 2: Advocacy Actions Canadians Can Take in Response to MP Votes to Suspend Elections in Canada

Author: Tracey Young. (May 31, 2021). Part 2: Part 2: Advocacy Actions Canadians Can Take in Response to MP Votes to Suspend Elections in Canada. C4D Canadians 4 Democracy. Retrieved from: https://c4d-canadians4democracy.blogspot.com/2021/05/part-2-advocacy-actions-canadians-can.html.

Introduction

On May 25^th, 327 Members of Canada’s Parliament (MP’s) voted in support of a motion, ‘Elections During a Pandemic’ to cancel federal elections until the “pandemic is over.”

See ‘Part 1: Canadian Members of Parliament Vote to SuspendDemocracy and Elections in Canada’, for an overview and background to this situation.

Clearly, MP’s who don’t believe in, or vote to uphold parliamentary democracy and the rights of Canadians to participate in elections and chose their representatives are unable to continue in office, or, serve in public office ever again. This is a very basic thing.

Below I have outlined some concrete advocacy actions that Canadians can take to address the attacks the MP’s and political parties who voted in favour of suspending democratic elections have participated in. Canadians cannot allow these actions to occur without serious consequences for those MP’s who acted in this manner.

Actions In Response to MP’s Vote

Find the Contact Information for Your Members of Parliament (MP’s) here:

https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en

1. Send an email, letter, or call your Members of Parliament (MP’s) office to ask them about this motion and their vote for it. See template below for ideas of how to approach this.

2. Advise your MP that they have lost your vote due to their actions in supporting this motion. Politely thank them for their service, congratulate them on their retirement from politics and public life and wish them well in their transition back to private life.

3. Cancel all donations to political parties and MP's. Do not provide any further donations to any of the existing parties, or individual MP’s.

4. Cancel your membership in the political party. Tell them why you are cancelling your membership and that you want all of your personal information permanently removed from all of their lists because you will not support a party, or politician that does not believe in the democratic rights of voters to participate in elections.

5. Share Part 1 and Part 2 articles with your networks. Encourage them to also contact their MP’s and congratulate them on their retirement from politics as well.

Part 1: Canadian Members of Parliament Vote to Suspend Democracy and Elections in Canada Due to COVID-19. C4D Canadians 4 Democracy. (May 31, 2021). Link: https://c4d-canadians4democracy.blogspot.com/2021/05/part-1-canadian-members-of-parliament.html.

Part 2: Part 2: Advocacy Actions Canadians Can Take in Response to MP Votes to Suspend Elections in Canada. (May 31, 2021). C4D Canadians 4 Democracy. Link: https://c4d-canadians4democracy.blogspot.com/2021/05/part-2-advocacy-actions-canadians-can.html.

6. Ensure voters in your constituency riding become aware of the actions of your MP by writing letters to the editor, Op-eds, providing information in newsletters and any other ways people become informed about political matters in your area.

7. Consider posting signs, stickers, and other materials to inform people in your riding that your MP has voted to suspend democracy and elections until the “pandemic is over”.

8. Approach local community leaders who have a proven track record of community service, ethical and inclusive leadership and success collaborating and working with others to improve your local community

9. Consider running as a Members of Parliament (MP) yourself if you believe you fit the description above. Begin political fundraising and campaigning NOW to create visibility in your riding to voters. Ensure voters know what the current MP has done in supporting to suspend democratic elections.

10. Begin to create new political networks and parties, and/or support parties you believe will behave with ethics and integrity, and offer real alternatives to the current political parties.

Template Email and Letter to Members of Parliament (MP’s)

Date

Name of Members of Parliament (MP’s), constituency

First off, I want to congratulate you on your May 25^th announcement of your retirement from politics and public life. Your service has been appreciated and I want to wish you the very best in your return to private life.

Elections During a Pandemic Vote

As you are aware, on May 25^th, 2021, 327 Members of the current Canadian Parliament (MP’s) voted to suspend elections “until the pandemic is over”. You are publicly identified as being one of those MP’s. Your vote can be seen here:

Source: https://openparliament.ca/votes/43-2/118

Parliamentary vote: Go to 5 hr 30 minute in the video to see the final count of votes.

Video: https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20210525/-1/35470

Video: Federal Budget 2021: What’s behind the government’s eye-popping deficit spending?

Global News. (April 19, 2021). Youtube. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VIbU2So-_k.

Statistics from the Canadian government for COVID-19

For well over a year now, the Canadian government has been providing statistics for COVID-19. You may not be aware of that, because, as a MP or you would never have voted in support of suspending elections in Canada, you are clearly not aware of how low the epidemiological prevalence rates for COVID-19 are in Canada. Here is an overview of the current COVID-19 statistics for Canada for May 30^th, 2021:

➡️.09% Active cases (35,935) of COVID-19 in the Canadian population

➡️96% Recovered

➡️3.5% of #Canadians have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in 1.5 years.

➡️5% hospitalization rate for all Canadians diagnosed with COVID-19

➡️.07% of the Canadian population have died; 96% of those individuals were over 60 years old and had pre-existing health conditions (co-morbidities) and/or were of advanced age

➡️ 3.9% positive rate for over 37+ million tests completed in Canada

Source: Government of Canada. (May 30, 2021). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Epidemiology update. Retrieved from: https://health-infobase.canada.ca/covid-19/epidemiological-summary-covid-19-cases.html.

Parliamentary Democracy: Citizens Require Representation in Parliament

As you are aware, parliamentary democracy is based upon Canadians electing representatives who will act in their best interests, and the nation as a whole.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has now created over $1 trillion in Canadian debt. It is now said that Canada is now generating $1.5 billion in debt every single day. This means that Canadian children who are not even born yet will inherit this debt.

Clearly, Members of Parliament who do not believe that Canadians have a right to participate fully in democracy, including the most important ability to participate in elections and chose their representatives so that they have a voice in what happens in Canada have no place in the Canadian Parliament.

Action Requests For You as a MP

I am requesting the following from you in your current role as a MP:

1. You will send out an Information Update and notice via your social media accounts, post on your website, and send to your mailing lists to your constituents and others an update about the “Elections During a Pandemic” notifying constituents that elections will be suspended until the “pandemic is over.”

2. This update will contain how you voted on this motion, the scientific evidence you relied upon to inform your vote, and the reasons and rationale for why this was necessary.

3. You will provide assurances to constituents that mandatory COVID-19 vaccines will never happen in Canada, and that for your remaining time in office you will do whatever you can to oppose this on the public record.

4. You will also provide your constituents with an update that the Canadian Vaccine Injury Support program is not yet operational and provide constituents with information about how to seek financial support related to post-COVID-19 vaccine injuries, disabilities, and/or deaths (see the Canadian Adverse Health event statistical infographic presented).

5. Add any other action requests you might have for your MP.

Thank you for your time of public service as a MP. I wish you the very best in your retirement from public office and your transition back into private life.

Sincerely,

Constituent name(s)

Constituent riding

Canadian COVID-19 Vaccine Statistics Update, May 31, 2021

▶️On Dec. 14, 2020 there were 460,743 COVID-19 cases in Canada & 13,251 deaths, the date on date COVID-19 vaccines started being administered in Canada

▶️On May 31st, 2021: 1,378,971 cases; 25,512 deaths

▶️There has been a 66% ⬆️ in COVID-19 cases (91,228 new) since vaccines started being administered in Canada

Source: Government of Canada. COVID-19 vaccine safety: Weekly report on side effects following COVID-19 vaccination in Canada, up to May 21, 2021. https://health-infobase.canada.ca/covid-19/vaccine-safety/.

References

Lorinc, J. (May 29, 2021). How much – exactly has the pandemic cost Canada? Star analysis finds toll is more than 1.5 billion a day. Toronto Star. Retrieved from: https://www.thestar.com/business/2021/05/29/how-much-exactly-has-the-pandemic-cost-canada-star-analysis-finds-toll-is-more-than-15-billion-a-day.html.

Rabson, M. (April 19, 2021). Canada’s debt set to cross $1 trillion mark as Liberals extend COVID-19 aid in budget. Canadian Press/Global News. Retrieved from: https://globalnews.ca/news/7768619/federal-budget-2021-liberals-covid/.

_________________________________________________________________

#Canada #cdnpoli #democracy #cdnelections #Parliamentarydemocracy #DutytoWarn #informedConsent #NurembergCode

Part 1: Canadian Members of Parliament Vote to Suspend Democracy and Elections in Canada Due to COVID-19

Author: Tracey Young. (May 31, 2021). Part 1: Canadian Members of Parliament Vote to Suspend Democracy and Elections in Canada Due to COVID-19. C4D Canadians 4 Democracy. Retrieved from: https://c4d-canadians4democracy.blogspot.com/2021/05/part-1-canadian-members-of-parliament.html.

Introduction

On May 25th, 2021 three hundred and seventy-four (327) out of 337 Members of Parliament (MP's) voted to suspend Parliamentary Democracy and elections "until the pandemic is over." The only 'No' vote was cast by MP Derek Sloan. Below I will provide the names of the nine MP's who did not participate in the vote. You may not have heard much about this as the media has not widely covered this information to update Canadians, and the world about the state of democracy in Canada.

At the bottom of this article I have provided the current statistics for COVID-19 in Canada. As of May 31st, 2021:

➡️ .09% Active cases (35,935) of #COVID-19 in the Canadian population

➡️ 96% having already recovered.

➡️ COVID-19 mortality rate is ️.07% of the Canadian population have died. 96% were over 60 with pre-existing health conditions (co-morbidities), and/or were of advanced age.

Parliamentary Democracy

A simple definition of parliamentary democracy is it is a system of government in which citizens elect representatives to a legislative parliament to make the necessary laws and decisions for the country. This parliament is supposed to represent Canadians via our MP's.

Elections are the only way that Canadians have direct input into who are representatives in the Canadian Parliament will be. Through advocacy efforts in reaching out to our MP's, we can share our perspectives and attempt to have influence in the Canadian government's policies, laws, and directions.

The ruling Liberal Party, the Conservatives, Green Party of Canada, NDP, and Bloc Quebec and the Independent MP all voted to suspend elections. While the federal Liberal Party continues to hold a slim minority government, with all other parties upholding this betrayal of democracy, as Canadians, we must acknowledge that all political parties in Canada are over.

It will be impossible for ethical Canadians who care about our country and democracy to politically (or financially) support any current MP's who voted for this motion for holding democracy in such contempt. And, by extension -- Canadians rights to exercise their vote in choosing who serves us in our political ridings, and in Ottawa.

Details

On May 25th, 2021, the Bloc Québécois Opposition party brought forward a motion, "Elections During a Pandemic."

"The motion urged the government to “make every effort to ensure that voters are not called to the polls as long as this pandemic continues.”

Parliamentary vote: Go to 5 hr 30 minute in the video to see the final count of votes.

Video: https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20210525/-1/35470

Voting Record of MP's on Elections during Pandemic Motion (Vote #118)

Source: https://openparliament.ca/votes/43-2/118

Yes Votes: 327 MP's from the Bloc, the NDP, the Greens, and the Liberals

No Vote: 1 (Derek Sloan, Independent)

Did not vote: Scott Aitchison (Con); Diane Finley (Con); David Yurdiga (Con);

Laurel Collins (NDP);

Mélanie Joly (Liberal); Paul Lefebvre (Liberal); Lloyd Longfield (Liberal); Anthony Rota (Liberal); Ruby Sahota (Liberal); Gagan Sikand (Liberal);

"The motion was supported by 327 MPs from the Bloc, the NDP, the Greens, and the Liberals."

In response to Elections Canada’s concerns about the safety of holding a vote during a pandemic, last December, the government introduced Bill C-19, an Act to Amend the Canada Elections Act. The bill passed second reading earlier this month, and was sent to the House of Commons’ standing committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC).

At a PROC meeting on Tuesday morning, Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull asked committee members to proceed with the bill’s study.

“Canadians don’t want an election; all the opposition leaders have pledged not to call an election during the pandemic. There’s no reason for the PM to trigger an election this summer unless it is in his own interests." (NDP MP Daniel Blaikie). (Silver, 2021).

"Ontario Independent MP Derek Sloan was the only one who voted against it.

The Liberals had attempted to amend the motion to say it is the responsibility of all parties to avoid a pandemic election, but the Bloc rejected that amendment.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, whose party has been supporting the minority Liberal government on confidence votes, said earlier today that if the Liberals provoke an election, it would be because they want more power.

He said holding a federal election would come at the cost of Canadians…” (Canadian Press, 2021).

"The Bloc Quebecois found support from parliamentarians across the aisle Tuesday for their motion to denounce a pandemic election and agree that the government has a responsibility to prevent it from happening.

All MPs who voted, with the exception of Independent MP Derek Sloan, agreed holding an election during the pandemic would be “irresponsible.”

"Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reinforced that his focus remains centred on supporting Canadians through the pandemic and the government has no intention of triggering an election before it's over.

CTV News political commentator Scott Reid says he suspects the Liberals want to hold off on an election until the majority of Canadians have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

“What will derail a 2021 election campaign is a horrible development with respect to COVID-19, if a new variant arises that proves itself [in]vulnerable to the vaccine, if we see the rate of cases rise rather than fall, those sorts of things will put politics on the backburner.”

Nevertheless, parties are preparing and getting their rosters assembled.

The Liberals have so far nominated 152 candidates, while the Conservatives have nominated 206, the NDP have nominated 75, and the Greens have nominated 18." (Turnbull, 2021).

Canadian COVID-19 Statistics, May 30, 2021

➡️.09% Active cases (35,935) of COVID-19 in the Canadian population

➡️96% Recovered

➡️3.5% of #Canadians have been diagnosed w #CV19 in 1+ yr.

➡️5% hospitalization rate

➡️.07% of the Canadian population have died; 96% > 60 w pre-existing health conditions

➡️3.9% positive rate of 37+ million tests completely in Canada

References

Government of Canada. (May 25, 2021). Parliamentary motion vote count: Elections during a pandemic. (15 min; 30 seconds). Retrieved from: https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20210525/-1/35470.

Canadian Press. (2021). House of Commons adopts Bloc motion against holding COVID-19 pandemic election. Yahoo News. Retrieved from: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/house-commons-adopts-bloc-motion-204617893.html.

Silver, J. E. (May 25, 2021). All parties support motion against holding a pandemic election. Ipolitics. Retrieved from: https://ipolitics.ca/2021/05/25/all-parties-support-motion-against-holding-a-pandemic-election/.

Turnbull, S. (2021). MPs nearly unanimous in declaring a pandemic election 'irresponsible'. CTV News. Retrieved from: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/mps-nearly-unanimous-in-declaring-a-pandemic-election-irresponsible-1.5442156.

#Canada #cdnpoli #democracy #cdnelections #Parliamentarydemocracy