An email I received earlier. This bill has very troubling implications on the level of electronic surveillance the government could undertake as well as the potential criminalisation of dissent against projects such as the oilsand pipelines (oilsand production is worth less than 4% of the GDP... if they continue to be economic). The Vancouver protest will be at the Vancouver Art Galley.
___________________
Just a few days ago, we contacted you with an urgent opportunity to stand up against Stephen Harper’s Secret Police bill.
Great news - Leadnow members and local leaders across the country have stepped up to host snap actions this Saturday, March 14. We’ve already confirmed at least 45 events and thousands of people have said they’ll be there.
Will you join us? Click here to check out the map and RSVP to a local event in your neighbourhood.
The worst parts of the bill could be raised by experts at crucial hearings taking place over the coming days - but we need to show the Harper Conservatives that there’s growing opposition from people all across the country, and all walks of life.
Every person who comes out will make all our voices stronger. If there isn’t an event near you, you can use the same link set up a new event. It’s a strong and effective action, and we’ll help by inviting local Leadnow community members, and giving you the support you need to succeed.
Momentum is building against this bill. Now, it’s up to us to speak up loud and clear that we won’t stand idly by while politicians and spy agencies try to trample our rights.
Are you in? RSVP at http://we.leadnow.ca/stopc51
Thanks for all you do,
Kelly on behalf of the Leadnow team
~ Here's the original email ~
Dear Friends,
Lately, the Harper Conservatives have been pulling some dirty tricks with their reckless "Secret Police" bill. First, they tried to limit debate. Then, they tried to avoid scrutiny by rushing the bill through Committee. Now, they're putting out disgusting fear-mongering ads to sell their political agenda in a way that's forcing some level-headed Conservatives to speak out.[SUP][1][/SUP] Their new tactics show their desperation to pass this reckless bill before more Canadians learn about its dangerous details.
The Leadnow community has already made amazing progress fighting against this bill, with more than a million people seeing the campaign to Reject Fear online: but we need to take this to the next level if we’re going to stop the worst parts of the bill.
That’s why we’re working with partner organizations on a plan to hit the streets on Saturday, March 14, all over the country, to stand together and show that the people of Canada don’t accept Harper’s fear-mongering, and we don’t accept this bill. But to pull it off, we need you to be there.
Will you join your local snap action as part of Defend our Freedom: a National Day of Action to speak out against Harper’s reckless “Secret Police” bill? Find your local event and RSVP here.
If there isn’t an event near you, you can use the same link set up a new event. It’s a strong and effective action, and we’ll help by inviting local Leadnow community members, and giving you the support you need.
There’s no better way to show our opposition to this bill than by hitting the streets - proving that we’re willing to stand proudly in our hometowns, shoulder to shoulder, in opposition to this bill. If we’re successful, politicians all over the country will know that passing this bill in its current form is too poisonous to risk.
Many of the events will be organised by groups collaborating on this important campaign, and some events will be organised by local Leadnow community members. Some of the events will be large rallies, and others will be small gatherings. But all events will have this in common: they’ll be family-friendly, effective actions against a dangerous bill that must be stopped. Find a map and all the info you need to RSVP here.
If there was ever a moment to hit the streets on this issue, it’s now. The Conservatives will likely spend the next two weeks making up their mind about whether they need to change their tune on this Secret Police bill. And they’re under immense pressure to do so: over just a few short weeks, the number of communities and individuals who have spoken out against this dangerous bill is overwhelming. Former intelligence officers have lambasted the bill for its gross overreach into everyday lives of Canadians[SUP][2][/SUP], and former Prime Ministers have shamed the risks of passing it without proper oversight[SUP][3][/SUP].
But this is an election year, and there’s just one court that politicians abide by -- the court of public opinion. So now it’s up to us to make our verdict loud, and our judgment clear, in saying that we won’t stand idly by while politicians and spy agencies try to trample our rights.
But for this plan to work, we need you to be a part of it. Will you have the courage of your convictions, and prove that you’re rejecting fear and rejecting Harper’s spin?
Click here to RSVP to next Saturday's National Day of Action to Defend our Freedom, and reject Harper’s secret police bill.
To ratchet this up and influence the future of this bill in the moment that matters most, we need to build pressure on the ground, in towns and cities where MPs will feel it most. Are you in?
Thanks for being a part of it,
Jamie, Kelly, Rodrigo, Stefan, Sanna and the Leadnow team
PS - In a moment like this, we need to speak to all political parties when we say: we expect our leaders to deal in truth, not in fear. We expect them to defend both our rights and our securities. And above all else, we expect them protect our democracy, by listening to us, the people, before they pass a dangerous, reckless and ineffective bill into law. Click here to RSVP to an event near you next Saturday, March 14.
Sources
[1] Tories Criticized Over 'Fear-Mongering' Facebook Post On Bill C-51, West Edmonton Mall Threat. Huffington Post Canada, 4th March 2015.http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/03/04/bill-c-51-west-edmonton-mall_n_6801058.html
[2] Former CSIS officer warns new federal anti-terror bill will ‘lead to lawsuits, embarrassment’, National Post. February 2013.http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/02/13/former-csis-officer-warns-new-federal-anti-terror-bill-will-lead-to-lawsuits-embarrassment/
[3] CSIS oversight urged by ex-PMs as Conservatives rush Bill C-51 debate. CBC, February 19, 2015. [url]http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/csis-oversight-urged-by-ex-pms-as-conservatives-rush-bill-c-51-debate-1.2963179[/URL]
___________________
Just a few days ago, we contacted you with an urgent opportunity to stand up against Stephen Harper’s Secret Police bill.
Great news - Leadnow members and local leaders across the country have stepped up to host snap actions this Saturday, March 14. We’ve already confirmed at least 45 events and thousands of people have said they’ll be there.
Will you join us? Click here to check out the map and RSVP to a local event in your neighbourhood.
The worst parts of the bill could be raised by experts at crucial hearings taking place over the coming days - but we need to show the Harper Conservatives that there’s growing opposition from people all across the country, and all walks of life.
Every person who comes out will make all our voices stronger. If there isn’t an event near you, you can use the same link set up a new event. It’s a strong and effective action, and we’ll help by inviting local Leadnow community members, and giving you the support you need to succeed.
Momentum is building against this bill. Now, it’s up to us to speak up loud and clear that we won’t stand idly by while politicians and spy agencies try to trample our rights.
Are you in? RSVP at http://we.leadnow.ca/stopc51
Thanks for all you do,
Kelly on behalf of the Leadnow team
~ Here's the original email ~
Dear Friends,
Lately, the Harper Conservatives have been pulling some dirty tricks with their reckless "Secret Police" bill. First, they tried to limit debate. Then, they tried to avoid scrutiny by rushing the bill through Committee. Now, they're putting out disgusting fear-mongering ads to sell their political agenda in a way that's forcing some level-headed Conservatives to speak out.[SUP][1][/SUP] Their new tactics show their desperation to pass this reckless bill before more Canadians learn about its dangerous details.
The Leadnow community has already made amazing progress fighting against this bill, with more than a million people seeing the campaign to Reject Fear online: but we need to take this to the next level if we’re going to stop the worst parts of the bill.
That’s why we’re working with partner organizations on a plan to hit the streets on Saturday, March 14, all over the country, to stand together and show that the people of Canada don’t accept Harper’s fear-mongering, and we don’t accept this bill. But to pull it off, we need you to be there.
Will you join your local snap action as part of Defend our Freedom: a National Day of Action to speak out against Harper’s reckless “Secret Police” bill? Find your local event and RSVP here.
If there isn’t an event near you, you can use the same link set up a new event. It’s a strong and effective action, and we’ll help by inviting local Leadnow community members, and giving you the support you need.
There’s no better way to show our opposition to this bill than by hitting the streets - proving that we’re willing to stand proudly in our hometowns, shoulder to shoulder, in opposition to this bill. If we’re successful, politicians all over the country will know that passing this bill in its current form is too poisonous to risk.
Many of the events will be organised by groups collaborating on this important campaign, and some events will be organised by local Leadnow community members. Some of the events will be large rallies, and others will be small gatherings. But all events will have this in common: they’ll be family-friendly, effective actions against a dangerous bill that must be stopped. Find a map and all the info you need to RSVP here.
If there was ever a moment to hit the streets on this issue, it’s now. The Conservatives will likely spend the next two weeks making up their mind about whether they need to change their tune on this Secret Police bill. And they’re under immense pressure to do so: over just a few short weeks, the number of communities and individuals who have spoken out against this dangerous bill is overwhelming. Former intelligence officers have lambasted the bill for its gross overreach into everyday lives of Canadians[SUP][2][/SUP], and former Prime Ministers have shamed the risks of passing it without proper oversight[SUP][3][/SUP].
But this is an election year, and there’s just one court that politicians abide by -- the court of public opinion. So now it’s up to us to make our verdict loud, and our judgment clear, in saying that we won’t stand idly by while politicians and spy agencies try to trample our rights.
But for this plan to work, we need you to be a part of it. Will you have the courage of your convictions, and prove that you’re rejecting fear and rejecting Harper’s spin?
Click here to RSVP to next Saturday's National Day of Action to Defend our Freedom, and reject Harper’s secret police bill.
To ratchet this up and influence the future of this bill in the moment that matters most, we need to build pressure on the ground, in towns and cities where MPs will feel it most. Are you in?
Thanks for being a part of it,
Jamie, Kelly, Rodrigo, Stefan, Sanna and the Leadnow team
PS - In a moment like this, we need to speak to all political parties when we say: we expect our leaders to deal in truth, not in fear. We expect them to defend both our rights and our securities. And above all else, we expect them protect our democracy, by listening to us, the people, before they pass a dangerous, reckless and ineffective bill into law. Click here to RSVP to an event near you next Saturday, March 14.
Sources
[1] Tories Criticized Over 'Fear-Mongering' Facebook Post On Bill C-51, West Edmonton Mall Threat. Huffington Post Canada, 4th March 2015.http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/03/04/bill-c-51-west-edmonton-mall_n_6801058.html
[2] Former CSIS officer warns new federal anti-terror bill will ‘lead to lawsuits, embarrassment’, National Post. February 2013.http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/02/13/former-csis-officer-warns-new-federal-anti-terror-bill-will-lead-to-lawsuits-embarrassment/
[3] CSIS oversight urged by ex-PMs as Conservatives rush Bill C-51 debate. CBC, February 19, 2015. [url]http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/csis-oversight-urged-by-ex-pms-as-conservatives-rush-bill-c-51-debate-1.2963179[/URL]
