JUST ANOTHER ANGSTY BLOGGER WITH WEAPONS FOR BOOBS

I keep seeing people make a big deal out of raising minimum wage to 9$ an hour. In Canada minimum wage is set by the province. Our lowest minimum wage is 9.75 an hour and our highest is 10.30.

All minimum wage passed 9$ an hour in 2011.

Get with the times America, get with the times.

drugdoer:

whatwouldthomasjeffersondo:

it’s sad that the founding fathers would probably be deemed too radical today to even be allowed on any mainstream news

people would probably refer to them as crazy extremists

people would refer to them as “people who believed in slavery in the year 2013” you fucking idiot

(via infamousnfamous)

In a few hours, I will be answering all of the questions I have gotten about omnibus budget bills C-45 (400 pages) and Bill C-38 (390 pages) through a YouTube video. My intention is to summarize both bills becuase people don’t have time to read 790 pages and it isn’t just about land protection. There are tons of other cuts to services, programs and corporate taxes that haven’t been covered by much of the media.

So if you have a question, now is the time to ask.

My goal is to make both bills accessible to everyone.

Find your MP

Dear [The Name of Your MP] of [The Name of Your Riding],

     On December 13th 2012, 130 First Nations Chiefs signed a document called the Fraser Declaration. The Fraser Declaration will hopefully become a legally binding contract to preserve the Fraser River Watersheds, a body of water which many Canadians would like to protect.

     The declaration comes as communities and First Nations Bands have been left out of the negotiations. Throughout April to December, people who wish to have a say in the process have been banned from even entering the buildings where Enbridge pipeline hearings take place. When the hearing shut down in Bella Bella, people held a 48 hour hunger strike because they felt they had no other choice in getting the government to listen. Unfortunately, that hasn’t kept the government from shutting people out of Enbridge hearing rooms even as recently as December 14th 2012 in Victoria. On December 10th, activists delivered a petition of 45,000 signatures to stop the Northern Gateway pipeline to Enbridge headquarters in Vancouver.

        There is no lack of passion on this issue. People across Canada are making an attempt to exercise their democratic right on this issue, only to find themselves being shut out by security fences and seemingly apathetic officials.

        It is no secret that projects in this country remain in limbo for decades when negotiations stall between the government and First Nations leaders over land rights. First Nations communities have made too many sacrifices over the years for the government to refuse to listen. We have places where companies ship off enough energy to power a small city, all the while Aboriginal communities nearby are forced into using antiquated methods to heat their homes because they have been excluded from the process of creating that economy.

    There are many Aboriginal communities who have been isolated onto reserves without clean water or proper housing. When those communities come to the government with ideas to make things better, they find the door slammed in their face. This government constantly talks about the potential First Nations communities have, but frequently denies these communities the opportunity to thrive.

    As a Canadian, I am embarrassed by the state of our First Nations Reserves. It is as embarrassing now as it was a year ago, that the Red Cross had to intervene in Attawapiskat, after so many calls for help were made to the Parliament. It is embarrassing that the Assembly of First Nations is building a school in Attawapiskat and not the government, when our government has a responsibility to provide all Canadians with an education. But what’s most embarrassing of all, is that reserves like Attawapiskat remain in state of adverse poverty, while private corporations; be it De Beers, Enbridge or otherwise, continue to see their profit margins grow, off the resources that they exploit near these poverty stricken communities. 

   The fact that Attawapiskat chief Theresa Spence, has to go on a hunger strike to discuss the problems still faced in her community, to get Parliaments attention is unacceptable. Community leaders should not have to find indirect routes for a chance to speak with their government.

    The state of Aboriginal rights in this country is appalling. We can claim to support human rights with every word spoken in the House of Commons and every stroke of ink that appears on pieces of legislation, but until the government begins to recognize First Nations voices in the decision making process, that support is hypocritical. This government is choosing to continue to uphold up a colonial system that excludes people from having their voices heard. 

   First Nations Chiefs have made efforts time and time again to sit down with legislative officials and CEOs of private corporations, to have a conversation on how agreements can be made, and time and time again, they are provided no cooperation from the government. Parliament is constantly being provided the opportunity to listen to First Nations leaders, communities, environmental experts and concerned Canadians and Parliament has chosen not to take that opportunity or not take it seriously.

   The Fraser Declaration is another chance for Parliament to be a leader in human rights and democracy. As an MP, you have the power to change this country and it is your duty as an MP to make that change for the betterment of Canadians and not private corporations. As a Canadian citizen, it is my responsibility to tell you how you can improve this country and by sending you this letter, I am fulfilling that responsibility.

    As a Canadian citizen, I am asking you to do everything in your power to respect Aboriginal rights and give Aboriginal leaders a seat at the negotiating tables of resource development projects.

  Please pressure Parliament to honor the Fraser Declaration and keep the Northern Gateway Pipeline from happening. In doing so, Parliament will be taking a step forward in the rights of Canadians and will be putting action behind Stephen Harper’s claims to want to give Native Canadian communities the opportunity for economic growth.

Thank you for your time

Sincerely

[Your name]
[Your riding]

Feel free to add where I have missed:

Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Ontario: Also referred to as the “Ring of Fire”. Nishnawbe Aski Nation has an outstanding state of emergency in all 49 of it’s Northern Ontario communities because of an OxyCotin epidemic.

Wawa, Michipicoten First Nations and surrounding area, Ontario: Declared October 24th during Hurricane Sandy when roads collapsed leaving many stranded on a nearby First Nations reserve

Kashechewan Reserve nearby to Attiwapiskat, Ontario: Multiple states of emergencies were declared between November 23rd and December 2nd. Prior to that declaration, the federal government was approached several times when it became apparent that no fuel could get on the reserve without assistance. The federal government choose to ignore the oncoming emergency at Kashechewan.

Fort Albany Reserve, Ontario: Close to Kashechewan, Fort Albany reserve flooded on October 25th 2005. 300 people were removed from the reserve and relocated to Wawa. Since then many more State of Emergencies have been declared there.

13 States of Emergency have been declared this year alone in James Bay. All of the communities in the James Bay area has declared a state of emergency at least once within the last 3 years.

Pikangikum First Nation, Ontario: Declared April 2012 after water born illnesses broke out from lack of safe water. Dealt with by AFN, Pikangikum is still under water boiling advisory; an advisory shared by 116 other reserves. That’s 116 communities who have not declared states of emergencies without safe drinking water.

Little Saskatchewan and Lake St. Martin, Manitoba: Originally three communities declared states of emergencies after flooding in Manitoba during April 2011. The one on Peguis was lifted later in 2012 (if you don’t know about Peguis, they are amazing), but we’re heading into 2013 and Lake St. Martin residents are being pressured to move onto Little Saskatchewan reserve which is still under state of emergency, where recurring floods is a constant problem.

Little Buffalo and Lubicon, Alberta: After an oil spill in 2011, Little Buffalo and Lubicon Cree Nation in the Peace River Region,  were forced to declare a state of emergency. The provincial government nor the oil company never came to clean it up. State of Emergency still stands in Lubicon.

Rainbow Lake, Alberta: A State of Emergency was not declared, but urgent action was called after 22,000 were leaked. The leak also may potentially affect communities in NWT and Northern BC.

Daylu Dena along Laird River, BC: Daylu Dena called a State of Emergency after massive floods forced people out of their homes in June. The State of Emergency was never lifted.