Us Canadians need to live up to the stereotype that we are a nice, peaceful, and safe country. Clearly the so-called trucker protest tarnished our reputation, but in financial circles our reputation is tarnished thanks to our neglect of corporate accountability. Internationally Canada is seen as a great place to
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Views from the Beltline: How corrupt is Canada?
How corrupt is our country? Not very. But we can do better. According to Transparency International’s (TI) 2020 report, we are in eleventh place on their Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Denmark and New Zealand tie for number one; the United States is 25th. We rank best in the Americas at
Continue readingPolitical Potshots: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation And The Astroturf Lawnmower
Astroturfing is the practice of masking the sponsors of a message or organization (e.g., political, advertising, religious or public relations) to make it appear as though it originates from and is supported by grassroots participants. Doesn’t that sound like it was written for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation? Given Canadian media’s reliance
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: If Not Harper, Then Who?
“I’ve seen issues come up before that get a lot of press attention, and sometimes a photograph or sometimes a side issue can move votes, but I always believe that the big votes are moved on the big issues. I don’t believe that most people are attracted by the rabbit
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Truth Out: What’s Going On With the TPP?
TPP Update: After years of secret negotiations, we’ve just learned U.S. Trans-Pacific Partnership officials have decided to appoint a “Chief Transparency Officer.” So who did they pick? One of their own lawyers, Tim Reif. Not exactly encouraging. TPP provisions will grievously hurt the Internet and our right to free expression! We
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Albertans have a right to ask questions about the integrity and preservation of their government’s records
Alberta Tories contemplate their departure from the Legislature. Actual Progressive Conservative Government officials may not leave office in exactly the manner illustrated. Below: But if they do, is this the fate of their secrets? Below that: the late premier Ralph Klein and privatization advocate and cabinet minister Steve West. There’s
Continue readingTHE CANADIAN PROGRESSIVE: Canada setting new global standard for TPP secrecy: Council of Canadians
Despite being less than a week away from hosting hundreds of negotiators and other officials from the other 11 TPP member countries, the Canadian government has kept a tight lid on any details about the Ottawa meeting. The post Canada setting new global standard for TPP secrecy: Council of Canadians
Continue readingMelissa Fong: #Urbanarium2014: How to build a truly “Engaged City”?
“Engaged City” was unanimously passed yesterday, and it seems like the pundits are all out criticizing the process. … Democratization of the planning process is a fundamental problem with bureaucratic institutions; government is fundamentally hierarchical. Do we target Vision Vancouver? NPA? Nah*- There is a problem with the plumbing and
Continue readingMelissa Fong: DTES Local Area Plan- Speaker #5, on Amendments
We need to respect the experiential knowledge of DTES residents that understand how the plan violates their security. Not fundamentally opposed to Vision- but you have to realize reality. If you insist on the ideology of “social mix” you also have to set up the circumstances for dignity of all
Continue readingMelissa Fong: Downtown Eastside Local Area Plan- Summary
Like last time, I did some LiveTweeting of the evening- My strategy is to summarize the main point of all the voices; add in my OWN commentary (I can be […]
Continue readingMelissa Fong: The facts on PHS scandal & following reactions of critics, boards and Jenny Kwan
…The fact is that PHS provides really important harm reduction programming that needs to be defended. The scandal involves non-profit board members that are supposed to be working in the best interest of the DTES, not on #34KVacations. Townshend and Small (Jenny Kwan’s ex) are implicated with irresponsible spending on
Continue readingMelissa Fong: Financial reform: Taking responsibility as public servants and otherwise…
Facts: I don’t hate Vision Vancouver. I’m indifferent to the overall career of Gregor Robertson. I actually like Andrea Reimer, from what I know of her. (Confession: I really like […]
Continue readingeaves.ca: Canada’s Opaque Transparency – An Open Data Failure
Yesterday, at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) Canada Minister of Natural Resource, Joe Oliver, announced with great fanfare a new initiative to compel mining companies to disclose payments of over $100,000′s to foreign and domestic governments. On the surface this looks like a win for transparency, particularly for
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: How Canadian companies can fight surveillance
Canadian Internet Service Providers are eerily silent when it comes to information about whether or not they have assisted ultra-secretive spy agency CSEC with their surveillance of law-abiding Canadians. Jon Penney discusses what Canadian companies can do to help fight surveillance. Article by Jon Penney for The Citizen Lab The
Continue readingParliamANT Hill: Army ant commander promises discipline against media leaks
Inspired by this headline: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/army-commander-promises-discipline-against-media-leaks-1.2495204
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Mother Jones’ Modest Proposal
Like me, you probably share that sinking feeling that privacy is gone for good, dead without so much as a fight. If you want a reasonable degree of privacy any more you have to live self-sustainably in a cabin on a lake deep in the forest and hope you’re not
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Harper: Bringing New Levels Of Accountable Government To You
It comes as no surprise that The Harper Government has spent a great deal of time and energy doing its level best to be as unaccountable as possible to voters. So it comes as little surprise that Suzanne Legault, The Information Commissioner of Canada is less than impressed with the games
Continue readingParliamANT Hill: CanadiAnt Taxpayers Federation Demands Accountability, but Not for Itself
Inspired by this headline: http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2013/09/17/Canadian-Taxpayers-Federation-Accountability/
Continue readingLeDaro: Anthony Weiner for the mayor of New York City
Anthony Weiner campaigning on the streets of New York City. He believes in transparency.
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