By: Virago

Image source Flickr

Back in February of this year, the Harper government boldly introduced a new bill entitled the Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act , known officially as Bill C-30. It is a proposed amendment to the Canadian Criminal Code that would require telecommunication service providers to log all personal subscriber information such as their name, address, unlisted and cell phone numbers and IP address (one's online identity) for release to the authorities upon their potential request. More importantly, the bill would make backdoor functions mandatory, securing unannounced remote access to individuals' electronics and the information within them by bypassing the need for permission or passwords. And all of this, without a warrant! This bill would effectively grant the government the surveillance power to track and monitor the digital lives of all innocent and law-abiding Canadians - not just the very minute portion suspected of child-related crimes. The current government is not beyond meaningless bill name changes to sound more appealing, false justifications and childish proclamations, or even infringing on civil right in order to force through this privacy-invading bill under the guise of "protecting children".

The bill was presented by Conservative MP and Public Safety Minister Vic Toews as a necessary step to end child trafficking and pornography in Canada. He said, "This is legislation that civilized, democratic countries around the world recognize is important in order to deal with some very significant problems."1 (CBC News) The problem with that claim, however, is that beyond the mention of "protecting children from predators" in its title, the words "children" or "internet predator" oddly do not appear anywhere in the bill's actual content. Furthermore, Bill C-30 was originally labeled the Lawful Access Act - a name that mayhave rubbed citizens the wrong way, one that might confirm any uneasy feeling that the government would like access to more of our information. No wonder they decided to change it. Shortly after its appearance, the bill was quickly tabled. An hour or so later, an identical document reemerged carefully renamed the Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act. Perhaps they thought this wording might better tug at people's heartstrings, yet Canadians still question its true intentions despite the latest unchanged incarnation.

By Ottman Boutrig

With its long immigration history, Canada has a strong tradition of tolerance reflected in its ethnic diversity and cultural heritage; however, in these times of economic crisis, it's easy to find anti-immigrant sentiments. It's true that some Canadians think that immigrants hinder the country, but the majority of us support immigration and consider that introducing some changes to the government's policy should make immigrants a better asset to the country.

In the world of Planetary Politics, where's the race?
 
Hailing from the planet Erehwon, G.O.Graphman attempts to understand our planetary politics while trying to help us avoid what Erehwonians call "planetary lamination." Environmental concern is the primary reason for this earthly visit, so take the quiz-like Environmental Awareness Booster found below, and spread this link to as many people as possible. The Environmental Awareness Booster is not a test, but an engaging way to inform the public about some pretty shocking facts and statistics about the Eco-system of this global sphere called Earth.

The true north strong and free? What do these words even mean now that the Canadian senate, our representatives, and our public have allowed Bill C-10 to pass? It is called "the Safe Streets and Communities Act," which sounds disproportionately urgent when considering that crime has steadily decreased since the early 1970s. Mandatory sentences will strip judges of their rights to practice that which is inherent to the nomenclature of their positions - their better judgement. It will also create the need for gigantic prison complexes to educate our wayward youth in the ways of deeper criminality. Vital funds have already started being siphoned away from our educational systems, our healthcare facilities, and our environmental and sustainability projects. Rather than investing in preventive social programs, and in education itself, the conservative government prefers the wrath of old testament consequences to tangible social reform.

For anyone who has not learned about what happened and is still happening with this world wide scandal, these videos are very fun and informative.

What does Restauration mean?
It is the French word for restoration, which has deep cultural roots in both politics and theater. It is also commonly employed when restoring works of art or buildings to their once and former glory. Many times during the following interview at Shäika Café on the corner of Sherbrooke and Old Orchard, just across the street from the Empress Cultural Centre, I questioned whether or not the term could be applied to one's faith in elected political leaders. I believe it can.

The following is an interview with Peter McQueen, City Councillor for NDG, who was halfway through his term at the time of this interview in October. He will be up for re-election in 2013.