Archive for Participatory democracy

That kind of sums it up.  What a wonderful send-off I got from my whole team, plus other supporters from this riding and others.

Former Green Party leader Jim Harris at last night’s event: “No wonder the other leaders don’t want Elizabeth May in the debates – because she would mop the floor with them”.

Our first flyers are in and distribution is about to begin.  As of last night, our signs were finally on the presses.  The company had been having problems with their presses, causing a delay of 3 days.  But this weekend we hope to start getting lawn signs out.

I also canvassed my first poll with cards in hand.  That’s what I’ll be doing for most of the rest of the campaign.  Getting out and meeting people.

I’ve been stunned by the number of people walking into our office, many not even Green Party supporters, asking what they can do to help Elizabeth get into the debates.

Here’s what you can do:  Sign the petition.  Find out more.

In the Toronto Star today, Peter Russell explained and demonstrated how we elect a Parliament and not a leader, that any new government must enjoy the support of the majority of elected members in the Commons, and how Harper’s implication that a coalition is illegitimate is, well, wrong.

When we hold an election we do not directly elect a prime minister. We elect a House of Commons. It is this elected chamber of Parliament that decides who governs the country.

There is a good explanation of why we know this is so, with precedents and rules.

Friday, 2011 March 25, 4 to 6 pm
Room 144, University College, University of Toronto
15 King’s College Circle

The General Meeting of Science for Peace will host a talk, Is Parliament Broken?, by Peter Russell, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto. Members of the public are cordially welcome.     Read more »

I’m a worrier. For most of my life, I’ve fretted over my children like many mothers do. Their health, their grades, their social development. The last few years I’ve been worried at a whole new level. When I was a young woman, analysts predicted a clean future powered by the sun and wind. They pointed out the urgency of starting this great transformation because a few decades later it would be too late. For multiple reasons including climate change, the imminent decline of oil and the stress on vulnerable but critical water and other resources, delay would bring on miserable results. That was a now a few decades ago. We are more dependent than ever on oil, our emissions keep rising, water tables are declining all over the world and food stresses are leading to riots in countries all over the world. Governments in North Africa are tumbling to populations that demand to be fed.

I remain hopeful that by investing in a green economy, we may still turn things around in time and deliver a future not too unlike the present for our children. That is what I’m working for, that is what I want to see – a Canada much like the Canada we all know, but moving boldly into a transitional economy from which we will emerge into a more permanent economy that’s more efficient and respectful of our limits.     Read more »