Council Of Canadians Election Coverage Or Spokesperson?

The CBC is promoted as the voice of Canadians. We have deep concerns over the $1 billion taxpayers fund every year for an independent voice, when it is anything but independent. We have empathy for the journalists, reporters and writers who are struggling to bring Canadians all views but are hampered by the corporate influence. So although we strongly disagree with the posturing on CBC’s website Canada votes, we understand. What we do not understand is the Council of Canadians website posturing. You are a widely respected group of dedicated individuals who are accepted by Canadians as informed and willing to speak truth. As you point harsh fingers at the militarization of Canada, the lack of peace in the world, the unfair trade deals, the horrific treatment of human beings in Canada and around the world, the lack of foreign aid, the lack of commitment to Kyoto, the failure of government to eradicate poverty, the duplicity of the BMD and on and on; you fail to point out that there is one, and only one legally registered political party in Canada with the political will to address all of the issues. Why are we left wondering about the direction of the Council of Canadians? In short because you have taken the road promoted by mainstream media, which addresses none of the issues. When you suggest here are your 5 choices (Liberal, Conservative, Bloc, NDP or Green) and here are their policies, and then you have another category called ‘other’ you clearly point to Canadian Action Party as ‘other’ implying not a ‘real choice’. When in fact we are the only ‘real choice’. We are the only voice that states unequivocally we must abrogate NAFTA now! We are the only voice that is fearlessly educating Canadians about the threats to our freedoms. We are the only party that will protect our water, our natural resources. We are the only party that clearly stands for a return to the use of the Bank of Canada to remove the incredible burden of debt on the backs of all Canadians. The debt, which prevents us from fully supporting our publicly funded healthcare, education, seniors programs and prevents us from addressing poverty in Canada and around the world. As long as we continue to feed the corporate machine, via the banks, we will never be able to meet our commitments to foreign aid! So when you promote a section of your website to election issues, but fail to even discuss the options available you are doing a disservice to Canadians. Your token side note suggesting, here are the other parties if you are interested and then give them a link to our website, is insulting at best! Why don’t you explain? Do you really believe that Canada will gain its independence or rise above the corporate rule, through the prominent political parties you are promoting? So when we declare that you are sending mixed messages, we then are forced to ask why? Why would you not at the very least, list Canadian Action Party as a viable choice? You are stating firmly what the problems are but then you lead the people to 5 choices which will not rectify the problems. They will not because they cannot. They are controlled by corporate dollars. They are not part of the solution. They are the problem. You and other Canadians have been fighting this losing battle for many years with no positive results. Why do you continue on a fruitless path, when there is another option? You have an excellent section called Tell Your Candidates and then you list five things to tell them: TELL CANDIDATES YOU WANT THEM TO: Stop private health care This federal election, demand that candidates stop health care privatization in Canada. Develop a better trade policy for Canada This federal election, demand that candidates support a better trade policy for Canada. Establish a “made-in-Canada” energy strategy This federal election, demand that candidates commit to a “made in Canada” energy strategy that allows Canadians to pay a fair price for our energy. Protect Canadian water This federal election, demand that candidates support a national water policy that protects Canadian water from commercialization and bulk exports. Promote peace at home and abroad This federal election, demand that candidates continue to say “no” to Ballistic Missile Defence, and work to re-establish Canada’s role as an international peacekeeper. Canadian Action Party candidates are 100% supportive of these 5 statements. Our policy is founded on these and more. The most encouraging element is that the people of Canada do not have to convince their CAP candidate to promote this ideology because it is ours. When we are elected we will not turn away from the mandate of the people of Canada in favour of corporate influence. We are the people’s party. Is it not the purpose of the Council of Canadians to expose the problems and offer solutions? Would it be a valid observation to say that Council of Canadians would be redundant if the problems you expose were solved and therefore, it is your own survival you are protecting? We are not asking you to promote Canadian Action Party. We are not asking that you tell Canadians that they have only one real viable choice in this election, even though it is truth. We are asking you to be the other voice. The voice that says here are the political parties, which support our ideology or parts of our ideology. Here you will find the Canadian Action Party, some of the NDP policies, some of the Green Party policies. The NDP has made several good suggestions but they come up short. You quote Ms Alexa McDonough several times in your email, however if you are serious about protecting our water, our nation, then Abrogating NAFTA must be strongly encouraged. We recommend that in your 'other section', you highlight those parties which do not support your ideology. These are the 'other' choices, which do not support peace, healthy societies, environmental issues, a thriving society, protecting our water and our nation's freedom and sovereignty. If it is your mandate to be a 'council of Canadians', then why are you projecting an image of spokespeople, for the parties that threaten the demise of Canada? If it is your mandate to expose truth, then why do you mask it? Are you serious about the threats you expose? Are you serious about offering Canadians direction? You may suggest that you do not have that authority however, your voice does carry authority and you speak with it on your website and in all your correspondence. We urge you to consider the contents of this letter and help to save this country before it is too late. You have a role to play. You have a mission and you have declared yourselves to be the voice of concerned Canadians. We urge you to follow that declaration! Yours truly Catherine Whelan Costen Canadian Action Party President with Bev Collins Canadian Action Party Vice President Cc : Media www.canadianactionparty.ca [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on December 22, 2005]

Note: www.canadianactionparty.ca