Robocall protests to be held Canada-wide

[capricorn]

It's important to keep tabs on nationwide robocall protests. Turnout will be a good measure of how mainstream Canadians are reacting about the alleged infractions around the May 2011 elections.

Carrying placards and flags, chanting slogans and following police on motorcycles, a modest number of demonstrators that included members of Parliament, union leaders and average citizens marched to a prominent war memorial from the Vancouver Art Gallery.

“Messing with the vote is just really for me the last straw, and I think for a lot of Canadians this is where the rubber hits the road,” said Sarah Beuhler, co-organizer of the Vancouver rally.

“I'm really scared for our democracy. The bills that we're seeing coming out of this majority government – we're harkening back to the George Bush era in the States.”

The protesters called for a public inquiry into the matter.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/03/03/vancouver-protests-robocall-scandal_n_1318520.html?ref=canada-politics

Demonstrators marched through downtown Vancouver Saturday in protest of the robocall scandal.

Carrying placards and flags, chanting slogans and following police on motorcycles, a modest number of demonstrators that included members of Parliament, union leaders and average citizens marched to a prominent war memorial from the Vancouver Art Gallery.

"There isn't a more important issue than this in Canada right now," said rally organizer Sarah Beuhler, with OpenMedia.ca.

"We can fight on every issue but if we can't trust the ballot box this is going to turn into something very shortly that isn't Canada."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/03/03/bc-robocall-rally.html

On to today's Ottawa protest on Parliament Hill.

The controversy over harassing and phoney election calls drew a small crowd on Parliament Hill today as demonstrators braved bitter cold to denounce the robocalls affair.

The Ottawa rally followed a demonstration last weekend in Vancouver that attracted a few hundred people.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/protesters-take-to-parliament-hill-to-show-displeasure-with-robocalls-141446143.html

More protests are planned.

[olpfan1]

Its still winter, turn out will probably suck

[capricorn]

Its still winter, turn out will probably suck

It's 5 degrees today in Vancouver. Take a wild guess at what the temperature was on Saturday.

As for the Ottawa protest, if, as the opposition claims, this is the biggest scandal in Canadian history, I would expect a larger turnout on the steps of Parliament.

[Guest Derek L]

It's 5 degrees today in Vancouver. Take a wild guess at what the temperature was on Saturday.

As for the Ottawa protest, if, as the opposition claims, this is the biggest scandal in Canadian history, I would expect a larger turnout on the steps of Parliament.

Indeed it is………We’ve already had a few short sleeve days……..It’s sunny (but windy) out now, and I’m going to take the dogs for a walk along the seawall…….dressed in shorts and fleecy no doubt

Saturday was generally mild, overcast and with the occasional spitting………..

I suppose deriding this discussion into the local weather report suggests the importance of said “marches”

Edited March 5, 2012 by Derek L

[UofGPolitico]

It's 5 degrees today in Vancouver. Take a wild guess at what the temperature was on Saturday.

As for the Ottawa protest, if, as the opposition claims, this is the biggest scandal in Canadian history, I would expect a larger turnout on the steps of Parliament.

Exactly, if people really feel their democratic rights are being crapped on, chilly March weather should not be an excuse to explain low-turn out.

[olpfan1]

It's 5 degrees today in Vancouver. Take a wild guess at what the temperature was on Saturday.

As for the Ottawa protest, if, as the opposition claims, this is the biggest scandal in Canadian history, I would expect a larger turnout on the steps of Parliament.

Vancouver is the warmest city in Canada

Its like -14 C in Ottawa with a -24 windchill .. who the hell will stand out in that?

[Boges]

Exactly, if people really feel their democratic rights are being crapped on, chilly March weather should not be an excuse to explain low-turn out.

The term is Slacktavism.

Doesn't appear Canadians are outraged at the Robocall scandal now does it?

While allegations surrounding robocalls have mesmerized media and triggered enraged accusations in the House of Commons, they have had little effect on Canadians' support for the Conservative party, according to a new poll.

A new study by Nanos Research for CTV and The Globe and Mail found the Conservatives holding steady as the top choice for 35.7 of those polled.

The Liberals were second with 29.5 per cent support and the New Democrats were in third place with 25 per cent support when respondents were asked which federal party they would consider voting for.

Support for the Conservatives was essentially unchanged from polling a month earlier. The Liberals were up slightly from 27.6 per cent, while the NDP's numbers also held steady.

Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Politics/20120305/conservatives-lead-harper-most-trustworthy-new-nanos-poll-120305/#ixzz1oHAGi1pV

Oh wait nevermind, Nick Nanos is the pocket of the CPC right?

[olpfan1]

It's 5 degrees today in Vancouver. Take a wild guess at what the temperature was on Saturday.

As for the Ottawa protest, if, as the opposition claims, this is the biggest scandal in Canadian history, I would expect a larger turnout on the steps of Parliament.

Vancouver is the warmest city in Canada

Its like -14 C in Ottawa with a -24 windchill .. who the hell will stand out in that?

[olpfan1]

The term is Slacktavism.

Doesn't appear Canadians are outraged at the Robocall scandal now does it?

Oh wait nevermind, Nick Nanos is the pocket of the CPC right?

The poll I saw had cpc at 30 ndp 29 libs 21

[olpfan1]

Indeed it is………We’ve already had a few short sleeve days……..It’s sunny (but windy) out now, and I’m going to take the dogs for a walk along the seawall…….dressed in shorts and fleecy no doubt

Saturday was generally mild, overcast and with the occasional spitting………..

I suppose deriding this discussion into the local weather report suggests the importance of said “marches”

Once again Vancouver/Victoria area is the warmest in Canada

You guys barely get snow

Edited March 5, 2012 by olpfan1

[UofGPolitico]

The poll I saw had cpc at 30 ndp 29 libs 21

Which also did not show any significant drop for the Tories from EKOS's previous poll.

[UofGPolitico]

Vancouver is the warmest city in Canada

Its like -14 C in Ottawa with a -24 windchill .. who the hell will stand out in that?

People who feel like their democratic rights have been robbed from them, that's who.

There are irregularities in our system, no question, and hopefully some of them can be rectified as a result of the on-going investigations. However, the exaggerated suggestions of some that our process is tainted and that we are living under some despot that must be deposed in a "Northern Spring" is absolutely ridiculous and belittles the fight for actual democracy in places such as the middle east and other regions of the world.

Edited March 5, 2012 by UofGPolitico

[olpfan1]

Exactly, if people really feel their democratic rights are being crapped on, chilly March weather should not be an excuse to explain low-turn out.

in what universe is -24 windchill chilly? not many people in the world are capable of standing for long in that kind of cold without going somewhere to warm up

[huh]

Vancouver is the warmest city in Canada

Its like -14 C in Ottawa with a -24 windchill .. who the hell will stand out in that?

yea, its not as though Canadians are used to the cold, but i suppose keeping up the facade of feigned outrage about this issue just isnt worth it.

[olpfan1]

Which also did not show any significant drop for the Tories from EKOS's previous poll.

it also didnt have the cpc dominating the other parties

[UofGPolitico]

in what universe is -24 windchill chilly? not many people in the world are capable of standing for long in that kind of cold without going somewhere to warm up

People in Egypt and Syria are getting killed standing up for their democratic rights and you are saying cold weather is an excuse not to protest to protect our democracy, if in fact that is what people really feel the need to do?

[Boges]

These protesters are pussies!

Yours,

Libya and Syria.

They're getting shot at while protesting but at least it's warm.

[UofGPolitico]

it also didnt have the cpc dominating the other parties

Yes, and it didn't have them dominating BEFORE robogate either. And EKOS I don't really trust either way because they were so far off during the 2011 vote. They were the only polling firm that was suggesting the NDP could actually form government when it was clear they were no where near doing that on voting day.

[olpfan1]

yea, its not as though Canadians are used to the cold, but i suppose keeping up the facade of feigned outrage about this issue just isnt worth it.

There is a reason why the majority of canadians prefer to stay inside during the winter

you think we enjoy snow & cold? bullllllllcrap

[PIK]

I love it, this just shows that this probably a occupy/Anonymous style group that did this. Now they get to protest again. Or we just might find out a incompetant elections canada might have caused this. But one thing that I find funny is how they handled 31000 calls in a very short time. And how many of these 31000 recieved any call at all or a call that was legit. People memories are not that good ,especially after 10 months. Down deep people know harper had nothing to do with it, at worse it could be some low level guy got carried away, but the left better hope it's not or they just sunk themsleves for good. Lawsuit abound, this could be the biggest mistake the left has done. Polls the last few elections have been right on, and if their was some majors changes because of this so called scandal,it would have showed. But the most disgusting thing about it all, is pat martin.

[olpfan1]

People in Egypt and Syria are getting killed standing up for their democratic rights and you are saying cold weather is an excuse not to protest to protect our democracy, if in fact that is what people really feel the need to do?

Oh give me a break, they live where snow is rare, its warm there most of the year

they aren't going to die if they sleep in a tent in the middle of their citys square

You have to take into account the climate

[Boges]

There is a reason why the majority of canadians prefer to stay inside during the winter

you think we enjoy snow & cold? bullllllllcrap

You clearly have never seen that Tide Cold Water TV ad.

[UofGPolitico]

Oh give me a break, they live where snow is rare, its warm there most of the year

they aren't going to die if they sleep in a tent in the middle of their citys square

You have to take into account the climate

Its not the arctic. If you dress appropriately coupled with marching and waving signs around and maybe the occasional hot drink, you would be fine.

[olpfan1]

Its not the arctic. If you dress appropriately coupled with marching and waving signs around and maybe the occasional hot drink, you would be fine.

You can dress as warm as you can, wear the right things but still get frostbite if you are exposed long enough

[UofGPolitico]

You can dress as warm as you can, wear the right things but still get frostbite if you are exposed long enough

You are right, better wait until June.