By Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care:

With the federal government announcing that it will be revealing its Designated Countries of Origin list to inform its handling of refugees on December 15th, Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care is warning provincial governments, medical professionals and health institutions to brace for more chaos and cases of individuals not being eligible for care.

Opinion polls are a great and simple way for you to express your big opinion on the issues of the day. A few clicks, you’ve spoken! Our current poll on the question “What did you celebrate on Canada Day?” closes at midnight on Tuesday, July 17. Join hundreds of Canadians who are shaming the biased mainstream media reports to tell us exactly what they celebrated on the big day. And if you’d like us to publish your own poll, just send it using the form below the poll. Just a question or statement on any of the hot issues in Canada today, and three or four possible answers.

Vote now.

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Use this form to submit your opinion poll. If chosen your poll will be published on Wednesday, July 18.

I feel as though I’ve been wrenched from the light of the world and exiled to the heart of darkness.

My friends, I just want to let you all know that we’ll not be able to stay as connected as we’ve been during the last seven weeks of my ongoing indefinite hunger strike against Harper’s cruel new crime law, the Safe Streets and Communities Act (Bill C10). I owe Ottawa Hydro and they disconnected my hydro service earlier today.  (For those unfamiliar with the term “hydro”, it’s what you’d call “electricity”.)

So far, being connected and communicating with you all via Facebook, Twitter, email and my blog had been a pillar of my coping strategy. Now I’ll have no internet access. I’ll not be able to update my blog as regularly as I should. And, needless to say, my apartment will be in the dark most of the time. (Well, what are candles for, right!) I can’t say when the service will be restored. I don’t have the more than $250 I owe them.

By Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive, Mar. 19, 2012:

Honorable MP, what is happening to Canada?

At 12:01 am on Wednesday, March 14, I embarked on an indefinite hunger strike whose demand is: the Parliament of Canada immediately repeal the new Safe Streets and Communities Act (omnibus crime Bill C-10). Earlier, I had appealed to the Governor General of Canada, The Right Honourable David Johnston, to use the Crown’s reserve powers to either withhold or reserve Royal Assent to Bill C-10. But Prime Minister Stephen Harper‘s tyrannical will prevailed, just as it did when the Conservative majorities in the House of Commons and Senate brushed aside the diverse input of the opposition, experts and victims and passed crime Bill C-10. The bill reportedly received royal assent Tuesday afternoon. I will now continue the hunger strike until the Act is repealed in its entirety.

At 12:01am on Wednesday, March 14, I started an indefinite hunger strike against the Conservative Government’s new Safe Streets and Communities Act (crime Bill C-10). My five demands include the immediate repeal of the Act and resignation of Senator Vernon White.

Important links:

• Letter to Parliament of Canada
• Letter to the Governor General of Canada
• Letter to Canadian MPs
• Demands

• Releases: 
  • Release 1
  • Release 2

• Media Coverage:

• Activist protests omnibus crime bill with hunger strike, Rabble.ca
• Hunger strike activist spurned at doors of Canada’s Parliament: “Go put it in the mail”, AllVoices
• Ottawa man to go on hunger strike to protest Bill C-10, Metro News
• Man begins hunger strike to protest omnibus crime bill, Centretown News
• Taking a stand against ‘draconian’ crime bill, EMC Ottawa South
• Occupier begins hunger strike to protest crime bill, Charlatan

• Selected Journal Entries: 

• Day 2 Update
• Day 5 Update
• Day 7 Update
• Day 9 Update
• Day 11 Update

• Upcoming Public Actions:

• 24-hour Solidarity Hunger Strike (details coming soon)

• Completed Public Actions:

• 12-hour Solidarity Hunger Strike at the Canadian Human Rights Monument (Ottawa)
• Ottawa Bill C-10 Hunger Striker’s March to Parliament Hill

It’s Day 2 of my indefinite hunger strike to demand the repeal of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservatives’ draconian Safe Streets and Communities Act (Bill C-10). I started the peaceful protest at 12:01am on Wednesday, March 14.

I’m doing great. My spirits are high. I’m getting the maximum support I expected from most of my close friends.

Today’s developments

• Received positive coverage from Metro Ottawa
•  Had three interviews with the local media
• Held conversation with colleagues and friends who are hammering out plans for support including: regular visits, medical attention, etc.
• Attended and spoke at the Ottawa International Day Against Police Violence Vigil
• Met with a colleague from the Occupy Ottawa media team
• Read a chapter 9 of the Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King
• New friendships made
• Music, music, music!

Image via Wikipedia

The Conservative government’s “austerity” budget cuts, they’re coming. Huge cuts to social programs and services. Cuts so deep they’ll alter the quality of life of thousands of Canadians. Especially through massive job losses in the public sector. Surely, this is the wrong moment for reckless, ideology-inspired cuts.

Statistics Canada reported last Tuesday that the economy contracted 0.1 per cent in November. In October, the economy recorded zero growth. The budget is expected to slash as much as $8 billion from federal spending.

Not long ago, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives warned us that the cuts will slash 60 000 jobs. This report: The cuts behind the curtain: How federal cutbacks will slash services and increase unemployment.

Cuts targeting the wrong places.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper now uses every opportunity he gets to remind us that “Conservative values are Canadian values”. Even: “Conservative values are Canadian values”. But how does Harper relate this tired propaganda to Canada’s recent sales of billions worth of military hardware?

In its last six years in power, the Conservative government sold guns, bombs and munnitions to some of the worst human rights abusers in the world: China, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Libya. Or, yes, Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya! Weren’t these rogue regimes persecuting their own people? Aren’t they now?

As the Canadian military’s Afghan mission wraps up, the mainstream media daily reminds us of our so-called achievements in Afghanistan. Very little is being said about Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s determination to militarize Canadian society and culture.

Shawnee chief Tecumseh was not part of the official 2011 Canada Day celebrations yesterday. Did ordinary Canadians even miss him, like they should?

Canada Day mostly commemorates the War of 1812. Americans invaded Canada to conquer the country and kick the British out of North America.

Tecumseh led aboriginal soldiers – alongside soldiers of the British army – and defeated the Americans. He was killed in action fighting the Americans in October, 1813, at the Battle of the Thames.  

Tecumseh died defending Canada. So why not commemorate him properly?

Granted, we have public schools bearing the great man’s name. Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship HMCS Tecumseh too. But, considering Tecumseh’s pivotal role in the creation of Canada, all the current – are not enough. They’re too invisible to the public. Until the day they are featured in the press, of course. 

As a new immigrant, I’m completely sold on Canada’s values. If strengthened at home and extended beyond our borders, these values would make this world a better place. But I’ve had very little of Canada’s history.

Changing Canada Day to Tecumseh Day would be a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to one of Canada’s proudest moments. It would teach us all about the ernomous contributions and sacrifices aboriginal peoples made to make Canada the greatest country it is.

Mostly importantly, changing Canada Day to Tecumseh Day would guarantee that I or another person of color would be properly acknowledged if we gave our all for Canada.