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Petition Tag - canadian
1. Investigate Toxic PCB's on Canadian Warships 
Canadian Navy destroyers, tankers, and destroyer escort ships built in the 1950's and 1960's contained toxic PCB's: "Any of a family of industrial compounds produced by chlorination of biphenyl, noted primarily as an environmental pollutant that accumulates in animal tissue with resultant pathogenic and teratogenic effects."
Polychlorinated biphenyl, or PCB's are known to cause cancer, genetic, and neurological disorders in those exposed to them, even over a short period of time. The above mentioned warships were eventually sunk as artificial reefs after decommissioning, and divers later found high levels of PCB's emanating from them. While this poses a risk to marine, plant-life, and recreational divers, what about the 10's of thousands of Naval personnel who lived, worked, and sailed on these vessels during their 30 year life span?
Record of the discovery can be found in many news archives, this is one as an example:
Ships used as reefs contain PCBs - CBC
2. Reinstate "pips and crowns" for Canadian Army officers
Prior to Unification in 1968, Canada's Army officers wore the traditional "pips and crowns" for ranks from second lieutenant to general.
Upon Unification, the Army (or Mobile Command as it became known) wore generic bars, the same as the Navy and Air Force.
Dare to be Deep: CPAWS has identified 12 marine areas that are excellent candidates for protection.
These are amazing places that nurture fish stocks and shelter endangered species like Right and Blue whales, tufted puffins and leatherback turtles. This petition is to get 12 marine protected areas (MPAs) by the end of 2012!
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is a non-profit, grassroots-based conservation organization and Canada’s voice for wilderness since 1963.
Our vision is to protect at least 50% of Canada’s wilderness and oceans. Our British Columbia chapter is one of 13 across Canada.
4. Protest the Protect Children from Internet Predators Act aka C-30
This directly threatens the freedom of Canadian citizens.
I believe it will ineffective at catching child predators, and will directly damaged the privacy of law abiding citizens.
It gives the Canadian government the unregulated ability to spy on its citizens
If you sign this petition please post a link to it on your facebook if you have one so others may sign as well.
Home retrofit incentives; Three-year continuation of home retrofit incentive programs from 2012 through 2015.
The global economy is struggling and Canadian governments want to create jobs and build a foundation for growth. A three-year commitment to continue popular home retrofit incentive programs is an ideal first step, because it:
•Creates jobs immediately in all communities across Canada, reduces government deficits, and delivers long-term benefits for Canadian families including lower energy bills, reduced pollution, and healthier, more comfortable homes.
•Maintains the existing capacity and industry confidence required to build a solid foundation for private sector growth of Canada’s home energy marketplace
There are many advantages to renewing home retrofit incentive programs for an additional three years:
•create jobs -- now and over the long term -- in all communities across Canada
•help families save energy, lower their energy bills and protect the environment
•reduce government deficits because retrofit incentive programs generate two dollars in tax revenue for every dollar invested by the government
•stimulate the economy at no cost to government
•improve health and comfort of Canadian homes
•reduce pollution and health-care costs
•combat the underground cash economy in home renovation services
•protect families, communities and Canada’s economy from rising energy prices
•generate economic activity in the same communities where homeowners live, creating local jobs and business for tradespeople, contractors and suppliers
•support innovation and private sector investment in Canada’s home energy saving industry.
6. Let Us Continue To Say "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
LET US CONTINUE TO SAY: “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
Heartfelt Welcome!
The compassionate and big-hearted people of Canada gave me as well as many other immigrants New Home and PROTECTION, when refuge was desperately needed.
They welcomed us, the new-comers with open arms and let us "BE" in their country without restrictions or barriers (which we experienced in our Native Lands) by allowing us to: Speak freely our mind without being arrested, retain our traditions and our native languages, educate our children instilling our traditions and customs. And, to teach our children our Religion (or a Religion of our choice), build Churches (and Schools) and let us make many personal choices, which were denied in our native lands.
As a "THANK YOU NOTE" we, the new-comers to this wonderful Country CANADA, are TAKING AWAY the traditional CANADIAN celebration: CHRISTMAS.
The End-of-the-year Holiday-Time has different significance to many people: For some it means to have a few days "off" away from the business pressures they endured during the year. Others are busy closing their "Books", while many are just beginning to earn some income, because their business is "End-of-the-Year" oriented, and/or welcoming the NEW YEAR while many nationalities have their Religious Celebrations as well.
And it happened that at this time of the year the Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus – the Son of God, renown in the whole World as the prophet who was educating people to be moral, virtuous, kind-hearted and compassionate to each other.
Because we, the residents of this Great Country, do not follow this kind of teaching, find ourselves facing many difficulties in our lives and consequently blame Christian CHRRISTMAS!
Please, my Friend, sign this Petition and let the Governing Offices know that you do not agree to this extremely discourteous treatment of the host-people's inoffensive tradition to say "MERRY CHRISTMAS!". Let there be "GUIDE" to make people understand that this is not a suitable approach of showing amiability, respect and mutual affinity in our society.
Disrespect causes apartheid and confusion amongst citizens.
Since there are no restrictions to other ethnic groups to the use of their traditional "titles" at the end-of-the-year festivities, so let the word "CHRISTMAS" to continue to be used as customary without criticism, sarcasm and belittling.
Thank you, My Friend, for your precious time and "MERRY CHRISTMAS" to YOU and YOUR Family.
Love and Peace Amongst Nations
Olga O'Mara-Raven
olgaomara@yahoo.com
7. Tell Canada to "Show Up" for Health
From October 19-21, 2011, over 100 Member States of the United Nations will be formally participating in the World Conference on Social Determinants of Health, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Among the delegates will be numerous heads of state and, at last count, over 60 Ministers of Health and other senior Government Ministers from around the world -- including Ministers from other G8 countries.
The Government of Canada is currently refusing to send its Minister of Health and/or other senior Cabinet Ministers to this key global meeting. The absence of Canada's Prime Minister and other federal Ministers from this world conference will send a dangerous message that neither the health of Canadians nor global cooperation to improve health in other countries are priorities for the Government of Canada.
---------------------------------
OCT 21 UPDATE: On October 20, Canada's Minister of Health was asked, in the House of Commons, why she decided not to participate in the global meeting. See video for question and response (English translation of questions provided below).
TRANSLATION OF QUESTION: "Mr. Speaker, this week 118 countries are meeting in Brazil to develop a plan of action on the social determinants of health. However, this government (Canada) is not attending. In Canada, 20% of health care spending is attributable to preventable social causes of illness such as inadequate housing and poverty. The World Health Organization recognizes that social inequities result in inequities in health.The costs are astronomical. Can the Minister of Health explain why she is not at this important international meeting."
8. Help Farmers Save the Canadian Wheatboard's monopoly on grain sales
The Election of a majority government in Canada has enabled the Conservative Party to move forward with many initiatives. Manitoba Premier Greg Sellinger has financed an ad campaign to promote saving the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly of the sale of grain in Canada.
Canadian Farmers rely on the Wheatboard to control the price of Grain and ensure they are able to sell their grain at fair market prices. Eliminating the monolpoly will open up competition to outside forces like larger American Corporations like Cargill, et al. This will put downward pressure on Grain prices and force many Canadian Farmers out of the business.
As Canadians it is in our best interest to insulate our farmers from outside competition and insure we are able to sustain our current way of life.
9. Protect the endangered language Michif of the Metis peoples of Canada
Demand that the Canadian government protect Michif, the language of the historic Metis people of Canada, and other endangered native languages in Canada. The Metis were historically the children of French fur trappers and Cree native women, they developed their own unique culture and language that was a hybrid of French and Cree.
In modern day Canada Metis is also defined by being of mixed European and Aboriginal ancestory. There is a desperately strong need for more resources for people who wish to learn Michif, such as teachers, courses, classes, Resource Centres, books, magazines, websites & audio files such as CD's and MP3 files. Very tragically, this language is so endangered that only an estimated 500 people speak it.
The language Michif and other native languages are in serious threat of extinction due to horrible moves by the Canadian Government including Residential Schools.
The Metis were a valuable culture in Canadian history must be protected!
10. Make biodegradable plastic bags mandatory
Plastic bags are a heavily consumed product of the non-renewable resource petroleum, when they break down they pollute the sea, the earth, the crops and the animals. Animals can think they are food and choke and die, or have them trapped in their digestive system. It is far from a painless death.
Plastic bags take many years to biodegrade, they are a danger to the health of humans and animals alike. Sign to keep the Canadian environment pristine, beautiful and safe for all life.
We need to get rid of these harmful plastic bags that fill up our precious landscape with landfills. It would make a very significant, positive difference to make biodegradable plastic bags mandatory.
11. Stop Fraud by cell phone companies
HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY CALLED CANADA HAVE BEEN THREATENED BY THE CELL PHONE COMPANYS.IF YOU DON'T PAY THIS BILL (THAT YOU DON'T REALLY OWE )WE WILL PUT YOU IN TO THE COLLECTION AGENCY.OR WE WILL RUIN YOUR CREDIT.
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE BEING EXTORTED FROM INNOCENT TAXPAYERS YET THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOTHING. THE CRTC DOES NOTHING ITS TIME WE TOOK THIS MATTER IN HAND.
12. Support Canadian National Child Care
We are calling on you to work together to honor the promise of a national child care program to all Canadian families and children. Canada’s children and families deserve the right to a National Child Care System. November 2009 marked the 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and Canada still scores LAST amongst industrialized nations in our provision of early childhood education and care and family support policies.
The place to start is by protecting the early learning and child care agreements between the Government of Canada and the provinces. While income support for families is a valid policy goal, a taxable family allowance and a tax credit for employers will not create early learning and child care services that are high quality, available and affordable.
Families need income supports and publicly funded child care services. By supporting families with affordable, high-quality options for early childhood learning and care will benefit child development and the social and economic well-being of communities. The variations of policy across Canadian provinces has only allowed Canadians to create a disjointed system and framework, which results in inequalities for our children and families across the nation. We call on all governments to protect and enhance progress on creating a framework to support a National Child Care System.
Children in Canada and their families need high-quality, accessible, inclusive and PUBLICLY FUNDED early education and care for their children. Canada has made many attempts at implementing a national publicly funded system, but have failed each time. We hope that this will be our last attempt because we WILL succeed in convincing our government to take responsibility for Canadian children, and to give our families a real choice in the care and education of their children.
It is time for Canadians to demand a system that values children and families, and makes early childhood education and care a fundamental part of our country. We need to ask our government to commit to building the child care system that Canadians want.
Please add your name to this petition and forward to everyone who you know. The children are our future.
We will be holding a rally in Toronto on March 8th, 2011, and encourage our neighboring cities, provinces and territories to follow our lead.
For more information, or to get involved, please email us at nationalchildcarenow@gmail.com
13. Time for Canada to sever ties with the British Monarchy
Although probably the majority of Canadians wish to keep ties to the British Monarchy, I wish to revisit the idea of supporting such institutions. I personally believe it is no longer healthy for our society and as well not healthy for the monarchy to keep perpetuating the idea of birth right to rule. These ideas are archaic and I believe humans have progressed passed this.
I think our society should support the rise of humans who have the skill and capability to do the job. As well, the freedom to democratically choose those who we feel as the majority should represent and make decisions on behalf of our country.
The world is changing, supporting these institutions may have very little bearing or effect in our own country due to limitation of the monarchy's power, but the perceptual image has an effect globally. Other peoples, such as in counties of the middle east, are not so lucky with their monarchs.
Even though I no longer support our monarchy as I have in the past. My own idealism and thought process have deemed it no longer relevant and even dangerous to other counties of lesser fortunes.
I do wish the current monarch luck, and even feel a bit bad for writing this piece. But I feel is must be thought out for the benefit of Canadians and all humans if these institutions represent what is right and fair.
14. VOTE Canadian Chris Ellison onto SURVIVOR!
After 23 seasons and 3 million Canadian viewers, we believe it is important for Mark Burnett and CBS to open the applications up to Canadians.
Chris Ellison seems to be the ideal candidate to apply. Please consider him as a castaway.
Visit www.CanadianDestinationsMag.com for more information about Chris Ellison and this petition.
15. Save Elizabeth Bradford Holbrooks Stone Panels From Demolition
In 1954 the Canadian noted Canadian sculptor Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook was commissioned by the government to create 8 large relief stone panels for the facade of the Federal Building in downtown Hamilton, Ontario.
These works of art today are regarded as historically significant as they depict the then thriving wildlife and industry in Canada. Images carved by Holbrook include the now endangered species of the Caribou, Grizzly Bear and Beaver as well as threatened industries such as cod fishing, mining and lumbering. All once a vital part of our nations history and still today topics of relevant concern.
Mr. Vranich, President of Burlington-based Vrancor Group, bought the federal building in 2004 for a condo project, but the structure has been vacant since. In 2008 the city took back a $4 million renewal loan after Vranich failed to move on the project. In 2009, he and his company were fined after pleading guilty to breaching fire regulations by using the building to illegally store propane tanks, carpets, mattresses and wooden furniture.
On January 13th Mr. Vranich issued a permit to have the former Federal Building and its sculptures by Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook demolished. Clearly Mr. Vranich does not understand the hisotrical or cultural importance of the stone sculptures created by Dr. Holbrook who received the Order of Canada for her contributions to Canadian art.
City officials say unless Vranich is willing to negotiate removal of the sculptures, there's nothing they can do because the building is not protected by a heritage designation. The only real hurdle stopping the wrecking crew is a requirement he give the city 60 days written notice of its demolition.
We need to strongly request that the City of Hamilton designate the former Federal Building with Heritage Designation to prevent these works of art to be lost forever.
16. Concern, Compassion & Un-Common Sense for Canada
The Marihuana Medical Access Division of the Canadian Government is archaic, wasteful, inefficient, and incapable of serving those who depend on it. Police have shut down Compassion Clubs in every province outside BC. They provided OUR ONLY SOURCE for a SELECTION of high quality, safe, effective, organic, medicinal cannabis products ~ the government DOES NOT!
MMAR applications are long, complicated, multi-part paper forms which have to be filed and re-filed ANNUALLY! Most patients who obtain a license WILL NEVER BE ANY BETTER! Why complicate and bog down an already horrendous process by repeating the unnecessary? Do they assume if you don’t re-apply that you have died? The doctor provides a prescription, the onus should be on him to modify it, if required, or stop it. Once approved, additional “paperwork” should be the exception – NOT THE RULE!
Patients and growers apply – AND WAIT – for months, or years! Many forms are returned for reasons that neither the patient NOR the doctor can figure out…they tell you there is a problem, not what it is. The BEST case scenario today is a 3 month MINIMUM before you can even ask about the status of your application. If you make an “inquiry” before the 10-12 week window they quote, you are told that IT WILL BE DELAYED!
Our government PRODUCES & DISPENSES SUB-STANDARD MEDICATION. Cannabis replaces MANY different medications and relieves 200 ailments and symptoms. They offer only “cigarettes” or seeds; one Grade (B); one strain (Indica); process it like tobacco to further reduce its efficacy; and sell it to us. They sell a lower grade product for about the same price as the “criminals” on the street offer.
Imagine the government closing pharmacies, making you apply for your medicine, making you wait AT LEAST 3 MONTHS to see whether or not you can have it, if you ask about it before then IT WILL BE DELAYED, and IF they let you have anything it will only be aspirin and YOU HAVE TO BUY THE STUFF THEY MAKE!
This absurd situation has precipitated the ABSOLUTE NEED for Compassion Clubs. If there is a problem with ONE NEW outlet, raid them. The more established, responsible clubs require letters from doctors – verified. They do not allow non-members inside or loitering outside. They dispense only what is allowed and no more than 2 weeks supply. They keep records and conduct business in an ethical manner.
The government approves licenses if you provide the correct form, sworn to, that you have a medical problem but can’t get a doctor to fill out their form. Is that so different from a notary? That problem is the person lying or the notary swearing to it >>NOT THE COMPASSION CLUBS!
The Canadian Government does not know what it is doing. They should ask for help from the network of Compassion Clubs, growers, and patients. We possess the first-hand knowledge, experience, skills, and insight needed to make this right. WE WANT TO HELP – JUST ASK!
17. Date the Sacrifice Medal to August 9, 1974 (Peacekeepers' Day)
The Sacrifice Medal may be awarded to members of military missions who, on or after October 7, 2001, are killed or wounded under honourable circumstances as a direct result of hostile action, if those injuries require treatment by a physician. Psychological injuries are eligible.
The Sacrifice Medal replaces the Wound Stripe.
18. Allow the Auditor General to review Parlimentary spending
Auditor-General Sheila Fraser has suggested that her team of auditors be invited to review Parliament’s books.
In Ottawa, the overall budgets of MPs’ offices – such as total amounts spent on printing or furniture – are released, but the public does not have access to individual receipts.
The release of such information in the United Kingdom revealed that one MP tapped taxpayers to clean his moat.
19. Equal Pay for Canadian Women
Currently in Canada a woman makes $0.705 for every $1.00 a man makes. This needs to be addressed! We are currently ranked 25th in the world on the gender gap index. Do we want to be known for this?
Steven Harper recently tried to change the Canadian National anthem to be Gender Neutral. This is a lame response to a serious problem. I think it is insulting that Harper has concentrated on such a backward fruitless task. We need to make sure that he does something substantial in its place!
I think it is about time something real was done. The average pay for women in each and every company needs to be on par with the average pay for men of that same company. Also these companies need to be held responsible for this requirement. Any Companies found violating this law should be fined and a portion of the fine paid to each of the effected female employees. Age, ethnicity, and religious background need to be brought into play as well.
As well a regular audit of a company’s payroll should be made to ensure that a company is being compliant. Possibly done once every 2 or 3 years for each company.
For anyone wanting to see articles about this problem I'm including some links below:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/02/21/is-this-the-quiet-end-to-pay-equity/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/the-nightmare-gender-gap/article1488609/
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2010/02/08/HarperWomensRights/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=080210
Feel free to leave additional web based sources in your comments and I’ll do my best to add them when I have time
The "Honourable" Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration removed all references to Same-sex marriage, and gay equality, from the new guide for New Canadians. This was done against the repeated explicit advice of his officials.
The bigotry has been exposed by dozens of newspapers and news programs in Canada -- here are two of them:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/774193--jason-kenney-excludes-gay-rights-from-guide
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/immigration-minister-pulled-gay-rights-from-citizenship-guide-documents-show/article1486935/
21. Keep the Canadian National Anthem the Same
Help keep our national anthem the same. There is talk about changing the Canadian national anthem to be "gender neutral". The Conservative government wants to change the line "in all our son's command" to something more inclusive, in honour of the Vancouver Olympics.
I understand the desire to promote equality and woman's rights, but this is our national anthem! Do we want our national anthem to be up for review every time someone makes a complaint? I personally want to see some things kept the same. This is a symbol of our country and our heritage, it should not be up for change ever! I want to see our anthem protected against meddlers. I do not with to offend anyone who find our lyrics offensive, however I do not want to wake up one morning to find that I no longer recognise our national anthem. I want to see the changes stopped here and now.
It is not that I have anything against gender equality, I just do not want to see the floodgates opened on this issue. If we change one line in our national anthem, where will it stop? Take out god for the atheists? Take out native for all those that might find that word offensive? Maybe even take out Canada for all those who have immigrated here. Where would it end? I do not want to find out, as I’m sure many of you do not want to either. Our national anthem may not be perfect, but I for one like it the way it is!
See one of the following links for the full story:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=2638898
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/774649--conservatives-eye-new-lyrics-for-our-national-anthem?bn=1
http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2010/03/deficit-no-lets-talk-about-the-national-anthem.html
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/732416
22. Please Reinstate Angelina Love's (Lauren Williams) TNA Contract
It recently came to my attention that Lauren Williams (Angelina Love, of Total Nonstop Action wrestling) had been terminated due to mishandling of her work Visa paperwork. She had been working illegally in the United States ever since she was released from the developmental contract in WWE a couple of years ago. This is all very well understood and has been taken into consideration in the drafting of this petition.
However, as one of thousands of fans of her work, I ask the general public (if not the world), wrestling fans and non fans alike, to come together and make your voices heard by signing this petition. If we can collect enough names, the TNA President and general management will be sure to realize that Angelina Love is a necessary staple in TNA's operation and a much beloved performer to people all over the world.
Perhaps the impact of this petition will encourage Total Nonstop Action wrestling management to pursue future negotiations with Lauren Williams once her work Visa issues have been sorted out.
23. Support the Cash for Clunkers Program in Canada
The USA government introduced recently a program called Cash for Clunkers. Americans will be given credit towards a new car in exchange for their 1995 or older vehicle.
The Canadian government has talked about it briefly in early July 2009. Canadians want this and the Canadian government needs to hear it for us.
24. China: a UN inquiry required re Xinjiang
An introduction to Uyghurs and their motherland, East Turkistan (look) www.uyghurcanadiansociety.org
East Turkistan, also known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, lies in the heart of Asia.
East Turkistan is located beyond a logical boundary of China, the Great Wall. Historically, East Turkistan is a part of Central Asia, not of China. East Turkistan's people are not Chinese; they are Turks of Central Asia.
The version of the Urumchi unrest that has been presented to the world by the Chinese government follows this narrative. On July 5, Uyghur “plotters” took to the streets and in a display of “beating, smashing, looting, and burning” killed 197 people and injured 1,721. The riot was masterminded by Rebiya Kadeer and the World Uyghur Congress. Yesterday, Nur Bekri, the Chairman of what the Chinese government calls the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, admitted that Chinese security forces used live ammunition and shot dead protestors, who were referred to as “mobsters” in the official media, to control the unrest.
This version of events, as is so often the case with Chinese reporting, is not true. For instance, we know that far more than 12 Uyghurs were shot by Chinese authorities.
The Chinese government, through its proxies in the official media, is obscuring the truth in order to conceal a mass killing of Uyghurs by Chinese security forces. Furthermore, through its demonization of Uyghur protestors in the official media, it is attempting to justify the impending mass executions of Uyghurs as promised by Chinese officials.
25. STOP! please read - this is NOT the official petition for Canada
to sign the official Canadian petition PLEASE visit this link:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/meatfreemondaycanada.html
Global Petition Coordinator:
I would like to invite you to help make "Meat Free Monday" adopted by governments around the world. Ghent, Belgium's officials have created an official "veggie" only day - recognizing the many benefits that a plant based diet has on the environment (not to mention human health).
Now you can urge other governmental bodies to do the same. Lend your support by visiting the official international facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=109725730676&ref=ts
If you’re not on facebook you can visit this website
blogs.myspace.com/leronr
for a list of all the "offical" meat free petition movement that is taking place around the globe
I look forward to your thoughts and input on how to make this the best possible plant strong collaborative effort so that our veggie vision is soon shared by those in office and the public at large. We welcome new people who want to take an active role.
All the best,
Global Meat Free Monday Team
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=109725730676&ref=ts
26. Keep Federal Support of Literary, Scholarly and Arts Magazines
Canadian literary, arts, and scholarly magazines publishing in either English and French are in danger of losing a key federal funding source.
Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore announced in a speech he made in Montreal (http://www.pch.gc.ca/pc-ch/minstr/moore/disc-spch/20090217-eng.cfm) that the Canada Magazine Fund and Publishing Assistance Program will be merged to create the Canada Periodical Fund. Eligibility for funding could potentially be restricted to those magazines with an annual circulation above 5000.
With notable exceptions, the circulation of virtually every Canadian literary, arts, and scholarly magazine, large and small, is below 5000.
27. Create a new open Division for all 55kph male slalom skiers
The 55kph slalom skiers make up the largest portion of our membership, what better way is there to showcase, increase competitiveness, participation and reward those exceptional skiers over the age of 35 with a new 'open' division.
This has been done already within USA Waterkski and has a large competitive field and with new events such as the 'Big Dawg' series creating this division will not only help to grow our sport it will help breed a stronger Canadian elite competitor for major international competitions.
28. Moratorium against the use of tasers
-Moratorium against the use of tasers by the police and the transit security;
-the use of tasers by transit police is far outside guidelines that say they should be used only if someone is suicidal, violent or about to injure himself or someone else;
-Translink police are Canada's only armed transit police force;
-60 more people have died since Robert Dziekanski after being Tasered by police, including five Canadians;
-At least 286 people in North America have died since 2001 after being stunned by the TASER's 50,000 volt discharge
-There is no way of knowing whether individual Taser weapons meet the manufacturer's specifications;
-There are no Canadian safety testing standards of any kind for the devices;
-It is entirely possible that some weapons discharge much more electrical energy than they are supposed to, and that police officers are unwittingly killing people as a result;
-TASER and the law enforcement community often point to other factors that they say actually cause death;
-such as drug or alcohol use or a phenomenon they have coined "excited delirium", which is not a recognized medical condition;
-TASER International says so-called "excited delirium" is a potentially fatal condition.
-Here are some questions: How many people have died of "excited delirium" in the last five years in situations that did not involve law enforcement? Do people only reach potentially lethal levels of excitement or delirium when they are accosted by peace officers?
-Tasers are arguably being overused by police;
-They have reportedly been used to shock children as young as six (in Florida) and an 82 year old woman was recently shocked in Chicago;
-Amnesty International studied 271 fatalities and found that the victim was unarmed in all but 22 of the cases. Most of these victims were no risk to anyone.
Omar Khadr is a Canadian citizen who is currently being held at Guantanamo Bay. Khadr was fifteen years old at the time of his capture. He is currently the only Western detainee at Guantanamo Bay, as the Canadian government has refused to extradite him. He is on trial for crimes that he allegedly committed at the age of 15.
New videos have come to light that illustrate the serious mistreatment that Khadr has faced while in Guantanamo.
30. Cease the costly, misguided campaign against legal handguns
In the wake of escalating handgun violence in Toronto (and other large Canadian urban centres), the Mayor of Toronto and the Liberal Government of Ontario have waged a politically-motivated campaign to ban legal handgun ownership in Canada.
But the law provides for fair compensation for these guns and any related property rendered useless.
Similar bans have been implemented in Australia and Britain costing taxpayers hundreds of millions, yet the use of handguns in crime has almost doubled and is rising annually since 160,000 citizens were forced to turn in their handguns in 1997.
There are almost 500,000 legally owned handguns in Canada, yet stolen handguns constitute about 15% of the illegal stock.
Legal handgun owners are among the most law-abiding and carefully scrutinized people in Canada yet the proposed ban clearly intends to punish these victims of crime for the actions of thugs - most of whom have already been cycled through our "justice" system.
Handgun violence in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg is the product of a pervasive gang and drug culture.
This is where the government should be directing its focus and its scarce resources.