Revue de presse
The dismantling of Canadian democracy promotion, brick by brick
By Nicholas Galletti and Marc Lemieux, The Globe and Mail
The Canadian International Development Agency’s Office of Democratic Governance, which channelled much of Canada’s democracy funding, was disbanded. The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Democracy Unit was folded into the Francophonie and Commonwealth division.
Pétard mouillé à Droits et Démocratie
Par Hélène Buzzetti, Le Devoir
La vérification externe commandée par la nouvelle administration ne révèle aucune malversation ayant justifié le grand ménage imposé.
CIDA did not cut KAIROS, President confirms
By KAIROS Canada
... Members of Parliament from each of the three Opposition parties have risen in the House of Commons (on December 10, 13, 14, and 15) seeking a motion for contempt of Parliament against the Minister. Central to this point of privilege is the contention that the Minister misled the House when she, and her Parliamentary Secretary, suggested that the KAIROS proposal was rejected at the CIDA level. ...
Read the audit Rights & Democracy doesn’t want you to see
By Daniel Leblanc, The Globe & Mail
... The Globe and Mail has obtained a full copy of the Deloitte audit of Rights & Democracy, and is posting it in its entirety for all to see. ...
Oda: I don't know who altered KAIROS memo
By Lee Berthiaume, Embassy Magazine
CIDA Minister Bev Oda has found herself under fire after admitting to a parliamentary committee last week she does not know who altered a memo in which CIDA staff strongly recommended funding for ecumenical group KAIROS.
In fact, the minister said she did not know if she even personally signed the document or whether it was altered before her signature was affixed to it, prompting renewed allegations of political interference — and possible fraud.
Funding cut over politics: Aid group
By Laura Payton, The Ottawa Sun
Canadian aid funding is getting more political, at the risk of wasting taxpayers' money, a coalition of aid groups charged Wednesday.
Julian Assange should be assassinated, Canadian official claims
The Telegraph
An advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada has called for the "assassination" of the WikiLeaks founder. Speaking in live television interview on the CBC News Network, Tom Flanagan flippantly said he thought Julian Assange "should be assassinated" and suggested Barack Obama "should put out a contract and maybe use a drone". He added he "would not be unhappy if Assange disappeared".
Siddiqui: Harper guts yet another independent agency
By Haroon Siddiqui, The Star
Stephen Harper has taken the axe to a jewel of a Canadian non-governmental organization.
The Ottawa-based Forum of Federations has won kudos around the world for promoting the Canadian idea that federalism helps avoid conflicts, advances nation-building and enhances peaceful democratic governments and societies.
The Forum is a unique Canadian invention, established in 1999 at a conference at Mont Tremblant, Que., where Bill Clinton famously said that the Canadian federation works splendidly well, despite the strains of Quebec separatism.
Une nouvelle “chasse aux sorcières” menace l’espace public
Par Le Journal des Alternatives
Alternatives se joint à plusieurs organisations pour dénoncer la position de mépris du gouvernement canadien envers droit à la liberté d’expression de la population canadienne
Former British MP George Galloway Announces Ten-City Speaking Tour of Canada.
Tour includes visit to Jason Kenney's Calgary constituency
-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
Former British MP George Galloway will appear in ten cities on a pan-Canadian speaking tour from November 16 to 27, 2010. Organized by local peace coalitions and Palestine solidarity campaigns across Canada, the tour is called "Free Palestine, Free Afghanistan, Free Speech". Mr. Galloway will speak about the Canadian government's attempts to ban him as well as the political situation in the Middle East and Central Asia.
Canada on Ice: at the UN
By Ian Williams, Foreign Policy in Focus
Canada’s defeat in elections for a temporary seat in the UN Security Council has implications that reach beyond being an upset for Stephen Harper’s conservative government in Ottawa. It reinforces how far most UN members are from supporting other nations that unconditionally accept Israeli behavior in the Middle East. It also, ironically, lends some support to Ottawa’s longstanding opposition to increasing the number of permanent Security Council members.
In Search of Canada's Non-Profit Policy
By Betty Plewes, The Mark
Aside from a speech by Lawrence Cannon last July and recent remarks from David Johnston, the Harper government has shown almost no interest in Canada's non-profit sector.
Two weeks ago, many in the non-profit sector were delighted to hear Governor General David Johnston identify volunteerism and philanthropy as key pillars in a smart and caring society and as areas of focus in his new role as GG. How this will fit with the government’s stance on the non-profit sector remains to be seen. To date, the Harper government has made few policy statements about the contributions of voluntary and non-profit organizations and has yet to set out a vision for their place in society, the economy, and democracy.
Harper censure aussi les scientifiques
Par Robert Poulin, Le Devoir
Andrew Weaver est un climatologue canadien de réputation internationale. Il est un des rédacteurs du dernier rapport du GIEC (groupe d'experts intergouvernemental sur l'évolution du climat) de l'ONU.
Le Dr Weaver rappelle qu'en 2006, le gouvernement conservateur de Stephen Harper a supprimé cinq organismes fédéraux dédiés à la protection de l'environnement. En 2007, il a empêché les partis de l'opposition et les ONG de faire partie de la délégation canadienne à la conférence de l'ONU sur le climat, à Bali. Plus tard en 2007, M. Harper nommait un représentant de l'industrie du charbon à la tête du principal organisme ayant pour mandat de le conseiller sur les questions environnementales. À l'été 2007, il a ordonné à tous les scientifiques d'Environnement Canada et de Ressources naturelles Canada de ne plus accorder d'entrevues aux médias sans l'approbation du bureau du premier ministre.
Droits et Démocratie doit demeurer indépendant et non partisan
Par Le comité de coordination de la Coalition Pas de démocratie sans voix!, PDSV
À la lumière de la nomination de M. Stéphane Bourgon au poste de directeur des communications, relations gouvernementales et planification stratégique à Droits et Démocratie, nous, organisations de la société civile, qui souhaitons défendre la liberté d’expression et la démocratie, sommes extrêmement préoccupées par la poursuite des nominations partisanes au sein de cet organisme.
U.K. politician George Galloway flies to Toronto on Saturday after court decision
By James Clark, rabble.ca
Former British MP George Galloway will now arrive in Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 2, to resume his pan-Canada speaking tour after being prevented from entering the country in March 2009. A welcome rally will assemble at 5 p.m. at the Terminal 1 arrivals gate at Lester B. Pearson International Airport, where Galloway will hold a 15-minute press conference.
Droits et Démocratie embauche un avocat qui a défendu des criminels de guerre
Par Alec Castonguay, Le Devoir
La haute direction de l'organisme fédéral Droits et Démocratie vient de créer un poste stratégique qui sera occupé par un ancien candidat conservateur, Stéphane Bourgon, un avocat qui se spécialise dans la défense des dirigeants de la planète accusés de crimes de guerre et de génocide, a appris Le Devoir.
Federal scientists face tighter media rules
By The Canadian Press, CBC
Canada's scientific community is buzzing over newly tightened rules that further restrict government researchers from speaking with the media about their work.
Officials speaking on behalf of Natural Resources Canada have to first get 'instruction' from the minister’s office, the department says. (Canadian Press)
Yet the No. 1 policy statement for government communications, according to Treasury Board, is to "Provide the public with timely, accurate, clear, objective and complete information about its policies, programs, services and initiatives."
The directive is part of the "Communications policy of the Government of Canada," posted on the Treasury Board website and dated Aug. 1, 2006, months after the Conservatives came to power.
The policy calls on public servants to speak "openly" with Canadians.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/09/20/federal-scientists-rules-m...
Tightened muzzle on scientists is 'Orwellian'. Documents reveal federal researchers, whose work is financed by taxpayers, need approval from Ottawa before speaking with media
By Margaret Munro, The Vancouver Sun
..."There is no question that there is an orchestrated campaign at the federal level to make sure that their scientists can't communicate to the public about what they do," says Andrew Weaver, a climatologist at the University of Victoria...
Margaret Atwood takes on ‘Fox News North’
...Margaret Atwood is criticizing Stephen Harper over what she sees as his dictatorial approach to regulating the airwaves...
Harper's growing 'black list' a threat to democracy: Critics
..."It's all part of a pattern," said Comartin. "If they can't get their way, they try to bully and intimidate people into remaining silent. It's part of the obsessive, excessive control by the PMO, specifically by Mr. Harper and his immediate entourage. People are told you absolutely must toe the line on everything. That is very, very dangerous for democracy."...
New head of Amnesty International speaks out
by Ingrid Peritz, The Globe & Mail
... "We are increasingly concerned about a real change for the worse in the Canadian government's approach to human rights. Domestically, there have been cutbacks in funding. There has been a shrinking of democratic space and space for dissent. There has been quite a lot of very targeted cutbacks on funding of organizations that have been asking difficult questions." ...
Amnistie internationale: «le Canada nous inquiète»
Par Laura-Julie Perreault, La Presse
«L'espace démocratique au Canada rétrécit de jour en jour. Le gouvernement rend de moins en moins de comptes à la population en matière de droits humains. Nous sommes inquiets.» ...
Les ONG sont les victimes d'intimidation de la part des conservateurs
...La porte-parole du Bloc Québécois en matière de coopération internationale et députée de Laurentides—Labelle, Johanne Deschamps, dénonce la politique de la peur imposée aux ONG par le gouvernement Harper...
Is Stephen Harper set to move against the CRTC?
By Lawrence Martin, The Globe and Mail
Last year, as revealed by The Canadian Press, Prime Minister Stephen Harper lunched in New York with Roger Ailes, president of Fox News, and Rupert Murdoch, who owns it. Kory Teneycke, Mr. Harper’s former spokesman, was also present at the unannounced event. ...
Did Foreign Ministry lobby stop Canadian funding of Israeli Arab group?
By Jack Khoury, Haaretz
... "If it becomes clear that the Israeli government pressured the IDRC through the Canadian government, this will be a real scandal," said Rouhana. ...
Gun registry advocate latest in Tory pattern of quashing dissent, critics say
By Jane Taber, The Globe & Mail
The senior Mountie in charge of the controversial long-gun registry is being replaced on the eve of a vote about its future, the RCMP has confirmed. Both Liberals and New Democrats are accusing the Conservative government of trying to silence dissent as a result since the officer is strong proponent of the costly program. ...
So Much for Democracy
by Silver Donald Cameron, The Chronicle Herald
... I am not saying that Stephen Harper is another Hitler, even in embryo. But as I watch his masterful and ruthless manipulation of his situation as a minority prime minister, I am certainly struck by his "blend of political acuity, deceptiveness and cunning." ...
Ottawa a refusé de financer une conférence d'Alternatives
La Presse Canadienne
Ottawa — Le gouvernement fédéral a fait fi des recommandations de ses fonctionnaires et refusé de financer une conférence sur le Proche-Orient organisée par Alternatives, indiquent des documents internes. ...
PSAC calls on Oda to reinstate CCIC funding
... On July 22, 2010, you announced that the next step in Canada's aid effectiveness would be to implement "a new approach to engage Canadians and organizations involved in International development". Why then would you cut CCIC's funding at such a critical time? This appears to be an ill-fated attempt to silence Civil Society and the NGO community. ...
Arab-Israeli group takes Canadian agency to court over terminated funding
by Patrick Martin in The Globe and Mail
International Development Research Centre is alleged to have cancelled grants under pressure from Israel.
An Arab-Israeli research group is taking the International Development Research Centre to court, alleging the Canadian Crown corporation cut off funding to the group under pressure from the Israeli government.
Committee's Rights and Democracy report arrives...
by Karina Roman on CBC news politics
The Report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on Rights and Democracy.
Une coalition accuse les conservateurs d'attaquer les droits et la démocratie
Pierre Saint-Arnaud, La Presse Canadienne
Le gouvernement de Stephen Harper est devenu un frein à l'avancement des droits au Canada comme au niveau international et représente une menace à la démocratie. ...
Canada: Israel's new defender, Muted support for Palestine, funding cuts for Arab groups, now a ban on the phrase 'Israeli apartheid': what's going on in Canada?
by Jesse Rosenfeld on Guardian.co.uk
At a time when many countries are becoming more critical of Israel's policies, Canada seems to be moving in the opposite direction. A general reluctance to engage in open debate about the Palestinian issue is exacerbated by pro-Israel groups' efforts to shut down discussion and the federal government's unprecedented penchant for defending Israeli actions.
Canada's new focus on front-line service delivery in development assistance misses a big part of the problem.
by Betty Plewes, The Mark
Former President and CEO of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation; member of the McLeod Group.
Canada isn’t a big player on the global stage in terms of economic and financial resources. We don’t have military might, we don’t have much political clout, and at $5.2 billion – only .3 per cent of the country’s GNI – our aid budget is a drop in the bucket. In the past we have leveraged our rather meagre resources into a solid international role through creative ideas, skilled diplomacy, support for multilateral institutions, and a commitment to the principles of human rights and international justice.
L'information sous Stephen Harper - De la transparence à la propagande
par un collectif d'auteurs dans le Devoir
Il y a quelques semaines, plusieurs journalistes ont souri d'un air entendu en lisant l'entrée Twitter de Jennifer Ditchburn, journaliste à la Presse canadienne. «Mon fou rire du vendredi: un porte-parole m'écrit un courriel off the record pour me dire qu'il ne peut pas répondre à ma question.»
Les journalistes ont ri... jaune. Ce qui n'était au départ qu'un irritant mineur pour les correspondants parlementaires basés à Ottawa est devenu une véritable menace au droit du public à l'information. La plupart des Canadiens ont entendu parler des documents censurés dans le dossier du traitement des prisonniers afghans ou encore du débat entourant les allocations de dépenses secrètes des députés, mais le problème est encore plus profond.
Libre opinion- Un Conseil menacé
Par Brian Barton, dans Le Devoir
Président de l'Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale
Un climat d'incertitude plane présentement sur l'ensemble de la société civile du Québec et du Canada. Après les groupes de femmes et des organisations de coopération internationale réputées comme KAIROS et Match international, c'est désormais au Conseil canadien pour la coopération internationale (CCCI) de craindre que tout son financement ne lui soit retiré par l'Agence canadienne de développement international (ACDI). Le CCCI regroupe une centaine d'organisations de coopération internationale réparties à travers le Canada. Il y a deux mois, on lui a annoncé que ses activités étaient réévaluées et que son financement serait prolongé temporairement pour 3 mois.
Cutting out the development NGO 'heart' The consensus is that going after CCIC confirms the Harper government's plan to remake the sector.
By Lee Berthiaume in Embassy
On the table in Gerry Barr's office is a plaque with red background and words in white: "Keep Calm and Carry On." In many ways, the normally unflappable Mr. Barr exemplifies that ethos. This quality has well-served the organization he heads, the Canadian Council for International Co-operation, and the 100 Canadian development and humanitarian NGOs it represents.
Deathbed reprieve for killer industry? Ottawa and Quebec City appear poised to bail out asbestos producers
By Kathleen Ruff on The Star
The battle to end Canada's export of deadly asbestos may be about to be lost.
Economically, the industry is on its deathbed. The last two asbestos mines (the Jeffrey mine and the Black Lake mine in Quebec) are both under bankruptcy protection, have almost exhausted their asbestos deposits, have slashed the wages of remaining workers and seen sales plummet by 50 per cent in the last decade. But the industry is counting on Premier Jean Charest and Prime Minister Stephen Harper to rescue it.
Message Event Proposals: A Tory obsession
By Mike Blanchfield And Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - An MP's Sunday afternoon visit to a seniors' home. The federal purchase of powerful new military aircraft. A journalism student's innocuous query about Africa.
The Harper government, women’s rights and the cost of speaking out
by Gerald Caplan in The Globe and Mail
The Tories are playing punishment politics with Canada’s progressive NGOs – and eroding civil society in the process
Are you old-fashioned? Do you still believe in gender equality? Do you intend to promote gender equality? Do you believe a woman should be able to have an abortion if she chooses to?
Liberals denounce more Conservative cuts to international aid organizations
on Newsroom, Libéral Party of Canada
Ottawa – A chill is once again spreading through international aid organizations as the Harper government is threatening to cut funding to the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC), one of Canada’s pre-eminent coalitions to end global poverty, Liberal MPs said today.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa
OTTAWA - The Harper government is brushing aside accusations it's playing politics by withholding cash to the major umbrella group of Canadian aid agencies.
By Adrian Wyld in The Canadien Press
The Canadian Council for International Co-operation said it would lay off staff and put its offices in downtown Ottawa up for sale because it has had no response from the government since delivering its latest funding proposal last fall.
Several other aid agencies are also in limbo awaiting word on their financial futures from the Canadian International Development Agency
Un autre cas d'outrage se profile à Ottawa
par Hélène Buzzetti dans Le Devoir
L'opposition accuse les conservateurs d'imposer la loi du silence à tout l'appareil fédéral
Comment la droite s'organise
par Alec Castonguay dans le Devoir
Avortement, registre des armes à feu, compressions dans les festivals gais, reconnaissance de la nation québécoise... Stephen Harper a fait de la controverse son arme de prédilection, maniant l'art de la division avec la précision d'un chirurgien. Une stratégie risquée importée des États-Unis et de l'Australie qui pourrait procurer de nouveaux appuis cruciaux aux conservateurs.
CIDA and the Money Doublers
Embrassy
By Ian Smillie
Maternal and child health is already high on the agenda of most donor countries. These two items are pillars of the UN's Millennium Development Goals, and maternal health has been a priority for many countries for years. But not Canada. It would appear that Canada has simply woken up to a need that has been out there for as long as CIDA has existed.
Abortion: Don't ask, don't tell
by Leslie Scrivener
in Toronto Star
Canadian aid agencies that offer health care to women in the developing world have no problem describing the condoms they distribute and education they provide as part of a family-planning program.
But ask if abortion services are included in their health-care repertoire, they clam up. It's a matter of don't ask, don't tell.
“There's a lot that's unspoken,” says a program manager with years of experience in several development organizations. “We have an extremely sympathetic officer who knows the realities in the field. It's not a subject I've raised. You dare not talk about it.”
Liberals circulate 'interesting' government funding list
By Karina Roman, CBC.ca
A list of groups that the Conservatives have cut, compared to a list of groups who are now getting the taxpayer's dollars.
Iteresting indeed...
Former staff file suit against rights group
By Graeme Hamilton, The National Post
Three senior managers fired last March by the federally funded agency Rights and Democracy filed suit yesterday for a combined $1.4-million in damages, claiming they were victims of a political purge.
Un juif se vide le coeur
Dans l'Actualité par Luc Chartrand
Atteinte à la réputation, culpabilité par association, utilisation sélective des faits : les techniques du gouvernement Harper pour museler les critiques d’Israël rappellent les pires heures du maccarthysme aux États-Unis. Et c’est un ex-dirigeant de l’organisme juif B’nai Brith qui le dit !
Aid groups advised to ‘shut the f--- up’ on abortion
By Susan Delacourt, The Star (Ottawa)
Aid experts alarmed by Canada’s new anti-abortion stand in foreign policy have received some raw political advice from a Conservative senator: “shut the f--- up” or it could get worse. ...