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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#222222">Hi Joseph – is this a Trump Conference?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#222222">Your email and the conference material states:</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook",serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">
“</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#222222">Canada’s democracy should be founded on the protection of individual rights and freedoms.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#222222">What happened to the notion of balancing individual rights and freedoms with the Common Good?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook",serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#222222">Regards<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#222222">David<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook",serif">David Walsh
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook",serif"><a href="david@dwalsh.ca">david@dwalsh.ca</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook",serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> Joseph <joseph@commonground.ca>
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> March 22, 2022 5:12 PM<br>
<b>Subject:</b> FYI Press release and poster for May 29th - Reclaiming Canada Conference<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<br>
-------- Forwarded Message -------- <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b>Subject: <o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Press release and poster for May 29th - Reclaiming Canada Conference<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b>Date: <o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Mon, 21 Mar 2022 09:46:50 -0700<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b>From: <o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Jonathan Bower <a href="mailto:jonathan.bower@weunify.ca"><jonathan.bower@weunify.ca></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b>To: <o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Joseph <a href="mailto:joseph@commonground.ca"><joseph@commonground.ca></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><br>
<br>
*In recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights<br>
and Freedoms, a national conference in the provincial capital of British<br>
Columbia will be held to bring together a coalition to discuss the future<br>
of democracy in Canada.*<br>
Canada’s democracy should be founded on the protection of individual rights<br>
and freedoms, however this notion has been undermined by a Government that<br>
disregards the rule of law, violates the sovereign status of its citizens<br>
as outlined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, foments discrimination<br>
and segregation in our nation and denies public discourse.<br>
<br>
Our systems of governance, accountability and oversight must evolve and be<br>
reimagined to reflect recent changes in our world. With an unprecedented<br>
assault on individual rights and freedoms, these past years have proven<br>
that democracy is in peril.<br>
<br>
The core distinction between the American Bill of Rights (now in its 230th<br>
Anniversary) and the Canadian Charter, is the existence of Section 1<br>
limitations and the notwithstanding clause. In contrast, rights under the<br>
U.S. Bill of Rights are absolute.<br>
<br>
The Canadian Charter was drafted to standardize divergent laws throughout<br>
the country in order to unify the nation under a single principle of<br>
liberty. To prevent continued abuse of power, it is necessary to form a<br>
Congress of Citizens to counsel Government and hold them accountable to the<br>
rule of law. In the absence of constitutional supremacy and public<br>
participation, anti-democratic power will be wielded by those who wish to<br>
test the limits of tyranny.<br>
<br>
A Congress of Citizens will bring together Canadians from across the<br>
country to form a national strategy to advance our democracy and repair the<br>
damage that has stemmed from political and societal dissonance. The<br>
conference will be centered on the principles that embody fundamental<br>
individual liberties with a focus on action over rhetoric.<br>
<br>
<br>
*Items of Discussion *<br>
- Defining terms (democracy; debate; freedom; choice; consent)<br>
- What are our guiding principles and values?<br>
- Other models of governance<br>
- What is the proper role of Government?<br>
- How do we want to be governed?<br>
- How do we increase accountability?<br>
- What replaces majority rule?<br>
- The role of the media in a functioning democracy<br>
- What lessons can we learn from the last two years?<br>
- Translating principles into practical strategies<br>
<br>
<br>
*Conference Objectives *<br>
- Repair our democracy by promoting the values of truth, integrity, unity<br>
and love<br>
- Create templates for all levels of Government that ensure transparency<br>
and accountability<br>
- Design protections for the sovereign rights and freedoms of all Canadians<br>
- Restore the Canadian Constitution as the supreme law of our nation<br>
- Create systems of support that ensure the resilience of our democracy<br>
- Educate Canadians on matters of governance and the responsibilities of<br>
civic engagement<br>
- Explore various models of governance and potential enhancements<br>
- Inspire and activate Canadians to take on roles of civic responsibility<br>
- Outline strategies to reconcile the legal system with accountable<br>
judicial process<br>
<br>
For more information, please visit weunify.ca.<o:p></o:p></p>
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