The PenOpticon

Garth Turner held his Ottawa news conference today to announce his resignation from the Conservative Party of Canada. Many were predicting he would drop some sort of big juicy scandal bomb on that party, but it was not to be. Neither did he announce his intent to join the Green Party as some have hoped. His situation illustrates perfectly how the rough edge of party politics seems to grind away our ideal notions of democracy.

The arbitrary fashion in which the the Conservatives denied Turner the right to run as a CPC member in the next election — despite being nominated by the local party twice in the past 18 months — is scandalous. Turner deserves credit for opening a debate on parliamentary reform. Why shouldn’t independent MPs have the right to issue tax receipts for campaign contributions just as full-fledged parties do? To that end, Turner announced he is taking the following actions:

1. I resign my membership in the Conservative name.
This is not easy to do after being a Conservative MP twice, a cabinet minister, a national leadership candidate and a Tory my whole life.

But my Conservative party believes in free speech, diversity of opinion, co-operation, equality of all people, progressive social values, true environmental protection and stands firm against intolerance, bigotry exclusion.

More importantly, though, I have realized that party politics - not just this party - is the problem.

2. Second, in the House of Commons I will support the government only when its actions are consistent with what I have just stated. I may only have one vote, and I may not change a whole lot, but it matters to me. I will try to make that vote count, and you will know it.

3. Third, I will seek out expert legal opinion on how our big national political parties, can be forced to be more democratic - to actually listen to, and obey, members. Right now these parties operate as old boys’ clubs accountable only to themselves. Is it any wonder voter turnout is dropping and cynicism is rising?

4. Fourth, I will introduce a private member’s bill seeking equal treatment in the House of Commons and under the Canada Elections Act for Independents. They should be able to sit on committees and raise money by issuing tax receipts right along with every other MP.

5. And, fifth, I’m not going away. Over the coming months I will travel anywhere people want to talk about democratic renewal, parliamentary reform, the role of our MPs and how citizens can get involved to reclaim this system from the unrepentant, arrogant party bosses and the unelected backroom boys.

Turner’s chances at reform may be slimmer than the Leaf’s shot at a Stanley Cup, but stranger things have happened. And while I hope he succeeds, I’d still like to see him return to party politics as a Green in the next election (There may be hope here: Garth is campaigning with Elizabeth May this Wednesday afternoon (Nov 15th) to support her by-election bid in London North Centre) Sure, we need more independent voices in Parliament, but the times are also crying for coherent, Green voices with the will to ameliorate some of the damage our species has caused.

Go Leafs Go!

Go Garth Go!

After seeing Borat on the Daily Show last week, I was not tempted to plonk down cash money to see the movie. But then I started reading about the law suits and learned that Russia is planning to ban it. And we were a little bored and needed to get out tonight so we headed up to the local theatre to watch Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. In other words, you us Borat — ya got $14.90, anyhow. So what is there to say about this movie? It is hilarious, but most of the time it is uncomfortably hilarious — and all too often it is like watching an Abu Gharaib prison video. Despite the title, Borat has very little to say about American culture: New Yorkers don’t like strangers kissing them on the subway. Southerners like their prayer palaces. Texans like rodeos. Everyone knows who Pamela is and apparently, anyone, can be on TV if they really want to. Yeah, yeah, yeah. With out challenging it, Barat gives us a bland, escapist America that is hedonistic and inward looking and he reflects a full spectrum of racism, sexism, homophobia and ignorance that is intended (one imagines) to mirror the American psyche.

But Borat is pushing more than American buttons. Apparently Kazakhstan may sue the makers of the movie because of its negative portrayal of that country. Russia may ban it completely. Meanwhile a Turkish web star claims to to be the inspiration for Borat’s character and wants recognition and cash. To bring the surreality of this film full circle, several American frat boys who make racist and sexist comments in the movie are now suing to have their scenes cut. It’s only a movie boys — we’ve already forgotten you.

So what is Borat really trying to tell us? Clearly, the movie is very unkind to the good people of Kazakhstan, but the racial humor is so over the top that no one can take it seriously. On the other hand, as a work of satire, Borat barely scratches the comedic surface of American “Cultural Learning” and in the end it fails to challenge the over-protected, over-medicated, self-indulgent, hyper-consuming society in which we live. Except for this: in the middle of a fancy dinner party Borat excuses himself to use the washroom and then returns dangling a plastic bag containing his own feces. Earlier in the movie he defecates in a public garden in Manhattan. What’s really going on here? Both literally and figuratively it seems that Borat is shitting on America — and audiences are eating it up. So don’t sweat the small stuff of Borat’s insults, Kazakhstan — you got off easy.

Of course nothing about this movie is really all that easy. Borat does make it back home after all and he brings part of America home with him: a new iPod and a new wife. So we end the movie with a flourish of cultural globalization and a cute product placement for Apple?

Please can me help make a learning about this movie, Borat? I have feeling it is not getting me.

As an organization Katimavik is one of the unsung heroes of Canada. Since 1977, Katimavik has brought thousands of young Canadians together and shipped them around the country to volunteer with countless community and non-profit groups. Volunteers receive a token $3 per diem and a $1000 honorarium (after completion of the 9-month program). Katimavik provides a unique and intense life experience and a chance for young people to figure a few things out before they make their next move. Maybe I’ll blog something about my own Katimavik experience one ‘o these days. I could tell you some stories, I could.

But after thirty years of service the program’s days may be numbered. The Harper government has not formally pulled the plug on it yet, but they have essentially put Katimavik on notice. The Treasury Board has approved funding only until August 2007 and have instructed management to “cease any recruitment activities until further notice”.

It may be that Katimavik needs a kick in the pants to help it better fulfill its mandate. In fact, it may be in Canada’s interest to provide additional funding for more participants, to raise the organization’s profile and help it work more effectively with non-profit organizations. Katimavik participants could and should have a role to play in whatever Green Plan Canada eventually adopts.

Given Canada’s daunting geography and the astounding diversity of the people who live here, Katimavik is important because it lets young people live and work with the many faces of Canada. It encourages compassion, cooperation, innovation, tolerance, hard work — and fun. Even if you have never heard of it, ask your co-workers, friends, fellow students, parents or teachers about it. You will very quickly find someone who knows someone who has been on the program — or you may be lucky enough to meet a former participant.

Canada has been described as a provisional construct — an entity that exists by continually questioning and refining its values and aspirations. Katimavik is a small but integral part of that process that builds Canada. We should not let it die.

If you would like to help save Katimavik, please visit their funding status page and make your voice heard by emailing Stephen Harper and your local MP. The Katimavik web folk have built a nice little web application to make this exceedingly easy.

For the record, I’m a Katimivik “veteran” from 1978. So… if you happen to recognize yourself in the picture above, I would be thrilled to hear from you! Salut tout le monde! Vous savez qui vous êtes.