The Federal Election is all about the vote for rights

BY STEVEN KASZAB

Leading Civil Rights Organization are launching a “Vote for Rights” Platform, attempting to prepare Canada’s public at large to the growing concerns many in the progressively human rights sector have that American and Canadian conservatism, with its often-unchallenged authoritarian stances, is on the rise and very present within provincial and federal legislatures.

Trying to be proactive to this possibility, organizations such as: Amnesty International Canada, Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability, the David Suzuki Foundation, National Rights to Housing Network, and Project Ploughshares are facing off with the future possibility that Trumpian politics can and will affect Canada.

American conservatism is a deregulating, socially aggressive religiously centered movement with insular purpose and fervent drive to accomplish its goals of social, economic, ethnic and religious dominance. Having friends in the Canadian conservative sense allows this movement to seep into the Canadian societal fabric through the media, educational and local platforms.

“Human Rights are a distinct part of us, just like our arms, legs and often not used minds.”

Vote for Rights declares Canadians should be aware and concerned for the following issues:

• Indigenous rights and self determination
• Use by Provincial governments of the non withstanding clause regarding gender rights
• Racial and housing rights
• Migrant and immigrant rights
• Poverty and inequality in Canada
• Climate change, human/rights and justice
• Canada’s role in international arms trade

A time will come when the Indigenous will determine their own fate, how their lands should be used and by whom. Alberta’s Legislature stands ready to enforce its energy rights and those of the corporate oil patch, whom they serve. Native lands can and are being harvested of their mineral and petroleum wealth without real Indigenous input allowed. There are public conversations, but these often lead to positive corporate rights and nowhere for our Indigenous population.

A definite advantage for Canadian human rights activists would be the definitive definition and establishment of above-mentioned rights, defined into law, and not left to some lawyers, or politician’s interpretations. We see how American citizens’ rights are eroded by politically motivated opportunists who have long term residents deported, many people’s rights denied, and their property seized, and the educational system revisionist models established.

Their message is clearly stated. Human rights belong to all humans no matter their legal status, gender, color or political creed. Canada listens up. Political candidates need to recognize just how important our federal election truly is, for its outcome could be a measure of what: political, financial and social direction we will be led to.