In May 2, 2011, it was the 41st general federal election. That was the day that Stephen Harper won his first and only majority government, and while that did shake up the normal political order, it was not the only thing that happened that day to reverberate in Canadian political culture. Remember Pierre Poutine? Remember Robocalls? Well this is the day for a little political unsolved mystery. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #272 – A Political Unsolved Mystery”
Elizabeth May became the leader of the Green Party of Canada on August 26, 2006, and from that point she set herself the goal of taking the Greens from a fringe party to a national movement. Although she didn’t achieve that goal as extensively as she would have liked, May’s left an indelible mark on the party she led for 13 years, and a lot of that involves a steady relationship with Guelph. Continue reading “Elizabeth May’s Leadership Was Always Tied to Guelph”
Although, it was known last month that the appeal of the convention of Michael Sona was denied, the exact reasons for that decision by the Ontario Court of Appeal was not known… Until now. On Thursday, the court posted the rationale for their decision, and it seems that they’re satisfied with the judgement of the trial judge and his reasons despite the objection of both Crown and defense. Continue reading “Ontario Court of Appeal Releases Sona Decision”
In the Ontario Court of Appeal last Wednesday, Michael Sona arrived with one of three roads in front of him, more jail, less jail or the same amount of jail he was sentence to back in November. Ultimately, the three judge panel chose door number three, but does that mean the case is over, and what about the unanswered questions that linger still? Continue reading “Appeals in the Sona Case Denied, the Man Himself is Now in Jail”
We may have put a whole other election between us and it, but the robocall scandal returns to the foreground today when the parties arrive at Osgood Hall to appeal the sentence of Michael Sona. The Tory staffer has tried and convicted of “preventing or endeavouring to prevent an elector from voting” back in 2014, but according to his appeal, Sona’s been either punished too harshly, or, according to Crown, his nine month prison sentence is too light. Continue reading “Sona and Crown Appeal Sentence Today in Toronto”
I’ve written a couple of times now about the documentary Election Day: The Rise of Voter Suppression. It’s hard to talk about a movie and get people excited about it when its in development without telling people when they might actually be able to see it. Good news then! Director Peter Smoczynski has posted a 50-minute “first cut” of the film that Canadians can watch for free for the next couple of days. Continue reading “Wanna Watch the ‘Election Day’ Documentary?”
When Peter Smoczynski came to Guelph a few months ago with his documentary film project Election Day: The Rise of Voter Suppression, it was still in bite-sized pieces meant to galvanize the next phase of production. The version shown Saturday to a crowd of special guests and Fair Vote Guelph members was a movie now with form, though still incomplete. But in there was the beginning of something that promises to be both compelling and informational if you’re someone that’s concerned about the direction of our democracy. Continue reading “Sneak Peak at ‘Election Day’ Film Shows Great Promise”
If you’re still concerned about the events of the 2011 Federal Election, and the robocall scandal that attempted to disenfranchise thousands of Guelph voters, then you’re going to enjoy this night out at the movies. Ottawa filmmaker Peter Smoczynski is bringing his new documentary to Election Day in Canada: The Rise of Voter Suppression to the region in a couple of weeks for screenings in Guelph and Waterloo. It seems that the project is still unfinished, so this is more of a preview screening, but the closer we get to this fall’s Federal Election it seems the more that people are piling on with remembrances in various media of just what happened back in May 2011. Continue reading “Robocalls Doc Coming to Guelph”
Are you worried about another robocall scandal? Judging from the turnout at a townhall at St. James Anglican Church here in Guelph today, a lot of us are. Between 80 and 100 people showed up for the event organized by Fair Vote Guelph and the St. James’ Environment and Social Justice Committee, and on the eve of the start of the last parliamentary session before the 2015 election, it sure sounded like there was still a lot to be concerned about even after the conviction of Michael Sona last summer. A combination of politicians, experts and ordinary citizens came out to remember how we got here, and what we should be on the look out next. Continue reading “Robocall Townhall Shows Community Still Worried”
Yesterday’s conviction of Michael Sona managed to do the impossible, prompt a response from Marty Burke. Continue reading “Marty Says Mea Culpa”
Guelph Politico 