Unitarian Fellowship

I have been invited to speak at the Unitarian Fellowship service this Sunday (the 16th). My topic is "From Cynicism to Hope", how I have maintained (and restored) my idealism in the face of a cynical age. There will also be poetry and music, and the service is open to all.

The Unitarian Fellowship is at 129 South Algoma, and the service starts at 10:30am.

Next week gets me in to the swing of things, my classes have started up for my "victory lap" semester. I have returned to LU to complete the 3 half-courses required to get "Honours" attached to my existing BA in Political Science.

Next week also has me in meetings for the Cambrian Players Board, the Public Library Board, and the Earthwise Advisory Committee. I am looking forward to the new challenges these groups will offer me.

Appointments

I would like to thank City Council and Administration for appointing me to the Thunder Bay Public Library board of directors and the EarthWise Advisory committee.

I appreciate the opportunity to get involved in these important groups, and I look forward to participating.

Another short-sighted blunder by the Conservative senate: They have quashed a bill which would protect former Nortel workers' disability benefits. The neoconservative attack on our social safety net marches on.

Remember the main tenet of neocon ideology: Lie to the sheep, because they don't know what's good for them. Give the power to the elite, because they know how to use it. Don't help those who fall behind, because they are just drains on our society.

Look around and see how well that is working in the US - poverty, ignorance, violence. This is not a coincidence.

The political culture in Canada is largely based upon short-term problems and solutions. Elections are won and lost on the issue of taxes. Taxes are slashed by one party, and debts soar, social programs crumble, and the costs of society go up. Taxes are raised by other parties, and the holes are plugged, but there is no real progress.

We need a generation of politicians and administrators who are willing to look at the long-term health of the economy. It will be unpopular amoung people who are socialized to expect rapid "solutions" from government which only lead to more long-term problems. There are no simple issues - anyone who tells you differently is either lying or foolish. The economy of our society is a hugely complex dynamic system, being managed by people who either do not understand it, or wish to turn it into something else.

This year, we will likely see a federal election, and will certainly see a provincial one. As you are entertaining door-knocking hopefuls, be wary of those who try and sell you simple ideas and quick fixes. I believe it is time to make some progress.

-Jay Stapleton

Setting my sights on the provincial seat.

I am going to be seeking the provincial NDP nomination for Thunder Bay - Superior North. I am looking to put together a team to help me manage the nomination campaign. If you are interested, please send me an email to jstaplet@lakeheadu.ca

This is an exciting decision for me, I thank all of you who approached me and suggested it. I will work hard to get our voices heard down in Queen's Park!

Keep the little brats off the streets until they're 17.

Keith Hobbs comes out of the gate quickly with the announcement that he will be pushing for a curfew for kids out past midnight. I am more than a little disappointed to hear this.

He argues that youth who are out will either be victims or accused. I would add "except those who aren't". Much like adults who are out at night will either be victims, or accused, or not. The Chronicle quotes him as saying that there is "no viable excuse, reasonable excuse" for youth to be on the streets at night. What viable excuse does an adult have to be out? What excuse more than "I want to be" should be necessary.

Thunder Bay has a crime problem, some of this crime is caused by youth. Restricting the movements of an entire demographic is a blunt tool to tackle this issue, like driving a nail with a bulldozer. It may be effective, but at what cost?

My formative years involved a lot of roaming the streets at all hours with my friends, talking, dreaming, and creating visions of the world we wanted to see happen. When the city sleeps there is an inspirational air, especially for kids.

At best, this will be a tool for police to shoo kids home who they see to be a problem. If someone is performing an illegal act, then let the police respond. If someone may potentially perform an illegal act, then we must as a society give them the benefit of the doubt. Demographic profiling is not an acceptable prevention strategy.

I strongly urge Mr. Hobbs to reconsider this strategy. I also encourage the rest of council to educate themselves on this issue before it comes to debate. Remember that many of those who are affected by this will be of voting age by the next municipal election, and this sort of insult will not be easily forgotten.

At the next council meeting, they will decide if they should live stream City Council meetings on the Internet.

I believe this is an essential element to the transparency and accountability. Not only can people watch the meetings, but will be able to search archived videos based upon subject, meaning that interested parties can view subjects of interest to them without having to sit through the entire (interminable) meeting.

If you support this, please take the time to contact your councillor and ask them to approve the initiative.

*EDIT*
The initiative was approved, I look forward to seeing it implemented.

City Committees

Though I am not siting on City Council, I am committed to getting more involved in the workings of the city which I feel are important.

Further to this, I am putting my name forward for the Public Library Board and the Earthwise Advisory Committee.

If you're interested in supporting my bid for these positions, you may send a letter of recommendation to:

The Office of the City Clerk
City of Thunder Bay
500 Donald St. E.
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7E 5V3

Thank you again for your support.