CANNABIS CULTURE – Activists are planning a two-day protest of Bill C-10, the expensive and dangerous Conservative crime legislation, at MP offices across Canada this THURSDAY and FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 24 and 25).

Leadnow.ca, a progressive activist group working against the proposed omnibus crime bill, is calling for Canadians to bring their cowboy hats and show up to (at least) 179 locations at offices of Canadian Members of Parliament.

From Leadnow.ca:

Canadians are standing together against a fill-the-prisons approach to justice that has failed everywhere it’s been tried.

Join a coalition of groups for two days of action to speak out against the cruel Crime Bill. Time is running out to make Canada safer, not meaner – we need you to help us all make a big impact.

Where: Our MP’s local constituency offices.

When: Focus on Thursday at 1pm, with actions throughout Thursday and Friday.

We’re going to tell our MPs: Don’t mess up like Texas. Stop the cruel Crime Bill.

Bring friends, and bring a cowboy hat if you can. We will deliver tens of thousand of petition signatures and a summary of the Canadian Bar Association’s powerful argument against the bill.

Our goal is to show cross-country solidarity by reaching as many MP’s offices as possible, you and a friend are all we need to send a powerful message.

Why oppose the cruel Crime Bill?

The Omnibus Crime Bill is a massive combination of bills, all of which failed to pass when the Conservatives had a minority of seats in Parliament. When combined, the Crime Bill rejects proven crime prevention and rehabilitation strategies, and instead imposes mandatory sentences that will create hardened criminals, target the most vulnerable in our society, and force prison expansions that will cost our provinces dearly.

Opposition is diverse and growing

Conservative Texans are warning us not to repeat their mistake. Even they say the Crime Bill is too harsh, costly and ineffective. [1]

The Canadian Bar Association, representing 37,000 legal professionals, says that through its “overreach and overreaction to imaginary problems, Bill C-10 could… eventually create the very problems it’s supposed to solve.” [2]

Shawn Atleo, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, is deeply concerned that the Crime Bill will disproportionately impact First Nations people, and calls for a focus on education. [3]

Ontario and Quebec are refusing to pay for a bill whose mandatory sentences would force costly prison expansion on the provinces, taking resources from crime prevent, rehabilitation and vital services like health and education. [4]

Over a hundred thousand Canadians have already signed petitions opposing the bill. [5]

The Crime Bill is wrong on crime, and tough on democracy, taxpayers, and Canada’s most vulnerable people.

We are calling on our government to reject the Crime Bill, and create a Citizen’s Assembly for Canadian Justice that would bring diverse citizens and experts together to create a new plan for Canadian justice.

Coalition organizing partners: Leadnow.ca, Reclaim Our Democratic Canada.

Further reading:

1. 10 reasons to oppose Bill C-10, Trinda L. Ernst, President, Canadian Bar Association:

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1086785–10-reasons-to-oppose-bill-c-10

2. Texas conservatives reject Harper’s crime plan – ‘Been there; done that; didn’t work,’ say Texas crime-fighters (CBC):

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/10/17/pol-vp-milewski-texas-crime.html

3. Tough on crime bill will hurt First Nations, Atleo says:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/story/2011/11/16/north-atleo-crime-bill.html

4. Provinces wont foot bill for crime legislation, McGuinty warns PM:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/provinces-wont-foot-bill-for-crime-legislation-mcguinty-warns-pm/article2222867/

5. Leadnow petition: http://www.leadnow.ca/keep-canada-safe

6. Avaaz petition: http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_harpers_cruel_crime_bill/

Bill C-10 in full: http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Docid=5124131&file=4