Category: Direct Action

Canadian Political Transparency

Transparency in democratic politics is not only a good thing, it is necessary to the process. In Canada, there are strict rules in place for the recording and reporting of donations during an election campaign. We like to know just much a corporation or rich citizen has donated, and to what party. However, what most people don’t pay attention to, or even know, is that the myriad of smaller donations given to local candidates are also strictly regulated, and scrupulously recorded. Individuals and local businesses give surprising amounts of money to their preferred local candidate. And now, thanks to Elections Canada, you can easily find out the details.

Searchable by candidate, contributor, party or location, see who supports what in your riding. There are also options for searching contributions to party leadership races and even candidate nomination contests. Things are good when you can see.

Parliament wants the government to stop supporting destructive mining projects overseas

Parliament has called on the Government of Canada to take action to end the devastating social and environmental impacts of Canadian mining operations overseas.

A recent Parliamentary report calls on the Government to: (i) stop using taxpayer money to support destructive Canadian mining projects abroad; (ii) hold Canadian mining companies legally accountable for environmental and human rights violations in other countries, and; (iii) force the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to respect international human rights standards.

The Government has about 60 days left to respond and, not surprisingly, it would like nothing more than to sweep the report under the carpet. So, like most of the good things that happen, the changes demanded will only take place as the result of many people’s efforts. Our participation is needed, as always, to pressure the Government to adopt Parliament’s recommendations and to address ongoing international scandals associated with the Canadian mining industry.

What can we do to help make this happen? The websites of Friends of the Earth Canada and Mining Watch have a lot of info on these issues and ways to take action.

Democratic Information


Direct civic participation in large democracies in the developed world is very hard. It is possible to find out how your elected representative voted, but it is hard to do. That is until now.

You can now find out how your elected official voted!

In the United States there is a great website that seems to have everything you need.

In Canada you can find out your MP voted.

In England your MPs work for you and you can also fax your MP.

It is great to see how elective representatives voted, transparency in governments are always a good thing.