Reports

The Voices-Voix Coalition is compiling reports that provide information about the state of democratic rights in Canada, especially the rights to free speech, transparent government, and equality. If your organization has a report which you believe would be of interest to Canadians, send us an email at communications[at]voices-voix.ca.

The Canadian Unitarian: Let Scientists speak

One of the core principles promoted by congregations of the CUC is a “free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” This is key to realizing the other principles, such as promoting “the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process…”, “the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all”, and “respect for the interdependent web of all existence…”

To make the search for truth and meaning effective, especially for such important issues as the preservation of our environment, biodiversity, and climate change, the public requires access to the best and latest results of scientific inquiry.

A total refusal to release contracts in Winnipeg, Quebec’s denial of basic accountability information about top officials’ spending, passenger manifests for Ontario’s executive aircraft, and the federal government’s stubborn refusal to release data in a useful form are just some of the findings of the Newspapers Canada sixth annual National Freedom of Information Audit, which tests the openness of governments across the country.

The Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD), Access Info Europe (AIE) and the International Budget Partnership (IBP) published the report of the Ask Your Government! 6 Question Campaign. Through civil society organizations, 80 governments were asked six questions about budget expenditure on the environment, maternal health and international aid. The report shows violations of the right to access information and places Canada in 40th place.

The Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) released on 10 May 2011 the 2010-2011 Review of Free Expression in Canada. The report examines "Canada’s most problematic free expression issues: our diminishing right to access of information".

Over the past five years, exercise of the fundamental freedom of speech in Canada has been curbed and discouraged by a federal government increasingly intolerant of even the mildest criticism or dissent. Particularly affected have been organizations dependent on government funding which advocate for human rights and women’s equality.

The list of Stephen Harper’s assaults on democracy is long and unprecedented, not only in Canada, but very likely in all of the English-speaking parliamentary democracies in the world. But how to explain such an attitude on the part of a politician who, after all, was elected democratically to run his country ?

This report was produced by Murray Dobbin for the Council of Canadians.

Have Canadians been paying close enough attention to Stephen Harper and his strong-arming tactics - or will the stern father ﬁgure get a free pass for displaying something that looks like leadership but threatens the health of our democracy?