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Letter to Editor
SharePartisan? CoC says it isn’t
Published: October 02, 2008 6:00 PMDear editor,
The Comox Valley Chapter of the Council of Canadians (CoC) has always appreciated that the Record publishes our press releases.
We appreciate that since we try to keep the community informed about our topical issues and work with volunteers on a minimal budget.
In reference to the editor’s note in the Oct. 1 Record, we’d now like to clarify a few points about the definition of “non-partisan.”
Dictionaries define “partisan” as “an adherent or supporter of a person, party, or cause.” The Statement of Purpose for the national CoC, which has over 100,000 members in Canada, states, “We are non-partisan but work to compel all political parties and governments to address the key issues of democracy, sovereignty, and social justice. We are committed to building an organization with the broadest possible diversity reflective of Canadian society and culture.”
In elections we urge citizens to think about the issues which have direct impact on our lives. For example, we want a Canadian energy strategy that promotes security of the environment, security of supply and security of production.
We want a national water policy that endorses the right to water, bans bulk water exports, preserves water as a public trust, asserts sovereign control over our water resources, and opposes public-private partnerships.
We want the Canadian government to cease all talks leading to deeper integration between Canada and the United States and to bring the Security and Prosperity Partnership to the House of Commons for a full debate and vote.
The CoC continues to demand a strengthened public health care system through the protection and enhancement of universal, single-payer public insurance plans and non-profit health delivery systems, a ban on for-profit health care delivery and federal government enforcement of the Canada Health Act.
As well, the CoC supports the immediate, safe and orderly withdrawal of Canadian troops from Afghanistan and a return to Canada fulfilling its traditional international role of peacekeeper.
Now, if the above causes/wishes/demands/issues make us partisan, we must at least be clear that we do not support parties per se, but only as the parties support our issues. Our members include supporters of many political parties.
We hope that your readers will see that for all of the above issues this federal election is extremely important.
Gwyn Frayne,
Comox Valley
Council of Canadians
