It's amazing what we've accomplished togeth

Details: Published on Monday, 07 July 2014 10:40; Written by editor

Summer has finally arrived and all across this beautiful land politicians will be on the summer barbecue circuit. They’ve got their sights set on the 2015 federal election, and so do we.

Conservative MPs are going to be facing hard questions as they try to reassure their base before an election year. They’ll be testing carefully crafted messages, approved by the Prime Minister’s Office, to gloss over their relentless attacks on our democracy with a thin coat of patriotism.

At Leadnow, thousands of people have already contributed to a plan to mobilize hundreds of thousands more to hold the Conservative’s accountable at the ballot box next year, by voting for progress on key issues facing the country. People are getting ready to organize in their communities this summer, and we’re preparing a major update for you. But first, we want to celebrate the impact that your campaigns have already had this year.

To start, let’s say “welcome!” to the 53,100 people who have joined the Leadnow community since the beginning of the year. Over the past six months, you’ve participated in campaigns to oppose the Conservatives’ voter suppression bill, to stop the sabotage of Canada’s universal health care system, and to defend our climate and communities from accelerated fossil fuel expansion. You are joining over 300,000 Canadians who have come together on these and other important issues since the 2011 federal election.

By working together, here are just a few ways you’ve had an impact so far in 2014:

More than 50,000 of you joined the campaign to challenge Bill C-23, the “Fair Elections Act”. You crowd-funded radio ads, knocked on 1,500 doors in Pierre Poilievre’s riding, and held events to collect petition signatures which our volunteers in Ottawa delivered directly to his office. You helped rally the country with other pro-democracy organizations and experts to defend the voting rights of hundreds of thousands of Canadians, forcing the Harper Conservatives to back down on the worst pieces of the legislation.

Over 10,000 of you stood together in 100 communities from coast to coast to coast for the Defend our Climate, Defend our Communities national day of action, and tens of thousands more have made sure this government knows that it will face a steep political price for trying to ram pipelines through despite local opposition.

Over 1,000 of you donated a total of $47,000 to the Hupacasath First Nation’s legal fund to support their ongoing court challenge of the secretive Canada-China Foreign Investment Protection Agreement (FIPA). Harper had planned to have his cabinet adopt FIPA without so much as a debate in parliament. Instead, over two years later, this trade deal continues to sit on trial in the Federal Court of Appeal and the court of public opinion.

Through in-person meetings and online votes, the Leadnow community has agreed to focus on bringing people together across political lines for three long-term priorities: passing crucial reforms for an open democracy, creating a fair economy that works for all Canadians, and taking bold action to ensure a safe climate for all generations.

In March, the Leadnow community came together in 80 local events to “Connect” around a plan to organize for change through the 2015 election and beyond, and share inspiring ideas to create a better future for all Canadians.

Now, as people are preparing to organize in their communities this summer, and as we prepare to send you a key update to fully launch this plan in the fall, we invite you to take a look back at the inspiring results of the Connect gatherings.

http://www.leadnow.ca/connect

Thanks for all you do.

With hope and respect,
Jamie, Kelly, Logan, Matthew and Stefan on behalf of the Leadnow.ca team

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Leadnow.ca is an independent campaigning community that brings Canadians together to hold government accountable, deepen our democracy and take action for the common good. You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.

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