Dear Libby Davis, MP Vancouver East

I keep reading about how I should write my MP about the recent string of controversial bills being brought forth by our Government I use the word Our very lightly because I did not vote for it and I only have one friend who did that I know of. The point to this letter is to express my fear and utter disgust with the bills C-10 “An Act to amend the constitution act, 1867”, C-11 “An Act to Amend the Copy Right Laws Act” and C-51 “Investigative powers of the 21st century act.”  This last election I voted federally for the first time, I voted NDP in your riding and I felt like I was a very, very small part of the “Orange Crush” that changed the political landscape of this country hopefully forever. However I fear that the other outcome of last springs election (Our Strong Stable Majority) may change the cultural landscape of this country forever. I fear that our government is hiding its “Tough on crime” agenda behind hot button issues like terrorism and child pornography. I feel that they are relying strongly on creating fear and the fact Canadians will not look past the names and synopsis of bills despite that fact its obvious what they are trying to carry out if one simply skims the text posted on Parl.gc.ca. 

I have never once felt that I live in a country that is predominately anti-Marijuana, nor have I ever felt that my government would persecute addicts instead of dealers. My father is a former addict, and he was homeless for a time. I feel that I can speak for families who struggle with addiction problems. Mandatory minimums for possession would only do more to harm the family during their struggle with addiction. I also have family and close friends in the RCMP an I understand that out Criminal code is deeply flawed. Child molesters, rapists and murders should not be released back on to our streets only to be rounded up in a matter of months by the same police officers who arrested them in the first place. I feel very strongly that C-10 is not the bill to change this sad reality that Canadian law enforcement face. 

I have never felt that I live in a country that would violate my privacy without concrete evidence to do so. Like most Canadians I want to see pedophiles caught and prosecuted however Bill C-51 is not the bill to fix this issue. Online spying and censorship is a slippery, slippery slope and I do not like the idea of my government being able to look in on who ever they please without reason to do so. It’s not okay for social media sites like Facebook to Violate or privacy despite that fact users knowingly risk it when joining yet, the conservative government feels that they can violate the privacy of anyone anytime? God forbid C-10 Passes and I Tweet about casual marijuana use or a post a link to copy righted material because this Bill does not seem to protect against spying for reasons other that Child Pornography(Which its synopsis and PR implies). That leads me to Bill C-11 and why I am so concerned about it.

Unfortunately Canada doesn’t have social media giants like Facebook and Wikipedia to fight for us, that is why I’m writing you about C-11. It’s not as close to my heart as C-10 and C-51 however fear that if passed it will change free expression and the internet forever. I’m one of few who actually still buys music and movies and I understand the effect that piracy can have on artists and film makers. Yet C-11 comes off more as an attempt to censor the internet, control free speech and stub artistic expression then as protection for Canadian Media. Who may I also add, often gain new fans because of media sharing sites. For example I would never have known who Dan Mangan was if it wasn’t for YouTube I own every album he’s ever released and I’ve seen him in concert. How then, did Media Sharing hurt his profit margin? I would even argue that the media sharing helps Canadian film makers who don’t have American late night talk shows to plug new films on. For instance I came across the “The Trotsky” on Tumblr and It is now one of my favorite films and I look forward to writer/Director Jacob Teirney’s future films because of it.

None of these Bills make sense and I’m going to spare you the conspiracy theories I’m sure being the MP for East Vancouver you plenty of those. I have started to wonder more recently whether I grew up with a delusional view of who Canada is as a nation or if it is just recently that we have gone astray from the country my great grandparents chose to immigrate to. I’ve thought deeply about it and I’ve come to the conclusion that Canadians or at least the Canadians I’m in contact with on a daily basis here in Canada are weary of the Strongarmed Stable Majority that was elected and the fear mongering they seem to constantly pedal. Thank you for your time and I hope that this actually gets to you or someone who works for you. 

Sincerely Megan Milton of East Vancouver