Internet Lockdown Bill C-11 ... Sign the petition
Bill c-11
According to copyright experts, giant media conglomerates are lobbying for Internet lockdown powers allowing them to:
- Cut your Internet access for no good reason.
- Remove or hide vast swaths of the Internet
- Lock users out of their own services (already proposed legislation!).
Taken together, these policies would fundamentally change the Internet, severely limit free expression, and hogtie innovators.
A similar scheme in the US led to a huge public outcry forcing Big Media lobbyists to back off from their plan to impose the now-infamous SOPA and PIPA1 legislation. Now, those lobbyists are turning to Canada through legislation like Bill C-11 and trade agreements called ACTA2 and TPP3.
Details
Internet law expert Michael Geist recently revealed that behind-the-scenes, Big Media is pushing for powers that include website blocking4, Internet termination for unproven allegations of infringement5, and huge threats for sites that host user-generated content (like YouTube)6 in addition to the “most restrictive digital lock provisions in the world,”7 which are already in Bill C-11.
This approach is backwards: it suffocates online choice and it’s patently unfair.
It's time for policy makers to stop listening to megacorporate lobbyists and work to put Canada on the map as a leader in Internet openness and affordability.
Tell the Prime Minister and the Industry Minister to say no to the Internet lockdown before it's too late. →
Stop Internet Lockdown <<< Sign the petition
Edmonton Police Service Update
- The EPS is always looking at ways to improve the delivery of its services consistent with community needs, trends, and patterns of crime and disorder.
- Effective February 27, 2012, the front counter (walk in reporting service) of the Westmount Community Station, located at 13326 – 114 Avenue, will be permanently closed to the public. This space will continue to be used by some EPS members, including NET, and Inglewood Beats.
- Despite this gradual reduction in the volume of crimes, Edmonton continues to experience a marked increase in the severity of violence, as evidenced by the current homicide rate. The record number of cases (47 homicide investigations) in 2011 has stretched the financial and personnel resources of the EPS to the limit. To cope, positions were shifted into the Homicide Unit from other work areas, resulting in delays and staff shortages elsewhere in the organization. The closing of the front counter at Westmount Community Station, will allow one fulltime position to be transferred into the Homicide Unit.
- With the next 24 months, the EPS plans to launch a new online citizen’s reporting system. This will allow citizens to report minor crimes online at their convenience. Quite often crimes, like theft from vehicles, are not reported because citizens don’t feel it’s worth their time to go to a station and report it. Online reporting will also give EPS a more accurate picture of crime. Online reporting is currently being used by Calgary , Lethbridge and Vancouver Police Departments.
- Ongoing budget demands require that the EPS continually strive to find more efficient ways to provide service to the community without compromising the effectiveness of that service. The Westmount Community Station, while located in an area of high need, is not well-utilized by the public. The decision to close this community station was based on the fact that it no longer serves the needs of the neighbourhood in which it is situated.
Clifton Place Development Meeting
Clifton Place Development Application
(Three Towers 16 – 25 Storeys)
CONCERNED CITIZEN COMMUNITY MEETING
Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011
7:00 p.m.
Robertson Wesley United Church, 10209 – 123 Street
We’re back to SQUARE ONE. And we need your help to prepare for our public hearing before City Council on Monday, Aug 29, 2011. The City terminated the Working Group Process—leaving the WAM application with very few proposed changes.
Answer the Call to Action—Topics for the public meeting:
o Value of the Community Voice
o Clifton Place as a Transitional Neighbourhood
o Appropriate Urban Design
o Preserving Heritage
o Top of the Valley and Public Access
Let’s show the City our voices can’t be muzzled!
A bit of publicity for Sylvancroft
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The descendants of former Edmonton mayor Harry Evans are opening the doors to the historic mansion he built more than a century ago, with hopes that the public tours will convince the city to preserve the property. This story, forwarded to you, appears on http://www.cbc.ca at the following URL: See original CBC news story by clicking here
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Brownfield Redevelopment Information
City Council approved a proposed strategy for addressing Contaminated Gas Station (Brownsfields) lots that remain empty, undeveloped and a constant frustration for local residents.
In the Westmount neighbourhood we have three Brownsfields that residents want to see cleaned up and developed as soon as possible.
111 Ave and 124 St.
111 Ave and 127 St.
107 Ave and Groat Road
If you are interested into finding out more about this Brownfield Redevelopment Grant Program please download the document in our attachments section located below this article. Also feel free to contact Barbara Daly to find out more information.
Barbara Daly - Brownfield Coordinator
Phone: 780-944-0316
Fax: 780-442-7058
E-Mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
If you have any questions or comments about the Brownfield Redevelopment Grant Program you may also post them below and we at the WCL will find the answer for you.
Clifton Place Public Disappointment
The Groat Estates Residents Association, Properties on High Street Condominiums and the 124st and Area Business Association sent a letter to the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Edmonton expressing collective disappointment in the City’s Public Involvement Plan and process regarding Clifton Place LDA09-0262.
From the letter:
Collaborative Community Building
When the process began, we hoped for something new---that it would be a first step towards increased understanding and communications between the community, the city planning department and developers in our city. Through the Working Group meetings our members learned more about planning concepts and city processes which will enhance future communications with planners and developers. We tried to assist the developer and the City in better understanding the community’s goals and viewpoint. We hoped that a new shared understanding would result in creative options for the future.
As was stated throughout the Working Group process, our biggest hope has always been to build mutual agreement on an application which meets the special needs of the site and ends 20 years of development dialogue. We believe Clifton Place is a special site for a number of reasons. It is a heritage site which includes the home of Malcolm Groat, a man whose contribution to this city is extensive. The site has a beautiful view of the river valley and therefore we must accommodate the public interest. It is also near to the vibrant High Street shopping district and the 124th St. BRZ which needs to be enhanced. Finally, the site should not be viewed as the re-development of a downtown parcel. The site signals an east-west transition between the downtown area and the homes of Glenora and a north-west transition between the river valley and the homes of Groat Estates.
Request to Finish Process
From the beginning we have stated that our wish is to see this site developed in a manner which meets all the interests and unique elements. In our view the process is incomplete and the desired result has not yet been achieved. The community has no intention to surrender until we have a development plan which has a unique urban design, reflects the transitional elements of the parcel, and enhances the character of the surrounding community and businesses. The Groat Estates area has emerged as a desirable neighborhood in good part due to the hard work and commitment of the people in the community over the past 10 years and more. We believe that the applicant should be required to acknowledge that hard work and community contribution by giving back something which is meaningful to the community.
Please download and review the attachment below for more information.
EFCL Works with Board on School Closures
The EFCL is reporting that they are working with the School Board on the School Closure issue. I have copied the article from their website for your convenience. Please use the comments section to voice your opinion on the issue. Every opinion counts and will not go unnoticed.
The EFCL is entering discussions with the Edmonton Public School Board on the controversial issue of school closures. Last fall, the school board agreed to a two-year moratorium on school closures, after the federation and many members of the public expressed their dissatisfaction with the current review process. It appeared to the EFCL that not enough focus was being placed on ways to keep schools open and viable.
The federation fully recognizes that this is a very difficult issue. The bottom line to much of this is the declining numbers of young families in mature neighborhoods, which is an issue the federation is reviewing in concert with the city‘s recently-announced Community Revitalization task force.
The federation is hosting a meeting with the public school board on April 19 to kick start discussions on this topic. Meanwhile, the federation is also attempting to meet with the Minister of Education to promote community usage of any new schools that are built. A number of our newer leagues are looking at sharing space, rather than building a hall and the local school is an obvious option.
West LRT concept plan approved
630 Ched has reported that the West LRT concept plan was approved. The next phase of the West LRT route is the design stage.
If you were involved in the West LRT concept planning and had attended the meetings and workshops please let us know in the comments section if you feel that your voice and ideas were listened to. Was the process and planning stage fair?
Also let us know what issues the West LRT will create and how the City of Edmonton plans to address these issues?
Some questions Westmount residents have are can we expect more commuter traffic through the neighbourhood now that popular access routes have been cut off? How will people on foot be able to travel from one side of the tracks to the other safely? What will be done to keep people safe at train stops and train stations? Will crime potentialy rise for nearby homes and property around train stops and train stations? How does the city intend to deal with this issue? How can we the residents of Westmount continue to ensure that the West LRT route fits properly into our neighbourhood?
Sound off in our comments section if you can provide more information on this new element to our neighbourhood or if you can answer any of the above questions.
City Council West LRT Meeting
This plan determines details such as:
- how the LRT fits into the approved route
- where LRT stops are located
- how access will be provided to communities and businesses
Get Informed
For more information about past workshops, information sessions and City Council decisions, visit West LRT Project History.
http://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/ets/lrt_projects/west-lrt.aspx
Public Hearing and Council Review
On December 8, 2010, a Concept Plan will be presented to a non-statutory public hearing at the Transportation and Public Works Committee. This plan will determine details such as:
•how the LRT fits into the approved route
•where LRT stops are located
•how access will be provided to communities and businesses
Get Informed
For more information about past workshops, information sessions and City Council decisions, visit West LRT Project History.
What's Next
Public Hearing/Council Review December 8, 2010
For more information:
Future LRT General Inquiries
Telephone 780-496-4874
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/ets/lrt_projects/west-lrt.aspx
