Alex Sangha: 10 reasons to protest, not riot, in Vancouver

The recent Stanley Cup riot in Vancouver demonstrated a lack of purpose. A true revolutionary believes in non-violent protest with a raison d'íªtre.

Below are 10 reasons to protest in the streets to help make B.C. and the country a better place for most Canadians.

1. Profitable corporations can redistribute a percentage of their profits to their employees.

2. All levels of government can adopt a living wage policy.

3. The government can introduce a national pharmacare, vision, and dental program as an investment in universal medicare.

4. The government can fly Canadians waiting for medical surgeries to top notch hospitals all over the world to eliminate waiting lists.

5. Student loans can be replaced with student grants for all students who maintain a B average overall.

6. Low-income families and single parents can receive a healthy family bonus of $150 per month per child or $5 per day per child to help lift struggling families out of poverty.

7. First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people can set up an Aboriginal Parliament within Canada to more effectively manage and govern their lands, waters, resources, people, and develop national policies and standards.

8. Local government can adopt a mixed at-large and ward system to gain the benefits of both citywide and neighbourhood political representation.

9. Provincial and federal governments can adopt a mixed proportional representation and first past the post system so the legislatures and House of Commons are representative of how the electorate actually voted.

10. All high school students can be required to take a course in media literacy to critically evaluate all the messages they receive from various sources whether through the press or social media. This will enhance our democracy with an enlightened electorate.

Alex Sangha is a registered social worker in B.C. and a MSW student at Dalhousie University.

Comments

6 Comments

Andrew

Jun 27, 2011 at 3:02pm

11. The planning department is selling out one community after another to developers with the 'any goes' spot rezoning policy.

BruceWayne

Jun 27, 2011 at 7:24pm

Excellent piece Alex! Unfortunately lame stream media and the pressitutes don't even talk about these issues or even the fact that Prime Minister Harper attended the Bilderberger meeting a few weeks back in Switzerland. They are unaware of their human rights like free speech are being taken away, and besides did you know in order to protest you need a permit?

Mr. Singh

Jun 28, 2011 at 12:06pm

12. Communists and Anarchists should pay for the clean-up costs of the riot and make restitution to all affected businesses and people.

James P.

Jun 28, 2011 at 4:43pm

I have to say all these ideas are totally too expensive and would destroy our economy. The first thing the gov't would cancel is social workers. Seriously, you need to figure out a little accounting.

Surprised that stopping foreign ownership in Canada isn't on the list. Then everyone who wanted to live in Kits or downtown could afford to.

facebook.com/whatistheplan

Jul 13, 2011 at 1:35pm

12. Canada, get out of NATO now. (aka, stop bombing Libya)
13. Canada, stop selling asbestos to 3rd world countries.
14. http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_quarry/?vc
15. Stop border agreements with the US.
...to name a few.....

facebook.com/whatistheplan

Jul 13, 2011 at 1:39pm

@BruceWayne
You do NOT need a permit to protest.
You CAN get a permit to protest if you want...it will help with letting the city know what is going on...but if they refuse you your permit, you have the right to protest anyways. So get out there and let the world know what is on your mind. The only person stopping you, is you.