Youth lead campaign to use social media to regenerate Canadian democracy prior to potential spring election

Mar 3, 2011

Youth lead campaign to use social media to regenerate Canadian democracy prior to potential spring election

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(Ottawa) A new grassroots movement aimed at shaking up the status quo in Canadian politics will be launched today. Leadnow.ca, a youth-founded online campaigning organization inspired by the success of groups like MoveOn.org in the States, kicked off a nationwide campaign to ramp up for a possible spring election.

Leadnow.ca’s three-phase citizen engagement strategy will utilize face-to-face and online organizing to create the “Declaration for Change” – a call for federal politicians to cooperate for progress on the major challenges Canadians care about.

According to former Clerk of the Privy Council Alex Himelfarb, Leadnow.ca is exactly what Canada needs.
“Important political and social change almost always starts from outside the traditional political process. Grassroots movements - real people bound together by shared principles - are a key part of what Preston Manning has called our democratic infrastructure.”

“Leadnow addresses what has arguably been an infrastructure deficit: they provide the much needed opportunity to work with others from every region and sector of the country, to influence the political agenda by defining the Canada we want based on environmental stewardship, equality and justice," Himelfarb added.

“Our federal government is dividing us, damaging our democracy and failing to address the major challenges that face our country,” said Jamie Biggar, co-founder and Executive Director of Leadnow.ca. “Whether we’re talking about the lack of action for our environment, the unequal economic recovery, or the erosion of democratic values – this government is failing to take action on the issues that matter to Canadians. It’s time we work together for change.”

Today, Leadnow.ca unveiled their new website. Next week the process ramps up with (Re)Generation: Voices for Canada, a nationwide event from March 6-12 where Canadians from across the country will participate in face-to-face gatherings to discuss their hopes and ideas for their country and their future. Over 30 Canadians have already registered to host events from coast to coast.

“Busy people from Whitehorse to St. John’s to Victoria are taking the time to participate in (Re)Generation because they know that a different type of politics is possible – one where people are listened to, and our politicians work together on the issues that matter,” said Biggar.

The results from the online questions and small-group discussions will lead to a round of priority voting during which Canadians from across the country will complete the Declaration for Change by voting to find their top priorities for government action. Once the Declaration is complete, Leadnow.ca will ask Canadians to back it by committing to vote for the politicians who will rise to the challenge in the next election.

“Today is the beginning of a new type of politics in Canada. We will no longer wait to be told who and what we should vote for. Leadnow.ca will enable people to take politics into their own hands - by coming together around shared values, and telling our politicians what they can do to earn our vote,” said Biggar. “We will be a united force in the next election, strengthening the voices of thousands of Canadians who want a different type of politics in Ottawa.”

For more information, contact:
Jamie Biggar, Co-Founder & Executive Director (jamie@leadnow.ca, 778-847-8205 - Vancouver)
Adam Shedletzky, Co-Founder (adam@leadnow.ca, 647-213-6591 - Toronto)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlXMCOmbU0k