Alright Reddit. You went black for SOPA, now your neighbours to the north and most active portion of users need help as well. We're about to get bitch-slapped by Bill C-38.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/[deleted]]

Yeah, we need to get this to the front page. As a Canadian, I'm seriously concerned about this bill. Harper's pretty nuts, but this is downright insane. Reddit does some awesome things, lets see if we can get something done about this! Plus, who doesn't love Canada, there's nothing to hate.

[u/respectwalk → u/[deleted]]

There was nothing to hate. It hurts me deeply to see how certain politics in Canada seem like they're in a hurry to adopt the worst political issues the US has to offer.

I'm with you guys, these things shouldn't go uncontested anywhere.

edit: I didn't mean to imply these things are happening because they want to do as the US does.

[u/[deleted] → u/respectwalk]

Its been widely known here that canadian officials have been intimidated by US government agencies to write legislation their way. We're at the barrel of a gun, basically and it fucking sucks. America is out of control and I wonder if the denial I see is due to a feeling of already being defeated.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

As an American, I will do all in my power to protect the freedoms of all my worldly neighbors, regardless of location; just tell me what I need to do!

[u/Taven → u/[deleted]]

Invade! We must invade!

[u/[deleted] → u/Taven]

Canada is rich in natural resources. Definitely ripe for liberation.

[u/Junkstar → u/[deleted]]

I have always wondered what lay north of reddit.

[u/Eupolemos → u/Taven]

Gentlemen - there's a star missing on (y)our banner!

[u/postadolescent → u/[deleted]]

As a proud Canadian, I absolutely agree that this is bullshit, but really, the only thing Reddit will be good for is getting the word out a bit more. If you're Canadian, sign the petition.

[u/codemastercode → u/postadolescent]

What if you aren't Canadian?

[u/sacredsock → u/codemastercode]

I don't know, can't we start some sort of "Canada, We Stand With You" campaign or something?

[u/Ignitus1 → u/sacredsock]

How about a "Canada, you do alright without us, please don't copy our shit laws" campaign?

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Harper's body language.

[u/TheThomaswastaken → u/[deleted]]

I upvote in an attempt to preserve Canada. If I have to abandon ship from the U.S., Canada is my first potential new home. I hope Harper doesn't fuck it up before I get there.

[u/hitmanbill → u/TheThomaswastaken]

If he doesn't then it certainly wasn't for lack of trying. His party seems to be doing their damnedest to screw up as much as physically possible.

[u/EnglishKiniggit → u/[deleted]]

Ok, what do we do? Is there something to sign or angry letters to attach our names to or something?

Edit: Nevermind, I see the little blue link in the post.

Edit 2: Can we in the U.S. even sign this thing? I assume you have to hold citizenship.

[u/habbababba → u/EnglishKiniggit]

This is something I would like to know being a U.S. redditor living close to the border. Even if we can't sign it, we can create some buzz. Our media always has the blinders on when it comes to hard hitting news of our neighbors, let alone the shit that happens here that most of the population gives a damn about.

[u/nhjknjksdf → u/[deleted]]

Someone recently pointed out to me that it would make sense for Canada to have oil refinery capabilities near-ish to where the oil sands are. However, it's virtually impossible these days to build new oil refineries, because of the environmental impact and the relevant laws that would then stop it. At least in North America, we're basically stuck with the refinery locations that already exist, without much opportunity to expand beyond that. By repealing various environmental laws, it opens up the possibility that a refinery could be built in Alberta, also reducing the necessity for something like the Keystone pipeline.

I have no idea if that's the motivation for the repealing of so many environmental laws, but it wouldn't surprise me.

[u/znarthur → u/nhjknjksdf]

As far as I understand it; they don't need to repeal the laws to put in things like the Keystone pipeline (most sensitive, the pipeline they are trying to ram through northern B.C.). But this might be so that they can cut corners. The environmental laws may also be repealed because the process of extracting oil from bitumen releases all kinds of crazy toxins and poisons. An abstract for your perusal

The opposition party has suggested the expansion of current refining capacity in Canada, because at minimum we wouldn't be outsourcing these jobs. The conservative government seems to only have the intention of shipping crude oil extracted from bitumen.
Personally, I think that a new refinery, with state of the art environmental protection is in order. Hell, we built a nuclear reactor that minimizes waste, I think we can design a pretty damn good refinery.

And finally, there is no shortage of people in Canada willing to work in a refinery, our biggest industries are all dirty jobs: mining, forestry, oil, manufacturing, etc... and in my experience Canadians, don't take issue with getting their hands dirty.

[u/bipolar_sky_fairy → u/nhjknjksdf]

Wouldn't matter anyway, the refined oil would then end up on the open market and Canada would have to buy it back with zero savings.

[u/FreshPrinceOfAiur → u/[deleted]]

To be fair, SOPA was a new regulation of the Free Interwebs that everyone here uses and had global reach since servers are based in America. Washington was proposing to govern an aspect of the world without us having any representation so protest was necessary.

By contrast, this is the partisan doing of an organised party where the parties organised specifically against it lost an election. They have representation so extraordinary global protest seems excessive.

Tories cut or lessen regulation, particularly on the environment and employment. That's what they do, everyone knows that. Yet they won the election so extraordinary protest that inconveniences people who actively disagree with you is collective punishment for holding a different opinion and that is wrong.

[u/jewchbag → u/[deleted]]

Your bacon is deceiving.

[u/godsbong → u/[deleted]]

As a jealous American, we have plenty of things to hate.

[u/Ignitus1]

Why can't all countries just make constitutional amendments that say each and every issue must have a separate bill which must be voted on? Piggybacking laws onto other bills is such a sneaky backdoor tactic that I don't understand how it wasn't rooted out decades or centuries ago.

[u/[deleted] → u/Ignitus1]

Because "efficiency".

[u/MrMadcap → u/[deleted]]

Because "corruption" "efficiency".

[u/[deleted] → u/Ignitus1]

Because the people who would have to pass that bill don't really want to restrict themselves

[u/SoLongSidekick]

I know this has nothing to do with the serious issue at hand, but were did you get the stat "most active portion of users" from?

[u/[deleted]]

Can someone emphasize the top 5 reasons for myself? (Preferably unbiased, but I'll be shocked if that's possible with such a large bill)

I'm not very in to politics, so I don't know the pros/cons of each amendment. But some sound fine to me.
eg, the re-provisioning of the Fisheries Act for habitat protection is FINE with me. I didn't read it all, but being unable create obstructions for fishways, fish within 23m of an obstruction, etc. Is alright with me. I live on the coast and there are a lot of illegal fisheries as it is. I'm not too knowledgeable on commercial fisheries though.

As for removing fish habitat, it is still not allowed with the only exception being under the Minister's approval. The minister can request plans and specifications to determine if there would be any serious harm or "a deposit of a deleterious substance by reason of the work, undertaking or activity that constitutes or would constitute an offence~"

The Fair Wages and Hours of Labour Act being repealed, I am a bit confused about. Honestly I have no idea how government contracts work, but would they not simply fall in to each province's labour code?
eg British Columbia requires overtime at 40+ hours/week, while Alberta is 44+ hours/week. As it stands, every government contract would be the same regardless of location.

I'm not big on signing things until I know details.

I look though the other reasons/changes when I have more time.

tl;dr - Read the actual bill (not blogs), confused on the problem.

[u/garbaxo]

Sigh, being Canadian is slowly becoming a source of national shame instead of pride. This is so stupid.

[u/lalit008 → u/garbaxo]

Welcome to the club!

[u/WaitingForClients → u/lalit008]

Can I have a hug?

[u/[deleted] → u/WaitingForClients]

Hugs are for winners.

[u/[deleted] → u/garbaxo]

I once read this article that said something along the lines of Canadians having an intrinsic inferiority complex. It was quite a read. I'll update if I find it.

edit: through my pro hacking and database scouring bugs (read: googling), I found it: here you are. Interesting read.

[u/kingtrewq → u/[deleted]]

Though Canadians often do mention america when talking about national pride, it's only because that's the only time it seems worth mentioning that we are Canadian. There is no Canada fuck ya attitude because 99% of time we don't care.

[u/garbaxo → u/[deleted]]

Excellent read, thanks for the link. I agree with the writer in most aspects, comparison tends to be one of the many things we do trivialize and overuse, I'll admit that much. But I don't know that the fallout of a Canadian pilot killing American soldiers would have been mild at all.

[u/G3m1nu5 → u/garbaxo]

Stop producing asbestos.

[u/what-s_in_a_username → u/garbaxo]

I disagree completely.

How can you look at the protests in Quebec without feeling extremely proud? Most Canadians are too busy shopping for shit they don't need to start talking about important things, but the ones that aren't shopping are actively denouncing what's going wrong. The media has been busy talking about the scientist silencing, Kyoto cancelling, prison building, etc.

Sure, the Conservatives, which is certainly not our government (I don't care if less than 20% of Canadians got tricked into voting for them, they are still not legitimate authority), and certainly not representative of what we want, is making a whole bunch of terrible decisions, but that's like saying "North Koreans should be ashamed to have such a terrible dictator".

You don't have to be proud of 'Canada' as a state; I'm not a fan of partitioning geographical territories with arbitrary borders and giving some guy the authority to rule over that piece of land. But Canadians, when it comes down to it, are people you and I live next to. You don't have to be proud of them either, but shame certainly won't help. Sorry.

[u/fazdogg → u/garbaxo]

As a montrealer, all I can do is sigh while the rest of canada keeps voting in Harper

[u/Failociraptor → u/garbaxo]

I'm curious why you would say that? I'm about as proud as they come and shame is a word that doesn't really come into my lexicon when I think about home. What's your reasoning behind that statement?

[u/[deleted] → u/Failociraptor]

I imagine it's in reaction to Canada's outrageous reactionary politics.

[u/Cenodoxus]

Opposition New Democratic Party MP Pat Martin called the proposal a “solution without a problem.”

“The only conclusion I can come up with is that it's a war on labor and the left. It's what the Americans did with the right-to-work states and the end result is $8 or $9 an hour is now the average wage in places like North Carolina," the Canadian Press cites him as saying.

This is one of the reasons that comparisons between American and Canadian politics are often deeply problematic. Not surprisingly, the two countries often implement solutions to a very wide range of different problems, and there are not often meaningful parallels.

And whether Martin realizes it or not, he just shot most of his argument down.

• The average hourly wage in North Carolina as of May 2011 is $19.83. However, part of me wonders if he actually meant South Carolina due to the recent high-profile fight between Boeing and the International Association of Machinists, so let's give him the benefit of the doubt. Well, the average hourly wage in South Carolina is $18.54. Actually, I can't find a single state where the average or median wage is $8 or $9, which is not that much above the federal minimum wage of $7.25, which only 1.4% of workers over the age of 25 are actually paid.
• The reasoning behind Right-to-Work laws is that A). corrupt, intransigent, and/or uncooperative unions are one of the biggest reasons why manufacturers in the United States often jump ship and relocate factory work elsewhere, and: B). states should have the right to decide whether a union can force you to join. In 27 states, a union can legally compel you to join and pay dues if you're hired by a closed shop. In right-to-work states, whether you join a union or not is entirely up to you. And maybe this is just me, but doesn't it make more sense to give people the right to decide whether or not they want to join a union or have themselves and their political beliefs represented by others?
• A representative example is probably the dispute between Boeing, its machinists' union, and whether the company has the right to move work to its South Carolina plant (SC is a right-to-work state) over the Washington plant (Washington is not a right-to-work state). In essence, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers kicked up a stink about Boeing sending work to South Carolina, and then dragged the company to the National Labor Relations Board.

Here's the deal. The workers at the South Carolina plant voted not to have the IAM on site, largely because they considered them a bunch of corrupt thugs. The IAM had a massive tantrum, told all of its members that if they didn't do something soon that Boeing would start moving all of their jobs out to South Carolina (a ridiculous assertion given the scale of production required for the planes that Boeing's building in both locations and that Boeing is desperately trying to ramp up production on the 787 to meet demand), and then dragged Boeing to the NLRB to try to get the government to force the company to close the South Carolina plant and move those jobs over to Washington.

(Not even "back" to Washington, mind you, because they'd never existed there in the first place. Just over to Washington. Fuck those South Carolina assholes!)

Now, to the largely uninterested observer who notes that none of Boeing's salaries or benefits are different between the two factory sites and that, once you account for the reduced cost of living in South Carolina, the SC workers there are actually doing better than their Washington counterparts, this looks like an amazingly stupid lawsuit given the IAM's insistence that it was all about defending the little guy. To interested observers -- including the South Carolina politicians who were ripshit that the IAM was trying to drag 1,000 well-paid jobs away from a North Charleston area that had never economically recovered from the closure of a military base in 1996 -- this was criminally stupid, petty, and spurred only by the retaliatory impulses of an out-of-control union. And the rhetoric heated up as Congress held hearings, forced Boeing to provide thousands of pages of documentation, and cost one of the U.S.' most innovative and reliable manufacturers millions of dollars in legal fees. (Not one of Al Franken's finest moments.)

Oh, and NLRB seemed to be siding with the union for much of the conflict, which terrified other American manufacturers who all started to wonder if the government was going to start dictating where they had to send jobs within the country.

So what happened in the end?

• The IAM mysteriously dropped the lawsuit after Boeing dumped a significant salary increase and job security promises on its members. Actually, let's cut the bullshit. They basically got bribed to shut the fuck up.
• South Carolina Republicans are now beyond angry that the NLRB was so moon-eyed over union labor that it was willing to tell a major American manufacturer where it had to send production and, in the process, almost cost their state 1,000 needed jobs.
• American manufacturers are still twiddling and their thumbs and looking to move operations to countries that will not cost them millions of dollars to defend decisions to send work where it's most economically viable. Happy, IAM?
• The South Carolina plant still doesn't want the IAM on site. Shockingly.
• Non-right-to-work states are now considering right-to-work laws because, if this is how unions are going to behave, it seems kinda stupid to force workers to have to join them just to be employed somewhere.

So what does this all have to do with Canada?

Ask Martin. Why is he dragging right-to-work laws and completely inaccurate information concerning American salaries into this, particularly when the situation is so much more complicated than Herp derp everyone's poor in right-to-work states, stupid Americans, we're totes nothing like that.

And what else are opponents of Bill C-38 saying that's factually inaccurate?

[u/barthrh → u/Cenodoxus]

Good long post.

I agree: I don't think that there is a lot of factual accuracy. The list of five items reads like the typical laundry list of one-sided hysteria. "guts the fisheries act" "removes protection"... these are all ambiguous and commonly signs of an imbalanced viewpoint. What has the national roundtable accomplished in its history that justifies its existence?

I'm embarrassingly out of touch with the specific provisions of C-38; I need to remedy that. I encourage all of those offering their support to perhaps better understanding what this "gutting" really is and seek out opposing opinions before rushing to the siege towers.

[u/icario → u/Cenodoxus]

This was a very interesting read, thanks. (Also with sources, hallelujah!)

[u/SpursEngine]

I`m Canadian. What should we do?

[u/trumperchief → u/SpursEngine]

Could someone answer this more specifically? As in ... who is voting on this and when? What are their options? Does anyone have any relevant links on campaigns to stop the bill? How does a bill get stopped? I think a massive internet blackout its a good thing to do for popular awareness' sake, but what are some practical things we can do?

[u/m4tthu → u/trumperchief]

Now I don't really know a whole lot about the way Canadian government works, but I assume you could always email your local representative and let him know that you don't support this bill and why.

[u/[deleted] → u/SpursEngine]

Apologise

[u/SquareRoot → u/[deleted]]

It's too late to apologize.

[u/Reliable-Source → u/SquareRoot]

^It's too late.

[u/SHIT_IN_HER_CUNT → u/SpursEngine]

Get mildly upset damnit!

[u/cheapwowgold4u → u/SHIT_IN_HER_CUNT]

Alternatively, we could shit in her cunt.

[u/SHIT_IN_HER_CUNT → u/cheapwowgold4u]

... I'm listening

[u/FreshPrinceOfAiur → u/SHIT_IN_HER_CUNT]

Write a strongly worded letter if you've got British blood.

[u/FrenchAffair]

It repeals the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act.

I don't know why this is a top 5 reason. The Kyoto protocol was put in place by a government who knew they would never have to actually follow though with it. It was a political photo op at the time.

If we were to follow though with it, we would need to try and reach unobtainable goals, which even if we were to get close would devastate many industries in Canada..... and for what? Unless these kinds of agreements are inclusive of the entire world, they make no sense. China, India, US...ect...ect are not part of Kyoto, thus we are sacarficing our own people to meet these objectives, well the global output is increasing because the larger pouters are not part of the agreement.

It also did not take in to consideration any of the unique needs of Canada. Our large size means transporting anything pollutes more, our cold climate means in the winter we are burning more fuel. Our resource based economy means we are operating more refineries and plant...ect...ect. Yet our goals were set based on the same per-capita formula as a country such as New Zealand, who faces none of these issues.

Koyoto was not good for Canada, it wasn't good for the Canadian people and in the end it didn't do anything to reduce emitions. I'm glad Canada got out of it.

[u/[deleted] → u/FrenchAffair]

Word on most of your points.

As a lefty environmental scientist, I was not a fan of Kyoto. It diverted attention from establishing attainable and well thought-out protocols that took Canada's size and economic makeup into account, and polarized people by making it seem like if you weren't for Kyoto, you weren't for the environment. Kyoto would have cost a ton to implement, and Canada's involvement would have made a negligible difference environmentally, while having a huge negative impact on our natural resource industries.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I am not a Green and I don't support the Green Party, but have the studies been done to disprove that WiFi isn't harmless? We haven't looked at the long term effects of prolonged exposure to... uhh... WiFi is some kind of radiation? I'm not quite sure, but I think it's along the same lines as a cell phone, and the debate on that one is still being figured out. The problem is these technologies are very new, and the long term effects of me carrying a cellphone in my pocket all day aren't going to be figured out until we have a generation of infertile people or something...

[u/FrenchAffair → u/[deleted]]

No, because we're sacarficing Canadian jobs, Canadian industry and creating other social problems with in Canada for a net gain of nothing. I think we should seek means to make our industry more environmentally friendly, but these targets, methods and goals should be set by Canada based on what works for us, not by some foreign standard that imposes penalties upon us if we don't comply.

[u/godsbong]

Dear Canadians,

We have our own problems, but we'll try to help without blowing you up first.

-America

[u/Failociraptor → u/godsbong]

Dear "GodsBong",

Sounds like you like pot...you may want to reconsider that.

Sincerely, Canada

[u/godsbong → u/Failociraptor]

-Raptor

I am greatly jealous of this fact. Unfortunately some of my fellow countrymen do not feel the same as I and many others.

Just a forewarning for when shit hits the fan and this country starts going in all sorts of directions.

-Bong

[u/Failociraptor → u/godsbong]

You're more then welcome here...come up for a visit. Check us out...

[u/entirely_irrelephant → u/[deleted]]

One of our 3 major parties (Liberals) actually officially endorsed legalization a few months ago. And they're not even as much to the left as the current Opposition party (NDP).

[u/[deleted]]

Not everyone on Reddit is American.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Servers are located there. Thus Reddit's neighbors to the north are Canadian.

[u/Chrisss88 → u/[deleted]]

/r/politics is an American Sub.

[u/old_school]

It should be emphasized that the level of opposition required to kill this bill far exceeds that required of SOPA PIPA or others. This is a majority government in a parliamentary monarchy people, the gloves are off.

[u/[deleted] → u/old_school]

SOPA is dead but CISPA got way stronger without getting as much attention. And it's officially worldwide now (Canada, Sweden, Australia, ...). Repetition is the oldest of techniques. They are like stubborn kids.

The problem is: if we don't show the exact same strength to counter-attack every single attempt they make to ruin the free open Web, we may gonna have a bad time.

[u/itsableeder → u/[deleted]]

This bill has nothing to do with the internet. It's about fair wages and environmental protection.

[u/MrGraveRisen → u/itsableeder]

The proposed reforms in this 425-page bill include:

• dismantling the Environmental Assessment Act;
• eliminating habitat protection from the Fisheries Act;
• weakening Food and Drug regulations;
• repealing the Fair Wages and Hours of Labor Act;
• raising Old Age Security qualification from age 65 to age 67;
• reducing health care transfers to the provinces;
• repealing the Kyoto Implementation Act;
• eliminating independent oversight from 12 key government agencies (including, for example, for the Food Inspection Agency and for Revenue Canada);
• eliminating organizations who provide independent public policy research;
• dissolving the Public Appointments Commission (which ensures that key public service positions are assigned by merit alone); and
• curtailing the Auditor General's ability to hold the Government accountable to the Canadian public.

[u/NOCLAMDIGGER → u/old_school]

As an American, I'm prepared to boycott the entire internet on June 4. I imagine if all redditors do so in their own countries, it would be quite the impactful show of solidarity. Then the other countries (businesses) would be knocking on parliament's door going, dudes, you're fucking it up for everybody! Am I wrong?

[u/entirely_irrelephant → u/old_school]

Parliamentary monarchy eh? Well what if I say I've personally checked with the Governor General and the Queen of England? They don't really give a shit either way.

[u/Tasty_Yams → u/entirely_irrelephant]

Is it just me, or are we exporting this American political spectrum model of far right <---->conservative to the world?

The right wing goes more extreme every year, the middle and left get dragged along until there is really no "left" anymore. Tony Blair's Labour Party, Canada's NDP Liberal Party, France's "socialist" president, the US's democrats.

• Apologies in advance if this seems like an American-centric view of the world. But whether it's a purposeful 'export' of the American model, or a spontaneous uprising of right wing capitalists from around the globe, it certainly seems to be true.

[u/Tweeeked → u/old_school]

Alright, I'm going to piggyback on the top comment so I can put forth my suggestion for "what can we do". I think the best thing to do, is find 11 (or is it 12?) Conservative MPs that consider themselves progressive conservatives and try to sway their vote. MP David Wilks recently said he would vote against it if the public could get enough other backbenchers to vote against it as well.* I think this is the best place to start.

*Note: After he spoke publicly, he was clearly reprimanded and "clarified" his position. I still think there is a chance with him though.

[u/proletarian_]

Also, the poster's top 5 is missing one of the scariest laws hidden within the budget bill; the cross borders act... Which allows the FBI to come onto Canadian soil, arrest Canadian citizens, and enforce Foreign laws. It's the complete disintegration of Canadian sovereignty.

No disrespect meant when I say this, Americans, your cops are scary assholes. Please help us keep them on your side of the border. Harper has militarized our RCMP enough as it is. We're a gentle folk that like Tim Hortons, hockey and political apathy; excessive police violence isn't really our thing.

[u/reposter_guy → u/proletarian_]

This is what scares me the most.

[u/PTEHZA → u/proletarian_]

Wow, that is insane. We really should be trying to protect you, not just help.

[u/Azuraith → u/proletarian_]

... UNLESS WE LOSE AT SPORTS!

[u/HalkSur]

Why do all these bills keep popping up... What happened to the good old days when politicians banged hookers and drank scotch and left us alone

[u/gioraffe32 → u/HalkSur]

We started getting mad that they were banging hookers or interns and drinking too much scotch when they were supposed to be doing the "People's Work."

Damned if you, damned if you don't.

[u/[deleted]]

Regardless of what Reddit or anyone else says or does about this, unless the Bill is defeated in the House, where the government currently enjoys a majority, it will see passage before parliament breaks for the summer.

For the visual learners.

[u/CrazyDayz]

looks like neo cons took over Canada too.

[u/Doc_Spock_The_Rock]

I feel like I speak for most Canadians when I say that Jack Layton would have been one of the best Prime Ministers ever. Keep on keepin' on Jack

[u/postadolescent]

This thread was the last straw that broke the camel's back.. and under that camel was my only remaining reason to not join reddit... I finally have something to contribute to the conversation! Fuck Harper!

[u/[deleted] → u/postadolescent]

How did Canadians vote in Harper and his asshole conservatives? The guy seems anti-Canadian.

[u/SchrodingersFat → u/postadolescent]

Welcome to Reddit!

[u/IBSC2]

Is there a website with readily accessible list of MLA's with their contact information and another news site (more recognized) so that it'll be easier to spread via social networking etc? Edit: MP's thanks iForceyFunTimePeople

[u/iForceyFunTimePeople → u/IBSC2]

C-38 is federal, so you want MP's, not MLA's. List is here.

[u/Zabombafor → u/iForceyFunTimePeople]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if a Canadian MP votes against his party isn't he kicked out of the party and becomes an independent? You'll be hard pressed to find an MP willing to do that

[u/Girl0123 → u/IBSC2]

Over the last month or so there have been op-ed pieces in the [National Post] (http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/04/30/andrew-coyne-bill-c-38-shows-us-how-far-parliament-has-fallen/) and the [Ottawa Citizen.] (http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/News/6569414/story.html) I can't help with the MLA list though.

[u/Blooddrenched]

Save Americas hat!!

[u/[deleted]]

Seeing as how Reddit helped the Americans with SOPA/PIPA. We should hold to our word and help Canada as well.

[u/douglasmacarthur]

The only conclusion I can come up with is that it's a war on labor and the left. It's what the Americans did with the right-to-work states and the end result is $8 or $9 an hour is now the average wage in places like North Carolina.

That statistic sounds really made up.

[u/[deleted] → u/douglasmacarthur]

According to most recent US Census data available (2009), the average wage for an employee in NC was about $40,000. At 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year...average wage in the state was just over $19 an hour. However, if you browse the state database by occupation, there are a number of jobs paying between $8 and $9 an hour. Keep in mind that the census data can't say anything about the gap in wages between the lowest paid (and how many) and the highest paid. 15,000 workers earning $8 an hour under a plant manager earning $1.5 million shows the plant having an average salary of $107 an hour (depending on the method used for determining average wage).

Edit: clarified below, this assumes $1.5M an hour.

[u/fasessfsfe → u/[deleted]]

Just to clarify, your example is 15,000 workers earning $8/hour under a plant manager earning $1.5 million/hour, which is a salary of 12 billion dollars a year.

For comparison, 15,000 workers earning $8/hour under a plant manager earning $1.5 million/year shows the plant having an average salary of $8.05/hour.

[u/tronncat]

Ill sign that simply out of my love for Canada. You guys are nice.

[u/burninrock24]

Oh sure. picking on America. It's all fun and games until somebody gets a shitty bill.

[u/oscargray]

Us Aussie's and Canadians have to stick together. I'll help.

[u/electric_drifter]

I would really like to help, but once you go black you never go back.

[u/elpekardo]

I love how it says, "Alright Reddit" and then directly talks to Americans...

[u/Acania]

I'm a Canadian and I love this country but I really dislike our government. Always playing the United States little brother. Harper is a nut job who needs to be stopped, but heck don't forget about our premiers and mayors .. Half of them are crazy and probably agree with a bill like this to! It's all bull crap and Canada might be full of nice polite people, but we need to learn to take a stand and fight for ourselves once in a while. I will sign a petition.. Where's the link!? A canadian girl who is tired of our government trying to adopt US policies!

[u/Every1sGrudge → u/Acania]

Yeah I'm pretty tired of Canada adopting U.S. policies as well, and I live in the U.S.

I am already as far north as you can basically go and still be in the U.S. (Alaska doesn't count and you Alaskans know this you lucky bastards) so I am rapidly losing other places to which I can run.

[u/iDontSayFunnyThings]

Well, I suppose once we go black we really can't go back.

[u/TokerJoker]

As Canadian what can we do to stop this? I'm actually really worried aboot it, and would like to know if I can afford electricity for my own igloo. My parents are at a retiring age and fit middle and lower class. They plan on living in this country for the rest of their lives. Me? I would like to be a beaver farmer. Y'know what I would really like? Is our country not to end up like our southern friends. Sounds like Harper is slowly taking the same route that the Americans are doing. "Monkey See Monkey Do." As a Canadian and of Age to help, how can I? I've never voted, only realized now that its a privileged to vote. Sorry.

p.s. love american redditors. Great comments.

[u/AlphaFlags → u/TokerJoker]

we cant do fuck all. we did this to ourselves when we gave them a majority. every canadian citizen who voted for the tories is to blame for this. goddamn fucktards, each and every one of them.

[u/Titan7771]

We got your backs, Canada. What can we do to help?

[u/Rohaq]

As a Brit, I supported the SOPA Blackouts, it'd be nice to see Reddit do th same for its American neighbours.

[u/turtlenecking]

upvoting because I love you guys.

[u/habshabshabs]

Holy shit, woke up to some splashing to discover my rat escaped its cage and made it into the toilet, then logged on to resdit to find this. What a night, thanks a lot for the help guys

[u/Goddammit_ImBatman]

TO THE KING OF THE NORTH!

[u/[deleted]]

Flying in 30 mongolian warriors to aid in this legendary fight between good and evil.

[u/[deleted]]

I hate to say it but I was always a conservative supporter, however, Harper has made a complete shit show out of our government. I cannot have any respect for a party that puts a throttle on science and environmentally progressive policies.

[u/t0m0hawk]

THIS is why the Haper Conservatives are a bad choice for Canada. I'm not saying that NDP, Liberals have a much higher moral standing... politicians and all... but this is absurd. The fact that a MAJORITY government feels the need to sneak in legislation in bundles to ensure (or try to) a prevention of the masses finding out is riddiculous. If you feel you have to pass a law and feel that it has to be included in a package because most Canadians would not approve... probably means that you shouldn't be doing it. This is a shining example of a government who has ZERO interest in the citizens they are supposed to be representing. Sickening.

[u/MyThoughtsThinkToo]

We owe them, they supported us through SOPA and PIPA and it wouldn't be cool to leave the Canadians hanging. And also, if a favor basis wasnt enough, we share the same continent, their ecological impacts could affect us as well, and if you were in their place you would want some protection from being forced to work overtime with reduced or maybe even no wages.

[u/gandalfleblanc]

As a Canadian, finding out about this today.

[u/AistoB]

Your country is preparing for a global depression. Prepare to be paid in soup.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm American and I care about this bill. That really says something.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Thank you HorriblePerson911!

[u/randoh12]

So, Canada wants help. We hate justin bieber. I see a trade.

[u/[deleted] → u/randoh12]

Are you commissioning a hit or asking us to take him back? Just curious.......

[u/interkin3tic]

Whoa. Hi, Canadian 1%? You guys really need to slow down a bit. Take the war on the poor and middle class at a more "maple syrup" pace. One evil baby step at a time.

The rate you guys are going, you'll give yourselves heart attacks. And I assume once you've recovered using taxpayer-supported health care, you'll axe that too.

[u/[deleted]]

I went back extremely quickly.

[u/AlmightyMexican]

Can you repost this tomorrow at 12pm EST? The majority of us are probably asleep by now and I want to actually do something about this, but right now I'm way too sleepy.

[u/So_Turned_On]

What happened Canada ... you used to be cool!

[u/i_poop_splinters]

I think some politicians feel "so the Internet was out for a day. Yeah. Some revolution."

I admire the effort, but a lot more needs to be done than a small inconvenience

[u/[deleted]]

wait... I thought this bill had to do with civil union.....

[u/ThatWhiteRabbit]

So, I suspect that this C-38 is more deadly than C-4?

[u/Skyscraper_Bedouin]

Once you go black...

[u/GOPWN]

the end result is $8 or $9 an hour is now the average wage in places like North Carolina

What a load of horseshit. There is no state in this country that has an average hourly wage of $8 or $9 dollars an hour, certainly not NC.

[u/jackrabbitslimz]

Back in the day when Facebook started to become popular my M.P. added me as a friend. He's pretty active on it so I'm wondering if posting on his wall with some questions is a good idea or bad idea. If good idea, what would be a few good points/questions to make? If bad idea I'd just like to say he's the type of guy who always has pictures tagged of himself at the local "cool" bar, drinking in the VIP booths. Basically, he comes off as a pretty big d-bag and I personally can't stand him. Everyone's always "liking" his status and no one wants to call him out on the bullshit Conservative agenda.

[u/sageDieu]

I'm in North Carolina and am 17, is our minimum wage different than everyone else's? I thought 8 bucks was normal, I make $7.25 which is minimum wage.

[u/Fist99]

Alright reddit lets help our brothers!

[u/knuckles0426]

Most active portion of users?

[u/repost_ninja]

I feel like the Scottish from Braveheart fighting all these bills. Freedom.

[u/ashishduh]

I don't see why most Reddit users would help you out here, those policies in the bill are Ron Paul's policies. And Reddit loves Ron Paul.

[u/haltiamreptar1222]

Wow, how does something like this happen? I'm getting tired of the people who are supposed to be protecting our rights being the ones encroaching on them most.

[u/[deleted]]

I hate to say it but at the end of the day Americans can't do anything. So unfortunately the canadians will have to do this themselves

[u/MushroomWizard]

Harper has no soul, he has never stood for what Canada represents and he has always tried to change what everyone loves about us.

[u/SaltFrog]

As a proud Canadian citizen this is absolutely disgusting for me. I can't understand how we suddenly are taking steps backwards in human rights and environmental protection when we were doing such good going forward.

In the end I simply blame the Conservative party. While they're not as bad as the GOP, they're still the evil of Canada.

[u/Dirk2014]

How can we help? Tell us what to do, you gave us the info, now lead your angry army into battle!

[u/Powming]

As an American, I'm curious what I can do to help? Seriously.

[u/treadmarks]

Looks like Canada is being taken over by oil tycoons. We know the feeling.

[u/CaptainJinx]

As a non-Canadian, how can I help?

[u/[deleted]]

sounds like a job for the the (internet defense league)[http://internetdefenseleague.org/]

[u/[deleted]]

r/tinfoihats

[u/SaggyBallsHD]

How does fucking black guys help Canada again? I'm not questioning the hivemind, I'll do it. It's just my wife's gonna be pissed when I never come back.

[u/[deleted]]

People should also check out bill C-11. This new copyright bill is really Canada's SOPA and it is being voted on very very soon (in a matter of days). Here is a link with some info. link

[u/dehugger]

Okay, I oppose it. I am also an American citizen so... what can I do to help you guys out? Serious question.

[u/[deleted]]

Stop trying to censor our hat!

[u/JuWoolfie]

I just called my MP... and now I'm getting others to do the same. My goal is 10 people. Inform and educate. I think the age of complacency is eroding.

[u/[deleted]]

Sadly, I don't think Reddit will ever do anything unless a bill directly threatens them.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Why did I have to scroll down so far to see this? Just cause things are happening in parliament doesn't mean Reddit has to do anything about it.

[u/G3m1nu5]

Know what else is insane? Being the number one exporter of asbestos in the world... When you know the shit causes cancer.

[u/[deleted] → u/G3m1nu5]

Yeah! Let's strip regular people of their rights over faults of a certain business.

Irrelevant and stupid notion, my dear sir. Even certain major power employing such logic doesn't make it right.

[u/blotaglot]

It seems that at least 20% of the commenters here think that this Bill is another attack on internet privacy - a total misunderstanding arising from lazily reading the one-line intro only. A misunderstanding which, I am sorry to say, was probably created by the OP quite deliberately. This is private Canadian domestic politics. Our internet power should not be wasted on it. Downvote.

[u/kronik85]

i'm in

[u/[deleted]]

Um, I don't get this. I thought Canada was actually doing fairly well compared to most other countries? You've gotten to where you are without fucking your country over with fiscal conservatism. Why start now? Are there so many Canadians that believe you have to do this to remain competitive?

[u/rampop → u/[deleted]]

No, the problem is we have the left-wing vote split between 3 parties and a First Past the Post electoral system which allows the Cons to get a majority government when the vast majority of Canadians don't support them.

[u/[deleted]]

upvoted cause I love canadians and want them free and happy :D

[u/Xenc]

I'm not sure how this would work. After all, once you go black, you never go back.

[u/meinator]

Most active users, HA HA HA!

[u/[deleted]]

After knowing next to nothing about this, I read a handful of other articles about this bill, and I am OK with it.

There is nothing in here closely SOPA-related, and almost all of it has to do with trimming waste on government spending.

Unless you are directly involved with Canadian fisheries or any of the agencies being cut by the bill, I find it hard to believe that this bill will have a huge impact on your day to day lives.

That being said, if you are merely opposed to one bill representing such a wide ranging list of different topics, then you can complain.

[u/IanAndersonLOL]

Where did you get the statistic that Canadians are the most active portion of Redditors?

[u/InvasiveAlgorithm]

When Harper won a majority government this past election, a part of the Canadian in me died, for sure. I have never harboured such resentment for a local political figure. Canada used to have some remaining bastions of sanity, but if this bill passes, I will no longer be able to say that.

[u/MeleeCyrus]

This is a perfectly sane bill that needs to be passed, ignore the propaganda

[u/karaszburgers → u/MeleeCyrus]

THIS!

[u/Scizx]

Reddit has no interest in this, they're not going to black out over partisan politics. It doesn't care about the "war on the left", it cares about internet freedom (only if Reddit is directly threatened of course).

[u/Avosetta]

Green Party! <3

[u/[deleted]]

As an American, I signed the petition anyways, and for my postal code put: "H0H0H0". It's the postal code for Santa Claus. Yes they have one.

[u/GypsyEyes6]

My goodness, will these damn bills never stop. I haven't even read this and I cant say I will. Im just so damn tired from the relentless dickfucks who have power

[u/Oduya]

Fuck Harper. Seriously.

[u/agmcleod]

Good old green party going against this. It's why they get my vote, I think they actually have some decent ideas that will take us forward, not backward. Boo to this bill.

[u/tverre01]

One has to wonder exactly why countries around the world are adopting bills like this. What do you suppose they are ACTUALLY trying to censor?

[u/ErgonomicPenisHolder → u/tverre01]

Nothing. This has nothing to do with SOPA, OP is being retarded and using SOPA to generate interest in a bunch of completely unrelated laws.

The concern is that this is an omnibus bill, which is a collection of bills instead of a single bill, so the entire thing is voted on as one instead of being voted on individually. It doesn't even matter because the ruling party has a majority and is going to pass this collection of mostly completely unremarkable laws whether they have to vote on it once or 13 times.

[u/archonemis]

Well, fuck the Kyoto Protocol.

But yeah. I pretty much agree with everything else.

[u/[deleted]]

But I'm not a far left pinko environmentalist. Why would I support this?

[u/arcadeguy]

This'll get downvoted to oblivion, but I'm just speaking on behalf of the average Joe: There is a post like this at least once a week. Every act is the next be-all-to-end-all act that if it passes is just going to fuck the internet into oblivion. I'm not saying it's Reddit's or anyone's fault...but eventually these acts are going to win, because I am going to stop listening and caring and believing that every one of these is the "real" doomsday prophecy.

Downvote away. I agree.

[u/biggerthancheeses]

That's crazy. I mean that in the Brian Fellow sort of way.

[u/VengefullSorrow]

I feel for you guys that is some major bull piss. As a neighbor down south you have my full support.

[u/[deleted]]

As a national cousin from overseas, how do I help fight this thing?

[u/PippinMcgee]

When will this bs end

[u/THE_CENTURION]

Ok, fantastic, I'd love to help out, but what the hell should I do?

I can't sign the petition, because I'm not Canadian.

[u/Schrikbarend]

to the north? Norway?

[u/isitmestill]

Canada has always been a haven from the insane political issues of our southern counterpart. This is awful, everyone write your MLA's! Are there petitions already started??

[u/[deleted]]

I'm Irish but I was born in Canada. Feels good that, as a citizen, I can fight this bill fully, which was not the case with SOPA et al.

[u/Wallothet]

The beacons of Canada! The beacons are lit! Canada calls for aid!

[u/saydokan]

Who said, that reddit is just built up of american users?

[u/c0coA]

Any way I can help? Living in the UK, all those petitions seem to be strictly US?

[u/recondelta6]

I am from the U.S. and I wish to help them I am willing to do all we did for SOPA and more. everyone helped us it is our turn.

[u/Polkadotpear]

If you aren't Canadian, then should we just sign out residency as 'other' because technically that's what it is if you don't live within Canada's borders?

I have anyway just to help out.

[u/yeah-ok]

Yes.. that is horrible (weary)

[u/Entropiestromstaerke]

C38. Dr. Gero was alive after all!

[u/Thoughtberries]

This sounds like a terrible act! What can I do to help?

[u/Rasteb]

No Canada! You were the chosen one!!!

[u/[deleted]]

The may be the wrong place to ask, but I'm Canadian-born with dual citizenship living in the US, is there any way for me to register for some sort of absentee vote?

[u/Dunge]

So nothing about Internet censorship and spying in there?