Move over moveon.org. Canada is stepping up with leadnow.ca, just in time for what looks like a federal election in mere weeks.
The famous Yankee online organization that takes a big share of credit for mobilizing a gigantic youth push for Obama’s presidential win, has birthed a full-fledged Canadian sibling onto the scene.
Of course, the national progressive political landscape up here hasn’t been completely bereft of organized, multi-issue online urgings towards petitions and campaigns. We have had the impressive Avaaz.org which does major work globally and it was founded by Canadian Ricken Patel, so we can give ourselves props for that.
But signs are strong that the timing is right on this one. It is great to have some new citizen infrastructure in time for this election.
Look around. Democracy is demanding its due around the world. Take a couple of prorogues, delete a census, fire overly truthful diplomats, defund civil society, defang the integrity watchdogs, add a little G20 and voila. We’re not really on the other side of the world from the Middle East after all.
The brainchild of co-founders Jamie Biggar and Adam Shedletzky, leadnow.ca’s objective is to “build an independent community that works together to help set the political agenda, take effective action on important issues, and shift elections.”
Leadnow.ca is offering an innovative way to politically engage with the issues of the day. Step one in the process is a call to sign on to the website and input ideas to create a “declaration for change” that will form the backbone of their election campaigning.
Check it out under campaigns on their website (click here). Democracy in Canada needs all the citizen help it can get.
