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Right flips the f- - . activism » *helert Mm et Re 3 aes Ae Your essential daily news | TUESDAY, JANUARY 17,2017 High 6°C/Low 0°C Partlycloudy © @ Nathan,” said Faulkner, ‘han’s mother, Jennifer Dien Edwardson O’Brien, took the stand Monday Be.Metro |Calgary describing herson as an active litle boy who loved superheroes, and her A dispute over a pump patent is mother as her “best friend. the likely motive for the killing of She said she discovered the ind- bloody murder scene when she swith three Counts of std nthe bodies she told her murder in the desta of Tefore calling poe, They . r . told her to lock herself in the car Crown claims pump patent Garland’s motive for murder —_i2!t7s2014.Hepleaded not guilty for fear someone might still bein Int gpeniag taser Cro’ Tet bai Wei ue foi prosecutor View Faull bt the court heard Monday that Earle were desl ‘grudge” held by Garla Eoeses test fled by Alvin fora p “A pump that never made any Allen Liknes, lvin’s son, took falcon. a pump tarda’ “We sand seco During ts tse } male mpose Gigi” aaid rule my i war exablched Gat head : = his father worked on a natura ‘ The Crowm alleges that Garland pump with Garand meticulously plannedthe murders” According to Alle, Garland was ofAlvnand Kathy Lines andthat fired by Alvin in 2007 after thelr veyearoll Nefkin Quen wat wosking relationship turued aur tragic collateral damage after stay- and Garland failed to help Alvin ing at his grandparents’ foran“im- with a project. promptu sleepov At first, Allen said he never sus- Itsalleged that Garland eventual- pected Garland as he thought of ly acted on his grudge, after compil- i ing in-depth research on the Liknes, thing he's sneaky,” he said, couple as well as torture methods saw a photo of and how to kill without emotion. the rusted green Ford F150 that - a A plan that stopped al fot: be poluted pice a Garant: Ge Kathy Liknes Alvin Liknes prints of fe of Ain Katluyn and ection. ing pieces of bones a aburn barrel Let us show you the difference Now even lower fees can make. lower mutual Visiirhacoult performance Sefund fees Fett pin parte Haden) of ya Bank of Canada RC and Royal Bank are estere trademark of Roya Ban of Canada Mutual Funds are sol by Royal ua Funds nc RFs ensed a af ces fim inthe province of Quel funds oun (20072008 2009 2010,201120122013.201) Liners Best dond£7Ps Grou (205) Lipps dest Overall funds Group (2007 20082010,201,2012.2059) andthe 2014 Morningstar Fed lca Manage ofthe ear (PR ippe's Best Bond On January 25, Bell will donate 5¢ more to mental health initiatives for every + Text message” + Mobile and long distance call” + Tweet and Instagram post using #BellLetsTalk + Facebook video view + Snapchat using the Bell Let's Talk geofilter bell.ca/letstalk KFCVOTs ois Let's Talk Clara Hughes long dlstonce calls ond text messages must be mode ubserber Regular charges op Your essential daily news Canadian embassy in D.C. to serve up national cuisine for Trump's inauguration. World The Calgary Community Choice Awards want your picks for 2017 ® METRO CALGARY COMMUNITY CHOICE Nominate your favourite local ‘hidden gems’ It's back! ‘After thousands of 2016 nom inations and even more votes for your Calgary favourites, Calgary ‘Community Choice Awards is ready to roll for 2017. Everyone has that favourite goto place, whether it's a hair- stylist where the conversation is ‘great and the hairdos are better, an auto repair shop that gives ‘you the straight goods and excep- tional service ora simple, cozy place to grab a great cuppa Joe. ‘Once again, we're asking you to share those places with others! Afterall, they deserve some rec ognition. ‘We created the Community Choice program to allow Cal- garians to speak to each other and find hidden gems. We ‘weren't sure what to expect last year, but the response was incredible and I can't wait for this year's results” said Steve Shrout, VP of Sales for Metro English Canada. You can participate through our very own Metro Calgary ‘Community Choice Awards ‘online portal. It allows you to tell us about amazing Calgary businesses and then let the ‘community vote them to the top. There's nothing better than word of mouth to help give a boost to some of your favourite Calgary businesses. ‘The Metro Community Choice Awards covered 92 categories in 2016, with 3,300 nominat- ed businesses, so readers will not only see Calgary compan- ies in the spotlight, but great recommendations are at their fingertips if they're looking for something in particular to suit their needs. Last year, more than 11,000 votes were cast! Metro will bring you the results of ourreaderdriven awards in special editions scheduled for later in 2017. @naveasay 1B Nominate a Calgary ‘business you think deserves the limelight and then vote at ‘MetroCommunityChoice. ‘com Best Happy Hour— Best Weekend Brunch — Diner Deluxe in Bridgeland “It’sa really cool Best Food Truck for the Wi “Love the smoked meat sandwich, it’s just delicious. It's warmsoit’s Cheryl Joynd Callen Strang Aidan Campbell Oliva Awe GREY EAGLE RESORT & CASING —— SWIPE TO WIN A POLARIS RZR 1000 HOW TO ENTER |, gure oun Ngne® CDE ERE alte ls Ce Rs 3 ons BALE JANUARY 19, 2017 ‘30 BALLOTS WILL BE DRAV/N AND INVITED TO OUR VIP PARTY (7 THE STAGE SAR ON JANUARY 24° ‘ONE LUCKY WINNER WL WIN THE 2017 POLARIS RZR KIO0, G8 CASH PRIZE CHIION, WWW.GREYEAGLERESORTANDCASINO.CA | 403.385.3777 | 37% Street & Glenmore Trail S.W. | 4 | Tuesday, January 17, 2017 Calgary coMmUNITY Notorious property closed The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit has shuttered a Calgary property with a troubled history — for now. The home, at 625 - 27 Av- ‘enue NE, was boarded up and fenced off after SCAN issued a ‘Community Safety Order (CSO) against the property owner, ‘which prevents anyone from ac- cessing the property for 90 days SCAN began investigating the property in May 2016 after re- peated complaints of suspected drug activity. Calgary police visited the location 30 times in 2016, issuing search warrants ‘on two occasions. The warrants tumed up five stolen firearms, including a loaded handgun, anda lange quantity of fentanyl pills, ecstasy, marijuana and stolen property valued at more than $150,000. werro 6 court Dad disappointed in sentences for son's killers The father of 18-year-old Lukas Strasser-Hird who. was killed by a group of people in 2013 is unhappy with the sentencing of the three men convicted. ‘Assmar Shlah and Franz Cabrera were both sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole for 12 and 15, years respectively. Joch Pouk was convicted. of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years in jail. THe canaoian Ress Calgarian flees bullets as five die in shooting artac, Loved Toronto bouncer among victims at Mexico club ce Metro| Calgary Gunshots, and sparks are vivid memories for one Calgarian, now landed safe in Canada after a night of pounding electronic music turned into a terrifying Five people reportedly died and 15 more were injured after alone shooter outside the Bhie Parrot nightclub in Paya Del Car men opened fire on the venue early Monday morning. Among the dead, according to a state ment from the BPM Festival, ‘were three members of the se. curity team, trying to keep rev- ellers safe inside. ‘Aleks Samardzija, from Cal- gary, was inside the club, and Said he was feet away from the gunfire. He aid his fiend rushed to he behind a wooden couch after hearing gunshots, seeing the red glow of bullets, and smelling gun powder. For approximately fif- teen minutes that's where he stayed, watching a other people ‘booked it" out ofthe club, some frantically jumping over each other to find a way out. Then, slowly. he said police ame into the building, guns drawn, ‘early morning gunfire “We laid low.” Samardzija said, “We literally had to jump ‘over a dead body to get out the door He and a group of 10 friends are regulars to the festival. They meet up each year to enjoy the music, but Samardzija said he may be taking a year away fom the festival. “We just laid low and tried to be sale, we were all covering each other,” Samardzija said. “It feels good to be home, 'm ina safe place now. State Attorney General Mi- ‘guel Angel Pech ruled out any terror attack, but said the shoot ing erupted when festival se ‘curity personnel tried to stop ‘aman from entering the club ‘with a gun. State officials said the dead in- ‘duded two Canadians, an Italian anda Colombian, The gunman apparently fled, Kirk Wilson, identified in Mexican reports as among five people killed, was a fixture of the Toronto nightclub scene, ‘Apoliceman stands guard outside the Blue Parrot club, where several people were killed in. in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. rut assocuaren pss serving as a bouncer for years. Longtime friend Neil Forester said Wilson was working secur ity at the annual BPM Festival and was one of several people from the Toronto area lending hand to the festival's Canadian ta genuine, one- guy.” said Forester, who described Wilson as having no ego and no attitude. “He was the first guy you called whenever | you needed something.” metreNEWws NEIGHBOURHOODS Angled parking fix urged Culde-sac living has come to | a boil in the past few months, as city parking bylaw officers clamped down on angled parking in the rounded street ends. But Coun. Shane Keating is hoping administration can tackle the issue from another angle. “tm trying to sort out what can be done, rather than just saying we can't park there,” said Keating. “It'skind of gone down to a neighbourhood dispute, rather than an issue of real parle ing as a complaint comes in. last year, anumber of angled- parking ticketing incidents made headlines when officers hit cars that had been parking in the oddly-shaped streets for years, “There are culdesacs that would allow for angled parking without question,” said Keat- ing. “Could we have a process similar to speed limits, where wwe can change the speed limits as long as it's signed.” The councillor noted the process could include a petition by residents, cost for putting up signs and remove disputes. The city’s bylaw only allows angled parking where signs indi- cate. This mirrors the province's bylaw that states you must park parallel to the curb. Transportation boss Mac Logan said the city is guided by legal and practical circum- stances when it comes to parking infractions. He said there ‘are 2,500 culdlesacs in the city, some are small and can't accom modate angled parking. rw A MERCER’ =P >’ REPORT #rickmercerreport TONIGHT Rick is celebrating the sun's return after a month of darkness at the Sunrise Festival in Inuvik, NWT. ALL-NEW EPISODE TONIGHT SOUTHGATECHEVROLET.COM ES jis > / / BONUS ON YOUR ELIGIBLE VEHICLE ADO 212.crew cas 7 === 13103 Lake Fras 6 | Hey Winnipeg squirrels, that food is for the birds The onder states Belcourt isin violation of the Neighbourhood Livability Bylaw by keeping her yard in an unsanitary condition, ue in part to the presence of fa feeder that is said to attract many squirrels and mice, Belcourt told Monday's committee the bylaw officer who inspected her property last Now ember mischaracterized the structure as a squirrel feeder, ‘when in fact it was purchased at a speciality store and is in- tended for wild birds january 17, 2017 ‘Stephanie Taylor Metro| Winnipeg A Winnipeg woman is allowed to keep a bird feeder in her backyard —as long as she keeps it clean, Debra Belcourt appeared before Monday's meeting of the protection, community servi ces and parks committee to appeal a Violation order issued by the city. Nature groups working to end hunting of turtles who prepared the Ottawa Field- Naturalists’ Club's submission to the environmental registry, said ‘the province's interest in continu ing the hunt is “not based on Seburm says the hunt is not sustainable due to things like habitat reduction and road kill Adam Kveton For Metro| Ottawa They're big, they bite and they're at risk, but you can still hunt them in Ontario, ‘local group says that could spellthe end for snapping turtles. rates, as well as the way snap- ‘And while the provinceislook- ping turtles breed. ing into restricting the hunt, lo It takes about 20 years before calnature groups are hoping to they can give birth, and when do away with it entirely. they do, their nests are often Local ecologist David Seburn, raided by predators, said Sebur. » THE STARS LOTIERY= Da Se TERE STi GRAND PRIZE #1 wort $998,000 RETAIL Calgary Home ‘oretrdge Re SM, Grestmont GRAND PRIZE #3 ‘worTH $870,450 RETAIL Red Deer Home 22am re WIN UP T0 $1.55 MILLION TWO EARLY BIRD PRIZES | prize ft 9 7% Se HOME AWAY FROM HOME PACKAGI 2017 Ram 2500 Crew Cab dx ano 2017 Arctic starslotteryalberta.ca ulin STARS R50/50s 1 28F Travel Trailer worth $127,983 retail 3,145 PRIZES WORTH MORE THAN $4.9 MILLION RETAILror Matea's fut story visit starslotteryalberta.ca GRAND PRIZE #2 worth $973,979 RETAIL Edmonton Home Tui Colonel Mewtoura Rea, Vilage at Grlesbach GRAND PRIZE #4 wort $780,000 RETAIL, Lethbridge Home ac $50,000 CASH 1-888-880-0992 Tickets only $25 each, 3 for $60, 6 for $100 and 18 for $250 Canada Trudeau trip to be probed emnics Watchdog to investigate use of Aga Khan’s helicopter Canada's ethics watchdog plans to take a closer look at Justin ‘Trudeau's recent family holiday at the Aga Khan's private island in the Bahamas, fanning the flames ofa controversy the ‘government has so far been un- able to snuff out, Trudeau's holiday with the ‘Aga Khan — a family friend, noted philanthropist and her editary spiritual leader to the world's approximately 15 mil lion Ismaili Muslims — bears loser scrutiny, ethics commissioner Mary Dawson confirmed Monday. Ina letter to Blaine Calkins, one of two Conservative MPs who filed formal complaints, Dawson said she will examine both Trudeau's stay at the island and his use of the Aga Khan's private helicopter to get there. Dawson wrote that she has “commenced an investigation” to determine if Trudeau broke two sections of federal ethics laws “in connection with his recent stay at and travel to the ‘Aga Khan's privately owned island” ‘The vacation included Tru- deau, his wife and three kids, Liberal MP Seamus O'Regan and Liberal party president Anna Gainey, all of whom took part in helicopter flights between the capital city of Nassau and the secluded island. Justin Trudeau and Aga Khan in May 2016. seansaurarmiceme Though not a registered lob- byist, the Aga Khan is on the board of directors of the Aga Khan Foundation, which re- ceives tens of millions of dollars in government contributions to international development projects. “The ethics commissioner is quite right to investigate this,” Conservative MP Joha Brassard said in an interview. Such potential violations of ethics rules and laws raise questions about whether government spending decisions could ultimately be influenced, he added. “This is one example where the rules... have potentially been broken,” Brassard said, “What other rules have been broken that Canadians aren't aware of? If you do it once, they can certainly do it again. Canadians need to be mindful Of this.” Tue CANADIAN Ress © insrier Home sales rebound Family finds pills Home sales are not going —_intub oficecream to be as big of a boost to the Canadian economy this year as they were in 2016, the Canadian Real Estate Association said ‘Monday as it released its latest batch of figures. The real estate association says home sales were up 2.2 per cent in December from the previous month, rebounding partially from a big drop following the introduction of new mortgage rules. The number of homes trading hands posted the biggest monthly retreat in more than four years from ‘October to November, CREA said, THE CANADIAN PRESS Niagara regional police are advising residents to be alert after discovering Advil Capsules in a container of ice cream. Police say they got wind of the issue on Saturday after being called to a home in St, Catharines, Ont. They say a resident ‘opened a sealed container of Iceberg French Vanilla ice cream and began serving it to family members before discovering about eight pills in the container. later identified ‘as Advil brand ibuprofen gel capsules. No one ingested the pills found inside the ice cream, THE CANADIAN PRESS WE'RE BACK! q @ METRO CALGARY COMMUNITY AWARDS Thank you Calgary for making last year’s Community Choice a success. It’s time again to start nominating your favourite businesses. We will announce the Top 10 Nominees per category on May 9th. Then we will ask you to vote for the Winners. POLLS ARE NOW OPEN Start nominating at: BY THE NUMBERS Poutine and politics How does your mayor rank? INAUGURATION 79% B BOYS & BANDS Canada’s party °o 65% ii Military bands, Boy atits embassy Neale patooe ahot ticket for itary bands and units 55% 530, box foavi t small branches of the US. bigwigs : service, high school bands and even the Boy Scouts = ‘No, Donald, not Putin. Poutine. I and Girl Scouts will join & ‘Canada’s embassy in Wash- " newly sworn-in President ington, D.C. is celebrating Don- Donald Trump in Friday's ald Trump's Friday inauguration : i Inaugural parade, ‘with an invitation-only “tailgate” Fe 4 ‘More than 8,000 party featuring delectable Can- ~ s people are expected to adian cuisine — “including but The view of the U.S. Capitol from the Canadian Embassy in follow the new president not limited to poutine, British Washington on the day Barack Obama took the Oath of Office. ashe proceeds from the Columbia salmon, Canadian beet _aanow nannrronstax news sevice swearing:in ceremony on and tourtiére,” embassy spokes at the Capitol to the White ‘woman Christine Constantin sid only embassy located between and indoor Canada Room and HOUSE. THEASSOCIATED RESS ian ema the White House and the theatre, watching Trump's There might be tasty sur Capitol swearingsin and inaugural ad prises. The 2013 party for ‘The party has been held dressontelevsion screens. The ‘Trade Agreement, impose new Barack Obama's second inaug- since Bill Clinton's inaugura- elite among the elite will get to import taxes, pusue “Buy Amer tration involved Tim Hortons tion in 1993, though it hasn't have branch with Ambassador ican, Hire American” economic coffee, Molson beer, Crown Royal _ always been a “tailgate” Can- David MacNaughton on the 6th policyand change the US. rela- ‘whisky and BeaverTails adian diplomats this time floor whichoffersmajescviews tlonship with its military allies Theembassyshindigisalways expect 1.800 guests, including ofthe Capitol “Hosting an event at our one ofthe mostsoughtaftertick- big shots in politics, diplomacy Like most of oficial Washing- embassy gives Canada an | yilon MANSM —veson 0B SGRn mSOERSON ets of America’s celebration of and business. Newt Gingrich, a ton'ssocialevents.thisoneserves excellent opportunity to wel- democracy. Partly because Amer- prominent Trump ally and the a political purpose. Canada's come important guests, further ¥s sim Watson is Canada’s m wiarmayorsi icans like Canadians, sure but former speaker of the House of schmoozing saith US. power build on our relationships and | Scheel up agains the avers of 16 mar Canaon eties mestlybecause ofits unsurpassed Representatives, has shown up brokers may be especially itil continue to advance Canada's | according to.a new Mainstreet/Postmedia poll. Here's view ofthe parade route, The _forthreeinaugurations narow. ata time when the incoming interests in the United States,” | how Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi measures against his Arthur Erickson building on Most ofthe guests will hang president is vowing to renegotr Constantin sai. counterparts in five other cities. Pennsylvania Avenue is the out in the embassy courtyard ate the North American Free Tosstatniws stwvice DATA COURTESY MAINSTREETIPOSTHEDIA; GRAPHIC BY ANDRES LANAMETRO Get Mere Info On Our Hospitality and Tourism Programs Find out more at our upcoming info sessions. Learn the skills you'll need to succeed BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT Foptaty ae Tear Attend fee grate cession ean DIPLOMA from Reeves College! about one ofthese ndustry-connected programs EDEN OUEST 92 Oe oi meaaad i rofessional Cooking 7 z businessadmin.reevescollege.ca Taina 7 Jon us on Thursday, lan 19 at 6:30 pm on SAIT Main Campus. 38 SCOLLEGE 1.800.670.4512 fegsteroniest a cor amal hsepatyinfo@esitn to SAIT ?: tontem your attendance ae | metr@NEws | World Istanbul massacre suspect captured Nightclub attack killed 39, including one Canadian ‘A gunman suspected of killing 39 people including a Can’ adian woman during a New Year's attack on an Istanbul nightclub has been caught in a police operation, Turk- ish media reports said early ‘Tuesday. ‘The suspect was captured ina special operations police raid on a house in Istanbul's Esenyurt district, private NIV television reported. The broad- caster said he had been stay- ing in the house belonging toa friend from Kyrgyzstan, Daesh has claimed respon- sibility for the nightclub massacre, saying the attack in Tuesday, nuary 17,2017 | 9 | the first hours of Jan. 1 was the paper said in its online child, who was with him at in reprisal for Turkish mil- edition, the home, was taken into pro- itary operations in northern Dogan news agency pub- tective custody. Syria, The man identified as lished what it said was the _ Hurriyet newspaper said the suspect had been on the run since the attack. Hurriyet newspaper and other media have identified the gunman as Abdulkadir Masharipov, an Uzbekistan first image of the attacker. the alleged gunman's wife and It showed a bruised, black- one-year old daughter were haired man ina grey, bloodied caught in a police operation shirt being held by his neck. on Jan. 12. Private NIV television said the Police established his gunman had resisted arrest. _ whereabouts four or five days national. The suspect was NIV reported that the ago, but delayed the raid so to undergo medical checks suspect's Kyrgyz friend and they could monitor his move- before being taken to police TheReinaclub suspect three other people also were ments and contacts, NIV re- headquarters for questioning, oePormoros/rmeassocareperess detained. His four-year-old ported. rhe associres extss GLOBAL DIGEST NORTHERNIRELAND Unity government falls Norther Ireland's shattered unity government will be dis- solved next week to make way for an eatly election demanded by the coalition’ main Irish Catholic party, the secretary of State for the British territory an- nounced Monday. Secretary of State for North- ‘ern Ireland James Brokenshire said the election to re-elect, the Northern Ireland Assem- by would be held March 2, sic ‘weeks after its dissolution SOUTH KOREA ‘Samsung scion accused Ina departure from the lenien- cy typically given South Korean big businesses, prosecutors on Monday requested the arrest ‘of the de facto head of Sam- ‘sung Electronics, the country’s mast valuable company, in an influence-pedaling scandal that has toppled the country’s, president. Lee Jae-yong, the vice-chait- man at Samsung Electronics, faces allegations of embezzle- ment, of lying under oath during a parliamentary hearing and of offering a bribe of 43 bit lion won (§36 million US) toa long-time friend of impeached President Park Geun-hye. KYRGYZSTAN ‘Cargo plane crash kills 37 ‘A Turkish cargo plane crashed Monday in a residential area just outside the main airport in Kyrgyzstan, destroying half of avillage and killing at least 37 people in the plane and on the ‘ground, the Emergency Situa- tions Ministry said. The Boeing 747 crashed at 7:40 a.m. local time while ap- proaching Manas airport, south of the capita, Bishkek, in this Central Asian nation. Foot {age from the scene showed the plane's nose stuck inside a brick house and large chunks of debris scattered around, NIGERIA Bombers kill professor, child Three suicide bombers, including a child, exploded at dawn Monday at Nigeria's northeast- fem University of Maiduguri, killing a university professor and another child, witnesses and police said. The bombers also died, (One blast ripped through the mosque where professors were saying dawn prayers and at least one is among victims, police and rescue officals sad. The second explosion oc- curred when police patrolling the back of the university shot 2 12-year-old gitl strapped with a suicide vest, setting off the explosives. Drone firm sued over ad Ifit sounds too good to be true, it probably is. ‘That old adage is front-and- centre in Silicon Valley this week after the company behind a high-tech robot drone collapsed, leaving customers without the flying gizmo they ‘were promised, ‘Startup Lily Robotics claimed their tiny black drone could fly unaided and follow you around —fora maximum of 20 minutes — whether you were ‘out fora casual stroll or snow- boarding down a mountain. A promotional video showed the Lily tracking users through snow, wind and water, coming toa rest on their hand when finished, seemingly by magic. ‘An impressive demonstration, except that it was — allegedly — totally fake. In a newly filed consumer protection lawsuit, the San Francisco District Attorney's office says the footage used to promote Lily was actual- ly filmed entirely with other drones, according to Forbes. ‘The suit alleges that the company intentionally lied to potential customers through the vvideo and calls fora temporary order to prevent the company from conducting business, ive Tepstuts) NEW URBAN LIVING Sleek urban rentals @ vibrant Beltline location. Who says you have to decide? cath varkssct VERSUS, Caan seckncw rente ackiress nthe Yeart ofthe Bett ne, just steps fern te aacten® Cove. tak te worker Slay, eat ner dlne out, etetan Inthe urge ora rlabt.on the tas. wns jutece evupinthefinescentre inthe tse tng VERSUS taser, Wall becomes posble Grand Opening Event - Sat, Jan 28 - 12 to 5 pm 917 10 Avenue SW VersusLiving.com + 1.866.983.5082 folowus [FZ ©) VICKY MOCHAMA ON PROGRESSIVES LOSING THEIR OWN GAME Direct action is not an exclusively left phenomenon. In fact, it was activism, in various forms, that won the U.S. election for Donald Trump. With the publicity of activ- found common cause Focus on people's econom- voted for Hillary Clinton is ist movements like Idle No across the Obama years on ic anxiety. Get out of your _ready and willing to be mo- More, Black Lives Matter issues like abortion, and bubble. Stop talking about lized, and Occupy Wall Street, it's equal marriage, In Trump, race. Within this broad co: easy to say that activism however, the net effect: a It’s very liberal to dull _alition, however, lies the failed to win the American society that has more read- the edges of one's harsh-__problem of going high election. ily accepted the racist, sex-_est criticisms. It is a crazy- when others go low. In fact, activism elected ist and xenophobic polit- making proposition. The After a firebombing at a Donald Trump. Activism, _icians who now enjoy broad solution shouldn't be to _tocal North Carolina GOP. too, will be necessary in’ governing power across the back off. The left needs to _office in October, liberals crowdfunded in sympathy. Mind you, this is a party that was already in power and had passed some of. the country’s most restrict: ive voter-ID laws such that large numbers of black vot ‘ers were disenfranchised, After all that do-gooding. ‘Trump won the state. In this way, the focus on winning over hearts and minds ‘was divorced from political pragmatism. ‘The Canadian political equivalent is, in our fash- ion, much more laughable. Members of the left-of- centre parties — Green, NDP, Liberal — have been enrolling in the Conserva- tive party in order to en sure Kellie Leitch won't win the next few years, ‘After the election of Bar- ack Obama, two ongoing phenomena strengthened in volume and vigour. First, there was the Re~ publican strategy of engin- ering the boundaries of electoral districts to its own advantage. Having won gov- ernorships and legislatures in key states like Pennsyl- vania and Michigan after redistricting campaigns, the GOP began winning at the national level where Democrats had usually won or traditionally had a fight- ing chance, With millions of dollars in funding, such efforts changed the electoral map. In politics, malfeasance is the name of the game. @OODFORGOOSE, GOOD FORGANDER President-elect the leadership race. Again, Done artfully. i's strategy. Donald Trump raises his ist. a gesture that since ancient times _rather than doing any num: This was at time when has signified resistance, ata rally in Alabama in December. cerry ber of activities to bolster resistance to the ideas, the liberal cause, voters on that elected Barack Obama federal branches and in al- become louder and more __the left are handing their began to coalesce online. most two-thirds of states. forceful in its criticism and __ money to the literal oppos- In spaces once devoted to Clearly this amounts to its co-ordination. ition. (Ata cost of $15 for gaming and picking up a virulent and intolerant ‘There area breadth of —_a year, that’s three elitist Women, men (and some brand of activism. And it _activist groups, from the _lattes they could be sipping women) shared their frus- has radically altered pol-_water defenders of Stand- on.) trations with being alienat- ities. ing Rock to the organizers _The fight for human ed by the gains of feminism And yet, in the aftermath of Black Lives Matter, ad- rights, against oppression and identity politics. Thus, of the election, left-lean-—_vancing a cultural conversa-_ and towards equality isn’t they organized ing people have been told tion around human rights. easy and it never ends ‘These activist streams _todilute their messaging. The liberal majority that And, right now, the forces ‘on the other side are show- ing, by their willingness to DAILY ACTIVIST AFFIRMATION Heed Joe Hill! ‘organuee.and act collect: “As 2017 kicks off, labour organizer and singer Joe Hills century- ively, that they simply want old words as he faced a Utah fring squad ("Don't waste it more, any time in mourning. Organizet") have taken on a renewed ‘Whether Trump’s a ty. meaning. n the face of what can seem like overwhelming rant or simply a toddler, (odds, time and time again, people have shown that successful millions of lives and liveli- organizing against injustice, building power through building hoods are at the mercy of and strengthening organizations and community depends on his whims. Protecting them lots of vital but unseen everyday ‘grunt work:* —and one another — will of. ie Choudry, author of Lesming Activism require activism with clar- ity and courage. Your essential da ALL WEEK: COMMENTARY AND IDEAS ON POLITICAL ACTION Asimple trick guaranteed to get government's ear qualms about criticizing (or sometimes applauding) gov- ferment. Suggest your own. dea, however, and you put Want to make a difference? _ yourself in the position of pot- There's an underused way to _entially being judged yourself. get decisionmakers to hear —_It's vulnerable, yet far more you over everyone: Propose valuable. something. ‘Angry comments online are ‘About one year ago, 1was probably so common because ata public consultation about they take less courage than how to usea piece of govern- originality. ment land, Everyone ex: ‘The second reason is that, pressed the usual opposition _solutions aren't easy to think ‘or support for the proposal. _up. Notall ideas have to be Except one person. well-researched since they can ‘Ayoung woman shyly sug- act as inspiration, But if some- gested the land be used for” one wants to be truly influen- an innovative parking garage tial, they have to show why with green walls, gardens, something will work. That power generation and char. _can feel daunting to someone ‘ging stations for electric cars. _ who has never tried to make Planners who were there can't change. remember the usual stuff Luckily, cities tend to have everyone said, but they re- thriving ecosystems of well- ‘member that idea. organized advocacy ongan- In activism, what matters __ izations that can help anyone is not what you say, but what take a possibility and turn it people hear. The fact decision- into a killer proposal. ‘makers still reall that sugges- __ This isn't another Screed ton means she maximized her about how we need to just be opportunity to have an impact, positive, Negativity is vital to ‘and all because she sincerely "a democracy and is central 10 put forward an idea. activism, since without it, pol- Many government staff and iticians would make terrible politicians get into that line decisions all too efficiently. of work not just for the salary, But being critical itself is but because they'd like to find not enough, and we should solutions. Imagine how dispir- _ want more than the boring. iting itis for them to only status quo. ever hear a shouting match ‘Your city could use some between “yes” and “no.” Pro- ideas, and you'd be surprised posing something new gets __ how influential they can be in their attention. In part because a small city ike ours. Frankly, itreminds them why they do if more people proposed them, their job, politics would just be more ‘There are atleast tworea- fun, sons people do not propose new solutions more often. ‘The first, [elieve, is fear. Tristan Cleveland is an It feels safe to judge others, urban-affairs columnist for and people ceitainly have no Metro Halifax PHILOSOPHERCAT ‘by JasonLogan ce greg orc ants moe vege gare secure we reset, Steve Shrou uanggino ron cans oversea mounts «dinfocalgaryemetronews.ca General phone 405-844-0156 rer ro sane =