My research experience is average. Mostly research papers. Did a bit of digging on news for political analysis / critique blogs a while back. But now just blog occasionally. I will be happy to help out. If some web designer would like to help out also that would be great because we need to design an easy to navigate and visually appealing sites for news aggregation. Probably categorised by each of our main platform.

I have experience in throwing events. I've organized 6 raves and a lot of club parties. I know my way around the logistics of planning an event irl and different ways of saving money in the process. I live in the Montreal area, so obviously my skills would be better used where I can actually show up to visit venues.

I was thinking that organizing public talks, conferences or documentary screenings (I'm thinking movies related to our platform) could generate interest and also help people understand the issues we stand for. If there's interest for a project like that, I definitely offer my help and experience. If other people in my area would be interested in the idea, we could meet up and brainstorm on it too.

So, Mikkel should be setting up an area for this specifically, but I thought I'd get the ball rolling. Yesterday we voted to establish a research committee whose primary goals will be researching and creating news and content for the website as well as conducting internal exploratory research for more specific policy goals and questions mandated by the Federal Council.

Topics can be fluid, but in general we want to keep them focused on the pillars of the party. So, stories on:

• Copyright and Patent Reform
• Net Neutrality
• Open Government
• Privacy

Obviously this will also include things that are peripherally related - freedom of speech concerns arising from legislation that restricts access and content online, etc. The above should really only be considered as guides, and the rule of the thumb should be closer to, "Are the people who would be interested in the Pirate Party going to be interested in this as well?"

We should be looking to be informative, entertaining and reliable so people will engage with the Pirate Party's online presence more frequently and in a way that is more active.

We'll need to hammer out specific process - what we should start on first, how the information is to be presented, what kind of journalistic standards we should be using, etc. Ideally I'd like to have us researching stories early in the new year and content beginning to show up in late January.

That said, I know there were a lot of people who were interested in more general research that posted in the Volunteer forums, so I'd like to know who would be interested in generating content, what your research experience is, and if you have any topics that immediately spring to mind.

Cheers

In relation to that, there seems to be reaction (they tend to go hmmm) when I mention our representative will consult with their constituents on issues that are not directly part of our platform with the recognition that different riding have different ideas on things.

I think that's one of *our biggest strengths.  That caught my interest immediately and has really intrigued people that I have talked to about the party.  

One thing I think we need, although unfortunately out of federal jurisdiction, is parenting education in schools. That's especially relevant with the "lost generation" thanks to the residential schools. Parenting, insofar as it's taught at all, is currently learned primarily through childhood experience with one's own parents. Even at the best of times that's far from ideal, but without a stable home environment growing up, the children are going to be at the mercy of parents who just don't know how to deal with kids.

That's something I'd have to think about.

There are some major missing resources here, conditions in some of the communities are very bad.  There are a lot of good people that are really suffering, "lost generation" is a good term.  The scale of what was done here is...hard to imagine.

When I look at all the money that is spent or is proposed for spending on Arctic Sovereignty, most of the discussion is on military spending - F35s, ice breakers, submarines, deep water ports, a winter warfare center, new reserve detachments, etc.  I'm not opposed to an effective military, but if Canada wants to assert their claim to the North, the best way to do it is by creating strong, sustainable communities here.  Education and infrastructure are something we can effectively provide, costs less and is capable of producing something of value.  A military strategy can't be wholly discounted but isn't an area where we can compete.

Sex ed in school now is primarily about scaring students into being careful. We need to give students a realistic idea of what parenting is like, all of its costs and benefits, so that they're able to make informed decisions and be good parents if and when they decide to start a family.

Couldn't agree more.  Various short-sighted religious and parental groups have short circuited reform in those areas - scared and uncomfortable parents are willing to ignore the issue. Children have access to more information than ever before yet I don't see the same effort being put forward to help them understand what they see, hear, and read.   Lying and hiding information is never an answer, for children or adults.

If you were to run, we'd want to find someone to act as representative in Yellowknife, or if we found a Yellowknife candidate, maybe you could represent him or her. It would certainly cut down on travel costs.

That sounds like a good plan.

Hey, if the Pirate Party bus works out, maybe we could buy a plane next.

LOL, I hope we have some deep pockets funding us!  Shouldn't we really get a boat though?  Maybe a hovercraft? 

Some employers are required under the Canada Elections Act to give time off to run as a candidate, although if I recall correctly it need not be paid time.

I'll have to look into that.  I don't recall that from my union collective agreement but I'll check.

Ya a little bit maybe.

I agree with Mikkel that too much PPCA imagery will muddle the intended goal of this rally. I really like the idea of hot chocolate and coffee though. The only issue I can see with that is transporting the necessary equipment to the site. Those large thermoses would be quite heavy full of liquid and then there is the issue of the table.

I know that neither myself nor Steve has a vehicle but if anyone else whose is planning on attending the rally does, that could help matters.

The NDP's "short name" is "NDP-New Democratic Party", so I don't think we have to worry about it being too long.

Our short name was originally PPCA, but we changed it some months ago.

[residential school abuse]

I am mostly referring to residential school abuse, mining and oil claims, land claims, and education.

One thing I think we need, although unfortunately out of federal jurisdiction, is parenting education in schools. That's especially relevant with the "lost generation" thanks to the residential schools. Parenting, insofar as it's taught at all, is currently learned primarily through childhood experience with one's own parents. Even at the best of times that's far from ideal, but without a stable home environment growing up, the children are going to be at the mercy of parents who just don't know how to deal with kids.

Sex ed in school now is primarily about scaring students into being careful. We need to give students a realistic idea of what parenting is like, all of its costs and benefits, so that they're able to make informed decisions and be good parents if and when they decide to start a family.

1. I live in Inuvik not Yellowknife or the close area.

Inuvik is the major hub town for the northern part of the territory, but is isolated from the southern part of the territory.  Almost half of the territorial population lives in Yellowknife alone, several of the other larger communities are in the southern part of the territory.

A Yellowknife candidate would get more exposure.

If you were to run, we'd want to find someone to act as representative in Yellowknife, or if we found a Yellowknife candidate, maybe you could represent him or her. It would certainly cut down on travel costs.

Hey, if the Pirate Party bus works out, maybe we could buy a plane next.

2. I work two jobs, shift work, and it would be very difficult for me to get time off to travel or campaign.  It would be a very part-time campaign. 

However, after my first three months are up, it's something I would like to explore further.  As I said, I am interested, I just wouldn't want to discourage a more geographically suitable candidate. I think running a candidate up north would be great though, and not just because I live here     The north gets a lot of media attention (Harper and Igantieff both came to Inuvik alone, so did Paul Martin when he was P.M.) due to climate change and "arctic sovereignty" issues.

Some employers are required under the Canada Elections Act to give time off to run as a candidate, although if I recall correctly it need not be paid time.

Care to elaborate on that? I'll admit I don't know a lot about northern politics.

I am mostly referring to residential school abuse, mining and oil claims, land claims, and education.

Current hot topic issues, in random order:

- Climate change
- Mining claims
- Hunting rights, including decline caribou herds
- Long-term sustainable power generation (hydro, geothermal)
- Education - very low graduation rates, high school not available in the communities, teacher housing
- Health care costs (feds are disputing expenses related to travel medical, limited services in the communities)
- Telephone and internet service costs and service and Northwestel's monopoly
- Employment
- The Mackenzie Valley Pipeline
- Providing road access to communities
- Long gun registry
- Lack of police presence in smaller communities

Some of these issues are more pertinent for the territorial government than the federal government but, since it is a territory not a province, the federal government has more direct and indirect control over what happens here.

Indeed. Nunavut has the lowest median age of any riding in Canada, something ridiculous like 25, and NWT is similar if memory serves. I think we could do decently there given a slightly radical candidate supporting extending high-speed Internet access to all Canadians, open access, and maybe particularly emphasizing legalisation of non-commercial file sharing.

I think the NWT is 30? It's definitely low.  I agree that those are issues people here care about.  

Given the effects of climate change on the arctic, I can't say I blame them.

It is a critical issue and anyone running for the Pirate Party would need to come out strong on that issue, in my opinion.

Thanks for the details. Please do let me know if my conjecture is off base there.

I think what you said made sense.

Running a candidate in a rural riding, especially one as big as Western Arctic, is a toughie because it would require a lot of travel and connections all over the place in order to fight an effective campaign. On the other hand, if you're the only candidate to visit a town of 50 in the middle of nowhere, you can win a lot of their votes simply for making the effort.

Travel expenses would be substantial and the time it takes to get around would be an issue.  A lot of the communities are fly-in access only, either year round or for part of the year.  People definitely would appreciate someone coming to see them though.  Also, people read the local papers quite regularly (News/North and others) and the papers usually provide good coverage on candidates, someone could get their message out quite inexpensively that way.

Do you think you might be interested in running, or know someone who is? Logistical issues aside, I think it'd be great to field a candidate up north.

I would be interested in running but, fair disclosure, there are a two reasons I wouldn't be the best choice if someone else was available:  

1. I live in Inuvik not Yellowknife or the close area.

Inuvik is the major hub town for the northern part of the territory, but is isolated from the southern part of the territory.  Almost half of the territorial population lives in Yellowknife alone, several of the other larger communities are in the southern part of the territory.

A Yellowknife candidate would get more exposure.

2. I work two jobs, shift work, and it would be very difficult for me to get time off to travel or campaign.  It would be a very part-time campaign.  

However, after my first three months are up, it's something I would like to explore further.  As I said, I am interested, I just wouldn't want to discourage a more geographically suitable candidate. I think running a candidate up north would be great though, and not just because I live here     The north gets a lot of media attention (Harper and Igantieff both came to Inuvik alone, so did Paul Martin when he was P.M.) due to climate change and "arctic sovereignty" issues.