Ottawa 2011-11-28 minutes

The meeting on the 29th was small in size due to adverse weather conditions. Despite this, a large number of topics were handled by those in attendance. The highlights are as follows:


 * Advertising
 * David Ascroft, Nepean-Carleton PPCA Candidate, brought a beautiful PPCA banner to the meeting. The banner can be used for numerous events and should be considered an additional asset for Ottawa Pirates
 * Additionally, we have access to an inflatable Pirate Ship which could work out well for a float in parades. The Metcalfe parade is coming up in the near-future, as are numerous Santa Claus parades within the Ottawa Area. With some volunteers, we can easily have our own float and advertise the party during these high-profile events.
 * Access to a hi-res image of the Pirate Party of Canada is necessary for the creation of promotional materials and possible merchandise. Version available on the Pirate Wiki’s branding guide is too low quality to be of service.
 * Supplier Lists
 * Rideau Flag & Pole
 * Excellent location to obtain flag poles and tools to attach flags to locations
 * The Paper Sign Man (100 Loretta)
 * Location produced the PPCA banner & also does electoral signs
 * Make sure to obtain proper pricing information for use when ordering signs for next election
 * Brochure Printing supplier required, currently hunting down possible connections which may lead to something affordable
 * Also looking into locations that can produce embroidered patches, 3” diameter
 * These patches could be handed out as a promotional item, or attached to bulk merchandise and resold as a fundraiser
 * Currently looking into pricing for 100 – 500 patches
 * Rick Mercer Report
 * This may be an interesting way to gather slightly wider attention with the Canadian public. Need to consider ways to connect with Mercer with hopes of attracting attention positively.
 * If we manage to get on here, we need to not act in an off-the-wall style (save an occasional “Yarr”). We need to be portrayed here as professionals, but also with a sense of fun.
 * Candidate’s Request
 * Business Cards
 * Toll Free Number
 * Pins
 * @pirateparty.ca E-mail
 * Platform Issues
 * Open Government
 * DND Headquarters moving to Nortel’s old campus, but the cost of building renovations is being argued not to be revealed. The government is clamping down on spending revelations
 * RCMP headquarters in Ottawa, how many staff do they actually need? Why such a large presence in an area where they have no authority? Why maintained in an area already governed by municipal, military and/or provincial police services?
 * Show us the costs ($$$) and the rationale!
 * Dual Citizenship & Immigration
 * Ascroft: “Pick One”
 * Mostly frustration at individuals who have homes in disputed countries that hold dual citizenship who expect to be evacuated in the case of local upheaval.
 * Gray amended if a “pick one” attitude is adopted, a new immigration category would need to be created for “Repatriation” of individuals who ceased to be citizens for a time. Given his connections with individuals who do have dual citizenship, he had some reservations about outright abolishment. Perhaps implement similar to taxation rules: if you’re out of Canada long enough that you aren’t paying taxes, your citizenship should “lapse” until such time as you renew it and continue to pay government taxes.
 * Canadian Pension Plan
 * There are numerous disenfranchised Canadians that currently need to be re-instated to receive CPP benefits. This is something that should be dealt with in the immediate and not after any lengthy court battle that will also require interest and legal fees from Canadian Taxpayers.
 * There also needs to be an increase in the size of CPP payments to account for increased costs of living. The current CPP rate is not enough to support people when they are able to start taking advantage of it.
 * This may also mean increasing the rate at which workers & employers pay into the CPP.
 * Energy Issues
 * Idea for conversion of system:
 * The government could provide loans to setup home solar in order to enable individuals to go off-grid, up to a limit of $25k
 * Grid buys excess power back to pay off individual’s loan from the government
 * Once loan is repaid, grid continues to buy excess with money going into government revenues
 * The initial buy-in price to go off-grid is preventing access to the market, throttling environmental start-ups, and preventing inception of Made-in-Canada solutions to issues of both climate, economy, and energy
 * Transportation
 * Quebec-Windsor High Speed Rail (HSR) Corridor
 * Should push for building of connections between cities/provinces, especially during an economic downturn as these projects will spur additional GDP-growing projects around the stations & cities involved
 * By connecting locations, this would create a better sense of community within Canada
 * Should begin by building & implementing Montreal – Toronto portion of proposed Quebec-Windsor HSR, as the recently released report indicates that this will be a very profitable portion of the track.
 * Future expansions to Quebec City, and either London or Windsor should be planned for a later period.
 * Energy costs for implementing the E300+ electric train could be countered through building Solar cells above the catenary wire over the length, which would generate more than enough electricity to power the train. Additional energy could be sold back to the grid at a profit.

Next Meeting is scheduled for December 13th, 2011 @ 7:00pm.

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