Tuesday February 14, 2017
Female politicians speak out about sexist, violent cyberbullying
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has been subject to more
threats of harm than any other Albertan premier since 2003. (Justin
Tang/The Canadian Press)
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 18:45:00 -0400
Subject: Female Alberta politicians yap about cyberbullying on CBC while the RCMP try to play dumb about their evil clients Eddie Achtem Dean Roger Ray, Barry Winters and Patty Baby Doran
To: cps
Cc: David Amos
http://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.ca/2017/02/female-alberta-politicians-yap-about.html
Tuesday, 14 February 2017
Female Alberta politicians yap about cyberbullying while the RCMP try
to play dumb about Mr Baconfat
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-february-14-2017-1.3981592/female-politicians-speak-out-about-sexist-violent-cyberbullying-1.3981651
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 13:12:56 -0400
Subject: YO DALE DRUMMOND HELL NO YOU KNOW I MIND BIGTIME YOU SHOULD HAVE UPHELD THE LAW WHEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO DO SO IN 2014
To: Dale DRUMMOND
Cc: David Amos
Have your lawyers tell me in about your concerns writing if they dare.
Do tell if I send my public servants more emails are you dudes in the
Red Serge gonna arrest me again without a warrant and fill my arse
with drugs like Gilles Blinn Mark Blakely and their buddies did in
2008?
FYI I am suing the CROWN because of HARASSING LITTLE PUNKS like you
who come on private property in the middle of the night when there are
no witnesses and try to pick fights with mean old me on behalf of the
VERY corrupt politcal lawyers whom you are protecting FROM THEIR OWN
WRONGS
REMEMBER Brian Hodgson and Tim Turmer?
On 2/14/17, Dale DRUMMOND
---------- Original message ----------
From: Dale DRUMMOND
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 11:42:12 -0500
Subject: Re: The Calgary and Edmonton cops tell their evil clients Patrick Doran and Barry Winters that it is not illegal to be crazy. However it is VERY illegal for cops to be corrupt
To: David Amos
David,
If you wouldn't mind removing me from your email list I would really
appreciate that.
Thanks in advance,
Cst. D. Drummond
---------- Original message ---------- (Some writing errors corrected)
From: David Amos
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2017 20:28:56 -0400
Subject: The Calgary and Edmonton cops tell their evil clients Patrick Doran and Barry Winters that it is not illegal to be crazy. However it is VERY illegal for cops to be corrupt
To: cps
Cc: David Amos
Over Xmass time 2015 I managed to have WordPress delete Barry Winters
blog. That happened over a year after I had Google finally delete one of
his longstanding blogs that he had been harassing many people with since 2009.
It did not even slow the evil bastard Barry Winters down. He merely
fired up a new Google Blogger account and using an old one he had in
reserve. He continued to violate Sections 300 and 319 of the Canadian
Criminal Code as well as continuing to publish sexual harassment and
death threats etc against many people not just my family and I and the
RCMP and corrupt cops in Edmondton and Calgary just laughed at my
concerns.
http://eateshite.blogspot.ca/
http://sunrayzulu.blogspot.ca/
At the same time Barry Winters' very sick pal Patrick Doran in
Calgary who shares the same birthday as he (February 15th) continued
on and on in Twitter and within several YouTube channels and even
created a webpage in Encyclopedia Dramatica about my lawsuit etc Go
figure why these man children who think they oh so clever such as Dean
Roger Ray and Pattty Baby Doran live in their parents' basements and
harass people around the world from their computers instead of growing
up and having their own family. Methinks we should be VERY grateful
that these mindless Trolls hate women and plan to never have children
Natural Selection at its finest EH Mr Baconfat?
https://encyclopediadramatica.se/David_Raymond_Amos
Doran and Winters constantly brag to their fellow Trolls wordwide that
I am nuts, that my lawsuit does not exist and that the cops in Canada
are on their side. That opinion about cops appears to be the correct.
Hence i must be crazy or all the cops are every bit as corrupt as the
politcians they protect rather than the citizens they purportedly
serve.
Listen and read the Trolls own words for yourself, I will let a judge
decide who is crazy and who is corrupt. Call me crazy if you wish but
I do know I can easily prove what you people have been duly informed
of over the years. Trust that I am definitely gonna file another
lawsuit. This time it will be against the RCMP, their corrupt cops
buddies in Calgary and Edmonton and elswhere and off course the CROWN
that you all swore an oath to. Correct?
This is Doran's latest "Talkshows"
I am mentioned at 3 minutes and the corrupt cops are mentioned a the
20 minute mark Mayor Nenshi may enjoy listening to your cops' client
yapping on and on but please know he makes a lot of fun of you as
well.
The Mad Shangi Show "Sunday Afternoon Call-In"
Mad Shangi
Streamed live on Jan 29, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmI5NF2iMts&t=1890s
http://sunrayzulu.blogspot.ca/2016/05/cindy-brunaeu-lyin-cost-lynch-lyin-and.html
Monday, 16 May 2016
Cindy Brunaeu Lyin. Cst Lynch Lyin, and David Amos still Cryin
I have a sordid "womanly" type tale to tell. For a couple of years my
little "friend" David Amos sent thousands of vulgar, threatening e
mails to Edmonton's City administration. All of them whining about my
humble blog. He spammed them mercilessly, many of them containing long
blog posts of mine in their entirety. It absolutely must be noted here
that I never at any time sent an e mail, or link to my blog to
Edmonton City Hall. I never have e mailed our crooked City Councilors,
nor our addicted to heroin "mayor" Don Iveson. I never contacted
Edmonton's crooked police service, even to report any of the crimes
Lori and I have witnessed.
Finally Cindy Bruneau said "enough is enough," and told David Amos of
Fredericton New Brunswick to cease and desist or she would call the
Edmonton Police Service. Little David responded with a hearty fuck you
and redoubled his spamming of Edmonton City Hall.
It was at this point the Edmonton City Police, not ever known for
integrity, decided to hatch a nefarious and crooked plot. Cindy
Bruneau, some nameless Sgt. drone , and the crooked Cst Paul Lynch
decided if they could stop me writing and posting my blog, David Amos
in Fredericton New Brunswick would stop his criminal harassment of
Edmonton bureaucrats. It several weeks but finally these retards
decided if they could charge me with an obscure CC of C offence of
sending David Amos "false messages" (replies to e mails sent to me
from him) I would stop being critical of David Amos and Edmonton City
Hall, and David Amos would then stop harassing Cindy Bruneau and her
sycophants. It was really quite desperate, they would "stitch me up,"
trump up false charges and muzzle me to keep Amos happy or at least go
through the motions because no honest Crown Prosecutor would ever be a
party to this obscene manipulation of kanadian law. But alas, Cindy
Bruneau thought it was all very cool.
So the very lazy and crooked Cst Paul Lynch called me on the phone to
coerce me to go to the Downtown Police headquarters "to talk." At
first Cst. Paul Lynch wanted set a date one week hence for me to go
downtown and "talk," because he was "too busy right now." I later
found out we all had to wait whilst he could find a "charge" to trump
up and "stitch me up" with.
Finally a week later the crooked cop Paul Lynch figured out a way to
try and "stitch me up." He wanted to talk in a room that he said would
video the "interview," and he lied about the cop watching the
"interview." Paul Lynch spent a hour reading a statement from Cindy
Bruneau how she and her staff did not like all the e mails and the
quotes about City Hall in blog. It was then I told the crooked cop I
never e mailed anything ever to any employee or elected official of
the City of Edmonton. Ms Bruneau lied in her police statement that I
contributed to her and her staff's considerable fear and disgust. I
again told the crooked Paul Lynch, I never sent anything to City Hall,
ever.
The very crooked cop Cst Paul Lynch told me it didn't matter! I
replied to David Amos' e mails and thus was being charged with sending
"false messages." All this was a scam, a con to make David Amos stop!
After the pigs took my fingerprints, and took pictures, fuck-face Paul
Lynch gave me an appearance notice with the stipulation I no longer
reply to David Amos' scores of daily e mails to me. It was then Cst.
Lynch told me "the chances of conviction were slim."
I showed up at the appointed court room on the appointed time, and
alas my name was NOT on the docket. The Crown had declined to
prosecute. All this was scam perpetrated on David Amos. I never
stopped my excoriation of City Hall, or cops or my evisceration of
David Amos.. I never changed my blog or its tenor a whit.
The best part is: Bimbo Cindy Bruneau, pig boy Paul Lynch and the rest
of plotters failed miserably. David Amos has resumed spamming "the
evil powers that be." Now these cunts are going to have to do, what
they ought to have done in the first place...block all e
communications from David Amos in Fredericton New Brunswick, or delete
them unread...just like everyone else does.
Every time I hear a police siren, I hope and pray an Edmonton cop gets
killed. I not ever report a crime or step foreword as a witness.
Every Edmonton cop is a crook. Cindy Bruneau is the example why women
ought NOT be in positions of authority or responsibility
last addendum:
In the last week David Amos' brother Dale has told me he was "a gonna
visit and beat me." But alas he hasn't. lol
My friend little David Amos has called thirteen pizza joints, gook
food places and Viet Cong taxi companies ordering in my name. Lori is
mad, I am just amused...that's the very worst / best David Amos the
loser can do
Posted by Seren at 09:52
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: "Francis - WordPress.com"
> Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2015 17:57:43 -0800
> Subject: [#2468707]: Your recent message to WordPress.com
> To: David.Raymond.Amos@gmail.com
>
>> Feel free to scroll down until your conscience bothers you.
>>
>> https://baconfatreport.wordpress.com/
>> [...]
>
> Hi David,
>
> The site in question has been removed from WordPress.com for violating
> our Terms of Service.
>
> Francis
> Community Guardian
> WordPress.com | Automattic
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: David Amos
> Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2015 15:51:51 -0700
> Subject: Re: [#2468707]: Phone message from +19028000369 and your
> client Barry Winters' malevolent WordPress blog
> To: court-orders@wordpress.com, "washington.field"
>
>
>
>
>
> "serge.rousselle"
>
> pol7163
>
> Cc: David Amos
>
>
> Thanks for responding to my calls
>
> Here ya go. Feel free to scroll down until your conscience bothers you.
>
> https://baconfatreport.wordpress.com/
>
> You client is Barry Winters of Edmonton Alberta and his email address
> can be found in the Cc line of this email
>
> Perhaps you should confer with your lawyers. Obviously I sent the
> emails l directly to them one year apart and received no response.
> Scroll past your message to me and you will see my latest email to you
> people in its entirety.
>
> Trust that my family and I will sue your company in the USA someday.
> However i have every right to sue WordPress in Canada first
>
> FYI My family still lives in the Boston area and you people have been
> publishing libel, sexual harassment and death threats against them for
> way past too long. Trust that I saved every word.of this evil website
> of yours.
>
> Clearly both the FBI and the RCMP got the same email as well. I am not
> joking about this.
>
> Veritas Vincit
> David Raymond Amos
> 902 800 0369
>
>
> On 12/28/15, Sal P. - WordPress.com
>> Hi there David,
>>
>> Thanks for getting in touch.
>>
>> I'm not seeng any previous emails from the address you're currently
>> writing
>> from, but perhaps you used a different address in the message you
>> mentioned
>> sending last year?
>>
>> If you have a complaint about a WordPress.com blog, please provide
>> further
>> information. In order to correctly review an abuse report we need the
>> following info:
>>
>> * The complete and exact URL of the post, page, or comment content being
>> reported.
>> * Direct quotations or citations of text or other material appearing at
>> the
>> above URL.
>> * Explanation as to why the above content is being reported as a
>> violation
>> of our Terms of Service, and specifically, which term said content is
>> violating.
>>
>> Once we have all of the above information, we can proceed with reviewing
>> your complaint.
>>
>> If you have legal process you'd like to send us, you can attach it in a
>> reply to this message. Keep in mind that WordPress.com is located in the
>> United States. Per our policies, we will respond only in compliance with
>> US
>> law and in reply to valid US-issued legal process or orders.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Sal P. | Community Guardian | WordPress.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: David Amos
> Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2016 18:22:05 -0400
> Subject: Re Federal Court File No: T-1557-15 Did you order Harper and
> the NDP to ignore me as well???
> To: Liberal / Assistance
>
>
> Cc: David Amos
>
> How about Dizzy Lizzy May and the Bloc?
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: David Amos
> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 16:57:43 -0400
> Subject: Re: WELL A COUPLE ETHICAL COMPUTERS AFFIRMED YOUR RECEIPT OF
> BARRY WINTERS LATEST PUBLISHED DEATH THREAT AGAINST ME WITHIN WORDRESS
> AS THE MINDLESS ZIONIST CELEBRATES THE BIRTH OF A MAN HE LOVES TO HATE
> To: press@eff.org, sunrayzulu
>
> Cc: David Amos
>
> andrew
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: EFF Press
> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 12:56:10 -0800
> Subject: Out of Office
> To: motomaniac333@gmail.com
>
> Hello. EFF offices are closed through January 4. We may be able to
> answer some urgent requests, but please note: we may not be able to
> get back to you as much of the staff is traveling. Thank you and see
> you on January 4.
>
> On 12/25/15, David Amos
>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: Cindy Cohn
>> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 12:52:55 -0800
>> Subject: EFF is closed until January 4, 2016
>> To: motomaniac333@gmail.com
>>
>> EFF is closed until January 4, 2016.
>>
>> I will be periodically checking my email over the holiday, however. If
>> this is an emergency, please resend with URGENT in the subject line.
>>
>> For media requests, please email press@eff.org.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Cindy
>>
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: David Amos
>> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 16:52:44 -0400
>> Subject: WELL A COUPLE ETHICAL COMPUTERS AFFIRMED YOUR RECEIPT OF
>> BARRY WINTERS LATEST PUBLISHED DEATH THREAT AGAINST ME WITHIN WORDRESS
>> AS THE MINDLESS ZIONIST CELEBRATES THE BIRTH OF A MAN HE LOVES TO HATE
>> To: sunrayzulu
>>
>> premier
>>
>> Cindy Bruneau
>> customercare.other@hudsonsbay.com,
>> marks.customer.service@canadiantire.ca, jacob.glick@rci.rogers.com,
>> DDrummond
>> levi.heath@btlaw.com, jonathan.boustani@btlaw.com, mcu
>>
>>
>>
>> jgratz@durietangri.com, sagnolucci@kvn.com, axr@kvn.com,
>> dmcgowan@durietangri.com, ddurie@durietangri.com, patrick_doran1
>>
>> "rodney.wadden"
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> , "trudeau.j"
>> graham
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> business.ethics@safeway.com, tpandos@bentallkennedy.com,
>> customerservice@bestbuycanada.ca, echun@bestbuycanada.ca,
>> "ed.pilkington"
>>
>> Cc: David Amos
>>
>>
>>
>> I DOUBLE DOG DARE ANYONE WITH EVEN AN INKLING OF ETHICS OR EMPATHY TO
>> SCROLL THROUGH BARRY WINTERS EVIL BLOG AND TRY NOT TO BE OFFENDED
>>
>> HERE IS ANOTHER DEATH THREAT JUST TO RUB IT IN
>>
>> https://baconfatreport.wordpress.com/2015/12/06/david-amos-and-the-kiddies-get-what-they-deserve/
>>
>> https://baconfatreport.wordpress.com/2015/12/20/naked-barry-the-beautiful-edmonton-police-detective-and-fucked-up-david-amos-2/
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: Cindy Bruneau
>> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 12:39:22 -0800
>> Subject: Out of Office Re: Fwd: Perhaps you and the RCMP should review
>> these voicemails the documents and emails within the old pdf files
>> hereto attached before you quit N'esy Pas Mario Dion?
>> To: motomaniac333@gmail.com
>>
>> I am away from the office and will return on Tuesday December 29
>> 2015. If your matter is time sensitive please contact Corporate
>> Security Monitoring and dispatch centre at 780-496-8888, and ask to
>> speak to the Advisor on call.
>>
>> I will respond to your email when I return.
>>
>> Have a great day!
>> --
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Cindy Bruneau, CPP
>> Corporate Security Advisor
>> Law Branch
>> Corporate Services
>> 780-496-5156
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> “Corporate Security’s mission is to mitigate risks to
>>
>> corporate assets and to contribute to the improved
>>
>> livability of employees and the citizens of Edmonton”
>>
>> To report a security incident:
>>
>> Click here
>>
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: Genevieve Rosloff
>> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 12:39:29 -0800
>> Subject: Out of Office: Perhaps you and the RCMP should review these
>> voicemails the documents and emails within the old pdf files hereto
>> attached before you quit N'esy Pas Mario Dion?
>> To: David Amos
>>
>> Genevieve Rosloff is no longer with Durie Tangri LLP. Please call
>> 415-362-6666 if you need assistance.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 12/25/15, David Amos
>>> Merry Xmass Mr Baconfat
>>>
>>> Here is one Hell of an email even if I do say so myself
>>>
>>> Please enjoy like you did the last one after you teased me about my
>>> Twitter account
>>>
>>> https://baconfatreport.wordpress.com/2015/12/07/little-david-amos-crying-and-whining-on-twitter/
>>>
>>> https://baconfatreport.wordpress.com/2015/12/08/little-david-amos-is-crying-again-3/
>>>
>>> You mentioned a lot of people and businesses in your Xmass blog so I
>>> took the liberty of informing them I read your comments about them as
>>> you sanction my demise again. I also included some old emails to many
>>> other people who know very well by now.
>>>
>>> Trust that I will sue someday soon just as you have begged me to do
>>> for many years. In the "Mean" time say Hoka Hey for me the RCMP, the
>>> EPS and to your racist family such as your evil Mother, Lori and
>>> Austin Ink and their "Outlaws". as well. Need I say shame on you all?
>>> You know that I ain't one bit religious but but at least I am not wo
>>> faced. Why in Hell do you Zionist oxymorons celebrate Christmas while
>>> puting down Christ all the god damned time?
>>>
>>> I must also ask why does your daughter Keltie Winters and her cohorts
>>> in the Today Centre abide with what you publish about many people and
>>> her family in particular?
>>>
>>> Veritas Vincit
>>> David Raymond Amos
>>> 902 800 0369>>>
>>> P.S. Glen Canning and the lawyers who represent WordPress and Sobeys
>>> etc really should study this entire email rather closely this time.
>>>
>>>
>>> https://baconfatreport.wordpress.com/2015/12/22/its-christmas-in-the-city-pure-hell-with-the-outlaws-and-death-to-david-amos/
>>>
>>> “Its Christmas in the City,” Pure Hell with the Outlaws, and Death to
>>> David Amos!
>>> by baconfatreport on December 22, 2015
>>>
>>> Dead Rehtaeh Parsons…She wasn’t raped but she really liked to fuck her
>>> best friend’s boyfriends. Happy Christmas Glen and Leah.
>>>
>
>
Tuesday February 14, 2017
Female politicians speak out about sexist, violent cyberbullying
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has been subject to more
threats of harm than any other Albertan premier since 2003. (Justin
Tang/The Canadian Press)
Last November, Alberta MLA Sandra Jansen called on the the provincial legislature to stand up against misogyny towards women in politics. She shared examples of violent, hate-filled abuse directed to her online, such as: "Dead meat. Sandra should stay in the kitchen where she belongs. Fly with the crows and get shot."
Jansen isn't the first female politician to speak out about the rise in vitriolic cyberbullying on the job.
She's part of a growing chorus of Canadian women in public office who are coming forward to shine a light on personally threatening and degrading email, Twitter or Facebook messages — something their male counterparts simply do not experience to the same degree.
"Increasingly women are having to face very real — often online but not exclusively — cyberbullying and it's really hate filled misogyny in many, many cases that really underscores a lack of comfort and an intolerance for the role that women are increasingly assuming in public life," says Nancy Peckford, executive director of Equal Voice — an organization dedicated to electing more women to political office in Canada.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has also
received online threats and says she thinks the abuse discourages people
from entering politics. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
This unacceptable behaviour, according to NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine, is based on understanding that women work in a political sphere established "by and for men in the preserve of patriarchy."
"So really any disruption to that often times elicits an immediate response which can often be very negative and vitriolic."
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has been subject to more threats of harm than any other Albertan premier since 2003.
Newfoundland Minister of Finance and the minister responsible for the Status of Women Cathy Bennett isn't surprised by the news of Notley's treatment but tells Lynch she's concerned about where this is heading.
"I'm worried about what will be if we don't figure out a way to address this cyberbullying that women's voices will be continued to be diminished at cabinet tables and leadership tables that Premier Notley sits at."
In December, Bennett says it was important for her to add her voice to other women speaking out against the online abuse she received that included sexual innuendo, threats of sexual violence and even messages telling Bennett to kill herself.
MLA Sandra Jansen made an impassioned plea to
her colleagues in the Alberta legislature in November asking them to
stand up against hate speech levelled at women in politics. (CBC)
"But for women, when those comments cross the line to include, you know, sexual innuendo and and threats and you know things that you'd only say to a woman really — I think that's where it makes things very,very difficult for women in leadership."
Fontaine was recently elected in April and says she was personally attacked on the campaign trail.
"I actually in some candidate forums felt very unsafe," she tells Lynch.
Nobody wants to paint themselves as a victim says Peckford but if women just accept this egregious behaviour as the price to pay for being elected, "we let ourselves down ... we let the public down."
"It's no longer a private matter that individual elected women have to personally contend with and try to cope with," says Peckford.
"This public conversation enables us to really think strategically about ways to shut this down and to also call on Canadians at large."
Listen to the full segment at the top of this web post.
This segment was produced by The Current's Idella Sturino and Lara O'Brien.
Female politicians speak out about sexist, violent cyberbullying
Guests: Nancy Peckford, Cathy Bennett, Nahanni Fontaine
The Current
Female politicians speak out about sexist, violent cyberbullying
00:00
19:51
SOUNDCLIP
Dead meat. Sandra should stay in the kitchen where she belongs. Fly with the crows and get shot.
Dead meat. Sandra should stay in the kitchen where she belongs. Fly with the crows and get shot.
LAURA LYNCH:
That is Alberta MLA Sandra Jansen, speaking in the provincial
legislature back in November about the series of violent, hate filled,
and misogynistic comments she had received online. Jansen isn't the
first female politician to speak out about the rise in vitriolic cyber
bullying they face on the job. But she is part of a growing chorus of
Canadian women in public office who are coming forward to shine a light
on the personally threatening and degrading email, Twitter, or Facebook
messages they face on a daily basis, something their male counterparts
simply do not to the same degree. Now, yesterday it was revealed that
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has been subjected to more threats than
her recent predecessors, and that there continues to be an escalation of
security concerns when it comes to her safety. Last month, Ontario
Premier Kathleen Wynne was asked about online threats she has received.
SOUNDCLIP
KATHLEEN WYNNE:
I think it discourages people from even entering politics. And if I'm a
woman, why? Why would I do that? Why would I expose myself to that kind
of personal attack? I don't read them all. [chuckles] Because it's just
too toxic. But I read enough of them to know that it's not who we are
as Ontarians.
LL: Now, my
next three guests are all too aware of the abuse and threats that female
politicians face. Cathy Bennett is Newfoundland and Labrador’s Minister
of Finance and Minister responsible for the Status of Women. And she is
in St John's. Nahanni Fontaine is the NDP MLA for St John’s, Manitoba.
And she's in Winnipeg. And Nancy Peckford is the Executive Director of
Equal Voice. That's an organization dedicated to electing more women to
political office in Canada. She is in Ottawa. Welcome to you all.
NAHANNI FONTAINE: Meegwetch, thank you.
CATHY BENNETT: Good morning.
NANCY PECKFORD: Good morning.
LL: Now, I
want to ask you all about your reaction to the fact that Premier Notley
has been subject to more threats of harm than any other Albertan premier
since 2003. Nancy Peckford, what do you read into that?
NANCY PECKFORD:
Well, certainly it's part of a growing phenomena that we've seen now
for several years. And as the intro to your show and your guests, who
are with me today can underscore, it is something that is extremely real
for elected women across parties, no matter what part of the country
you are in, or in what capacity you're serving. Increasingly, women are
having to face very real, often online, but not exclusively, cyber
bullying. And it's really hate filled misogyny, in many many cases that
really underscores a lack of comfort and an intolerance for the role
that women are increasingly assuming in public life.
LL: Nahanni Fontaine, what's your reaction?
NAHANNI FONTAINE:
Well, I mean, I think that we have to understand that the reality is
that the political sphere in which we are all situated and work within
was firmly established by and for men, and in the preserve of
patriarchy. So really any disruption to that oftentimes elicits an
immediate response, which can often be very negative and vitriolic. So
am I surprised? No. Am I shocked? No, not so much. Am I outraged that a
woman who has dedicated her life to public service for Albertans is
subject to this? Absolutely. As a woman and as a female politician, I'm
outraged that a woman, a premier, has to endure such vitriolic hate.
It's unacceptable.
LL: And Cathy
Bennett, you actually sit in cabinet, so you are around a cabinet table.
How surprised are you to hear about this treatment of Rachel Notley?
CATHY BENNETT:
I would say that I'm not surprised, I'm saddened, I'm frustrated and
I'm worried about what will be if we don't figure out a way to address
this cyber bullying. That women's voices will be continued to be
diminished at cabinet tables and leadership tables like Premier Notley
sits at.
LL: Let's talk
about your own experience. You came forward in December with your own
experience of body shaming, death threats, and other online bullying.
What made you decide to speak out?
CATHY BENNETT: I had been experiencing a significant increase in online through Facebook, Twitter
and even email messages. But it happened over the summer last year, it
sort of had died down a little bit in September. And then one morning,
late October, out of nowhere I got a message. And I thought, you know,
if a message can come in and so disrupt how I'm feeling about doing the
work, I can't imagine that there are other women who are not
experiencing it. And certainly having heard, you know, what Ms. Jansen
had said, and what many other women, you know, the former prime minister
for Australia, and you know, we see continuing, you know, women coming
out all over the world speaking about this. I thought you know what, I
think it really would be the right thing to do for me personally to
speak out. What I hadn’t anticipated was the volume of response I got
positively, but also some of the negative things that I received.
LL: OK. Before
we go any further, I know this might not be easy, but just so the
audience understands what female politicians like you deal with. Can you
describe some of the messages to us?
CATHY BENNETT:
Sure. I receive messages that, you know, individuals who say I should
kill myself. Language that would have been very offensive. A lot of
swear words, sexual innuendo, sexual threats, threats of sexual
violence, and that I think is the biggest difference between what female
politicians and male politicians get. I think all of us who are elected
understand that social media platforms, electronic communications are
mediums that our constituents want to get in touch with us. And they
have every right and we should empower them to have those conversations
about the differences in policy. But for women, when those comments
cross the line to include, you know, sexual innuendo and threats and,
you know, things that you'd only say to a woman, really I think that's
where it makes things very very difficult for women in leadership. And I
think that's one of the reasons why we're challenged significantly more
than our male counterparts.
LL: Nahanni Fontaine, what kind of personal attacks have you received?
NAHANNI FONTAINE:
Oh geez. Well, I mean, for me it actually started on the campaign
trail. So I think it's important for listeners to know that I only
recently got elected in April, this past April. And it did start on the
campaign trail, where actually in some candidate forums felt very
unsafe. And then in my first session, my constituency assistant received
a phone call from an individual, you know, who wanted her to know or
wanted her to tell me to watch what I say in the house. And then it was,
you know, a series of, you know, messages and emails and Twitter. And
I think the most interesting one that I got was this past session where
I presented a private member's resolution on the abortion pill, which
just elicited so much negativity and attempts at trying to silence that
voice and that issue in the house. And so one of them that I got, and I
warn everybody it's very explicit language. It was a private message,
and it was “I'm going to give your mom a postnatal abortion you stupid
cunt. You're just another ignorant woman who supports murder. You stupid
whore.” And, you know, from very early on I chose to actually be very
public with it, because I think that as women politicians, we actually
have a responsibility to face this so that everybody knows what we're
kind of going through. So that for other young women, that they don't
have to kind of go through this anymore when they choose, as is their
right, to enter the political sphere. So I've put this out, I don't put
all of it out, because you'd be constantly posting every single day.
But, you know, it is constant. And again, I think that it is a very
conscious attempt to silence and regulate what women can say and what
women can do as female politicians.
LL: Nancy
Peckford, I'm wondering, some people might say to female politicians who
are getting this kind of abuse, yes, listen, this is the world of
politics, you just need a thick skin. What do you say to that?
NANCY PECKFORD:
Yeah, certainly I know that that is, you know, some of the reason I
think that women before, you know, my two panelists this morning have
hesitated. Because nobody, and certainly the countless women we have
spoken to across the country who are facing this kind of misogyny,
nobody wants to be called self-serving or nobody wants to paint
themselves as a victim. And I can tell you I think the reality is what
motivates women to get involved in elected life is not so that they can
come out and speak about the kind of vitriol and hate filled misogyny
that they have to encounter on almost a daily basis. So I think it's
really important that we understand that the intensity, and the really
gendered nature of the kind of feedback that elected women is getting is
egregious and it's really unacceptable. And if we are to just accept it
as the price that women pay, must pay for being in elected life then I
think we’re letting ourselves down, and we’re letting the public down.
So it's really important that we turn the tide on this. And what's so
incredible about, you know, hearing people like Nahanni and Minister
Bennett, and so many other women come forward and speak about this, is
we are shining a light on it. And it's no longer a private matter that
individual elected women have to personally contend with and try to cope
with. This public conversation enables us to really think strategically
about ways to shut this down. And to also call on Canadians writ large
to themselves express the fact that it isn’t acceptable. And I think
there are some things that we can do as the public and as organizations,
supporting women in elected office. And that is calling upon social
media companies to be more accountable for, you know, some of their
users who are using platforms to disseminate this hate and misogyny. And
we also need male elected politicians, as I’ve seen in both
Newfoundland and Manitoba, and across the country, to stand with their
female colleagues and show solidarity.
LL: Now, Cathy
Bennett, you've heard some prescriptions from Nancy there on how to fix
these things. This just isn't happening in Canada, Hillary Clinton
faced the same kind of vitriol during her bid to become US president. So
Cathy Bennett, how do you tackle something so widespread?
CATHY BENNETT:
Well, I think Nancy makes a really good point, in that, you know, we
have, I think, as elected officials, male and female, a responsibility
to add volume to the issue so that we can create a place that women will
feel very comfortable in offering themselves to public service. And
part of doing that is making sure that companies that operate the social
media platforms understand and progress their community guidelines, for
example, in ways that, you know, address some of the things that happen
that would be totally unacceptable to happen in a town hall, but for
some reason they're OK to happen in a social media forum. I think, you
know, broadly as Canadians, we need to understand that relationships are
managed very differently in social media, and we have to raise the
expectation of what is acceptable and continue to talk about the things
that are not acceptable. Because we had a roundtable in Newfoundland
yesterday, talking about cyber violence against young people. And one of
the things that really struck home to me is that while, you know,
before politics I may have intuitively understood as a parent what my
child may be going through if they are bullied. Now that I've
experienced this, I have a whole different appreciation for it. And if
you think about a young person going through some of the things that
we've gone through and discussed here today, and these messages get into
their bedrooms at, you know, 8:00, 9:00, midnight, 1:00, we have to
figure out a way to change social media to allow it to empower people to
offer their opinion but not allow it to influence people's ability to
stand up and say what is their right and their destiny to say.
LL: I'm
curious to know whether any social media organizations or companies were
in touch with you after what you came forward with?
CATHY BENNETT:
No, no there wasn't. And, you know, it's interesting that I think that
the global conversation that's happening around this is certainly, I
would expect there's lots of conversations going on in the boardrooms of
social media companies. But I do think that we need, as elected
officials, again, male and female, because I don't think this is a one
gender voice issue. I think we need to ensure that those companies hear
what's happening, and hear how this behaviour escalates, and can
escalate not only for politicians, as you referred to earlier with
Premier Notley, but it can also escalate for so many hundreds of
thousands of young girls and women who find themselves in a social media
platform, that the rules are very different than what would be
happening in mainstream relationships.
LL: Nahanni Fontaine, I'm wondering do you think political parties have a role in speaking out against these kinds of attacks?
NAHANNI FONTAINE:
Absolutely. And I would say that, you know, political parties have to
be very courageous in denouncing these types of, you know, attacks and
misogyny. And that, you know, our male colleagues have to also take a
stand. And I did a member statement in my first session in respect of
all of this. And one of the things that I had noted in my member's
statement was that, you know, my male colleagues need to also be very
vocal on this publicly within social media to be able to stand in
solidarity with their sister colleagues, and say that, you know, it's
absolutely unacceptable that members of this house, regardless of what
your gender is, you know, are subject to these daily misogynistic
attacks.
LL: Are you hearing that from your male colleagues? Are they speaking up?
NAHANNI FONTAINE:
You know, probably not as much as I would like. And perhaps, you know, I
think that for some, this is maybe just a new narrative and maybe some
are not entirely sure how they can support their sister colleagues. And I
would like to see more action on that. And, you know, perhaps I'm going
to be politically incorrect, but I think a really good example is what
we saw in Alberta when, you know, a whole, you know, people were
chanting lock her up, and here was an individual who didn't speak up and
say that that was wrong. You know, I think that--
LL: You're
speaking there of Chris Alexander, who was a former Conservative cabinet
minister who defended himself saying he was trying to do something
about it.
NAHANNI FONTAINE: Yeah. And I mean--
NANCY PECKFORD:
I think it is really a point that we underscore that women are still
serving in elected life overwhelmingly as minority players in terms of
their representation. So, you know, Minister Bennett in Newfoundland,
Nahanni in Manitoba. Federally, women are only 26 per cent of elected
office, and on average across the country, we're looking at 25 per cent
on average. We have legislatures in this country that have nine and ten
per cent women. And the highest percentage is 37 per cent women. So
nearly every women serving in elected office in this country is in an
institution that is male dominated and has been subject to male norms.
And I don't think that our male colleagues have necessarily gotten their
heads around what does it mean to be serving in elected life as a
women, where you are constantly part of a systemic minority, and that’s
structural, that’s over time, it’s, right? It’s what Nahanni was
referring to. These are centuries-old institutions that in fact, were
created before women even had the right to vote. So, really, I think
that we have to do a whole rethink on what does it mean to serve these
institutions?
LL: In that
sense then, Cathy Bennett, how hopeful do you feel for the next
generation of female politicians or aspiring female politicians?
CATHY BENNETT:
I feel very hopeful, because I see so many brave women around the world
who are calling out and are speaking about what is really an attempt to
quiet their voices. I mean, that ultimately, that's what cyber bullying
is about, you know, lowering the volume. And I think the more we can
amplify our voices and policies, and the more we can address the cyber
bullying for what it is, which is really to discount our voices in the
political environment. I think that we can encourage young women, just
as we said earlier, to be confident that they'll be supported in, you
know, their choice to serve. You know, one thing I want to be clear,
what we experience is nowhere near what, you know, happens in very
violent situations in people's private homes, I mean, physical violence
is very different from what we experience. And, you know, people have a
right to disagree with us as politicians, absolutely.
LL: Nahanni Fontaine, we've got about 30 seconds left. Last word to you. Are you hopeful about the next generation?
NAHANNI FONTAINE:
Absolutely. You know, just a couple of weeks ago I participated in a
panel with a variety of different women that, you know, former
politicians and current politicians for Equal Voice. And got the
opportunity to meet some of the delegates that will be heading to Ottawa
next month. Yeah, daughters of the vote. They are extraordinary young
women. And, you know, one of my messages has been that, you know, it is
your absolute right to participate in the political sphere and do not
let anyone dictate, you know, what you choose to do, how you choose to
do it. And I really do believe that in one of the positive outcomes of
all of this dissemination of what public women in public spheres are
going through, is that young women are saying, you know what, no we're
not going to put up with that.
LL: We'll have to leave it there. My thanks to all three of you.
NAHANNI FONTAINE: Meegwetch.
CATHY BENNETT: Thank you.
NANCY PECKFORD: Thank you.
LL: Cathy
Bennett is Newfoundland and Labrador’s Minister of Finance and Minister
responsible for the Status of Women. Nahanni Fontaine is the NDP MLA for
St. John’s, Manitoba. And Nancy Peckford is the Executive Director of
Equal Voice. That's an organization dedicated to electing more women to
political office in Canada. The CBC News is next. Then we try
to solve the mystery of love with a Canadian philosophy professor who's
written the book on what love is and what it could be. I'm Laura Lynch
and you're listening to The Current.
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