Why I will be Occupying Ottawa

When I first heard about the Occupy Wall Street movement, I was impressed. I was happy to see that people were finally taking a stand against the corruption and inequality that is all too prevalent in our society. The scale and dedication of the protesters also inspired me. Rather than it being a one-day event, the people resolved to peacefully occupy Wall Street for as long as it took. To do this took courage and resilience in the face of some very trying times and negative events.

My initial reaction to the Occupy Ottawa event was much different. The economic situation in Canada is much different than that of the U.S., and our banks are much more strictly regulated. I saw value in the notion of solidarity, but other than that I wasn’t sure if I completely agreed with this Canadian manifestation of the Occupy protests.

However, the Occupy actions are about much more than Wall Street and big banks. It’s about the inefficiencies and/or lack of will by our government to address social inequalities. It’s about standing up for the 99% of Canadians who are not benefitting from our great country as much as they should (through no fault of their own, might I add). As a young person, a student, and a Green, I felt ideologically compelled to join this action and demonstrate that I, too, am unsatisfied with the current state of society and will make my voice heard.

I very much hope that these actions will grow in strength and numbers. I particularly hope that the government hears its people. Too many people are jobless or homeless. First Nations are not just ignored, but treated like sub-humans and are exposed to unconscionable health risks. Canada continues to pursue carbon-intensive energy sources while simultaneously cutting funding to Environment Canada and programs that monitor our carbon emissions. Harper is pushing forward Bill C-10, the Omnibus Crime Bill, that the Bar Association has condemned and will undoubtedly lead to a higher instance of incarceration for youth, First Nations, and the mentally ill. It has reached a point where I legitimately feel as though my future is threatened if I – we – do not take a stand.

I’ve met a lot of people at Occupy Ottawa who are completely disenchanted with our political system, and I can sympathize. Our First Past The Post electoral system all but ensures that our government will be decided by a minority of voters, and we seem to constantly be promised incredibly regressive and short-sighted policies with no public input.

However, I am confident our system can work with the Occupy movement and others like it. This belief is a huge reason why I work with the Green Party. We need more grassroots decision making, more accountability, more integrity, and a political voice that is willing to do the right thing and does not just bow down to private interests.

My hope for the Occupy movement is not for government to start listening, but for the people to start holding their government to account. If we want change, that has to translate to how we vote.