Jack Layton on Net neutrality: P2P Power
p2pnet news view Freedom | P2P:- The NDP’s Jack Layton has become the first leader of a major Canadian political party to acknowledge the importance of P2P People Power, using the Net to carry his message.
“We don’t want to see hidden fees and gouging and service slow-downs all in the interests of promoting the objectives of certain large corporations,” he says in a YouTube statement, exclusive to p2pnet.
“This election gives us a real opportunity to put issues like Net Neutrality and reasonable copyright on the election agenda.”
In the NDP’s first policy statement on Net issues, also published in p2pnet, “Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was forced to call an election because the opposition parties wouldn’t give him a free pass on his upcoming agenda,” said Angus, going on »»»
Funny thing was, Steve hasn’t told anybody what his agenda is. But it doesn’t take a political scientist to know exactly where this right wing crew is going – more war, more oil sands production, and a whole lot less government programs that benefit average people.
What does this mean for the digital innovation community? Plenty. And none of it will be good — that is, of course, unless average citizens work together to change the ‘agenda’.
Now, acknowledging the Net as a key component in Canada’s current election, Layton says the NDP isn’t merely paying attention to the web as a tool for campaigning.
“It’s so much more than that,” he states, continuing »»»
There’s the politics behind the net, for example. We’ve got these big corporations that are moving in to threaten net neutrality.
Now I think this is very, very dangerous and we have put the whole issue of net neutrality right into the heart of our campaign platform and I’d urge you to visit ndp.ca to see what we’re saying about it.
We’ve been speaking up in the House of Commons about it. I’m not sure the government has any clue about what we’re talking about but the lobbyists that these big firms sure do. They know all about net throttling and and the fact it can create in a sense two-tiered Internet.
Just like we don’t favour two-tiered healthcare, we don’t favour two-tiered Internet either.
What we want to see is the Internet used as a public tool — a public tool for exchanging ideas and I particularly want to say that if we don’t fight to preserve it, we could lose it.
Acknowledging NDP Digital culture spokesman Angus as a power in the fight to promote online rights, Layton says the Net is important to all Canadians.
“We don’t want to see hidden fees and gouging and service slow-downs all in the interests of promoting the objectives of certain large corporations,”he declares.
Thanking the P2P communities for the work they’re doing to achieve a more democratic country through the free exchange of information online, “We want to elect more new Democrats to make sure that the Internet continues to be that publicly accessible tool that we all need,” he adds.
Stay tuned.
Jon Newton - p2pnet
»»» UPDATE
Also see Canadian 2008 elections: going viral online? - October 11, 2008
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October 10th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Well now, that’s certainly going to piss off a select few four-letter-word organizations… especially when he referred to Torrent sites among others as being part -being /part/ - of a healthy democracy. I’m not much more impressed with him than before, but that’s only because I’m incredibly impressed by him (and voting for him) already.
October 10th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Way to go! I might actually vote for this guy!
October 10th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Hey!
Thats a very SWEET video!
I found it very down to earth that he addressed us all like that. VERY down to earth.
Two thumbs up to Jack Layton
Jon great work with bringing the messages of the people and to the people!
October 10th, 2008 at 11:19 am
@ Anonymous Canadian
You are an obvious NDP shill. How phony.
October 10th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Actually im a party quebecois (Bloc) voter… Always have been, except for probably this year where I am going to use my vote just to oust the conservatives to whatever party that may be.
But thanks for sharing and thinking i’m a shill.
I wasn’t aware that people can’t say:
“I found it very down to earth that he addressed us all like that. VERY down to earth.”
without being called an NDP shill…
Now if you could rewrite what you wrote in French, I would be more appreciative.
Its clearly obvious that you are and must work for the conservatives shilling for favors in all online forums.
October 10th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Reader’s Write Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 11:19 am
@ Anonymous Canadian
You are an obvious NDP shill. How phony.
========
Anonymous Canadian,
This clown probably works for Bell or some other Telco which is nickle and diming the users to death while providing the bare minimum in services.
Jack Layton scares them.
So its only natural they would shill and put down anything positive anyone would say…
Great work. Keep it up!
October 10th, 2008 at 11:42 am
@ Anonymous Canadian
I don’t speak French, but feel free to do a Reader’s Write in French …….
Meanwhile, I’m starting to think what I was hoping would happen will happen: that this election will result in a major upset with the NDP getting in. And if that’s the case, it’ll be thanks in no small way to the online P2P communities.
Merci for the contribution.
Cheers!
October 10th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
What is this “Orange Room” that Jack Layton spoke of in the video?
Is there a Link that you have? Has my interest….
On a side note, the NDP have been the only ones who addressed and spoke to the online community (Charlie Angus and the interviews on this website).
The NDP (Charlie Angus) stance on Neutrality (side by side with CIPPIC) when TekSavvy Internet organised a rally on Parliament hill.
Unlike the other candidates who think people power is stupid (remember the comment from one house member about how face book is dangerous?) and don’t address it. Well they only served to alienate themselves from the people on Candian issues.
A political party speaking on behalf of the people, reacting on behalf of the people and trying to protect the people is where its at. And this all started with the people ONLINE and the likes of P2Pnet.net giving the people a stage to voice it.
Only one party gave a damn.
Only one party stood up and addressed the online Canadian community.
Only one party spoke of the politics behind the net
Only one party spoke of the industry lobbying being done and going on to those in office/gov who haven’t got a clue.
It also seems there is only one party not afraid to use names like “torrent”, “P2P”, “facebook”, “flickr”
Thats what I see.
Its a welcome change….
Its not just about the net, but its also the way they are addressing issues by involving the people, unlike our current government who just says, “let market forces decide”. In other words let industry lobbying anf big money (this includes USA lobbying) decide whats good for you.
I’m not an NDP’er person (so don’t call me a shill pls, ty.). But this year they sure has heck got my ear (especially when Charlie Angus spoke) and I like what I’m hearing.
I want change, and I see change with this party.
seems like my side note dragged on longer than i expected… All i was going to ask is:
What is this “Orange Room” that Jack Layton spoke of in the video?
is there a link that you have? Has my interest. Thanks.
October 10th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
agreed layton has the most popular leader stats, and they have increased in national polls almost 5-7%
if this keeps up you could see a liberal minority with jack’s ndps as a balance a power, a nice change and we’ll hold the ndp and liberals to not screwing people for copyright and net neutrality. NOW if the CRTC goes bell ward….we need politicians to MAKE laws to prevent it.
October 10th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
^^ Here’s the Orange Room link - http://www.orangeroom.ca/
The Orange Room is the NDP’s social networking site.
Cheers!
October 10th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Wow. That’s pretty impressive that they have their own social networking site. There’s the indication that they really believe in the technology.
Quite a contrast with Facebook - the whole concept is dangerous.
It’s worse than that Lady. The internet allows everyone to share ideas indiscriminately. Now *that’s* dangerous. At least to corporatists like yourself that would like to reserve control of information flow to yourselves and the corporations you represent.
I think Thomas Jefferson would love the internet. He loved sharing ideas as widely as possible.
October 11th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
http://torrentfreak.com/canadian-democrats-are-pro-bittorrent-and-against-throttling-081011/
October 11th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
If you can’t stand the NDP, the Greens are also opposed to C-61 and restrictive copyright laws.
October 12th, 2008 at 12:45 am
im voting green! unfortunately I dont agree with this pro union NDP rhetoric. especially when it eventually may come down to the SPP.
Charlie angus has the right views but he is only 1 member of the party the entire green party support mr Geists copyright pledge
October 12th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Sorry to get off topic, but just wanted to point out to the above poster that the NDP is VERY strongly and actively AGAINST the SPP (see http://archive.ndp.ca/stopthespp).
October 12th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Somehow I don’t believe what Jack Layton says ever since he tried to side with pot heads, promising decrimilization of marijuana (of course a few years later he denies trying to do this). Mr. Layton doesn’t have a clue and I fear the day he’s elected prime minister of Canada.
October 13th, 2008 at 9:50 am
So, when Bell has to upgrade its infrastructure to keep up with YouTube traffic, I guess the NDP will allow Canadian taxpayers to cover that bill?
October 13th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I’m getting a little tired of people saying vote for X because X will support my pet peeve! We as responsible citizens should be voting based on what is best for the country as a whole.
Get over your pet peeves and look at the larger issues.
To quote JFK (no I m not an American nor am I in lock step with the the US) “Ask not what the country can do for you but ask what you can do for the country”
By doing so you will bring about a stronger county that will be able to address the smalll issues.
November 14th, 2008 at 2:20 am
Jack Layton is Spineless! It has been proven! http://www.narwhalmagazine.com/x-ray-results-conclude-jack-layton-is-spineless/
December 6th, 2008 at 3:48 am
I can’t believe we just had an election and all ready the kids are fighting, why did we have the election, no body pays any attention to what the people have to say. Of course the first thing they did was give themselves a raise and to hell with everyone else. We are trying to teach our kids that bullying is wrong but I guess it ok for adults. Dumb!!!