Oscar Alvarado

Oscar Alvarado (The Coalition for Gun Control): Oscar is a dual citizen of Canada and Panama whose academic, professional and volunteer work has taken him to all continents. He is fluent in English, Spanish and French. After receiving his BA in Biomedical Science and Economics from McGill University, Oscar spent a year in Kazakhstan as an English teacher with the United Nations Volunteers. He then earned an MA in Environmental Security from the UN University for Peace in Costa Rica. Prior to his AP fellowship, Oscar also interned at the Security Governance / Counter-Terrorism Laboratory of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) in Turin, Italy.



Private Member’s Astroturf

14 Sep

Things that the Conservative Party has done in the past two weeks to emphasize that their bill to eliminate the long-gun registry is strictly a Private Member’s one:

– launched an anti-long-gun registry billboard ad campaign in 20 rural ridings held by opposition MPs across Canada;

– created a targeted radio campaign to coincide with aforementioned billboards;

– hosted another rally, this time in Estevan, Saskatchewan (without fried chicken);

– started up a twitter account with two followers: PM Stephen Harper and Minister Jim Flaherty;

– went on the road with a bus tour of their own; and

falsely promised to pay for a new arena in Quebec (thus briefly bringing back memories of the beloved Nordiques).

In case you are wondering how that last item is relevant, ask yourself: how do you think PM Harper got all of his Conservative Quebec MPs to vote against the long-gun registry, despite the their constituents’ overwhelming support for it?

The only thing worse than teasing the hopes of Canadian hockey fans is playing political games with a public safety tool that is supported by police, women’s groups, emergency physicians and nurses. And victims. People should listen to them.

Posted By Oscar Alvarado

Posted Sep 14th, 2010

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