u/BigPlunk

If you haven't, I encourage you to read the first post here.

Each time a related post is submitted, I'll provide a link to the previous for continuity. The primary goal with the first post was to start a conversation, listen, and observe overall engagement.

Success is 100% a team sport and meaningful change can only happen if we come together peacefully to demand them. We have to put personal politics aside, step out of echo chambers, and unite around the issues impacting us all. We won't change anything through complaining, venting, blaming, grievances, apathy, or complacency.

Action inspires hope, momentum, and change. Is there anyone out there who doesn't need those things right now?

The most upvoted comment in the first thread was a suggestion for country-wide protests and writing MPs (credit to u/InformationSuperb978). Peaceful protests are a signal of a healthy democracy. They can be peaceful AND disruptive, but protests need to be disruptive in the right ways. We've all seen what happens when protests piss off the general population by blocking roadways and preventing people from taking care of themselves and their families. Peaceful protests also need to be sustained to be effective and not just a Saturday special every few months. (NOTE: peaceful protests and actions are the only acceptable form in r/CanadaJobs - violence of any kind will not be tolerated).

Writing MPs can be done in isolation at the individual level with some impact. But the power of a large group like r/CanadaJobs or r/VancouverJobs coming together with a clear set of objectives and demands is so much more potent.

There is a newly formed majority government in Canada with the power to enact meaningful changes. The Overton Window around the world is intensely focused on skyrocketing inflation/cost of living, greed, corruption, wealth inequality, and the double-standard for the ultra wealthy. Now is the perfect time for collective action to bring about the changes we all need right now.

I am 100% supportive of the peaceful actions democratically decided by this Canadian job seeker advocacy community. Moving forward requires teamwork, organization, and focus, so let's do those things.

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From the top comment on the first thread, the overarching community goals are:

1. Organize peaceful, sustained, attention-grabbing protests in communities and cities across the country (democratic, decentralized, apolitical);
2. A coordinated MP letter-writing campaign and media appearances (in parallel);
3. Both strategies above are to drive systemic changes that prioritize the needs of Canadian workers and working class families.

Speak up if you disagree with these goals, but propose alternatives if you do so we can have a productive debate and discussion. This is about taking decisive, meaningful action as a community. Save the pessimism and cynicism for another sub.

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Next Steps

1. Build a Core Team (speak up below and we can connect 1:1 from there)

-Priority one is finding emotionally mature leaders with growth and solutions mindsets, who want to serve others with humility, accountability, and kindness and inspire meaningful changes (there's no specific requirements for this - just need to have the right mindset);

-Regular people like each of you who believe the status quo needs to change and action is the way to create it; people who are willing to learn, grow, research, organize, document, create content, work autonomously, reach out to others, inspire, and rally support; those who will commit your time, skills, and experience (everyone here has skills and the ability to help), and be willing to take bold, courageous action;

-Experienced activists that understand how to build successful movements that drive meaningful systemic changes;

-Smart people that understand socioeconomics and policy-making;

-Marketing & PR-trained people who can help refine messaging, spread the word across platforms and domains, and navigate the media;

-Web, cloud, data, and other technologists that can build and support infrastructure (We have to de-risk the use of operating on a single platform and need the ability to continue organizing regardless of who has their eyes on us or where we get blocked - each one of these posts is likely getting some attention);

Seeing people step forward to commit will inspire me to take more action down this path. The opposite is true if there is a lack of engagement/participation. This is a reciprocal situation where we all put into this what we want out of it (100/100, not 50/50).

2. Decide and Document the Challenges to Address as a Community (Democratically);

3. Document the Reforms We Want to Address the Challenges Identified;

4. Set a Goal Start Date for the Protests and Letter Writing Campaigns

5. Begin Outreach, Gather Support, Build Momentum (start in parallel to the above).

6. Plan, Strategize, Organize, Mobilize, and Implement.

If I've missed a critical step or you think there's a better way of achieving the goals above to have sustained peaceful protests and coordinated letter-writing campaigns to drive meaningful changes, speak up. But again, make sure you propose alternatives so discussions are productive and moving towards our shared goals. Putting up blockers without offering alternatives will be ignored.

Divisive, xenophobic, unkind, or inflammatory rhetoric will not be tolerated.

Given the number of Canadians in this community talking daily about the problems in Canada, struggling with extended unemployment, and applying to hundreds of jobs without anything to show for it, we should have no trouble finding people willing to do something about it.

If you want to see something change, then step forward and volunteer, bringing whatever skills and experience you have. I don't have all the answers or solutions and can't move forward on this without your help. This is about us all being part of the solution together.

Are you ready to commit and take bold, meaningful, peaceful action towards fixing what's broken in Canada?

NOTE: If you're mod of another Canadian community and want to collaborate, speak up and let's connect.

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EDIT: If for some reason, this community or my account go silent, you can reach me at canadianjobscommunity@gmail.com and I assure you that would only inspire me to further action. I am in good health and have no thoughts or ideation around self-harm.