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In many ways, the Speech from the Throne confirmed what I told my constituents as far back as last December, when the government prorogued this Parliament. At the time, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said “Now is the time to engage with constituents, stakeholders and businesses in order to listen to Canadians, identify priorities and to set the next stage of our agenda.” Except, as I told my constituents on Hamilton Mountain, that agenda was already set.

HAMILTONS NDP MPs TO HOST CONVERSATION CAFÉ

SCENE AND HEARD

Jeff Mahoney
The Hamilton Spectator

There's always a lot of talk at the John C. Holland Awards, and rightly so, of standing on the shoulders of the past. The 2010 gala was no different.

Every year it is one of the highlight celebrations, not just of Black History Month but of the entire social calendar, but this year's John C. Holland gala, held Saturday night, might have been the best ever.

A bitterly cold February afternoon is not the normal sort of setting for community gardening.

Ken Peters
The Hamilton Spectator

But it didn't stop more than 300 Hamiltonians who turned out Saturday to get their hands dirty with a show of support for the Settlement and Integration Services Organization's New Dawn Reception Centre for refugees.

The new centre, located at the top of the Claremont Access, had been the target last week of an anonymous flyer warning residents of potential problems that would result from its establishment.

Hundreds gather to slam shuttered Parliament

January 24, 2010
Emma Reilly

Hundreds of Hamiltonians crowded Gore Park Saturday afternoon to denounce Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s prorogation of parliament.

The crowd held signs, waved Canadian flags, and listened to speeches by several local politicians, including NDP MPs David Christopherson and Chris Charlton and Liberal candidate Dan McLean. Organizers estimated the protest drew about 350 people.

'I want my country back'
Hundreds protest prorogation; Hamilton rally one of 60 nationwide

January 25, 2010
Emma Reilly
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 25, 2010)

Get back to work.

That was the message of more than 300 activists, protesters and politicians who gathered in Gore Park Saturday afternoon to denounce the prorogation of parliament.

The protesters held signs bearing slogans such as "Democracy is a Canadian value" and "I want my country back."

Charlton’s bills on hold while govt. prorogued
Mountain MP says Commons needs to talk about pensions and EI improvements

By Mark Newman, News Staff
News
Jan 08, 2010

Chris Charlton says she isn’t looking forward to the extra time away from the House of Commons.

The Mountain NDP MP blasted the move by the Harper government last week to prorogue Parliament, essentially shutting down the Commons and the parliamentary committee system until after the throne speech on March 3.

from The Hamilton Spectator

Parliamentary shutdown 'routine', says Harper
Online anger grows with claims democracy is being hijacked
January 06, 2010
Joan Walters

The list of Canadians angered by Prime Minister Harper's decision to suspend Parliament continued to expand on Facebook and other Internet sites, encouraging citizen action groups working to co-ordinate public protests in 20 cities.

From The Hamilton Spectator

Mosque firebombing sparks outrage
Hate crimes unit investigating
January 05, 2010
Paul Morse

Shock and anger is spreading among Hamilton's 20,000 Muslims after the city's largest mosque was firebombed.

"They tried to burn the mosque down," said Zakir Patel, 42, principal of the Islamic School of Hamilton, which is part of the mosque.

HAMILTON – Today's fire-bombing of the Hamilton Mosque is a despicable act of violence that must be condemned, says New Democrat MP Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain).

“Any attack on a place of worship must be strongly condemned and taken seriously. I know our local authorities will work very hard to bring the perpetrators of this act to justice,” says Charlton. “We’re a tight-knit community in Hamilton. I know we will band together to support those affected, and stand united to fight intolerance and hate.”