Monday, May 08, 2006
Preserving Online Neutrality
Whereas:
The Government of Canada website is the main portal for all individuals seeking up-to-date, accurate information on federal programs and services.
The same website consistently rankly highly on international comparisons of government websites in terms of layout, user-friendliness, and overall usefulness.
The main design theme of red and white reflected our nation's colours, evident in our flag, not any particular political party; therefore, a change of ruling party does not necessitate a change in colours scheme.
When individuals want to read a political party's partisan propaganda, they will seek out said political party's website.
Be it resolved that:
The once clear and useful www.gc.ca site be returned to its former glory and its current incarnation relegated to www2.conservative.ca, where it truly belongs.
The Government of Canada website is the main portal for all individuals seeking up-to-date, accurate information on federal programs and services.
The same website consistently rankly highly on international comparisons of government websites in terms of layout, user-friendliness, and overall usefulness.
The main design theme of red and white reflected our nation's colours, evident in our flag, not any particular political party; therefore, a change of ruling party does not necessitate a change in colours scheme.
When individuals want to read a political party's partisan propaganda, they will seek out said political party's website.
Be it resolved that:
The once clear and useful www.gc.ca site be returned to its former glory and its current incarnation relegated to www2.conservative.ca, where it truly belongs.
Comments:
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Aye.
To JP:
It must be tough signing over the keys to the government website to another political party, one that does not have the divine right to rule Canada except during short periods of sabbatical as a place-holder. I'm sorry for the loss of your country. Perhaps you will find it on a map some day.
In case you didn't know the Prime Minister's name, you'll know it after visiting the site. Or, you'll think its a pop-up add.
It'll help you remember the words the national anthem.
As for the question whether True North Strong and Free is a motto, I would point out that the words are not entirely partisan. They happen to be in the national anthem, and they happen to be a bit sexier than "Ad mare usque a mare" (unless you are a latin-reading oceanographer). If you want to take offense at the website's content, I think you may find more objectionable content.
Counselling services will be available to all those who want "their" country back.
Speaking to the original motion:
I find the comment about partisan use of the government website highly pertinent, but highly subjective. It is very likely that you didn't notice partisan use of the government website prior to the change in government because of your particular outlook.
However, the government's use of the website does appear to be overtly a tool of the party machinery. (And to my eye, more so than the last government: so I agree with your point).
On the colour issue, I can feel your pain (à la Bill Clinton) and not give a rats ass (à la GW Bush). The idea that the website must remain red because the flag is red is quaint and entirely defensible, but it is not compelling.
Don't expect this government to leave the furniture in the same place you left it.
To JP:
It must be tough signing over the keys to the government website to another political party, one that does not have the divine right to rule Canada except during short periods of sabbatical as a place-holder. I'm sorry for the loss of your country. Perhaps you will find it on a map some day.
In case you didn't know the Prime Minister's name, you'll know it after visiting the site. Or, you'll think its a pop-up add.
It'll help you remember the words the national anthem.
As for the question whether True North Strong and Free is a motto, I would point out that the words are not entirely partisan. They happen to be in the national anthem, and they happen to be a bit sexier than "Ad mare usque a mare" (unless you are a latin-reading oceanographer). If you want to take offense at the website's content, I think you may find more objectionable content.
Counselling services will be available to all those who want "their" country back.
Speaking to the original motion:
I find the comment about partisan use of the government website highly pertinent, but highly subjective. It is very likely that you didn't notice partisan use of the government website prior to the change in government because of your particular outlook.
However, the government's use of the website does appear to be overtly a tool of the party machinery. (And to my eye, more so than the last government: so I agree with your point).
On the colour issue, I can feel your pain (à la Bill Clinton) and not give a rats ass (à la GW Bush). The idea that the website must remain red because the flag is red is quaint and entirely defensible, but it is not compelling.
Don't expect this government to leave the furniture in the same place you left it.
I notice from the tenor of the posts on this blog that there is a certain tendancy towards anti-government arguments. This is perfectly wonderful.
I, unfortunately, cannot be a balancing opinionator because I am intensely apartisan and I enjoy the spectacle of watching partisans spin themselves into circles.
To balance out the debate, I'm going to have to go shopping for some rabid tories to join these conversations. Fortunately, I do know a few baby seal-killing, liberty hating, corporate apologist, right wing nuts.
My new project will be to sick these rabid partisans on your posts. You are warned!
Btw, Steve, I think we owe each other a night on the town some time this summer.
I, unfortunately, cannot be a balancing opinionator because I am intensely apartisan and I enjoy the spectacle of watching partisans spin themselves into circles.
To balance out the debate, I'm going to have to go shopping for some rabid tories to join these conversations. Fortunately, I do know a few baby seal-killing, liberty hating, corporate apologist, right wing nuts.
My new project will be to sick these rabid partisans on your posts. You are warned!
Btw, Steve, I think we owe each other a night on the town some time this summer.
I humbly submit, for those who are interested/bored: the design of the Government of Canada site is governed by the Treasury Board's "Common Look and Feel" guidelines (http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/clf-nsi/index_e.asp) like all other government sites. The changes to the www.gc.ca are, in some cases, in direct violation of the guidelines.
Therefore, rather than jumping to what has been perceived as a quasi-partisan conclusion that the current Government is willfully violating the set of guidelines outlining the political neutrality of online content in order to further monopolize control over content and messages to the Canadian public, this particular individual can only assume that they were mind-numbling oblivious to the existence of any such guidelines (thinking, perhaps, that one person had designed all Canada sites, or that the sites' common appearance a simple yet fortunate coincidence), and will quickly work to remedy the situation without any unwarranted delay.
Therefore, rather than jumping to what has been perceived as a quasi-partisan conclusion that the current Government is willfully violating the set of guidelines outlining the political neutrality of online content in order to further monopolize control over content and messages to the Canadian public, this particular individual can only assume that they were mind-numbling oblivious to the existence of any such guidelines (thinking, perhaps, that one person had designed all Canada sites, or that the sites' common appearance a simple yet fortunate coincidence), and will quickly work to remedy the situation without any unwarranted delay.
Or, alternatively, they will quickly change the Treasury Board guidelines to suit their tastes (given that the same people who control the website control the Treasury Board guidelines).
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