Endorsement of petitions by Ubuntu Canada?

[Don and/or Mila Trombley]

Peter Whittaker wrote:
> On Tue, 2006-12-12 at 22:30 -0800, Corey Burger wrote:
>   
>> Russel forwarded these on to me. Do you think Ubuntu Canada should put
>> our name on these signatures?
>>     
>
> We may need to be very careful on this: If an organization - whether
> formally constituted or not - endorses a petition, that is, asserts a
> position intended to sway the government, is that not on the slippery
> slope to lobbying?
>
> I honestly don't know, I'm simply concerned that were ubuntu-ca to
> "speak officially", it could affect the organization's ability to do
> other work later on, as there are restrictions on the activities
> lobbyists may undertake. IANAL, IANARL (reg. lobbyist), IAJSGWATRAMTOE
> (just some guy who applies threat and risk assessment methodologies to
> everything).
>
> Cathy/dennister, is this in your bailiwick?
>
> If it is something we can engage in, then it would come down to these
> questions:
>
> What are the benefits to ubuntu-ca of doing this? and what are the
> impacts?
>
> What are the benefits to the petition itself of ubuntu-ca doing this?
>
> I expect that people are going to think me excessively cautious for
> raising these questions, but I think one really does have to think
> twice**2 and debate thoroughly before engaging what could be considered
> lobbying.
>
> FYI, there is also
> http://www.onlinerights.ca/get_active/copyright_reform_action/
>
> I wrote my own version of that one, with slightly more emphasis on the
> evils of DRM, less emphasis on technology, and more on policy/justice.
>
> pww
>
> ps FWIW, I have signed some of these and will likely sign others.
>    As a private individual, I foresee no problems in doing do, and,
>    as a private individual and as a consultant, I have no problems
>    with sharing my considered and NSH opinions (:->). But having
>    an organization express an opinion is, AFAIK, quite a different
>    thing entirely.
>
>   
As I am new to the Linux way of doing things, I do not feel comfortable 
in drawing in a lobbying group which could put in a very restrictive 
policy, Government-wise, against the present way of Linux Organization 
providing its own "Watch Dog" over the way it is being run ( as long as 
we abide by the rule of fairness to all people, as provided by the 
present leadership).

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