<html><head></head><body lang="en-US" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: initial;"> <div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Hi Stephanie (and all) </div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I, for one, certainly value your viewpoint. It's good to know you've had a positive experience working with Bardish's office. </div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Personally, I always approach life from the perspective of "Expect the Best", so, I want there to be no misunderstanding of my intent. I agree 100% that we should approach EVERY meeting with ANY person or group from that positive perspective. </div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">However, I believe it is wise to consider all factors before such a meeting, so as not to be blind-sided by something that, in retrospect we should have seen coming. And we are left standing with mouths agape, not knowing what say in response. I also believe it is possible to say challenging things in very respectful ways. </div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In my opinion, the best way to approach this would be to respectfully advise her office of how the email is being received by some people, and to add the assurance that we imagine that reaction was not intended.</div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I have identified 3 reactions: 1) surprise and concern over the introduction of a new practice in the visit to the MP's office. 2) the feeling of intimidation generated. 3) the feeling of possible exclusion (or being considered 2nd-class) if a prospective visitor lives in a different riding. </div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">As we are a group that is focused on the promotion of increased Democracy, I suggest that before we passively accept a new practice by an MP, we consider if it is likely to advance the cause of Democracy (and access to MPs) or more likely to have the opposite effect. To me, this seems to have the opposite effect. And an MP should be respectfully advised. </div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Sincerely. </div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Stu. </div> <div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div> <div style="font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Rogers network.</div> <table width="100%" style="background-color:white;border-spacing:0px;"> <tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="font-size: initial; text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <div style="border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(181, 196, 223); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 3pt 0in 0in; font-family: Tahoma, 'BB Alpha Sans', 'Slate Pro'; font-size: 10pt;"> <div><b>From: </b>Stephanie Janzen-Martin</div><div><b>Sent: </b>Monday, November 20, 2017 9:00 AM</div><div><b>To: </b>FVC Waterloo Region Discussion</div><div><b>Reply To: </b>FVC Waterloo Region Discussion</div><div><b>Subject: </b>Re: [fvc-wat-disc] Meeting with Bardisheach meeting </div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(186, 188, 209); border-top-width: 1pt; font-size: initial; text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></div><br><div id="_originalContent" style=""><div dir="ltr">Hi all,<div><br></div><div>I'll add my thoughts in here, if you don't mind. I am not a particular fan of the liberals (I'm NDP/Green) - but I have had several issues where I have been working with Bardish's office (here and Ottawa) for the last year or so. She and her staff have been extremely polite, positive and helpful, while working with me on big questions, despite there being no immediate fix available. (On another issue, they worked very hard with me over several weeks and found an immediate solution, which was great!)</div><div><br></div><div>Maybe she really is trying to secretly intimidate the opposition by getting logistical info, or maybe this is a simple misunderstanding that is being escalated every time someone else responds in the email thread. If so, I am sure that any meeting we might get with her in this issue will be compromised if we go in assuming the worst. How can we expect to work for positive change if we are so convinced of such negative things about her, based on so little info? If that is how the meeting is going to be started, then I'd rather not be a part of it, since I already have a great working relationship with her and her staff, and I don't want to jeopardize it with these negative assumptions.</div><div><br></div><div>All I'm saying is that I would give the benefit of the doubt and get more info before assuming intimidation... :)</div><div><br></div><div>Hope that helps,</div><div><br></div><div>SJM</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr">On Sun, Nov 19, 2017 at 1:09 PM Mary Jackes <<a href="mailto:mkj@bell.net">mkj@bell.net</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<p>I must say that this leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth. It
feels like intimidation. <br>
</p>
Best,<br>
<br>
Mary</div><div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><br>
<br>
<div class="m_4005109044483004758moz-cite-prefix">On 11/18/2017 9:21 AM, STUART CHANDLER
wrote:<br>
</div>
</div><div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><blockquote type="cite">
<div style="width:100%;font-size:initial;font-family:Calibri,'Slate Pro',sans-serif,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125);text-align:initial;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Thanks
Sharon for passing the Bardish email along. </div>
<div style="width:100%;font-size:initial;font-family:Calibri,'Slate Pro',sans-serif,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125);text-align:initial;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><br>
</div>
<div style="width:100%;font-size:initial;font-family:Calibri,'Slate Pro',sans-serif,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125);text-align:initial;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Holy
crap!! More proof that Bardish has a HUGE amount of nerve, and
indulges in covert/overt intimidation (although I'm sure she
would cleverly try to sell it as "genuine interest in her
constituants". I have no doubt that she has a pretty clear
sense of the effect that "interest" (in having the names and
addresses of those interested in visiting her office -
particularly if coming with intent to complain or challenge)
would have on anyone so inclined. <br>
</div>
<div style="width:100%;font-size:initial;font-family:Calibri,'Slate Pro',sans-serif,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125);text-align:initial;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><br>
</div>
<div style="font-size:initial;font-family:Calibri,'Slate Pro',sans-serif,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125);text-align:initial;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Rogers network.</div>
<table style="background-color:white;border-spacing:0px" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="font-size:initial;text-align:initial;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">
<div>
<div><b>From: </b>Sharon Sommerville</div>
<div><b>Sent: </b>Friday, November 17, 2017 8:08 PM</div>
<div><b>To: </b>FVC Waterloo Region Discussion</div>
<div><b>Reply To: </b>FVC Waterloo Region Discussion</div>
<div><b>Subject: </b>Re: [fvc-wat-disc] Meeting with
Bardish</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<div id="m_4005109044483004758_originalContent">
<div dir="ltr">Hi Cathe,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>That would be great, thank you! Will </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Here is <span id="m_4005109044483004758:y4.1">th</span>
email that I rec'd today from <span id="m_4005109044483004758:y4.2">Bardish's</span> constituency
assistant:</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:19.2px"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Hi
Sharon,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:19.2px"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:19.2px"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Thanks
for your email and for your call the other day, could
you please let me know some info about who would like to
meet? Could you please also provide their Waterloo
addresses for our records?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:19.2px"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:19.2px"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Thanks
and I hope you’re having a great day.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:19.2px"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:19.2px"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Sincerely,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:19.2px"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><br>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri,
sans-serif" color="#1f497d"><span style="font-size:14.6667px">In my experience, it is
unheard of to screen constituents for a meeting with a
MP. Let me know if you want to provide Bardish's
office with your address.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri,
sans-serif" color="#1f497d"><span style="font-size:14.6667px"><br>
</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri,
sans-serif" color="#1f497d"><span style="font-size:14.6667px">Cheers,</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri,
sans-serif" color="#1f497d"><span style="font-size:14.6667px">Sharon</span></font></p>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote></div>
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</blockquote></div><div dir="ltr">-- <br></div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Stephanie Janzen-Martin<br>
Find me at: Menno Adventures... <a href="https://sustainabledevelopmentresources.wordpress.com">https://sustainabledevelopmentresources.wordpress.com</a> Director of Program Development - <a href="http://www.smcegypt.org">www.smcegypt.org</a> </p>
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