RCMP, U.S. Army block public forum on the Security and Prosperity Partnership
The Council of Canadians has been told it will not be allowed to rent a municipal community centre for a public forum it had planned to coincide with the next Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) summit in Montebello, Quebec on August 20 and 21. The Municipality of Papineauville, which is about six kilometres from Montebello, has informed the Council of Canadians that the RCMP, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and the U.S. Army will not allow the municipality to rent the Centre Communautaire de Papineauville for a public forum on Sunday August 19, on the eve of the so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership Leaders Summit. “It is deplorable that we are being prevented from bringing together a panel of writers, academics and parliamentarians to share their concerns about the Security and Prosperity Partnership with Canadians,” said Brent Patterson, director of organizing with the Council of Canadians. “Meanwhile, six kilometres away, corporate leaders from the United States, Mexico and Canada will have unimpeded access to our political leaders.”

Can A Theatre Specializing in Documentaries Survive in Toronto?
Despite film-goers increasing appetite for documentary film, it remains almost as difficult to see them as it has ever been. The multiplexes still shy away from everything not starring big names like Al Gore and Michael Moore (and even those are in limited release) and except for rep cinemas, local film festivals and indie rental stores there aren't many options in Toronto to see the latest and greatest in documentary film. Enter The Brunswick Theatre. Launched at the beginning of April, the smallish, student-oriented, make-shift theatre space has been trying to make a go of it but so far realizing only limited success. A few days ago they sent me a message on Facebook announcing that all screenings this week will be free.