Throne Speech

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Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00

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Paov,

There’s a lot going on in the world right now, so this email will be a bit longer than normal and in a different format, but I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read it and take action.

This afternoon, Governor General Mary Simon is delivering the Throne Speech that traditionally marks the start of a new Parliament. Trudeau’s office says the speech will lay out his government’s plans to “build a better future for everyone.”1 But, considering their actions -- and lack of action -- over the past week, those words ring pretty hollow.

BC is in a state of emergency due to widespread flooding and government agencies are warning residents to prepare for another wave of extreme weather that could cause even more chaos.2 But, when they should be focused on protecting people from this unfolding climate disaster, the federal and provincial governments are busy protecting a pipeline. While people were banding together to shelter displaced neighbours and get food to communities cut off by floods, even chartering private helicopters to get the job done3,... the RCMP chartered a plane to northern BC to carry out a militarized assault on unarmed Wet’suwet’en land defenders.

Following these brutal raids, Wet’suwet’en land defenders are raising money for their legal defence fund. If you have the means to help those facing charges, please chip in now.

We also have a list of fundraisers and other ways to support people affected by the BC floods at the bottom of this blog post if you are looking for ways to help out.

While Justin Trudeau’s plan to “build a better future for everyone” apparently includes violently forcing a fracked gas pipeline through unceded Indigenous territory, our people-powered movements are putting forward a very different vision. Yesterday, 350 Canada and our allies held a rally for a just transition right outside the Prime Minister’s office. With a digital climate clock counting down in front of them, speaker after speaker hammered home the urgency of this moment and the moral imperative to ensure a transition that is truly just.

As Migrant Rights Network campaigner Karen Cocq put it in her speech, "we have to insist that we leave no one behind. We have to insist that we won’t go back to the status quo, that we won’t go back to those old priorities. We have to insist that a just transition must include everyone and must include everyone now."

Karen was just one of several powerful speakers from the labour, climate, and social justice movements yesterday. We put together a recap video with clips the speeches. Please take a moment to watch and share.

Over 10,000 people across the country have now signed the Just Transition Act petition we delivered to Trudeau as part of yesterday’s rally. And, we’re going to keep building on that momentum throughout this session of Parliament. But, while we’re fighting for a future that leaves no one behind, this past week also reminded us of something we definitely need to ditch: the Trans Mountain pipeline.

In the past year, Trans Mountain has been subjected to extreme heat, wildfires, flooding and, last week, had sections of construction buried under landslides. All of this is being driven by a climate crisis that we know will just get worse if TMX is completed. Whatever math Justin Trudeau and his cabinet did when they first approved the pipeline, it isn’t holding up.

That’s why we're asking people across Canada to sign and share an open letter calling for a formal, federal review and reconsideration of the project before we pump billions more public dollars into it and put communities and the climate further at risk. Add your name to the letter now.

Thanks for reading all the way through this. With so much going on, we’ll continue to do our best to keep you up to date on what’s happening.

Onwards,
Katie

1. Prime Minister announces the dates of the Cabinet swearing-in and return of Parliament
2. CBC: British Columbians brace for more extreme weather, possible flooding on north coast
3. CTV: Surrey Sikh community cooks thousands of meals, charters helicopter to help those reeling from severe storm

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