E-News: Analysis, recent wins, and campaign updates
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COUNCIL OF CANADIANS STATEMENT
The Council of Canadians was formed in 1985 to fight for Canadian democracy and the rights of all Canadians. Canadians from every background understand that public health is a crucial part of our social cohesion and that collective rights are an essential component in upholding the public good.
The so-called “Freedom Convoy” that has occupied parts of Ottawa represents the polar opposite of these values. Like many people in Ottawa, we have been shocked and disgusted with the appearance of swastikas and confederate flags in their city, and deeply shaken by the behaviour of some of the convoy participants.
The protests over the last week have evoked a direct comparison to the events of January 6th in the U.S. capitol in Washington, D.C. With many differences, these events have both been conduits for far-right groups, including white supremacists, to assert their dominance over our democracy. Some of the organizers have ties to racist groups, some have been involved in strikebreaking, and some were part of a previous truck convoy to oppose environmental action. Across the world, these kinds of tactics have been used to grow right-wing populist movements that feed on the politics of division and xenophobia. The impact has been to dramatically erode social benefits and quality of life of all but the wealthiest.
What is remarkable is the double standard in how the police have responded to the actions of this group, compared to a very different use of force and arrests at Indigenous or climate justice protests, or at the Toronto G20 Summit. Those approaches were wrong, and so is the impunity which this group seems to enjoy.
Public health experts at every level of society confirm the overwhelming evidence in support of vaccines, back the use of vaccines to fight the global pandemic of COVID-19, and encourage vaccines to be made available across the world. They urge people from all walks of life to follow preventative measures like wearing masks and social distancing. The organizers of the convoy action are advocating exactly the opposite. Their slogan of “freedom” ignores the pain, suffering, and thousands of deaths from the pandemic, and the sacrifice of health care workers. Their message should be exposed and opposed across this country.
We know that our physical, economic, and social recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic can only be done through social solidarity. Building an inclusive, caring Canada – while recognizing both the history and current reality of this country – is the real challenge ahead for Canadians.
John Cartwright Chair
The Council of Canadians
SAY NO TO FEDERAL SUBSIDIES FOR FALSE CLIMATE SOLUTIONS!
A new report has revealed that the federal government plans a tax credit in the upcoming federal budget to support Big Oil investments in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
Analysts have long warned that CCS would be a false, ineffective, and risky ‘solution.’ Rather than moving us away from fossil fuels, it would drive up greenhouse gas emissions – allowing big polluters to stick to business as usual under the guise of ‘climate action’. More than 400 scientists, academics, and energy experts wrote an open letter to the federal government last month warning against a CCS tax credit, which they said would constitute “a substantial new fossil fuel subsidy.”
The Trudeau government has promised to end fossil fuel subsidies by the end of 2022 but introducing this tax credit would break that promise. And the Canadian government already provides more fossil fuel subsidies than any other G7 country.
That’s why we’re asking you to take a moment to send the government a reality check. Tell Minister Wilkinson that our energy future should run on renewables, not fantasy.
Instead of entertaining pipe dreams like CCS, the federal government must focus on what’s really needed to get us out of the crisis: a just transition.
The chorus for a ‘just transition’ is getting louder and stronger
Parliament has just resumed and the clock is ticking for the Trudeau government to deliver on its promised legislation for a just transition.
As we move to a low-carbon future, a just transition plan ensures that the ensuing transformation is carried out equitably, is rooted in climate justice, respects the rights of Indigenous peoples, and creates good, green jobs in the process.
We’re already more than halfway through the first 100 days of the new Parliament. But, so far, the only movement for a just transition has come from people like you encouraging your MPs to speak up. And it’s working.
Since October, 10 MPs from across the political spectrum have tabled our just transition petition in Parliament as part of our Flood Parliament campaign. At least 16 others have committed to doing the same.
The call for a just transition is resonating with people across the country. On January 20th, we co-hosted a pan-Canadian organizing meeting with 350 Canada. More than 600 participants attended, with dozens signing up to take community-led actions.
We hope to also count on your support with our upcoming National Day of Action. On Saturday, March 12, grassroots groups and community members across the country will launch locally-planned and focused actions for a just transition. Click here to organize or join an event near you.
An alternative mandate for the Ministers
Last month, the Council of Canadians issued four mandate letters – on water, trade, the climate crisis, and health – that lay out a progressive agenda for the new federal government. And we called on you – our members and supporters – to help us keep these priorities before the Ministers.More than 7,400 of you joined in signing on to our mandate letters and sending them to the appropriate Minister. Thank you!
If you haven’t already, you can still read and sign those letters here.
The mandate we issued the federal government is ambitious. But we know that our voices matter. In this minority parliament, the government will need to listen to people like you and me, and work to implement our priorities.
The Council of Canadians continues to hold the government accountable and push for change on issues that matter to you. Thank you for everything you do to help shape a government that we can all be proud of.
New report reveals the power of Big Oil
As the world grapples with a growing climate emergency, we have released a report with huge implications for how we think about climate policy and democracy in Canada.
Written by Gordon Laxer – researcher, political economist, and founding member of the Council of Canadians – the new study sheds light on the enormous power that Big Foreign Oil wields in Canadian politics.
READ THE FULL REPORT
READ EXCERPTS
The report reveals how wealthy foreign-owned oil corporations have been using their power to block climate action in Canada, chiefly through the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) –Canada’s top oil and gas lobby group.
As Gordon shows, these foreign multinationals influence our federal and provincial elections, make financial contributions to political parties and candidates, lobby governments, and mimic grassroots mobilization to further corporate interests.
On Thursday, February 3rd, we will be hosting a public webinar in conversation with Gordon Laxer about the report. The event will take place on Zoom, from 7pm to 8:30pm Eastern Time.
Support for Williams Lake First Nation and survivors of Indian Residential Schools
Last week, Williams Lake First Nation found 93 sites of likely human burials after examining a small piece of land surrounding St. Joseph’s Mission, a former Indian Residential School.In addition to probing the land, the First Nation carried out archival research and extensive interviews with survivors – findings that led the team “into the darkest recesses of human behaviour,” Chief Willie Sellars said.
“Our team has recorded not only stories involving the murder and disappearing of children and infants. They have listened to countless stories of systematic torture, starvation, rape and sexual assault of children at St. Joseph’s mission,” he added.
St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School opened in 1891 and closed its doors as late as 1981.
For Nita Grass, a Board member and long-standing supporter of the Council of Canadians, the confirmation of these atrocities brings to light her personal journey with the Indian Residential Schools and their generational impact on survivors and their families and communities.
She shares those reflections in this piece.
How Canada became a vaccine villain
Our federal government has sacrificed equitable access to vaccines on the altar of intellectual property rights. Buckling under pressure from Big Pharma, Canada’s trade representatives at the World Trade Organization (WTO) have for over a year blocked progress on a proposal to temporarily lift patents on vaccines and other essential medicines.In a recent in-depth exposé, first published by the independent media outlet The Breach, our Trade and Privatization Campaigner Nik Barry-Shaw laid out the huge increase in lobbying by vaccine producers during the pandemic.
Our Co-Executive Director Christina Warner also joined the public calls for a waiver on vaccine patents. In an op-ed in The Hill Times, co-authored with Ketty Nivyabandi, the Secretary-General of Amnesty International Canada, and epidemiologist Dr. Madhukar Pai of McGill University, she argued that Canada’s quiet complicity with Big Pharma has made vaccine inequality worse and heightened the risk we face from new variants.
The pressure is growing on Canada and other countries to end their obstructionism.
Last month, more than 1,600 of you joined a virtual town hall from across the country to discuss how people in Canada can ensure global access to vaccines. If you missed the town, or would like to share with your friends or family, you can watch a recording here.
Many of you also signed our parliamentary petition calling on the government to stop blocking the manufacturing of generic vaccines in Canada, and to support the temporary suspension of patents at the WTO. On December 4, we submitted that petition with more than 4,600 signatures. The government is required to respond that petition in the coming days, and we will keep you updated on that response.
From Northumberland County in Ontario to PEI, London, Winnipeg, Nanaimo, and Gatineau (to name just a few), Council supporters are organizing to bring the fight for a People’s Vaccine to the grassroots. If you want to get involved, please fill out this form so we can connect you with other people in your area who are getting active on this issue.
Victory! No more offshore projects in Nova Scotia
This month, the offshore exploration licenses for BP and Equinor expired in Nova Scotia – leaving no remaining offshore oil and gas projects in the province.This is a major triumph for those of you who have been working – along with tens of thousands of people across the country – to end offshore drilling in Nova Scotia. Congratulations!
Since 2017, the Council of Canadians has been campaigning in coalition with the Offshore Alliance for a moratorium on offshore exploration and extraction in the province. With your support, we conducted research and polling, hosted public education events and speaking tours, and organized demonstrations. The South Shore chapter led the charge on moving 13 municipal governments in Nova Scotia to back our demands – no small feat! And when BP brought a drilling rig into our waters, we threw them a big un-welcoming party.
None of this work would have been possible without Council of Canadians supporters, friends, and chapters. This was truly a collective effort.
Of course, this great announcement does not mark the end of our struggle for climate justice. The fossil fuel industry continues to wield enormous power over decision-makers across the country. But with your continued support, we will keep up the fight for a just transition away from fossil fuels – a transition that serves people and communities, not fossil fuel executives.
Introducing our new Board members!
We are pleased to announce that the Council of Canadians Board of Directors has recently welcomed three new members: Lily Chang, Tara Seucharan, and Bianca Mugyenyi.
Together, they bring a wealth of experience in climate justice, labour, anti-racism, international solidarity, and grassroots activism. We are proud to welcome them to our Board and look forward to working closely together.
To learn more about Lily, Tara, and Bianca, and to meet all the members of our board, click here.
Membership Builds Our Movement
The Council of Canadians has proudly reinstated an open membership structure. We invite you to become a member by making at least a $1 contribution to cover your annual membership fee.
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