E-News: Analysis, recent wins, and campaign updates
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A Ministry of Just Transition
On March 12, people in 50 communities across the country participated in our day of action for a just transition.
Hundreds of people gathered to imagine and bring to life what Canada could look like with a true just transition. There was so much creativity built into these events. There were press conferences from the future reflecting on how we made a just transition happen, symbolic announcements and ribbon cuttings on new Ministry of Just Transition offices, and info pickets and rallies outside MPs’ offices.
We are thrilled to take action alongside everyone who organized, showed up, brought a sign, and shared photos of these events. Together, we’re bringing the just transition to life in our communities and inviting neighbours and decision-makers to see that a future beyond fossil fuels is not only possible but could radically transform our communities for the better.
To learn more about our work for a just transition, visit: canadians.org/justtransition
Fossil fuels won’t get us out of war
In the midst of violence of conflict, our collective calls for a just transition have never been more pressing .
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused untold human suffering and revealed the power of fossil fuels as a weapon of war. And Big Oil cheerleaders in Canada and elsewhere are leveraging the war to push for new fossil fuel infrastructure and exports.
Already, one Canadian liquefied natural gas (LNG) company, Pieridae, has begun conversations with senior federal officials to expedite the export of natural gas from Canada’s east coast to Germany. The latter, Europe's largest gas consumer and trader, is looking for ways to cut loose from its dependency on Russian fossil fuels.
But pouring gas on this fire isn’t the solution. Now is the time to invest rapidly in a just transition away from fossil fuels, both to address the climate crisis and to loosen the grip of oil- and gas-producing nations on global security.
On March 23, we co-hosted a webinar with our German allies to challenge the Canadian and German governments’ false narrative that LNG can be a climate and security solution.
The event included speakers from our co-hosts Deutsche Umwelthilfe and the New Brunswick Anti Shale Gas Alliance, and was attended by 280 people. If you missed the webinar, you can watch a recording of the conversation here.
And if you haven’t already, add your name to our letter urging the Canadian and German governments to decarbonize.
Let’s Have the Debate – What the NDP-Liberal Accord means for Canada
The historic agreement struck between the ruling Liberals and the New Democratic Party raises many questions. It has met criticism from the right and the left, and there are many different views of what this will mean for politics and social justice.
John Cartwright, Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, invites us to examine the details and have a passionate debate about where the accord leads the country.
“All of us will be judged on our ability to actually win and secure key public programs that serve generations to come,” he writes.
“In other words, it’s up to all Canadians to close this deal – or win an even better one.”
A crucial turning point in the fight for a People’s Vaccine
After 18 months of deadlock, negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over lifting intellectual property rights for vaccines and other essential medicines have suddenly started to move fast. But the details of a leaked tentative agreement on patents show that the EU and other defenders of Big Pharma are trying to pull a quick one on the rest of the world , by passing an agreement so riddled with caveats, exceptions and conditions that it won’t do much to improve the situation.
The Council of Canadians and its allies are urging the Trudeau government to start pushing for a real solution to the vaccine inequality caused by Big
Pharma’s monopoly over these life-saving medicines.
In a letter sent to International Trade Minister Mary Ng and Minister of Innovation François-Philippe Champagne , we warn that going forward with such a flawed agreement would not meaningfully improve access to vaccines around the world. Indeed, we would be repeating the same errors made early on in the pandemic.
Help build the People’s Lobby to counter the power of Big Pharma. Ask your MP to support vaccine justice now.
World Water Day
On World Water Day this year, which takes place annually on March 22, we asked you to keep up your support in protecting water – for today, for tomorrow, forever.
For more than three decades, supporters like you have protected Canada’s freshwater sources from pollution, privatization, and government neglect. Each year, World Water Day is an opportunity to continue our efforts and celebrate all that we have achieved, together.
And there is much to celebrate! This World Water Day, we welcomed our newest Blue Community: Huron College in London, Ontario. The students and administration have passed resolutions to support the human right to water, keep water public, and phase out bottled water sales on campus. Want to turn your community Blue? Join the movement today .
We need to keep up the pressure on the federal government to ensure all First Nations have access to clean drinking water on reserves. The number of long-term drinking water advisories on reserves has been reduced from more than 150 in 2015 to 36 today. But Canada is already falling short $138 million dollars each year to maintain and operate these systems. We must keep the government focused on finishing the job .
Public Water Champions are turning the tide against Big Water . In the last few months, more than 27,500 people have become Public Water Champions by taking the pledge to stop Big Water from wasting our precious resources for profit. Billion-dollar hedge funds, multinational corporations, and armies of paid lobbyists want to own our water and the infrastructure that provides it – so they can sell it back to us for a profit. Become a Public Water Champion today .
There are few things more important than clean, safe water. Thanks for all you do to protect this precious resource.
Radioactive waste is forever:
we need our government to treat it that way
The federal government is about to update its very old and weak policy on radioactive waste disposal, which has failed to protect critical waterways and groundwater. But the changes proposed fall well short of what is needed to safeguard our health, our water, and our future.
The government is still accepting comments on the draft policy for Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning – but only until tomorrow (April 2). Please take a moment to support our suggested changes to the policy by clicking here.
The scale of the danger posed by radioactive waste is almost impossible to comprehend. Much of the stockpiled waste will remain deadly for hundreds of thousands of years – longer than the Great Lakes have existed, longer than human beings have walked the Earth.
The draft policy is supposed to ensure that our radioactive waste is responsibly managed but it will continue to allow the nuclear industry to propose where to dump its radioactive waste and how much it should have to pay to do so . It also fails to address the corporate capture of the federal regulator , the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, by the industry it has been set up to regulate. And, it pays little more than lip service to our obligations to seek informed consent from Indigenous peoples .
Please take a moment to tell the government we need a better radioactive waste policy in Canada
Protecting public health care in Nova Scotia
COVID has pushed our health care system to the brink. Across Nova Scotia – and the country as a whole – we are seeing staff burn-out, fatigue, and long wait times. People are frustrated and looking for ways to improve the system.
The private sector is presenting itself as an efficient option. But repeatedly we have seen these public-private-partnerships prioritize corporate profits over the best interests of the people they are meant to serve.
We can’t let this happen. On March 30, along with the Nova Scotia Health Coalition and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-NS, we hosted a conversation with health experts about why we need strong public health care now more than ever. The townhall was attended by more than 80 people and included discussions about tangible ways we can keep up the fight for public health care.
We need to make it clear to governments across the country that it is their duty to strengthen our public health care systems – and that we will not allow private profit to creep in.
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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