Recent highlights from the Council of Canadians

Details: Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00; Written by editor

Recent highlights from the Council of Canadians r1 ... r71 | Add us to your address book

Not another penny: stop spending public money to fund Big Oil

Big Oil has long enjoyed immense profits from the destruction of the environment. They’ve also enjoyed billions in subsidies from the Canadian government. Canada spends more public money subsidizing the fossil fuel industry than any other G7 country, even as Canadians pay steeper prices each year in climate disaster costs. Most Canadians want to see an end to these subsidies, and thanks to that public pressure, the federal government promised that they would eliminate such subsidies by the end of 2023. But, as they so often do, Big Oil has found a loophole, one the Canadian government is more than happy to let them exploit. No longer able to deny climate science, they’re pivoting to false climate solutions like CCUS, and they’re trying to take public funds along with them.

VICTORY: Bay du Nord shelved for at least three years

After five years of organizing and push back, the Bay du Nord offshore oil and gas project has been sidelined for at least three years. The proposed deepwater drilling project, which would see 200,000 litres of oil pulled from Flemish Pass each day, poses an enormous risk to workers, biodiversity, and our future climate. The intense wildfires burning across much of the country only make it more clear that such projects cannot and must not go forward, and the Council of Canadians is grateful that this particular project is on hold for the time being.

Clean electricity regulations with teeth

The federal government has been promising just transition legislation since 2019. An important piece of that transition will be clean energy regulations, which are necessary if we’re to decarbonize our electrical grid by 2035. Thankfully, Canada is starting from a strong place to decarbonize our electricity grid. At this point, 84 per cent of our electricity comes from renewable sources. The David Suzuki Foundation has done modelling that shows the feasibility of transitioning to 100 per cent zero-emissions electricity by 2035. This modelling shows that this transition is possible without new hydroelectricity or nuclear generation, and does not require immature and unproven carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies.

However, significant challenges around clean energy assets, including regulatory, political and financing barriers remain for Indigenous communities in this transition. As the communities most impacted by climate change, and leaders in the renewable energy transition, strong regulations have the potential to center Indigenous communities in the planning and development of the decarbonization of our energy grid.

Algonquin First Nations keep up the fight to prevent radioactive waste dump

For the past two years, the Algonquin Anishinaabeg peoples have been expressing deep concerns about the proposal for a radioactive waste dump on the shores of the Ottawa River. The proposed dump would see tritium, carbon-14, strontium-90, four types of plutonium (one of the most dangerous radioactive materials if inhaled or ingested), up to 80 tonnes of uranium and a very large quantity of cobalt-60 medicinal waste piled in the river valley watershed, less than one kilometre from the river itself.

Fight for pharmacare continues

The fight for pharmacare has been gaining momentum across the country. From coast-to-coast Canadians are showing up in large numbers to turn up the heat and finally propel pharmacare from a promise into reality. Dozens of other countries already have public drug plans that provide coverage for all; Canada is the only country with public health care that doesn’t. The federal government knows what needs to be done. They even know how to do it. We just need to push them there. Find a town hall near you.

Join Us! Red Deer Chapter Annual General Meeting

The Red Deer Chapter of the Council of Canadians will be holding their Annual General Meeting on June 20th at 7 p.m. The small but active group of community organizers is looking for new members to join and help carry out the important work they’re doing in the region.

Council in the News!

The Hamilton Spectator: Canadians need pharmacare and it must be now, not later

CBC NEWS: Free medications produce overall health-care savings in Ontario trial, new study suggests

The Lobby Monitor: Council of Canadians criss-crosses the country in grassroots push for pharmacare

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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