The Harper government is escalating its attack on democracy with the deals announced today on Buy American and Canada signing up the provinces to the WTO procurement agreement. More than 25 organizations are meeting today in Ottawa to launch efforts to counter this and other trade deals whose aim is to destroy local democratic control over public spending. Read media release »
Tens of thousands have signed the Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament. That Facebook page asks, “What can we do about (prorogation)? Ask your MP to attend parliament anyway.” To add your name, click here.
On the eve of the G7 finance ministers’ meeting in Iqaluit, the Council of Canadians says the G7 is promoting a 'business as usual' agenda rather than what is needed, namely trade, climate and water justice. Read media release »
A documentary featuring Maude Barlow by filmmaker Liz Marshall. The film highlights Maude’s work to have water recognized as a human right at the United Nations, to stop the Site 41 landfill in Simcoe County, and to stop the destruction wrought by the tar sands in northern Alberta.
The film will be broadcast by TV Ontario on March 24, and then should be more widely available later this spring. www.wateronthetable.com
In May 2009, negotiations were launched for a Canada-European Union trade agreement.
Canadian corporations are looking for better access to the European market without having to meet stricter EU rules. European negotiators want Canadian services contracts, with the aim of transferring the $22-billion our local governments spend annually on public priorities into corporate profits.
An agreement with the European Union would put pressure on provincial governments to privatize public services, including in areas such as water, transportation, child care and public health care.
We need to stop this proposed deal before negotiations can conclude in 2011. Read more »
Meera Karunananthan and Angela Giles of the Council of Canadians drink the water in Sandy Pond, NL
Meera and Mike Manning (CoC St. John's chapter contact) hike back from Sandy Pond, followed closely by a Vale Inco ATV.
A: When the Canadian Government says it should be a dump for mine waste.
Lakes that would normally be protected as fish habitat by the Fisheries Act are now being redefined as “tailing impoundment areas” according to a 2002 “schedule” added to the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations of the Act. Once added to Schedule 2, healthy freshwater lakes lose all protection and become dump sites for mining waste. In 2006, two lakes in Newfoundland were added to Schedule 2 and more recently two lakes in Nunavut were approved for destruction.
Take Action! Sandy Pond, near Long Harbour, N.L., is next on the hit list. The mine tailings that Vale Inco plans to dump into the lake will destroy the lake, causing irreversible damage. Save Newfoundland's Sandy Pond and tell our government that lakes should not be used as dump sites.
Click here for Environment Canada’s list of 11 lakes proposed for destruction.
The Council of Canadians, working with the Canadian Labour Congress, have produced Green Decent and Public, a report focused on the distinct opportunities of the public sector to play a prominent role in generating decent green jobs.
Green Decent Public focuses in particular on the opportunities in improving energy efficiency and rapidly expanding electricity produced from renewable resources. Read more »
Learn more about how your community can become a Blue Community by resisting public-private partnerships, promoting water as human right at the local level, and banning bottled water in public spaces.
To read the new Making Waves quarterly e-newsletter, click here.
December 7-18, 2009 marked a significant moment in time for global action on the climate crisis. Representatives from 200 countries met in Copenhagen, Denmark with the aim of getting agreement on common action to address the climate crisis.
The Council of Canadians was
on the ground in Copenhagen, providing updates on negotiations inside the conference and taking part in numerous events and climate justice movement activities happening outside.
The “Blue Summit” held in Ottawa from November 27-29 was a tremendous success. The three-day conference drew more than 300 participants from across the country and around the world. On December 12 we participated in the Global Day of Action in Copenhagen and marched with the “Climate Justice is Water Justice” banner signed by people at the Blue Summit.
On Tuesday, September 22 councillors heard the echoes of opposition and protest that have resonated across the country and voted 93-13 to cease construction and all further development for the controversial landfill known as Dump Site 41, which threatened to pollute the Alliston Aquifer. This is a tremendous win to stop Site 41 and has been acknowledged as a huge victory in our ongoing battle to protect water. Congratulations everyone!
Read updates from the sessions on our campaign blog.
The North American leaders summit – where Canada, the United States and Mexico met to discuss progress on the Security and Prosperity Partnership – took place August 9 and 10 in Guadalajara, Mexico and Canadians knew almost nothing about it.
The Council of Canadians was 
WIN! The SPP has been defeated!
