In response to the predictions of a Conservative majority government, the Council of Canadians has joined forces with other social justice groups and unions from across the country to issue this statement about the potential dangers of such an outcome. The statement was released at a press conference in Toronto on January 12, 2006 with the signatory groups.
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Think Twice on January 23

Representatives from the child care, Aboriginal, women’s rights, health care, equality rights, environmental, arts, trade union, and advocacy groups have a message for all Canadians.

What would Conservative policies mean for Canadians?

• They mean privatization and deregulation, and more cuts to social programs.
  
  
• They mean the end of the national child care programme, and the rollback of the $5 billion deal between ten provinces and the federal government. This is the beginning of the first new national social programme since Medicare, but Harper says he will cancel it in exchange for a dollar a day sent to Canadians, burdened with securing and financing their own childcare.
  
  
• They mean abandonment of the agreement just achieved with First Nations at the Aboriginal Summit, and reneging on promised spending to alleviate a housing and health care crisis for some of Canada’s most vulnerable citizens, women and children.
  
  
• They mean more greenhouse gas emissions, the end of the domestic Kyoto plan to reduce emissions by 2012, and moving Canada from a strong supporter of further emission cuts to supporting George Bush’s camp.
  
  
• They mean a health care system based on commercialization, not patient needs; based on competition between health care providers, not collaborative practice; a health care system that would allocate public health care dollars to for-profit business, rather than improving primary health care for our families; and a continuing absence of national standards for home care and inadequate long-term care for our seniors.
  
  
• They mean the loss of at least $1 billion for affordable housing, and the potential loss of a Canadian housing framework.
  
  
• They mean no commitment to the income measures and services needed to reduce poverty.
  
  
• They mean abandoning efforts to protect workers’ wages, pensions and benefits in cases of corporate bankruptcy.
  
  
• They mean massive tuition fee increases for university and college students.
  
  
• They mean greater trade and foreign policy integration with the U.S., particularly joint military ventures (including participation in foreign conflicts and space-based military systems).
  
  
• They mean new risks to Canadian women’s right to reproductive choice and access to abortion.
  
  
• They mean abandoning plans for new pay equity legislation.
  
  
• They mean abandoning plans for a new national strategy for people with disabilities.
  
  
• They mean less government support for the arts and for public broadcasting.
  
  
• They mean re-opening the debate over equal marriage rights for same sex couples, and the introduction of unconstitutional legislation.
  
  
• They mean re-opening the Charter to protect private property rights, which have major implications for environmental protection, labour rights, and equality rights.
  
  
• They mean big tax cuts for corporations, and less pollution regulations.

We are very concerned about the future of our country. Many of the victories Canadians have achieved over generations, and many important new programs and initiatives that are poised to become reality, are very much at risk.

We ARE standing up for Canada. We want a Canada with strong social programs, environmental protection, and fairness for everyone. Canadians need to think twice.

Endorsed By:

Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada
Council of Canadians
Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
Canadian Federation of Students
Canadian Auto Workers
Egale Canada
National Association of Women and the Law
Prevent Cancer Coalition
Shelagh Day, Human Rights Advocate
Elizabeth May, Environmentalist & Officer of the Order of Canada
Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women
National Action Committee on the Status of Women
Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter
Canadian Coalition for Health and Environment
Cathy Crowe, Street Nurse, housing advocate
Dr. Mary-Wynne Ashford, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War
Victoria Vincent Calderhead, Legal Aid Lawyer, Halifax Professor
Martha Jackman, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
Catherine Frazee, Professor of Distinction, School of Disability Studies, Ryerson University
Michele Decottignies, Founder and Artistic Director, Stage Left Productions
Helke Ferrie, science writer and publisher, Alton, Ontario
Nicola Ross, writer & co-founder, Caledon Countryside Alliance, Caledon, Ontario
Loretta Michaud, Workers Health & Safety Centre, Toronto Lissa Donner, freelance writer and health activist, Winnipeg
Karen DeKoning, breast cancer survivor, Chatham
Diane Saibil, Toronto Phyllis Creighton, Toronto
Phyllis Creighton, Toronto
Margot Young, University of British Columbia
Linda Pim, environmental activist, Inglewood, Ontario
Beth Mairs, ED, Wild Women Expeditions, Espanola, Ontario
June Sommers, realtor, Toronto Margot Young, Associate Professor of Law, University of British Columbia
Janet Mosher, Associate Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School
Alison Dewar and Diana Majury, Ottawa
Wendy Barrett, Burnaby, BC
Meg Sears, PhD
Paul Leduc Browne, Professeur, Département de travail social et des sciences sociales Université du Québec en Outaouais Gatineau, Québec
Rose Jacobson, Project Manager, Picasso PRO and professional artist and community activist
Linda Christiansen-Ruffman, Professor of Sociology, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia