Chapter Action Update : CP Spring 2007

Canadian Perspectives Spring 2007

Chapter Action Update

by Brent Patterson

The Council’s first youth chapter

In September, our first youth chapter was formed in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, with the assistance of Prairies organizer Lyn Gorman. The name of the chapter is Sakewew Awasisak, which translated from Cree means Rising Youth. The students are currently working on water issues in indigenous communities, under the guidance of Vice-Principal Reid Stewart.

PHOTO: Members of the Council’s new youth chapter in North Battleford, Saskatchewan.

Medicare tour a success

Council chapters were keenly involved in many of the 31 town hall meetings held as part of the Canadian Health Coalition’s “Medicare Works!” tour that took place across the country between October 19 and December 5. Chapters were particularly involved in Comox, Campbell River, Whitehorse, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Kitchener and Toronto.

War is not the answer

On October 28, 41 Council of Canadians chapters participated in the “Troops out of Afghanistan” day of action, including a protest march in downtown Charlottetown during the Council’s annual general meeting there. Council activists marched with thousands across the country in opposition to the war, which to date has claimed the lives of 44 Canadian soldiers. A Strategic Counsel poll conducted in July showed that 56 per cent of Canadians oppose the decision to send Canadian troops to Afghanistan – a 12-point increase over June.

PHOTO: Jeannette Muhongayire (Organizing Assistant) and Carleen Pickard (BC-Yukon Regional
Organizer) joined chapter members in Charlottetown, PEI on October 28, to protest against the war in Afghanistan. (photo by Victoria Gibb-Carsley)

Marching Orders tour takes off

Between November 6 and November 14, Steven Staples spoke to five Council chapters across the country as part of a tour to promote Marching Orders: How Canada abandoned peacekeeping – and why the United Nations needs us now more than ever. More than 230 people came out to these events and articles on the tour appeared in newspapers with a combined circulation of 74,000 readers. This initial tour has grown and Steven is continuing to speak on this issue with Council chapters across the country.

Fighting TILMA

On November 23, the Council launched its action plan to defeat TILMA, the B.C.-Alberta Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement. TILMA is a dangerous new aspect to the deep integration agenda with the United States. Already northwestern U.S. states, including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington have committed to explore expanding TILMA. Chapter activists have been encouraging key public figures to express their opposition to TILMA, as well as taking municipal resolutions to their local councils and distributing information about this agreement to the public.

Challenging the CPP on private water

On November 24, the Canada Pension Plan, as part of a corporate consortium called Osprey Acquisitions, purchased Anglian Water, a British for-profit water company. Council activists have been actively opposing this purchase by sending letters to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). In November and December, Council chapter activists converged at two public hearings held by the CPPIB in Winnipeg and London to oppose the purchase of Anglian Water, also known as AWG Plc. The Council of Canadians is now calling for the CPPIB’s divestment of Anglian Water.

Canada’s first private ER

On November 30, the Council posted an Action Alert opposing the opening of Canada’s first private emergency room in Vancouver. Within 48 hours, people had sent 480 letters to B.C. Health Minister George Abbott and federal Health Minister Tony Clement opposing this clinic. As a result of public pressure and government intervention, the False Creek Urgent Care Centre has agreed to drop its plan to charge patient fees for now.

Victory on the Great Lakes!

Council activists were elated in January to learn that the U.S. Coast Guard had surrendered to a barrage of complaints and dropped plans to create 34 live-fire training zones on the Great Lakes.

When the news broke on September 28 that the U.S. Coast Guard was planning to fire up to 430,000 bullets each year into the Great Lakes, the Council of Canadians mounted a campaign with action alerts, updates and a web link to the U.S. Coast Guard website. More than 950 people submitted their comments through the Coast Guard’s website, most of them critical of the plan.

Over a three-month period, the opposition to the U.S. Coast Guard’s plan continued to grow. It eventually included the Government of Canada (no small victory), 80 mayors from Great Lakes cities, key U.S. environmental groups, and many local grassroots groups in the U.S.

Congratulations to all of the chapter activists who took part in this 12-week campaign. This is indeed an important victory for the Great Lakes!

Opposing Wal-Mart in Guelph

Our Guelph chapter activists have been engaged in a protracted fight against Wal-Mart’s plan to build a store in their southern Ontario community. On May 5, 2004, we mourned the death of Guelph chapter activist Griff Morgan, who passed away just after giving a passionate speech against Wal-Mart at a public event. Since then, Griff ’s wife Vi and the Guelph chapter have continued to oppose Wal-Mart. Sadly, on November 8, 2006, Wal-Mart opened its store in Guelph. By early December they began seeking re-zoning permission from the city to expand their current store space by 65,000 square feet.

Fighting oil sands expansion

CBC News reported in January that U.S. and Canadian officials met for a two-day oil summit in Houston in January 2006 and made plans for a “fivefold expansion” of the Athabasca tar sands within a “short time span.” The Council of Canadians sent out an Action Alert, urging people to write to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, demanding that a moratorium be placed on oil sands development, until a full environmental and social assessment can be done. At press time, people have sent over 300 letters opposing the expansion of the oil sands and calling for a better energy security strategy for Canada.

Opposing the Digby Neck quarry

Our Annapolis Valley chapter in Nova Scotia continues to express opposition to the proposed Whites Point Quarry and marine terminal near Digby Neck, a narrow peninsula that juts into the ecologically sensitive Bay of Fundy. The proposed 300-acre quarry would mine two million tonnes of basalt aggregate every year for the next 50 years, and then the basalt aggregate would be shipped from a proposed deep-water marine terminal to New Jersey for road building, with predictable negative results for the environment, tourism and lobster fisheries. To support this fight go to www.savedigbyneck.org.

Notable chapter activists

We want to extend our congratulations to Eunice Parker of the Coquitlam/ Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, BC chapter for receiving the Labour Community Service Award from the New Westminster and District Labour Council, Frank Fohr of the Niagara, Ontario chapter for his Citizen of the Year Award for Niagara Falls and region, and Betty McWhinnie of the Whistler, BC chapter for being named Whistler Citizen of the Year.

Click here to learn more about or to join a chapter of The Council of Canadians.

Brent Patterson is the Director of Organizing at The Council of Canadians.

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