Well, the snow is finally flying in most of Canada, and the Council of Canadians’ staff is hard at work, planning a big teach-in for March 30-April 1st in Ottawa called Integrate This! Challenging the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America. We’ve booked the dates, we have a space, and now it’s time to think about how you’re going to get to Ottawa for an exciting weekend jam-packed with workshops, panel discussions, and other special surprises, including musical guests.
The media is reporting that the next Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America Summit will likely take place from June 26-30 in Kananaskis, Alberta. It’s time to start organizing opposition to this meeting between Stephen Harper, George Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderón. The Integrate This! teach-in will provide a great opportunity to brainstorm ways to protest against the SPP and raise awareness about deep integration in your community.
To receive updates as our plans progress, click here.
Meanwhile, here’s what’s new at the Council of Canadians:
Victory! U.S. Coast Guard abandons plan for live-fire zones on the Great Lakes
When the Chicago Tribune reported that, “surrendering to a barrage of complaints, the U.S. Coast Guard …dropped plans to conduct routine target practice with boat-mounted machine guns in 34 areas throughout the lakes,” Council activists let out a cheer. Another victory for citizen action!
When the news broke on September 28 that the U.S. Coast Guard was planning to establish these permanent live-fire training zones on 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 Lake cities, key U.S. environmental groups, and many local grassroots groups in the U.S.
Congratulations to everyone who took part in this 12-week campaign. This is indeed an important victory for the Great Lakes! Click here to read more about it.
Close energy ties to U.S. limit action on climate change
Snowstorms in Victoria, a balmy December in Ottawa … if this isn’t proof that climate change is here to stay, then what is? But what’s really hampering Canada from meeting its Kyoto targets? In a recent opinion piece published in the Calgary Herald, Maude Barlow argues that, “ironically, it is the Harper government's emphasis on Canada-U.S. relations that is at the heart of Canada's failure to meet Kyoto targets. Kyoto or no Kyoto, Canada cannot commit to an effective strategy to address climate change unless our government is willing to substantially change our relationship with the U.S.”
Click here to read about how Canada signed away energy security under NAFTA, and why further integration with the U.S. will only make matters worse.
Opposition to TILMA growing
Since we told you about the Alberta-B.C. Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) last month, opposition to the deal has been mounting. Briarpatch Magazine ran an excellent analysis of TILMA last month, written by Ellen Gould, and the National Union of Public and General Employees published a report calling for “full public debate and consultation on the wide-ranging deal before it goes into effect.”
Click here to find out how to take action on TILMA.
Council team heads to Nairobi for the World Social Forum
The Council of Canadians’ Blue Planet Project will be sending a delegation to Nairobi, Kenya, for the World Social Forum from January 20-25. National Chairperson Maude Barlow, along with other Board and staff members, will be working to help coordinate an African Water Network. They will also participate in meetings and workshops that explore the right to water, alternatives to privatization, and the problems associated with pre-paid water meters. The Council will be joining with activists from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, to stand up for water as a right, not a commodity to be sold for profit.
To learn more about the Blue Planet Project, click here.
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Founded in 1985 by a handful of citizens including Farley Mowat and Pierre Berton, the Council of Canadians is Canada’s pre-eminent public watchdog organization. The Council receives no money from government, corporations or any political party. To preserve our complete independence, we ensure that almost all our revenue comes from generous individuals like you. Join the Council today, and help us prove that a better Canada is possible.
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