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Celebrating 30 Years of Acting for Social Justice, Canadian

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Celebrating 30 Years of Acting for Social Justice, Canadian On the Road with Maude Barlow Celebrating 30 Years of Acting for Social Justice In 1985, with a Mulroney government Ronald Reagan’s visit to Ottawa. The Pro- 1994 Maude Barlow writes a letter to that had declared Canada “open for busi- Canada Network (later the Action Canada the Council’s membership asking for ness” and the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Network) is created and its members march their advice: “We have lost twice now Agreement looming, the Council of down to Parliament Hill and post the (the passage of the FTA and NAFTA), and Canadians formed to give Canadians Canada Summit Declaration on the front perhaps it is time to accept defeat and a voice. As corporations grew in power, door of Centre Block. move on.” The response is overwhelm- and governments – federal and provin- ing – members declare that the Council cial – focused more on the interests of 1988 Newly elected Council of Canadians is needed now more than ever. With big business and resource extractions, Chairperson Maude Barlow, along with the federal government poised to grant the Council of Canadians found creative Canadian Auto Workers President Bob White, Monsanto the right to market bovine ways to highlight social, economic and debate free trade with Alberta Premier Peter growth hormone (BGH) in Canada, the environmental injustices. Over the past Lougheed and corporate lobbyist Tom d’Aqui- Council builds a strong national coali- 30 years we have been a part of many no on national television. While Lougheed tion, organizes a campaign, and in 1998 creative and inspiring actions and, most and d’Aquino speak in generalities, White wins a moratorium against the introduc- importantly, we have been supported by and Barlow focus on the technicalities and tion of BGH in Canada. people who truly believe a better Canada the destructive nature of the agreement. – and a better world – is possible. 1996 The Council holds a demonstra- 1991 The Council, along with Friends of tion outside the finance ministers’ meet- Here are some highlights: Canadian Broadcasting and the Canadian ing in Ottawa to protest planned cuts to 1985 On March 11, the Council of Union of Public Employees, forms a coalition the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). Council Canadians is founded by publisher, author called “100 Days of Action” to try to stop members present Finance Minister Paul and political activist Mel Hurtig with the drastic cuts to the CBC. More than 1,000 Martin and his provincial counterparts with goals of “a new and better Canada with employees and 11 regional production cen- 100,000 petitions against the cuts. The more and better jobs for Canadians, a tres were to be cut in the 1991 federal bud- government of British Columbia agrees and higher standard of living for Canadians, get. The public outcry forces the government blocks Martin’s plans to cut the CPP. and a sovereign Canada that plays an to back off on some of the planned cuts. important role among the world commu- 1998 A new global investment treaty of nity of nations.” In August, the Council 1992 The Council takes over the signing unprecedented power sets off a firestorm makes a bold statement by renting a plane ceremony for the new North American Free of protest, much of it led by the Council. and dropping a Canadian flag on the bow Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Activists hold up When negotiations for the Multilateral of an American icebreaker after it entered an American flag behind Prime Minister Brian Agreement on Investment (MAI) break Canadian waters without permission. Mulroney in a photo that is flashed around down, the Council launches a coast-to- the world. Maude Barlow yells to Mulroney, coast inquiry into what values and policies 1987 The Council organizes a “Canada “You promised to protect basic democracy. Canadians want their government to put Summit” to coincide with U.S. President You have failed to keep your promise.” forward in international negotiations. www.canadians.org Canadian Perspectives Spring 2015 5 With four of Canada’s biggest banks set The Council launches its Citizens’ Inquiry and clean drinking water and sanitation.” to merge, and with the loss of thousands on Canada-U.S. Relations to counter an all- The resolution, presented by the Bolivian of jobs and the closure of hundreds out push by the business elite of Canada government, has 122 countries vote in of local branches at stake, the Council to promote deep integration with the its favour, while 41 countries – including launches a well-publicized cross-country United States. Deep integration includes a Canada – abstain. campaign to convince Finance Minister common market and border, a guaranteed Paul Martin to reject the merger plans. and uninterrupted supply of energy to the 2011 The Council fights to protect healthy By December, Martin rules against the U.S., and participation in George W. Bush’s lakes and rivers from “Schedule 2,” a legal mergers. The International Monetary defence and “security” initiatives. loophole that allows mining companies Fund has said recently that stopping dump toxic waste into a body of water these bank mergers helped Canada 2005 The Council comes full circle and and permanently destroy it. decades later during the most recent renews its fight for Canadian sovereignty economic downturn. and democracy by focusing its energies 2012 The Council supports a Federal opposing the threat of deeper econom- Court legal challenge by eight Canadians 1999 With international partners, the ic integration with the United States. to overturn 2011 federal election results Council launches a national education We centre our fight on the Security and in six ridings following the “robocall” and action campaign to confront the Prosperity Partnership of North America scandal, which saw misleading phone calls “Millennium Round” negotiations of the (SPP), signed this year between Canada, directing some voters to the wrong polling World Trade Organization (WTO). The out- the United States and Mexico, and ques- station address. break of democracy on the streets during tion why the expansive deal never makes the “Battle in Seattle” leads to the com- it to Parliament for public debate. 2013 Through “Common Causes” the plete collapse of the WTO talks. Council joins with other groups to support 2007 Thousands of people converge in First Nations’ Idle No More movement in 2000 The Council challenges attempts by Montebello, Quebec, to protest the SPP protest against federal government omni- the world’s biggest water corporations to as Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets bus budget bills that gut key parts of privatize the planet’s fresh water. In the behind cl osed doors with U.S. President Canada’s environmental legislation. process, a new international network of George Bush and Mexican President Felipe activists is formed composed of people Calderón. A teach-in organized by the In May, a Federal Court judge rules that committed to promoting universal recog- Council draws more than 1,500 people election fraud occurred in the 2011 federal nition of water as a fundamental human from across Canada and around the world. election and the most likely source of the right and to halting efforts by corporations fraud was the Conservative party’s database. to control and commodify it. 2008 Along with First Nations communi- ties, the Council raises awareness about 2014 The Council of Canadians galvanizes 2001 The Council works as part of a the devastating impacts of the Alberta- communities that would be impacted by the broad-based movement to counter the and Saskatchewan-based tar sands. Energy East pipeline project, which would Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Witnessing the destruction of massive convert a natural gas pipeline – parts of negotiations in Quebec City. The result is areas of ravaged earth and vast amounts which are up to 40 years old – to carry crude one of the biggest demonstrations ever of water turned into toxic tailing ponds oil from Saskatchewan to Ontario, connect- held in Canada. Committed activists with first-hand, Maude Barlow calls the tar ing it with new pipeline through Quebec thoughtful alternatives to free trade are sands “Canada’s Mordor,” referring to and on to Saint John, New Brunswick. If met by tear gas, water-cannon spray and Tolkien’s vision of a barren wasteland in approved, it would be the largest oil pipeline rubber bullets. Lord of the Rings. in North America, transporting 1.1 million barrels of oil every day. The Council contin- 2002 The Council gives the Romanow 2009 The Council celebrates two major ues to challenge massive pipeline projects Commission on the Future of Health Care victories: The secretive SPP deal is defeated that would lead to the expansion of the tar in Canada the clear message that health and plans for Site 41, a landfill proposed sands and more fracking. care must be properly funded, that it in Simcoe County, Ontario, on top of an should be expanded to include phar- aquifer containing “some of the purest 2015 This year, the Council of Canadians macare and homecare, and that it must be water in the world,” are abandoned fol- celebrates 30 years of bringing Canadians protected from international trade agree- lowing a long fight for the protection together to act for social justice. With ments. The Council holds public events in of this water source by community resi- the generous help of our supporters, 15 cities across Canada where Romanow dents, First Nations, Council supporters we maintain a strong commitment to Commission hearings are being held. and chapter activists. protecting our fresh water, strengthening public health care, fighting for fair trade 2004 Bowing to pressure from consum- 2010 After years of work to build an deals, and working for climate justice.
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