AUTUMN 2014

The Council of Canadians www.canadians.org

FORGING SOLIDARITY

ALSO INSIDE: THINK THE UNFAIR ELECTIONS ACT IS A DONE DEAL? THINK AGAIN. | 2014 SUPPORTER SURVEY FOR-PROFIT CLINIC LAWSUIT MAY TRANSFORM HEALTH CARE | TPP TALKS SHROUDED IN SECRECY Editor: Jan Malek Copy Editor: Janet Shorten Design: Amy Thompson Cover photo: Luc De Leeuw, Creative Commons licence Attribution- NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Printing: Plantagenet Printing

pg. 19 Contents Past issues of Canadian Perspectives are available at www.canadians.org.

ISSN 1188-6897 Publications Mail Agreement No. 40065620 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Canadian Perspectives pg. 9 pg. 18 The Council of Canadians 170 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 700 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5V5 Email: [email protected] 3 Letters to the Editor 18 Chapter Action Updates 4 On the Road with Maude 19-20 What Harper’s 2012 Barlow Budget Bills Are Doing to 5-6 Think the Unfair Elections Watersheds Today Act Is a Done Deal? Think 21 Energy East Pipeline Will again. Spill – It’s just a matter 2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 7-8 Forging Solidarity: of when, where and how Maude Barlow, Leticia Adair, Pam Beattie, Roy Brady, Communities and unions much Leo Broderick, John Cartwright, Robert Chernomas, Lois Frank, Andrea Furlong, Garry John, Ken Kavanagh, come together 22-23 LNG Pipedreams: Fractured Sandra Lockhart, Paul Manly, Tracey Mitchell, Moira Peters, 9-10 Turning on the Taps: The futures and community Abdul Pirani, Rick Sawa, Steven Shrybman, Heather Smith, Blue Planet Project fights resistance Fred Wilson for the right to water in 24 Standing in Solidarity with ADVISORY BOARD Detroit Indigenous Peoples Duncan Cameron, John Gray, Eric Peterson, 11-12 Growing Opposition in 25 TPP Talks Shrouded in Abraham Rotstein, Mel Watkins, Lois Wilson Europe Could Still Derail Secrecy EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CETA 26 Door-to-Door Democracy: Garry Neil 13-14 For-Profit Clinic Lawsuit Sinking the Harper agenda STAFF May Transform Health Care with grassroots power Meena Agarwal, Mohamed Amano, Tori Ball, 15-16 2014 Supporter Survey 27 Chapter Contacts Dave Bergeron, Elizabeth Berman, Hélène Bertrand, Michael Butler, Mark Calzavara, Daniella Carpio, 17 Chapter Activist Profile Dana Chapeskie, Philippe Charbonneau, Kathie Cloutier, Elma Parker, Leila Darwish, Brigette DePape, Roger Desjardins, Northumberland, Ontario Sujata Dey, Chris Gallaway, Angela Giles, Harjap Grewal, Andrea Harden-Donahue, Scott Harris, Amyn Hyder Ali, Donna James, Karen Jordon, Meera Karunananthan, The Council of Canadians believes that political literacy is crucial to regaining control of our Jamian Logue, Aleah Loney, Emma Lui, Jan Malek, communities and our country. We encourage you to copy articles from Canadian Perspectives – Ailish Morgan-Welden, Jeannette Muhongayire, most conveniently fit on one or two pages. If you would like to reprint articles, or if you would Brent Patterson, Dylan Penner, Matthew Ramsden, like to distribute Canadian Perspectives in your community, please contact us at 1-800-387-7177. Carl Stewart, Brant Thompson, Pamela Woolridge

2 Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2014 The Council of Canadians | www.canadians.org Letters to the Editor

Cyclists on the Energy East Resistance Ride made a stop in Halifax in June. The group was cycling the pro- posed path of the Energy East pipeline to raise awareness and challenge the drive for fossil fuels. Ball Tori

WHERE IS THE PLAN? WHY CANADIANS WON’T 6. Attack ads. These negative ads might Does the oil and gas industry really need BOTHER VOTING work for the traditional political parties to to be subsidized in this day and age, given It is disappointing to know that during gain temporary results, but they do not their extreme profitability? Might these the next federal election approximately 10 serve democracy well. subsidies be better shifted to the develop- million of us will not vote. But why is that? Yes, I confess, while waiting for real ment of renewable sources of energy in I suggest there are six reasons that might change, I will vote regardless. I guess I am order to accelerate their development? an optimist after all. Should our continuing dependence on explain this popular inertia. fossil fuels not be actively discouraged 1. The lack of respect and civility in the Raymond Cusson by making its generation and use more House of Commons and provincial legis- Shoal Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador costly by putting a price on it instead of latures that people witness through televi- subsidizing it? THANK YOU sion and the media. What would the citizens of Canada do if In addition to all of the above questions, 2. The lack of fairness. Canadians believe they did not have the Council of Canadians where is our government’s comprehensive that due to a lack of electoral reform, their to take care of their rights? Thank you, climate change plan? Does it even have one? votes will result in no representation in Council, for everything you do! The urgency for this is growing, and more Parliament and that their elected officials Shaheen Junaid and more Canadians are becoming alarmed have no real appetite to change the rules Montreal, Quebec about what is happening to our planet and once elected. How can one explain that therefore to our country. Canada must this last federal government was elected GREAT ISSUE become a world leader, a country that is with only 38 per cent of the votes and that I just got my very first copy of Canadian prepared to take bold initiatives and set the rest of the voters will find themselves Perspectives Spring 2014. Wow! It’s full examples for others. We have done so in with no voice in the House of Commons? of very important (good and bad) news that we otherwise might not know, or not the past in many areas – and we are fully 3. Lack of capacity to solve serious prob- know in full detail. I just read it cover-to- capable of doing so again. lems. While public awareness and con- cover in my first sitting. Joy Silver cerns have mounted about global prob- Coquitlam, B.C. lems such as greenhouse gas emissions, Helen Hansen the depletion of tropical forests and other Guelph, Ontario MEANINGFUL, species-rich habitats, so has the convic- NOT MANDATORY tion that governments are failing to solve SEND US YOUR LETTERS! Re. “Time to legislate voting?” letter to the them. If you have something to say about editor in the Spring 2014 issue of Canadian 4. The lack of trust and accountability. an article you have read in Canadian Perspectives. People have lost respect for government Perspectives, or an issue you think Instead of mandatory voting, why not try in general and don’t believe politicians are would interest our readers, please write meaningful voting where a voter’s vote honest, which leads people to question to us. We reserve the right to edit your counts in a meaningful way whether or government’s capacity to manage pro- letter for clarity and length. Letters not the voter votes for the winner of their grams effectively. must include your full name, address riding? With an effective voting system 5. Lack of team-building to solve problems. and phone number. like Preferential Ridings Proportional (PRP), The refusal of the political parties to form all votes could count and Canada could SEND YOUR LETTER TO: majority-based coalition government(s), Canadian Perspectives become a truly representative democra- thus strategic alliances, to solve real cy. False majority governments would not The Council of Canadians problems (health, environment, climate 170 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 700 happen, but real majority governments change, education, employment) indicates could. Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5V5 our incapacity to engage in team-building Email: [email protected], Dave Brekke for the benefit of the people. Attention: Editor, Canadian Perspectives Yukon www.canadians.org | The Council of Canadians Autumn 2014 Canadian Perspectives 3 Council of Canadians sup- porters and staff take to the streets during the Peoples’ Social Forum in Ottawa On the Road with Maude Barlow

Dear friends,

As summer comes to a close a busy fall and literary festival and a keynote to the care for all and a renewed role for the winter season beckons. Much as I have PSAC-affiliated Union of Canadian federal government. We are opposing spent time with friends and family this Transportation Employees Triennial mega pipelines, the expansion of the summer, it has also been busy on the work Convention in Vancouver. August in tar sands and fracking, while promot- front! I travelled to Haliburton Highlands in Ottawa provided the perfect backdrop ing an alternative energy future for the Ontario to support Environment Haliburton for the highly successful People’s Social country and planet. We are working in its quest to protect the precious waters Forum, which the Council helped orga- to protect the Great Lakes as a public of this region. nize. At the end of the month, I attend- trust while fighting for water justice ed our alternative forum at the First at home and internationally. We are In June, I oversaw the creation of the first Ministers’ meeting in Charlottetown, exposing the Harper government’s anti- Blue Community in South America. The where we took the message to the democratic moves such as election fraud gorgeous town of Cambuquira, Brazil, premiers to fight for public health care and the new legislation that would make is trying to protect its precious mineral in the face of the Harper government’s it even harder to expose such fraud in water heritage from being taken over by retreat from medicare. the future. Nestlé. Nearby São Lourenço was once a tourist destination famous for its min- Our September gathering of interna- Sometimes it can get frustrating, as we eral waters and waterpark, but Nestlé has tional water activists in Toronto was a seem to be fighting on all fronts at once. taken up so much of this precious water huge success and helped us plan our But then I stop and ask myself, what for bottled water exports the streams and water justice work for the next several would this country look like if it were fountains have been badly compromised. years. And I went on a four-city tour of not for the Council of Canadians and the Germany to promote the publication of many other activist groups and communi- In July, I joined the Council’s Windsor my book Blue Future in German. ties who stand up and say “no!” to this chapter in a convoy that brought 1,000 government’s policies? litres of clean public water to the inner Coming up are round two of the health city residents of Detroit whose water has care tour with CUPE’s Paul Moist, and the And that brings me to thanking you, our been brutally turned off in anticipation Atlantic arm of our Energy East tour. wonderful supporters. None of this would of the privatization of its water services. be possible without your belief in this work I had visited the city in May and helped And our annual general meeting, which and your faith in the Council. For this sup- devise a plan with the Detroit Peoples’ will be held in Hamilton October 3-5, will port, I thank you from the bottom of my Water Board to report these abuses to the celebrate our solidarity with unions and (busy) heart! United Nations as a violation of the human the need to collectively work together to right to water and sanitation, an act that defeat the Harper government and replace brought a lot of sudden media interest in it with a government not hostile to its own the U.S. and other countries. citizens. I hope to see many of you there! So as you see, we are busier than ever. July also saw a visit to the lovely Denman We are fighting bad trade deals like TPP Maude Barlow is the National Chairperson of the Island in British Columbia for its annual and CETA and promoting public health Council of Canadians.

4 Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2014 The Council of Canadians | www.canadians.org People across the country joined rallies to oppose the “Unfair” Elections Act this Think the Unfair past spring. While changes have been made to the bill, Elections Act Is a several key parts remain undemocratic. Done Deal? Think again.

The federal Conservatives’ so- As a result of the political pressure, called “Fair” Elections Act passed the government amended the bill to a final vote and became law this remove some of the worst elements. past June, but the fight to stop it This was a major achievement. How- isn’t over. The Council of Canadians ever, there are still problems with the and the Canadian Federation of legislation. If they are not overturned, by Dylan Penner Students (CFS) have joined forces to the next federal election will be signifi- launch a legal challenge under the cantly less democratic. Charter of Rights and Freedoms, seeking to have key provisions in The legal challenge will target central the law struck down before the provisions of the act: the prohibition next federal election. of the use of a Voter Information Card to prove residency (which would disen- Why a Charter challenge? franchise thousands of voters), and the The Council of Canadians, along with muzzling of the Chief Electoral Offi- many organizations and individuals, cer (including restrictions on educating campaigned against the “Fair” Elec- and engaging voters about the electoral tions Act in the House of Commons, in process, and the ability to notify the the Senate, and in the streets. public about suspected election fraud). www.canadians.org | The Council of Canadians Autumn 2014 Canadian Perspectives 5 We will argue both of these “reforms” a major reason the campaign of voter infringe on the constitutional right to fraud came to light. vote guaranteed under Section 3 of the “Every Charter and would be impossible for The new law also makes it easier to the government to justify as a reason- get away with election fraud in the citizen of able limit on that fundamental demo- future. The “Fair” Elections Act muzzles cratic right. the Chief Electoral Officer, preventing Canada has that officer from notifying voters about Legalizing voter suppression instances of fraud in future elections. the right to By banning the use of Voter Informa- tion Cards, the “Fair” Elections Act While of the Commissioner of Elec- vote...” has the potential to disenfranchise tions’ investigation report into the thousands of voters who may not 2011 election fraud has been used by Nine simple words in the Charter have identification that proves their the Harper government to claim there of Rights and Freedoms lay the residency, including post-secondary was no campaign of voter suppression, foundation of Canada’s democ- students, Indigenous people, seniors the report is fatally flawed, according racy. And this constitutional right and others. to an analysis prepared by lawyer and that we’re all guaranteed must Council of Canadians Board member be upheld with laws and institu- The Chief Electoral Officer’s ability to Steven Shrybman. tions that vigorously protect it. educate the public about democracy and voting is restricted by the law and What’s at stake? That’s why on the very day the Elections Canada will be prevented from The right to vote in free and fair elec- “Fair” Elections Act became law, providing civic education programs for tions is arguably our most fundamen- the Council of Canadians and the young people between the ages of 18 tal democratic right. The new election Canadian Federation of Students and 35. In an era of dwindling voter law severely diminishes that right. announced we are filing a Charter turnout, engaging citizens in the elec- challenge to strike down key sec- toral process is vitally important. If we succeed in the Charter challenge, tions in court. we will protect the right to vote of thou- These contentious elements of the act sands and undermine Prime Minister We’re preparing potent evidence not only undermine people’s demo- Stephen Harper’s attempt to rig the that the Harper Conservatives’ cratic rights, they stack the deck in result of the next federal election in his electoral reforms undermine the favour of the Conservative govern- party’s favour. Charter and our right to vote. ment. Students, Indigenous people and others who will be disenfran- Both the Liberals and the NDP have We need to act quickly to ensure chised are also far less likely to vote committed to repealing the law if these anti-democratic rules won’t for the Conservative Party. they form government after the next be in effect for the 2015 feder- election. But if the “Fair” Elections al election and stack the deck in Nothing to prevent election Act goes unchallenged, there is a real favour of the Harper Conservatives. fraud possibility that the next federal elec- The act also fails to address the wide- tion could be marred by decreased Thousands of people have added spread election fraud that occurred in voter turnout and clandestine elec- their voice and their support to the last federal election, which was tion fraud. this important legal challenge. the original reason Parliament called Add your voice too, by making a for changes that would make elec- We can’t let that happen. donation online today at www. tions fairer. canadians.org/election or by mail- Everyone has the right to vote. And we ing it to: The Federal Court ruling from the 2011 have a responsibility to defend that election fraud legal challenge con- right. That’s why we need your sup- The Council of Canadians cluded that there was a widespread port to ensure we can make the stron- 700-170 Laurier Ave. West campaign of calls misdirecting voters gest case possible to defeat this affront Ottawa, Ontario – not just in the riding of Guelph but to democracy. K1P 5V5 in many others – that it was targeted at non-Conservative voters, and that To learn more visit our website at www. Together, we can sustain effective the most likely source of the data used canadians.org/election. people-powered action to protect to make the fraudulent calls was the Canada’s democracy and demand Conservatives’ CIMS database. Reports Dylan Penner is the Democracy Campaigner for the truly fair elections. from Elections Canada in 2011-12 were Council of Canadians.

6 Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2014 The Council of Canadians | www.canadians.org Forging Solidarity: Communities and unions come together by Elizabeth Berman

Above: Council of Canadians “Solidarity Forever” will celebrate One group of hard workers that are National Chairperson Maude its 100th birthday next year. The tra- essential to forge solidarity with are Barlow joined union and First Nation representa- ditional labour union anthem never labour unions. Unions have long been tives in September 2011 to seems to go out of fashion, sung leaders when it comes to effecting cross a police line and face loudly and proudly on picket lines positive social change. But in recent arrest. Hundreds of people joined the action to show and at political protests. years they’ve been criticized both for their opposition to the envi- being self-interested and for getting ronmentally destructive tar But actual solidarity – “unity or involved in issues beyond collective sands and pipeline projects. agreement of feeling or action, bargaining. especially among individuals with a common interest,” according to “There’s this notion that unions are just the Canadian Oxford Dictionary – out for themselves and not for society,” doesn’t just happen. Like anything Ken Georgetti, former president of the worth having, it requires hard work Canadian Labour Congress, told the to achieve and sustain. Globe and Mail. “You get that label hung www.canadians.org | The Council of Canadians Autumn 2014 Canadian Perspectives 7 on you, and you have to work to get ference. It will bring together activists mental organizations in the country, rid of it.” of all kinds, including labour activists, including the Council of Canadians. to focus on the importance of working The network’s vision statement articu- Meanwhile unions are under attack for together and on how we can all learn lates: “We believe the time has come exceeding their mandates to represent from successful collaborative campaigns. to chart a new model and direction for their members. Bill C-377, a federal pri- Canada’s economy. This country can vate member’s bill backed by the Con- One example of a successful collabora- no longer afford an economic model servative government, would require tion is the ongoing campaign to save that treats the natural environment and even the smallest union locals to dis- public health care. As the federal gov- human beings as disposable goods.” close extremely detailed financial infor- ernment abdicates its role as a partner mation. While the purported reason is in medicare, reducing its share of fund- These groups have found common to increase transparency, in actuality ing and refusing to meet with the prov- cause in that both the environment and union opponents are looking for ammu- inces to review and improve national workers are being treated as disposable nition with which to accuse unions of standards, a movement is underway to goods under our current economic misspending their members’ dues. build awareness and public support for model. The debate about jobs versus a much stronger federal role. Activists the environment is a false dichotomy, As John Walkom wrote in the Toronto are going door-to-door in key ridings to and the groups have committed to Star about testimony before a parlia- talk to their neighbours about the need working together to advocate for sus- mentary committee studying C-377: for federal involvement and to ensure tainable solutions that create good jobs “The organization REAL Women, for that health care is a ballot box issue in while protecting our natural heritage. instance, told MPs that unions use their the next federal election. money improperly to support ‘left- Groups and union members came wing causes’ such as abortion, femi- “The Council of Canadians, the Cana- together in September 2011 in a nism, homosexuality, Quebec separat- dian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), strong showing of solidarity against ism and Palestinians.” provincial health coalitions, and nation- the Keystone pipeline project, which al and provincial allies have been would have led to further expan- So unions have to maintain a delicate working together on a campaign that sion of the environmentally destruc- balance: focus on the needs of their educates health care advocates on the tive tar sands. Greenpeace, the Indig- members while also working towards federal government’s move away from enous Environmental Network, the broader societal change. For many, that public health care,” wrote Adrienne Sil- Polaris Institute, the former Com- means working closely with civil soci- nicki, the Council’s then health care munications, Energy and Paperwork- ety organizations. campaigner, in her blog. “It trains those ers Union (now Unifor) which rep- advocates on how to canvass and coor- resented tar sands workers, and the “The key is to push back together,” dinates canvassing across the ridings.” Council of Canadians organized a said Larry Hubich, President of the Sas- massive demonstration where group katchewan Federation of Labour, in his A partnership between CUPE, a union and union leaders and hundreds of keynote address at the Council of Cana- representing public health care work- others joined hands, crossed a police dians’ 2013 annual conference. “If we’re ers, and the Council, a social justice line, and were arrested while showing only pushing back in our own individu- organization committed to protecting, their opposition to this project. al silos, then we become marginalized.” expanding and strengthening public health care, might seem like a natu- Solidarity, though difficult to achieve, But how does a union representing tar ral alliance. We’ve also worked with is well worth the effort. Through our sands workers collaborate with envi- CUPE on many other issues over the collective power, we can take on those ronmental organizations? How does a years, including the Blue Communities who would prefer our society to be building trades union work with com- Project to ensure that municipal water unequal and unjust, and create the munity groups opposing a megaproject services stay in public hands and to kind of future we want for our children. that would create hundreds of con- expose the Canada–European Union struction jobs? Comprehensive Economic and Trade “I truly believe that we will only defeat Agreement’s threat to public services. the Harper agenda if we work together “Principled people and organizations can and support one another’s issues and sometimes differ on certain issues – I call But what about trickier issues, like campaigns,” says Maude Barlow. them sticky issues,” says Maude Barlow. the endless jobs-versus-the-environ- “We need to respect those differences while ment debate? May “Solidarity Forever” be sung for focusing on what we have in common.” hundreds more years to come. Enter the Green Economy Network. “Forging solidarity” is the theme of this It counts among its members almost Elizabeth Berman is the Director of Communications year’s Council of Canadians’ annual con- all of the leading labour and environ- for the Council of Canadians.

8 Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2014 The Council of Canadians | www.canadians.org Jeffrey Wang

A convoy of Canadians, includ- ing Maude Barlow (centre), Turning on the Taps: The National Water Campaigner Emma Lui, and members of Blue Planet Project fights the Council’s Windsor chapter brought 1,000 litres of drinking water to Detroit in an act of for the right to water in solidarity with the thousands of people who have had their Detroit water shut off. Imagine not being able to turn on Most of these families simply can’t founder and National Chairperson of your tap for water to drink, to wash afford the rising costs. the Council of Canadians. “Water is a dishes, do laundry, take a shower or human right, and it is unacceptable brush your teeth in your own home. The Council’s Blue Planet Project joined in a country of plenty, surrounded by You turn the handle on the faucet, with the Detroit People’s Water Board to the Great Lakes, the largest source of but nothing comes out – your taps send a submission to the United Nation’s fresh water in the world, that people are dry and empty. Special Rapporteur on the Human Right should go without.” to Water and Sanitation outlining the Thousands of people in Detroit, Mich- water crisis in Detroit and pointing out A crumbling city igan, living next to the largest group the fact that thousands of people are In Detroit, decades of policies have put of freshwater lakes in the world, being denied access to water because corporate business and profit ahead have been without water for months they are unable to pay their water bills. of the public good and human rights. as the city’s Water and Sewerage Social programs and investments in Department implements its crack- “This situation highlights the deep essential infrastructure have been down on residential account holders social injustice in Detroit,” says slashed. According to the Detroit News, with unpaid water bills. Maude Barlow, Blue Planet Project the City of Detroit’s water department www.canadians.org | The Council of Canadians Autumn 2014 Canadian Perspectives 9 runs a chronic deficit, like many other social inequality in access to services new ones and the next one is worse. public water infrastructure systems, within the United States. The burden The utility companies ask for a higher and needs more than $5 billion for of paying for city services has fallen to deposit and higher payment plan.” urgently needed upgrades. the residents who have stayed within the economically depressed city, most The Blue Planet Project, Food & Water With globalization and the hollowing of whom are African-American. These Watch, the Detroit People’s Water Board out of the once mighty auto industry, residents have seen water rates rise by and the Michigan Welfare Rights Orga- wealthy individuals and businesses fled 119 per cent within the last decade. nization have called on state and U.S. to the suburbs in Detroit, draining the With unemployment rates at a record government officials to take immediate city’s core of its tax base and the water high and the poverty rate at about 40 action to restore water services and department of its revenues. There are per cent, Detroit water bills are unaf- stop further cut-offs. now 1 million fewer people living in fordable to a significant portion of the Detroit than there were in the 1950s. population. And costs keep rising. This In a joint statement the groups said: summer the city agreed to an almost “This is a major crisis. When 45 Until recently, every winter hundreds nine per cent increase in water rates. per cent of water customers struggle of aging pipes spewed water from to pay their water bills, it is clear leaks where the water had not been The Michigan Welfare Rights Organi- that this is not just a problem with turned off in thousands of abandoned zation (MWRO) argues that the water delinquent payment. It’s indicative houses and boarded-up business- cut-offs to Detroit households need to of broader, systemic issues result- es. While there have been efforts to be understood within a broader context ing from decades of policies that put address this recently, it continues to be of Detroit’s appeal in the real estate profits before people.” an ongoing problem. market. With its proximity to the Great Lakes and the Canadian border, the city In July, the Windsor chapter of the Nothing off the chopping block is considered prime real estate, and is Council of Canadians raised awareness The City of Detroit declared bankrupt- available at fire sale prices. People’s about the issue by delivering 1,000 cy in the summer of 2013. A high- overdue water bills are being trans- litres of water across the Canada-U.S. priced bankruptcy lawyer was named ferred to their property taxes and peo- border. “We are doing this because as its Emergency Manager with a mandate ple are losing their homes as a result. good neighbours we need to show our to get the city back on its feet finan- Given the water department’s lack of solidarity,” said Doug Hayes from the cially by imposing a savage austerity interest in cutting costs or generating Windsor chapter. “But while these jugs regime. Nothing is off the chopping revenues by collecting on the arrears of water will help, it is not the solu- block, not even water utilities, which of business users, fixing leaking pipes, tion. We need President Obama to get are being considered for regionaliza- and cutting off services to abandoned involved and ensure human rights are tion, sale, lease, and/or a public-private homes, the organization sees the crack- restored.” partnership, and are currently subject down as a ploy to drive poor people to mediation by a federal district judge. of colour out of the city to facilitate As international awareness and pressure gentrification – what the organization continued to grow, in July the City of In March 2014, the water and sewer refers to as a “land-grab.” Detroit announced it was stepping back department announced it would begin from its aggressive plan to shut water shutting off water ser vice for 1,500 to High water costs off in the homes of tens of thousands of 3,000 customers, with bills owing more The MWRO has heard from people families for a three-week period. Soon than $150, each week. who are being charged as much as after, an announcement was made that $500 per month for water. The esti- the water department was being put According to a document obtained by mated average water bill for a family of back under Detroit City Council’s control. the Sierra Club, there are more than four is $150 to $200 per month. One 179,000 residential water accounts in MWRO volunteer said, “For thousands What is key now is for the city and Detroit. By April 30, 2014, more than of people in this city – and in the sur- other levels of government to commit 83,000 of them were past due. The rounding suburbs as well – this repre- to a just long-term solution for the average amount owed per household sents as much as 20 per cent of their people of Detroit. This will include was just over $540. Media reports over monthly income.” affordable water rates, a plan to sup- the summer said water had been shut Another MWRO volunteer explains: port lower-income citizens, and strong off in more than 17,000 homes. “Many poor people are forced to accept public funding for a democratically payment plans that they know they operated utility. Deep racial divides can’t afford just to keep their water on The case of water cut-offs in the City (or lights, gas, telephone) until the next Water is a human right and must be of Detroit speaks to the deep racial shut-off notice. They end up default- available to all. The struggle to keep the divides and intractable economic and ing on these agreements, try to set up taps flowing in Detroit continues.

10 Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2014 The Council of Canadians | www.canadians.org by Scott Harris

The Council of Canadians has used a giant Trojan horse to help raise aware- ness about the dangers of the Canada-European Union Jan Malek Jan Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Growing Opposition in Europe Could Still Derail CETA

If you believe Prime Minister Stephen But this doesn’t mean the fight European opposition Harper the Canada-European Union against CETA is over. In fact, it’s just While some opposition to CETA has Comprehensive Economic and Trade getting started. been simmering in Europe for years, Agreement (CETA) is a done deal. it was the June 2013 launch of nego- That’s the message the Conservative With negotiations finished, the ratifica- tiations between the EU and the U.S. government has been repeating ad tion process for CETA begins in both on the Transatlantic Trade and Invest- nauseam since Prime Minister Harper Canada and the EU. And while Prime ment Partnership (TTIP) that raised the travelled to Brussels last October to Minister Harper may ultimately be able stakes in Europe. announce that a “deal in principle” to use his majority to ram through on CETA had been reached. Then ratification in Canada, the reality on Widespread public concerns about came the announcement in August the other side of the Atlantic makes a TTIP, and especially the inclusion of that negotiations had concluded. quick and smooth implementation of the controversial investor-state dis- the deal in Europe much less certain. pute settlement (ISDS) process that www.canadians.org | The Council of Canadians Autumn 2014 Canadian Perspectives 11 would allow U.S. corporations to chal- pean Council, which represents the not “accept that the jurisdiction of lenge European policies and laws if EU member states. After that, it needs courts in the EU Member States is they interfere with corporate profits, to be approved by a majority of the limited by special regimes for inves- as well as chapters on regulatory har- 751-member European Parliament. tor disputes. The rule of law and the monization, have fuelled opposition principle of equality before the law to similar elements in CETA. Many To make matters even more compli- must also apply in this context.” Europeans now see CETA as a danger- cated, CETA is considered a “mixed Juncker’s comments stand in stark ous Trojan horse for TTIP and a back- agreement,” meaning that it will also contrast to the pro-ISDS stance of the door way for Canadian subsidiaries of require the ratification by the 28 outgoing Commission president José U.S.-based corporations to challenge national parliaments that make up the Manuel Barroso. EU regulations or policies even if TTIP EU. European Trade Commissioner is defeated. Karel De Gucht has indicated that he At the national level, there is also may ask the European Court of Justice increasing opposition to ISDS in a Suddenly, opposition to both TTIP for clarification about whether or not number of European countries, includ- and CETA is growing across Europe. CETA and TTIP require ratification of ing France and, perhaps most notably, Hundreds of thousands of European all 28 member states, a process that Germany. There, a controversial mul- citizens have signed petitions oppos- may further delay CETA approval. tibillion-dollar investor challenge by ing the inclusion of ISDS provisions in Swedish energy company Vattenfall EU agreements. The European Com- Even if the whole process goes over Germany’s accelerated phase-out mission, the executive body of the smoothly, the CETA ratification pro- of nuclear power following the Fuku- European Union that is responsible cess will likely take years, and some in shima disaster has shifted public and for negotiating CETA and other inter- Europe don’t expect a final ratification political opinion against ISDS. Once a national agreements, was faced with vote on CETA in the European Parlia- strong proponent of investor protec- such a public outcry that it was forced ment before 2016. tion, the German Bundestag is now to pause negotiations on the ISDS in far less likely to support any deal that TTIP while it conducted a three-month Changing European politics includes ISDS. Media reports in late public consultation. The consultation There are, however, strong indications July quoted officials stating that Ger- concluded in mid-July and received that ratification won’t go smoothly. many may even refuse to sign CETA if over 150,000 submissions from indi- it contains an ISDS clause. viduals and organizations, the most The May 2014 European Parliament ever for an EU consultation process. elections saw significant gains for Building a trans-Atlantic European parties – from both the left strategy On July 15, close to 150 Europe- and the right – that are opposed to At the time Canadian Perspectives went an organizations from 18 EU mem- some of the most controversial ele- to print, Canadians were still waiting to ber states announced the launch of ments of both CETA and TTIP. Repre- see the full agreement that the Harper a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) sentatives of a number of European government has kept under wraps for – a participatory element of the Euro- political parties that are concerned years. When we know the details, we’ll pean Union that allows citizens to about the trans-Atlantic trade deals be better able to push municipalities, propose actions or legislation to the now sit on the EU’s Committee on the provinces and other impacted sec- European Commission – to repeal the International Trade (INTA), which was tors in Canada to insist on a national negotiating mandate for TTIP and to expanded by 10 seats to a total of 41 public debate on CETA, and to oppose not conclude CETA. In order for it to members after the election due to ratification of the deal. succeed, more than one million signa- increased interest in the new trade tures must be collected and country- deals. The new INTA Chair Bernd But we’ll also be continuing the fight specific quorums must be reached in Lange has stated he will not vote in in Europe. With European resistance at least seven EU member states. More favour of TTIP if it includes ISDS, and to ISDS growing by the day, we’ll information about the initiative can be Vice-Chair Yannick Jadot has gone so continue to work with our European found at www.stop-ttip.org. far as to call the negotiations “illegal” allies to ensure that European citizens because members of the European and parliamentarians understand that The EU ratification process Parliament have not been sufficiently the only way to truly stop destructive With the text of CETA finalized the informed during negotiations. investor-state provisions in TTIP is to “legal scrubbing” process – which can also keep them out of CETA. In the take six or more months – is under- Jean-Claude Juncker, the newly elect- end, it may be enough to stop CETA in way. The initialled agreement then ed President of the European Com- its tracks. needs to be translated into all 24 mission, has also expressed con- official languages of the EU. It then cerns about the inclusion of ISDS in Scott Harris is the Trade Campaigner for the Council requires the approval of the Euro- European deals, stating that he will of Canadians.

12 Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2014 The Council of Canadians | www.canadians.org The Council of Canadians and members of the BC Health Coalition drew attention to Dr. Brian Day’s private health care clinic, the Cambie Surgery Centre, in 2007. The Council is support- ing the legal case against Dr. Day’s push for more private health care. Jan Malek Jan

For-Profit Clinic Lawsuit May Transform Health Care “Hard to overstate” impact of Brian Day’s extra- billing challenge, doctors say by Andrew MacLeod

A court case scheduled to start in es are based on need rather than ability paedic, eye and dental, with fees rang- September in British Columbia could to pay, she said. ing in the neighbourhood of $15,000. have severe consequences for public The audit found nearly $500,000 in health care in Canada, warn those With a few exceptions, the province’s extra billing, and $66,000 in double speaking on behalf of two interven- Medicare Protection Act prohibits doc- billing within a 30-day period. ers in the case. tors and other care providers from charg- ing patients directly for services that are Day responded to the audit and the MSC’s “It’s hard to overstate the importance insured through the public system. The steps to stop extra billing at his clinic by of this court case,” said Vanessa Brcic, law says people should have “reason- launching the constitutional challenge. a family doctor in Vancouver who is able access” to care that is universal and on the board of Canadian Doctors for unimpeded by user fees or extra billing. Initially several clinics were involved, but Medicare, speaking at a public forum Day’s clinic is the only one that remains last spring at the University of Victoria. In 2012, a B.C. Medical Services Com- in the challenge; the others, he said, have mission (MSC) audit found Cambie dropped out voluntarily to make prepa- The case between Dr. Brian Day’s Cam- Surgeries Corporation and the closely rations for the case less onerous. The bie Surgery clinic and the B.C. govern- related Specialist Referral Clinic (Van- other plaintiffs are five patients. ment will test whether Canada’s run- couver) Inc. were guilty of extra billing ning a public health care system that on a “recurring basis.” Raising public awareness restricts extra billing is constitutional, In the months before the hearings Brcic said. A win for the clinics would The Cambie clinic offers a variety of began in B.C. Supreme Court, the inter- spell the end of a system where servic- surgical procedures, including ortho- veners were raising public awareness www.canadians.org | The Council of Canadians Autumn 2014 Canadian Perspectives 13 about what’s at stake, said Adam Lynes- “Nobody knows when they’re going to where it could and should do much to Ford, the Medicare Campaigner for the suddenly deteriorate,” said Day. “Twen- improve that system, she said. B.C. Health Coalition. ty-seven months for a child is too long . . . . Our opponents are going to have “We’re just funding the continuing jug- Whatever the provincial court decides, to justify the system is worth saving gernaut, and it’s really not an intel- lawyers for the interveners are expect- despite this kind of incident.” ligent way to proceed at all,” she said. ing an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, he said. The coalition is trying The court case, he said, is about wheth- Other fixes needed, says doctor to raise $550,000 to cover legal bills. er patients who are suffering on a Increasing for-profit care is not the way wait list for a medical service should to fix the public system, Brcic added. There’s strong support in Canada for be restricted from spending their own For-profit clinics will only provide care protecting the public health care sys- money to get treatment sooner. that they can profit from, and won’t tem, said Lynes-Ford. “We have public deal with anything requiring more opinion on our side.” While the stories are emotional, they complex care, she said. have to be separated out from the They will, however, be up against “emo- broader story of how growth in for- Lynes-Ford raised concerns that a pro- tional” stories from patients involved in profit care would erode the public liferation of for-profit care could lead to the case, he acknowledged. system, said Lynes-Ford. “We’ll have doctors making referrals to themselves to work at extracting those things,” he that would benefit them financially. Vancouver Sun health writer Pamela said, noting that it’s an opportunity for Brcic said paying for care puts people Fayerman summarized some of those public education on the implications of in the position of having to make major stories in a 2012 article, which quoted for-profit care. financial decisions at times when they a health ministry official who argued are under duress. that in the public system, anyone The interveners also include two who needs urgent care should not patients with chronic conditions, Glyn Provincial defence? have to wait. Townson and Thomas McGregor, who Several audience members at the Uni- argue they’ll be hurt by a shift to two- versity of Victoria event raised concerns The article included stories about two tiered care. about the provincial government’s role young people who would have had to in the case. They said the B.C. govern- wait a year or more for knee surgery “If access to necessary medical or hos- ment has, in recent years, appeared in the public system. Another was pital services may increasingly depend keen to encourage for-profit health about a 79-year-old woman with ter- on ability to pay and not medical need, care while choking the public system, minal lung cancer given two years to then I am concerned that physicians and questioned whether it would take live who didn’t want to wait a year for and other health care providers and its role defending against Dr. Day’s legal knee surgery. The fourth was about a resources now available to me in the challenge seriously. 36-year-old who got a quicker diagno- public system will be shifted to a for- sis of her colon cancer by avoiding a profit private system, to which only Health ministry spokesperson Ryan nine-month wait in the public system wealthier and healthier individuals may Jabs emailed a statement on the gov- for a colonoscopy. have access,” Townson said in his 2009 ernment’s position. “Private clinics in affidavit. “This in turn would reduce the B.C. must operate within the Medi- Teen waited 27 months physician and other health care resourc- care Protection Act,” he wrote. “The for surgery es available in the public system.” Medicare Protection Act is designed to Walid Khalfallah was also added to the preserve a publicly managed and fis- case in January 2013, Day said. A teen- For-profit clinics tend to “cherry-pick” cally sustainable health care system for ager from the Okanagan, Khalfallah people who are healthy, wealthy and British Columbia and ensures access to became paralyzed from the waist down easily treated, said Brcic. They draw medical care is based on need and not after waiting 27 months for surgery, professionals out of the public system on an individual’s ability to pay.” which he eventually received in Wash- and leave that system to deal with the ington State after his family gave up on most difficult situations, she said. The hearings were scheduled to start in the B.C. system. September and last 18 weeks. Brcic was also candid in her criticism In 2012, the B.C. Patient Care Quality of the current system, saying there Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Review Board found that the Provincial is a need for innovation. The prov- Chief in Victoria. Health Services Authority had failed ince will make its defence in the case Khalfallah, and an assistant deputy by blaming doctors for not shepherd- This article is condensed from one that origi- minister acknowledged he’d been inad- ing patients through the public system nally appeared on TheTyee.ca and is reprinted equately served. better; however, B.C. is in a position with the author’s permission.

14 Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2014 The Council of Canadians | www.canadians.org 2014 Supporter Survey

Supporters like you are the heart and soul of the Council of Canadians. Your feedback is critical to guiding important decisions on our upcoming work, and to helping us under- stand how we can serve you better. Tell us about yourself, the issues that matter most to you, and how you prefer to engage in the Council of Canadians’ work. Your answers will help us be even more effective in building the better Canada we know is possible.

Please take a few minutes to tear out this page and give us your feedback. Fill out your survey and mail it back to us in the postage-paid envelope provided in this issue of Canadian Perspectives, or visit www.canadians.org/survey to complete your survey online.

Tell us about yourself First name: Last name: Address: Postal code: How do you prefer to be addressed? Dear Birthday: day month year

Profession (note if retired): How did you first get involved with the Council? How do you prefer to get involved? My local Council chapter Write letters / sign petitions to elected leaders Media report Participate in demonstrations Attended an event Inform and engage others around me Received a mailing Donate to the Council’s work Supported an online action Other: Family member or friend

What’s your preferred way to stay informed Where do you prefer to get your news? about the Council’s work? Online My local Council chapter Community newspapers Canadian Perspectives magazine National newspapers Online: email updates, Facebook, Twitter, Radio www.canadians.org Television Campaign mailings

How often do you use the following? How can we improve our communication with you? Email – daily / weekly / monthly / never Facebook – daily / weekly / monthly / never Twitter – daily / weekly / monthly / never YouTube – daily / weekly / monthly / never Other:  www.canadians.org | The Council of Canadians Autumn 2014 Canadian Perspectives 15 What outreach strategy do you most want the Council to pursue? Newspaper ads Television ads Radio ads Online videos Other:

What would you like to see the Council do MORE?

What would you most like to see the Council do LESS?

Tell us why you choose to support the Council.

Stay connected! To receive email updates, event invitations, opportunities to help fund initiatives, and other communications from the Council of Canadians, please indicate your consent below. You can withdraw your consent at any time.

Which of the Council’s campaign areas are you Yes, I consent. most interested in? Email address: Democracy and fair elections Energy, pipelines and climate action Other comments and feedback? Health care Trade Water

The 2015 federal election is rapidly approaching. What action do you most want to see the Council take over the coming months? Develop a guide to inform voters on where the parties stand on your key issues. Launch local and national voter engagement programs. *Please note that all responses will be kept private and con- Run a series of pre-election ads to bolster voter turnout. fidential. Host all candidates debates in key ridings. Set up community watchers to monitor for voter fraud Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. The and suppression tactics. Council of Canadians values your input and support.

16 Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2014 The Council of Canadians | www.canadians.org QNorthumberland, ON Chapter Activist Profile Elma Parker Northumberland, Ontario

Elma Parker has a strong connec- later. I read a letter in the local paper extending across southern Ontario and tion to the Council of Canadians. about the Council, written by Leigh Quebec to carry huge amounts of crude She is a long-time supporter and Thomson, in which she mentioned oil from the tar sands of Alberta. one of our longest-serving chap- starting a chapter. I phoned her and ter activists. She helped start the awhile later the Northumberland chap- What challenges does Northumberland chapter 25 years ter was born. Several well-known activ- the chapter face? ago and today, with Elma’s help, ists committed their time and energy to Apathy is a common complaint of chapter the chapter is still going strong. The the chapter, and a great youth move- members. It takes everyone’s shoulder to chapter covers an area along the ment joined. Everyone had a job. The the wheel to make it work. As activists meetings were informative and enjoy- north coast of Lake Ontario and is become stronger and more informed able. Great and lasting acquaintances about problems, they take on more issues centred in the picturesque town of were made. like GMO food, trade agreements, factory Cobourg, Ontario. farming and corporate control, which is What are the most important an education in survival. When did you join the Council? local issues the chapter is I joined the Council of Canadians in 1989 working on? What has been your favourite after I was inspired by a letter from Maude Our chapter is presently supporting moment with the Council? Barlow. I’d never heard of the organiza- the Port Hope Residents for Managing My favourite moment was receiving a call tion or its author before. The letter was Waste Responsibly about their health from Maude Barlow on my 89th birthday. probably about water and the importance and environmental concerns over a pro- of our rights and needs. I thought it was posed incinerator to be built on the What advice would you important enough to send a contribution outskirts of Port Hope. The company give to people interested in to the cause. The cheque was acknowl- has no other facility of this size any- starting a new chapter? edged with a card showing I had joined where in the world, so this would be an When starting a new chapter, select local the organization, which I have renewed experiment in Northumberland. It would issues that grab attention, being careful every year since. mean importing garbage from near and to avoid burn-out. You win some and far. Our fear is that their emissions will you lose some, but you must never be How and when did the pollute the food chain and increase the discouraged. Northumber land chapter likelihood of cancer cases. get started? For more information about how to Not knowing about chapters in the area Another issue that has drawn our atten- join a chapter in your area, visit our or across Canada, I sort of forgot about tion is the aging Line 9 oil pipeline, which website at www.canadians.org or call the Council of Canadians until months runs the full length of Northumberland, us toll-free at 1-800-387-7177. www.canadians.org | The Council of Canadians Autumn 2014 Canadian Perspectives 17 Chapter Action Updates by Philippe-A Charbonneau

The Powell River chap- ter of the Council of Canadians joined with other chapters across Canada for the “Defend Our Climate Day of Action” in May.

Council of Canadians chapters have New Brunswick chapters The mine would produce 650,000 to 1.1 been active in communities across defend the forest million tonnes of highly volatile bitumi- Canada protecting water and public A “Rally for Our Forest” took place on nous coal. The life of the mine is esti- health care, defending our climate, Tuesday, May 13, at the New Brunswick mated to be about 16 or 17 years. challenging unfair trade deals and Legislature in Fredericton. It was endorsed standing up for democracy. Here are by numerous groups including the The Council of Canadians’ Comox Valley chap- a few highlights: Council’s Fredericton, Moncton and Saint ter has been actively raising concerns about John chapters. the proposed Raven Coal Mine since 2010. Defend Our Climate, Defend The rally called on the province to keep London chapter opposes dump Our Communities intact the rules that protect the forest from near Ingersoll On Saturday, May 10, Council of J.D. Irving and other forestry companies, In late June, the London chapter pro- Canadians chapter activists joined rallies saying the province needs a forest strategy tested against the Walker Environmental across Canada to speak out about cli- that respects ecological limits, builds resil- Group’s proposed Zorra landfill site near mate justice. The “Defend Our Climate, ient communities, and creates meaning- Ingersoll, which is located about 160 kilo- Defend Our Communities” rallies were ful employment. Groups also asked that metres south-west of Toronto in Ontario. part of a second national day of action woodlot owners and workers be given The 200-acre landfill would receive gar- following a successful first showing last a viable shot at making a living without bage from all over the province. The November. having to pack up for Alberta, and that proposed site is located in a mined-out Aboriginal treaties and rights be respected. portion of a quarry owned by Carmeuse People across Canada stepped up to Lime in Zorra Township on the boundary defend their communities from pipelines, Comox Valley protests Raven with Ingersoll and near the Thames River. dirty energy projects and runaway climate The landfill could contaminate drinking change at more than 60 local rallies. Coal Mine In May, the Comox Valley chapter held and groundwater. Husky withdraws its fracking a rally in downtown Courtenay to pro- test fossil fuel projects, including the If approved, the dump would operate application in the Northwest Raven Coal Mine. Many organizations, for 20 years, but it could be expanded to Territories First Nations and concerned citizens have continue to take garbage after that time. At the end of May, Husky Energy withdrew shown their opposition to Compliance Every day an estimated 100 trucks would its application to horizontally drill and frack Coal Corporation’s proposed mine project. take a total of 3,500 tons of garbage to up to four wells in the Sahtu region of the the dump. The company is also reportedly Northwest Territories. The company has The proposed coal mine would be approx- examining whether moving the garbage decided to postpone drilling for two years. imately 3,100 hectares in size with a sur- by rail to the site is a viable option. The face footprint of 200 hectares. Located community has raised concerns about This was welcome news to the Council’s about five kilometres from Baynes Sound the pollution of local drinking water, the Northwest Territories chapter, which had in the Cowie Creek and Tsable River drain- odour from the garbage, toxins and dust joined a coalition of social justice and ages, the project has prompted concerns in the air, and the number of garbage environmental organizations and people about water safety. Baynes Sound is the trucks this would put on the road. in the Sahtu Region and across the terri- narrow western off-shoot of the Strait of tory, calling for an environmental assess- Georgia that separates Vancouver Island Philippe-A Charbonneau is the Political Team ment of the fracking application. from the mainland of British Columbia. Administrative Assistant for the Council of Canadians.

18 Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2014 The Council of Canadians | www.canadians.org by Emma Lui What Harper’s 2012 Most Canadian lakes and rivers are Budget Bills Are Doing now at risk of contamination as a result of the Harper government’s gutting of key environmental leg- to Watersheds Today islation in recent omnibus budget bills.

Bills C-38 and C-45: they sound ers handling noxious chemicals by Pipelines are expanding at an unprec- innocuous, but in reality these bills eliminating the Hazardous Materials edented rate. marked the onslaught of changes Information Review Commission. The the Harper government made to Canadian Environmental Assessment At the same time, our water resources environmental legislation in 2012. Act was also replaced with a new act are dwindling. A 2010 Statistics Cana- These omni-budget bills – each that eliminated 3,000 federal environ- da report shows that renewable water more than 400 pages long – imple- mental assessments. sources in southern Canada have mented sweeping changes to envi- dwindled by 8.5 per cent between ronmental laws and removed criti- At a time when threats to water are 1971 and 2004, revealing a troubling cal safeguards for water protection. intensifying and broadening, the trend in the availability of water. Harper government is greasing the With the bills, the Harper govern- wheels for industry projects by claw- We need environmental legislation ment gutted the Fisheries Act, abdi- ing back needed safeguards for water that protects water as a commons, a cated responsibility for 99 per cent sources. Fracking, the expansion of human right and a public trust. These of lakes and rivers by overhauling tar sands oil development, and other budget bills represented not only a the Navigable Waters Protection Act, extreme energy projects threaten to troubling move to stifle democratic and threatened the safety of work- pollute our water like never before. debate on environmental policy, but www.canadians.org | The Council of Canadians Autumn 2014 Canadian Perspectives 19 also cast doubt on the government’s day – from Fort Nelson River in north- ing navigable waters was transferred ability to protect communities’ lakes eastern British Columbia. In 2012, to the National Energy Board (NEB). and rivers. the community protested Encana’s The NEB rarely rejects pipeline pro- water-takings by gathering more than posals, and a wide range of groups The crumbling of Canada’s 32,000 signatures calling on B.C. Pre- have criticized it for favouring indus- environmental legislation mier Christy Clark to stop giving away try interests over community and An Access to Information request the province’s fresh water for fracking. environmental concerns. made by the Globe and Mail revealed that the 2012 budget bill changes At the Munk School’s 2014 Water and Fuel for our fire made to the Fisheries Act were guided Hydraulic Fracturing in Canada con- While the budget bills decimated by the advice of industry associations. ference, Rob Visser, Chief Negotiator environmental protections, they also for Fort Nelson First Nation, revealed became rallying points. They were On April 11, 2014, the Harper govern- that deals were being struck with oil the spark that ignited the Idle No ment dealt the final blow to the Fisher- and gas giant Apache Corporation More movement’s demand for free, ies Act, once one of Canada’s strongest and that all lakes, rivers, the Debolt prior and informed consent of com- pieces of environmental legislation. aquifer, shallow aquifers and deep munities. They also galvanized the aquifers were “on the table.” scientific community – which was The old Fisheries Act clearly stated being muzzled by the Harper govern- that no one could deposit a deleteri- The Council of Canadian Academies, ment – to highlight the important link ous (poisonous or toxic) substance which released its report Environ- between research and democracy. We into waters inhabited by fish. Drafted mental Impacts of Shale Gas Extrac- can take inspiration in these move- behind closed doors and implement- tion in Canada in May 2014, pointed ments to fuel our own fire to build a ed without public consultation, the out, “In Canada, shale gas develop- future that recognizes the sacredness new rules strip the act of its teeth ment is occurring largely in the tradi- of water, respects human rights, and by allowing exemptions to this rule. tional territories of Aboriginal peoples puts communities before profit. The exemptions include the following who depend on the local environ- broad categories of activities: pes- ment for food and water and whose On World Water Day, the Council ticide use for fish farming, unde- culture may be particularly affect- of Canadians sent a letter to fed- fined “aquatic research,” and activi- ed.” Because of Harper’s 2012 budget eral party leaders Justin Trudeau and ties supervised by other provincial or bills, we now won’t know the impacts Thomas Mulcair asking if they would federal bodies. of water-takings by Apache or other roll back the changes the Harper gov- energy companies operating on Indig- ernment has made to environmental The new rules allow the Minister of enous lands. legislation and re-commit funds need- Fisheries and Oceans to authorize ed for water research. Both parties deposits of deleterious substances The environmental assessment for made some commitments to roll back if the “whole of the deposit is not TransCanada’s Keystone XL project at least some of the changes. acutely lethal to fish.” The regulation to construct and operate a crude oil defines “acutely lethal” as a deposit terminal and pipeline infrastructure We cannot allow the Harper govern- that kills more than 50 per cent of fish near Hardisty, Alberta, was cancelled. ment’s budget bills to be the law at 100 per cent concentration over a There were two assessments in the that governs our watersheds, undoing 96-hour period. This threshold does queue related to Enbridge’s plans to years of hard work by environmental not take into account that sometimes reverse the flow of Line 9 – one in Sar- groups, communities and committed the most damaging pollution is slow nia and one in Hamilton – that now individuals to protect them. and chronic. have been approved by the National Energy Board without a proper envi- Leading up to the 2015 federal elec- Energy projects move forward ronmental assessment. tion, we must urge political leaders without federal oversight and local candidates to commit not Since the 2012 omni-budget bills, Despite the Energy East pipeline only to rolling back Harper’s budget energy projects are being given the being the largest proposed pipeline bills, but also to creating new legisla- green light without any federal scru- project in North America, it too will tion that recognizes the importance of tiny – some are not even flagged for evade federal scrutiny. Energy East is our water – and protects it. review. One project review cancelled expected to carry 1.1 million barrels by Bill C-38 was for energy com- of oil per day from Alberta to New The future of our fresh water depends pany Encana’s request to withdraw Brunswick. However, changes made on it. 10,000,000 litres of water per day for to the former Navigable Waters Pro- fracking – roughly the same amount tection Act exempted pipelines from Emma Lui is the Water Campaigner for the Council of water used by 30,000 people in a the act. The responsibility for protect- of Canadians.

20 Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2014 The Council of Canadians | www.canadians.org Energy East Pipeline Will Spill – It’s just a matter of when, where and how much

When it comes to pipelines, it is not TransCanada is aiming for a 10-minute a matter of whether a pipeline will pipeline spill response time. With the spill, it is a matter of when, where pipeline’s total capacity at 1.1 million and how much it will spill. barrels of crude per day, Energy East would transport 1,893 litres of oil per More than 400 people attended the North Bay TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline second. This means more than 1 million stop of the Council of Canadians’ “Our Risk project would convert an aging natural litres could spill in 10 minutes. A huge – Their Reward” Energy East tour. The tour gas pipeline to carry crude oil from amount of oil remaining in the pipeline visited six Ontario communities. An Atlantic tour is planned for this fall. Saskatchewan to Ontario, connecting between valves could also leak. For it with new pipeline through Quebec example, at the Nipigon River crossing and on to Saint John, New Brunswick. of the current natural gas pipeline, there pipeline spill of more than 3.8 million litres It would be the largest oil pipeline in is a distance of 11.8 km between valve of diluted bitumen in Kalamazoo, Michi- North America, transporting 1.1 mil- stations. This means up to 11 million gan, the pipeline’s operator said it would lion barrels of oil every day. litres of additional oil could leak. remotely detect a spill in eight minutes.

Canadian pipelines have a 99.99 A pipeline system with It was 17 hours before Enbridge con- per cent safety record, right? an explosive history firmed the massive Kalamazoo spill, TransCanada claims a 99.99 per cent On January 25, 2014, a TransCanada- which has now cost more than $1 bil- pipeline safety record in Canada. The owned natural gas pipeline ruptured lion dollars to clean up. federal government also likes to promote in Otterburne, Manitoba, sending balls this figure. This is a simple play on num- of flame 300 metres high. The rupture In fact, the general public is far more bers. Of all the oil shipped in Canada by created a crater 10 feet deep, and left likely to discover a pipeline rupture pipeline, 99.99 per cent of it reaches its 4,000 natural gas customers in the than a company’s leak detection sys- destination while only 0.01 per cent spills. cold for several days. The cause of the tem. Looking at 10 years of federal data rupture is under investigation. In Feb- in the U.S., an investigative journalist But here are some other ruary, TransCanada made headlines found that remote sensors detected figures you should know: again when one of its natural gas pipe- only 5 per cent of spills. Only one of Q Pipeline incidents have doubled in lines ruptured near Rocky Mountain the eight ruptures on TransCanada’s the last decade. House, Alberta. mainline system, which includes the pipeline slated for conversion, was dis- Q Cracking, equipment or component The explosion near Otterburne hap- covered by a detection system. The failure, and material, manufacturing or pened in a pipeline that is part of the others were discovered by staff, an OPP construction flaws have been the most TransCanada’s Mainline System. This officer and the general public. frequent reasons for pipeline spills of system of pipeline includes pipe Trans- more than 1,500 litres. Canada is seeking to convert to carry The Energy East pipeline will cross crude oil for Energy East. or run near some of Canada’s most Q Safety-related incidents – from fires precious waters, including at least 90 to spills – rose from one for every 1,000 The Otterburne and Rocky Mountain watersheds and 961 waterways. From km of pipeline to two. Energy East House ruptures were two of 10 inci- drinking water sources to valued fish- would be 4,400 kilometres long and dents that occurred on the Mainline ing, tourist and recreational waters, to could have as many as nine incidents System between 1991 and 2013. These a beluga habitat in the Bay of Fundy, an every year based on this average. incidents were found to be largely enormous amount of Canada’s water the result of stress corrosion cracking, would be at risk of a pipeline spill. Q 0.01 per cent of Energy East’s capacity external corrosion, and coating and is 6.4 million litres of oil spilled every year. welding failures, suggesting the pipe- Energy East is our risk and TransCana- line was poorly designed, poorly built da’s reward. What would a spill from and poorly maintained. Energy East look like? Find out more about the campaign to Based on information provided at Trans- Faulty leak detection systems stop Energy East on our website at Canada’s Energy East open houses, Days before the now infamous Enbridge www.canadians.org/energyeast. www.canadians.org | The Council of Canadians Autumn 2014 Canadian Perspectives 21 A banner was hung near the camp built by the Uni’stoten clan of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation in the right- of-way of the Pacific Trails pipeline. Dawn Paley

The combined impacts from frack- LNG Pipe dreams: Fractured ing, fracked gas pipeline construction, gas liquefaction and exports make futures and community LNG a major contributor to global cli- mate change. The gas boom in British resistance by Leila Darwish Columbia could result in an addition- al 73 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year, which would amount to about the same as Alberta’s tar sands as early as 2020. Considering The fight against fracking, fracked LNG is anything but natural. It is fracked that 14 LNG projects have been pro- gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas that has been liquefied by super posed, five of those terminals alone gas (LNG) terminals is heating up cooling the gas to -163°C so it can be would more than double B.C.’s current in B.C. Resistance is on the rise as exported in some of the largest tankers climate footprint. communities across B.C. are coming in the world. There are six northern together to take a stand against and six southern corridor pipelines pro- Fracking has devastating impacts on a fractured future and oppose posed to connect the fracked gas fields local watersheds and ecosystems. More Premier Clark’s dangerous and dirty in the northeast of the province to the than 600 chemicals have been used in LNG pipedreams. proposed LNG export terminals and fracking, and many of these chemicals tankers on the West Coast. have been linked to cancer or muta-

22 Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2014 The Council of Canadians | www.canadians.org tions, and result in impacts to people’s B.C. government officials and industry dropped into a valley of 240 people.” nervous, immune and cardiovascular to exit the conference after the govern- He adds, “What we have here now is an systems. Assuming that 9 of 10 pro- ment’s surprise move to gut environ- economy that is enduring and resilient. posed wells were fracked, about 582 mental reviews for gas plants without A wild salmon economy in the Skeena billion litres of water would be con- consulting First Nations. The govern- Watershed creates $110 million a year taminated during the fracking process. ment quickly reversed the decision. and that could be happening every The Fort Nelson First Nation has stated “The Fort Nelson First Nation, on behalf year as long as we take care of it, which that fracking on their territories repre- of our ancestors, our elders, our youth these projects are not going to do.” sents “the largest and most destructive and those yet to come are putting the industrial force that our waters have government and the oil and gas industry Closer to Vancouver, the proposed LNG ever known.” The boom in proposed on notice that B.C.’s LNG Strategy is on terminal in Howe Sound near Squamish LNG developments could result in a 600 hold,” said Chief Gale at the summit. is being contested by local residents. per cent increase in fracking on their already heavily impacted territory. In northwestern B.C., the fracked gas “At a local level, we’re looking at poten- pipelines would have to pass through the tial air pollution, light and noise pol- Lelu Island and Ridley Island near unceded territories of the Wet’suwet’en lution, and impacts to marine species Prince Rupert are both being consid- and Gitxsan First Nations. The Unist’ot’en due to underwater noise pollution. The ered as locations for LNG terminals. Clan of the Wet’suwet’en have a long- community is very concerned about According to a recent study by scien- standing blockade against the Pacific the safety of this proposed LNG facility, tists at Simon Fraser University, the Trails fracked gas pipeline and other and the possibility of explosions and areas around the Pacific Northwest LNG major pipelines that would cross their spills,” said Tracey Saxby, one of the and Prince Rupert LNG are home to territory. Freda Huson, spokeswoman founders of My Sea to Sky, a commu- some of the most important salm- for the Unist’ot’en Clan, states: “The nity group in Squamish. on species within the Skeena water- Pacific Trails pipeline does not have shed and are among the last places permission to be on our territory. This Several nearby municipal councils, on Earth with healthy populations of is unceded land. [The] Pacific Trails including Gibsons, West Vancouver, wild salmon. If granted environmental pipeline’s proposed route is through Lions Bay and the Sunshine Coast licences, the two LNG projects would two main salmon spawning channels Regional District recently passed reso- dredge hundreds of thousands of cubic that provide our staple food supply. We lutions or wrote letters opposing the metres of underwater sediment to con- have made the message clear to Pacific Woodfibre LNG or LNG tankers in Howe struct berths for 500 LNG carrier tank- Trails, Enbridge, and all of industry: We Sound. LNG terminals are also pro- ers to travel each year. The scientists will not permit any pipelines through posed for Campbell River and the west cautioned that the destruction from our territory.” The Unist’ot’en have built coast of Vancouver Island. this construction and ongoing trans- a cabin, traditional pithouses, permacul- portation could have serious impacts ture gardens and a bunkhouse for block- At the recent LNG counter-summit in on Skeena salmon – impacts the spe- aders in the path of these pipelines. Vancouver, Grand Chief Stewart Phil- cies may never recover from. lip from the Union of BC Indian Chiefs In Hazelton and the Kispiox Valley, con- said, “The economy of this province is Recent changes by the B.C. government cerned residents are organizing. A sig- being built on the destruction of the are paving the way for pipeline and nificant portion of the Kispiox Valley’s natural environment. And the pipe- LNG development. The government population signed the Kispiox Declara- lines that are being contemplated by recently passed Bill 4, the Park Amend- tion, expressing their opposition to the LNG will further destroy the north. We ment Act, which will open protected LNG projects. have a social responsibility as human park areas to pipelines and drilling. beings, as grandparents and parents, to The government is also trying to pass “It’s boom and bust on steroids, like lend our support to Treaty 8, to all the Bill 24, which would decimate the Agri- we’ve never seen here before,” said people in the north who are fighting so cultural Land Reserve (ALR) and put Todd Stockner, a fishing guide in the valiantly to push back this agenda.” much of it at risk from industrial devel- Kispiox. “There will be some local opment such as fracking, pipelines and jobs, but it’s only for two to five years From the northeast corner to the north- the diversion of water for oil and gas. at most and then they’re gone. And west coast, to Vancouver and Vancouver then what do we have after that? We Island, let’s send a clear message to Pre- Opposition to fracking have all the risk. We have all the lin- mier Clark and industry representatives: and LNG is growing gering damages done to our rivers No Fracking, No Pipelines, No LNG! At an LNG industry summit hosted by and streams. We have whatever night- the Fort Nelson First Nation in April, mare of social problems that come Leila Darwish is the B.C.-Yukon Regional Organizer Fort Nelson Chief Sharleen Gale ordered with three 1,000-person work camps for the Council of Canadians. www.canadians.org | The Council of Canadians Autumn 2014 Canadian Perspectives 23 Standing in Solidarity with

Indigenous Peoples The Council of Canadians stood with First Nations as their Idle No More movement protested Harper government omni- bus budget bills.

by Brent Patterson

There are fundamental principles the land within British Columbia and in motion and Protection Agreement. that guide the political work of the many other parts of Canada has never We were able to fundraise more than Council of Canadians with respect to been extinguished. $17,000 to help with their legal costs. Indigenous peoples and our shared The Hupacasath argued that this agree- opposition to destructive projects These rights are central in the formu- ment was an infringement on inher- such as fracking, pipelines, clear-cut lation of our campaign work with our ent Aboriginal Title and Rights, nota- logging and trade deals. Indigenous allies. bly its investor-state provision, which could be used to override Indigenous We respect the right to free, prior and We have worked with the Elsipogtog rights and give the balance of power of informed consent, which is affirmed in First Nation to oppose fracking on their resource management to corporations the United Nations Declaration on the territory in New Brunswick. Houston- rather than affected communities. Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It says based SWN Resources wants to frack that Indigenous peoples have the right on the unceded Mi’kmaq territory cov- And we are now beginning to work with to say yes or no to endeavours that ering most of New Brunswick south the Gitxaala Nation, which has Aborigi- would affect them. of the Miramichi River, and a portion nal title in the area on the north coast of of Nova Scotia where it borders New British Columbia where the supertank- We acknowledge the duty to consult, Brunswick. We have provided ongo- ers filled with tar sands bitumen via which the Supreme Court of Canada ing political support and materials, the Northern Gateway pipeline would has defined as a mandatory consti- including a generator, sleeping bags travel. The Gitxaala are seeking a judi- tutional obligation. It does not mean and tarp, to assist the protest camp cial review to challenge the legitimacy simply informing Indigenous peoples, in Elsipogtog. We have supported of the National Energy Board’s joint but rather it requires appropriate training for non-violent civil disobe- review panel decision to conditionally accommodation, and, on “very serious dience, among many other actions. approve this Enbridge pipeline, and are issues,” their full consent. preparing broader lawsuits as well. We were also interveners at the We see Section 35. (1) of the Constitu- Supreme Court in support of the Beyond this, we have also been work- tion Act as vital. That section states, Tsilhqot’in Nation in British Colum- ing with First Nations – notably the “The existing aboriginal and treaty bia and their claim to Aboriginal Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in rights of the aboriginal peoples of Cana- title. Our submission argued for the Alberta who are opposing the Energy da are hereby recognized and affirmed.” recognition of title more broadly and East pipeline (which would traverse Aboriginal rights have been interpreted liberally, rather than just for isolated the territory of 155 First Nation com- to include a broad range of economic, pockets of land. Our lawyers noted munities), the Unist’ot’en Action Camp political, social and cultural rights. that it was not appropriate to argue that is on the pathway of the Pacific that a broad recognition of title would Trail fracked gas pipeline to Kitimat, And we support Aboriginal title as burden existing non-Indigenous the Grassy Narrows First Nation, which interpreted by the Supreme Court interests. This past June, the Supreme was not properly consulted and does of Canada. The Court has ruled that Court ruled in favour of Tsilhqot’in not agree to continued clear-cutting Aboriginal title extends to the entire title in what is widely seen as a his- on their traditional lands in Ontar- traditional territory of an Indigenous toric and precedent-setting case. io, and numerous other First Nations group, and that consent from First and Indigenous groups defending their Nations that hold Aboriginal title is We have also supported the Hupa- rights and our collective future. required in order to approve projects casath First Nation on Vancouver Island on that land. This is particularly signifi- and their court challenge against the Brent Patterson is the Political Director of the Council cant because Aboriginal title to most of Canada-China Foreign Investment Pro- of Canadians.

24 Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2014 The Council of Canadians | www.canadians.org TPP Talks Shrouded in Secrecy

The Council of Canadians used a giant arrow banner to point by Scott Harris to the location of secret TPP trade talks in Ottawa in July.

The first high-level round of negotia- ment (DFATD) website, which offered an allies from a number of other TPP coun- tions for the Trans-Pacific Partnership incomplete laundry list of who met and tries were able to shine some light on (TPP) ever held in Canada wrapped when, but offered nothing about what the Ottawa negotiations. up on July 12 in Ottawa, with nego- was discussed, what progress was made, tiators sneaking out the back door to or where the talks go from here. The Council of Canadians kicked things avoid notice, just as they had quietly off by revealing the Delta Hotel as slinked into the city 10 days earlier. The dearth of information about where the location of the secret talks with a the negotiations stand is troubling given 40-foot-long banner. Experts on a range Even by the standards of the TPP’s how advanced negotiations are. With U.S. of negotiating areas travelled to Ottawa closed-door, reveal-nothing approach President Barack Obama publicly sug- to hold briefings with interested nego- to negotiations, the Ottawa round of gesting that he envisions some significant tiators and to deliver messages from talks was extreme in its secrecy. Univer- progress by the time he travels to Asia concerned citizens. A number of groups sity of Auckland Professor Jane Kelsey, in November for the Asia-Pacific Eco- protested outside the hotel during the who has attended more than a dozen nomic Cooperation (APEC) and G20 lead- negotiations, and the NDP opposition TPP meetings as a registered stake- ers’ meetings (conveniently scheduled for added its voice to the growing number holder or observer, and who travelled after the U.S. mid-term elections), TPP of critiques about TPP secrecy. to Ottawa for the round, called the July negotiations are clearly at a critical stage. 3-12 meetings “the most opaque round In the end, those collective efforts of talks on the Trans-Pacific Partner- While there have been rumours that shifted the Harper Conservatives from ship Agreement to date.” chief negotiators will follow up on the pretending the negotiations weren’t Ottawa round with another meeting happening at all to lashing out with the Given the wide-ranging impacts the TPP sometime in September, followed by a same tired rhetoric at critics of its latest would have on Canada if the deal is ever ministerial meeting in October, in order corporate rights agreement. successfully concluded, you’d think the to have something in November to show Canadian government might let citizens progress after five years of negotiations, Between rounds and during rounds, the know what happened in Ottawa. Unfor- all the information DFATD offered at TPP continues to face stiff and grow- tunately, you’d be wrong. There was no the conclusion of the round was this: ing opposition in all 12 TPP countries. stakeholder engagement process at all “At this time, dates and location for the With serious disagreements on some during the round. No access or brief- next officials’ meeting have not been of the TPP’s most contentious elements ings offered to media (except for the confirmed. A Ministerial meeting has still standing in the way of a final Japanese government, which offered not been scheduled at this time.” deal, resistance in the U.S. to granting updates to Japanese media). No briefing President Obama the fast-track trade before, during or after the negotiations But despite the Harper government’s authority he needs, and little chance by lead negotiators. No press release at secrecy, despite the 11th hour, 4500-kilo- of anything more than a face-saving the end of the talks. metre venue shift from Vancouver to announcement in November, the fight Ottawa, despite Harper not even official- against the TPP is far from over. All that was offered was a terse 138-word ly acknowledging the meetings were in statement posted on the Department Ottawa until a week before they started, Scott Harris is the Trade Campaigner for the Council of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Develop- Canadian civil society groups and their of Canadians. www.canadians.org | The Council of Canadians Autumn 2014 Canadian Perspectives 25 Door-to-Door Democracy Sinking the Harper agenda with grassroots power by Dylan Penner

The Harper government engaged in a systematic assault on democratic rights and institutions on an unprec- edented scale since winning power.

Just a few examples from a very long list include undermining the right to vote with the “Unfair” Elections Act, muzzling organizations and individuals audits and funding cuts; unions that This way, we all get to say what we want critical of government policies, erod- are challenging attempts to change before we decide who we want.” ing collective bargaining rights, cutting labour laws, back-to-work legislation, public services, and trampling Indig- and cuts to public services; and Indig- The work to create a federal Peoples’ enous rights to self-determination. enous peoples whose rights have been Platform began at the recent Peoples’ infringed by the gutting of environ- Social Forum, which was held in Otta- With just one year left until the next mental legislation, to name a few. wa in August. We will be working with fixed election date – October 19, 2015 groups and communities across the – the question is, what can we do to Resisting austerity country to further develop it. prevent Harper’s Conservatives from Austerity – the government practice winning the next election? of “balancing the budget” by cutting Out-organizing Harper social programs – is also undermin- The Conservatives won the 2011 election Uniting our Common Causes ing democratic rights. Austerity erodes by a margin of 6,200 votes in just 14 rid- The Council’s Democracy campaign is democracy by attacking the collec- ings. These ridings were won by mere hun- rekindling the Common Causes net- tive bargaining rights of trade unions dreds, or in some cases dozens, of votes. work – a common front of environmen- (among the largest democratic institu- tal, social justice, Indigenous, student, tions) and cutting public services. Studies have found that making per- human rights, faith, and labour groups sonal contact with people who don’t among others – to derail the Harper Building a Peoples’ Platform plan to vote, either through phone calls agenda. We are organizing on many A concrete way of pressuring all of the or door-to-door outreach, can increase fronts and building alliances while fos- federal parties to adopt more progres- voter turnout by 5 to10 per cent. Given tering the spread of grassroots democ- sive positions is to produce a Peoples’ how many ridings the Conservatives racy by supporting local organizing. Platform. The platform would articulate won by less than 5 per cent of the vote, a positive vision that reflects the aspira- we are planning a “Get Out the Vote” Defying the silencing of dissent tions of social movements and commu- campaign large enough to influence the The Harper government has targeted a nities. This would be a strong part of our outcome of the next election, while also long list of groups and individuals who on-the-ground organizing before, during building grassroots power to keep in have spoken out against its agenda. and after the next election. check whoever wins the next election. The latest in the cross hairs are chari- table organizations. Common Causes The Hamilton Civic League, with the Door-by-door, we can defend democra- is organizing in defence of civil and support of the Hamilton chapter of the cy from the Harper agenda. The ques- political rights impacted by this shrink- Council of Canadians, has already begun tion is: Are you in? ing democratic space. a Peoples’ Platform initiative for their municipal election in October 2014. Dylan Penner is the Democracy Campaigner with the Common Causes is working to support As they describe it, “We’ll present that Council of Canadians. For more information about groups under attack, including groups plan to the candidates in the municipal the campaign, visit canadians.org/democracy and that are being muzzled by onerous election and ask them to support it. commoncauses.ca.

26 Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2014 The Council of Canadians | www.canadians.org Chapter Contacts The Council of Canadians appreciates the energy and dedication of our chapter activists. If you are interested in joining a chapter please see the contacts list below, or get in touch with the regional office closest to you. For more information on the Council’s chapters, visit www.canadians.org or call us at 1-800-387-7177.

Atlantic Ontario-Quebec Thunder Bay, ON Manitoba Fraser Valley, BC Organizing Office Organizing Office Shannon Dodd-Smith Karen Wootten 807-344-6545 Winnipeg, MB 604-202-1231 211-2099 Gottingen St. 202-609 Bloor Street West [email protected] Mary Robinson [email protected] Halifax NS B3K 3B2 Toronto ON M6G 1K5 www.tbaycoc.wordpress.com 204-803-5416 902-422-7811 416-979-5554 [email protected] Kamloops, BC 1-877-772-7811 1-800-208-7156 Toronto, ON www.canadianswinnipeg.org Anita Strong Tracy Frohlick 250-375-2241 Regional Organizer Regional Organizer 416-975-3895 Northwest Territories [email protected] Angela Giles Mark Calzavara [email protected] www.kamloopscanadians.ca [email protected] [email protected] Northwest Territories Windsor-Essex, ON Peter Redvers Kelowna, BC Organizing Assistant Organizing Assistant Doug Hayes 1-877-729-4500 Karen Abramsen Tori Ball Ailish Morgan-Welden 519-735-8319 [email protected] 250-769-1977 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Saskatchewan New Brunswick Ontario York University, ON Mid-Island/Nanaimo, BC Amit Praharaj Prince Albert, SK Paul Manly Fredericton, NB Brant, ON 647-448-7732 Rick Sawa 250-729-1254 Jean-Louis Deveau Carol Ritchie [email protected] 306-922-3851 [email protected] 506-459-2907 519-442-0014 [email protected] www.midislandcanadians.org [email protected] [email protected] Quebec pacouncilofcanadians.ca Nelson/West Kootenays, BC Moncton, NB Brockville, ON Montreal, QC Quill Plains, SK Sandra Nelken Pamela Ross Maureen Wharton Abdul Pirani Elaine Hughes 250-352-5274 506-471-1700 613-345-7502 450-371-2529 306-323-4901 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.brockvillecouncilofcanadians.ca www.canadians-montreal.org New Westminster, BC Saint John, NB Regina, SK Andrew Murray Leticia Adair Guelph, ON Prairies and Northwest Jim Elliott 604-521-3443 506-633-0398 Norah Chaloner Territories 306-352-4804 [email protected] [email protected] 519-823-9601 Organizing Office [email protected] [email protected] Port Alberni, BC Newfoundland and www.coc-guelph.ca 3rd floor, 10512–122nd Street Saskatoon, SK Colin M. Frazer Labrador Edmonton AB T5N 1M6 David Greenfield 250-723-9621 Hamilton, ON 780-429-4500 306-222-8520 [email protected] St. John’s, NL Kathie Clark 1-877-729-4500 [email protected] Erika Steeves 905-648-5338 Powell River, BC 709-699-6246 [email protected] Regional Organizer British Columbia-Yukon Patricia Cocksedge [email protected] Chris Gallaway Organizing Office 604-485-5409 London, ON [email protected] [email protected] Nova Scotia Roberta Cory 700-207 West Hastings St. 519-601-2053 Organizing Assistant Vancouver BC V6B 1H7 Surrey-Langley-White Rock, BC Halifax, NS [email protected] Aleah Loney 604-688-8846 Karin Johnson Jerry MacKinlay www.londoncouncilofcanadians.ca [email protected] 1-888-566-3888 604-710-1551 902-454-5566 [email protected] [email protected] Niagara South (Welland), ON Alberta Regional Organizer Fiona McMurran Leila Darwish Vancouver-Burnaby, BC Inverness County, NS 905-788-0756 Calgary, AB [email protected] Penny Tilby Johanna Padelt [email protected] Mel Teghtmeyer 604-263-1005 902-787-2753 403-295-8123 Organizing Assistant [email protected] [email protected] Northumberland, ON [email protected] Brigette DePape www.vancouvercouncilofcanadians.ca Elma Parker www.calgarycouncil.wordpress.com [email protected] North Shore, NS 905-372-9143 Victoria, BC Berta Gaulke [email protected] Edmonton, AB British Columbia Barbara Mitchell Pollock 902-899-4220 Richard Merry 250-220-5355 [email protected] Ottawa, ON 780-430-0608 Campbell River, BC [email protected] Phil Soublière [email protected] Richard Hagensen www.victoriacouncilofcanadians.ca South Shore, NS 613-204-1459 250-286-3019 Marion Moore [email protected] Hinton, AB [email protected] Williams Lake, BC 902-527-2928 www.sites.google.com/site/ Tim Shain Peter R. Smith [email protected] ottawacanadians 780-865-1240 Comox Valley, BC 250-392-2605 [email protected] Kathie Woodley [email protected] Prince Edward Island Peel Region, ON www.cochintonchapter.ca 250-334-4608 www.williamslakecouncilofcanadians.ca Rosemary Keenan [email protected] Charlottetown, PEI 905-457-9513 Lethbridge & District, AB www.cvcanadians.org Yukon Leo Broderick [email protected] Sheila Rogers 902-894-4874 403-381-1537 Cowichan Valley, BC Whitehorse, YT [email protected] Peterborough-Kawarthas, ON [email protected] Donna Cameron Emily Sheff Roy Brady 250-748-2444 867-335-6862 705-745-2446 Red Deer, AB [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Derrick Callan www.peterboroughkawarthas.org 403-506-0303 Delta-Richmond, BC [email protected] Cathy Wilander 604-946-0877 [email protected] www.canadians.org | The Council of Canadians Autumn 2014 Canadian Perspectives 27 Stay Informed! In addition to Canadian Perspectives, there are many great ways to get all the latest updates about Council of Canadians’ campaigns and activities, including the following:

ACTIVlist The ACTIVlist is the Council’s email listserv that deliv- ers daily updates about emerging news, stories and actions you can take to help make our communities and our country better for everyone. Together, we can all act for social justice. Sign up today at www.canadians.org

E-newsletter Sent out once a month, our e-newsletter pro- vides information, analysis and links to website resources on current issues. Read all the latest campaign updates and find out how you can take action. Sign up for the e-newsletter at www.canadians. org. Be sure to forward copies to friends and family. twitter.com/CouncilOfCDNs Website at www.canadians.org The Council’s website is facebook.com/CouncilofCDNS a one-stop education and action resource. It is updated daily with youtube.com/councilofcanadians information about our campaigns, media releases and resources flickr.com/councilofcanadians such as factsheets and reports, and it provides direct access to the Council of Canadians, allowing you to join, donate, participate and pinterest.com/councilofcdns take action! vine.co/Council.of.Canadians Donate now to boost people power! Thank you for completing your supporter survey inside this issue To receive email updates, event invitations, opportunities of Canadian Perspectives (see page 15). Can you chip in a contribu- to help fund initiatives and other communications from the tion now to keep our people-powered work going strong? Council of Canadians, please indicate your consent below. You YES! Here’s my gift to help build a better Canada: can withdraw your consent at any time. $25 $50 $100 $250 My choice $ _____ Yes, I consent. Make this a monthly gift. Email: I would like to donate by: Yes, I would like to be contacted by my local chapter of the Cheque (payable to The Council of Canadians, or voided if Council of Canadians. for monthly donations.) Please use the postage-paid envelope provided inside this issue Visa MasterCard Amex of Canadian Perspectives to return your donation and support- Name er survey (found on page 15). Thank you! Address Prefer to donate by phone? Call us toll-free at 1-800-387-7177 City Prefer to donate online? Visit www.canadians.org

Province, Postal code Due to our political advocacy work, donations are not Phone tax deductible. Email Card Number Expiry date Signature

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE ADDRESSES TO: Canadian Perspectives The Council of Canadians 170 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 700 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5V5

40065620