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Action Alerts!

ACTION ALERT:

Free the Copenhagen climate prisoners now!

I'm sorry to disturb your winter break, but I thought that Council activists would want the opportunity to add their voice to the international call for the release of activists arrested at the climate summit in Copenhagen.
Brent

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La Via Campesina states: The climate talks ended up in a failure due to the selfish approach of governments who have turned the climate disaster into a business opportunity.

Meanwhile, the streets and halls of Copenhagen saw unprecedented mobilizations of social movements and very diverse organizations from around the world demanding climate justice and proposing ways to achieve it. Many activists were arrested by the Danish police during the peaceful protests, and some of them are still in jail.

Those climate prisoners were defending people's voice that could not be heard in the Bella Center where the conference was taking place.

Even though they were expressing their opinions in a democratic country, they were arrested and imprisoned. We strongly demand the Danish authorities to immediately release ALL climate prisoners and drop all charges against them, Danish people and foreigners alike.

The very large and active climate justice movement remains was with them during the protest and will keep campaigning until they are free.

We also urge the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) to ask the Danish authorities to free the prisoners and guarantee freedom of expression and right of dissent during the Climate conferences.

TAKE ACTION
Send the message above from Via Campesina to:

1- the Embassy of Denmark in Canada
ottamb@um.dk

2- the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
um@um.dk

3- the Danish Parliament
folketinget@ft.dk

4- Yvo de Boer, UNFCCC
secretariat@unfccc.int

GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS ALSO BEING HELD
Four Greenpeace activists from the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Switzerland are also still being held following their arrest in Copenhagen.

They were able to make their way into the dinner for the Heads of State, immediately prior to the crucial final day of the Copenhagen climate summit. They unfurled banners reading, 'Politicians Talk, Leaders Act'.

To respond to a Facebook petition calling for their release, please go to http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/greenpeaceusa_blog/2009/12/21/let_them_go.

WEB-LINKS
For more on La Via Campesina: International Peasant Movement, please go to http://viacampesina.org/main_en/

There is more on the Greenpeace activists at http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/12/23-1.

And you can read more about the Council of Canadians climate justice campaign at www.canadians.org.

Brent Patterson
The Council of Canadians
www.canadians.org/campaignblog

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ACTION ALERT: Make HandyDART a subsidiary of Coast Mountain

Thanks,

Penny

As members of Council of Canadians for many years, SPARC and HandyDART Workers Support Group and HandyDART users this strike has had a negative effect on most users. We have had to cancel two medical appointments resulting in further health deterioration. We know there are many worse off than we are. HandyDART is supplying renal and cancer patients with rides as essential services. In addition to a bad impact on health the cost of taxis even with taxi savers is hard on those who are on pension.

"ATU local 1724 members need to get back to work. Our only hope in going back to work with dignity is to continue with our campaign." As previously communicated, negotiations are now under a media blackout." from a letter to HandyDART Workers Support Group.

Our group as individuals and as a group have been busy trying to counter the misinformation from the media and company. For example the company and Translink must bear the blame for the strike. The Union asked the company MVT Canadian Bus Company INC., to come with them to the Labour Relations Board and request binding arbitration. The company refused then the union held a strike vote and got 97% for strike from its members. The company then issued a "final offer" and the union received a 95% vote to refuse.

A letter writing campaign to government, Translink has met with the position they cannot interfere because both sides are in the private sector. An outright evasion.

In desperation and because we cannot hit the streets due to weather and our disabilities we have put up an "online petition". We seek you help in circulating it as widely as possible asking that the contact read it and if they agree to please sign it. The URL is: -

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/nomorecontractingouthandydart

Please help by contacting as many people as you can requesting they sign if after reading the petition they agree with it.

Two HandyDART Users

(members HandyDART Workers support Group, Council of Canadians and SPARK)

Elizabeth and John Beeching

4715 Lanark Street

Vancouver, BC V5N 3R9.

ACTION ALERT: Watch video that reminds us why climate change matters, then take action against climate change

After watching the video, take action at www.takeactiononclimatechange.com

ACTION ALERT: Watch 'The Tar Sands BLOW' Video & Take Action Against Climate Change

*New activist tool to help spread the word about the tar sands

With just two weeks to go before world leaders meet in Copenhagen to deal with climate change, we've run out of time for compromise. While the climate crisis demands urgent action, Canada is going in the wrong direction - we are stuck in the tar sands. The federal and Albertan governments are allowing huge extractions to continue in the tar sands, Canada's fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Let's do something about it.

Take action #1: Take 3 minutes and watch "The Tar Sands BLOW" at: http://canadians.thetarsandsblow.org/

We are happy to share with you a provocative and engaging new video that tells the story of the tar sands. The tar sands are a key reason why Canada has refused to take climate action - in fact, we are one of the world's top 10 polluters - as well as one of the primary reasons Canada has not ratified the UN Declaration on the rights on Indigenous Peoples.

Take action #2: Sign the "speak up" petition accompanying the video - tar sands are the wrong answer.

Take action #3: Share the link far and wide with family, friends, colleagues - let's get the message about the tar sands out there!

Take action #4: To send a message to executives that 'you will not allow Enbridge's Gateway Project' to move forward, please go to http://www.canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=2253

The Council of Canadians will be on the ground in Copenhagen (including Maude Barlow), providing updates on negotiations inside the conference and taking part in numerous events and climate justice movement activities happening outside. Working with the Indigenous Environmental Network, the Council of Canadians is supporting a grassroots community leader from tar sands affected First Nations, to attend and speak out in Copenhagen.

The tar sands are a key reason why Canada has refused to take climate action - in fact, we are one of the world's top 10 polluters - as well as one of the primary reasons Canada has not ratified the UN Declaration on the rights on Indigenous Peoples.

Onward!

Andrea Harden-Donahue

Council of Canadians, Energy Campaigner

(613) 233-4487 ext. 240

aharden@canadians.org

Find out more about our energy campaign at: www.canadians.org/energy

Find this action alert online at: http://canadians.org/action/2009/18-Nov-09.html

November 18, 2009

December 7-18 marks a significant moment for needed global action on the climate crisis. At that time, representatives from 200 countries will be in Copenhagen to negotiate an agreement to address this worsening crisis.

The world needs a strong agreement that achieves deep emission reductions and advances climate justice. This means setting the world on path to 350parts per million - reported as the highest safe level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere by leading climate scientists.

Advancing climate justice includes: commitments for deeper emissions reductions by Global North countries that result in domestic reductions (no offsets loopholes), ensuring the rights of peoples affected by climate change are respected and properly included in the negotiating process and significant climate financing for the Global South controlled and managed in accordance with democratic and equitable principles including participatory planning - not by the World Bank.

Real solutions to the climate crisis must be based on democratic accountability, ecological sustainability and social justice.

There can be no doubt that the climate crisis demands urgent action at all levels of government - federal, provincial, and municipal - to make the necessary transition to a low carbon future.

At the federal level, the Harper government is taking Canada in the wrong direction. It continues to promote the tar sands, Canada's fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. It also continues to promote Canada as an "energy super power" and an export-oriented energy strategy.

At the provincial level, certain provinces including Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta have indicated that they will send representatives to the climate talks in Copenhagen. Some provinces have been stronger than others in committing to address climate change.

At the municipal level, the mayors of the largest cities in Europe and the United States have recently co-authored a mutual appeal titled, 'The Stockholm Appeal on Climate Change'. The goal of the Stockholm Appeal is to provide a powerful statement of intent to national governments in the weeks prior to the climate summit in Copenhagen.

Similar action is needed at the municipal level in Canada.

This is important because Prime Minister Stephen Harper has already indicated that he will not attend the climate summit and has stated that an agreement there is unlikely.

GET YOUR MUNICIPALITY TO ENDORSE AN EMERGENCY CLIMATE ACTION RESOLUTION

Your municipal council stating its commitment to climate justice serves as a further incentive to the Harper government to reach an agreement in Copenhagen.

Use the Stockholm Appeal on Climate Change, the letter sent to the Mayor of London requesting an Emergent Motion at the November 9 Council meeting in support of a resolution, London's emergency resolution (the successful passage being the result of efforts by the Canadians for Action on Climate Change including London chapter activists), and the Council's climate justice resources to draft an emergency resolution to be considered before the Copenhagen negotiations December 7-19 by your municipal council.

· Find the Stockholm Appeal on Climate Change here.

· Find the letter sent to the London city Mayor and Members of City Council calling for an emergent motion in response to the Stockholm Appeal on Climate Change here.

· Find the City of London emergency resolution here.

· Find Council of Canadians materials on climate justice at www.canadians.org/climatejustice.

· Find out more about the Canadians for Action on Climate Change at: canadianclimateaction.wordpress.com.

Let us know! Please contact Energy Campaigner Andrea Harden-Donahue at aharden@canadians.org with progress on getting your municipality to pass a climate action resolution.

Tips for getting your municipality to endorse a emergency climate action resolution:

· Why not start by preparing a resolution using these resources and then sending a letter similar to the letter sent to the London City Mayor and Members of City Council to your municipal council?

· It will be helpful to identify a municipal councillor who supports the Stockholm Appeal on Climate Change and is willing to champion the cause and introduce a resolution. They should be able to give you an idea of what type of resolution would be feasible, the types of obstacles you may face, and how you can help garner support for a resolution

· Since there is less than a month left until the Copenhagen negotiations, the resolution will need to be an emergency resolution in order to be considered in time for the Council to take a position urging our Federal Government to support the passage of an international agreement on climate change in Copenhagen

· If there are reporters with an environment beat at your local newspaper or other media, they may be interested in meeting with you to discuss your plans for pursuing an emergency climate action resolution, there are also journalists assigned specifically to municipal politics. Call the media outlets to find out who they are and ask for a meeting or some time to talk by phone.

We are happy to report that Kiefer Sutherland just signed our Medicare Pledge!

He also sent us a video message - you can watch it here: http://medicare.ca/medicare-pledge

If you haven't signed the Medicare Pledge yet, please do it today - it only takes 2 minutes. And please forward it to your friends and loved ones.

In solidarity,

-- The Canadian Health Coalition team

http://medicare.ca/medicare-pledge

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The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement is still stalled in second reading thanks to overwhelming opposition to the deal among Canadians and effective parliamentary opposition from the NDP and Bloc Quebecois. Meanwhile, human rights defenders and other activists in Colombia continue to face threats to their lives from paramilitary groups and Colombian security forces.

Amnesty International issued an urgent action alert this week (below), directed at the Vice President of the Republic Dr. Francisco Santos Calderón, and copied to the Colombian ambassador in Ottawa, to help protect human rights defender Ingrid Vergara and her 14-year-old daughter Cendy Torres Vergera who have received death threats that she had better "shut up if she wants to reach the new year."

This new threat comes only days after another October 22 threat from the Black Eagles New Generation (Aguilas Negras Nueva Generación) to the Valle del Cauca office of the Trade Union Congress (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores, CUT), according to Amnesty. A fax sent to the groups said that the people and organizations it named were now military targets.

As the Amnesty alert mentions below, "In September 2009, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, visited Colombia and concluded that ‘patterns of harassment and persecution against human rights defenders, and often their families, continue to exist in Colombia... I am in particular deeply concerned about the widespread phenomenon of threats from unknown authors against human rights defenders and their families.' She also expressed her ‘serious concern about the arbitrary arrests and detention (sometimes on a massive scale) of human rights defenders, as well as unfounded criminal proceedings brought against them.'"

By contacting the Colombian government, Canadians are letting the Uribe regime know that its unwillingness to crack down on paramilitary attacks on labour and human rights defenders does not go unnoticed internationally. We also remind our own government that Canadians will not tolerate a free trade agreement with Colombia, especially not before a full and independent human rights impact assessment of a possible free trade deal can be carried out.

Thank you,

Stuart Trew, Trade Campaigner

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ALERT:

COLOMBIA: HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER AT RISK

Human rights defender Ingrid Vergara has received death threats and her daughter, 14-year-old Cendy Torres Vergara, has been followed by unknown individuals in the city of Sincelejo, northern Colombia. Ingrid Vergara documents and exposes human rights violations committed by paramilitary groups. Her life and that of her daughter may be at risk.

On 26 October at around 1.15pm Cendy Torres noticed a white car with tinted windows and without licence plates following her while she was walking to school in Sincelejo. The car slowed down and two children who were walking past went up to it. The children then approached Cendy Torres and told her: "They want you to let your mom know that she must shut up if she wants to reach the new year." (Te mandan decir que le digas a tu mama que se quede callada si quiere llegar a año Nuevo.) The car then drove away.

Cendy Torres had noticed the same car following her on the afternoon of 19 October, the morning of 20 October and the afternoon of 21 October. On 21 October, neighbours told Ingrid Vergara that a white pick-up truck with tinted windows had driven past her house several times. The vehicle slowed down every time it passed her house.

Ingrid Vergara is a member of the National Movement of Victims of State Crimes (Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado, MOVICE), a coalition of civil society organizations campaigning for truth, justice and reparation for the victims of human rights violations committed during Colombia's long-running armed conflict. Ingrid Vergara is one of the leaders of MOVICE in Sucre department, northern Colombia, and has drawn public attention to enforced disappearances and killings committed by paramilitary forces.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Spanish or your own language:

* expressing concern for the safety of Ingrid Vergara and Cendy Torres and urging the authorities to guarantee their safety in strict accordance with their wishes;
* calling on the authorities to carry out a full and impartial investigation into these and previous death threats against Ingrid Vergara and Cendy Torres, to make the results public and bring those responsible to justice;
* reminding the authorities to adhere to their obligations regarding the situation of human rights defenders, as laid out in the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

PLEASE SEND YOUR MESSAGES TO

Vice-President of the Republic:

Dr. Francisco Santos Calderón
Vicepresidencia de la República
Carrera 8A No 7-27
Bogotá, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 1 565 7682 (If answered, say "El tono de fax, por favor.")
Salutation: Dear Mr Vice-president/Estimado Sr. Vicepresidente

Acting Attorney General:

Dr. Guillermo Mendoza Diago
Fiscal General de la Nación (e)
Fiscalía General de la Nación
Diagonal 22B (Av. Luis Carlos Galán No. 52-01) Bloque C
Piso 4, Bogotá, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 1 414 9108
Salutation: Dear Attorney General / Estimado Sr. Fiscal General

AND COPIES TO:

His Excellency Jaime Giron Duarte
Ambassador for Colombia
360 Albert Street, Suite 1002
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7
Fax: (613) 230-4416
E-mail: embajada@embajadacolombia.ca

National Human Rights Organization:

Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz
Calle 61A No 17-26
Bogotá, Colombia

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

On 2 April 2008, Cendy Torres was approached outside her school by four unknown men who threatened "We are going to kill you because of what your mother is doing." (Te vamos a matar por lo que tu madre está hacienda.) Ingrid Vergara has suffered a number of death threats and acts of intimidation before. The latest one was an anonymous email that she received on 2 July 2009, inviting her to her own funeral and referring to her as a guerrilla. Although some protection measures have been agreed, the authorities have not fully implemented them. No-one has been brought to justice for any of these threats.

During Colombia's 40-year-old armed conflict, members of human rights organizations, trade unions and other social organizations have often been labelled as guerrilla collaborators or supporters by the security forces and paramilitaries. As a result they often suffer threats, enforced disappearance or killings. Guerrilla groups have also threatened or killed human rights defenders they consider to be siding with the enemy.

In September 2009, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, visited Colombia and concluded that "patterns of harassment and persecution against human rights defenders, and often their families, continue to exist in Colombia... I am in particular deeply concerned about the widespread phenomenon of threats from unknown authors against human rights defenders and their families". She also expressed her "serious concern about the arbitrary arrests and detention (sometimes on a massive scale) of human rights defenders, as well as unfounded criminal proceedings brought against them."

Urgent Action Office Amnesty International Canada
1992 Yonge St, 3rd floor Toronto, Ontario M4S 1Z7
(416) 363 9933 ext 325 / Fax (416) 363 3103 / www.amnesty.ca/urgentaction

Dear Friend of Medicare,

As Canadian families stand in long lines for flu shots, or wait anxiously for access to a dwindling supply of vaccine, private for-profit health clinics are making the flu vaccine available to their high-income patients who are able to pay thousands of dollars a year for privileged access.

There have even been reports of private clinics selling the vaccine.

The BC Health Coalition has been calling on the province to take immediate action against these private clinics under the provisions of the BC Medicare Protection Act. Queue jumping is illegal - Medicare rules prohibits the wealthy from buying their way to the front of the line for medically necessary services.

Now the situation is urgent. We must demand that the federal government intervene and call on Prime Minister Harper to uphold his legal duty and enforce the Canada Health Act.

We need you to add your voice to the thousands of Canadians who want to protect our cherished Medicare. Please let Take a moment right now and Email the Prime Minister - it will only take 2 minutes!

"If approved, this bill would partially deregulate Canada Post by removing international letters from Canada Post's exclusive privilege to handle letters."

TAKE ACTION
"Bill C-44 is currently being debated in the House of Commons. The single most important action you can take to help defeat Bill C-44 is to contact your member of Parliament."

"CUPW has produced a letter to MPs on Bill C-44 and a leaflet which explains Bill C-44 in the context of the Canada Post Corporation Strategic Review."

"Please read the leaflet and consider sending the letter to your MP."

To take action please go to http://www.cupw.ca/1/1/9/2/3/index1.shtml.

To see our July 2008 'ACTION ALERT: Defend Canada Post from deregulation' please go to http://www.canadians.org/action/2008/04-Jul-08.html.

Brent Patterson
The Council of Canadians
www.canadians.org/campaignblog

The petition is available on-line. To sign it please go to www.stopdumpsite41.ca and look for the link to the petition. (Norman: If you have trouble finding the petition, click care2petition to go straight to it.)

To see our September 18 media release and letter to the attorney general calling for the charges to be dropped, please go to http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2009/18-Sept-09.html.

In the letter, Maude Barlow writes,"The Council of Canadians is respectfully asking that the Crown consider the extenuating circumstances which led to these law abiding and deeply respected people being arrested. If real justice is to be served, these unjust charges need to be dropped. Water is fundamental to all life and access to safe drinking water must be enshrined at all levels of government. Unfortunately, the failure to recognize water as a human right in Canada leaves communities with little recourse when their drinking water is threatened."

Brent Patterson
The Council of Canadians
www.canadians.org/campaignblog

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ACTION ALERT:

Crucial time for the Climate Change Acountability Act

The Climate Change Accountability Act urgently needs your support.

This Wednesday, October 21st, Members of Parliament will vote on a proposed extension of study that means passage of the Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-311) may be stalled until past December.

It is important for the Canadian delegation to arrive at the upcoming UN climate change conference talks in Copenhagen which run from December 7-18, 2009, with commitments to legally binding, science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets.

The Council of Canadians is asking all Members of Parliament to oppose any extension that will delay the passage of the Climate Change Accountability Act. Instead, Members of Parliament must work together to ensure that Bill C-311 is passed in time for Copenhagen.

You can read a letter to all Members of Parliament from the Council of Canadians calling for their support of the Climate Change Accountability Act at:

Two easy steps to TAKE ACTION AND SUPPORT BILL C-311

1. Use our new action alert to send a letter to all Members of Parliament calling on them to support the Climate Change Accountability Act and oppose any extension that will delay its passage.

Action alert (sample letter copied below): http://canadians.org/action/2009/16-Oct-09.html

2. Call your MP and ask them to oppose any extension that will delay the passage of the Climate Change Accountability Act, and ensure its passage before at the upcoming UN climate change conference talks in Copenhagen which run from December 7-18, 2009.

It's easy ...just watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQOOq1BnIWI

Find your MPs contact information: http://canadians.org/action/contact_reps.html

Onwards!

Andrea Harden-Donahue

Council of Canadians, Energy Campaigner

(613) 233-4487 ext. 240

aharden@canadians.org

Find out more about our energy campaign at: www.canadians.org/energy

Sample letter

Dear Member of Parliament,

Canada and the world must address the climate crisis, one of the most urgent issues of our times. In just a few short weeks, more than 190 countries will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to forge a new global climate change agreement.

Canada's government continues to generate serious international criticism for its unconstructive role at climate negotiations. Failing to commit to needed domestic emission reduction targets, contribute our fair share to help Global South countries adapt to the impacts of climate change and permitting ongoing growth in the tar sands all add to our shameful reputation on climate issues.

This must change.

It is important for the Canadian delegation to arrive at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (December 7-18, 2009) with commitments to legally binding, science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets.

Bill C-311, The Climate Change Accountability Act, compels the implementation of a comprehensive plan and a set reporting schedule to achieve emission reductions of 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.

I am concerned that our country has not already committed to the emission reduction targets this Act will establish, which are consistent with the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Further delays are not an option given the gravity of the consequences of not acting on the climate crisis.

This Wednesday, October 21st, Members of Parliament will vote on a proposed extension of study that means passage of Bill C-311 may be stalled until past December. I am asking that you oppose any extension that will delay the passage of the Climate Change Accountability Act and ensure that Bill C-311is passed in time for Copenhagen.

Canada should be playing a leading role in Copenhagen. Passage of this crucial legislation before the talks in Copenhagen is an important step in the right direction.

Sincerely,

_____________

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ACTION ALERT:

The CBC reports that, "A proposed BC law would allow municipal officials (in Whistler, Vancouver and Richmond) to enter homes (with just 24 hours notice) to seize unauthorized and possibly anti-Olympic signs on short notice (says) the BC Civil Liberties Association."

Bill 13, the Miscellaneous Statues Amendment Act, introduced on October 8 to amend the Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act, means so-called 'violators' could be fined up to $10,000 a day and jailed up to six months.

The law would allow these three host municipalities to remove unauthorized signs during the period of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, February 1 to March 31.

In June, the City of Vancouver passed "the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games bylaw to restrict the distribution and exhibition of unapproved advertising material and signs in any Olympic area during the Games."

"Legal experts say the definition of an unapproved sign is open to interpretation. The BC Civil Liberties Association has been warning for several months that the vague wording might be used against anti-Olympic signs or promotions for anti-Olympic events or material."

The Council of Canadians has started to raise concerns about key Olympic sponsors - including Coca-Cola/ Dasani bottled water - and how these corporations use the Olympics to "greenwash" their business practices. It is our intention to distribute signs and materials with messages reflective of these concerns.

The province says Bill 13 is intended to stop 'ambush marketing', a term used to describe advertising by entities that infringe on the rights of corporations that have paid for Olympic sponsorship rights.

TAKE ACTION
Write these local, provincial and national representatives to say that you support free speech and that you do not believe this fundamental right should be suspended during the Olympic Games.

Gregor Robertson
Mayor of Vancouver
gregor.robertson@vancouver.ca

Ken Melamed
Mayor of Whistler
kmelamed@whistler.ca

Malcolm Brodie
Mayor of Richmond
mayorandcouncillors@richmond.ca

Bill Bennett
Minister of Community and Rural Development
bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca

Stockwell Day
Minister responsible for 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Olympics
DayS@parl.gc.ca

WEB-LINKS
The CBC report is at http://m.cbc.ca/site?t=jT-mk2PATIxdmndTqVKULg&sid=cbc.

A Canwest News Service report on this is at http://www.kelowna.com/2009/10/10/bill-would-allow-police-to-enter-homes-during-games-to-removeillegal-signs/.

The media release on the 'unlucky' Bill 13 from the BC Civil Liberties Association is at http://www.bccla.org/pressreleases/09bill13.html.

The Council of Canadians statement on the 2010 Olympics - including a critique of key Olympic corporate sponsors - is at http://www.canadians.org/olympics/statement.html.

Brent Patterson
The Council of Canadians
www.canadians.org/campaignblog

ACTION ALERT:

Oppose the Canada-US procurement deal now being negotiated

October 5, 2009

Canadian and American trade officials are right now discussing a bilateral trade deal that puts local communities at risk. It's not even really about trade - it's about curbing the powers of local and provincial governments to spend public money on public priorities: jobs, environmental protection, public health and public services.

On the surface, the Canadian proposal would exempt Canadian companies from temporary "Buy American" rules attached to U.S. stimulus cash. These rules state that to get any of the $787 billion USD allotted for state and local infrastructure projects, all the steel, iron and manufactured goods used in the project should be made in the United States.

But to get this temporary access to U.S. stimulus money, the Harper government is offering to open, perhaps permanently, provincial and municipal tendering to U.S. companies on an equal basis to Canadian companies. This would make it impossible for local governments to ever prioritize local, regional or national companies when spending public money.

Why make an offer like this when there is no way to guarantee that any U.S. contracts will go to Canadian companies - even with the "Buy American" waiver?

It's not about protectionism versus ‘free trade'. It's about having a choice where and how public money is spent. Sometimes, especially during tough economic times like these, it just makes more sense to spend that money locally. Why give up that right?

TAKE ACTION!

Right now, Prime Minister Harper has the support of the premiers for his "Buy American" proposal. That's not the same as having the support of the provinces, the cities or the public. We need to let our provincial legislators know that Canadians are skeptical about Harper's "Buy American" proposal, and that the premiers do not have the right to make decisions that will affect local communities without the consent of those communities.

SEND YOUR MPP OR MLA A LETTER TODAY!

Draft letter:

Dear [MPP or MLA's name here],

I'm writing to demand that the province of [PROVINCE] not commit to any "Buy American" plan from the federal government that would permanently or even temporarily restrict our local and provincial government's ability to prioritize local economic development and create jobs through how it spends public dollars.

An accountable, responsive and flexible economic policy is more important to communities during these difficult times than forcing local governments to adhere to rigid international restrictions on government action. A lack of regulation in global financial services helped create the current economic crisis. The argument that governments must get out of the way and let the economy do its thing - a foundation of the federal government's proposal to restrict how local governments spend - is bankrupt.

In the unlikely event that the Obama administration agrees to make a Canadian exception to its "Buy American" rules on current economic stimulus funding for infrastructure, there is no reason to expect that U.S. contracts lost by American manufacturers would be won by Canadian manufacturers. Canadian manufacturers have been losing U.S. market share to offshore competitors for years. On the other hand, there is a good chance that Canadian companies would lose more Canadian contracts to larger American competitors who would gain access to local and provincial procurement contracts on an equal footing.

While Canadian municipalities are understandably concerned about the effects of "Buy American" requirements on Canadian companies, they have been excluded from federal-provincial discussions on negotiating a new sub-national procurement agreement with the U.S. government. No agreement should be signed by the federal and provincial governments without first consulting meaningfully with Canada's cities.

The current Conservative government has repeatedly said it would not re-open NAFTA to improve environmental or labour protections as civil society in all three NAFTA countries continue to demand. But this proposed deal on procurement essentially re-opens NAFTA to unnecessarily restrict the policy space of provincial and municipal governments at a time when they need that space the most.

Local democracy is only as strong as the ability of local communities to set their own priorities. Neither the federal government nor the provinces have produced convincing arguments why the right to spend public tax dollars as close to home as possible when it is feasible and desirable should be bargained away entirely.

I urge you to work with the legislative assembly to democratize this debate on "Buy American." We deserve more than platitudes about fighting protectionism from our premier.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

The Maquila Solidarity Network is asking Canadians to write and call Peter Kent, Minister of State for the Americas, demanding he work towards the immediate reinstatement of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, who returned to Honduras this week after being expelled in a military coup this summer. You can access their action alert here: http://en.maquilasolidarity.org/Honduras-Urgent-Action.

"Despite a hastily-imposed curfew, thousands of Hondurans defied the coup regime's orders and gathered in front of the Brazilian embassy in the capital, Tegucigalpa, where Zelaya is currently in refuge, to support the democratically-elected President," writes the Maquila Solidarity Network in their action.

"The coup regime is responding with a brutal crackdown on the Honduran democracy movement. We are receiving reports by the hour of cases of brutal military repression and assaults which have resulted in a large number of injuries and an unconfirmed number of deaths, including that of an eight year old child. The military has surrounded the Brazilian embassy and is out in force in poor neighbourhoods. The national stadium is reported to have been converted into a large holding center for the detained.

"The coup regime leader, Roberto Micheletti, has threatened to cancel the embassy's immunity if Zelaya is not handed over to the de facto regime.

"In the face of this escalation of violence, Canada is one of the only countries that has failed to act effectively to isolate the coup regime. We need to speak out now and demand action from the Canadian government, before it's too late."

Click here to go to the Maquila Solidarity Network action: http://en.maquilasolidarity.org/Honduras-Urgent-Action. Or follow the instructions below.

1. PHONE: Call Canadian Minister of State for the Americas Peter Kent and deliver the following message:

"I want Canada to work for the unconditional immediate reinstatement of President Zelaya and to pressure the Honduran military to stop the violence against the people and their democratically elected president, Manuel Zelaya. Canada should make clear that it will not recognize the November elections and announce further sanctions against the coup regime and its leaders."

Call Minister Kent at: 613-944-2300!

2. EMAIL: Click here to send an email to Canadian Minister of State Peter Kent

For more information on the situation in Honduras: http://www.amnesty.ca/resource_centre/news/view.php?load=arcview&article=4894&c=Resource+Centre+News

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ACTION ALERT: Support a moratorium on

Dump Site 41

August 10, 2009

Dear chapter activists,

On August 14, the Corporate Services Committee of Simcoe County will be reviewing a request from Maude Barlow, national Chairperson of the Council of Canadians and Senior Advisor on Water to the President of the UN General Assembly for a one-year moratorium on the construction of the landfill at Site 41. Then the issue will be reviewed at the Simcoe County Council meeting on August 25.

Many of you have already signed the petition, and as we deal with a freshwater crisis in Canada, we need voices from across the country to continue to put pressure on decision-makers in Simcoe County.

Please join us in letting Simcoe County Council know that you support a moratorium on the landfill by clicking here to email the Simcoe County Council.

As the opposition against the landfill at Site 41 continues to grow, protestors are being arrested for attempting to protect one of the most pristine sources of ground water in the world as a result of an injunction filed by Simcoe County.

The landfill sits atop the Alliston aquifer, a source of water for several communities, farms, reserves and wildlife. The decision to construct the landfill was based on predictions that water would not flow downward into the aquifer. Observations on the ground show that these predictions generated by computer modeling used by Jagger Hims (the consultancy firm hired by the County) were probably wrong and it is, in fact, very likely that ground water will be contaminated by the landfill.

There has been a failure to consult the public and little transparency around the decision process the County took to build the landfill. Jagger Hims has not released the model for public scrutiny or for independent review and the elected officials at Simcoe County did not formally approve the actual construction of the waste cells. The only approval on public record was for preliminary exploration.

Simcoe County must revisit its decision.

Thank you for taking action right now, and forwarding this to your family and friends.

Meera Karunananthan
National, water campaigner
Council of Canadians

SEND YOUR LETTER NOW http://www.canadians.org/action/2009/10-Aug-09.html :

TO: tony.guergis@simcoe.ca, peggy.breckenridge@simcoe.ca, chris.carrier@simcoe.ca, basil.clarke@simcoe.ca, sandra.cooper@simcoe.ca, judith.cox@simcoe.ca, terry.dowdall@simcoe.ca, james.downer@simcoe.ca, anita.dubeau@simcoe.ca, bill.duffy@simcoe.ca, ken.ferguson@simcoe.ca, david.foster@simcoe.ca, david.guergis@simcoe.ca, ruth.hackney@simcoe.ca, tony.hope@simcoe.ca, ralph.hough@simcoe.ca, harry.hughes@simcoe.ca, brian.jackson@simcoe.ca, michael.ladouceur@simcoe.ca, george.lawrence@simcoe.ca, doug.leroux@simcoe.ca, doug.little@simcoe.ca, mike.maceachern@simcoe.ca, rick.milne@simcoe.ca, cal.patterson@simcoe.ca, dennis.roughley@simcoe.ca, alicia.savage@simcoe.ca, phil.sled@simcoe.ca, tom.walsh@simcoe.ca, scott.warnock@simcoe.ca, gord.wauchope@simcoe.ca, doug.white@simcoe.ca

Dear Warden and Council of Simcoe County,

I am writing to urge you to support the call for a moratorium on Site 41 at the August 25 Council Meeting. If you are a member of the Corporate Services Committee please use the opportunity to recommend a motion calling for a one-year moratorium on Site 41 on August 12.

As you know, the opposition to the construction of the site continues to grow. There are many unanswered questions about impacts of the landfill on groundwater and inconsistencies between what is being observed on the ground and what was predicted by Jagger Hims. Members of the community feel their voices are not being heard. Farmers, First Nations communities and other members of Simcoe County feel that they have not been adequately consulted on the issue.

As we deal with a looming freshwater crisis, I hope you will use your responsibility as leaders to protect our precious water resources by supporting a one-year moratorium in order to allow for thorough independent review of the assessments made by Jagger Hims, meaningful public consultation and an opportunity to explore alternatives.

Sincerely
(Your Name)

Sign up to receive Council of Canadians e-Newsletters and Action Alerts: http://www.topica.com/f/v.html?800044744.800006319

The Council of Canadians
700-170 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, ON K1P 5V5.
Tel: (613) 233-2773; Toll-free: 1-800-387-7177
Fax: (613) 233-6776
inquiries@canadians.org
www.canadians.org