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Perspectives
CANADIAN WINTER/SPRING 2019
information and action alerts to keep fighting a new law that would promote
our members and the public informed. water privatization. Then on to Augsburg,
We worked closely with allies in the U.S. Munich and Berlin in Germany, for mov-
and Mexico and published several major ing ceremonies as each became a Blue
On the Road with reports on the energy provisions of both
agreements. We were widely quoted
Community, vowing to protect water and
the right to water forever.
Maude Barlow in the media on the talks and the final
deal. We also sounded the alarm that the November took me to the Blue Mountain
USMCA will allow U.S. milk containing Center in upstate New York to meet
the growth hormone rBGH to be sold in with American and international allies
Canada without warning labels. on solidarity and cross-border cooper-
Dear friends, ation and to Toronto to speak at the
We had a huge success in our cam- annual gathering of the Parliament of
The fall and winter of 2018 have been paign to have Harper’s so called “Fair the World’s Religions.
as full as any I can remember. We are Elections Act,” with its open intent of
busy on so many fronts, which you will voter suppression, overturned. We and In December, I had the great honour of
read about in these pages. the Canadian Federation of Students presenting a keynote to the annual gath-
took the Harper government to court ering of the Nobel Prize in Stockholm,
We have been on high alert around Bill over this law and then lobbied the Sweden where each year they choose
C-69, legislation that replaces the three Trudeau government hard on the need a “Dialogue” theme and invite speakers
water laws gutted under the Harper for a replacement. In December, the from around the world. This year’s topic
government, and we have expressed government announced that it would was water and I was able to inject the
grave concern that certain pipeline adopt its electoral reform bill, which human rights story into what was oth-
projects may be exempted from key includes restoring voter information erwise a fascinating and important, but
regulations protecting water. cards as identification, in time for the mostly scientific, analysis.
next federal election. This is a very
We continue to fight Nestlé and are important success story for a campaign None of this would be possible without
working with local First Nations of the that spanned many years. you, our members, supporters, chap-
Grand River in Ontario to expose the ters, and our hard-working staff and
injustice of the theft of their water by In September, I spoke to 500 enthusi- board. Thank you all.
this transnational water hunter. We are astic people in Guelph about our fight
also promoting Blue Communities in against Nestlé. From there I visited If you haven’t seen it already, keep an
Canada and are excited to announce that several communities in Nova Scotia to eye on your mailbox for your 2019
Montreal will become a Blue Community support their opposition to the offshore Supporter Renewal package. You can
on World Water Day 2019! drilling permits given to BP, the compa- use it, or the coupon conveniently
ny responsible for the terrible oil spill in placed in this issue, to make your
We also continue our campaigns against the Gulf of Mexico. renewal contribution to the Council of
both major bitumen pipelines, particularly Canadians so that we may continue this
Kinder Morgan, fracking in the western October took me to Quito, Ecuador vitally important work for social and
provinces and the threat of re-opening with the Global Alliance on the Rights economic justice together.
fracking operations in New Brunswick, LNG of Nature for a deeply moving confer-
projects in B.C, and the offshore drill- ence with many local indigenous lead- With hope and resolve,
ing permits the Trudeau government has ers from struggles in the Amazon.
granted BP off of Nova Scotia’s south shore.
Then it was on to Rome to fight the
The trade file has kept us tremendously Canada-EU trade deal, as Italy is still
busy. We followed the NAFTA/USMCA opposed to the corporate court that deal Maude Barlow, Honorary Chairperson, The Council
negotiations closely and put out regular includes, and Zurich, where they are of Canadians
Nestlé bottling water at the
expense of communities
By Emma Lui
Every day, Nestlé, a multinational corporation whose operations include water
bottling, draws millions of litres of water from aquifers in British Columbia and
Ontario which it packages and sells for huge profits.
In October, I went to the site of the Six Nations of the Grand River is down- territory. The well extracts water from an
Middlebrook well with members of stream from Nestlé’s operations. The aquifer that 6,000 nearby residents rely on.
the local group Save Our Water who Guardian reported that “Ninety-one
talked about how vulnerable the town percent of the homes in this communi- Bottled water exports from Canada
of Elora, Ontario’s drinking water sup- ty aren’t connected to the water treat- to the U.S. have increased by 383 per
plies are. Elora, which is a community ment plant...Some...have no water at cent since 2009. According to Statistics
in the township of Centre Wellington, all. Others have water in their taps, but Canada, exports from B.C. to the U.S.
relies on three wells for drinking water. it is too polluted to drink.” have increased a staggering 5,951 per
One well is stable but the other two cent over the last decade.
wells are so vulnerable they cannot be Under the UN Declaration on the
pumped at the same time. Rights of Indigenous Peoples, govern- Bottled water is a frivolous and wasteful
ments are required to obtain free, prior use of dwindling groundwater reserves.
Two years ago, Nestlé bought the and informed consent from Indigenous It is entirely consumptive – meaning
Middlebrook well on the edge of Elora peoples for water projects like Nestlé’s almost all the water extracted leaves
despite Centre Wellington’s own bid to bottled water takings. the watershed and does not replen-
buy the well in order to safeguard drink- ish the aquifer. Council of Canadians
ing water supplies for the community. Six Nations youth and supporters chapters across the country have found
organized a protest against Nestlé in water bottled in Nestlé’s Aberfoyle and
Nestlé’s plans to pump 1.6 million litres November and ran to the Grand River Hope plants for sale as far away as
from this well have been delayed by a for the Water Is Life Prayer Run. A bus Newfoundland and Yellowknife.
temporary provincial moratorium on new then took people from Six Nations to
and expanded bottled water permits. The Nestlé’s plant in Aberfoyle. Many more The Council of Canadians is working
moratorium was enacted in response to people from the Guelph area joined to with local groups to pressure provin-
massive public pressure from Council of show support. Despite the rainy and cial governments to phase out bottled
Canadians supporters and local groups such damp weather, roughly 250 people water takings. The Council will also
as Wellington Water Watchers and Save gathered at the entrance of the plant continue investigating where Nestlé
Our Water. The moratorium was extended to listen to speakers and express oppo- and other bottled water products are
in December. A public opinion poll com- sition to Nestlé’s water grabs. being exported to. We are also promot-
missioned by the Council of Canadians ing the Blue Communities Project, a
in November revealed that 82 per cent of Wellington County is one of two places in growing global movement that encour-
respondents across Ontario said the provin- Canada where Nestlé pumps water despite ages municipalities and other commu-
cial moratorium should be permanent. local opposition. Nestlé is also pumping nities to ban bottled water, protect the
water for bottling in British Columbia. human right to water, and promote
The Ontario government should require public water and wastewater services.
Nestlé to sell the Middlebrook well to Despite repeated droughts in the Lower
Centre Wellington as the township’s Mainland and Fraser Valley, Nestlé contin- Emma Lui is the Water Campaigner with the Council
population is expected to more than ues to extract 300 million litres annually of Canadians. With files from Mark Calzavara,
double in the next 25 years. from a well in Hope, B.C. located on Stó:lo Ontario-Quebec-Nunavut Regional Organizer.
CANADIAN PERSPECTIVES Past issues of Canadian Perspectives THE COUNCIL OF CANADIANS
EDITOR Jan Malek are available at www.canadians.org. 300-251 Bank Street
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1X3
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Stop it at the
Source: Fighting
Teck’s mega tar
sands mine
By Bronwen Tucker
If approved, the Frontier Teck Mine would be Alberta’s largest single tar sands mine
project and would be equivalent to permanently adding about 10 million new cars on
the road, or about 60 million tonnes of CO2 a year. Photo: Louis Bockner, Sierra Club BC
Right now, the Vancouver-based com- picture. We are facing cascading fail- Patrick Simon of the Deninu K’ue First
pany Teck Resources is pushing hard ures with respect to the tar sands’ cli- Nation, located 300 kilometres down-
to win approval for the largest-ever mate impacts – the Teck mine does not stream of the project, told the panel,
tar sands mine proposal in Alberta’s fit within Alberta’s 100 MT emissions “Soon, you will have Indigenous peo-
history. The Frontier Mine would cost cap based on the other new projects ples from all the way up in the Arctic
$20 billion, operate for more than 40 that have already been approved, the coming down to these hearings because
years, and produce 260,000 barrels of Alberta emissions cap is already not the impacts of these projects are carry-
bitumen per day. Teck Resources wants ambitious enough to meet our 2030 ing so far away from the source.”
to slip the project through the approval federal targets, and our 2030 federal
process without much public scrutiny, targets are already well below what can While many of the impacted nations’
but the Council of Canadians is working be considered Canada’s fair share of leaders have signed participation
to make sure that does not happen. meeting the Paris Agreement. agreements with Teck for this proj-
ect, some stated they felt they had no
The Frontier Mine is a dramatic step away 2. It is unlikely to provide choice because their efforts to counter
from the fairer, 100 per cent renewable steady jobs, tax revenue or profit. tar sands developments have always
energy economy we need to be building. Because the Frontier Mine requires high been ignored.
While the people-powered fights to stop oil prices to stay profitable but also high
and stall new pipelines have made it upfront investment, there is a good The Frontier Mine is such an extreme
much harder for new tar sands projects chance it will not provide steady jobs project that we are cautiously hopeful
to go forward, to have the best chance at or economic benefits for the public. the panel will reject it, or approve it with
stemming their expansion, we also need While the environmental impacts and so many conditions that Teck cannot
to shift some focus upstream to projects Indigenous rights violations associated afford to build it. But if it is approved,
like the Frontier Mine. with this project would not be accept- the project will still face a decision
able even if the project were much more from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
At the beginning of October, I drove up profitable, it is important to highlight and Minister of Environment and
to Fort McMurray to participate as an that all of that damage could be for Climate Change Catherine McKenna
intervener in the federal-provincial Joint almost no economic benefit. More jobs right before the 2019 election. We are
Review Panel hearings for this mine on would be created by investing in almost building the political pressure now to
behalf of the Council of Canadians. Here any other sector. make sure they cannot say yes to it.
are some of the reasons why we called
on the panel to “reject Teck”: 3. It doesn’t uphold Indigenous With your generous support, the Council
rights. of Canadians is working to build a just
1. The Frontier Mine is a carbon bomb. During the hearings I listened to testi- transition away from the tar sands and
Teck Frontier’s well-to-wheels emissions mony from elders and water protectors towards 100 per cent renewable energy.
would be equivalent to permanently from the Deninu K’ue First Nation, There is still a lot of work to be done to
adding about 10 million new cars on Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Fort get there, and not very much time left –
the road, or about 60 million tonnes of McKay First Nation, and Fort McMurray thank you for being a part of it!
CO2 a year. First Nation, among others. They told
the panel about the many ways that the Bronwen Tucker is the Prairies-Northwest Territories
When we take stock of Teck’s emis- cumulative impacts of tar sands projects Regional Organizer for the Council of Canadians.
sions, we also have to consider the big are already hurting their communities.
The faces of offshore
drilling resistance
Photos by Robert van Waarden
“It would be catastrophic if there were a major spill here, and
we would be directly affected. If there was an oil spill on our
shores, tourists who come here for the natural beauty, beaches,
recreation and paddling would surely go somewhere else.”
Scott McCormack, Sea kayak guide and
owner-operator of Cape LaHave Adventures
Why is offshore drilling not worth the risk? Who carries
these risks? Who is working in communities to speak out
and fight back against the offshore industry? This photo
series highlights a number of community activists who are
coming together to protect their homes, coastal commu-
nities, fisheries, tourism, and cultural histories from the
harms of offshore drilling.
Robert van Waarden, a photographer whose work often focuses
on climate change-related issues, shares the images and voices of
people who are working to stop BP’s drilling offshore Nova Scotia.
“This is our home, not
a cash cow. As L’nu
our job is to protect
Mother Earth.”
Marilynn-Leigh Francis,
Indigenous fisherwoman
Above: “This town is able to survive
because of the tourism that flows from
the ocean. If the ocean is uninhabitable
or displeasing because of an oil spill,
our economic viability is gone.”
David Devenne, Mayor of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
“We can't fight climate change if we
continue to extract and expand fossil fuel
development. They're mutually exclusive.”
Chelsea Fougere,
climate justice activist
Below: “The oil and gas
industry has proven time
and time and again in
Alaska and Angola and the
Gulf of Mexico that they’re
not willing to coexist with
fishermen.”
Colin Sproul, Bay of Fundy
Inshore Fisherman’s Association
Colin Sproul
“We refuse to allow the advocates
for a poorly regulated finite oil
resource to put the bounty of
our renewable fishery resources
at risk for a few decades of
dangerous oil extraction.”
John Davis, Director of Clean
Ocean Action Committee
Opposing offshore drilling is just one piece of the “keep it in
the ground” movement the Council of Canadians supports. This
movement is calling for no more new fossil fuel development or
infrastructure, combined with investment in a just transition for
workers and our economy on a global scale.
Bold action must be taken in order to turn the tide on climate
Marilyn Keddy change. We need to call more loudly than ever for climate solu-
tions, including funding for renewables, energy efficiency, eco-
logical agriculture, and other low carbon sectors. We need to call
Above: “Offshore drilling is not worth the risk to
for worker retraining, cleanup of abandoned oil projects, and for
our fisheries, tourism, and climate. Our politicians
ways to make our cities more walking, biking and transit-friendly
need to listen to the people who elected them, not
while upholding Indigenous rights. We need a new vision for our
to the oil and gas companies. We can’t fall into this
future – one that doesn’t include new offshore drilling projects,
classic example of industry capture.”
but one that is healthy, sustainable and will secure a better, livable
Marilyn Keddy, Retired former social worker future for us all.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: by Sujata Dey
The new NAFTA and Canadian trade
On November 30, after months of limits on Crown Corporations, higher exist between the U.S. and Mexico, but
drama, U.S. President Donald Trump, monopoly protections for drug compa- in a less potent form.
outgoing Mexican President Enrique nies, and benefits to Big Data.
Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime We also teamed up with University of
Minister Justin Trudeau, signed the The Council of Canadians, with the Alberta Professor Gordon Laxer from
new NAFTA in Buenos Aires at the generous help of our supporters, the Parkland Institute to discuss the
G20 summit. brought the voices of people across problematic energy proportionality pro-
the country forward. We worked with visions. Lifted from the U.S. Canada Free
The deal was unfinished, with law- allies, wrote reports, sent postcards, Trade Agreement, they mandate Canada
yers working around the clock right commissioned surveys, organized to export energy to the U.S. according
up until the signing. President Trump rallies, and spoke directly to politi- to a set formula. With these provisions,
has already threatened Mexico with cians. With U.S. and Mexican allies, Dr. Laxer showed that Canada would be
auto tariffs over GM’s closing of auto we delivered petitions asking for unable to meet Canadians’ basic needs
plants and has said he will rip up the Chapter 11 to be removed at the U.S. in the event of energy shortages, and
old NAFTA. The U.S. Congress – both Congress. Our Honorary Chairperson, would also be unable to meet our G8 cli-
Republicans and Democrats – are ask- Maude Barlow, produced the People’s mate commitments. This, too, was taken
ing for profound changes to the agree- Guide to Renegotiating NAFTA outlin- out of the new NAFTA.
ment before they would approve it. So, ing our 10 principles for a fairer deal.
as we saw with the Canada - European We also produced fact sheets and The Council fought to keep and expand
Union Comprehensive Economic and handimation videos. the cultural exemption in NAFTA.
Trade Agreement (CETA), this may not In September 2017, the Council of
be the last signing. The good news is that in some ways, Canadians and the Régroupement
the deal has improved. During this rene- Québécois sur l’intégration continen-
But what is in the deal? Is it a new gotiation, more than 30,000 Council of tale gathered 100 prominent Canadian,
NAFTA, or is it really different? The Canadians supporters urged the govern- Québécois and Indigenous artists to
answer is both. NAFTA has gone through ment to get rid of Chapter 11, the mech- write a letter to the Canadian govern-
significant changes, some for the bet- anisms in NAFTA that allow foreign cor- ment asking it to enshrine and expand
ter, some for the worse. In essence, porations to sue governments over their Canada’s cultural exemption in NAFTA.
it has copy-pasted corporate-friendly public policy if it hampers profits. And
parts of the Trans-Pacific Partnership we were heard! The Chapter 11 invest- The cultural exemption was kept, and
(CPTPP), the 11-country deal that iron- ment provisions will not exist between now is expanded to include digital culture:
ically, Trump pulled out of. These pro- Canada and the U.S. This is a major Netflix, video games, and on-line culture. It
visions were on intellectual property, victory. The mechanisms will, however, does, however, still permit U.S. retaliation.
But as is the case with trade agreements for biologics, a class of drugs made of does not have the Chapter 11 provisions,
hatched in secret with corporate inter- human or animal tissue. This wildly this CPTPP has them and adds the cor-
ests at the forefront, the new deal has expensive but essential medicine is porations of nine more countries to the
severe flaws. Corporations may have found in drugs for arthritis, Crohn’s and roster of those that can sue Canada over
gotten rid of their ability to challenge ulcerative colitis. It will certainly add to its public interest policies.
legislation in Chapter 11, but they have the price we pay for drugs, to the bene-
now been empowered to have a seat at fit of Big U.S. Pharma. CETA in Europe
the table, to review and approve policy In Europe, the Council of Canadians
and regulations before they see the The Labour and environment chapters joined The Stop TTIP and CETA Italia
light of day. These provisions – called are also problematic. A 21st Century movement to reinforce the Italian gov-
regulatory cooperation – are being sold labour chapter and environmental ernment’s statement that it will not rati-
as being about eliminating red tape for chapter would need adequate teeth, fy CETA. While the agreement has been
businesses when in fact, these regula- and the environmental chapter, at provisionally in effect since September
tions are often our environmental, food minimum, would have to recognize of 2017, the investor-state dispute set-
safety, chemical, and other public inter- the biggest problem facing humanity: tlement mechanisms have been con-
est rules. Now, corporations are given climate change. Unfortunately, none troversial. Full implementation requires
the opportunity to challenge regulations of those things are happening within the consent of all 28 EU states and
on a whole series of grounds. Pipeline this new deal. However, U.S. House of 10 regional governments. With a legal
companies have been given their own Representative Democrats have said challenge still ongoing at the European
side agreement where they specifically they will push for these changes. Court of Justice and the ratifications of
can review regulators’ actions. EU countries, CETA is not a done deal.
The CPTPP
Dairy farmers have also been devastated And while the world was fretting over As you can see, with trade agreements,
by concessions that grant U.S. farmers President Trump’s tweets on NAFTA, our collective voice does make a dif-
close to 3.6 per cent access to Canada’s another deal was quietly being rat- ference. We are able to challenge cor-
dairy market. Combined with the Trans- ified. The so-called “Comprehensive porate power when we work together.
Pacific Partnership and CETA, this is a and Progressive” Agreement for Trans- We have had some critical successes
horrible blow to the industry. It also will Pacific Partnership – the old TPP – was in Canada and in Europe. However, as
open the floodgates for the imports of pushed through the House of Commons corporations continue to have access
milk containing genetically engineered at unprecedented speed. After the U.S. to power, and wield it through trade
Bovine Growth Hormone. Not licensed in ditched the deal, the remaining 11 agreements, we are a long way off from
Canada, the hormone is widely used in countries bordering the Pacific Ocean fair trade agreements for people and
the U.S. to boost milk production at the revamped it, eliminating the deal’s the planet.
expense of human and animal health. In pharmaceutical and intellectual proper-
general, the agricultural chapter will be ty provisions, but keeping most of the Luckily, the Council of Canadians, work-
a severe attack on our ability to produce old TPP intact. ing alongside groups all over the world,
and consume locally sourced food. is trying to win this important global
In less than a few weeks, the deal passed struggle.
Patent extensions for pharmaceuti- three readings in the Senate and House
cal drugs are bad news. The U.S. has of Commons as the Trudeau government Sujata Dey is the Trade Campaigner for the Council
allowed two more years of protection limited debate. While the new NAFTA of Canadians.
✂
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the very struggles for justice and rights
that he so passionately fought for in life.
We are deeply honoured and eternally
grateful to Don and all of our other sup-
porters who have thoughtfully chosen
this very special way of supporting the
Council of Canadians.
Make a Lasting Statement
After a lifetime of standing up for social
justice, defending the public interest
and fighting to build a more caring and
compassionate Canada, many Council
of Canadians supporters choose to
plan a legacy gift in their will to make
a lasting statement about what matters
to them – and to ensure their activism
carries on beyond them.
Leave a Legacy Once family members and loved ones
have been looked after, a legacy gift affords
to Empower the
you the opportunity to align your personal
values with your philanthropic goals.
Don Parker
Next Generation Whether it’s a bequest arranged in your
will or a life insurance policy that is no
By Jamian Logue longer needed, a legacy gift is a simple
yet meaningful way to assist an orga-
nization that shares your values and
Don Parker passed away two years Knowing that the pursuit of those goals beliefs, and will work to uphold them
ago. This year he’ll fight to enact would outlive him, Don arranged for a for the benefit of future generations.
tough new laws to protect lakes, riv- bequest in his will to keep the work of
ers and drinking water sources. the Council of Canadians going strong By planning a legacy gift for the Council
well beyond him. you can help shape the kind of Canada
I first met Don in 2004, and over and world our children and grandchil-
the years that followed we devel- “The corporate thirst for our water dren will inherit.
oped a friendship based on shared and energy resources, the erosion
values. From mobilizing for labour of our sovereignty, profits trumping If you have not already done so, please
rights to initiating youth educa- people – the Council effectively takes consider leaving your own legacy gift to
tion and employment opportunities, on issues that hit us right where we empower the next generation to contin-
Don was the kind of person who live,” he told me. “I know my bequest ue fighting for the better Canada and a
took action. will help the Council reach out and fairer world we all know are possible.
empower the next generation in car-
He once told me that as far back as he rying the torch.” To request no-hassle information on
can remember, advocating for social legacy giving, including our helpful
justice and holding governments and This year, Don’s legacy of activism will guide, simply complete the form below,
corporations accountable were driving live on. His bequest will provide critical then detach and mail it back in the
✂
forces in his life. funding to support the advancement of postage-paid envelope enclosed.
Request information on how to leave your legacy
Yes, please send me information on planning
Name
a legacy gift for the Council of Canadians. Address
I have already arranged a legacy gift for the
Council of Canadians. Email
You can also call Hélène Bertrand at 1-800-387-7177, ext 244 or email her at hbertrand@canadians.org
Bayfield’s Blue
Community Story
Communities across Canada are turn- by agreeing to acknowledge access to oceans. It is estimated that the oceans
ing “blue” as part of the Council of water as a human right. In a landmark contain 220,000 pieces of plastic per
Canadians, CUPE and Eau Secours’s decision, local groups also ended the square-kilometre compared to an esti-
Blue Communities Project. This peo- use of single-use bottled water at meet- mated 440,000 pieces in the Lakes.
ple-powered initiative encourages ings and events. These groups ranged
people to approach their municipal from Girl Guides, to service clubs, to These are alarming figures when 45
government to pass resolutions recog- book clubs, to gatherings with the local million people in Canada, the U.S. and
nizing the human rights to water and conservation authority. Indigenous nations depend on the Great
sanitation, banning or phasing out Lakes for drinking water, recreation,
the sale of bottled water in municipal Having received this community com- and support for industries. Sadly, the
facilities and at municipal events, and mitment, Blue Bayfield made over Lakes are also reservoirs for sewage,
promoting publicly financed, owned, 2,000 refillable bottles available to any- plastic, and other debris from hun-
and operated water and wastewater one in the village. Blue Bayfield got dreds of communities of varying sizes.
services. Bayfield, a small commu- sponsors and installed five refill stations Much of the lake plastic is in the form
nity in southwestern Ontario, was throughout the village. The jewel of of small beads. Fish and other spe-
awarded its Blue Community desig- the refill stations is the mobile tricycle cies mistake these beads for food and
nation in 2015 – but local residents “Blue Betty.” Betty is made available to municipal treatment plants are limited
haven’t stopped there. Ray Letheren, any group holding an event and comes in their ability to remove microbeads
one of many local volunteers, shares filled with 20 litres of municipal water from drinking water.
the story about how they turned their and compostable cups. She also makes
community blue and kept going. weekly visits to the farmers’ market. This concern gave rise to the Plastic
Free Coastline Project. Bayfield, Ontario
The southwestern Ontario Village of Over a two-year period, the refill sta- became part of this movement last
Bayfield has a population of 1,000 and tions have had over 25,000 users. This spring by getting municipal council to
is located on the shores of Lake Huron. is a remarkable figure given that two of pass a resolution to become plastic-free,
Bayfield was awarded Blue Community the stations are outdoors and out of ser- organizing beach clean-ups, having local
status by the Council of Canadians in vice for seven months of the year. businesses commit to reduce the use of
2015. Inspired by Maude Barlow’s visits, plastics, working with other groups, and
the environmental voice of the village, The dangers of plastics holding plastic-free events.
Blue Bayfield, set out to honour its com- One of the missions of Blue Bayfield is to
mitment to the Blue Community Project. educate and raise awareness. Given our With the support of the Blue Community
location on the shores of Lake Huron, we Project and Plastic Free Coastlines, Blue
Blue Bayfield chose an alternative are constantly reminded of the effects of Bayfield is doing its best to address
approach to gaining Blue Community plastics in large bodies of water. Studies environmental issues and be a model
status. Instead of seeking support from by 5 Gyre Institute, New York University for other small coastline communities
the municipal council, we sought sup- and a Bayfield-based organization, Love in Canada.
port from the residents of the village, Your Greats, have confirmed that the
in a grassroots approach. Thirty-five amount plastic in the Great Lakes per Ray Letheren is a member of the Blue Bayfield
organizations committed to the project volume of water is double that of the group.
Chapter
Action
Updates
The Montreal Chapter of the Council of Canadians took part in an action
in December calling for a green new deal to address climate change.
Chapters also delivered copies of the recently released UN climate report
to MPs across the country.
Council of Canadians chapters help put corporations like Husky and BP are 2014. Fracking is an extreme extraction
campaigns and social and economic operating in the Atlantic Ocean and method for trapped natural gas. Current
justice issues in the spotlight in com- bouncing back from major industrial New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs is
munities across the country. Chapter accidents without repercussions. These arguing that the community of Sussex
activists continue to be busy protect- are the things the South Shore chapter and surrounding areas support fracking.
ing water and public health care, chal- is fighting against with their Campaign Premier Higgs added an amendment
lenging unfair trade deals, calling for to Protect Offshore Nova Scotia. Since in his recent Speech to the Throne that
urgent and immediate action on cli- starting their campaign in 2016, they’ve includes a partial lifting of the moratori-
mate change, and to standing up for gained the support of six municipal um. When MLAs visited the communities
democracy. Here are just a few exam- governments, been a driving force in of Sussex and Penobsquis in December,
ples of their recent actions: establishing the Offshore Alliance coali- chapter activists from Moncton, Kent
tion, educated people through speaking County and Saint John reminded them
Rewriting the rules tours and the media, and delivered lawn that fracking opposition is still strong.
As the Northwest Territories government signs and bumper stickers to communi- New Brunswick chapters will be orga-
pursues sweeping reforms on seven piec- ties from Yarmouth to Sydney in Nova nizing rallies, radio ads, participating in
es of legislation covering fossil fuel, land, Scotia. This year, they’ll be working to actions and organizing strategy sessions
and resource development, the Northwest make offshore drilling an election issue to ensure the fracking ban stays in place.
Territories chapter has been pushing for and garnering even more support to
the reforms to include binding referenc- stop offshore drilling in Atlantic waters. Eradicating poverty-
es to the territory’s commitments to the sharing the solutions
United Nations Declaration on the Rights Fighting the Site C dam The Hamilton chapter in Ontario orga-
of Indigenous Peoples, the human right to Seven chapters partnered with author nized a Forum on Poverty and Inequality
water and the Paris Climate Agreement. and agriculture policy expert Wendy on October 17, the United Nations
Over six months, the chapter participated Holm to host a “Damming the Peace” International Day for the Eradication
in stakeholder meetings, wrote letters, speaking tour about BC Hydro’s Site C of Poverty. Solutions to poverty and
and drew media attention to the short- dam from Victoria, B.C. to Fort Smith, inequality such as the Guaranteed Basic
falls of the new bills. As first written, the Northwest Territories. With packed Income program (which the Ford gov-
pieces of draft legislation would allow for rooms at each stop, Wendy, chapters, ernment abruptly cancelled despite the
projects to go forward without Indigenous and allies made the case that the risks to Premier’s promise not do so during the
consent, fracking projects to be devel- food sovereignty, watershed health, and election campaign), “Rent Safe” and
oped, and the expansion of oil and gas Indigenous rights mean the mega-dam a proposed registry of landlords were
development in a time when we need cannot go forward, and gave people the presented and discussed. The event
to be transitioning towards renewable tools to get involved. Since the tour was was endorsed and organized in partner-
energy. Amended legislation is expected held, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled that ship with the Hamilton Centre for Civic
in mid-2019. The Northwest Territories a full Treaty 8 Infringement trial needs Inclusion, the Hamilton Roundtable on
chapter will be ready to hold their terri- to take place before the reservoir area is Poverty Reduction and the Disability
torial government to account no matter flooded in 2023, which means the fight Justice Network of Ontario.
what happens. against Site C continues!
If you are interested in joining a Council of
Offshore Drilling New Brunswick Canadians chapter near you, please check
still not worth the risk fracking ban in question out our Chapter Contacts on page 11,
The world is creeping closer to a climate The current moratorium on hydraulic call us toll-free at 1-800-387-7177, or visit
tipping point. Corporations are gaining fracturing – also known as fracking – was our website at canadians.org/chapters.
control over regulatory and decision-mak- established in New Brunswick when Brian We can also help you start a chapter
ing processes. Some of the world’s richest Gallant’s Liberals won the election in if there isn’t one in your community.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 Rachel Small Quinte, ON Winnipeg, MB Cowichan Valley, BC
Regional Organizer rsmall@canadians.org Lynne Rochon Mary Robinson Donna Cameron
Angela Giles 416-979-5554 613-393-1985 204-803-5416 250-748-2444
agiles@canadians.org 1-800-208-7156 rochonlynne@gmail.com canadianswinnipeg@gmail.com dcameron@seaside.net
902-422-7811 www.canadianswinnipeg.org
1-877-772-7811 Ontario Thunder Bay, ON Delta-Richmond, BC
Centre Wellington, ON Lynn Pratt Northwest Territories Lynn Armstrong
807-343-9491 778-835-2546
New Brunswick Contact regional staff Northwest Territories
tbaycoc@gmail.com Lois Little lynnbea@gmail.com
Fredericton, NB
Garry Guild Guelph, ON 867-873-8120
Ronald East Toronto, ON cocnwt@gmail.com Kamloops, BC
506-462-9915
519-766-0139 Tracy Frohlick cocnwt.ca Anita Strong
cofcfredericton@gmail.com
roneastcocguelph @gmail.com 416-975-3895 250-375-2241
www.coc-guelph.ca torontochapter@gmail.com dnastrong1@gmail.com
Kent County, NB
torontococ.weebly.com
Saskatchewan www.kamloopscanadians.ca
Denise Melanson Prince Albert, SK
506-523-9467 Halton Chapter Rick Sawa
June Wright Windsor-Essex, ON Kelowna, BC
coc.kent.county.nb@gmail.com 306-922-3851
june.haltoncoc@gmail.com Doug Hayes Karen Abramsen
rj.sawa@inet2000.com
cochalton.wordpress.com/ 519-735-8319 250-769-1977
Moncton, NB pacouncilofcanadians.ca
dhayes18@cogeco.ca kareneh@uniserve.com
Pamela Ross
506-471-1700 Hamilton, ON Quill Plains, SK
Ed Reece Quebec Mid-Island/Nanaimo, BC
cocmoncton@gmail.com Elaine Hughes
905-389-7887 Montreal, QC Bill Eadie
306-323-4901
ed_reece@yahoo.ca Abdul Pirani 250-758-0218
Saint John, NB tybach@sasktel.net
www.cochamilton.ca 450-371-2529 beadie@shaw.ca
Leticia Adair
apirani.coc.montreal@gmail.com www.midislandcanadians.org
506-633-0398 Regina, SK
ladair@nb.aibn.com Kitchener Waterloo Jim Elliott
David Lubell Nelson-West Kootenays, BC
Prairies-NWT 306-352-4804
Keith Wiley
519-745-0175
Newfoundland Regional Organizer caar@accesscomm.ca
250-777-2020
kw.cofc @gmail.com Bronwen Tucker
and Labrador wileykeith @ gmail.com
btucker@canadians.org Saskatoon, SK
St. John’s, NL London, ON 587-926-7601 David Greenfield
Yvonne Earle Julie Picken-Cooper Port Alberni, BC
306-222-8520
709-579-4442 519-636-4373 Colin M. Frazer
Alberta cocsaskatoon@gmail.com
stjohnscoc@gmail.com londoncouncilcanadians@gmail.com coc.pt.alberni@gmail.com
stjohnscouncilofcanadians.weebly.com Blood Tribe, AB
www.londoncouncilofcanadians.ca
Kimberly Weasel Fat British Columbia and Powell River, BC
587-438-0124 Yukon
Nova Scotia Mississippi Mills, ON Patricia Cocksedge
kimberly_ann_66@yahoo.com Regional Organizing 604-485-5409
Inverness County, NS Stan Madore
Johanna Padelt 613-454-1685 Assistant pcocksedge@telus.net
Calgary, AB AJ Klein
902-787-2753 stan@madore.ca
Paul Armstrong aklein@canadians.org Terrace, BC
coc.inverness@gmail.com
parmstrong631@gmail.com 604-688-8846 Bruce Bidgood
Northumberland, ON
www.calgarycouncil.wordpress.com 1-888-566-3888 250-635-6044
North Shore, NS Minnie de Jong
Kathryn Anderson 905-377-1713 bbidgood@telus.net
Edmonton, AB
902-657-0474 cocnorthumberland @fastmail.com
Rod Olstad
British Columbia
nsnscoc@gmail.com Campbell River, BC Vancouver-Burnaby, BC
780-988-3802 Penny Tilby
Ottawa, ON Richard Hagensen
edmontoncouncil@yahoo.ca 604-263-1005
South Shore, NS Phil Soublière 250-286-3019
Marion Moore 613-204-1459 surfdust@telus.net tilbypeterson@telus.net
Medicine Hat www.vancouvercouncilofcana-
902-527-2928 ottawa.cofc@gmail.com
David Condo dians.ca
southshore.coc@gmail.com https://sites.google.com/site/ Chilliwack, BC
403-977-1620
ottawacanadians/ Daniel Coulter
djcon@telus.net Victoria, BC
Prince Edward Island 604-791-2852
Peel Region, ON chwkcouncilofcanadians@gmail. Barbara Mitchell Pollock
Charlottetown, PEI Red Deer
Rosemary Keenan com 250-220-5355
Betty Wilcox Karen Reay
905-457-9513 info@victoriacouncilofcanadians.ca
902-672-2650 403-391-4242
cofcpeelpmt@rogers.com Comox Valley, BC www.victoriacouncilofcanadians.ca
jbwilcox2010 @ hotmail.com coc.reddeer@gmail.com
Kim Stubblefield
Peterborough-Kawarthas, ON 250-703-3790 Williams Lake, BC
Ontario-Quebec- Manitoba
Roy Brady cvcouncilofcanadians@gmail.com Peter R. Smith
Nunavut 705-745-2446 Brandon-Westman www.cvcanadians.org 250-392-2605
Regional Organizing team rbrady1@cogeco.ca Contact Regional Organizer williamslakecofc@yahoo.ca
Mark Calzavara www.peterborough-kawarthas.org www.williamslakecouncilofcana-
mcalzavara@canadians.org dians.caINSIDE
On the Road with Maude Barlow
Nestlé Bottling Water at the Expense of
Communities
In remaining space can we try adding a photo
Stop it at the Source: Fighting Teck’s and cutline?
mega tar sands mine
Photo Series: The faces of offshore
drilling resistance
The new NAFTA and Canadian trade
Leave a Legacy to Empower the Next
Generation
Bayfield’s Blue Community Story Maude Barlow (centre) was in Germany in December celebrating
four new Blue Communities. The cities of Augsberg, Berlin, Munich
Chapter Action Updates and Marburg all received designations for their commitments to water.
Chapter Contacts
Ottawa, ON K2P 1X3
300-251 Bank Street,
40065620 The Council of Canadians
Perspectives
CANADIANYou can also read
