http://canadians.org/media/media.xml Founded in 1985, the Council of Canadians is Canada's largest citizens' organization, with members and chapters across the country. We work to protect Canadian independence by promoting progressive policies on fair trade, clean water, energy security, public health care, and other issues of social and economic concern to Canadians. en-us webmaster@canadians.org http://canadians.org/media/water/2012/30-Apr-12-a.html Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow is embarking on an eight city speaking tour aimed at protecting the Great Lakes from private interests and government complacency and restoring more democratic control over them. http://canadians.org/media/water/2012/30-Apr-12-a.html Mon, 30 Apr 2012 http://canadians.org/media/trade/2012/27-Apr-12-2.html Ottawa, Ontario – The Council of Canadians is responding to the Harper government's light and magic show across Canada today to promote the Canada-EU free trade agreement with the following difficult questions that neither the federal nor provincial governments have answered: http://canadians.org/media/trade/2012/27-Apr-12-2.html Fri, 27 Apr 2012 http://canadians.org/media/trade/2012/27-Apr-12.html Calgary – The Harper government's 18-minister, cross-Canada tour to promote the Canada-EU free trade deal should be rebranded the "In-and-Out Scandal: Part 2," says the Council of Canadians, which challenges Conservative ministers to actually engage with Canadians on the supposed benefits and possible risks of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). http://canadians.org/media/trade/2012/27-Apr-12.html Fri, 27 Apr 2012 http://canadians.org/media/other/2012/24-Apr-12.html Ottawa – The Council of Canadians has released a new research study that shows that tens of thousands of Canadians received fraudulent telephone calls during the May 2011 federal election, these calls were targeted at non-Conservative voters and they were effective in reducing voter turnout. http://canadians.org/media/other/2012/24-Apr-12.html Tue, 24 Apr 2012 http://canadians.org/media/trade/2012/24-Apr-12.html Ottawa – The Canadian government is right now trying to undermine the role of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in assessing and responding to the impacts of the financial crisis and the effect of current global economic governance rules on development, poverty reduction, food security and climate change. http://canadians.org/media/trade/2012/24-Apr-12.html Tue, 24 Apr 2012 http://canadians.org/francais/medias/commerce/2012/24-avr-12.html Ottawa – Le gouvernement canadien tente en ce moment de saper le rôle de la Conférence des Nations Unies sur le commerce et le développement (CNUCED) qui cherche à mesurer les impacts de la crise financière et des règles actuelles de la gouvernance économique mondiale sur le développement, la réduction de la pauvreté, la sécurité alimentaire et le changement climatique et à trouver des solutions. http://canadians.org/francais/medias/commerce/2012/24-avr-12.html Tue, 24 Apr 2012 http://canadians.org/media/other/2012/23-Apr-12.html In a press conference to be held on Tuesday, the Council of Canadians will release the results of a significant research study which quantifies both the extent of misdirecting and harassing calls and the effect of those calls in connection with the upcoming legal actions to annul results in seven federal ridings. Simultaneous translation will be available. http://canadians.org/media/other/2012/23-Apr-12.html Mon, 23 Apr 2012 http://canadians.org/media/trade/2012/23-Apr-12.html Ottawa – The Council of Canadians responds to statements today from International Trade Minister Ed Fast following his meeting in Ottawa with Danish counterpart, Trade and Investment Minister Pia Olsen Dyhr, regarding the status of Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) negotiations. http://canadians.org/media/trade/2012/23-Apr-12.html Mon, 23 Apr 2012 http://canadians.org/media/other/2012/20-Apr-12.html The Council of Canadians is releasing an affidavit today, which alleges that the misleading phone calls during the last federal election could not have been accidental and were likely organized by someone "at, or very close to the top of the party's campaign decision-making structure." http://canadians.org/media/other/2012/20-Apr-12.html Fri, 20 Apr 2012 http://canadians.org/media/other/2012/18-Apr-12.html Ottawa — The Council of Canadians today released two of the documents it intends to present as evidence in support of applications by individual citizens seeking to overturn federal election results in seven ridings. http://canadians.org/media/other/2012/18-Apr-12.html Wed, 18 Apr 2012 http://canadians.org/media/energy/2012/17-Apr-12.html In response to statements made yesterday by Wildrose Party Leader Danielle Smith that, "We've always said the science [of climate change] isn't settled and we need to continue to monitor the debate," Council of Canadians National Chairperson Maude Barlow issued the following statement: http://canadians.org/media/energy/2012/17-Apr-12.html Tue, 17 Apr 2012 http://canadians.org/media/energy/2012/13-Apr-12.html The Council of Canadians responds to the news that Kinder Morgan is proceeding with a proposal to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline to transport 500,000 barrels of oil per day. http://canadians.org/media/energy/2012/13-Apr-12.html Fri, 13 Apr 2012 http://canadians.org/media/energy/2012/05-Apr-12.html LADNER, BC: The controversy in South Delta is growing. Citing land shortages for the gateway project the Emerson Real Estate Group has optioned 600 acres of agricultural land to develop for use as a rail and industrial area. The Council of Canadians joins with local residents to oppose the potential loss of agricultural land, the port expansion and a proposed free trade zone. http://canadians.org/media/energy/2012/05-Apr-12.html Thu, 05 Apr 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/other/2012/29-Mar-12.html Ottawa – The Council of Canadians says the federal budget outlines a plan to deliberately undermine health care, water, and the climate. http://www.canadians.org/media/other/2012/29-Mar-12.html Thu, 29 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/29-Mar-12.html While the Ontario budget was released on Tuesday, there was no mention of funding for the Great Lakes. The Council of Canadians is calling on the McGuinty government to fulfill their promise of $52 million in spending for protecting the Great Lakes. http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/29-Mar-12.html Thu, 29 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/energy/2012/28-Mar-12.html OTTAWA, ONTARIO AND VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – On the eve of the federal budget, groups representing tens of thousands of Canadians are urging the federal government to stop its plan to weaken long-standing environmental laws that keep communities safe from toxic chemicals and safeguard our air, water, land and species. http://www.canadians.org/media/energy/2012/28-Mar-12.html Wed, 28 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/other/2012/27-Mar-12.html Ottawa - The Council of Canadians announced today that it is supporting applications under the Canada Elections Act by individual Canadians seeking to overturn federal election results in seven ridings. The ridings are Don Valley East, Elmwood-Transcona, Nipissing-Tamiskaming, Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, Vancouver Island North, Winnipeg South Centre and Yukon. The legal actions to annul results are based on evidence of irregularities, fraud and other activities which affected the outcome of the elections. http://www.canadians.org/media/other/2012/27-Mar-12.html Tue, 27 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/energy/2012/26-Mar-12.html (Berlin, Germany/Ottawa) Delegates are wrapping up a four-country European lobbying tour that has presented a different side of the story in Canada on the tar sands. The tour, which started in Paris, headed to The Hague, London and Berlin, directly challenged Canadian and Alberta government and industry lobbying to undermine the European Union’s efforts to reduce transportation pollution through the Fuel Quality Directive. http://www.canadians.org/media/energy/2012/26-Mar-12.html Mon, 26 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/22-Mar-12.html Ottawa – Leading up to the release of the federal budget, the Council of Canadians will land a large toy F-35 fighter jet on Parliament Hill on March 26 to demand that the federal government prioritize funding for water infrastructure and water protection over the F-35s. http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/23-Mar-12.html Fri, 23 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/22-Mar-12-4.html The Council of Canadians is dismissing a federal Great Lakes funding announcement as absurdly inadequate. Federal Environment Minister Peter Kent is touting a $3,322,321 contribution toward cleaning up the Great Lakes. However, the Council of Canadians says $500 million is needed to implement a comprehensive action plan to protect the Great Lakes, meaning the government is allocating less than 0.7% of the amount needed to protect the Great Lakes. http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/22-Mar-12-4.html Thu, 22 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/22-Mar-12-3.html Saint John, NB – The Saint John Chapter of the Council of Canadians is very concerned about the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as fracking. Fracking poses a serious threat to drinking water, because of the vast amount used and the contaminated wastewater produced in this process. http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/22-Mar-12-3.html Thu, 22 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/22-Mar-12-2.html Guelph - Wellington County: Two citizens groups, Wellington Water Watchers and the Council of Canadians have asked the Ontario Ministry of Environment to review of its permit issuing process for the bottled water industry. The request was made yesterday under the formal review mechanism provided by the province's Environmental Bill of Rights and challenges the Ministry to conform to its own Statement of Values. A review could lead to tougher rules for the bottled water industry in Ontario or even a phase out of their permits to take water in areas vulnerable to water shortages. http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/22-Mar-12-2.html Thu, 22 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/22-Mar-12.html Canada has been chastised on World Water Day for undermining the right to water by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. The Rapporteur openly criticized Canada for "proposing the removal of an explicit reference to the right to water and sanitation for all from the first draft of the 'Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development' outcome document." http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/22-Mar-12.html Thu, 22 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/21-Mar-12.html While Mexican organizations protest in front of the Canadian Embassy Wednesday against the murder of an indigenous leader, Canadian NGOs call for a full investigation, respect for indigenous rights, and an end to corporate impunity. http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/21-Mar-12.html Wed, 21 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/energy/2012/19-Mar-12.html (Paris/Ottawa) – Today kicks off a week-long tour of European capitals, led by a First Nation Chief and members of leading Canadian civil society organizations. The tour will urge European decision makers to stand up to Canadian government and industry lobbying against policies that will help Europe continue to be a leader in the fight against global climate change. http://www.canadians.org/media/energy/2012/19-Mar-12.html Thu, 15 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/energy/2012/15-Mar-12-a.html A Canadian delegation that includes a First Nation's Chief and representatives of environmental and social justice organizations is heading to Europe to counter Canada's bully and confuse lobbying campaign against the European Union Fuel Quality Directive (FQD). A series of meetings with government officials and media events are planned where the delegation will deliver a kit of information challenging Canadian lobbying misconceptions and demonstrating Canadian support for the Directive. http://www.canadians.org/media/energy/2012/15-Mar-12-a.html Thu, 15 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/15-Mar-12.html The water chapter of the Alternative Federal Budget (AFB), A Budget for the Rest of Us, calls for the federal government to carry out their international legal obligations on the human right to water and sanitation by committing $8.736 billion to critical water services. http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/15-Mar-12.html Thu, 15 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/14-Mar-12.html The Blue Planet Project has met with Catarina de Albuquerque, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to water and sanitation, and presented her with ten country-reports on the implementation of these UN-recognized rights. http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/14-Mar-12.html Wed, 14 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/trade/2012/14-Mar-12.html Ottawa and Montreal – The Trade Justice Network and Quebec Network on Continental Integration (RQIC) make the following comments on the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT) on the ongoing Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement negotiations, which was tabled in the House of Commons this week: http://www.canadians.org/media/trade/2012/14-Mar-12.html Wed, 14 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/13-Mar-12.html It is becoming clearer from multiple sources that Canada was the country that pushed to have language that explicitly affirmed the United Nations recognized right to water and sanitation removed from the Ministerial Declaration of the World Water Forum – the 'Davos of water' – now being held in Marseille, France. http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/13-Mar-12.html Tue, 13 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/trade/2012/12-Mar-12.html OTTAWA, ONTARIO – As the Harper government pushes to wrap up trade talks with the European Union, there is growing concern in Canadian municipalities representing nearly four million citizens about the dangers of the new deal. http://www.canadians.org/media/trade/2012/12-Mar-12.html Mon, 12 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/trade/2012/07-Mar-12.html Toronto – The Council of Canadians and its Toronto chapter are celebrating a decision by Toronto City Council last night to demand a permanent exemption for the City from the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). http://www.canadians.org/media/trade/2012/07-Mar-12.html Wed, 07 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/06-Mar-12.html In the midst of a major mining conference in Toronto known as PDAC 2012, a new report sheds light on controversial projects in Chile involving Canadian mining companies. The Council of Canadians is releasing a report today entitled Chilean Patagonia in the Balance: Dams, Mines and the Canadian Connection. http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/06-Mar-12.html Tue, 06 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/02-Mar-12.html The Canadian government is trying to short-circuit vital progress on the human right to water and sanitation at an upcoming international meeting, continuing its long-standing opposition to these fundamental rights. CUPE and the Council of Canadians have learned that Canadian government representatives blocked important language committing countries to concretely deliver on the human right to water and sanitation services in the draft Ministerial Declaration of the 6th World Water Forum. http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/02-Mar-12.html Fri, 02 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/other/2012/01-Mar-12.html Ottawa - The Council of Canadians announced today that it is canvassing its members and other Canadians to determine the extent to which the "robo-calls" and other dirty tricks during the May 2011 federal election may have undermined basic democratic principles in ridings across the country. http://www.canadians.org/media/other/2012/01-Mar-12.html Thu, 01 Mar 2012 http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/29-Feb-12.html Over 70 organizations from more than 20 countries condemn Brabeck-Letmathe honorary degree. Within 24 hours of University of Alberta President Indira Samarasekera publicly claiming that "as far as I'm concerned there is one group that is upset and that's the Council of Canadians" over the University granting Nestlé Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe an honorary degree and his name being considered as part of the External Advisory Board of the new Water Initiative, a massive international backlash is taking shape. http://www.canadians.org/media/water/2012/29-Feb-12.html Wed, 29 Feb 2012