The Council of Canadians says that continued debate at second reading on the Canadian United States Mexico Agreement is irresponsible. “The CUSMA is half baked, and half done. The Democrats have the votes and we should be working with them to get rid of harmful pharmaceutical provisions which raise drug costs, and improve environmental and labour … Read more
The United States agreed to remove its unilateral steel and aluminum tariffs against Canada and Mexico. Many now feel that the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) can now be ratified. However, the Council of Canadians says that does not mean that Canada should proceed with ratifying CUSMA. “We are worried that the Trudeau government might jump the … Read more
The Parliamentary Budget Officer revealed that new intellectual property provisions in the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement would cost Canadians as much as $169 million more per year for pharmaceutical drugs in the first year alone after they come into effect. “CUSMA in its current form is a gift to big U.S. Pharma at the expense of people’s health. … Read more
The Council of Canadians stood with the land defenders leading a counter-rally to the #UnitedWeRoll convoy on Feb. 19. Though initial estimates had ranged from 300-400 trucks, only about 50 trucks arrived in front of Parliament Hill that morning as a convoy calling for pipelines to be built and environmental legislation to be rolled back. “Though … Read more
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has announced that his administration will renew the state Department of Commerce’s appeal to Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline expansion project. “Walz’s decision is just the latest sign that Indigenous-led movements to create a just transition away from fossil fuels are working,” said Council of Canadians Climate Justice Campaigner Bronwen Tucker. Walz stated that projects … Read more
The Council of Canadians announced the appointment of its new Executive Director, Molly Kane, beginning March 2019. Kane is the former executive director of the international social justice organization Inter Pares, and has extensive experience in organizational development including generational renewal, program transformation, and governance. The full release is available online. Call 613-795-8685.
The Council of Canadians and Canadian Federation of Students are celebrating Bill C-76 passing in the Senate as a win for Democracy. The restoration of voters rights in Bill C-76 was made possible by years of organizing by Council of Canadians and Canadian Federation of Students members and supporters, alongside many other organizations. “Students have been … Read more
The Council of Canadians’ Honorary Chairperson Maude Barlow presented at the official Nobel Week Dialogue events in Stockholm on the theme of Water Matters. Barlow was a keynote speaker and moderated a panel on taking action to protect water. “In 2010, the people of the world took an evolutionary step forward when the United Nations recognized water and sanitation … Read more
The United States Mexico Canada Agreement (UMSCA) is an incomplete agreement with glaring points of contention and should not be signed in its current form by the Trudeau government, says the Council of Canadians. “With lawyers still working around the clock trying to patch the agreement together, it is in no state to be signed. … Read more
“The Council of Canadians is disturbed by GM’s announcement that it plans to close the Oshawa plant,” said Maude Barlow, honorary chairperson of the Council of Canadians. “We support Unifor in opposing this closing. But let this be a warning: we must reverse course on free trade agreements, or there will be further decimation of good … Read more
