• Stop the Canada Pension Plan investing our money in Fossil Fuels
    “Money Is the Oxygen on Which the Fire of Global Warming Burns”(1) The government of Canada has committed itself with other nations in the Paris climate talks to reducing annual emissions of carbon into the atmosphere by 30% less than 2005 by 2030 and net zero by 2050. The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and other government bodies should actively pursue the same objectives. The CPP controls $392 billion, money that we collectively saved, with a little help from the Feds, during our working days. Those billions are invested with the intention of providing our Canada Pensions, with some inflation, as long as we live to collect them.(2) We count on the investment board of the CPP to do a prudent job of growing the fund. For the most part they have been successful: our pensions have been secure so far. But climate change is a new threat to our pensions. The CPP has some $4 billion invested in fossil fuels! At the same time as the second largest pension fund in Canada, Quebec's CDPQ, has announced plans to reduce their carbon footprint and increase investments in the low carbon economy.(3) In the financial world today there are strong warnings against depending on the future value of investments in fossil fuels. The carbon pollution they produce is making a direct contribution to the weather chaos we are now experiencing and which science assures us will become worse in the future if we fail to cut carbon emissions. In short, an investment in fossil fuels is not only morally questionable but also fiscally unsound. Any money bet on carbon may prove to be worthless in the future. Many voices including those of important bankers, Mark Carney and others, warn that the carbon footprint of investments should be regularly reported by pension funds.(4) Sign the petition at: https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/stop-the-canada-pension-plan-investing-our-money-in-fossil-fuels-4 Please sign this petition asking that: The CPP publish a plan to reduce the carbon footprint of the CPP to net zero by 2050, and publishaaa annual reports of the carbon footprint of the CPP investments. We expect the CPP plan to meet or exceed Canada’s updated commitments under the Paris Climate Accord as these are announced.(5) The State of California has legislated that public pension plans must report their own carbon footprint6. We should expect no less transparency from the people managing our public pension assets. Most fossil fuel companies have no plan for a net zero economy – so cannot be kept in a responsible investment plan – but it is possible for a company to plan for the necessary transition. As members of the CPP, and other pension plans, for middle class Canadians, our largest carbon footprint is in our pensions and investments. (7) Sign the petition at: https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/stop-the-canada-pension-plan-investing-our-money-in-fossil-fuels-4 Below you will find current links that describe why this is a wise and timely recommendation. 1. https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/money-is-the- oxygen-on-which-the-fire-of-global-warming-burns This observation from captures the central role of finance in supporting the increase C02 levels. 2. https://foecanada.org/climate-change-and-energy/abcs-of-cpp/ For every pay period, a deduction is made that is invested on your behalf by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). This primer is written by Friends of the Earth to help you learn about how your money is invested. 3. https://www.corporateknights.com/channels/climate-and- carbon/pension-fund-gets-deadly-serious-climate-crisis- 15759068/ Canada’s second largest pension gets deadly serious about climate crisis by increasing investments in low-carbon assets. 4. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/30/firms-must-justify- investment-in-fossil-fuels-warns-mark-carney Investments make a difference to collectively facing the climate crisis 5. https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters/minister-environment-and-climate- change-mandate-letter Implement the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, while strengthening existing and introducing new greenhouse gas reducing measures to exceed Canada’s 2030 emissions reduction goal and beginning work so that Canada can achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. 6. https://www.pionline.com/article/20140925/ONLINE/140929924/calpers- pledges-to-disclose-carbon-footprint-in-investment-portfolio The new law in California will require Calpers (the California Public Employees’ Retirement System), which oversees $360bn in assets, and Calstrs (the $228bn California State Teachers’ Retirement System) to report publicly on the climate- related financial risk of their public market portfolios. 7. https://blog.copower.me/news/your-portfolios-dirty-secret/ The high Carbon Footprint of Investments. Relevant to both individual investment and institutional investments such as Pension Funds and Endowments. Sign the petition at: https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/stop-the-canada-pension-plan-investing-our-money-in-fossil-fuels-4
    531 of 600 Signatures
    Created by Ronald Shirtliff
  • CLIMATE JUSTICE AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT
    It is important because climate change is a human crisis and we need humanity to combat this third world war of the climate on this earth for a safe and better environment for the next generation.Climate change will alter the Earth. But it could destroy humanity 'What we’re doing to the Earth has no parallel in 66 million years, scientists say'
    5 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Osman Felix Cole
  • Unity Project
    The people at the bottom of society have all but been forgotten, the middle class needs both parents of the family to hold full time jobs in order to maintain that stature. Their children are left to be raised by strangers lacking the love and focussed required to nurture a wholesome human being. The wealthy add to their riches by investing in other business enterprise while little of the prosperity filters down.
    3 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Heith Moonie
  • Make all new construction green construction
    We currently have the technology to install green or solar roofs on all kinds of buildings. There are incentive programs to get homeowners to install solar panels on their roofs. Several buildings have installed green roofs. The problem is, these innovations are too few and far between. Solar power allows us to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels for the electricity we use every day in our homes and workplaces. The more power we can capture from the sun means less coal, oil, or natural gas being burned to heat and light our homes and to power our electronics and appliances. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen thus reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in our air. They also have a cooling effect. Green rooftops can lead to cleaner air for us to breathe and cool our cities. In a time when summer heat waves are becoming more frequent, we can use the cooling effect that plants provide in our gardens and parks but also on our rooftops. The technology exists. There are currently incentives for installing solar panels on residential homes but, look around, how many people do you see taking advantage of these incentives? Are they enough? Change is not happening quickly enough. We need to act fast to reduce our carbon emissions and get to net-zero as fast as we can. Changing the National Building Code to require green or solar rooftops on new construction is one way to do that.
    3 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Catherine Buckie
  • Worms against climate change
    Worms and soil microbes lock more carbon dioxide than any other method which has zero cost. Worms work for free! There is more carbon dioxide locked in the soil than in all the atmosphere and all the plants. Canada is big and could support a lot of worms. NPK fertilizer kills worms and mine the soil so that the topsoil rapidly degrades and releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It is the greatest human caused source of carbon dioxide. In addition if worm friendly deciduous trees would be planted in forests the forest soils would lock away far more carbon dioxide at almost zero cost. By adopting worm friendly policies we will all enjoy more nutritious food, cleaner water and because more water is stored in the soils far fewer droughts and floods.
    8 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Stuart Moir
  • Free Public Transit for Students on the Sunshine Coast
    Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast (TraC) is a member-based organization working to create more sustainable transportation alternatives on the Sunshine Coast. TraC believes that free public transit for Sunshine Coast children and youth will help fight climate change by reducing CO2 emissions from cars and make transit equally available to all children and youth regardless of income. Join us as we help build early sustainable transportation habits by promoting alternatives to car use.
    354 of 400 Signatures
    Created by Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast Picture
  • Commit Vancouver to being a Good Food City
    On January 16th, 2019, Vancouver City Council voted unanimously to declare a Climate Emergency and embrace available tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On April 29th, 2019, Vancouver City Council approved the Climate Emergency Response report which describes several Big Moves, but omits action on food systems because "staff do not have a clear enough picture of how much [food-related emissions] can be reduced or what the most appropriate roles are for the City to articulate a meaningful Big Move for food consumption. Staff will continue to monitor and pursue this opportunity as these plans are reviewed and updated." Global food systems change is a necessary measure (though not sufficient on its own) in order to reach our targets for reducing emissions and global heating. [1] "Research shows that, without substantial changes, greenhouse gas emissions from the food sector will increase by 38% by 2050." [2] Vancouver still has a chance to sign on to this pledge and become a Good Food City, in line with Vancouver's goal to be the greenest city in the world, and show leadership among the global C40 cities. [1] "Options for keeping the food system within environmental limits", 2018. Nature. DOI:10.1038/s41586-018-0594-0 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0594-0 [2] https://www.c40.org/other/good-food-cities
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    Created by Nic Waller Picture
  • Get the LEAD OUT of our Drinking Water!
    The Sampling Instructions for testing for Lead Content often instruct individuals to run their cold water taps for two minutes before taking their sample for analysis when tests are prescribed by civic authorities. It is my opinion that that passage of water will clear out all water in an average dwelling and this household will only be sampling water from the water mains outside their homes. I believe there should be two samples taken. One sample should be taken right away- on turning on the tap. Then the Person collecting the sample can put their finger into the continuing flow of cold tap water until he notices that the water suddenly turns cold to them. This may be two minutes... but it may be more for larger and multiple dwellings. (ie Apartment Buildings) My point is this: This colder water comes from the Water Mains outside each dwelling. It is the lead content comparison between these two water samples that will clearly indicate the safety for drinking purposes and foods calling for water content.
    5 of 100 Signatures
    Created by John Jacobson
  • Democracies for Serenity
    DICTATORIAL corporations are dictatorial because of the dictation of the boards directors of majority shareholders. DEMOCRATIC equally owned enterprises are democratic because of the equal ownership of the enterprise by the workers-owners having equal voting in governance, equal receipt of profits and the worker-owners setting of the wages. Competition between dictatorships and democracies would obtain superior results to legislating the least desired kind of organization out of existence. Whichever that might be. With democratic firms competing with dictatorial firms the wages of corporations would match the wages of equally owned enterprises, lack of profit and governance would be compensated for or corporate profit would be shared and participation in corporate governance allowed. This would be an ending to gross enormous inequality in corporations, the beginning of the serenity of the populace and the inclusion of all in the economy.
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    Created by Lawrence Welsh
  • Pollution sonore aérienne inacceptable
    Unissons-nous pour faire valoir nos droits. Pourquoi subir une pollution sonore quand nous pouvons agir dès maintenant! Demandons au Maire de St-Bruno-de-Montarville de nous représenter et d'assurer à tous les citoyens une vie paisible et sécuritaire!
    457 of 500 Signatures
    Created by Sonia Simard
  • Get your Candidates to support banning the ICE in Parks Canada
    Banning the Internal Combustion Engine (in some form) is a policy idea that is on the long-term radar for most political parties in order to eventually transition to a 100% renewable future. Progressive steps like these are more easily done in a "watered-down" or trial version, and politicians can more easily sell these policies in small steps. The time has come for a small step, just ask a scientist. There are 49 National Parks in Canada and many of them exist already with very few visitors or carbon emissions spent within the park boundary. The rest are well-known and well-loved by many who support bold climate policy and even more who would like to keep the air clean. This makes for palatable climate policy and a modest investment in government-owned clean tech and electric vehicles for visitor shuttles & maintenance equipment. It will also send a strong message to every visitor to protect the future of the planet from greenhouse gases. Ban the Internal Combustion Engine on Parks Canada properties beginning with this next government. If one party adopts the policy nationally, it will be a nice win for the petition. If two parties adopt the policy nationally, the movement will be a success. If three parties adopt the policy nationally, it will be a significant step in reducing greenhouse gases and may be actually implemented. If four parties adopt the policy nationally, it will be headline news and we'll make some progress on the Climate Crisis. Give it a shot, share it widely & see what can happen with a simple grassroots idea.
    4 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Leigh Grigg
  • Make your own lawn sign to promote abcd.vote
    Consensus exists that current climate policy will result in a planet where extreme weather, global temperature rise, and mass human migration are the norm for future generations, including but certainly not limited to, our own.
    3 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Leigh Grigg