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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-4529 of 600 SignaturesCreated by Ronald Shirtliff
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Unity ProjectThe 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 SignaturesCreated by Heith Moonie
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Make all new construction green constructionWe 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 SignaturesCreated by Catherine Buckie
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Democracies for SerenityDICTATORIAL 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.2 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Lawrence Welsh
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Pollution sonore aérienne inacceptableUnissons-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!449 of 500 SignaturesCreated by Sonia Simard
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Develop a youth political party for next electionQuite simply, the issues faced that are at a crisis point have been overlooked and ignored by the mainstream, corporate juggernaut; need the people without cynicism and broken,disillusioned hope that what we say is what we'll do...they are ready; look around the world, Quebec, Friday protests, use of social media...it needs to happen now2 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Bryce Wilson
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Stop the Great Lakes Nuclear DumpOntario Power Generation plans to bury and abandon radioactive nuclear waste approximately 400 metres below the bottom level of Lake Huron. The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater source in the world providing fresh drinking water for 40 million people. There are 3 deep geological repositories on the entire planet and all have leaked - a 100% failure rate. Would you bury poison beside your well?65 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Gregg Mason
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Green New Deal In BurlingtonSo we can have life on planet earth2 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Dan Carter
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Stop Killing Rare and Endangered Species on MK Delta Lands in Delta.Our disappearing peatlands (less than 3% of the earth is covered with them) and Burns Bog is part of that 3%. Like other peatlands it is home to many rare and endangered species. These include red and blue-listed butterflies, dragonflies, Sandhill cranes, Trowbridge's Shrew, Barn Owls and Green herons. When they are gone they are gone forever. The Federal Government used S.A.R.A. to save the Chorus frog in Quebec. The Federal government needs to do the same for the plants, insects, birds and animals on MK Delta's and Pineland Peat's land in Delta, BC17 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Eliza Olson
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Support the Carbon TaxScientist and economist all agree that Climate change is real and costing all of us. Our future generation will have to live with the legacy of our inaction. We need to do our best to protect the earth for our kids.28 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Jason Hart
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Free access to Public TransportationThis would allow people to better their own lives. The poor and students and seniors - low income or not - would be able to go to libraries and YMCA programmes, and wherever else there are programs and food banks .. to be able to travel to the edge of our Great Lakes to walk or picnic or just think about life .. to go to free concerts, and just generally be exposed to the wonders of our beautiful province. It would lift their spirits and raise their hopes and dreams. The increased use of public transportation would help reduce traffic issues and lower green house gasses. Obviously this is important. This would have all sorts of positive social aspects as well. More people using public transportation means safer friendlier communities. I see this as enabling people to improve their own lives. When students can get to school without the stress of high expense they will do better. When seniors can get to places freely they will go and enjoy their lives. When the poor can access all that our province has to offer, they will improve their ow lives. Joyfully.4 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Catherine Sutcliffe
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Stop the Industrial Wind Turbines in North Stormont OntarioThe Township of North Stormont, except for greedy land owners, has said no. Wynne’s government drove it through anyway. We must protect our water and our wildlife.102 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Kim Riddell