Premier Doug Ford tabled draconian and callous legislation that will criminalize people for not having a home — and he is ready to override the courts to make it happen.  This bill will give cities more power to increase policing and forcibly dismantle encampments — when people have nowhere else to go.  Community advocates and experts have come out against it: this legislation doesn't get to the root of the issue — it will just land more people in jails, cost millions of dollars and spread encampments to new places.  Already some cities have started to speak out against it. If more cities reject Ford’s brutal legislation and demand Ford provide real solutions to the housing crisis, it could force Ford to back down.  A wave of local campaigns calling on local mayors and city councils to come out against Ford's draconian legislation could help tip the scale. Sign the petition to your city’s mayor and council demanding they reject Ford’s crackdown on the houseless community.  

For  the tens of thousands of seniors whose incomes rely on the Alberta Seniors' Benefit to supplement their low Federal Government pensions (CPP and the Guaranteed Income Supplement); and the over 75,000 disabled Albertans whose incomes are extremely low with AISH benefits, claw backs to these programs represent undue hardship and stress. This puts more strain on mental health services, food banks, and other services provided to low-income Albertans across the province. They also destabilize their incomes, preventing them from planning ahead for each month’s bills.

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) is one of the largest investment funds in the world and manages nearly $650 billion in retirement savings on behalf of over 22 million hard-working Canadians. But rather than using that enormous financial power to lead the transition away from fossil fuels that scientists and world leaders agree is essential – CPPIB continues to invest in fossil fuel expansion. The science is clear that avoiding catastrophic climate outcomes requires an immediate end to fossil fuel expansion and rapid-phase out of oil, gas and coal. That’s why in 2022 CPPIB committed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. But CPPIB is continuing to invest our retirement dollars in oil and gas infrastructure and the companies fueling the climate crisis – in October 2024, CPPIB disclosed it holds $23 billion in fossil fuel production assets, while in 2024, CPPIB made six new investments in fossil fuels. For more information read Shift’s CPPIB Watch here. CPPIB’s board of directors also has a potential conflict of interest problem: three of the 11 members of CPPIB’s Board of Directors are also executives or directors of fossil fuel companies. The Canada Pension Plan is our money. CPPIB owes all of us a duty to maximize our returns without undue risk of loss. Fossil fuel expansion simply cannot be a responsible investment, with the high risk of assets becoming stranded as the global economy moves away from fossil fuels. Expanding and prolonging the use of oil, gas and coal locks in more carbon pollution for decades to come, increasing the risk of catastrophic climate outcomes that destabilize our communities, economies and ecosystems. Take action now.  

As things currently stand, thousands of people are affected by hundreds of low-altitude aircraft passages. Every day. Day and night. Each plane passage disturbs the airport's neighbors and the people who live under the air corridors. Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) allows air movements between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., which harms the sleep of thousands of people.   The World Health Organization (WHO) has scientifically established that this nighttime aerial activity causes illness in the people who undergo it. A new terminal and its 10 boarding gates mean a greater number of planes in Montreal's skies. That mean more noises and more nuisance. Without forgetting air pollution, which has also been documented by Montreal scientists.

Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Ford, I am writing to demand that you live up to your obligations to Grassy Narrows First Nation.  I demand that you: 1. Compensate everyone in Grassy Narrows fairly for the mercury crisis, 2. Respect the Grassy Narrows Indigenous Protected Area and end industrial threats to Grassy Narrows including mining,  3. Shut down the Dryden mill that continues to worsen the mercury crisis,  4. Say no to nuclear waste disposal in Grassy Narrows' headwaters, Support Grassy Narrows in restoring their community and way of life from the damage that mercury has done. Grassy Narrows has been fighting for justice for over 50 years, it is time to make things right. Grassy Narrows is demanding that Ontario and Canada stop the attacks on Grassy Narrows and work honourably to help Grassy Narrows regain the good life that they once had.  I look forward to your response on this important issue and call on you to do the right thing.

Dans l'état actuel des choses des milliers de personnes sont touchées par les centaines de passages d' avions à basse altitude. Tous les jours. Chaque passage d'avion gêne les voisins de l'aéroport et les personnes qui vivent sous les corridors aériens. Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) permet les mouvements aériens entre 23h et 7h, ce qui nuit au sommeil de milliers de personnes. L' Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS) a bien établi scientifiquement, que cette activité aérienne de nuit entraine des maladies chez les personnes qui la subissent. Une nouvelle aérogare et ses 10 portes d'embarquement signifient un plus grand nombre d'avions dans le ciel de Montréal. Plus de bruits. Plus de nuisances. Sans oublier la pollution de l'air, qui a aussi été documentée par des scientfiques de Montréal.

In 1973, the Ottawa Public Library commissioned Gerald Trottier to create two mosaic murals for its Main Branch on Metcalfe Street alongside other prominent local artists. These beautiful murals have been enjoyed by Ottawans for over 50 years.   The Main Branch building on Metcalfe Street has been sold to a private company. Currently the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) has no plans for the two Gerald Trottier mosaic murals that are currently there. Gerald's family has been in contact with the OPL for many years but have not received confirmation of how this public art will be protected moving forward.    We believe that Public art in Ottawa plays a major role in the cultural legacy of Ottawa. We believe that Gerald Trottier’s art and artworks in Ottawa, including his many public art commissions, have contributed significantly to this community’s cultural heritage.   We ask that these two murals be placed in a public space that ensures that these important artworks are respected, preserved and maintained for future generations and thus, continue to be part of Ottawa’s cultural legacy and history.   Therefore, we request that the Mayor encourage their relocation to a space where they can be seen and enjoyed by the public, for example the new Ottawa Public Library/Library and Archives Canada building or the new Ottawa Hospital. Please sign this petition to safeguard and protect these important public artworks.

Changing the clocks makes life harder and worse.  Twice annual time change is a relic of War Time that was introduced to increase production and reduce energy costs. It’s high time we consider its role in Canada in the 21st century – and consider the negative physical and mental effects of changing the clocks.  Sign the petition now to stop the biannual time change and choose a universal, standard time in Canada.

Increasing Ontario’s legislative seats from 124 to 200 is about making sure every community has a fair voice in government. Right now, some MPPs represent over 120,000 people, making it hard for them to stay in touch with the needs of each community. With more seats, each MPP would represent about 75,000 people, making it easier for them to focus on local issues and listen to voters’ concerns. For the average Ontarian, this means better access to healthcare, improved transit, and more support for schools. When MPPs have more manageable constituencies, they can spend more time listening to residents and advocating for resources where they’re needed. Smaller ridings mean more time for MPPs to help with community projects, address local problems, and respond to issues as they arise. Other provinces like Quebec have already adjusted their legislature to match population growth, so it’s time Ontario caught up. As our population continues to grow, we need a government that reflects this change. More seats mean fairer representation, especially for areas outside major cities, which often feel overlooked. Adding more seats isn’t about creating more government; it’s about making sure every Ontarian is heard. This change would make our democracy stronger and more responsive. Now, more than ever, Ontario needs a government that works for everyone, regardless of where they live. By expanding our legislature, we can build a fairer, more connected province. 

Residents and tax payers of Ramara Township oppose the licensing of a new LCP Brechin Quarry in the Township of Ramara, and the proposed amendments to zoning. The approval of another huge quarry of 374.1 acres would further increase quarry monopolization of land use in the Township of Ramara. On July 15, 2024 LCP Quarry Ltd. submitted an application to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for a Class A Licence under the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA). This application is referred to as the proposed Brechin Quarry and is located at part of Lots 11, 12 and 13, Concession 1 in Ramara Township. Adding an additional quarry so close to Brechin raises significant environmental and health concerns. This land is less than 3 kms from Brechin and very close to cottages and homes located along Concession Road A, Concession roads 1, 2 and 3, and along Lakeshore Drive next to Lake Simcoe. Three existing homes are sandwiched between the proposed quarry site and Highway 12. The land is zoned as agricultural and is composed of approximately 50% Class 1 soils. Turning such valuable agricultural land into a quarry is a waste of a crucial resource, especially given that Ontario does not have a shortage of licensed aggregate supply. Ontario contains over half of Canada’s prime agricultural soils, despite farmland only making up <5% of province’s land base. Ontario is losing 319 acres of farmland every day as per 2021 agricultural census. At this rate Ontario’s farmland in production today will be lost over the next 100 years. Dust, noise, and blasting from quarry operations would directly impact adjacent properties. For those living within a three-kilometre radius, the daily disturbance would be unbearable. My own home, situated two kilometres from the Lafarge quarry, often shakes and rattles. Dust is frequently seen blowing toward settlement areas. It will be much worse for the residents living closer to this additional quarry and hub of quarries. Creating pits or quarries requires the removal of virtually all-natural vegetation, topsoil, and subsoil to reach the aggregate underneath. This leads to a loss of existing wildlife and biodiversity as plants and aquatic habitats are destroyed. Adjacent ecosystems are affected by noise, dust, pollution, and contaminated water. Pits and quarries disrupt the existing movement of surface water and groundwater, leading to reduced quantity and quality of drinking water for residents and wildlife near or within the area of quarry sites. The watersheds that filter and support the larger bodies of water within Ramara Township like Lake Simcoe, Lake Dalrymple, Lake Couchiching and all the tributaries must not be further compromised by adding more large-scale aggregate mining sites that only a few profit from, and in many cases do not call Ramara Township their home.  Numerous underutilized aggregate sites sit dormant across the province. According to the Ontario Aggregate Resources Corporation, the gravel mining industry already has permits to extract 13 times more aggregate annually than we consume. This overabundance makes the establishment of a new quarry not only unnecessary but also economically redundant. The area proposed to be licensed under the ARA is (151.4 hectares or 374.1 acres) and the proposed extraction area is (91.5 hectares or 226.1 acres). The site is proposed to ship a maximum of 2,000,000 tonnes (roughly 44,444 truck loads, @ 18 cubic metres per tri-axle) aggregate per annum, and will be a below the ground water table quarry. The entrance/exit is proposed to be from Concession Road 2, approximately 450 metres west of Highway 12 and the main haul route will be east on Concession Road 2 to the intersection at Highway 12 where the majority of truck traffic is expected to travel south towards the GTA. The truck route to be used involves travel on Concession Road 2 and Highway 12, which has become inundated with more and more traffic. This includes already excessive aggregate truck traffic, which is well known to bring a heightened level of risk to travel on Highway 12. A great number of the residents of Ramara Township have experienced near misses involving truck traffic and are very aware of the added risk from the huge increase in truck traffic on roads within Ramara Township and on Highway 12. Noise pollution from blasting and heavy machinery will disrupt the peace and tranquility that cottage owners seek. Dust generated by the quarry can travel significant distances, potentially settling on lake properties and affecting air quality. Additionally, the risk of groundwater contamination from quarry operations could impact the lake’s water quality, endangering the ecosystem and recreational activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing. The economic value of lake properties may also decline due to these adverse effects, impacting property owners and the local economy. Brechin is on the verge of growth and revitalization. The council plans to transform the recently purchased St. Andrews Hall into an open, public space for all Ramara residents. Businesses along Brechin’s main corridor have invested significant time and money to establish themselves, aiming to expand alongside the village’s development. A few years ago, Ramara council was enthusiastic about the village settlement being slated for development, with two primary schools — Foley Catholic School and Brechin Public School — within walking distance. The proposed quarry near Brechin poses significant risks to our environment, health, and community growth. With ample aggregate supplies already available and many sites underused, the necessity of a new quarry is highly questionable. Our community’s vision for a vibrant, expanding Brechin should not be compromised for an unnecessary and disruptive quarry. Let us instead prioritize our resident's well-being, protect our environment, and ensure sustainable growth for Brechin.

A recent proposal brought to Brampton city council by Emerald Energy From Waste Inc., would see a massive expansion to the Emerald incinerator, one of the largest garbage incinerators in Canada.  The proposal seeks to quadruple the incinerator's emissions from 182,000 tonnes annually to over 900,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.   We urge you to reject this expansion proposal for the following reasons:  1) Burning garbage produces more greenhouse emissions than burning coal or gas. We can make actual green energy sources much more cheaply than giving this private company $3 million of provincial money. 2) The toxic gas that Emerald company acknowledges leaves its plant, makes people nearby more likely to have chronic lung disease.  3) Studies done on incinerators demonstrate that over half of what is burned could be recycled or composted. It takes a lot of energy to burn wet compostable material and generally that means they are required to burn highly polluting plastics or other fuels, like gas, to get to high enough temperatures.  I and other concerned Ontario residents urge you to NOT approve this expansion and allow for an environmental assessment and community consultation. 

By adding all asthma medications to our Pharmacare Plan and ensuring all Canadians with asthma can always afford their medication can help prevent Canadians with asthma from dying from their illness and improve their quality of life.