• Remove Joseph Trutch's Name From Trutch Street
    Why Decolonization Is Important: One street, one step. To create a future where settlers and Indigenous Peoples are equally respected, decolonization is vital. To decolonize, Canada needs to acknowledge its colonial history and abolish the oppressive systems that settlers created during colonization and continue to uphold. Trutch’s name commemorates the oppression of Indigenous Nations, Peoples, and cultures. In conjunction with current social justice movements, the need for reconciliation is being recognized. There is no better time as settlers to acknowledge our systems of oppression and to dismantle its remaining symbols. As of right now, Trutch street remains a symbol of cultural genocide. Allowing this name to be used on street signs, addresses, and bus stops, reinforces a colonial history which does not align with present day values. Why are we commemorating a colonial leader who demonstrated such racist acts towards Indigenous Nations? Removing his namesake is a step towards acknowledging that settlers oppressed other human beings through systems of white supremacy. This is a history that needs to be reconciled. We can remember Joseph Trutch, but we should not celebrate him. FAQs & Common Concerns 1. "If we remove this street name, are we 'erasing history?'” This action acknowledges that remembering our shared history is different than honoring a particular individual by placing them on a pedestal. We believe Joseph Trutch’s actions should be remembered, not celebrated. Removing his name from a street sign will not erase him from all the history books. In fact, renaming the street will create a discussion, and people often learn more about a historical figure as a result of this dialogue. 2. "You can’t judge the past by present-day standards!" True, the actions of the past were not made under current circumstances, but we believe that what is celebrated by our society is the decision of those who do the celebrating. We must choose who we want to celebrate now and not feel obligated to maintain the celebratory choices of past generations. Additionally, Trutch’s views and policies in relation to the Indigenous Peoples were extreme, even compared to the common perspectives of his time, and we believe his racist policies should not be celebrated. We should not celebrate blatantly racist individuals who turned their racism into policy. 3. "Removing this street name is a slippery slope. Where does it stop?" As removing these types of figures from celebration takes a lot of work, one action does not always lead to a cascade of similar actions. With that said, if there is a good reason for change, we believe change should happen. 4. "Changing this street name will be too expensive and/or inconvenient." Yes, there are costs associated with changing a street name, but the costs are relatively minimal compared to the city’s overall budget and the progress towards reconciliation that can occur with this action. Luckily, Trutch is one of the shortest streets in the city—very few people would be inconvenienced. 5. "This action is merely symbolic or performative. There are more important things to be working on." We completely agree that this should not be the end of our work. We see this as one of many necessary actions. We value this action because symbols signify what we value and celebrate as a society. The removal of a racist individual from celebration signifies a small but important change in our cultural values. And, if we cannot even remove a racist figure from our collective celebration on a street sign, how will we be able to address even larger issues of reconciliation and decolonization? We see this action as an accessible start to building our community’s capacity for greater change. You’ve signed this petition and you want to do more? Please contact the city councillors of Victoria, BC, and tell them why you think Trutch’s name should be removed from Trutch Street. Their contact information is provided below. You can give them a call, or copy and paste the following message into your email and send it to them. “Dear City Councillor, Joseph Trutch was a racist individual who should not be celebrated and commemorated on a street sign. I believe Victoria should decolonize its place names, and Trutch Street is a good place to start. If you want my support in the future, you should vote to remove his name. You have a responsibility to help Victoria reconcile its colonial history, and celebrating a racist figure does not align with my values. Sincerely, [insert your name]” You can email all of them, or even just one! Anything helps. General email: [email protected] Mayor Lisa Helps 250.361.0200 [email protected] Councillor Marianne Alto 250.361.0216 [email protected] Councillor Stephen Andrew 250.361.0217 [email protected] Councillor Sharmarke Dubow 250.361.0223 [email protected] Councillor Ben Isitt 250.882.9302 [email protected] Councillor Jeremy Loveday 250.361.0218 [email protected] Councillor Sarah Potts 250.361.0221 [email protected] Councillor Charlayne Thornton-Joe 250.361.0219 [email protected] Councillor Geoff Young 250.361.0220 [email protected]
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  • Cancel taxpayer subsidies to all industries that emit Greenhouse gases
    Climate change is catastrophic, we have to work together to save our planet. There is no planet b. Every industry that does more harm than good, specifically the animal industry and fossil fuel industry, should not be subsidized by taxpayers.
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  • Support paid sick days for all U of T employees
    The University of Toronto likes to publicize its ranking as one of Canada’s top 100 employers. However, the truth is, in any given month, U of T, one of the richest (if not the richest) publicly funded education institutions in the country, hires more than 5,000 people on casual contracts – many working at or near full-time hours – with no guarantee of hours of work, no health benefits and no paid sick days. The University administration recently granted support staff three temporary, paid “Staff Wellness Days.” However, only a small percentage of those on casual contracts actually qualify for such paid leave. There exists at U of T and other post-secondary institutions an ingrained staff stratification where University management, with their inflated salaries and perks, argue that workers on casual contracts, many of whom are also students, somehow don’t deserve the health and income protections afforded by paid sick days. When sick and without paid sick days, these workers must make the difficult choice of going without income or else potentially infecting their fellow workers by going in to work. No person, especially during a global pandemic, should have to make such a choice. Right now, the union that represents many of these workers – United Steelworkers Local 1998 (Casual Unit) – is currently bargaining with U of T management, and one of the asks is paid sick days. Based on our initial meetings, we are expecting the University’s negotiators to reject this reasonable and necessary proposal. This is not what we should expect from a “model” employer. As one of the biggest employers in Toronto and amid a growing call for paid sick days for all, the U of T administration has an opportunity to show leadership on this issue and implement paid sick days for all employees at U of T. To that end, we encourage you – whether or not you are a part of the U of T community – to sign the petition.
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  • Move the Don Valley Layover Facility
    The Toronto ravine system is a distinctive feature of Canada's largest city that should be protected and celebrated. It has taken decades of political advocacy, community devotion, and legal protections to undo industrial pollution in the ravines. Any development that takes place in this fragile ecosystem has to be done with the utmost caution and care. Spending the money to do it correctly now will save money on restoration efforts later.
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  • Stop Women Harrasment
    as we know women are the initial part of society if there are no women the men where not exist in this universe
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  • Tree Conservation By-Law
    Huron County already has a tree-cutting by-law; we should be following their foot-steps. Lambton Shores specifically as well as various areas in Lambton County consist of areas of important natural lands that should be valued highly for its biodiversity, animal habitat, and our own enjoyment/health. We still see farmers trimming away at their native treed woodlots 5 - 10 acres at a time. We understand that farmers feed us, but farmers also need the aid of naturally protected lands and waters to maintain proper biodiversity and pollination to maintain a healthy crop. We all need to look at the bigger picture and work together for the health of ourselves and our lands. A tree-cutting bylaw similar in scope to Huron County should be our goal here in Lambton County and Lambton Shores.
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  • National Post: It's Time To Retire Rex Murphy
    On February 18th, columnist Rex Murphy published an article about the deadly ice storms plaguing Texas. It would be too polite to say that the column is full of lies, because lies contain an implicit admission that there is a different, hidden truth. Rather, Murphy's column is simply a regurgitated spew of false information that Murphy clearly believes to be true. A few examples: - Murphy alleges that the storm in Texas actually *disproves* climate science because, and I quote, "I thought we were not having winter anymore". - He claims that the real reason the grid failed is too much reliance on wind power - in Texas. Experts with actual meaningful information have determined that much of the grid failed, including gas, coal, and even nuclear power plants, and the blackouts were made worse by Texas being disconnected from the national grid (a move that was made to avoid federal safety regulations). - He closes the article by alleging once again that "winter" disproves all of climate science. With the climate crisis raging, Murphy's obvious misinformation is not just frustrating and off target - it's deadly. If Rex Murphy can't be bothered to learn the truth, then he can't be trusted with a public platform. It's time for the National Post to retire Rex Murphy.
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  • Doug Ford! Stop the Build of Ontario Superhighway Through Greenbelt Lands
    The 407 is already underused and overpriced, due to previous Conservative government. One idea is to divert trucks from the 401 to the 407 and subsidize those independent truckers and trucking companies with the money planned to build a new and unnecessary highway. It will increase safety on the 401, lessen congestion and save our environment and billions of dollars. Our kids are depending on us to do the right thing for the environment and their future.
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  • A livable basic income guarantee for everyone who needs it
    Until we have a national livable basic income guarantee for everyone who needs it, regardless of their work status, many of us will continue to be left behind living in poverty. We need a renewed social safety net for the 21st century that includes both income security and the social supports and services we need. We are facing turbulent times: climate change; energy transition; employment transition; racism and discrimination; vast income inequality; deep poverty; pandemics; an opioid crisis and food insecurity. Any one of us can fall into poverty at any time. To successfully adapt to all of the challenges of the 21st century, we need a social safety net that will catch not just some of us - but all of us. We each deserve to live with sufficient income and the supports and services we need to live with dignity.
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  • Make Bret Hart the new Governor General
    The role of Governor General is purely ceremonial. If we are to maintain the role, it must go to a Canadian icon who is universally loved and able to deliver on the pomp and pageantry of the job. That icon is Bret Hart. Bret Hart is a legendary showman and philanthropist, possibly the most famous Canadian of all time. He is an inspiration not just for his accomplishments but also for his loving and caring approach to life. He has never once forced anyone to calculate the distance between the sun and moon and indeed, like most Canadians, may have no idea how far apart the two are. Bret Hart can unify our nation as he once united with John Cena to take on Edge and Chris Jericho. He is the best choice there is, the best choice there was, and the best choice there will ever be for the role of Governor General. PM Trudeau, make amends and make history at the same time - appoint Bret Hart as Governor General of Canada.
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  • Canada, bring former Blackwater Trump Pardoned War Criminals to Justice
    Recently President Donald Trump officially Pardoned these convicted War Criminals. Seventeen Iraqi civilians were killed and twenty more were injured in Nisour Square by these four Blackwater private security employees. It is important that the transcending Principles of International Justice be upheld by the Canadian Government no matter who the War Criminals are.
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  • Stop systemic racism against Indigenous peoples
    On Dec. 20, 2019 Maxwell Johnson and his 12 year-old granddaughter, Torianne, were racially profiled and handcuffed after trying to open a bank account at a BMO branch in Vancouver. What happened to Max and Tori was terrible and shocking, but unfortunately it was just one example of the spectrum of racism Indigenous people face in Canada everyday. Whether it’s being denied service at a restaurant, being followed by security guards in a grocery store, or being made the subject of racist jokes and slurs by staff, Indigenous people, and other people of colour, experience racism on a regular basis. These seemingly isolated incidents connect to much deeper patterns of colonial violence and systemic racism against Indigenous people, including Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the recent forced removal of Wet’suwet’en people from their homelands. This racism dates to the creation of Canada itself and continues to the present day. It is all connected, and it must stop now. We need to hold institutions accountable for systemic racism. Visible minorities are under constant threat of racial profiling by organizations, and discrimination by police. We are launching this campaign to seek justice for Indigenous Peoples and communities, and so that other people of colour can feel safe.
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