Global Pandemic

Millions of Canadians support incoming President Biden’s rejection of Keystone XL. Please let Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson know that you are among them. Joe Biden wants to see immediate and strong action on the climate emergency. He has promised to bring the US back into the Paris Agreement and, as a decisive first step, cancel the Keystone XL pipeline project. That pipeline would enable a huge expansion of Canada’s fossil fuel industry, carrying 300 million barrels of tar sands oil annually. We read that the Canadian government is preparing to lobby the president-elect to break this promise. This, despite a throne speech commitment to take immediate action on the “extreme risk” posed by climate change and the warnings of climate scientists. As the IPCC has made clear, there are less than ten years to cut global emissions in half if we are to avoid climate catastrophe. It is time for Canada to be a leader in addressing the climate emergency and to encourage the world’s biggest oil producer and second biggest producer of greenhouse gases to do the same. It is time for climate leadership in both countries. Des millions de Canadien·ne·s appuient le rejet de Keystone XL tel que le propose M. Joseph Biden. Par cette pétition, nous souhaitons informer le premier ministre, M. Justin Trudeau et le ministre de l’Environnement, M. Jonathan Wilkinson que ces Canadien·ne·s ne veulent pas de ce pipeline et exigent que leur gouvernement laisse enfin tomber Keystone XL. M. Biden dit espérer des actions immédiates et fortes en faveur de l’urgence climatique. Il a promis de ramener les États-Unis dans l’Accord de Paris et, comme première étape décisive en ce sens, il a promis d’annuler le projet de pipeline Keystone XL. Ce pipeline, s’il est construit, permettrait une expansion considérable de l’industrie canadienne des combustibles fossiles, transportant chaque année quelque 300 millions de barils de pétrole extrait des sables bitumineux. Or, nous apprenions récemment que le gouvernement canadien s’apprête à faire pression sur le président élu états-unien pour qu’il rompe cette promesse, et ce, malgré les engagements du discours du trône en faveur de mesures immédiates contre le « risque extrême » posé par la crise climatique et malgré les avertissements des climatologues. Comme le GIEC l’a clairement indiqué, nous avons moins de dix ans pour réduire de moitié les émissions mondiales si nous espérons éviter une catastrophe climatique. Il est plus que temps pour le Canada d’être un chef de file dans la lutte contre les crises climatiques et d’encourager les plus grands producteurs de pétrole et de gaz à effet de serre à faire de même. Il est plus que temps de faire preuve de leadership en matière de climat dans les deux pays.

The purpose of the inquiry we request is to determine the extent of harms put upon injured, ill and/or disabled Canadians in provincial and territorial jurisdictions nationally. We raise these concerns to ensure as well our own full and fair redress in the form of workers compensation benefits as we are entitled to receive and rightly, legitimately deserve. We believe that only with a National investigation of provincial law, policy and regulations that govern provincial/territorial occupational health and safety can troubling issues be properly rectified. Those agencies and agents so empowered by law, policy and regulations have not responded to our direct engagement to address these issues with integrity. As these issues are of long-standing national concern, we assert that the concerns receive the attention that these matters require as it is in the National interests of all Canadians to do so.

As a group of Canadians who care about the protection of human rights defenders, we are calling on the Government to put pressure on Egypt to end the escalating crackdown on human rights defenders and immediately release Mr. Razek, Mr. Basheer, and Mr. Ennarah. Canada’s commitment to international human rights carries with it an obligation to protect the human rights defenders who work with Canadian counterparts toward that goal. Canada must be accountable for its participation in the November 3 meeting with EIPR and must take action to work for the release of those detained as a result. Canada must join in sending the message that human rights work is not a crime.

The pandemic has laid bare exactly who the truly essential workers are. While many well-paid workers work from their homes, it is the bravery and determination of front-line workers that are keeping our nation moving through the pandemic. That includes grocery store workers, many of whom make barely above minimum wage. At the start of the pandemic, Loblaws guaranteed those workers a $2/hr increase in "hero pay" - a modest increase for people who are literally putting their lives on the line so that we can eat. But Loblaw's cancelled the hero pay when cases declined over summer. Now, cases have reached record levels and are still climbing - but not only has Loblaw's refused to reinstate the hero pay, they've instead chosen to increase the amount of money going to their wealthiest shareholders through dividends. It's profit over people, and brave grocery store workers deserve better. Sign your name to demand Loblaw's reinstate hero pay immediately for the essential heroes keeping food on our tables.

The CRD, the province and the federal government have all publicly acknowledged that we are in a climate emergency and the need to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. As a society, we need to move towards zero waste and the creation of a circular economy. Expanding the landfill during a climate emergency is not the solution or direction that will help us achieve a cleaner, more sustainable future. Other cleaner alternative waste management solutions do exist and are already in use in continents that include Europe and Asia involving waste to energy solutions and bolder incentives to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover. We want the CRD to take another look at what is happening in other jurisdictions including Nanaimo’s Solid Waste Management Plan which will divert 90% of its municipal waste from the landfill through bolder recycling initiatives. Why is this important now? Waste management and garbage generation is a shared responsibility by all of us whether you live in James Bay, Sooke, Saanich or the southern Gulf Islands. We all generate garbage that ends up in the landfill. It's time to think and act collectively by changing our own behaviors and consumption patterns that produce waste, and by demanding more progressive thinking and leadership on the proposed Solid Waste Management Plan by our elected CRD representatives when we know that better solutions exist. Landfill Revenues The CRD's continued reliance on tipping fees as a revenue source, along with projected revenue from the sale of renewable natural gas (RNG) to FortisBC, relies on the status quo approach of continuing to expand a landfill that releases methane gases into the environment. Tree Preservation The CRD's current plan to destroy 73 acres of forest and sensitive eco-systems in the Mount Work area is unacceptable. This forest stores 180 tonnes of carbon a year - an offset equivalent to taking 195 cars off the road every year. Over the 50 year extension of the proposed Hartland landfill, carbon emissions would be increased by 9000 tonnes. This amount is inconsistent with the CRD's overall goal of making the region carbon neutral by 2050. Forests have many life sustaining values such as controlling rainfall runoff, cleansing water and air, providing habitat for wildlife and birds, and storing carbon. The BC Conservation Data Centre iMap shows that the surrounding forest habitat of Mount Work and Durrance Lake Regional Park are home to 16 species at risk including the rare Western Screech Owl. Let the Minister of Environment and the CRD Board know that you don't support their current plans to expand the Hartland Landfill when they could adopt alternative waste management practices that will put us on the road to embracing zero waste practices, a circular economy and a sustainable future. Have questions? Need further information? Check out the MountWorkCoalition.org website and look for our Call to Action! https://www.mountworkcoalition.org/be-informed/call-to-action-public-feedback-needed-now-on-crd-draft-solid-waste-management-plan

In early November, Doug Ford introduced new guidelines for COVID restrictions. He claimed to have consulted public health professionals in devising the guidelines. However, the guidelines had thresholds for activation that were *four times higher* than public health doctors had actually called for. In other words: Ford lied, and put all our lives at risk. This latest outrage is the last straw. From the beginning, Ford has mismanaged the pandemic. He's given mixed messages that insist we must keep businesses open yet scolds people for visiting those businesses. He's refused to offer supports for small businesses or employees, passing the buck to the federal government. He's refused to address the crisis in long term care, instead passing the buck to local public health agencies. His "COVID relief bill" does things like interfering in local democracy, and he's rescinded paid sick leave guarantees passed by a previous government. He refused to adequately support schools or to close them when they proved to be vectors for transmission. The result? Under Doug Ford's watch, cases have reached record numbers and every day more people die. This is a crisis of negligence and incompetence and it cannot be tolerated any longer. It's time for Doug Ford to resign.

- We need to protect this land for future generations living in Ontario - We must protect our environment. We cannot live if our air, water and land is polluted - These lands are home to Endangered Species only found in Ontario - The Conservation Authorities work to ensure significant lands are protected - These lands prevent flooding and other natural disasters - By developing this significant lands, we are increasing our carbon footprint when we are in a Climate Change crisis - Greenspace directly impacts pandemics (dense areas with less greenspace cause illness and viruses to spread faster)

Ontario’s COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing, with some areas reporting the highest number of daily cases yet within the last week. And yet, some areas, like Toronto, are reducing restrictions, indoor dining and bars are reopening, and confusion is high due to mixed messages from top officials. Public health experts and epidemiologists are in agreement: more needs to be done to curb the spread of COVID-19. We need a coordinated response to tackle this unprecedented challenge, and elected officials need to ensure that any legislated closures or lockdowns are paired with supports in place for workers and small businesses — similar to BC’s approach, including, but not limited to, loans and grants for small businesses, and rent and wage support. Sources: [1] Globe and Mail https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontario-increases-covid-19-response-in-peel-region-as-virus-rates-2/ [2] CTV https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/what-is-a-circuit-breaker-lockdown-and-should-canada-consider-one-1.5175362 [3] BC Health order https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/lower-mainland [4] BC supports for small businesses https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/business/small-business/resources/covid-19-supports [5] The Star https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/11/09/its-been-28-days-and-toronto-is-scheduled-to-reduce-restrictions-what-are-five-key-indicators-telling-us.html

In comments captured on video Joy McGregor, a local councillor in the Alberta town of Slave Lake, made cruel and harmful comments about the town’s unhoused community. McGregor was recorded saying, “We need to stop being so nice to them. We need to stop feeding them. We need to stop doing all these wonderful things.” [1,2] Councillor McGregor also named a number of local Indigenous communities, who she accused of being unhoused in Slave Lake. Driftpile Cree Nation has responded by calling for a boycott of the town until Councillor McGregor publicly apologizes for her comments. [3] We can't stand for racism and hateful attacks on unhoused people from public officials. A huge petition calling for Councillor McGregor to apologize could be the tipping point that forces to walk back her disgusting statements and make a public apology. [1] https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/stop-feeding-them-slave-lake-facing-boycott-after-comments-about-homeless-people-1.5180409 [2] https://www.narcity.com/en-ca/news/slave-lake-councillor-says-stop-feeding-being-so-nice-to-homeless-people [3]See [1]

"Time to name lanes after women and BIPOC Torontonians because their names are not on our streets," Paula Fletcher. This was in response to a constituents query regarding laneway names. I think it's time to elevate Black Women's names, their legacy, to the streets we live, work and play on everyday. An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 freedom-seekers — born free or enslaved — reached Canada through the Underground Railroad. In 1850, over 35,000 Black persons lived in Canada West. To promote emigration to Canada, Mary Ann Shadd publicized the successes of Black persons living in freedom in Canada through The Provincial Freeman, a weekly newspaper first printed on 24 March 1853. “Self-Reliance Is the True Road to Independence” was the paper’s motto. From Adrienne Shadd. A descendant of Abraham Doras Shadd, a prominent abolitionist in the 19th century, and Mary Ann Shadd Cary. "Being at the helm of a weekly paper had been a difficult introduction to the newspaper business. She had suffered insults and criticisms as the outspoken editress but, undaunted, she intended to keep it going by any means necessary. She unflinchingly called on more Black women to take their seat in the editor’s chair of the nation’s newspapers and periodicals. And by so doing herself, she had forever made her mark on history as the first Black woman to publish and edit a newspaper in North America." Dundas Street was named after Henry Dundas who delayed the abolition of slavery for fifteen years and supported slavery as a means to ensure the economic benefit of the UK. Black and Indigenous history is all but white washed in Toronto. This could be the start of recapturing space that has been lost to ignorance. It would be fitting for a Black woman who advocated for the abolition of slavery and for women’s suffrage for the better part of her life, would be elevated to replace a racist white man.

Research proves masks significantly reduce infections and save lives. All the other provinces and most countries require their use. There is no excuse for BC not doing the same. COVID infections are increasing exponentially in BC. As of Nov 3rd there are over 3000 active cases and more than another 6000 people who have been exposed but not counted in that number. More deaths are likely to follow in the 28 BC long term care facilities which have outbreaks. Meanwhile school children are packed into schools and that bars and restaurants remain open. At the same time people are ordered to keep family members and friends out of their homes. Our provincial government is failing to adopt measures to protect the health of seniors, vulnerable citizens, teachers, medical and other front line workers. This does nothing for the well-being of people who hear the message they are expendable.