The 2016 federal budget - the Trudeau government's first - is the perfect opportunity for the government to show that they're living up to a campaign promise to end massive subsidies for polluting oil, gas and coal companies. Canada's federal government hands out over $1.6 billion every year to fossil fuel producers. On top of this, Export Development Canada - wholly owned by the government - provides as much as $6 billion per year for dirty energy producers to continue fueling the climate crisis at home and abroad. Canada first promised to put an end to these wasteful and polluting subsidies in 2009 along with the rest of the G20. And yet, little meaningful action has followed. Even under the new Trudeau government, Export Development Canada just offered a $750 million bailout to fossil fuel companies. This is bad climate policy and bad economic policy. The last thing the country needs right now is to lock itself further into the volatile oil market that is wreaking havoc on livelihoods across the country. Bailing out oil producers is not the solution - the real answer is breaking our dependency on this boom and bust sector that is taking the climate down with it. It is high time for Canada to instead get serious about building the prosperous clean energy economy that must power this century. Now is the Trudeau government's chance to lead. China and the US are already moving, promising to establish a deadline for a fossil fuel subsidy phase-out, and Canada could show its true climate colours by leading by example with an ambitious 2020 deadline to end these reckless handouts. 2016 is set to be a promising year for Canadian climate action, but we can’t let it be undermined by continuing to use taxpayer dollars to fund the very problem we are trying to tackle. Let’s start the clock by signaling an ambitious phase out of polluter handouts by 2020 in your upcoming budget.

Saudi Arabia has one of the worst human rights record in the world, and is currently leading a nine-country coalition committing horrific violations against civilians in Yemen’s bloody civil war. The UN has accused Saudi Arabia of crimes against humanity for “widespread and systematic” attacks on civilians, including the relentless bombing of residential neighbourhoods, and treating entire cities as military targets.[2] Thousands of innocent civilians have been killed, and millions more injured or displaced in what rights groups are calling a severe humanitarian crisis causing immense human suffering. [3] Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper brokered this $15 billion arms deal to Saudi Arabia, despite widespread calls from civil society to drop it. Already it’s been found that Canadian-made combat vehicles have been used by Saudi Arabia to mobilize troops at its border with Yemen.[4] Like 48% of Canadians, the new Liberal government has stated it does not approve of the $15-billion arms sale to the Saudi government. But the Liberals have also said that they won’t do anything to stop it -- even though it is completely within its power to do so. [5] Canada should be taking a leadership role in the international arena, especially when it comes to respect for human rights and the protection of civilians in war. The Liberals have committed to “a new era” of Canadian foreign policy, but this arms deal falls in direct conflict with that goal. Last week, European lawmakers passed a resolution "to launch an initiative aimed at imposing an EU arms embargo against Saudi Arabia" over its alleged war crimes in Yemen. We need Trudeau to do the same here in Canada. [6][7] Sources [1] http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/former-liberal-minister-calls-for-ottawa-to-revisit-saudi-arms-deal/article28944925/ [2] http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/un-report-increases-pressure-on-ottawa-to-halt-saudi-arms-deal/article28425329/ & https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/09/yemen-the-forgotten-war/ [3] http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/former-liberal-minister-calls-for-ottawa-to-revisit-saudi-arms-deal/article28944925/ [4] http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canada-has-the-ability-to-cancel-saudi-arms-deal-but-wont-despite-human-rights-consequences [5] http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grenier-saudi-arms-deal-1.3469205 & http://www.cp24.com/news/trudeau-promises-new-era-for-canada-s-top-diplomats-1.2643723 [6] http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/02/25/Saudi-Arms-Sales-Questioned-After-EU-Ban/

We the undersigned submit this petition for the following reasons: The origins of the TPP are in the document " America’s Pacific Century" authored by then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2011. It is a manifesto for the US domination of the Pacific both militarily and economically. It is intended to isolate China militarily and diminish its economic presence in the region. To this end 60% of the US Navy is being re-assigned to the Pacific and the TPP was originated to isolate China economically. Given these origins the primary goal of the TPP is empire building and little to do with so called free trade. The TTP claims to be a partnership which it is not. The US is overwhelmingly dominate as the world’s largest economy. The other signatories to the agreement are much smaller and can only be considered satellite economies. The major benefits of such an imbalanced “partnership” will accrue to the dominate nation at the expense of the lesser partners. The Government of Canada has just signed on to the agreement after a less than acceptable and perfunctory review of the TPP. We feel there should be a much more thorough review of the social and economic impact of the TPP and other such agreements, including NAFTA. While the Government of Canada has promised a full Parliamentary review before ratification in two years time this is not sufficient as it is subject to the impulses of Parliament and partisanship. Given that these agreements are in fact constitutional in nature with potentially profound impacts on the country socially and economically it must go to a national referendum- much like the referendum on the Charlottetown Accord of 1992. If such agreements are to be ratified they must be the clear and unequivocal choice of the majority of Canadians. Given the propensity for various governments to pass such massive legislation with less than adequate scrutiny and in a preemptory manner we feel that henceforth all such agreements must be submitted to a national referendum for public ratification. This must become a statute in Canadian law. KNOW MORE ABOUT THE TPP, SCROLL DOWN TO "UPDATES" Important Notes: THE DEADLINE FOR SIGNING THIS PETITION IS SEPTEMBER 31st, 2016 This petition will also act as resource center where I will be posting more information on the TPP and our campaign. Keep in Touch. The September 31st, 2016 deadline was set to allow the government time to organize the requested cross country public hearings.

See Andy on youtube! Seach 'VHStaperipper' or follow the link of the left labeled 'campaign website' "These videotapes are a thing of the past and I think that smoking, which is closely associated with COPD, should be as well" says Andy Why is COPD an important conversation? More than 2.4 million people in Ontario – one in five – are diagnosed with a serious lung disease including more than 870,000 with COPD. One in four people in Ontario (27.6 per cent) are likely to be diagnosed and receive medical attention for COPD in their lifetime. COPD is one of the deadliest, costliest and most prevalent diseases in Ontario. COPD patients are heavy users of the health-care system with much higher readmission rate than other diseases and among the longest and therefore most costly hospital stays of any illness. While mortality rates of other chronic diseases are decreasing, deaths related to COPD are rising. COPD is expected to be the third leading cause of death by 2020. Mr. Andy Martin, the VHSTapeRipper, is doing something about this. In 2009 Mr. Martin lost his father to COPD and is inspired to bring awareness to this disease and the Ontario Lung Association so we can change the outcome for all Ontarians through research and programs. Mr. Martin has recently launched a YouTube channel, hoping to create “ buzz and raise awareness for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease”, which killed his father in 2009, by trying to set the first official world record for the most video cassettes ripped in half in one minute. Yes video tapes. But he has run into a snag. Guinness World Records is refusing to recognize his bid. Well that doesn’t sit well with us or Andy. This is why we are reaching out to you today. We need your help to help Andy and the OLA raise awareness about the effects of COPD by signing this petition asking Guinness World Records to consider adding the category acknowledging Andy’s attempt.

The 1995 siege at Gustafsen Lake, B.C. was the largest paramilitary assault in modern Canadian history against Indigenous peoples. Twenty years later, 83-year old Secwepemc Elder Wolverine is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Attorney General Jody Wilson for a national public inquiry into the Ts’Peten/Gustafsen Lake Standoff. In 1995, after a long history of peaceful attempts to have Secwepemc sovereignty respected, Indigenous people from the Secewpemc nation and their supporters took a stand on sacred Sundance lands at Ts'Peten, aka Gustafsen Lake. The incident began after a local white rancher, Lyle James began demanding that the sacred Secwepemc Sundance Camp leave land to which he claimed ownership. Approximately 24 Sundancers set up camp to defend Ts'Peten. Beginning in August 1995, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) surrounded the Ts'Peten Defenders. Over the next month police, politicians, and media escalated the situation to make the siege the most expensive and largest domestic military operation in Canada's history: armoured personnel carriers, .50 calibre machine guns, land mines, and an astonishing 77,000 rounds of ammunition were directed at the land defenders. For twenty years, the Ts'Peten Defenders have been calling for a national public inquiry. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says, “It is time for a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations peoples.” The injustice and brutal force faced by the Ts’Peten/Gustafsen Lake Defenders at the hands of the paramilitary forces of the Federal government must not continue to go unaddressed and unknown to the greater public. The time for this national public inquiry into Gustafsen Lake has come.

According to www.cwp-csp.com, 1in 7 or 4.8 million Canadians are homeless. Poverty costs Canada as a whole between $72 billion and $84 billion annually.

To protect human rights and civil liberties, to end distress of families who have no clue to whats happening to their loved ones and save the image of our academia

Former Vancouver cityplanner Brent Toderian has called on developers of the nearly completed Trump International Hotel & Tower in Vancouver — set to be one of the city’s tallest and most expensive — to immediately remove Trump’s name from the building and things associated with it. [1] We endorse this demand. Sign this petition now to rid Vancouver of Trump’s hateful brand. UPDATE: A local city councillor wants to see Donald Trump’s name taken off of Trump Tower in Toronto, too. [2] [1] Remove Trump name from Vancouver tower, says former city planner. CBC News. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/donald-trump-tower-vancouver-ban-twitter-1.3355241 [2] City councillor wants Donald Trump's name removed from Toronto's Trump Tower. CP24 http://www.cp24.com/news/city-councillor-wants-donald-trump-s-name-removed-from-toronto-s-trump-tower-1.2691534

The Paris Climate Conference is our last best chance to avoid runaway climate change. For the last ten years Canada has been actively derailing international climate talks, and now has a responsibility to the communities most vulnerable to climate change to take swift, bold action in an effort to mitigate the worst impacts of this catastrophe. With a new government, we can change Canada's course on climate action. As an affluent country, Canada has the resources and the technology to make a just transition to a 100% renewables-based economy that honours the Free Prior and Informed Consent of Indigenous peoples. We want to see true climate leadership from the Canadian government. Time’s running out. We need more than aspirational statements -- we need real action. Preventing a global rise in temperature by 1.5 degrees celsius means reaching zero emissions by 2050 -- and we need a just transition to a clean energy economy to get there.

American business tycoon and now Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump has called for a complete, blanket ban to prevent any muslim from entering the US for any reason. His ban could prevent over a million Muslim Canadians from crossing the border. Trump's proposed policy is something you'd expect to find on the comments section of an ultra-right wing conspiracy site. Coming from an American presidential nominee, this level of xenophobia and hatred is nothing short of jaw dropping and incredibly dangerous. We've already seen increased violence against muslims in Canada as a result of the anti-Muslim hatred and fear stirred up by former Prime Minister Harper during his desperate re-election campaign. Trump's comments and fear mongering risk inciting widespread religious hatred and have no place in Canada. Ever. Canada's criminal code outlaws hate propaganda, and Canada should ban Donald Trump from entering Canada and spreading his hate-mongering. For life. Sources: Donald Trump Calls for Barring Muslims From Entering U.S. (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/12/07/donald-trump-calls-for-banning-muslims-from-entering-u-s/ Donald Trump calls for ‘complete shutdown’ of Muslims entering the U.S. (National Post) http://news.nationalpost.com/news/donald-trump-calls-for-complete-shutdown-of-muslims-entering-the-u-s

Introduction: To get a quick fix on what the TPP is all about watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw7P0RGZQxQ Look under "Updates" below for articles and videos on the TPP Send your personal feedback to the Government of Canada at: [email protected]. ______________________________ I have been following politics in Canada for the past forty years and seen the loss of our sovereignty in various ways; the NAFTA, 9/11, Fortress North America. And of course, our very close proximity to the world’s singular super power drains away sovereignty and our ability to think for ourselves. One of the single greatest influences for our loss of sovereignty though is neoliberalism. We have not felt the full brute force of neoliberalism but many, many, other countries have; Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Italy… and the list goes on. Neoliberalism is the corporate dominated free market economy that has come to dominate globally over the last thirty years. Quite simply, it is where profits come before people, and where nation states and their sovereignty are erased in favor of corporate exploitation. The TPP is neoliberalism on steroids and a threat to every country so gullible as to ratify it. It is just one more "agreement" leading to the privatization of government. With the recent demise of the Harper regime I see a complacency set in that we are now back in “safe hands.” This is simply not so. Going back to the time of PE Trudeau, the Liberals like the Conservatives are Bay Street parties. Both parties are willing to sell out the public interest and the middle class. We have to decide if we are going to be governed by duly elected and responsible governments or global corporations and banks whose only loyalty is to their bottom line. Unless there is strong and very vocal public opposition to the TPP I believe it will be passed. This is not a decision that can be left to the vagaries of Parliament. The public interest must prevail. We must be the loudest voice to ensure this odious legislation is not ratified. This signing is going to take place in the next few months. I urge everybody to make it your top priority. It is up to us! Sincerely, Robert Billyard , Mission BC

These 'future' patronage appointments, unprecedented in Canadian history, will entrench within the new government the worst tendencies of the Conservative party — secrecy, hyper-partisanship, an incredible disregard for science and evidence-based policy, etc. — that voters so fiercely rejected. Take, for example, the case of the National Energy Board (NEB), which regulates the construction of pipelines and the import of oil and natural gas. Because of Harper’s future appointments, Prime Minister Trudeau will not be able to replace any temporary members of the NEB until 2018, or any permanent members until 2020. Given Harper’s record on the environment and his history of dismantling environmental protections, this move should be seen as nothing less than an attempt to undermine the Liberal promise to take action on climate change and reduce greenhouse emissions. This is a slimy move, even for Harper. Opposition parties and top government officials are calling on the Liberal government to cancel these future appointments immediately. [2][3] Let’s join them and let Harper know once and for all that Canada has moved on. --------- [1] Doomed Harper government made 49 “future” patronage appointments. iPolitics. http://ipolitics.ca/2015/11/23/doomed-harper-government-made-49-future-patronage-appointments/ [2] Cancel Harper’s “future appointments”: Boulerice. iPolitics. http://ipolitics.ca/2015/11/23/cancel-harpers-future-appointments-boulerice/ [3] Disband National Energy Board to deal with Harper’s appointments: Collenette. iPolitics. http://ipolitics.ca/2015/11/24/disband-national-energy-board-to-deal-with-harpers-appointments-collenette/