Letter to the editor

Pam Woolridge — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 20:31:08 +0000

Respond to a recent news article and send a letter to the editor using the form below. Most letters are 150-300 words long.

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Pour nous contacter

Pam Woolridge — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 16:25:41 +0000

Si vous nous soutenez déjà ou si vous aimeriez nous soutenir, faire des commentaires sur nos campagnes ou désirez davantage de renseignements sur la manière de vous impliquer, n’hésitez pas à nous contacter.

Letter to the editor: Say "no" to CETA

Pam Woolridge — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 19:05:22 +0000

Trade promoters say that there are always some winners and some losers in “free” trade agreements. But the more you learn about the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA), the fewer benefits you see for Canadian families and communities. Instead, we give while corporations take.

Send a letter to your local paper. *Please be sure to add your own comments.

Sample letter to the editor

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To the Editor:

The Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has received a rocky reception in Europe. More than 2.5 million Europeans have signed a petition contesting it and many states refuse to sign the document in its present state, much less help it through the EU Parliament.

In Canada, this election could determine whether we ratify CETA or not.

While many Canadians are not aware of CETA, they should be. It contains provisions that will give corporations the right to sue Canada over policy decisions. It cuts regulations, could privatize our public services, promotes an unequal economy and increases corporate power.

Voters need to ask candidates what they know about CETA and where they stand. The consequences of this trade deal are a serious threat to our ability to govern locally.

We do need trade, but we must not give up our ability to govern locally. If CETA is ratified it will interfere with our ability to protect our environment, keep our water systems public, and maintain our public health care system.

The deal includes patent protection for brand-name pharmaceuticals, which will add millions to price of pharmaceutical drugs, meaning we have to pay more for our prescriptions.

Since NAFTA, Canada has been sued more times than any other country through investor-state disputes. CETA grants even more rights to foreign investors.

Canadians and Europeans must reject CETA. We must not hand more power over to corporations.

Signed,

Please be sure to add your own comments.

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Public forum on the state of our democracy

Pam Woolridge — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 14:28:21 +0000

A public forum on the state of our democracy

It’s been nine years of job losses, health care privatization, falling wages, and environmental neglect.

It’s time for change.

Join a compelling lineup of speakers at public forums from coast to coast to learn how you can inspire democratic participation in your community.

Letter to the editor: Murdered and missing Indigenous women

Pam Woolridge — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 13:49:32 +0000

Over the past three years the Council of Canadians has repeatedly called for a national inquiry on murdered and missing Indigenous women.

That's because although Indigenous women make up 4.3 per cent of the Canadian population, they account for 16 per cent of murdered women and 11.3 per cent of missing women in Canada. Over the past 30 years, 1,026 Indigenous women have been murdered and 160 are missing. Sadly those numbers only continue to increase.

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Subject *

Letter *

I strongly support the call for a national inquiry on murdered and missing Indigenous women in Canada.

Although Indigenous women make up 4.3 per cent of the Canadian population, they account for 16 per cent of murdered women and 11.3 per cent of missing women in this country. Over the past thirty years, 1,026 Indigenous women have been murdered and 160 are missing. Sadly those numbers only continue to increase.

We need to deeply examine why this is happening and find the answers to stop this.

I believe that Prime Minister Harper is wrong when he refuses to hold an inquiry to understand the root causes of this situation and to develop a national action plan to address that.

I hope people will call their Member of Parliament and municipal councillor and ask them to support a national inquiry. The families of missing Indigenous women should know that people across the country stand in support with them. We all have a moral responsibility to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. An inquiry on murdered and missing Indigenous women in Canada is a crucial step toward true reconciliation.

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Stay strong on Energy East, Premier Wynne

Pam Woolridge — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 20:30:06 +0000

Email Premier Kathleen Wynne to let her know that you expect her to seriously apply the seven conditions for Energy East and reject the pipeline.

Subject *

Letter *

Dear Premier Wynne,

I was heartened by your recent announcement alongside Premier Couillard of seven conditions for the Energy East pipeline.

Any serious application of these conditions would see our province say “no” to Energy East, which is all risk and little reward for Ontarians.

I am now thoroughly dismayed that you’ve since adopted Prime Minister Harper, Premier Prentice and Premier Wall’s views on the Energy East pipeline, refusing to consider the upstream emissions this pipeline would cause.

The tar sands are reaching the limits of current pipeline capacity. Industry plans to triple production are dependent on new export infrastructure. At 1.1 million barrels per day, Energy East could spur a close to 40 per cent expansion of the tar sands.

Filling the Energy East pipeline would unleash 32 million tonnes of carbon pollution every year – more than what Ontario eliminated by phasing out coal-fired power plants.

Any genuine review of Energy East’s climate impacts must include upstream climate pollution, not just the emissions associated with converting and building the pipeline in Ontario.

My concerns with the pipeline don’t end here. The proposed route crosses critical waterways and drinking water sources, such as the Nipigon River (flowing quickly into Lake Superior), Trout Lake, the Rideau River, the Oxford aquifer and the Ottawa River.

While TransCanada will insist it is compliant with your condition for “the highest available technical standards for public safety and environmental protection,” Ontario must look at TransCanada’s track record. TransCanada has had five pipeline ruptures in the past 14 months. Most of its pipeline spills are discovered by people, not electronic monitoring systems. Energy East would be transporting diluted bitumen produced in the tar sands, which sinks when spilled in water, making it near impossible to fully clean up.

If Ontario wants to be a climate leader and protect critical provincial waterways, we must say “no” to Energy East.

Sincerely,

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ONÉ : Nous demandons une étude équitable

Pam Woolridge — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 20:47:56 +0000

L’on s’attend à ce que TransCanada dépose sous peu une description complète du projet de l’oléoduc Énergie Est auprès de l'Office national de l’énergie (ONÉ).

Objet *

À l’attention de *

Peter Watson: peter.watson@neb-one.gc.ca
Vice-présidente Lyne Mercier: lyne.mercier@neb-one.gc.ca

Lettre *

M. Watson,

La ONÉ a élaboré une liste de questions à étudier, liste qu’elle utilisera pour évaluer le projet d’oléoduc Énergie Est en faveur de TransCanada.

Toute étude équitable de ce projet d’oléoduc doit inclure une liste des impacts de ce projet sur les changements climatiques, les impacts d’une production accrue de pétrole de sables bitumeux sur les collectivités autochtones situées en aval et le fait que la vaste majorité du pétrole brut produit sera exporté, non raffiné.

Une étude équitable de ce projet doit tenir compte de l’opinion de ceux qui seront directement touchés par ce projet. Les changements récents instaurés par le gouvernement Harper, limitant ceux qui ont l’autorisation de participer aux réunions de la ONÉ, constituent un obstacle important à l’expression de l’opinion publique, ceci pour un projet qui entraînerait des retombées à un niveau national.

Toute étude du projet Énergie Est qui ne tient pas compte de l’impact  sur les changements climatiques et de l’opinion publique serait incomplète et non légitime.

Sincèrement,

Nom *

Adresse électronique *

Ville/Municipalité Province/Territoire *

Non à l’oléoduc Énergie Est !

Pam Woolridge — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 16:13:58 +0000

PÉTITION DESTINÉE AU GOUVERNEMENT DU CANADA

Nous soussignés résidents du Canada, désirons attirer l’attention du gouvernement du Canada sur les points suivants :

Convois de pétrole des sables bitumeux sur le fleuve St-Laurent ? Pas question !

Pam Woolridge — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:52:22 +0000

Le fleuve St-Laurent est en voie d’être transformé en couloir de transport pour le pétrole des sables bitumeux d’Alberta, un des pétroles les plus « sales » au monde. Envoyez une lettre à vos représentants élus et dites-leur pourquoi vous vous opposez aux convois de pétrole des sables bitumeux dans le bassin des Grands Lacs et du fleuve St-Laurent.

Objet *

Destinataire *

Lisa Raitt, Ministre du transport mintc@tc.gc.ca
David Heurtel, Ministre du développement durable, de l’environnement  et de la lutte contre les changements climatiques, ministre@mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca
Hoang Mai, Porte-parole en matière de transport du NPD, hoang.mai@parl.gc.ca
David McGuinty, Porte-parole en matière de transport, d’infrastructure et de collectivités du Parti libéral, david.mcguinty@parl.gc.ca
Elizabeth May, Dirigeante du Parti vert leader@greenparty.ca

Lettre *

Cher(e)s représentant(e)s élu(e)s,

Je suis extrêmement préoccupé(e) par les convois de pétrole des sables bitumeux sur le fleuve St-Laurent et dans le Golfe du St-Laurent. Transport Canada et le gouvernement du Québec ont approuvé ces convois, sans consulter le public et sans obtenir le consentement préalable libre et informé des collectivités autochtones concernées.

Le 24 septembre, le Minerva-Gloria, un navire de 250 mètres de long et 44 mètres de large a quitté le port de Sorel-Tracey au Québec en transportant approximativement 700 000 barils de bitume. Chaque jour, Suncor transporte par voie ferroviaire, du pétrole brut de l’Alberta vers un entrepôt au Québec géré par Kildair Services. Ces mégaprojets énergétiques consomment une quantité d’eau et d’énergie immense et constituent une menace plus grave que jamais pour le bassin des Grands Lacs et du fleuve St-Laurent. Un déversement dans ce cours d’eau aurait un impact catastrophique car il représente une source d’eau potable dont dépendent des millions de personnes.

Je vous demande avec insistance de mettre fin aux convois de pétrole des sables bitumeux de Suncor, et de mener un réel débat public ainsi qu’une évaluation environnementale complète sur les impacts de ce projet.

Cordialement,

Nom *

Courriel *

Ville/Municipalité Province/Territoire *

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Tar sands oil shipments on the St. Lawrence River? No way!

Pam Woolridge — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 19:15:41 +0000

The St. Lawrence River is being turned into a transport route for Alberta bitumen, one of the world’s dirtiest forms fuel. Send a letter to elected officials and tell them why you oppose shipping dirty tar sands oil in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin.

Subject *

To: *

Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, mintc@tc.gc.ca
David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, ministre@mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca 
Hoang Mai, NDP Transport Critic, hoang.mai@parl.gc.ca 
David McGuinty, Liberal Critic of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, david.mcguinty@parl.gc.ca
Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader, elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca

Letter *

Dear elected representatives,

I am extremely concerned about tar sands oil being shipped along the St. Lawrence River through the Gulf of St. Lawrence.  Transport Canada and the government of Quebec approved these shipments without public consultation and free, prior and informed consent of indigenous communities.
 
On September 24, the Minerva-Gloria, a 250-metre long and 44 metre-wide vessel, carried an estimated 700,000 barrels of bitumen from the port of Sorel-Tracey in Quebec. Every day, Suncor transports heavy crude oil on trains from Alberta to a storage space in Quebec operated by Kildair Services. These extreme energy projects are more water and energy intensive and are threatening the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin like never before. A spill would have catastrophic effects on this waterway that millions of people rely on for drinking water.
 
I urge you to stop Suncor’s tar sands oil shipments and conduct real public debate as well as a full environmental review and evaluation of the implications of this project.

Sincerely,

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