Updates

OTTAWA – A total of 301 organizations, academics and former politicians from across the country are calling on all levels of government in Canada to take urgent steps to strengthen human rights oversight amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier in April, the federal government announced several changes to the leadership of the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB). Michael Sabia, the Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and former CEO of Caisse de dépôt et placements du Québec (CDPQ), is now Chair of the Board. 

Ottawa—A large collection of health, faith, environmental, labour and social justice groups, representing one million three hundred thousand Canadians, have sent a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau and his cabinet asking that in the federal bailout to the oil and gas industry, expected later this week, no more money be given to companies, only to workers.

A large collection of health, faith, environmental, labour and social justice groups, representing one million three hundred thousand Canadians, have sent the following letter to Prime Minister Trudeau and his cabinet asking that in the federal bailout to the oil and gas industry, expected later this week, no more money be given to companies, only to workers.

To the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, 

Cc: Federal Cabinet Ministers 

On March 11, 2020, Vancouver earned the designation of “Blue Community” – a bold move which will keep water protected from privatization and ban the sale of bottled water in municipal buildings.

Join Councillors Christine Boyle (Vancouver) and Joe Keithley (Burnaby), Chief Kukpi7 Judy Wilson (Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs) and Joey Hartman (board member, the Council of Canadians) on March 23, 2020 to celebrate World Water Day as the Council of Canadians presents Blue Communities certificates to the City of Vancouver and the City of Burnaby.

Ottawa – Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland committed to changing the way Canada negotiates and adopts trade agreements in a letter released as Parliament discussed the ratification of NAFTA 2.1. 

Ottawa and Amsterdam – As the Netherlands Parliament votes on ratifying the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) this morning, new documents reveal that Canadian regulators have been using the agreement to weaken European food safety regulations.

Ottawa – On Sunday, January 26, 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland called on opposition parties to fast-track the CUSMA deal “without undue delay.” In response, the Council of Canadians, who have scrutinized trade agreements since the early days of the 1988 Canada-U.S. Free Trade agreement, questioned if the Minister hopes to curtail democratic debate in Canada.

Op-ed written for the The Star, January 6, 2019, by Gordon Laxer, Political Economist and professor emeritus at the University of Alberta.

Donald Trump likes to smash things, such as the U.S. commitment to the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran Nuclear Deal. Occasionally he smashes bad things, perhaps inadvertently, opening a crack and the light gets in.

OTTAWA — After months of negotiations, a new NAFTA deal was reached between the U.S. Congress, Mexico and Canada. While the deal is still under wraps, it appears that some key positive changes have been made. However, the deal is more of the same, says the Council of Canadians.