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Help fund the urgent federal court appeal!

Thanks to overwhelming support and generosity from people like you, the Hupacasath First Nation had the funds needed to take the Harper government to court this past June in an historic legal challenge.

The Hupacasath are fighting the extreme and secretive corporate rights deal known as the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), which threatens the environment and public health and exposes Canada to 31 years of costly lawsuits.

And right now they urgently need our collective support once more.

Despite a powerful legal case arguing that the government has a duty to consult First Nations, the federal court sided with the Harper government. But today there is renewed hope. The Hupcasath and their legal team are mounting an appeal of the ruling – but time is short and they can’t do it alone.

That’s where you and I come in.

The Hupacasath need to raise $300,000 by September 26th in order to move their appeal forward. This is no small feat, especially with the Harper government petitioning the court to force the Hupacasath to pay over $100,000 in legal costs.

It’s appalling that legal action was needed in the first place to force a proper debate in Parliament on FIPA. And it’s even more appalling that our government is taking punitive action against this First Nation of 300 people for standing up for their constitutional rights and the interests of all Canadians.

But the Hupacasath are refusing to be intimidated. They are not backing down and we must once again stand with them.

Please donate generously right now.

I know we can do this. Together with partners Leadnow, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, the Chiefs of Ontario, Avaaz and Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice, more than $150,000 has been raised for their legal costs. We’re raising our fundraising goal to $30,000, and with your support I know we can reach it.

The September 26th deadline is rapidly approaching and there’s no time to waste. Donate online here or call in your donation to the Council of Canadians at 1-800-387-7177.

With hope and resolve,

Maude Barlow

National Chairperson, The Council of Canadians

Notes:


  • 100 per cent of all donations go directly to the Hupacasath First Nation’s legal costs through the law firm Underhill Boies Parker (www.ubplaw.ca/lawyers.php).


  • Donations are not tax deductible.


  • If insufficient funds are collected to permit the appeal to proceed, all donations will be directed towards paying down the more than $100,000 in outstanding legal costs.