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Council of Canadians marches for climate justice

The Council of Canadians was in Quebec City today for the biggest climate march in Canadian history. It also took part in solidarity rallies in communities across the country.

CBC reports, “A climate-change march drew about 25,000 people to the streets of Quebec City on Saturday, as protesters try to encourage premiers to take a tougher stance on climate and pipeline regulations. The march was organized by Act On Climate — a coalition of groups including environmental groups, unions, students and aboriginal groups. It’s in preparation for a premiers’ summit on climate change which will take place on Tuesday, April 14.”

The Globe and Mail adds, “The organizers aimed to press provincial and territorial leaders to turn the tide on oil sands expansion and the corresponding development of pipelines. …Saturday’s demonstration urged premiers to take a firmer stand on projects like Energy East that environmentalists say will facilitate expansion of the oil sands.”

Activists with the Montreal, Fredericton, Moncton, York University, Toronto, Ottawa, Northumberland and Mid-Island chapters marched in Quebec City, while the Moncton, Halifax, South Shore, Toronto, Peterborough-Kawarthas, Chilliwack and Langley-Surrey-White Rock chapters took part in solidarity rallies.

After Tuesday’s meeting in Quebec City, the premiers will be meeting again on July 14-18 in Newfoundland and Labrador to finalize a provincial-territorial energy and climate change strategy. That will be an important test of whether the premiers heard our demands today of ‘yes to climate protection, no to expanding the tar sands and pipelines, and yes to just, green, renewable energy’.

Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow has commented, “Premiers need to get on the right side of history, reject extreme energy projects and help pave the way to more equitable, sustainable ways of being. We are demanding a Canadian energy strategy which features meaningful regulatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions, a just transition to conservation, energy efficiency and the rapid expansion of public and community-owned renewable energy.”

For more on our campaigns for climate justice, please click here.