On March 11, 1985 – 26 years ago today – the Council of Canadians issued a media release announcing its formation. That media release stated, “The Council of Canadians has as its fundamental goals, a new and better Canada with more and better jobs for Canadians, a higher standard of living for Canadians, and a sovereign Canada that plays an important role among the world community of nations.”
Mel Hurtig |
Marion Dewar |
Eric Kierans |
Anne Claire Poirier |
In the media release, Edmonton publisher Mel Hurtig emphasized that the Council would be “positive in its program”, Ottawa Mayor Marion Dewar said, “The Council of Canadians brings together Canadians from every region, every political philosophy, and every economic sector,” the Hon. Eric Kierans said, “we don’t want to lose control of our economy, our culture and our sovereignty,” and Montreal filmmaker Anne Claire Poirier said, “At the mid-point of a life spent in seeking and defending my identity as a woman and as a Quebecker, I am today extending my action to the defence of Canadian autonomy, without which my identity is at risk.”
The release highlighted that, “Mr. Hurtig said the new organization is very concerned about the dangers of a possible comprehensive bilateral trade agreement with the U.S. and the potential harmful effects to the Canadian economy of such an agreement. The C.O.C. will devote much effort towards studying the economic and political ramifications of the soon-to-be-released report of the Macdonald Royal Commission, which is widely thought to be on the verge of recommending a free trade agreement with the U.S.”
Some of the other founding members of the Council of Canadians included Doris Anderson, Margaret Atwood, Maude Barlow, Pierre Berton, Gerry Caplan, Stephen Clarkson, Sheila Copps M.P., Hon. T.C. Douglas, Graeme Gibson, Hon. Walter Gordon, Hon. Herb Gray, Grace Hartman, Pauline Jewett M.P., Margaret Laurence, Gordon Laxer, James Lorimer, Paul Martin Jr., Farley Mowat, Peter C. Newman, Heather Robertson, Lloyd Shaw, David Suzuki, Mel Watkins, and Robert White.
To read the full media release, please go to http://canadians.org/publications/CP/2005/winter/first_day.html. To review our 25 years of action, please see http://canadians.org/publications/CP/2010/autumn/25-years.pdf.
Happy 26th!
