Analysis
Five reasons for Canada to say goodbye and good riddance to KXL
Robin Tress | January 20, 2021The final nail has been placed in the Keystone XL (KXL) pipeline’s coffin as TC Energy suspends work on the pipeline. While President Joe Biden might be delivering the final blow, the pipeline was primarily laid to rest by 13 years of hard-fought organizing and land defense led…
The federal government’s scheme to promote water P3s in Canada
Dylan Penner | January 20, 2021Written by Vi Bui and Dylan Penner
This past summer, the township of Mapleton, Ontario dealt a direct blow to the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s (CIB) attempt to privatize water in Canada by ending their Request for Proposals (RFP) process and choosing to finance their water and…
Hindsight: 2020 Part 3 - the road ahead
Robin Tress | January 19, 2021This is the third post in a series. Read part one and part two.
Goals for 2021: we need a real net-zero plan
This year we need to build on what we managed to accomplish in 2020, and build back from the blows we were dealt. When it comes to organizing for climate justice, we…
Don’t let the federal government privatize your water – a lesson from Mapleton, ON
Dylan Penner | January 14, 2021A small township outside of Guelph, Mapleton Ontario, had been promoted as the poster child for a federal effort by the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to privatize water and wastewater across Canada. However, this past summer Mapleton called off its plans to privatize its…
Hindsight: 2020 Part 2 - climate policy, fossil fuel industry and land defense
Robin Tress | January 13, 2021This is part two of a series: Read part one and part three.
In 2020, while the focus of climate policy shifted significantly toward net zero emissions planning, governments continued to be guided by corporate interests and continued to criminalize land defenders working to stop…
Is Trudeau’s new climate plan enough?
Dylan Penner | January 8, 2021Late in 2020, Prime Minister Trudeau launched a new climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. It may well be the government’s most ambitious climate plan yet, but unfortunately due to decades of lackluster climate policies in Canada the bar has been set very low…
Hindsight: 2020 part 1 - transformation is possible
Robin Tress | January 8, 2021This is the first post in a series. Read part two and part three.
The COVID-19 crisis sent a shock through our entire society, revealing deep inequalities and deficiencies in our democratic processes. Our collective responses to COVID-19 showed us that rapid and transformative…
How we respond to threats against democracy
Christina Warner | January 8, 2021I was horrified by the scenes of violence that unfolded earlier this week in Washington, D.C. Witnessing the violent interruption of democratic proceedings so close to home is unsettling, and the continued presence of white supremacy in our society is deeply disturbing.
These…
Blue Communities in Latin America: Solidarity and Self Determination
The Council of Canadians | December 23, 2020Blue Communities are those that are committed to other ways of relating to nature. They protect water as a common good, are against its privatization and in favor of public community partnerships.
Written by Penca de Sábila, Colombia
The Blue Communities Project is an…
Does accountability delayed mean accountability denied?
Angela Giles | December 17, 2020After years of stalling, the RCMP has finally been rebuked for stomping on the rights of peaceful protesters in 2013: conducting warrantless searches, stops and spot checks and the retention of personal and social media data.
A few weeks ago, the CRCC (Civilian Review and…
The Liberal "Promise Recycling" Update
Dylan Penner | December 9, 2020As the climate crisis worsens and the pandemic’s second wave rages, people and communities need a just recovery and a Green New Deal. The Liberal’s recent Fall Economic Update failed to deliver on the bold transformation needed to rise to the challenges we’re facing.
It's…
We need a just recovery for public transit
Dylan Penner | December 8, 2020The fight to defend and expand public transit is about more than funding.
It’s about priorities.
It’s about building a bigger vision.
A vision for the future of public transit
The fight for public transit can and must be a key part of our collective fight for climate justice…