Three Canadian justice-seeking organizations will combine efforts on Saturday at the Ontario NDP Provincial Council to voice their fierce opposition to the ONDP support for Bill 168, which aims to officially conflate the definition of antisemitism with criticism of the state of Israel.
On Thursday, February 27, Bill 168 passed its second reading at Queen’s Park, with full support from both the Conservative Party, and the New Democratic Party.
Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), the Courage Coalition and Palestine House, representing 4900 supporters from all across Canada, all stand jointly opposed to this dangerous legislation, saying that it will promote racism and curtail civil liberties. They are deeply disappointed that the ONDP lacks the courage to stand against it. The IHRA definition was recently defeated in Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver’s city councils . This will be the first time it is adopted by a provincial or territorial government.
“1100+ people have sent letters to their NDP MPPs in the last three weeks pleading with them to respect our rights and not support Bill 168. So far they are being ignored. If the IHRA definition passes into law, it will pose serious threats to both Jewish and Palestinian people in Ontario” said Sheryl Nestel, on behalf of IJV in Toronto.
“The ONDP caucus have said that they understand how this bill fails to tackle antisemitism, yet they don’t seem to have the conviction to oppose it. As a Jewish person in Ontario, and as a vocal critic of Israel’s human rights violations, this legislation places me and my community at risk.”
More than 400 Canadian academics have recently signed a statement that decries the IHRA definition because:
It equates anti-semitism with criticism of Israel. It is an attack on the freedom of expression that allows us to stand up for human rights in Palestine and any other legitimate criticism of Israel. No other country or government in the world is protected from vocal critique in Canada. This Bill sets a frightening precedent.
It is far too vague at defining the very real problem of antisemitism, which is troubling considering the rise of white supremacy and racism against Jews that we see in Canada and around the world. Jews are put in danger when we don’t have clear eyes on what actually threatens them.
It’s clear, therefore, that the IHRA definition is harmful to both Jewish and Palestinian people, as well as anyone who chooses to publicly critique Israel.
“The ONDP, has chosen to support Doug Ford’s Conservative government who are following in the same footsteps as Donald Trump by passing Bill 168” said Courage Coalition member, Darrah Teitel.
“Many Courage members work to compel principled actions and policies from the New Democrat Party and we say this is a cynical and cowardly move on behalf of Horwath and her caucus. We want a party that stands up for human rights and against real antisemitism.”
This Saturday, at the ONDP Provincial Council, Electoral District Associations and their constituents have the opportunity to raise their voices to support direct democracy within their party. Several EDAs have passed resolutions against the IHRA Bill in the past two weeks alone and we expect to see those resolutions addressed by the council. This is important not only because of the Bill is harmful, but also because MPPs in the ONDP will also be bound to the IHRA definition. The result would mean that progressive MPPs could no longer point to the speak against the historical and current human rights abuses perpetrated by Israel.
“It is disappointing to see the NDP turn it’s back on the Palestinian people” said Hammam Farah of Palestine House, the Palestinian Community Centre. “My people have long suffered under the Israeli Apartheid Regime and Canada has long been complicit in this. The Liberal and Conservative Party have never been the party to support our rights, but to see the NDP slowly take the same direction is disheartening. We will not stand for it”.
Last week the RCMP raided unceded land to arrest peaceful land defenders. Members of the Wet’suwet’en and neighbouring Gitxsan nations have been camping there at various checkpoints to protect their land against the building of the Coastal Gas Link pipeline.
The pipeline would carry fracked gas from the BC interior to the coast. Fracking has been shown to be damaging to soil and water, and fracked gas creates significant climate emissions. This, at a time when humanity is in a race against time to prevent biodiversity loss and reduce climate emissions to zero.
During the raid, Ricochet journalist Jerome Turner, as well as Amber Bracken and Amanda Follett have been detained repeatedly and put in 60 ft exclusion zones with no wireless access, thereby impeding their abilities to report on the situation.
Courage Coalition condemns these actions by the RCMP.
The RCMP actions have not only been condemned by Amnesty International, the BC Civil Liberties Union and the Canadian Association of Journalists, they are in direct violation of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) and Indigenous law, as no consent from Indigenous hereditary elders was given to build the pipeline.
The Wet’suwet’en Nation, like most of the First Nations in BC, has never signed a treaty giving up its Aboriginal title. Several court decisions, including the 1997 Delgamuukw decision, have upheld the right of the traditional title holders, like the Unist’ot’en clan, to fulfill their duty under Wet’suwet’en law to protect the land.
Past NDP governments in BC have gone to great lengths to undermine these rights, responding to panic from industry at the prospect of having to gain consent from Indigenous nations to pursue resource extraction.
Premier John Horgan recently passed a law that was supposed to implement UNDRIP in BC. Despite this, he is now saying that the RCMP are “following the rule of law”.
While Ricochet and other independent media have diligently covered the arrests, mainstream media was slow in covering the story, only doing so when protesters in Regina were nearly run over by a car, and after hearing about media suppression.
Courage Coalition condemns the silence of the corporate media in the face of suppression. There must be freedom for journalists to provide the public with timely reports on RCMP activities.
We applaud progressive politicians like Charlie Angus, Joel Harden, Leah Gazan, Svend Robinson, Bhutila Karpoche, Laurel Collins, Jenny Kwan, and Niki Ashton who have spoken out against the RCMP raid and taken part in solidarity actions.
The decisions of the NDP-led BC government and the federal Liberals violate Canada’s constitution, break the spirit and letter of UNDRIP, and violate Wet’suwet’en law, which is still in effect on their traditional territories.
These decisions also undermine the faith and enthusiasm of the people in whose names these leaders speak, either as electors, residents, or party members.
As such, we believe:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must condemn the RCMP’s actions and reverse his stances on all current pipeline projects
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh must condemn Premier John Horgan and the provincial NDP’s actions during the RCMP standoff
The BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan NDP must reverse their stances on pipelines and condemn the RCMP raid.
Lastly, Premier John Horgan must call off the RCMP, respect Wet’suwet’en law and Canada’s constitution and condemn the paramilitary force’s infringement of freedom of the press.
Canada must not be a partner to violations of international law and the inalienable rights of Palestinians
The Trump administration’s so-called “deal of the century,” presented last week alongside the recently indicted Israeli PM, offers no chance for a just and lasting peace. Rather, Trump and Netanyhu’s plan serves only to further strip Palestinians of their rights and consolidate the colonial takings of Israel over the last five decades.
The plan, drafted without consultation of the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian Liberation Organization, or Palestinian civil society, entirely favours Israel and its colonial aims. It would grant Israel sovereignty over illegal occupations in the West Bank, which have for decades increasingly robbed Palestinians of their land and resources, in violation of international law and with no redress for the victims or repercussions for the offender . It would also greenlight the Israeli annexation of East-Jerusalem, as well as the Jordan Valley, and the Golan Heights. This plan would lock Palestinians into a series of separate bantustan-like territories connected by segregated bridges and tunnels with no borders outside of Israel’s.
The plan would also prevent Palestinians from taking any legal actions against either Israel or the United States at any tribunal, and it would force them to dismiss all pending actions, including the War Crimes investigations against Israel currently before the International Criminal Court.
Missing from this plan is any real move to address the question of the rights of Palestinian refugees, one of the largest U.N. recognized refugee populations in the world. U.N. resolution 194, re-affirmed every year since 1949, affirms that Palestinian “refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible.”
Canadian politicians must speak up and support international law. This renegade “peace” proposal is an attempt to enforce subjugation of the Palestinian people’s rights as refugees and human beings with equal rights. The NDP, Greens, and Liberals must voice their support for U.N. resolution 194 within the context of any peace agreement.
Any legitimate deal between Israel and Palestine must guarantee the long denied freedom and dignity of Palestiniansand enshrine the Right of Return for Palestinian refugeess. Anything else is a contribution to the ongoing colonization and to mass violation of international law.
We call on the NDP, Greens, and Liberals to denounce this plan and to defend the right to self determination of Palestinians, including the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees. Canadian political leaders must also call for long needed sanctions against Israel in order to end Canada’s long standing economic and political support for decades of illegal military occupation and illegal Israeli settlements.
On November 20, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers came to York University campus to discuss their experiences serving in occupied Palestine. The IDF has been cited by the United Nations for targeted shootings of unarmed, peaceful protesters, and has been condemned by Amnesty International as well as Israeli human rights organizations like B’Tselem.
A peaceful but energetic counter-protest was organized by York students, with the aim of asserting the Palestinians’ right to self determination and disrupting what was clearly an attempt to whitewash the 50-year military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The event also appeared to be a thinly-veiled attempt at recruiting volunteers for the Israeli military, which has subjected a population of millions of people to daily humiliation and institutionalized violence. (Recruitment for foreign military forces on campuses is illegal in Canada.)
The counter-protesters chanted slogans like “viva viva intifada” and “free Palestine”.
The protest was immediately spun as “hate-filled” by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who took care not to make any specific accusations while characterizing the protest as “vile hatred”.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau followed suit, saying the event was “shocking” and condemning “anti-semitism” without citing any actual examples.
York University President Rhonda Lenton also condemned the protest, saying “shouting, threats of violence and attempts to intimidate community members are not consistent with the responsibilities we all share.”
All three actors are clearly being disingenuous and opportunistic in their characterizations.
Missing from Ford’s, Trudeau’s and Lenton’s accounts is a key fact: the only violence that has been documented at the event came from pro-Israeli thugs associated with the Jewish Defense League (a far-right, racist group, the JDL has been classified as a terrorist organization by the FBI since 2001), who punched, shoved and choked pro-Palestinian protesters, leading to several injuries and at least one hospitalization for a head injury.
This one-sided violence was reported in the National Post as follows: “there was a physical altercation involving several people, and one person suffered minor injuries.”
Similar, transparent attempts to implicitly ascribe the violence to pro-Palestinian protesters are nearly ubiquitous in the corporate media.
Media has suppressed the truth of what happened, while giving prominent placement to skewed mischaracterizations coming from Liberal and Conservative politicians. This is, needless to say, a shameful abrogation of journalistic responsibility and a violation of public trust.
Many groups have denounced the outright lies and misleading statements about November 20th at York, including CUPE 3903, the York Federation of Students, University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union, Independent Jewish Voices, Christian Peacemaker Teams International, If Not Now Toronto, Amnesty International (York University Chapter) and Students against Israeli Apartheid York. The Ontario NDP and the Federal NDP, meanwhile, have been silent, neglecting a basic duty to stand up for the truth.
Courage condemns all forms of hatred, and believes that anti-semitism must be confronted wherever it appears.
Characterizing opposition to the Israeli military’s occupation of Palestine as anti-semitism, however, is dangerous and misguided, and makes confronting actual anti-semitism more difficult.
Courage is disappointed with the silence of Andrea Horwath and Jagmeet Singh. Ford’s and Trudeau’s deliberate smears of the York protesters represent a clear opportunity to stand up for the truth, and for movements for justice and peace. Both leaders have so far failed to take that opportunity.
Randall Garrison, the NDP Critic on National Defence (as of Nov 27), recently retweeted official IDF propaganda. Fifty-two years into a brutal, one-sided, military occupation, anything but moral and political clarity from the NDP is unacceptable.
The NDP can do better, and must. Garrison should publicly defend a position in line with the NDP’s policy book, or step down.
We stand with the Palestinian solidarity movement at York University, and across Canada. We look forward to a day when the NDP will be a voice for those in Canada who cannot return to their homeland, and for those who believe in justice and peace for Palestinians and Israelis.
OPEN LETTER TO JAGMEET SINGH AND THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY
We admire your determination, your energy, your deep commitment and skills, Mr. Singh, in promoting such programs as pharmacare, denticare, a wealth tax, housing for all, Indigenous rights, among others. We are proud of the way you have dealt with the racism issue in this election.
We urge you to go one step further toward focusing the campaign on a vivid symbol. We think that our party’s distinct voice would be tremendously enhanced by taking on an inspiring symbol of what we concretely mean in the areas of climate justice and a green jobs transition.
To that end, we strongly suggest that you identify yourself and the party with the Oshawa GM autoworkers Green Jobs Oshawa campaign. Their proposal to re-engineer the GM plant as a public enterprise for production of electric vehicles is sure to create public attention and to announce to workers across Canada how serious we are.
This campaign includes supporting re-training the currently unemployed unionized workforce. Moreover, it connects with CUPW’s proposal to legislate into effect all aspects of the “Delivering Community Power” campaign, which includes electrifying the delivery fleet.
We believe that such a dramatic gesture of meeting with GM workers to spotlight our green jobs ideas is a way of creating a holistic vision that helps to connect all the dots for a NDP Green New Deal.
Après avoir marché, qu’est-ce qui vient ensuite? (English below) Les transports et le logement sont deux des plus importantes sources d’émissions climatiques au Québec. Ensemble, ils génèrent près de 50% de la pollution au CO2 au Québec.
Un mouvement en pleine croissance œuvre pour que la transition climatique soit bénéfique pour tous. Un «new deal vert» taxerait les très riches et les entreprises et renforcerait nos communautés avec la gratuité des transports en commun et des logements sociaux durables.
Le 6 octobre, nous tiendrons une assemblée publique qui rassemblera les gens pour discuter de la façon de créer un mouvement pour faire exactement cela. Rejoignez-nous!
EN:
After we march, what comes next? Two of the biggest sources of climate emissions in Quebec are transportation and housing. Together, they create almost 50% of Quebec’s CO2 pollution.
A growing movement is working to make the climate transition one that benefits everyone. A “green new deal” would tax the ultra-rich and corporations and make our communities stronger with free public transportation and social housing.
On Oct 6, we’re holding a public assembly that will bring people together to talk about how to build a movement to do just that. Join us!
Organizers: Courage Montreal, Friends of Public Services, Our Time, From the Ground Up
A post-secondary education is a requirement for finding professional work in most fields, which means attendance at a college or university is not optional for many Canadians. When this fact is combined with skyrocketing tuition fees, the result is often severe financial hardship. As of 2018, Canadians owed over $28 billion in student loan debt to all levels of government.
This is a moral, political, and economic crisis. Lifelong student loan debt leaves many graduates students in a state of constant financial struggle for years.
In 2017, Jagmeet Singh won a historic first-ballot victory after campaigning on tuition-free postsecondary education. In an interview with Ricochet, he said:
“We absolutely can develop a specific financing envelope and an accord with provinces to attain a position where we eliminate tuition fees. It’s something that’s very attainable and something that we should work towards.”
“I fully support eliminating tuition fees. I will create a new Post-Secondary Education Act based on the principles of universality, accessibility, comprehensiveness, public administration and freedom of expression.”
The Federal Party could not have a stronger democratic mandate to campaign on tuition-free post-secondary education.
Education is a cornerstone of our society. It is necessary for full participation in the economic, cultural and democratic institutions. It is a right.
An education should not leave graduates burdened with debt. We need the Federal NDP’s leadership in ensuring that everyone has access to a high quality post-secondary education.
Hundreds of delegates voted for the Federal NDP to pursue free tuition. Political will is abundant. Ways to achieve free tuition while preserving provincial mandates can be found.
That is why we are calling on Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to keep his promises and respect his clear mandate from NDP members by taking bold action to uphold the right to education.
In accordance with the party’s policy book and our leader’s promises, we demand that the Federal NDP’s fall platform include tuition free post-secondary education, and the elimination of student debt through 0% interest rates and the creation of debt relief and forgiveness programs.
The Broadbent Institute exercises a huge amount of influence over the NDP in particular and progressive forces in Canada in general.
The Broadbent Institute depends on many individual donors. If enough people ask, they’ll have to listen.
Unfortunately, the Institute is not using this influence to work for a planet that can sustain human life. At the Progress Summit, its marquee annual conference (March 27-29), there is only one mention of climate in three days of programming… in a speaker’s biography. The only mention of the word “green” is – we’re not making this up – their featured speaker Edward Greenspon, the right-wing former editor of the Globe and Mail.
This needs to change.
If the Broadbent Institute wants to be a progressive leader, it must back a comprehensive Green New Deal that will phase out fossil fuels and create rich lives and meaningful work for everyone! (Courage has outlined what a Green New Deal in Canada could look like.)
Unlike a political party like the NDP, the Broadbent Institute doesn’t make decisions democratically. But they do depend on many individual and institutional donors. If enough people ask, they’ll have to listen.
To: Rick Smith, Executive Director, Broadbent Institute
Dear Rick,
The Broadbent Institute has done a lot of great work, but your voice is missing on the most crucial issue of our time.
We’re writing to insist that you back a Green New Deal – a comprehensive climate transition plan that can keep global temperature increases under 1.5˚ and create political will to get it done, including, among other things:
• A transition to 100% renewable energy • Phasing out fossil fuel use (and production) over the next twelve years • Redistribution of wealth from the billionaire class to the majority, prioritizing the groups that have suffered the most under the current exploitative system • The creation of a million new jobs administered by the public sector and cooperatives • Respect for Indigenous sovereignty and their right to protect their territories
Specifically, we’re asking that you use the Institute’s public platforms to promote a Green New Deal, and advocate for this policy within the NDP.
We look forward to working together for a liveable planet and a bright future for all.
Humanity faces a historic, existential challenge. Scientists say we have less than 12 years to reduce emissions by half, globally. Living in a country that has benefitted from greater per capita emissions than most of the world, we in Canada have an obligation to exceed that target and play a leadership role.
This isn’t about ideology. The laws of physics do not make political compromises.
It’s non-negotiable: we need to transform everything about the way we provide housing, transportation, and food. We have to stop extracting fossil fuels and break the stranglehold that industry has on our political system. And then we have to share our knowledge with everyone else.
The laws of physics do not make political compromises.
The right-wing political establishment, aligned with oil and gas interests along with other extractive industries, will try to derail any such effort with racism and fear. That’s why we need to make sure the massive investments benefit the people first. Our ideas include a federal jobs guarantee, an expansion of Canada Post, free public transportation and a massive increase in green, non-market housing. (Read more of our proposal here.) The important thing is that we hit the targets science says we have to hit.
In the US, this frame – the Green New Deal – has already overcome tremendous odds to become a winning issue. Even Republicans support it. If you are looking for a popular policy framework that no Liberal campaign could copy, this is it.
Not only can the New Democratic Party win with a real transition plan; it has to.
We expect:
That the NDP create a credible plan to reduce Canada’s emissions by more than 50% by 2030, and base its next election campaign on it
That the plan link climate transition with the priorities of as many progressive social movements as possible, to achieve the broadest possible resonance
That the NDP bring representatives from social movements into its campaign decision-making in order to ensure broad mobilization
In short, we demand that you adopt a winning strategy, one that that will also ensure our survival.
Climate chaos is upon us. A recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that preventing climate catastrophe will require “rapid, far reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society”. We need a clear plan to transition away from our current destructive energy and economic systems, which are based in exploitation and extraction, and into systems that are sustainable and just. And we need it now.
This document seeks to demonstrate how Canada can be a leader in creating comprehensive solutions to the climate crisis.
Canada is one of the highest per-capita emitters of carbon dioxide in the world. We’re one of a handful of rich countries that set the technological, economic and social patterns for what the planet’s poor majority see as a good life. We continue to benefit from the massive extraction and burning of fossil fuels. As such, Canada has a triple responsibility to put new ways of doing things into practice. Through bold action, we can transform the Canadian economy and become a global leader in responsible and sustainable energy production.
This task presents us with a historic opportunity to tackle many of our interlocking problems together, by challenging the exploitative nature of our current economic system. This is the promise of the Green New Deal. Its key insight is that for a climate transition to really work, it has to work for everyone: this means redistributing wealth and resources away from harmful activities and those who seek to profit from them, and giving regular people a say in who wins and loses as we move away from fossil fuels.
The just transition isn’t just from fossil fuels to renewables. It means removing the economic incentives and structures that got us to this crisis point, so that we don’t fall back into the same trap in the future.
And while everyone will benefit from a Green New Deal, the transition must address the structural inequalities and improve lives in communities marginalized by the current system. A just transition must confront and undermine the xenophobia and anti-migrant sentiment that are the hallmarks of reactionary forces.
We need several transitions:
from individual and wasteful consumerism, to the communal luxury of free time and high quality public spaces for all to enjoy;
from private ownership to public and cooperative ownership models;
from authoritarian corporate structures to workplace democracy; and,
from enclosing the commons to expanding the commons.
In short, from blind faith in the market to a clear vision of a good life for all. To that end, here’s are some key pieces we see a serious version of the Green New Deal in Canada including.
From Now To Next
What are the biggest employment roadblocks today and how do we replace those jobs quickly?
1. A just transition for this generation and the next
Retooling our economy means that all workers in high-polluting sectors would have not only opportunities but long term job security after the transition. It also means that those entering the workforce will have access to decent jobs, not unpaid internships and poverty wages.
Immediately end fossil fuel subsidies and massively invest in renewable energy, cleanup, reclamation, climate infrastructure and construction
Pass “polluter pays” legislation to force carbon-intensive emitting industries to pay the true cost of their activities, including to clean up the messes they have left behind
Jobs guarantee and funded retraining for fossil fuel industry workers
Ensure all new green jobs are unionized and public, or administered under community-owned or cooperative models, so that profits benefit everyone
2. Make caring work prosperous
Support workers, service workers, and care workers are among the professions with the smallest climate footprints. Expanding the scope of care work and paying those who do it a decent wage will redistribute wealth, fuel climate-friendly economic activity, and improve quality of life in all of our communities.
Expansion of public long-term care facilities to meet the needs of an aging population
Raise minimum wages and implement workplace protections and benefits laid out by campaigns like Fight For $15 & Fairness
Reduce the workweek as wage increases allow, making space for the economic value of informal care work
Grant full democratic and labour rights, access to services and full immigration status to migrants, who shoulder a disproportionate share of care work
Introduce universal childcare to set the bar for the value of care sector workers
3. A transportation and logistics overhaul
Getting people and things from place to place is a major source of emissions. Climate science says we need to take every internal combustion engine off the roads by 2030. But how can that process improve rather than degrade the lives of low income people?
Expanded, fare-free public transportation in cities, accessible zero-carbon intercity high speed rail transportation and a national public bus service
A fleet of electric vans in every rural area to ensure free or affordable mobility for everyone, supplemented by a cooperatively managed electric-only ridesharing service
An expanded, zero-carbon Canada Post that provides all deliveries, eliminating the congestion, waste and poor working conditions of redundant services
Defending Our Common Wealth
What are the protections we can set up to prevent ourselves from sliding back again?
4. Equalized services and sovereignty for Indigenous nations
For too long,desperate economic and social conditions have been used as a tool to coerce Indigenous people to accept extraction projects. Those same communities were denied the economic development that was driven by sustained funding for public services (and good quality jobs) in the rest of Canada. Time to flip the script.
Recognize Indigenous sovereignty and claims to traditional territory and support Indigenous peoples to control use of their own lands.
Equally fund services now, starting with Jordan’s principle but not stopping until health care, education and other services are as good or better than the rest of Canada
Implement treaties, UNDRIP, and an end to the termination agenda that seeks to extinguish Aboriginal Title and inherent rights
Cease and desist any government legal actions or activities supporting fossil fuel extraction efforts
Invest in locally-owned and controlled green energy on Indigenous territories
5. Affordable green housing for everyone
Canada’s metropolises are suffering a profound housing crisis driven by speculators, while over 10% of Canada’s carbon emissions come from buildings. We can address both – and more.
Take immediate steps to solve the profound housing crises in Indigenous territories though hyper-efficient, long-term housing
Construct hundreds of thousands of units of cooperative housing with community space, long term care and childcare facilities built-in
Develop open source designs for low/zero emissions, on-site energy generation, and local food production
Place controls on speculative investment and vacant properties, as well as mandates on privately developed multi-unit housing being at least 50% affordable or pegged to income
Actively expropriate the properties of slumlords with the least-efficient properties and worst living conditions, creating upward pressure on the quality and availability of housing while acquiring land for social and cooperative housing
Ensure no household in Canada is in core housing need (i.e. is spending more than 30% of income on housing), that housing is accessible, and built for aging in place
6. Stop rewarding the plunder of resources and penalize instability
Phase out short term logic from financial calculations and protect the durability of public assets.
Implement principles of full cost accounting in government budgeting, auditing and oversight — and include FCA requirements in public tenders at all levels
Reaffirm the status of water as a commons — reform management and regulation of large-scale use of water resources under the framework of public control, sustainability, and non-profiteering
Phase out agricultural subsidies to any industrial farm operation that doesn’t reverse or mitigate its effects on soil depletion, biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and other harmful impacts of monoculture
Aggressively pursue compensation for environmental damage, and mandate remediation to the original state
Ban planned obsolescence in design and manufacturing
Keeping The Momentum
What changes will anchor an economy that works for all of us and sustains life for generations?
7. Free education and research into liberation from fossil fuels
From public knowledge of treaties to cutting-edge climate tech to a rethinking of our relationships to ecological systems, education will be essential to the transition.
Remove all tuition fees from post-secondary institutions and forgive current outstanding student debts so that young people can pursue sustainable, dignified work without a cloud of debt above them
Scale up research in green tech and provide bursaries for retraining workers as mature students
Remove the direct influence of corporate interests and mega-donors from university research — any endowments or capital funding must be contributed as indirect financing to be administered by SSHRC, NSRC, or similar and related bodies
8. Community ownership of energy and economic necessities
We can’t afford to furnish huge profits to corporations every time we meet basic human needs. We need to start bringing essential aspects of the economy under community and worker control.
Provide funding and training for the expansion of community land trusts and worker cooperatives for farming, food production, housing and communication to take them out of the profit-driven system
New tax and regulatory supports for the formation of co-ops and community trusts
Increase public development as well as incentives for private actors pursuing co-operative financing and community banking, so that less of everyday people’s money can be concentrated to underwrite faraway environmental harm
Support agricultural cooperatives and family farms, unions for farm workers, regenerative farming, and end factory farms and the use of chemicals affecting human health and toxicity
Invest in community-owned and democratically-run renewable energy systems
9. A global transition
The climate transition means nothing if it only happens in one country. War and instability caused by corporate profiteering is a massive source of climate emissions on its own. That’s why Canada has to radically change its approach to foreign policy, emphasizing solidarity over our current model of extractive colonialism.
Massively reduce spending on military hardware and retooling of Canada’s burgeoning arms industry towards production of zero-carbon transportation
Revisit existing trade agreements (and ambitious standards for new ones) that raise the bar for environmental and labour standards
Pursue transfers of the latest climate-friendly technology to the global South, while accepting refugees fleeing climate change and related conflicts
Ensure robust environmental and human rights regulations for all overseas extraction administered or financed in Canada
Use diplomatic leverage and economic sanctions to close international tax havens and global tax avoidance schemes that allow corporate wealth and power to concentrate beyond the reach of the people it affects
The first step
Based on this blueprint above, we call for a coalition of allies and supporters to join a democratic and participatory roundtable — that we may create a common GND platform to give united momentum to our struggles, our organizing and our advocacy.
From there we aim to coordinate our efforts as we take the message to all levels of government, the media sphere, the private sector, our civil society peers and the broader public.
We can collectively overcome this crisis. And in the process, build each corner of that other world we all know is within reach.
