MAKING PEACE VIGIL Newsletter - April 6, 2025

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MAKING PEACE VIGIL Newsletter - April 6, 2025


SPECIAL ACTION—TODAY, SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2 - 3 pm

CBC’s Cross Country Check Up will be discussing Canada’s housing crisis for its first hour today. It would be great if lots of folks could phone in with a message along the lines of the following:
I live in Regina which, like every other Canadian city is experiencing a houselessness crisis.
Last year 118 people died in my city because they were unhoused.
Express your outrage.
Canada needs more social housing—that is rental housing where the rent is less than 30% of a household’s before tax income.
Canada had such a program until the 1980s when cuts began to be made, first by the Conservative government of Brian Mulroney and then by the Liberal government of Jean Chrétien. In 1994 it was cancelled altogether.
I will only vote for a party that promises to invest big time in a national social housing program.
Phone: 1-888-416-8333. Text 226-758-8924.
To send an email: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIp ... Q/viewform

SPECIAL CAMPAIGN—UNTIL THE ELECTION: LET’S MAKE ENDING HOUSELESSNESS A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE FEDERAL ELECTION

SOME FACTS
Every city in Canada is experiencing a houselessness crisis. On any given night, over 30,000 people are unhoused in Canada—824 of them in Regina.
Houselessness costs peoples’ lives. In 2024, 118 people died in Regina because they were unhoused.
The main cause of houselessness in Canada is the lack of affordable rental housing, sometimes called ‘social housing’—that is housing with rent that costs less than 30% of a household’s before-tax income.

For a period, starting in the 1960s, Canada had a successful national housing program that, on average, built 20,000 new social housing units per year. But then cuts began to be made to the funding, first in the 1980s by the Conservative government of Brian Mulroney and then in the 1990s by the Liberal government of Jean Chrétien. By 1994, the funding had been cut altogether.

ACTION
When a candidate, no matter what party, comes to your door or calls on the phone, tell them the following:

That ending houselessness is your main issue in the election;

That you will only vote for their party if the party makes a commitment to restart the national social housing program, cancelled in 1994, which for a period created about 20,000 new social units per year.




2 LETTERS
WHY IS CANADA’S HOMELESS CRISIS NOT AN ELECTION ISSUE?
WEALTH EXTRACTON IGNORES POVERTY
[ https://leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/ ... tion-issue ]

SPECIAL WEBINAR
TUESDAY APRIL 8, 5 pm: MORE MILITARISM IS NOT THE ANSWER WITH TYLER SHIPLEY, HARSHA WALIA & OTHERS
The militarization of borders, Indigenous territories, and foreign policy through weapons exports has led to human rights abuses and repression. More border militarism, colonial dispossession and weapons exports are not the answer.
Join this critical and timely discussion on Tuesday April 8 with South Asian activist and writer Harsha Walia, professor and author Tyler Shipley, and Cree author, filmmaker, and land-defender Clayton Thomas-Müller.
[ https://actionnetwork.org/events/more-m ... he-answer/ ]

GOOD READING & VIEWING & LISTENING

REGINA POLICE CHIEF REMOVED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE AS COMPLAINT BY ‘COMMUNITY MEMBER’ INVESTIGATED
[ https://leaderpost.com/news/regina-poli ... ity-member ]


CITY COUNCIL WILL INTRODUCE A MOTION TO HELP COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY –motion to be debated this coming Wednesday
[ https://www.sasktoday.ca/regina-today/r ... y-10430760 ]


SASK PAUSE OF CARBON TAX VIOLATES THE LAW
[ https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/colu ... imate-plan ]


EVIDENCE LACKING TO SUPPORT INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT
[ https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/colu ... -treatment ]


LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES PROPOSING TERRIBLE TAX CUTS
[ https://www.readthemaple.com/the-libera ... newsletter ]


REGINA ARTIST ‘GUTTED’ AFTER D.C. EXHIBIT SHUTTERED FOLLOWING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ORDERS
[ https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/ ... 63f7b0f26d ]


LEGAL GROUP APOLOGIZES AFTER CANCELLATION OF NOTED SYRIAN CANADIAN'S SPEECH SPARKS 'PROFOUND' REACTION
[ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ ... -1.7502600 ]


TRUMP’S TOXIC TARIFFS MAKES IT TOUGHER FOR MOE TO ESCAPE MAGA STENCH
[ https://leaderpost.com/opinion/columnis ... aga-stench ]


ON TRUMP’S TRADEWAR & THE NEW LIBERAL LEADERSHIP
[ https://broadbentinstitute.ca/trump-tra ... ril-2025&& ]


‘AMERICAN EMPIRE IS IN DECLINE’: ECONOMIST RICHARD WOLF ON TRUMP’S TRADE WAR & TARIFFS
[ https://www.democracynow.org/2025/4/3/t ... al_markets ]


‘NOWHERE ON EARTH IS SAFE’: TRUMP IMPOSES TARIFFS ON UNINHABITED ISLANDS NEAR ANTARCTICA
[ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... ld-islands ]


SENATE REJECTS SANDERS EFFORT TO BLOCK ISRAELI WEAPONS SALE AS WAR ON GAZA WIDENS
[ https://mondoweiss.net/2025/04/senate-r ... za-widens/ ]


FROM YUGOSLAVIA TO PALESTINE: NATO’S TRAIL OF TERRORISM
[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mOHAGIvfvg ]


DONALD TRUMP AND GERMANY ARE USING THE SAME PLAYBOOK TO CRIMINALIZE PRO-PALESTINE ACTIVISM, with Jeremy Scahill
[ https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/video-do ... e-activism ]


AN ENTIRE WING OF THE SMITHSONIAN FULL OF YOUR PERFECT PORTRAITS OF DONALD TRUMP! (Some of the portraits are VERY funny!)
[ https://www.michaelmoore.com/p/an-entir ... mithsonian ]


FIRST THEY CAME FOR MAHMOUD KHALIL
[ https://www.democracynow.org/2025/4/3/f ... oud_khalil ]


MEDIA RESPONSE TO TRUMP RESTARTING THE GAZA GENOCIDE? MOSTLY IGNORE IT
[ https://therealnews.com/medias-response ... -ignore-it ]


PRO-ISRAEL GROUP THAT ATTACKED UPENN WAS FUNDED BY FAMILY OF UPENN TRUSTEE
[ https://theintercept.com/2025/04/02/pen ... Newsletter ]


THE SIGNAL LEAK AND THE BOMBING OF YEMEN
[ https://seymourhersh.substack.com/p/the ... bombing-of ]


CAPITALISM EATING ITSELF BY FUELING CLIMATE MAYHEM, WARNS CAPITALIST
[ https://www.commondreams.org/news/capitalism-climate ]


BIG OIL’S LAWFARE ATTACKS ON ADVOCACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
[ https://amazonwatch.org/news/2025/0403- ... untability ]


U.S. PIPELINE GIANT’S GREENPEACE LAWSUIT IS ATTACK ON FREEDOMS
[ https://davidsuzuki.org/story/u-s-pipel ... -freedoms/ ]


“WE ARE NOT JUST WELCOMING YOU AS ALLIES, BUT AS FAMILY” – WHY THE RAINBOW WARRIOR IS BACK TO MARSHALL ISLANDS 40 YEARS LATER
[ https://www.greenpeace.org/internationa ... ars-later/ ]


ANN WRIGHT: THE VOICE OF RESISTANCE AGAINST WAR MILITARIZATION
[ https://www.pressenza.com/2025/04/ann-w ... arization/ ]


NUCLEAR WEAPONS DO NOT PROVIDE SECURITY
[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4Cx5O1yfoo ]


SOCIAL MOVEMENTS CONSTRAINED TRUMP IN HIS FIRST TERM – MORE THAN PEOPLE REALIZE
[ https://www.pressenza.com/2025/03/socia ... e-realize/ ]


EVENTS, WEBINARS, TV PROGRAMS, & FILMS

TUESDAY APRIL 8, 10-11 am: DESIGNING A YOUTH FRIENDLY DOWNTOWN REGINA, RESEARCH & INNOVATION CENTRE (RIC) CORRIDOR
Youth (aged 15-30) are one of the most likely demographics to live in downtowns. Yet, in Regina, out of a total population of 430 people living in the Downtown neighbourhood, there are only 30 youth (all aged between 20 - 29) (City of Regina, 2024). Why are we not seeing more youth living in the Downtown? Are we providing the necessary supports and opportunities for their presence (residential & commercial)?
Undergraduate students from GES 346 Urban Planning in the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies were tasked with answering the question of what a youth friendly downtown Regina would look like. Please stop by the RIC Corridor on Tuesday April 8, 10-11am to hear some of their ideas! All are welcome.


TUESDAY APRIL 8, 5 pm: MORE MILITARISM IS NOT THE ANSWER WITH TYLER SHIPLEY, HARSHA WALIA & OTHERS
The militarization of borders, Indigenous territories, and foreign policy through weapons exports has led to human rights abuses and repression. More border militarism, colonial dispossession and weapons exports are not the answer.
Join this critical and timely discussion on Tuesday April 8 with South Asian activist and writer Harsha Walia, professor and author Tyler Shipley, and Cree author, filmmaker, and land-defender Clayton Thomas-Müller.
[ https://actionnetwork.org/events/more-m ... he-answer/ ]


TUESDAY APRIL 8, 5:30 pm: POLLUTING EDUCATION—THE INFLUENCE OF THE FOSSIL FUELS ON CHILDREN’S EDUCATION IN CANADA
[ https://act.cape.ca/unpacking_the_repor ... _in_canada ]


WEDNESDAY APRIL 9, 10 am: THE RIGHT TO HOUSING FOR DISABLED PEOPLE IN CANADA
[ https://events.zoom.us/ev/AgOTM0ouj_-bE ... q951HjVDhA ]


SATURDAY APRIL 12, 2 – 3 pm: RAISE THE BAR POSTERING EVENT, MEET AT 2 IN FRONT OF PRINCE OF WHALES CORA’S RESTAURANT, 2075 PRINCE OF WHALES DRIVE
We will be at the Prince of Wales Drive Real Canadian Superstore and Wal-Mart to distribute flyers to bring attention to Pierre Poilievre's selling out of Canada to the rich while leaving everyone else to pay the price for this.
[ https://you.leadnow.ca/events/raise-the ... nched=true ]


TUESDAY APRIL 15, 10 am: WEBINAR ON URBAN NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT, by David Suzuki Foundation
[ https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/registe ... vgAC0XxpLA ]


TUESDAY, APRIL 15: 11 AM TO 3 PM
THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 3 PM TO 8 PM
TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 11 AM TO 3 PM
THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 3 PM TO 8 PM
EXHIBIT OF PAINTED SNOWBOARDS, CREATIVE CITY CENTRE. 1843 HAMILTON ST


WEDNESDAY APRIL 16, 6 PM: REPORT BACK FROM THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN, VOICE OF CANADIAN WOMEN FOR PEACE
Join us for an engaging and insightful evening as the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Canada's joint delegation shares their experiences from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held in New York this past March!
[ https://zoom.us/meeting/register/zLNPBd ... gistration ]


MONDAY APRIL 28, 5:30 pm: DAY OF MOURNING FOR WORKERS KILLED ON THE JOB, CITY HALL PLAZA, 2476 VICTORIA AVE


SATURDAY MAY 5, ALL DAY: RED DRESS DAY—A DAY TO REMEMBER MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN, GIRLS, & TWO-SPIRIT PEOPLE
One way to mark Red Dress Day is to hang a red dress in your window or in your yard.
[ https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/ ... -dress-day ]


SUNDAY MAY 11, 2:30 PM: CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF JOHN CONWAY, WA WA SHRINERS, 2065 HAMILTON ST
John lived his life working for a world where social justice prevails—for a world that is a better place for everyone who lives here.
[ https://leaderpost.remembering.ca/obitu ... 1092752460 ]


NOTE DATE CHANGE: FRIDAY MAY 30, 7 pm: THE BLACK BIRD COMMONS PRESENTS AN ADULTS ONLY BOOKFAIR—A FUNDRAISER FOR REGINA’S NEW BOOKSTORE, THE EVERYDAY KITCHEN, 1378 HAMILTON ST


NEW PETITIONS & OTHER ACTIONS

TELL THE SASK PARTY: PUT SASKATCHEWAN FIRST!
[ https://www.saskndp.ca/60million?recruiter_id=54944 ]


BAN CORPORATE LANDLORDS
[ https://www.ndp.ca/ban-corporate-landlords ]


TO PARTY LEADERS: WE DEMAND A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL OF US
[ https://dontgetplayed.ca/demand-better/#ltt ]


DELIVER A GREEN NEW DEAL FOR ALL OF US
[ https://allofustogether.ca/ ]


JULIAN IS FREE. JUSTICE AWAITS
[ https://www.action.assangecampaign.org.au/ ]


DEMAND PARTY LEADERS DEBATE GENOCIDE IN GAZA
[ https://win.newmode.net/cjpme/debate ]


CANADA MUST SUSPEND THE CANADA-US SAFE THIRD COUNTRY AGREEMENT
[ https://takeaction.ccla.org/canada-must ... d-the-stca ]


TELL THE AAMC: SPEAK UP—CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF DR. HUSSAM ABU SAFIYA
[ https://www.codepink.org/aamc?recruiter_id=399923 ]


URGE HBO AND 'THE WHITE LOTUS' TEAM TO SUPPORT EARTHQUAKE RELIEF IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
[ https://www.thepetitionsite.com/515/696 ... 3474814095 ]


- Making Peace Vigil