2014 AGM - Council of Canadians

[Oscar]

Council of Canadians will be “Forging Solidarity” in Hamilton Oct. 3-4

[ http://www.thespec.com/community-story/ ... n-oct-3-4/ ]

Hamilton Spectator Sep 11, 2014

Faced with economic uncertainty, people are coming together in new ways to fight for good jobs, strong public services, a healthy environment and renewed democracy.

Workers and their labour unions are joining with Indigenous peoples, youth, the precariously employed, temporary foreign workers, community groups and social justice organizations like the Council of Canadians to act together for good jobs and strong social programs that benefit us all. On October 3 and 4, the Council of Canadians will bring people together in Hamilton for “Forging Solidarity,” a public forum and conference that includes interactive workshops and panel discussions.

“Canada has a vibrant labour history,” said Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians. “We will celebrate our solidarity with unions and the need to collectively work together to stop the Harper government’s damaging policies that are cutting public health care, reducing social programs and irreparably harming our environment.”

The Council of Canadians will host a public forum on Friday, October 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel, located at 116 King Street West. Following a welcome from Six Nations of the Grand River Chief Ava Hill, Maude Barlow will speak and introduce keynote speakers: Paul Moist, President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees; John Hilary, Executive Director of the War on Want in London, England; Ben Powless, Mohawk citizen from Six Nations in Ontario and co-founder of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition; and John Cartwright, President of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council.

Admission to the public forum is a suggested donation of $15, and is free with conference registration. The conference, which takes place the next day at the hotel, includes workshops on a wide variety of topics including extreme energy threats to the Great Lakes, protecting public health care, door-to-door democracy, and much more. Community and labour activists will also share experiences and insights, and discuss current issues in panels throughout the day.

Register online by September 26 by visiting the Council of Canadians’ website at http://www.canadians.org or by calling toll-free 1-800-387-7177 ext 333.

Founded in 1985, the Council of Canadians is Canada’s leading social action organization, with a network of 60 chapters across the country. Through our campaigns we advocate for clean water, fair trade, green energy, public health care, and a vibrant democracy. We educate and empower people to hold our governments and corporations accountable.


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Council of Canadians "forging solidarity" in Hamilton this weekend October 3rd to 4th, 2014

[ http://canadians.org/media/council-cana ... d-4th-2014 ]

Media Advisory September 30, 2014

Hamilton, ON – With one year to go before the next federal election, over 300 Council of Canadians supporters from coast to coast will gather in Hamilton to prepare for the crucial year to come. This Friday, the Council of Canadians opens its conference, Forging Solidarity.

“Hamilton has a great history of grassroots and labour organizing. But it doesn’t just end there: First Nations organizing, active transport organizing, anti-poverty organizing and environmental organizing: it’s all happening here in Hamilton,” says Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the Council of Canadians. “The city is an inspiration. This is exactly what we need with our uninspiring Conservative government one year before the next federal election.”

Forging Solidarity will bring together activists from environmental, health, youth, Indigenous and labour groups to fight back against Harper’s austerity agenda, the elimination of door-to-door delivery by Canada Post, and mining and pipeline projects that threaten the environment.

Some of the highlights include:

• A tree planting ceremony with mayor Bob Bratina and councillor Hamilton Ward 1 councillor Brian McHattie, and the Council’s Vice Chair Leo Broderick and Hamilton Chapter President Kathie Clarke.
• A rally for good jobs and to protest the elimination of door-to-door delivery by Canada Post in conjunction with Unifor. Protesters will gather letters to send to MPs and to Canada Post.
• A public forum with internationally recognized keynote speakers such as John Hilary, London Guardian columnist and Executive Director of War on Want; Ben Powless, Mohawk citizen from Six Nations and organizer with Defenders of the Land and Idle No More; John Cartwright, President of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council; Paul Moist, National President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE); and Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the Council of Canadians.

With over 100,000 supporters, the Council of Canadians is the largest citizen-powered social action group in Canada.

Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina welcomed the group, “On behalf of the City of Hamilton, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Forging Solidarity. This three-day conference will bring together chapter activists, supporters, and allies for a dynamic event that includes a public forum, workshops, panels and more.

I offer my congratulations to the organizers of this event.”

Ava Hill, Chief of the Six Nations of the Grand River welcomed the conference, “I am very pleased to welcome everyone to the Traditional Territory of the Haudenosaunee. I hope that you enjoy yourselves during your stay here and that you have the opportunity to visit the community of Six Nations to experience our culture and our proud history.”

For media events go here:
[ http://canadians.org/conference-media ].

ADMISSION: The conference is free for accredited media. Friday night is Pay What You Can, with a suggested donation of $15. All are welcome. For the full conference on Saturday, registration is required. Conference admission is $70 for Council supporters and $95 for the general public. The fixed income rate is $35, and the youth rate is $25. Conference registration includes lunch and admission to the Friday public forum. The Saturday banquet dinner is $50 per person and $10 for youth.

Program and registration information is available at:
[ http://www.canadians.org/conference ].

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Council of Canadians takes aim at PM heading into election year

[ http://www.thespec.com/news-story/48925 ... tion-year/ ]

Hamilton Spectator Oct 02, 2014

More than 300 Council of Canadians supporters from coast to coast are gathered in Hamilton this week as they begin a one-year countdown to the next federal election.

Representatives from environmental, health, youth, Indigenous and labour groups are all in town to share ideas and prepare for what the group is a calling a "crucial year."

"This is exactly what we need with our uninspiring Conservative government one year before the next federal election," said Maude Barlow, the council's national chairperson.

The group plans to hold discussions on topics such as the Harper government's fiscal policies, the elimination of door-to-door delivery by Canada Post, and mining and pipeline projects they say threaten the environment.

A "Rally For Good Jobs" will be held on Friday beginning at the Sheraton Hotel on King Street at 5 p.m.

There will also be a public forum at the Sheraton Friday at 7 p.m. featuring Paul Moist, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees; John Cartwright, president of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council and Ava Hill from the Six Nations of the Grand River.

More sessions and a dinner will be held Saturday, with speakers including Isabella Daley of Speak Now Hamilton and Tom Cooper, director of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction.

The Council of Canadians says it is the "largest citizen-powered social action group in Canada," with more than 100,000 members.

See canadians.org for more information.