Stop the Hogs!

Trudeau's broken promises to be challenged at Ottawa conference

[ https://canadians.org/media/trudeaus-br ... conference ]

June 6, 2018 Media Advisory

Groundswell 2018, taking place June 22-23, will highlight the power of communities in Ottawa, throughout Ontario, and across Canada to challenge the Trudeau government on its growing list of broken promises. [ https://canadians.org/conference ]

From the Trudeau government’s failure to protect lakes and rivers from Big Oil, to meet internationally-stated climate pollution reduction targets, to provide true consultation on “free trade” negotiations, to make our electoral system democratic, and to fully implement the rights of Indigenous peoples – promises have been made, but not kept.

WHAT: In just over two weeks, Groundswell 2018: From Awareness to Action – the Council of Canadians annual conference – will bring together civil society groups, unions, Indigenous peoples and others to put forward a positive vision of a better tomorrow and to organize to make it happen.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

• Maude Barlow, Honorary Chairperson, The Council of Canadians
• Linda McQuaig, Journalist and Author
• Kanahus Manuel, Secwepemc Nation activist
• Elaine Bernard, Executive Director, Harvard University Labour and Worklife Program

WHEN & WHERE: Groundswell 2018 takes place June 22 and 23 at Ottawa City Hall and Capital Hill Hotel and Suites.

The full conference agenda is available here:
[ https://canadians.org/conference-agenda ]

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For more information or to arrange interviews:

Dylan Penner, Media Officer, Council of Canadians,
613-795-8685, dpenner@canadians.org. Twitter: @CouncilOfCDNs

COUNCIL OF CANADIANS ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Agenda

PDF PDF VERSION
[ https://canadians.org/sites/default/fil ... kshops.pdf ]


FRIDAY, JUNE 22 - 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Council of Canadians’ Chapter Caucus Day*

*For Council chapter reps only

Location: Pearson/Laurier/Benett Rooms, Capital Hill Hotel and Suites, 88 Albert Street


5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Registration for Saturday plenary panels
Location: Jean Pigott Hall, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue W.

7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Public Forum: Groundswell 2018: Awareness to Action!

Location: Jean Pigott Hall, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue W.

Admission by donation ($20 suggested) All are welcome.
*Free with conference registration

Public forum keynote speakers
• Maude Barlow, Honorary Chairperson, The Council of Canadians
• Linda McQuaig, Journalist and Author
• Kanahus Manuel, Secwepemc Nation activist
• Elaine Bernard, Executive Director, Harvard University Labour and Worklife Program


SATURDAY, JUNE 23 - 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Conference - Groundswell 2018: Awareness to Action!

Join us for a day of interactive workshops and plenary panel discussions that will inform, inspire and motivate you to take action!

If you are attending the Chapter Caucus Day as your chapter’s representative you must register using the early registration form that was mailed to your chapter contact in March.

Location: Jean Pigott Hall, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave. W.

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. - Registration

8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. - Plenary Panels
Location: Jean Pigott Hall, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue W.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND A JUST TRANSITION

“The best way to get out of a climate hole is to stop digging.” These are the words of the Lofoten Declaration, which recognizes the urgent responsibility and moral obligation of wealthy fossil fuel producers like Canada to lead in ending fossil fuel expansion and planning a just transition off of fossil fuels reliance. Canada is not on track to meet our Paris Climate Agreement commitments and has approved new fossil fuel projects, including the Kinder Morgan export pipeline and BP exploratory drilling offshore Nova Scotia. More than $66 billion of federal infrastructure is at risk due to climate change. We must work together to resist more climate pollution, adapt to climate change that is already happening, and make just transition real for impacted workers and communities.

Panelists
• Hannah McKinnon, Energy Futures and Transitions Director, Oil Change International
• Kanahus Manuel, Activist, Secwepemc Nation
• Marion Moore, South Shore Chapter Activist, The Council of Canadians
• Anjali Appadurai, Communications and Engagement Specialist, West Coast Environmental Law

NEO-LIBERALISM AND ELECTION MOBILIZING

By the time of the Council of Canadians’ annual conference in June 2018, the provincial election in Ontario will have been decided, the G7 will have just taken place, and we will be a year and a half away from the October 21, 2019 federal election. Beyond the confines of municipal, provincial, and federal elections, how can social movements effectively organize to challenge neoliberalism in our communities? The panel will discuss the spectrum of impacts of and resistance to neoliberalism, from P3s to policing. This plenary session will focus on the political moment, provide critical commentary to help us understand this moment, and help shape a narrative for activists to take back into their communities for ongoing grassroots organizing and mobilizing.

Panelists
• Martin Lukacs, journalist
• John Clarke, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
• Beze and Vanessa Gray, Aamjiwnaang and Sarnia Against Pipelines
• Karen Cocq, Fight For $15 and Fairness (TBC)


12:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. - Lunch and group photo action
Location: Jean Pigott Hall, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave. W.


2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. - Workshops
Location: Pearson/Laurier/Benett Rooms, Capital Hill Hotel and Suites, 88 Albert St.


6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. - Celebratory reception
With live music and food (cash bar)
Location: Jean Pigott Hall, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave. W.