NATIONAL
Democracy
The electors have lost their voice and representation
with our electoral system because of a declined voter turnout, apathy and
disenfranchisement. We need to re-activate Canada’s democracy.
Action can address various fronts:
- Seek proportional representation
- Removal of Harper – organize “vote mobs”, door to door canvassing
- Protest against CETA, etc.
Chapter Lead: André Clément
Health Care
The federal and provincial governments are moving our
public health to the private sector by reducing government funding with a
hidden agenda.
Action can focus on
- public education, supporting protests by health care workers and their unions
- other activism to be determined.
Chapter Lead: Ron Tough
Water
Water sources are globally threatened by pollution,
climate change and the commodification of water.
Action:
- Getting the City of Greater Sudbury to declare itself a “Blue Community” to refuse P3s for Sudbury and resist Harper’s Public-Private Partnership (P3) Fund
- Addressing the use of fluoride in Sudbury’s water supply
- Cleaning up the toxins in our lakes
- Protecting Ramsey Lake against the transport of toxic chemicals
- Public Education
Chapter Lead: Elaine Porter
Fracking
Fracking
involves the pumping of immense amounts of chemically treated water into shale
deposits deep underground. The natural gas thereby released is brought to the
surface via crack-prone tubes that leak toxins into ground water. Thousands of
fracking stations are in operation across the United States and are proving to
be a geological and environmental disaster; many families have been forced to
abandon their homes. In Canada, while
fracking mainly is occurring out West, there's a possibility it may be introduced
closer to home on Manitoulin Island.
Action:
While this campaign is not
a local issue, the Chapter should support the national agenda by being ready to
participate in demonstrations and educating our membership on the related
issues.
Chapter Lead: Wayne Paul
Climate Change
A scientifically proven fact, climate change is not
reflected by serious government policy or funding to address the causative
factors of emissions, etc. Clearly a global issue
Action:
- Public education about the global threats, government idleness, activism option
- Participation in national protest
- Other …
Chapter Lead: _______________
Transportation of Toxic Materials
- Toxic materials currently are being transported through various regions of Canada, and plans are underway to transport more. These plans include but are not limited to:
- The Northern Gateway Pipeline project that involves transporting bitumen from tar sands to ports on the west coast;
- The Energy East Export Pipeline project that involves converting and extending an existing pipeline (currently used to transport natural gas) to carry bitumen all the way to ports on the east coast;
- The transportation and disposal of nuclear waste within Ontario (e.g. Darlington power station's application to transport and bury its nuclear waste underground at the Bruce nuclear power site)
- Longer term plans to store all of Canada's nuclear waste in a “deep depository” at a location yet to be determined. (Several communities in northern Ontario have expressed interest in hosting this depository.)
- Locally, trains that may be containing toxic materials and that are running right through the heart of downtown.
Action:
- Support North Bay’s efforts to stop the pipeline intended for proximity to the city’s water supply.
- Public education
- Supporting the national campaign as requested
Chapter Lead: ___________________
LOCAL
Democracy
The electors have lost their voice and representation
with our electoral system because of a declined voter turnout, apathy and disenfranchisement.
We need to re-activate Canada’s democracy.
·
Seek mandatory voting
Chapter Lead: André Clément
Substandard Care in Long-Term Facilities
Care in Ontario’s long-term facilities is severe
understaffed. CUPE released its Long-Term
Care in Ontario: Fostering Systemic Neglect report on Nov. 10. It
describes the inability of workers to properly care for residents. A personal
support worker may have up to 15 people to care for during the day and 42 at
night and registered practical nurses 30 to 42 during the day and night. This
is a national health care issue.
Action:
Ontario Council of Hospital Unions will present the CUPE
report to Queen’s Park in January. CUPE
has asked the province to mandate a minimum of 4 hours of care for each
resident to include social and emotional care in addition to basic physical care.
The Chapter could start by contacting CUPE or OCHU to see how we can help.
Chapter Lead: Eve Kremyr
The Homeless
Homelessness
is a major problem in Sudbury, especially during the winter months. Council is
in the process of converting an empty building into a shelter, but in the
meantime there is nowhere warm for homeless people to sleep overnight.
Action:
The
Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty (SCAP) plans to submit to the mayor elect,
urging him to take immediate action. The Steering Committee unanimously agreed
to endorse this letter. Benita will write an additional 'letter to the editor'
reiterating the need for affordable housing in Sudbury, and she will be giving
a talk on CBC radio on this issue.
Chapter Lead: Penny Early
A Living Wage
Minimum wage legislation does not cover the basic living
costs for someone who is having difficulty with steady employment. Ensuring a
living wage is based on a standard / cost of living that is calculated per
community and usually extends beyond the provisions of a minimum wage.
Action:
To advocate for a living wage whether by provincial
legislation or municipal by-law with public education and collaborating with
other like-minded NGOs.
Chapter Lead: ________________
Privatization of Pioneer Manor
This was an issue during the last municipal election and
the new council’s intentions are not clear. Privatizing the Manor is a
continuation of the privatization of our health services and it will lead
locally to a decrease in quality care.
Action:
To monitor city council’s agendas and actions to bring
public pressure to bear when needed.
Collaboration with other like-minded NGOs
Chapter Lead: Ron Tough
Casino in Downtown of Sudbury (Peterborough
chapter)
The Chapter is to determine if it will address this issue
as It has become in Peterborough.
Chapter Lead: Christy Knockleby to research the issue (@ Nov.
27)
Revenues from taxes on local mining revenues
Is this issue pertinent on a national scale?
Benita to check with Joan Kuyek (@ Nov. 27)
A
portion of the taxes we pay to the municipality goes to finance the building of
roads used mainly by mining companies. However, taxes levied on those mining
companies do not stay in our community.
Action:
To contact
Joan Kuyek of Mining Watch to find out about related campaigns.
Chapter Lead: Benita Hart
Degradation of Food
The nutritive quality of food has been declining for
decades. With the works of Monsanto and the GM industry that are corrupting the
world’s food supplies, the threats to our nutrition are escalating. This is a
global and local issue.
Food
“security” means people have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious, and
culturally acceptable food. Food
“sovereignty”, on the other hand, means people have control over the production
and distribution of food within their own food systems. During the past two
decades, corporate monopolization of the world's food systems increasingly has
undermined both food security and food sovereignty. In particular, the
imposition and rapid spread of GMOs pose a colossal risk to the environment and
to human health.
Action:
Advocate in collaboration with the organic food
suppliers, eat local and the health unit / dieticians in Sudbury to create a
public awareness campaign that might be supported by city council and encourage public support for local farmers,
especially organic growers.
Raise awareness with the national Council to make it a
national campaign.
Chapter Lead: ________________
The Ring of Fire
The area north of Sudbury and bordering on Thunder Bay’s
geography will eventually be opened up for mining and smelting. In addition to
employment, roads and electricity / infrastructure, there will be an
environmental impact on lands that include First Nation properties. Vigilance
for due process in the decision-making is called for.
Action:
To monitor developments with the coalitions that are
moving this agenda forward to ensure that environmental and proprietary
concerns are being addressed – in collaboration with other interested parties
such as Northwatch.
Chapter Lead: Wayne Paul (Elaine porter after February,
’15)
OTHER
The Internet, Privacy and Control
The issue is not yet appearing on the public’s radar.
When Eric Schmidt of Google indicates a shut down of the Internet by the powers
that be, is a real threat in the near future, there is a need for vigilance.
This need is exacerbated by the knowledge that privacy with the Internet does
not exist, particularly with the ability of governments to pry into all past
and current transactions. Effective control of the Internet by government will
cripple the free thought, communication and the ability to organize activism.
Action:
To monitor government controls of the Internet, the
protection of privacy and to make this a national campaign for the Council of
Canadians
Chapter Lead: Andre Clement
Human Rights and Aboriginal Issues
Chapter members are encouraged to identify human rights
and Aboriginal issues as a priority.
Action:
See if the Council has any national campaigns underway
and if any regional or local initiatives could appreciate the Chapter’s
support.
Possibly adopt the Declaration of Human Rights as a
framework for organizing and prioritizing the issues we most wish to tackle.
Chapter Lead:_____________
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