ONTARIO ELECTION THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2022. LESS THAN SIX WEEKS AWAY AS OF APRIL 25
Calling all canvassers! Using non-partisan methods, in concert with our friends in Hamilton 350, during May we're going to visit swing ridings in Hamilton. There we'll connect with voters and find out where they're at on CoC issues such as:
-Democracy (attempts by the provincial government to overturn Hamilton City Council's fixed boundary decision -The tragic fiascos of Long Term Care under the uncaring Ford government -Attacks of corporate capture on the Commons (public space, health care privatization by stealth, farmland, conservation authorities, wetlands) by developers and speculators in bed with the provincial government and some of its MPP's and donors -Mishandling of the Pandemic
AND, as they say, THE LIST GOES ON, AND ON, AND ON!
https://www.fairvote.ca/a-look-at-the-evidence/https://www.fairvote.ca/a-look-at-the-evidence/
Excellent resource from Fair Vote Canada on why proportional representation makes for better government.
IT'S REALLY HAPPENING, FOLKS!
At long last we're tabling at a live event! Here's the link to it. https://www.hamiltonlabour.ca/may_day_2022
Thank you to our friends in the Hamilton District Labour Council for setting aside a table for us to talk about the Just Transition for all workers as we leave fossil fuel and other extractive industries behind. We'll also be gathering names on a petition to new Liberal MP Lisa Hepfner on the Just Transition. These particular petitions are ones that the MP hopefully will table in the house on behalf of her constituents on Hamilton Mountain.
Want to step out of your virtual box into a lively park setting on Sunday May 1? Drop the steering committee a line at chapterhamilton@gmail.com to say when you could be there to interact with the public and with our Climate and Social Justice colleagues in Hamilton 350. It would be great to see you!
NON-PARTISAN: The Council of Canadians is non-partisan. What does that mean? It means that we can't work as a chapter on a particular party's or candidate's campaign or for a slate of party candidates, nor endorse outright candidates, though we can tell our members which candidates the Council of Canadians national body or other organizations have named as "climate justice champions" or the like. As individuals, of course we can work on a particular campaign, just not as a chapter.
But that doesn't mean we don't involve ourselves in campaigns. We can survey candidates and parties and relay findings to our chapter, and paid CoC staff (in Ottawa and in regional offices) do the same on a more professional level and produce pamphlets and infographics and videos on the issues the Council of Canadians highlights. See "What is the Council of Canadians" on this chapter's Home page.
This spring we will be working to elect a more progressive provincial legislature, and will use that momentum and sharpened election skills to achieve a Hamilton City Council which reflects the demographics and aspirations of Hamilton. We will work to get a city government that is more in sync with the kind of activism Hamilton is known for, while increasing our efforts to be inclusive ourselves and to practice sectionality and solidarity.
i-Elect. It's a group your chapter steering committee is interested in following, to see if we have shared interests and might in any way coordinate campaigns for our municipal election next fall. Here's their website: let us know what you think. https://www.ielecthamilton.ca/
Here's a group that says it's grassroots and interested in getting a better result at Queen's Park this time round. Take a look and let us know at chapterhamilton@gmail.com if you think we should join up!