Council of Canadians Winnipeg Chapter

Founded in 1985, the Council of Canadians is Canada’s largest citizens’ organization, with members and chapters across the country. We work to protect Canadian independence by promoting progressive policies on fair trade, clean water, energy, security, public health care, and other issues of social and economic concern to Canadians. The Council does not accept money from corporations or governments, and is sustained entirely by the volunteer energy and financial assistance of its members. Within the Winnipeg chapter we address national issues, and also focus on how those issues affect us locally. We are issue-driven, rather than ideologically-driven. www.canadianswinnipeg.org

[canadianswinnipeg]

Could Lac Megantic Happen in Winnipeg? Yes!

Oct 11, 2014

*For immediate release*

On Global Frackdown Day, concerned citizens along with Council of Canadians-Winnipeg Chapter, Boreal Action Project, and Transition Winnipeg speak out on the dangers of Hydrogen Sulphide in the trainloads of oil passing through Winnipeg.

  We are asking the Manitoba provincial government to follow the lead of Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Nova Scotia, and declare a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in Manitoba. We are acutely conscious that the lands involved   here in Manitoba are the lands of the Anishinaabe and Dakota peoples and we are not willing to see the heritage of the Indigenous People continue to be despoiled for the economic benefit of others.

  The multiple safety issues associated with the practice go far beyond the known environmental costs such as permanent destruction of fresh water, acid rain from flaring of sour gas, climate change, and contamination  of agricultural lands with toxins from drill mud sprayed onto the land. 

  In the  disaster in Lac Megantic, it is suspected that many were killed by deadly  hydrogen sulphide (H2S) contained in the oil. This catastrophe is waiting to happen every time a train or  pipeline carries oil with high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide and volatile  components (such as Bakken oil).

  Hydrogen sulphide is an extremely hazardous, toxic, flammable gas. 50 to 200ppm can cause severe respiratory tract irritation, shock, convulsions, coma, or death. Because of the extreme danger to workers, the US Federal Regulatory Commission has granted permission to  Enbridge to limit H2S content in the crude oil in their pipelines to no more than 5 ppm; but trains and pipelines in Manitoba can carry hundreds of ppm.

  "There are no measuring and reporting requirements in Manitoba," says retired scientist Dennis Leneveu, "but technical documents on the Manitoba  Petroleum website and on Crude Oil Monitor website indicate that the H2S content  in Manitoba oil carried in pipelines and rail cars can be of the order of  hundreds of ppm or more."

  With current practices it is just a matter of  time before Winnipeg becomes another Lac Megantic.  Especially in light of the latest train derailment in Saskatchewan, we must recognize the immediate need to reduce our use of fossil fuels and transition to a low-carbon economy. 

The group has sent a letter to the Government of Manitoba, and has organized a student letter writing campaign supporting a moratorium.

  More info:  

http://www.canadianswinnipeg.org/apps/blog/show/42724922-hazards-of-transportation-of-manitoba-crude-oil

[canadianswinnipeg]

Pimicikamak Occupation of Jenpeg

On Sept. 27, Pimicikamak began an occupation at the Jenpeg Hydro Dam in their territory in north...ern Manitoba. The dam and the rest of the hydropower system have created much wealth and opportunity for Manitoba, while creating much damage and a deep sense of grievance for Pimicikamak.

If you are not acquainted with the geography of dams, Pimicikamak (Pim-uh-chick-a-mak) is also know as Cross Lake and is near the JENPEG dam which is the control structure that made Lake Winnipeg a reservoir.

The people of Pim are asking Hydro to live up to 38 years of broken promises. While the Province and utility promise you 'cheap hydro'  they have ignored the people of Pim, many other peoples and all the warning signs that confirm the environment is hurting. The original flooding devastated the lands and waters. The destruction by 'regulation' is constant. Every living thing is becoming sick.

Please share and work towards unity. Water is life.

Manitoba - This is OUR Red Feather Campaign!!!

About Pimicikamak

APTN article

#indigenous #humanrights 

[canadianswinnipeg]

For many aboriginal people, the Canadian Museum of Human Rights is a bitter reminder of what we do not have

[canadianswinnipeg]

Museum for Canadian Human Rights Violations. Come for a tour - start at the Healing Waters Exhibit in the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and follow the water to its source at #shoallake40 First Nation. Experience actual deprivation and isolation first hand! #water #humanrights

[canadianswinnipeg]

MUSEUM OF CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

SHOAL LAKE 40 LAUNCHES THE MUSEUM OF CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

last boat of the fall

One of Canada’s First Nations is looking to educate the world about that country’s true Human Rights record with the launch of a Museum of Canadian Human Rights Violations. Their ‘living museum’ consists of a guided tour of their own indigenous community located just two hours east of the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights, opening this week in Winnipeg. Shoal Lake happens to be the source of Winnipeg’s water supply and the Shoal Lake 40 community has been cut off and economically repressed as a result of Canada’s imposition of that city’s intake on their reserve land. The ongoing difficulties and injustice experienced by the community has received widespread media attention and has attracted support from national and international Human Rights organizations. Ironically, Canada’s museum architect, Antoine Predock, chose to use Shoal Lake water as a symbol of ‘healing’ in his building’s “Garden of Contemplation.”

Roxanne Greene, a past councilor and one of the Violations Museum’s organizers explained, “At the settlers’ end of the water pipe there’s economic prosperity, clean drinking water and a $350 million building that advertises ‘healing’ and brags about what a wonderful country Canada is. At our end of the pipe, we have 17 years of boil water order, no job opportunities and we are forced to risk our lives for basic necessities. It’s important that the world have opportunity to see that huge Canadian contradiction.”

"Their [Shoal Lake #40’s] story is one that more Canadians need to hear because it can tell us so much about the deeply flawed relationship between the federal government and First Nations." Craig Benjamin, Campaigner for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Amnesty International

read full article

[canadianswinnipeg]

The Other End of the Aquaduct

Linda Goes to Shoal Lake No. 40

The story, on the surface at least, is about water. In 1914 Winnipeg was the third-largest city in Canada, out-growing its rivers and wells for potable water. City fathers cast their eyes eastward, to Shoal Lake, for a solution. It was simple: build an aqueduct from Shoal Lake to Winnipeg, and let the water flow.  The rest is history, right?

Winnipeg's decision had serious repercussions for the Shoal Lake #40 First Nations community. They were dispossessed of land that included ancestral burial grounds as well as their village at the mouth of the Falcon River. Forced to move to the adjacent peninsula, that peninsula was subsequently severed from the mainland by a canal diverting coloured Falcon River water away from Winnipeg's intake. The community has struggled with its man-made isolation ever since.

read full article

[canadianswinnipeg]

Save the Experimental Lakes Area

The war on science, and on the ELA in particular is just one of the many ways that the Harper government is tearing down barriers to big business getting ever bigger. They are also doing everything they can to push through trade deals like the FIPPA with China, and CETA with the EU. These trade deals rely on government abolishing regulations that protect environment, resources, water, sustainability practices, and local economic health. It is evident that the Harper vision for Canada is one of corporate power run amok, where traditional Canadian values of democracy, justice and respect are trampled in the corporate rush to the sale table marked "Canada." read full article

[canadianswinnipeg]

Canada-EU Trade Deal Bad for Manitoba

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Fast Facts

"Recent leaks from the negotiations between Canada and EU confirm concerns that a comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA) would infringe on Manitoba’s ability to promote economic development and advance public interests.  The proposed precedent-setting agreement would expand investor rights and extend the reach of international economic agreements, fully covering for the first time the activities of provincial and municipal governments."

read more...

[canadianswinnipeg]

Visit Original Link

Jill WInzoski tells her story on CKUW 95.9FM's People of Interest (at about half way in.)

[canadianswinnipeg]

Elections Canada reveals massive robo-calls probe of 2011 election

The new information on Elections Canada’s investigation was provided to Federal Court in connection with a legal action by constituents in several federal ridings. LINK

original post

[canadianswinnipeg]

"I used to be afraid to question, to challenge, to dream, to experiment, but no longer." ~Brigette DePape

[canadianswinnipeg]

The crippling of Canada's public science capacity under the guise of austerity measures, coupled with the weakening of federal environmental laws in the absence of open debate, is a blatant desecration of science, nature, and democracy. We need to stop this war on science, and let's start by saving the ELA. SAVE ELA