COPE ONTARIO

Last week, the federal government introduced Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act. The nearly 250-page bill is designed to fast-track major projects like pipelines, highways and nuclear facilities, and makes permanent the government's power to let "national interest" projects bypass normal approval rules.

The bill would rush federal project reviews into a single year, take pipeline and nuclear reviews out of the environment minister's hands, let companies pay a fee to harm fish habitat, and pre-approve development across entire regions, possibly including the Ring of Fire on Treaty 9 territory.

Climate groups call it an unprecedented rollback of environmental protections, and Indigenous groups warn it threatens their rights on their own lands.

The day after Orange Shirt Day, it's worth remembering that reconciliation means respecting Indigenous stewardship and consent every day, not just one day a year.

On Monday this week, COPE Local 103 President Tina Ryn joined union presidents from the various school boards across Renfrew County. During this meeting they discussed the upcoming rallies for Publicly Funded Education on Oct 24.

Are you ready to rally for education? No plans on Oct 24th at 1PM? Well, now you do! Registration is open now: https://bit.ly/Together4Ed ❤✊

SAVE THE DATE! Mark Saturday, October 24 in your calendars!

On that day across Ontario, teachers, education workers, families, and communities are coming together to stand up for publicly funded education ✊

Join COPE Ontario at one of five regional rallies to call for the staff, resources, and supports students need to succeed.

📍 London
📍 Ottawa
📍 Sudbury
📍 Thunder Bay
📍 Toronto
⏰ Rallies begin at 1 p.m.

We are especially calling on our education locals to come out and join us! These are family-friendly events, and everyone who supports a strong publicly funded education system is welcome.

Save the date. Bring a friend. Let's make our voices heard.
More details to come!

Tomorrow, September 30, is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is a day for honouring and bringing awareness to residential school survivors and the children who never came home.

At a time when residential school denialism is very much alive and well, and when Canada has only fulfilled 15 out of 94 Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action, this is a necessary day of learning and commemoration.

If you are able to, we encourage you to attend one of the NDTRC events near you.

Great day in London with COPE Local 468 last week! Their executive board spent the day learning parliamentary procedure, and they're heading into their next meeting with new tools and confidence. Thanks to everyone who took part! 💪

Last Monday, Carney introduced the Building Canada Strong Act (Bill C-39). If passed, this bill would give the federal government broader power to restrict legal strikes, based on the minister's view of the "national interest".

No other G7 country gives its government this much unilateral power to end a strike - no, not even the US! We do not build a "Strong Canada" by stripping Canadian workers of power. Strong collective bargaining, including the right to strike, is in Canada's national interest.

These proposed changes to the Canadian Labour Code must be taken off the table entirely. Unions are coming together to defend our right to strike - make sure your voice is heard too. Contact your MP today: https://workerstogether.ca/repeal-107-protect-workers/

The Carney government has introduced changes to the Canada Labour Code, and they put workers' right to strike at risk.

The bill includes some wins unions have fought for, like stronger protections against wage theft and more funding for health and safety inspectors. But it also gives the federal government new, expanded power to shut down a legal strike whenever it decides that strike is, or could be, against the "national interest."
A strike works because it puts pressure on an employer to reach a fair deal. If employers know the government can step in and end a strike, they have less reason to compromise. That weakens bargaining for every worker, even before the government ever uses this power.

As the Canadian Labour Congress said, on the right to strike, the government broke its promise to workers. The CLC is calling for the bill to be amended, and we stand alongside other unions in saying that we will not accept these changes quietly.

The national interest is good jobs that are safe, secure and well paid. Collective bargaining is how workers win them, and the right to strike is what makes bargaining work.

Tell your MP to protect workers’ right to strike and stand together. https://workerstogether.ca/repeal-107-protect-workers/

JUST TWO DAYS AWAY!

This Wednesday, community members and leaders from Grassy Narrows (.narrows.solidarity) will arrive in the city to demand justice: compensation for the mercury crisis, an end to the pollution by shutting down the Dryden mill, a stop to mining and nuclear waste plans that threaten their land, and support to restore their community and way of life.

Calling our members: COPE Ontario will be present at the rally and we encourage those who can to attend! If you are interested in joining us, please email [email protected] and we will coordinate to meet together on the day.

Yesterday, COPE Ontario members joined the Migrant Rights Network Day of Action for Migrant Justice in Toronto.

Housing, jobs, and the cost of living are getting harder for everyone, and migrants are feeling that strain too, even as they're too often the ones blamed for it.

A strong labour movement is one that leaves no one behind. Solidarity!! ✊