Action alert: Clear cutting in Gatineau Park starts Monday!

The Wakefield Spring and majestic old growth white pines of Gatineau Park need your urgent help!

Residents of Wakefield are continuing to fight the extension of Highway 5 between Chelsea and Wakefield which threaten old growth pine trees and the Valley Drive (Wakefield) Spring. The cutting of trees in Gatineau Park will begin on Monday. A5X, a group who is now leading this fight, was asked to remove all decorations by noon on Thursday. We need your help to save these trees and the Wakefield Spring!

Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow led a canoe flotilla on Fairy Lake Thursday in an attempt to take our "scrap the summits" message to G8 delegates in Huntsville.

The canoe flotilla was buzzed by a military helicopter and closely monitored by Ontario Provincial Police boats.

As the canoe flotilla approached restricted waters near the Deerhurst Resort where the G8 leaders are staying, it was stopped by officers in an OPP boat and we were told we couldn't proceed any further.

With G8 representatives not willing to meet with us, and a multitude of media watching, the police agreed to take our "scrap the summits" message to the resort.

Council of Canadians canoeists have arrived in heavily-policed Huntsville. We have just gathered at a local coffee shop for a little breakfast. Maude Barlow is about 20 minutes away and so will join us soon.

The Toronto Sun reports that, "Protests are expected to hit the host town for the G8 summit Thursday, one day before world leaders gather at Deerhurst Resort."

"How big the protests will be is anyone's guess but a flood of police officers have swept over the town, cops on foot dot most street corners with cruisers making regular patrols."

"Thursday afternoon's canoe flotilla is about drawing attention to the G8 and G20's poor track record on promises, organizers said."

On March 2, more than 170 people rallied outside of the Royal Bank of Canada's (RBC's) Annual General Shareholder meeting (AGM) in Toronto after a series of creative non-violent actions all morning. Inside, First Nations Chiefs and community representatives from four different Nations demanded RBC phase out of its Tar Sands financing and to recognize the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent for Indigenous communities. Afterward, Indigenous leaders lead the crowd in a march to rally outside both RBC Headquarters buildings.