The Conservative Party of Canada’s lawyers yesterday filed a second motion to dismiss the legal challenges of individual citizens seeking to overturn federal election results in seven ridings -- this time because it alleges the Council of Canadians’ support for the cases is “improper.”

The more than 750-page “omnibus” motion is nearly twice the size of the “budget” implementation act, Bill C-38, which seems concise by comparison at only 420 pages.

In the midst of a major mining conference in Toronto known as PDAC 2012, a new report sheds light on controversial projects in Chile involving Canadian mining companies. The Council of Canadians released a report entitled Chilean Patagonia in the Balance: Dams, Mines and the Canadian Connection. The report is available here.

The report exposes the involvement of the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, the Canada Pension Plan, and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, as well as Canadian companies Barrick Gold, Goldcorp, and Kinross in highly controversial projects in Chile. These projects, while politically invisible in Canada have been met by fierce public opposition in Chile.

In advance of today's anticipated Canada- U.S. border deal signing in Washington, D.C., privacy and civil liberties advocates are releasing a 12-point statement of principles (see below) they hope will help guide public and parliamentary debate in the months to come. The joint statement of principles was developed over the past few months and represents basic concerns with the trade-off expected behind the anticipated deal. The organizations listed below are available for comment on their statement as well as the content of the anticipated 32-point Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness action plan.

OTTAWA -- The Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Council of Canadians have been granted intervener status in the Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board's legal challenge in defence of the Canadian Wheat Board. Food Secure Canada and ETC Group were also granted the right to intervene.

The federal government is pushing forward to end the CWB's single desk authority, against the wishes of the majority of Canadian farmers. PSAC and the Council argue that dismantling the CWB will have not only have an adverse affect on farmers, but will undermine Canadian food security and safety as well.

Based on news reports of the Harper government's intention to leave the Kyoto Protocol, Maude Barlow and Andrea Harden-Donahue of the Council of Canadians have responded as follows:

"This would reveal just how adverse the Harper government is to addressing climate change. If this is true, Harper should stay home from these critical climate talks," says Maude Barlow, National Chairperson, Council of Canadians. "This announcement, on the first day of the UN climate talks, is a betrayal to the goal of an effective international deal when many countries have been clear Kyoto is vital to forward movement."

RCMP records obtained under freedom of information legislation reveal a disturbing relationship between the national police force and corporations.

According to a CBC news report, the Joint Intelligence Group, an RCMP-led intelligence team that has extensively spied on community organizations and activists, "made a series of presentations to private-sector corporations, including one to 'energy sector stakeholders' in November 2011. Other corporations that received intelligence from police included Canada's major banks, telecom firms, airlines, downtown property companies and other businesses seen to be vulnerable to the effects of summit protests."

The Council of Canadians and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada demands answers.

The Council of Canadians applauds the courageous action of 21-year-old Senate page Brigette DePape, who held a 'Stop Harper' sign during the Governor-General's reading of the Throne Speech yesterday and lost her job for doing so. Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow spoke with Ms. DePape this afternoon and offered her our support. Barlow commented that, "She is adorable and brave and committed."