stand up for rights

Weeks like these are perfect for omnibus blog posts that put everything in one place. So much has been happening and continues to happen in these weeks that it makes the head spin. I am putting the events we have posted in the toolkit in a list by date. Feel free to click through and take action.

Remember, you can still take action on most of these issues. Also let me know what I missed, because I am sure I missed a lot.

March 14: National Day of Action against Bill C-51. 43 cities across Canada took action against Bill C-51 on March 14. People picketed their MP’s offices, rallying, marching, talking and building awareness about this new assault on our civil liberties. Thousands have joined our three-minute action to find out about petitions you can sign and rallies you can attend to oppose the bill. 

March 16 to May 29: Vote on Vancouver Transit Plebicite. Between March 16 and May 29, 2015 the provincial government of British Columbia is holding a referendum to determine a revenue source for transportation expansions in Vancouver. Learn more here.

March 21: National Day for the Elimination of Racism. On March 21, 1966 Canada observed its first day for the elimination of racial discrimination along with other United Nations countries. The day was created as a global memorial for those who lost their lives during the Sharpeville massacre.

Chief Isadore Day has also written an open letter to Parliament asking for an Annual Day of National Dialogue on Racism on April 12, 2015.

March 31: After nearly a month on strike, the members of CUPE 3903 ratified a good contract at York University. TAs, graduate students, sessional professors, and students across the country are facing hostile bargaining and fees increases, and this was a great win. March 31 was also Transgender Day of Visibility — click through for a great post on the Mary Sue about the day. Finally on March 31, thousands of people took to the streets across the country to demand the federal government negotiate a new health accord, to provide stable funding for promises. Our country is facing nearly $31 billion in federal cuts for health care, at a time when our population needs secure public health systems to grow to meet their need.

April 1: Cross Canada Day of Action: No 4 and 4. On April 1, 2011, the federal government introduced legislation known as the “four in and four out” rule, limiting how long some temporary foreign workers could work in Canada to four years. The first temporary foreign workers to whom the rule applies reach their four-year limit on April 1, 2015.  On April 1, 2015, Immigration Minister Chris Alexander and Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre issued a statement saying that “going underground is not an option” and the government “will deal with offenders swiftly and fairly.” Members of the opposition parties are calling for consideration for people who are already in the immigration system, because getting residency can take up to 5 years. We need to keep standing for fairness, click here to learn more.

April 2: The Standing Committee for Public Safety presents its report on Bill C-51 to the House of Commons, making very few changes to the original bill. Write to your MP using this handy tool and stand up for your civil liberties.

April 13: Openmedia is sending out a Thunderclap on Twitter at 10 a.m. on Tuesday April 13.  Join the Thunderclap here.

April 13-20: Our members of Parliament are back in their ridings from April 3 to April 19. People organizing to Stop Bill C-51 will be tabling, holding educational sessions, rallies, and visiting their members of Parliament between April 13 and April 20 during the Week of Education. Scroll down after you click through to learn more and find links to local Bill C-51 actions.

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Maya Bhullar

Maya Bhullar has over 15 years of professional experience in such diverse areas as migration, labour, urban planning and community mobilization. She has a particular interest in grassroots engagement,...