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December 20, 2019
2019 Photo Review
Speaking and Acting in Our Own
Name
to Uphold the Rights of All and
Make Canada a Zone for Peace
May
 In this issue of TML
Daily, CPC(M-L) continues its
month-by-month photo review of 2019 with the
month of May.
May is a month
which has particular significance to workers
worldwide as it opens with May Day -- the
International Day of Working Class Unity and
Struggle. In rallies and meetings in Canada,
workers from different sectors of the economy
used the occasion to raise the banner of rights
and their struggles today. In so doing they
affirmed that the workers have their own
politics and demands on the society, independent
from those of the ruling class in Canada, Quebec
and worldwide. The actions expressed the
fraternal unity of the working people around the
world with demands to oppose Canadian
involvement in imperialist war, aggression and
regime change targeting the working people of
other lands.
The month saw
representatives from the Union of BC Indian
Chiefs and the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary
Leadership participate in the 18th Session of
the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to
make clear to the Governments of Canada and BC
there can be no development of natural resource
projects, legislation or policy that affects
Indigenous peoples without their free, prior and
informed consent. Later in the month on May 27,
Indigenous peoples and their allies across the
country held a day of action to speak out
against a number of bills being imposed in
violation of nation-to-nation relations and
the requirement for free and informed consent.
These bills were introduced after the broad
rejection of the Trudeau Liberals' 10-point
Indigenous policy framework. The government
falsely claimed the bills will give Indigenous
peoples more self-government, control over child
and social services, and over their territories.
In fact they are tantamount to a White Paper
2.0, aimed at extinguishing Indigenous
hereditary and treaty rights.
The 74th
anniversary of the defeat of Nazi fascism in
Europe, May 9, was celebrated with marches of
the Immortal Regiment in a number of cities
across the country. The marches honour all those
who fought and gave their lives to defeat
fascism. Today, this anniversary calls on
everyone to once again take the stand that these
times require -- to oppose wars of aggression
and occupation and the use of force to resolve
conflicts between nations, so that the dangers
of another world war and other calamities that
threaten humanity can be prevented.
May saw a number of
actions in support of friendly relations between
Cuba and Canada and revolutionary Cuba's right
to be. Pickets demanded the Canadian government
re-open its consular services in Havana and
others called for an end to the criminal U.S.
blockade of Cuba. Several cities took part in
the Pastors for Peace annual Peace Caravan to
provide humanitarian aid to Cuba in defiance of
the U.S. blockade. On May 28, on the initiative
of the Canadian Network on Cuba, a Symposium on
Cuba was held at the Canadian Parliament to
examine the long-standing positive bilateral
relations between Canada and Cuba, current
challenges and future prospects.
The Canadian people also took their stands with
the anti-imperialist struggles of people in
other countries of the world in May, from
Venezuela to the Philippines. Actions on Nakba
Day, May 15, expressed support for the
Palestinian people's just demand to return to
the homes and lands from which they have been
displaced with the creation of the Zionist state
of Israel in 1948.
On May 25, more
than 5,000 people marched with great spirit and
dignity through the streets of Trois-Rivières in
solidarity with the aluminum workers in
Bécancour who continued to stand firm in defence
of their rights during the over 16-month lockout
by the Alcoa/Rio Tinto/Quebec government cabal.
Workers came from across Quebec -- as far away
as Chibougamau and Fermont. Workers also came
from Toronto and Hamilton. The mass solidarity
march was a tremendous display of social love
and respect for the ABI workers and for the
precious contribution they were making to the
fight of workers everywhere for their dignity
and rights. The event encouraged workers
elsewhere to stand up to company dictate and
strengthen their efforts to organize and unite
in defence of their dignity and what belongs to
them by right.
May 1
In Canada and
Quebec, as around the world, workers and
oppressed peoples used the occasion of May
First, the international day of Working Class
Unity and Struggle, to take bold stands to
defend their rights and the rights of all, and
to uphold the dignity of labour.
Halifax, NS 
Glencore workers’ picket line,
Belledune, NB 
https://cpcml.ca/WF2019/WO0617.HTM#1
Montreal, QC      
Gatineau, QC
Toronto, ON
 
Mississauga, ON
   
Brampton, ON
 
Hamilton, ON     
Windsor, ON 
Sarnia, ON
Thunder Bay, ON
Edmonton, AB
  
Calgary, AB      
Vancouver, BC
Prince George, BC
 
(Photos: TML,
OSSTF, Metallos, VDLC, B. Hogan, A. Bock, R.
Devet.)
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlw2019/W49016S.HTM
May 1
A rally
outside the Assembly of First Nations policy
conference in Edmonton demands the Assembly
involve all Indigenous peoples in discussion
and decisions on any proposed federal
government legislation which will impact their
rights.
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlw2019/W49019.HTM#3
May 1
Representatives
from the Union of BC Indian Chiefs and the
Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Leadership attend the
18th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on
Indigenous Issues in New York. The forum discusses matters
pertaining to the recognition of Indigenous
peoples' internationally recognized human
rights, particularly their rights to
languages, traditional knowledge and
self-determination.
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlw2019/W49019.HTM#6
May 4
New Brunswick
Council of Nursing Home Unions executive
members end their occupation of the
Fredericton office of the Minister of Social
Development and continue to press their
demands through sit-ins at Cabinet members'
constituency offices.
 
https://cpcml.ca/WF2019/WO0617.HTM#4 (CUPE, G. Ross)
May 5
Marches of
the Immortal Regiment are held in a number of
Canadian cities on the occasion of the 74th
anniversary of the defeat of Nazi fascism in
Europe. The marches honour the memory of all
those who fought and defeated fascism.
Montreal   
Halifax, NS
Ottawa, ON
Toronto, ON   
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlw2019/W49017.HTM#17
(G.
Proulx,
O.
Saracheva,
Russian Consulate)
May 5
Live-in
caregivers speak out against arbitrary Quebec
government measures contained in Bill 9, which
will affect their access to permanent
residence status. Organizers inform that more
than 80 women who came to Quebec under the
Live-In Caregiver Program have voiced their
fears for the future because of the bill.
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlw2019/W49017.HTM#3
(Pinay)
May 10
Protest in
Winnipeg rejects the Trudeau government's Bill
92, overhauling the Indigenous child welfare
system. Promoted as tackling the
over-representation of Indigenous children in
foster care by handing over control of
services to Indigenous governments, it in fact
maintains control of the funds in the hands of
the provinces.
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlw2019/W49019.HTM#3 (A. McIvor)
May 10
Activists in
Ottawa hold an event as part of the annual
Peace Caravan to inform people about Cuba and
collect humanitarian goods to send to Cuba, in
defiance of the illegal U.S. blockade. Every
year for the past 30 years, the caravan
travels through Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.
Events also take place in Montreal, Kingston,
and Toronto.
May 11
Montreal
picket calls for Canada to lift its suspension
of visa services at its
Consular
Office in Havana.
http://pmlq.qc.ca/CPE2019/CPE06010.HTM#6
A picket is
held in Montreal by people concerned about the
sanctions and coup attempts against Venezuela,
led by the U.S. government with the
participation of Canada. Slogans include
"Hands Off Venezuela! Hands Off Cuba! No to
the Dirty Role Played by Canada and the Lima
Group Against Venezuela!"
http://pmlq.qc.ca/CPE2019/CPE06010.HTM#6
May 11
The Fourth
Annual May Day Workers' Roundtable is held in
Windsor for workers and community members to
inform one another about how they are
organizing to defend their rights and discuss
how to ensure the voice of the working people
is heard in the October federal election. It
is hosted by the Ontario Secondary School
Teachers' Federation District 9 and Greater
Essex Elementary Teachers.
May 11-12
The Canadian
chapter of the International Coalition for
Human Rights in the Philippines is launched in
at a conference in Ottawa by activists from
Canadian organizations working in the
Philippines, along with human rights and
social justice activists. The conference,
"Supporting Voices at Risk: Defending Human
Rights in the Philippines," addresses the
worsening situation under the Duterte regime,
including extrajudicial killings.
   
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlw2019/W49019.HTM#15 (Anakbayan)
May 12-18
In Palestine
and in cities all over the world, Palestinians
and supporters marked the 71st anniversary of
Al Nakba (the Catastrophe) on May 15, 1948,
when 750,000 Palestinians were displaced
during the establishment of the state of
Israel.
Montreal, QC
http://pmlq.qc.ca/CPE2019/CPE06010.HTM#8
Mississauga, ON
May 14
The Ontario
Network of Injured Workers' Groups holds a day
of action across the province in the lead-up
to the 36th annual Injured Workers' Day rally
at Queen's Park on June 1. The rallies build
support for the Workers' Comp Is a Right!
campaign.
Toronto
  
London
Windsor
Barrie; Thunder Bay
 
https://cpcml.ca/WF2019/WO0618.HTM#5
(Photos: WF, ONIWG,
injuredworkersonline.org)
May 14
"The National
Democratic Front and the Struggle for Peace in
the Philippines" is the topic of discussion at
a Toronto meeting, part of a national tour of
prominent spokespersons in the movement for
peace, social progress and human rights in the
Philippines.
 
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlw2019/W49019.HTM#14
May 20
A
political-cultural get-together is held in
Montreal on the occasion of National Patriots'
Day.
The lively event includes songs, poetry,
information and discussion on the national
question, historically and today. Many events
are held throughout Quebec to celebrate the
occasion.
 
 
May 23
BC
steelworkers and allies join striking miners
from Idaho to protest the anti-labour
practices of U.S.-based Hecla Mining. The
action takes place as Hecla Mining holds its
annual general meeting in Vancouver.
 
May 23
Hamilton
picket outside MPP Donna Skelly's office
protests cuts to funding of education.
May 25
Over 5,000 people
march through the streets of Trois-Rivières in
solidarity with the aluminum workers in
Bécancour who have stood firm in defence of
their rights despite being locked out of their
smelter for over 16 months by the Alcoa/Rio
Tinto/Quebec government cabal.          
         
     
https://cpcml.ca/WF2019/WO0620.HTM
(Photos: WF,
Metallos. A. Frechette. Videos: Metallos,
USW)
May 27
A Day of
Action organized by Indigenous peoples across
Canada protests the continued mistreatment and
colonial violence against Indigenous peoples
and highlights several government bills which
will abrogate Indigenous rights, that are
being pushed through without the consent of
the Indigenous peoples.
Vancouver, BC
Edmonton, AB
 
Calgary, AB
 
Saskatoon, SK
 
Winnipeg, MB
  
Sudbury, ON
London, ON
Ottawa, ON    
 
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlw2019/W49020.HTM#6
May 27
Pickets in
Ottawa and Montreal continue, demanding
restoration of full Canadian
Consular
Services at the Canadian embassy in Cuba.
Ottawa, ON
 
Montreal, QC
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlw2019/W49020.HTM#10
May 28
A Symposium
on Cuba is held in Ottawa, under the auspices
of the Canada-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship
Group, to examine the long-standing positive
bilateral relations between Canada and Cuba,
current challenges and future prospects.
May 31
Al-Quds
(Jerusalem) Day is marked in Calgary, as part
of actions around the world to denounce the
Zionist occupation of Palestine and express
support for the struggle of the Palestinian
people to affirm their right to be. 
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