No. 5
June 2024
Parliament Adjourns for the Summer
Bill C-70, Countering Foreign Interference
Act, Fast-Tracked
• Egregious Abuse of
Parliament to Make Rule by Police Powers
the New
Normal
Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act Is Neither Transparent Nor Accountable
• Act Gives Seal of Approval to Government by Police Powers
Oppose Integration of Canada into U.S. War Economy
• No to U.S. Military Money in Canadian Mining Operations
or Other
Industries!
• U.S. Pentagon Joins with Canadian Government to Fund Graphite Mine in Quebec
Quebec Premier and Prime Minister Collude to Keep
Quebeckers Disempowered
• Bashing Temporary Immigrants for Purposes of Diversion, Disinformation and Division
New Federal Pilot Projects for Foreign Caregivers
• Canada Must Move Urgently to Approve an Adequate Regularization Program
• Toronto Action for Regularization and Status for All
Defend the Pensions We Have, Fight for Pensions for All!
• Calgarians Rally for Retirement Security For All!
• Remarks to Hands Off Our Canada Pension Plan Rally
Ontario Government's Unconscionable Mistreatment of Seniors
• Evidence of Harmful Anti-Social Measures Multiplies
Anniversary of National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and Girls
• Marking Five Years Since the 231 Calls to Justice Were Issued
Third Canadian National Conference on Human Rights in the Philippines
• Stand with Filipino People to Resist State Terror and Defend Rights
• Philippine Supreme Court Rules Against Government Practice of Red-Tagging
Cuba
• Canadian Network on Cuba Holds 11th Biennial Convention
• "Routine Visits" of Russian and Canadian Warships
to Havana
Harbour
Omnibus Legislation in Argentina
• Neo-Liberal Destruction of Argentina
Parliament Adjourns for the Summer
Bill C-70, Countering Foreign Interference Act, Fast-Tracked
Egregious Abuse of Parliament to Make Rule by Police Powers the New Normal
One of the bills put on the top of the agenda for Parliament before its summer break was Bill C-70, the Countering Foreign Interference Act.
On June 13, the House of Commons unanimously voted in favour of the
bill which gives a legal veneer to the expansion of police powers. The
legislation creates a foreign agent registry and expands what Canada's
spy agencies will be enabled to do, along with their scope of
operations.
Bill C-70 was introduced on May 9 by Dominic Leblanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs. The Conservatives offered to ensure that the legislation was expeditiously enacted, and the other cartel parties in the House joined in. The legislation was allocated two hours at second reading on May 29, during which a motion to fast-track its adoption was passed.
The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security took up its consideration of Bill C-70 on May 30. It heard from 42 witnesses, most from government and police agencies, in a period of less than 12 hours, followed by a three-hour clause-by-clause review. It is not likely that Committee members could have responsibly studied the 105-page Bill C-70 in that time, let alone seriously considered its implications. The haste with which the bill was being enacted was raised as a key point of opposition by members of civil liberties organizations who appeared as witnesses before the House Committee.
In a press release, the Liberal Government said the legislation will "update existing laws to better equip the government to detect, disrupt, and protect against foreign interference threats against all people in Canada, including members of diaspora, marginalized or otherwise vulnerable communities." To this stated end, the new law amends the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, the Security of Information Act, the Criminal Code, the Canada Evidence Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Bill C-70 also includes the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act. It sets up a mandatory registration system for people who "enter into an arrangement with a foreign principal and undertake activities to influence a government or political process." The registry will be administered and enforced by a Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner. The Commissioner, housed in the Ministry of Public Safety, will be appointed following cartel-party consultation. Supporting motions for the appointee will be required in both the House of Commons and the Senate.
The legislation also includes significant regulatory powers accorded to the Governor-in-Council to determine who will be captured by the legislation.
At third reading, on June 12, Jennifer O'Connell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs (Cybersecurity) asked the House to support a last minute amendment to enable the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) "to disclose, as part of a disclosure for the purpose of building resiliency against threat to the security of Canada, information specifically about a company with that company. [It] would allow CSIS to be more candid and transparent with Canadian corporations and entities by disclosing information around specific threats and vulnerabilities affecting them. An example of this would be information about a foreign state's interest in acquiring the company's unique and proprietary information or technology."
She explained that the last minute amendment was required because of the bill's expeditious treatment. "When one part of the bill was amended to provide [CSIS] enhanced information sharing authority for individuals, the same was not done for companies or community organizations and universities, as there was not enough time to properly craft the appropriate amendment."
O'Connell said the amendment was important "to ensure that CSIS can make authorized disclosures to both individuals and entities to better equip Canadians and Canadian society with the information and tools they need to build resiliency against foreign threats."
Speaking at third reading before she joined the unanimous aye vote, Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May said Bill C-70 was being adopted in "a breathtakingly expedited fashion." "I think it is important to say that I do not think I have ever seen a bill with so many substantial changes to critical areas of law pass so very quickly as this one," she said. "There are still a lot of questions as the bill moves forward. I have to say that, having the right, as any member of this place did, to say no to unanimous consent, I could have insisted that we have greater study. I have to say that I wish we did have greater study, but there was the timing and the consensus, and I am always inspired when I see members across party lines work together, because we do not see it often enough."
Commenting on unaddressed concerns raised during the Committee hearings, such as the vagueness of certain definitions and the potential violation of fundamental rights, May said, "I am increasingly unnerved by the number of groups that have approached all of us." She said she was left "disquieted by the fact that we have gone perhaps recklessly quickly in bringing the bill forward and getting it all the way through to third reading and over to the Senate."
Reiterating that she did not want to disrupt the required unanimous consent, she said, "I want to put on the record that we are going to have to be very careful from here and take every opportunity to ensure that we are not violating charter rights and that we are not creating additional hazards for members of diaspora communities that we had not considered before we moved so very quickly."
What she did not say is that these are war measures and that there should be no consensus among those who call themselves representatives of the people on the issue of giving the government police powers to act with impunity in the name of security when not a single one of them has held in vivo hearings with all their constituents to hear what they have to say.
Meanwhile, the Senate had already passed a motion for its Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs to begin its pre-study of Bill C-70 on June10. The Committee heard all kinds of objections to the bill but on June 18, it sent it back for third reading without amendment.
Matters
of such import to the polity treated in such a hasty and suspect way
certainly do not bode well for Canadians. It is reminiscent of the
spate of so-called anti-terror legislation adopted post 9/11 in
lockstep with the U.S. and its intelligence agencies and of the secret
processes
introduced which permitted Canadians to be charged without even being
informed of the charges, arrested, interrogated to extract confessions
and much more. All kinds of egregious practices which took place at the
time are now once again being brought into the present, including
giving free rein to
defamation, rumours and the criminalization of dissent.
Who decides all these matters is, of course, the intelligence agencies, domestic and foreign which are all under one U.S. command in line with the arrangements under NATO and NORAD where the President of the United States commands the Canadian armed forces, notwithstanding the fact that another foreign monarch, Charles III is their Commander-in-Chief through his stand-in, Canada's Governor General. The role of the parliamentarians is to make this police rule "legal," "normal," "legitimate" by making it appear that it is the legislative body which makes the decisions.
Canadians need to discuss these matters in forums of their own, inform themselves of the implications of the new laws being passed in their name under the guise of national security, draw warranted conclusions and become vigilant. Canadians and Quebeckers need to speak out themselves directly against their increasing disempowerment.
Canada's Members of Parliament are doing Canadians a great disservice. They must be held to account.
Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act Is Neither
Transparent Nor Accountable
Act Gives Seal of Approval to Government
by Police Powers
Bill C-70, the Countering Foreign Interference Act includes separate legislation called The Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act. As the title of the legislation indicates, it claims to be aimed at providing transparency and accountability. The "transparency" that is aimed for, according to Bill C-70, is "to ensure that persons who, under an arrangement, carry out activities in relation to a political or governmental process in Canada do so in a transparent manner; to deter foreign principals from making efforts to influence political or governmental processes in Canada in a non-transparent manner; to raise public awareness of efforts by foreign principals to influence political or governmental processes in Canada; and to strengthen national security."
The legislation is an example of how terms such as "transparency" and "accountability" are used to cover up and twist what is going on. Its only connection with transparency and accountability is the total absence of these qualities on the part of the legislators and the legislation itself.
Appearing before the House Committee reviewing Bill C-70, Sébastien Aubertin-Giguère, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cybersecurity, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, addressed the significance and importance of the registry.
An Associate Deputy Minister "is a deputy minister in waiting, often assigned to a specific project or initiative pending appointment to lead a department." Assistant deputy ministers are "operational positions, usually carrying responsibility for particular functions or budgets within a department." So, go figure what an Associate Assistant Deputy Minister is! But whatever he is, Aubertin-Giguère told the House Committee Reviewing Bill C-70:
"As you know, Canada and allies face numerous geopolitical challenges that threaten to destabilize democratic nations and the global economy. Every day, the strength of Canada's national security and public safety is being tested. Notably, threats from China, Russia and Iran continue to threaten our national security and social cohesion. What has captured the attention of many Canadians is the insidious threat of foreign interference. This remains a critical threat to our national security."
We consider that we come under the category of "many Canadians" but what has captured our attention is the insidious use of talk about a threat of foreign interference and repetition of the claim that this remains a critical threat to our national security. Whenever Canadians seek evidence of this threat, they come up empty. In fact, they can give many government policies which threaten Canada's national security, such as its membership in NATO and NORAD, for example, and its foreign policy which interferes in the internal affairs of sovereign nations, destabilizing them, causing regime change, and other such things. But foreign policy is considered a matter of ministerial prerogative and not open for discussion. None of this is discussed. There is a veil of secrecy on such discussion, in the name of national security of course. And now, more and more, laws are passed to give the appearance that the police powers of the governments and courts, whose allegiance is to a head of state who is a foreign monarch, are part of rule of law. To give it all a triple seal of approval, a plethora of commissioners with credentials said to be impeccable are appointed and their role is to say that whatever is done in secret is A-OK. It is the egregious Security Certificate process all over again.
Aubertin-Giguère is pretty clever. Having named the countries that are said to pose the threat to our national security, he went on to suggest that "the registry was designed to be country-agnostic, and it's a tool to protect, not persecute, communities of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds in Canada." First he names China, Russia and Iran and then tells us the registry "is designed to be country-agnostic!" Do these people even listen to themselves? It seems not.
In this fashion, not a single legislator nor the civil servants the government has assigned to defend its legislation will be accountable for their refusal to address the concerns raised by many organizations about the impact of these new laws on freedom of conscience, speech and association. They refuse to be accountable for the liberties being accorded to spy agencies to interfere in elections and other political affairs based on prejudiced and anti-democratic stigmatization of Canadians who for myriad reasons do not fall in line with official state policy, particularly on foreign relations. This includes those who oppose Canada's membership in NATO and its support for U.S. wars and aggression and the use of force to resolve conflicts. It includes those who would prefer a government that would build friendly relations with China and Russia, rather than castigating them as "hostile states" to create a war mentality. Nor will the legislators be held to account for the potential targeting, disruption and destruction of international organizations which promote cooperation in various scientific, cultural and political endeavors among the world's peoples, including associations between universities, cultural cooperation and the like.
The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to which Canada is a signatory, declares among other things that one of its purposes is to "contribute to the development of friendly relations among nations, irrespective of their differing constitutional and social systems." It outlines the legitimate functions of diplomatic offices and their personnel, including "furthering the development of commercial, economic, cultural and scientific relations between the sending State and the receiving State and otherwise promoting friendly relations between them." Included in Consular functions is "ascertaining by all lawful means the commercial, economic, cultural and scientific life of the receiving State, reporting thereon to the Government of the sending State and giving information to persons interested." The Convention also stipulates that diplomatic staff must respect the laws of the receiving country and that "it is the duty of all persons enjoying such [diplomatic] privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State."
Foreign affairs are matters dealt with through prerogative powers. A shocking twist is how matters which pertain to foreign affairs, foreign policy and state-to-state relations are being used to enact domestic laws designed to weed out foreign agents in the name of defending democratic institutions.
The Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act sets up a Registry where it is not at all clear who has to register. The laws says the registry will apply to "arrangements" relating to all "political or governmental processes" at all levels of government in the country, including those of "a council, government or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, community or people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, or any other entity that represents the interests of First Nations, the Inuit or the Métis."
Excluded from this requirement are foreign nationals holding diplomatic status and employees of "foreign principals acting openly in the employee's official capacity." It will also not apply to "an arrangement to which His Majesty in right of Canada is a party" and "any arrangement that is included in a class of arrangements specified in the regulations."
Any person who enters into an arrangement must register within 14 days and provide information which will be specified in regulations to be established by the Governor-in-Council and then provide updated information.
The bill is distinguished by the many regulatory powers accorded to the Governor-in-Council including the "class of persons" and the "class of arrangements" that will or will not be required to register. Also left to regulatory powers are "the individuals or classes of individuals who may exercise or perform any of the Commissioner's powers, duties or functions in relation to the scheme, including the designation of such individuals or classes of individuals by the Commissioner."
Other areas left to prerogative powers include setting out the definition of "public office holder," specifying what information and updates must be provided, and authorizing government institutions to disclose information protected by the Privacy Act to the Commissioner, "for purposes specified in the regulations."
Where failure to register or provide information is alleged or if an entity is accused of obstructing the work of the Commissioner, punishment is a fine of up to $5 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both if convicted on indictment. A summary conviction is punishable with a $200,000 fine, up to two years in prison, or both. Administrative penalties and compliance agreements that will be imposed for not registering and what factors will be considered as to whether to administrative measures rather than charges will also be determined through Governor-in-Council.
Oppose Integration of Canada into U.S. War Economy
No to U.S. Military Money in Canadian Mining Operations or Other Industries!
CBC News reports the U.S. military has given two Canadian mining companies an initial $15 million to mine and process copper, gold, graphite and cobalt in Quebec and the Northwest Territories. The U.S. military has made it known that up to a half-a-billion dollars are available to make these minerals available for its war machine of planes, drones, electric vehicles, missiles and munitions.
The U.S. imperialists are in a feverish expansion of their war-fighting capacity and have increasingly drawn Canada into their military economy. The U.S. ruling elite looks to Canada for an assured supply of minerals and carbon fuels to feed its wars of aggression worldwide. These include its current proxy war in Ukraine against Russia, supplying the Zionist warmongers bent on massacring every last Palestinian, building up the U.S. war capacity throughout the Americas, the Caribbean and Africa, and encircling and threatening China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with pre-emptive strikes.
The current U.S. military funding directly into Canada's economy comes under the aegis of the U.S. Defense Production Act (DPA) which gives the U.S. President the power to funnel U.S. military money abroad. A U.S. military press release refers to the funding as a "Canada-U.S. co-investment."
The DPA dates back to the immediate post-World War II period when the U.S. imperialists engaged in a global war policy of "containment of communism." The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on civilian targets in Japan even though the Japanese militarists had already been defeated with only an official surrender to come. The U.S. filmed and extensively photographed the atomic explosions and sent the threatening images around the world, in particular to the Soviet Union, openly suggesting that 'you and your allies are next.' It unleashed a war of aggression in Korea to prevent the Korean people from deciding their own future after their historic victory over Japanese colonial occupation. It was preparing its military forces to occupy Vietnam to replace the French colonial invaders who were on the verge of total defeat by the heroic Vietnamese people. Everywhere the U.S. imperialists sought to hold back the national liberation movements that were fighting to complete their victories following WWII.
To serve the U.S. militarists' purpose of containing communism and achieving post-war global hegemony, the DPA confers powers on the U.S. President to fund production or buy material for its advanced weapon systems as matters of "national-security." Regarding the current DPA funding of resource extraction and production in Canada, the U.S. military began the process in 2022, requesting mining and refining proposals and detailed applications and subsequently picking two finalists. According to the CBC, the Canadian government at this point committed millions of dollars in subsidies to support the U.S. military initiatives. CBC quotes Ben Steinberg, who worked on energy-security issues for the U.S. government and now works for a cartel of battery-makers, stating the obvious: "The U.S. military needs these materials for combat."
The cash from the U.S. military and Canadian government given to the private mining companies involves feasibility studies, permitting and preparations for production. The Canadian government promised the U.S. military that if future events determine a necessity for the minerals they will be supplied without interruption according to a clause in Canada's own version of the DPA giving the government the power to buy raw materials on behalf of a NATO ally. Accordingly, the United States military would "leap to the front of the customer line."
Ontario-based Fortune Minerals, a "recipient company" for the pay-the-rich subsidies, says that under its grant contract the U.S. government will pay the going market rate for minerals upon becoming a customer. The company says it has "already spent $137 million in preparatory work on a cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper mine in the Northwest Territories and a processing facility in southern Canada."
CBC writes, "Money was not available from banks because the capital markets, for junior mining, have been closed...for several years ... (Fortune Minerals) started asking U.S. federal departments for money several years ago, and learned most of them couldn't fund a foreign project; but the military could, because of an old defence-industrial agreement, which the UK and Australia have just joined."
With the U.S. military approval and funding for the project and additional money from the Canadian government, construction of infrastructure and the mine will soon begin with production slated for 2027 as the company "already has key permits and an environmental assessment." Apparently, for the company to receive the funding it had to promise "control of these minerals [would remain] entirely within North America and [the company] would potentially process materials for UK mining giant Rio Tinto."
The other winning bid for U.S. military funding belongs to a Quebec-based company, Lomiko Metals, seeking to develop what it describes as one of the world's largest graphite deposits. "We were very excited [by this news of the U.S. military funding], as you can imagine," said Gordana Slepcev, Lomiko's chief operating officer. "This is a very, very important step for us." She said the U.S. military and government funding will cover half of everything the company needs before a decision on construction, meaning its late-stage feasibility and permitting work.
CBC writes, "With the Pentagon backing, she's not worried about being able to raise the other half over the next few years; she estimates the final plans will take between three and five years; shovels could be in the ground between 2027 and 2029. 'The reality is we can always speed up the timeline,' she said. 'If capital comes right away, we can go [faster]'."
The CBC says the U.S. military funding for the projects was promised during Biden's visit to Ottawa in early 2023 but took a year longer to confirm the first projects. Canadian Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson spoke of the urgency of war preparations and the necessity to speed up production of the material necessary for modern weapons telling the CBC, "We have to go faster. It cannot take us 12 to 15 years to permit new mines in this country."
No to U.S. Military Money in Canada!
Together Let Us Put a Stop to This
Insane March Towards War!
Canada Out of NATO and NORAD!
Quebec "Clean Energies" Bill Serves to Integrate Quebec's Resources into U.S. Energy, Transportation and Trade Corridors
François Legault's government has tabled Bill 69, An Act to ensure the responsible governance of energy resources and to amend various legislative provisions, in the Quebec National Assembly.
The 56-page Bill 69 was introduced on June 6 by Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Energy. It contains 157 sections, amending 15 statutes and seven regulations. The 15 amended laws include the following:
- Electricity Export Act;
- Hydro-Québec Act;
- An Act to reduce the debt and establish the Generations Fund;
- Act respecting the Energy Regulator (Régie de l'énergie);
- Act respecting the Water Regulator (Régie des eaux); and
- Act respecting municipal and private electricity systems.
The amended regulations include:
- Regulation respecting the conditions and cases requiring authorization by the Energy Regulator;
- Regulation respecting the procedure of the Energy Regulator; and
- Regulation respecting the annual fee payable to the Energy Regulator.
The following two regulations would be repealed:
- the Regulation respecting the maximum production capacity covered by a power purchase program for small hydroelectric generating stations;
- the Regulation respecting the conditions and cases in which the conclusion of a supply contract by an electricity distributor requires the approval of the Energy Regulator.
Public Consultations in 2023
The Quebec government's June 6 document announcing Bill 69 states:
"Quebec is committed to a collective energy transition and intends to decarbonize its economy by 2050, while respecting environmental standards and aiming for social acceptability. Remember that around 50 per cent of the energy consumed in Quebec still comes from fossil fuels. The challenge is immense, but within our grasp, given our natural wealth."[1]
Before introducing its bill, the government held a "Consultation on the Framework and Development of Clean Energy in Quebec" in the spring and summer of 2023, inviting what it called "the general public" to submit briefs. The Quebec government received 100 briefs, including 31 from members of the public and 69 from organizations.
Among the briefs received was one from a resident of the Lower St. Lawrence area, who denounced the Legault government's lack of vision in choosing a single type of European-designed horizontal-axis wind turbine, more than 75 per cent of which is subsidized by the state. He pointed out that there is a prototype vertical-axis wind turbine, which has been designed in Quebec and is more versatile and better adapted to the natural and social environment, and whose components are all recyclable, which is not the case for the huge blades of horizontal-axis wind turbines. A request to Hydro-Québec to finance the construction of a large-scale prototype of this vertical-axis wind turbine was refused in 2020 on the grounds that the project would be "too costly and not sufficiently advanced."[2]
As for the 69 briefs submitted by organizations, many of them were produced by organizations and/or companies or groupings of them together representing major private interests that are themselves either commercial users, producers or distributors of electricity or natural gas. These include: the Aluminium Association of Canada, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Association of Energy Distributors of Quebec (ADEQ), Quebec Energy Association (l'AEQ), Quebec Electric Industry Association (AIEQ), Quebec Mining Association (AMQ), Canadian Nuclear Association, Quebec Council of Employers (CPQ), Evolugen, Glencore, Utica Resources, Rio Tinto, Shell, and TC Energy Corporation.[3]
What is remarkable is that the text in Bill 69 is almost a copy and paste of the recommendations made by the Quebec Council of Employers, in its brief presented August 1, 2023, entitled "Prospering Together."
Legault Government's Integrated Energy Resources Management Plan
The document from Quebec's Ministry of the Economy, Innovation and Energy promoting Bill 69 refers to "the implementation of an integrated energy resources management plan (PGIRE) to guide the actions and decisions of the government, local and regional partners, energy distributors and energy project promoters, among others."
In other words, private-public partnerships are being sought in everything to do with Quebec's energy resources related to the production and distribution of electricity.
What's more, the Legault government is committed to meeting the significant demands of major foreign private interests for the production of "green energy" to satisfy their growing needs for "clean" electricity linked to the extraction and/or refining of critical minerals, including aluminium, titanium, scandium, nickel, copper, graphite and lithium. Hydro-Québec will also have to supply electricity to all the new battery component production plants in the Bécancour region, which are planned for the next few years.[4] In addition, the Northvolt mega-plant for the production of electric batteries will be operational by 2026, and the transmission line for exporting electricity to New York State will be commissioned in 2025.
All this will create a difficult situation for Hydro-Québec, which could find itself in an electricity supply deficit as early as 2026-27. The state-owned company could be forced to buy electricity on the spot market at exorbitant prices.[5]
For these reasons, "The government will assess, as part of the preparation of the bill, the various possible options for meeting the growth in demand for clean energy in Quebec in an orderly, predictable and sustainable manner." The bill provides for rate increases "in a context of rapid change in the energy landscape," proposing "to modify the process for setting electricity distribution and transmission rates in order to provide greater predictability and flexibility."
Hydro Rates Dependent on Hydro-Québec's Project Construction Costs
In the same Quebec government document promoting Bill 69, it is stated that "in order to offer greater predictability and flexibility," Hydro-Québec must now "provide for amendments [that] are aimed in particular at reducing the electricity rate-setting cycle by providing for a rate review every three years rather than every five years by the Energy Regulator, while allowing Hydro-Québec to apply to the Energy Regulator, at any time, to set or amend a rate or conditions of service."
"For each year of this three-year period, rates will henceforth be set by the Energy Regulator on the basis of the revenue required by the government corporation.
"The main components considered in determining revenue requirements include:
"The cost of supplies (purchases of heritage pool and post-heritage pool electricity); electricity transmission charges for Québec customers; distribution-related expenses (salaries, depreciation, etc.)." In 2000, the Quebec government designated the energy produced by hydroelectric plants built in the last century as the "heritage pool."
Electricity transmission costs is the new standard that the government wants to introduce for setting residential electricity rates. In 2023, this notion that it costs more to transmit electricity to a residential dwelling than to a business was presented to justify higher residential rate increases than for industrial users who consume large quantities of electricity from the same site.
Privatization of Power Generation and End to Calls for Tenders in Name of "Increasing Flexibility" of Hydro-Québec to Follow "Changes in Demand"
The government document promoting Bill 69 states, "The bill also opens up the possibility of the sale of electricity from renewable sources between a producer and a single consumer located on land adjacent to the production site, subject to the approval and conditions determined by the government."
The document states, "It is proposed that Hydro-Québec no longer be obliged to proceed solely through calls for tenders. For example, it will be able to enter into supply contracts by mutual agreement, [...] develop new supplies itself or establish partnerships," In some cases, projects will not have to go before the Energy Regulator for approval.
Redefining Role of Energy Regulator to Speed up Project Approval and
Raise Electricity Rates
The government document states, "The bill also amends the Act respecting the Energy Regulator, in particular to promote the speed and efficiency of the decision-making process.
The Energy Regulator will now be responsible for "approving the development plan for the electricity transmission system and determining the costs of supplies provided directly by Hydro-Québec."
The Legault government has opened the door to the possibility of Hydro-Québec charging consumers different electricity rates depending on "the time of day" as a way of "meeting the challenge of reducing consumption and doubling its electricity production over the next 25 years." Minister Fitzgibbon said at a press conference to explain Bill 69, "We will encourage people (to save energy) with a carrot, not a stick." But section 130 of his legislation on rates is clearly worded. It stipulates that the Energy Regulator must set "one or more electric power distribution rates or conditions of service applicable from April 1, 2026 to the domestic clientele in such a manner as to promote the reduction of electric power consumption during peak periods." Such language suggests that Quebeckers would pay more for electricity at certain times of the day.
Already, the Montreal Economic Institute, a think tank and ardent advocate of anti-social measures, is recommending that residential electricity rates in Quebec be doubled to bring them closer to what the Institute calls the average rate in Eastern Canadian cities, which would allow Hydro-Québec and the Quebec government to reap "additional profits of between $4.6 billion and $5.2 billion." According to the Institute, this rate increase should be accompanied by "tax cuts to reduce the tax burden on the population and businesses, and would also make it possible to start paying down the public debt again." Not a word, however, about the major schemes to pay the rich, financed with billions of dollars taken from the public purse. This is the case with the GM-Posco and Ford electric battery component plants in Bécancour, the 'decarbonization' of the Rio Tinto plant in Sorel-Tracy, and the construction and production of electric batteries at the Northvolt plant.
Integrating Hydro-Québec's Infrastructure into U.S. Energy Corridors
All the measures put in place in Bill 69 are in line with the plans put in place during the negotiations held in March 2018 for the renewal of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Free Trade Agreement. During discussions held privately in Montreal, there was talk of integrating the energy resources and infrastructure of Canada, the United States and Mexico under the control of large private energy interests dominated by the United States.
The U.S. Secretary of State at the time, Rex Tillerson, said, "North America is also a major player, as [Mexican Foreign Secretary] Videgaray highlighted, in energy markets. And we discussed what we believe are unique opportunities to promote market-based energy development and to further energy integration throughout North America and the hemisphere."[6]
The point remains that it is up to the working class and people of Quebec to formulate their demands for a new direction for the economy that aims first and foremost to satisfy the energy needs of the people of Quebec and Canada and helps guarantee the well-being of all. Such a direction will be in opposition to plans to integrate the energy sectors of Quebec and Canada into what is, more and more, the U.S. war economy.
Notes
1 "Bill 69 to modernize energy legislation," Ministry of the Economy, Innovation and Energy, June 6, 2024.
2. "Une éolienne nouveau genre à la recherche de financement," Le Placoteux, March 29, 2020.
3. "Consultation on the framework and development of clean energy in Quebec," Related Documents, Government of Québec.
4. "Bill 69 to modernize energy legislation."
5. See "Processing Critical Minerals in Bécancour Region" by Pierre Chénier, TML Daily, December 3, 2022.
6. See "Hydro-Québec's "Shared Ownership" of Power Lines with Blackstone Hedge Fund," TML Monthly, April 2023.
7. See "Control Over Energy Resources and Their Transport," TML Weekly, March 3, 2018.
(With files from the Government of Quebec, TML, The Gazette, Le Placoteux. Quotations translated from original French by TML.)
U.S. Pentagon Joins with Canadian Government to Fund Graphite Mine in Quebec
Protest by local residents in 2021 against opening the graphite mine.
On May 16, Energy and Natural Resources of Canada and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced they are investing C$4.9 million and U.S.$8.4 million respectively in Lomiko Metals to develop a graphite mineral deposit located near Duhamel in Southwestern Quebec, along with similar funding from the same Canadian and U.S. agencies to develop a cobalt-bismuth mine in the Northwest Territories.
In the case of the La Loutre graphite deposit near Duhamel, Quebec, the Canadian government says its aim is to "fund pilot plant testing to convert flake graphite into battery-grade material" while the U.S. DoD states that both Canadian and U.S. funds are to "enable the company to advance the La Loutre natural flake graphite project as a supplier of high-quality graphite for defense applications and the growing electric vehicle market in North America."[1][2]
The same day, the U.S. White House and the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, Chrystia Freeland, released a joint statement announcing the renewal, for an additional year, of the Canada-U.S. Energy Transformation Task Force (ETTF) that was launched in March 2023 during the first state visit of U.S. President Biden to Canada. The statement regarding the renewal of the ETTF and investments in the mineral sector says, "These announcements by the United States and Canada demonstrate our commitment to implementing a joint vision of developing sustainable, integrated critical mineral supply chains that will serve North American advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and defense sectors."[3]
The statement goes on to say that "Through the ETTF, Canada and the United States have advanced shared priorities to deploy clean energy solutions at scale and support the development of critical mineral and civil nuclear supply chains that will fuel the development of an integrated, North American industry capable of supporting the energy transition in our respective countries and around the world."
Graphite Essential to U.S. War Production and its Quest for World Hegemony
An article published April 4 in Mining.com entitled "Graphite's war-fighting capabilities," says "The energy transition and digitalization have made critical minerals top of mind for policymakers and investors alike. However, little is said about the role that these minerals, including graphite, play in the defence sector, and the impact of supply chain disruptions on the world's militaries."
"The danger of running out of minerals needed to build weapons and defend territories is a heightened risk now, during a period of intensified global conflict. With wars raging on two fronts – Eastern Europe and the Middle East – not to mention numerous smaller wars like the conflicts in Yemen and the DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo], nations are girding for war and re-arming their militaries, pushing up demand for critical and non-critical minerals including graphite, aluminum, steel, iron, rare earths, nickel and titanium." The article continues, "According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the military is prioritizing maritime and air forces that would play central roles in the Indo-Pacific region [...] Despite this re-arming trend, the U.S. military and its NATO allies face dwindling stockpiles of minerals for military use. The problem is especially grave considering that China, now America's strongest foe militarily, controls the market for most critical minerals and the United States is dependent on China (and Russia) for the materials required for building its military equipment and weaponry."
Further in the article the unique properties of graphite are explained: "Virtually every U.S. military system requires mineral components, from steel and titanium to graphite composites and cadmium alloys." Quoting from the U.S. military's Modern War Institute, the article points out that "Global defense spending shows that military demand is increasing for these platforms, munitions, and thus minerals" and goes on to say that "Graphite is the ideal material for defence purposes thanks to its unique properties, i.e., it is able to withstand very high temperatures with a high melting ... point; it is stable at these high temperatures; it is lightweight and easy to machine; and it is corrosion-resistant."
"Graphite is used in almost every component of the most advanced fighter planes, and in many tank parts. Graphite is also used to make non-lethal bombs that disable electrical grids and as an obscurant smoke on the battle field."
The article goes on to explain why the U.S. imperialists need a secured supply-chain for critical minerals such as graphite.
"Graphite is:
- One of 14 listed minerals for which the U.S. is 100 per cent import-dependent.
- One of nine listed minerals meeting all six of the industrial/defense sector indicators identified by the U.S. government report.
- One of four listed minerals for which the U.S. is 100 per cent import-dependent while meeting all six industrial/defense sector indicators.
- One of three listed minerals which meet all industrial/defense sector indicators – and for which China is the leading global producer and leading U.S. supplier.
"A report last year from the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies found that natural graphite and aluminium are the materials most commonly used across military applications and are also subject to considerable supply security risks that stem from the lack of suppliers' diversification and the instability associated with supplying countries."
In the table, natural graphite is rated very high risk, identified for use in fighter aircraft, main battle tanks, submarines, corvettes, artillery and ammunition – Source : Hague Centre for Strategic Studies
Quebec Government in Lock Step with Canadian and U.S. Governments
When asked to comment on the U.S. Department of Defense funding of the pilot project for the graphite mine deposit near Duhamel, Quebec, Quebec Minister of Natural Resources, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, would not say what she thinks of the DoD grant, but said that the project will have to be accepted by local residents before it can go ahead. "The mining project must go hand in hand with social acceptability," she said in a written statement.
Complaining about the fact the Canadian government went ahead with the financial announcement for Lomiko Metals without consulting the Quebec government, she added that "This case shows just how important it is to respect our area of expertise to ensure that projects fit in as well as possible with the environments in which they are set up."
The Minister's talk of "social acceptability" and the requirement that "projects fit in as well as possible with the environments in which they are set up" is in complete contradiction to what her own government is doing on these matters.
On May 28 she was the Minister who tabled Bill 63, An Act to amend the Mining Act and other provisions at the National Assembly of Quebec. The bill is supposed to address, in part, the concerns of many owners of private land faced with a mining exploration boom for critical minerals such as graphite that has been going on since 2020.
The Minister of Natural Resources is responsible for the consultations held before Bill 63 was tabled in the National Assembly. She had actually announced that she wanted to listen to all citizens. However, the consultation mechanism was left in the hands of a private firm that brought together various stakeholders across Quebec. While the government did not even bother to send representatives to listen to the public the mining industry had the privilege of bringing its various points of view directly to government representatives.
So That Quebec Looks Better Coalition (QMM), a coalition made up of about thirty environmental organizations, had this to say about the Minister's refusal to take a stand in regard to the U.S. DoD financing of Lomiko Metal's La Loutre graphite mining project: "In an increasingly conflict-ridden world, it has long been established that a significant proportion of Quebec's supposedly critical and strategic minerals are being coveted to fuel the arms race. During the study of the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry's (MRNF) appropriations on April 25, Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina clearly stated her goal is of 'developing an energy pathway and supply chain for the U.S. government's transition.'"
Mining claims in the region active as of August 2023 highlighted in red.
Local Residents Organizing Opposition to the Opening of the Graphite Mine
Since 2021, the local residents of Southwest Quebec have organized themselves in the Petite-Nation Lakes Protection Group (RPLPN) that includes 25 villages and towns that are part of the Papineau Regional county municipalities (MRC), with a population of 23,000. The group's website says: "Located on the territory of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg (KZA) First Nations, Petite-Nation forms a green triangle close to Montreal, Ottawa/Gatineau and Mont-Tremblant."[4]
It adds "The mining industry seems to want to impose a sad reality
on us: that of open-pit graphite mining. The threat of these mines is
disrupting the peace of mind and potentially the health of thousands of
residents. Today, they are mobilizing to oppose the arrival of mining
exploration
companies. The communities are determined to defend their right to
health and well-being, in other words their quality of life in a
precious natural environment rich in biodiversity. We do not want our
territory to be sacrificed for considerations of financial gain
camouflaged under greenwashing
pretenses." They refer to the fact that there is already evidence of
harm at the St-Michel-des-Saints open-pit graphite mine operation, the
biggest one in North America, located 100 km north east of Montreal.
Other organizations have added their voices since the May 16 announcement that the U.S. would be financing Lomiko Metal's graphite mine project including the Quebec Coalition of Lakes Incompatible with Mining Activity (QLAIM). One of the demands of the organizations is a moratorium on all mining claims in Quebec, a demand that the Legault government has refused to agree to, saying it would "send a signal across the world that Quebec is no longer open for business."
People in the area have already organized demonstrations to demand an end to free mining and are planning to attend the public meeting on July 21 in the village of Duhamel where representatives of Lomiko Metals will be present.[5][6] A demonstration is scheduled for August 6 at 10:30 am against the La Loutre mining project. The march will start at the municipal beach of Lac-des-Plages and end at Lac-des-Plages City hall and everyone is invited to attend.
Rodrigue Turgeon, a lawyer and co-spokesperson for the QMM coalition and National Program Co-Lead for MiningWatch Canada pointed out that the project has not been subject to any environmental assessment and that people are angry at the way things are being done. He said, "Militarizing a harmful mining project that has been rejected by the public even before an environmental assessment has been carried out is an extraordinary act of violence by the system against the people and nature that our governments are supposed to be defending, not attacking."
Notes
1. "Government of Canada and the United States Co-Invest to Strengthen Critical Mineral Value Chains", Natural Resources Canada, May 16, 2024.
2. "Department of Defense Awards $14.7 Million to Enhance North American Cobalt and Graphite Supply Chain" , U.S. Department of Defense, May 16, 2024.
3. "Canada and the United States extend bilateral energy transformation task force for an additional year, announce new mineral sector investments," Department of Finance Canada, May 16, 2024.
4. "Une biodiversité incompatible avec l'activité minièr", La Petite-Nation.
5. See "Medieval Conception of 'Free Mining' – Pierre Soublière", TML Monthly, February 2023.
6. See "Quebec Mining Act Grants Private Interests Unfettered Rights",TML Monthly, February 2023.
(With files from: Canadian Government, U.S. Dept of Defense, Quebec Government, QMM, TML, CBC, RPLPN)
Quebec Premier and Prime Minister Collude to Keep
Quebeckers Disempowered
Bashing Temporary Immigrants for Purposes of Diversion, Disinformation and Division
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with his Quebec counterpart Premier François Legault in Quebec City on June 10, at the latter's request.
Although the Quebec government had wanted over $1 billion as compensation for services provided to refugee claimants between 2021 and 2023, it has been offered $750 million over a five-year period.
Prior to their meeting, the media reported that the two would be discussing Premier Legault's demand that the number of refugee claimants in Quebec be cut by 50 per cent or more and that temporary immigration be reduced, including those foreign workers who fall under the federal government's International Mobility Program (IMP). Eighty per cent of Quebec's temporary foreign workers are reported to be selected through the IMP and Mr Legault was also looking for a cut of 50 per cent in that area.
He also sought to have the workers in the IMP better versed in the French language, which the Prime Minister is willing to work with him on.
Following their meeting, the Premier announced that the Prime Minister had committed to "significantly reducing" the number of non-permanent residents in the short-term. "For us, it's quite clear," he said, "We must aim at reducing asylum seekers by 50 per cent or more within a period of one year, and in the case of the IMP, as quickly as we can, as this must be done in collaboration."
Prior to the meeting, Premier Legault had stated that even though his government is working very hard to improve public services, there is a "major problem" with refugee claimants and temporary immigration in relation to health care, education, housing and the decline of the French language, particularly in Montreal. He said too that the federal government has lost control of immigration policy, thereby exerting "untenable pressure" on Quebec.
Premier Strikes Committee
Just days before his meeting with the Prime Minister, Premier Legault announced that his government has formed a committee of various experts to look into "what our legal and constitutional options are within Canada, particularly with regard to immigration," and that Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette will be managing the portfolio. Minister Jolin-Barrette sponsored Bill 21, An Act respecting the laicity of the State and Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec, both of which passed through the use of the notwithstanding clause.
Responding to a journalist's comment that some suggested that this was "a smokescreen, unless it succeeds in doing what Mr Jolin-Barrette did, which was to modify the Constitution of Canada," the Premier replied that the journalist had answered his own question. Legault added that eventually, a federal election will be called, and that in Quebec there is general consensus that the federal government is intruding in matters that fall under Quebec jurisdiction.
He was also asked why his government is not using all its immigration powers, such as re-opening the Canada-Quebec Accord, placing a freeze on admissions to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (PTET), or legislating to impose a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) on foreign workers that fall under the federal government's IMP. The Premier responded that re-opening the Canada-Quebec Accord presented a "legal risk," that something may be lost. He added that of the 560,000 temporary immigrants presently in Quebec, 60,000 are chosen by Quebec under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (PTET) that he is loath to touch, as "many of them are in the regions, many in sectors that are lacking labour."
Both the Prime Minister and the Premier claim that the number of temporary immigrants is to blame for the lack of services in health care, mental health, education and housing, not these governments' anti-social offensive, including the onerous working conditions public sector employees who provide health care, education and social services are made to endure. The Premier also refuses to acknowledge that the crisis in housing has been caused by both the Quebec and federal governments' irresponsibility. They have refused for decades to invest in social housing, and the Legault government's recent legislation allows landlords to significantly hike rents.
Refugee Claimants
In a meeting with the press following their get-together, Prime Minister Trudeau said, amongst other things: "When we met in March, I committed to involving ministers in the work to respond to Quebec's concerns regarding immigration and there were two issues on this, especially regarding refugee claimants, a concern of Mr Legault's, that often came up. We should recall that refugee claimants represent around 25 per cent of temporary immigration, but it's an issue of great concern to people. So we proposed to deal with the application process more rapidly, a transfer of people to other provinces, improving the visa system, increasing deportations also, an increase in removals of those who are not successful with their refugee claim. These are all elements that we are already in the process of working on, to lift a bit of the pressure off Quebec.
"We are also talking about a better integration of asylum seekers by accelerating the granting of a work permit," the Prime Minister said, "ensuring that we look at refugee claimants who could do the work before bringing in other temporary workers, but also open" a place "that would enable employers, including in other provinces, to look when there is a refugee claimant" with the required skill.
As for Premier Legault, he continues to use all the avenues at his disposal to create as much animosity as possible between Quebeckers and temporary immigrants, particularly refugee claimants. During his wrap-up with the press following his meeting with the Prime Minister, his diatribe only worsened.
Mr Legault informed that Quebec receives 50 per cent of all asylum seekers, while it represents only 22 per cent of the Canadian population.
Mr Legault wants the number of refugee claimants in Quebec reduced by 50 per cent or more within one year, including by having these vulnerable human beings "distributed" across Canada. However, he is caught in the quagmire of the present situation that they can only be moved on a voluntary basis.
On reported noted during a June 7 press briefing, that just days earlier the Premier had made a direct link between the number of refugee claimants in Quebec and the rise in homelessness. He asked what part of the increase was attributable to them. Mr Legault had no response other than to raise the issue of all the services they presently require.
The question was in reference a June 4 radio interview where Premier Legault was asked about an injection centre in Montreal located close to a school and a park. The Premier responded, in part, that "Case by case, we are looking at what should be done, ... but at the base, there's an explosion in the number of homeless, of people with mental health problems. A certain link has to be made with the explosion in the number of refugee claimants who come here."
During the same interview, he was bluntly asked if he was "making a direct link between refugee claimants, immigration and the explosion in the need for mental health services. He replied, "Yes, listen, 560,000 people! ... Not that long ago, there were 100,000. It's quite the increase! Clearly these people are in need of care, health care, mental health. There are ... a lot of children in need of teachers. It causes a housing crisis. ... It's the equivalent of 200,000 housing units, so of course we're not able to cope presently. ... Refugee claimants must be significantly reduced, as well as temporary [foreign] workers. Certain sectors have to be protected – agriculture, health care, education, but at present there's no housing and there's no capacity in health care and in education to serve all these people."
At a press conference following his June 10 meeting with the Prime Minister, Premier Legault said that the number of refugee claimants has doubled from that of two years ago. "So basically, when we say that we want a reduction of 50 per cent, we want to go back to where we were in 2021, as of December 31, so two years ago. So I think that's reasonable," he said.
The Premier said that his government is unable to "house families," "school children," "provide access to health care services," and "slow down the decline in the French language." This is an "emergency situation," he declared, adding that the federal government must "urgently reduce the number of temporary immigrants in Quebec."
At this press conference, Premier Legault produced a chart for reporters. Using information from Statistics Canada, he tried to show that in January 2022, there were a total of 291,000 temporary immigrants (all categories combined, including temporary foreign workers, international students and refugee claimants), and that two years later, as of January 1, 2024, that number had jumped to over 560,000, with all the serious "impacts" that have resulted in various areas. His use of January 2022 is questionable to say the least, particularly with regard to asylum seekers, as the irregular border between Canada and the U.S. was closed from the end of March 2020 until the end of November 2021. Therefore the irregular border at Roxham Road – the main entry for refugee claimants to Quebec at that time – was only open for three months in the two-year period prior to January 2022, so the numbers he provided can hardly be counted on.
On Housing
"We calculate that 560,000 temporary immigrants require 200,000 dwellings," the Premier stated. "Over two years, the increase has resulted in us requiring 120,000 more units ... and when we look at all housing construction, houses, dwellings and others, 90,000 units have been built over the past two years. So we see that 100 per cent of the housing problem ... comes from the increase in the number of temporary immigrants."
On Health Care
"We estimate that for 560,000 temporary immigrants, we need around 11,000 nurses and other health care personnel. As you know, we are actually missing 30,000. This means that a third of the problem we're experiencing in the lack of health care personnel is attributable to the 560,000 temporary immigrants," the Premier said.
On Education
Legault informed that 52,000 of the 560,000 temporary immigrants presently in Quebec "are children of school age." He said, "This results in the need for 3,700 teachers and based on the latest numbers, we are missing 6,300 qualified teachers in Quebec. This means that half our deficit in qualified teachers is because of the presence of temporary immigrants."
On Decline of French Language
The Legault government's calculations also show that one-third of the 560,000 temporary immigrants presently in Quebec "do not speak French and that they are located mainly in Montreal," hence "a decline in the French language in Quebec, particularly in Montreal."
Who Is Responsible?
"The problem," François Legault said, "isn't these people ... who want to come and live in Quebec ... to improve their quality of life and that of their families." He said, It's "the number" that, amongst other things, "was accepted by the federal government." Therefore, the federal government "must substantially and rapidly reduce the number of temporary immigrants."
"Mr Trudeau recognizes that we must significantly reduce, in the short term, the number of temporary immigrants. There now remains an important step forward, which he is telling us he will take between now and September, which is to put forward targets. We already have our goal, which is of 50 per cent. Now Mr Trudeau has to provide a numerically quantified target," Legault said.
International Mobility Program (IMP)
The Premier is requesting a 50 per cent reduction in the International Mobility Program (IMP). When asked if, as a result, certain Quebec businesses would face bankruptcy, he responded, in part: "Clearly, and I have offered all of my collaboration to Mr. Trudeau."
Premier Legault further explained that out of 560,000 temporary immigrants, some 400,000 fall under the control of the federal government, including refugee claimants and temporary foreign workers who are part of the IMP. He said that one of his government's demands is to impose a CAQ on those temporary foreign workers who fall under the federal government's IMP "before these people are pre-authorized." He conceded that Quebec issues a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for some of those hired under the IMP and added that his government is "ready to work together" with the federal government, "first by reducing IMPs by 50 per cent the IMP."
Legault went on to say that a lot of those hired under the IMP are in Montreal, many in poorly paid jobs. He said that there are "a lot of people in the IMP program who are low-wage earners, therefore we prefer having more high-wage earners and people in the regions."
He added, "So that's what we want to work together on. Of course there will be businesses that won't be happy, so we have to look at what jobs. Clearly we want to protect the jobs for nurses and teachers so that we don't make the problem worse. We may want to favour the regions, because besides other things, there is no challenge to French. So this all has to be looked at." He added that the Prime Minister had asked him to "collaborate in setting criteria for the IMP that we keep and do not keep. I accepted. But we think that it's in the first two categories that there needs to be a reduction."
The Premier added that with regard to asylum seekers (177,000 in 2023) it's "the federal government" that "has complete control" and that "we are asking that they reduce the number of claimants by 50 per cent ... within one year."
He said the federal government is "telling us that they are open to transferring some to other provinces, ... tightening the issuance of visas, ... speeding up the processing of refugee claimants, ... deporting them more quickly, ... but they are not giving us any number, any target for the moment. They tell us that they will work on it between now and the month of September."
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (PTET)
François Legault's government has complete control over some 59,000 temporary foreign workers hired under its Temporary Foreign Worker Program (PTET).
One proposal from the federal government that the Premier finds "interesting" is that it is ready to immediately put in place the same rules regarding French knowledge requirements as those in the PTET program for certain IMP categories. Irrespective of this, Quebec will continue to demand a "complete repatriation of powers in the IMP."
When asked if he was also willing to reduce the PTET program that falls under the responsibility of the Quebec government, the Premier explained that a lot of the foreign workers hired under that program are in the regions, many of them in agriculture. "Clearly, when in a region, there is no challenge with regard to the French language, and it's really harmonized with the needs of companies," he said.
International Students
François Legault's government has complete control over international students, who number over 60,000 and pay exorbitant international fees. These students often work part-time in low-paying jobs.
"Everyone wants international students," Legault said, adding that this is "not the first place that we want to cut." The Premier explained that there has not been a big increase in international students over the past two years and that "we like having students, youth who are qualified, who remain in Quebec after." He said, "So if we are to choose where to make cuts, this is not the first group we would be targeting."
(With files from CPAC, Le Devoir, Radio-Canada, CBC News, Puisqu'il faut se lever, CIC News, Institut de la Statistique du Québec)
New Federal Pilot Projects for Foreign Caregivers
Canada Must Move Urgently to Approve an Adequate Regularization Program
Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced at a news conference on June 3 that caregivers coming to Canada to look after children, seniors or the disabled will be offered permanent residency [PR] on arrival under two new pilot programs, to be launched either this fall or early in 2025. The programs replace two others set to expire on June 17: the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot.
The Migrant Rights Network welcomes the improvements which are significant but points out they are not enough. A press release dated June 3 entitled "Migrant Care Workers Welcome Permanent Resident Status On Arrival" notes that the caregiver program announced "meets key demands from migrant care workers" which include that "[m]igrant caregivers will get permanent resident (PR) status on arrival," that "[e]ducation requirements will be lowered to high school equivalency," and workers will have to "attain a level 4 based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks, down from Level 5 in the current pilots."
The reduced requirements for education and language, they note, are also to be applied to care workers currently in Canada. "This is critical as thousands of care workers have been left in limbo due to these barriers under the old program," they point out.
As of April 30, nearly 5,700 caregivers and their family members have become permanent residents under the present pilots that launched in 2019, but thousands have become undocumented due to delays in processing their applications or because of the exploitative process whereby they are forced to work in oppressive conditions and then get sent home without any recognition for their sacrifice.
Protest in Toronto in 2017 against backlog in processing caregivers' permanent residence applications
Migrant Rights Network points out that the announcement leaves out undocumented migrant care workers in Canada and says that "All migrant caregivers in Canada who are undocumented due to failures of the programs must be regularized."
When he made the announcement of the two new pilot projects, in response to a question about how quickly applications for the new programs will be processed, Miller answered that "given the backlog, we'll want to be able to look at those numbers and process them over the next few years, including the first cohort of people that will be entitled to PR."
This causes great anxiety amongst those whose permits in Canada
expire now. As part of the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan, the
federal government is planning on admitting over 15,000 caregivers as
permanent residents. The demand of those who advocate for the rights of
caregivers is status for
all, NOW!
The immigration minister likened the two upcoming programs to "a one-step immigration process." "Before, caregivers first needed to get work permits and then obtain work experience before applying for permanent residency. Under the new rules, we're simplifying the process and providing them with a clear, straightforward pathway to stay and care for our loved ones," he said.
Other than meeting the language requirements, foreign caregivers will need to have an offer of a full-time home care job, hold the equivalent of a Canadian high-school diploma and have recent and relevant work experience.
Miller also stated that it is "out of fairness" that the language requirement will be lowered from Canadian Language Benchmark 5 to 4 [the level required to obtain citizenship]. "Our aim is to strike a balance between breaking down the barriers caregivers face to get PR and selecting newcomers who will be resilient to changes in the labour market," he said.
The federal government will also be expanding the pilot programs from private household employers now to also include organizations which directly employ home care workers "to allow for not-for-profit organizations to provide job offers and help address home care needs where labour shortages exist." The Minister said that this would not include placement agencies.
According to the Ministry, caregivers working for organizations that provide temporary or part-time care for people who are semi-independent or recovering from an injury or illness will also qualify under the new programs. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said these programs will later become permanent.
Migrant Rights Network goes to the heart of the matter when it insists on drawing attention to the plight of migrant workers who are excluded. "Questions remain about the new program such as criteria for job offers and the expansion of home care work to organizations," they point out. "Care workers must be part of planning how the new pilot program will be finalized and launched," they say. They point out:
"Today's changes are a long-time coming. In 2019, the federal government created a five year pilot, keeping most of the policy failures of the program created by the previous Conservative government in 2014, including increased education and language requirements. As a result, thousands of caregivers have been unable to gain permanent residency, either moving from one employer to another on tied work permits facing abuse, or becoming undocumented."
They report that at a roundtable immediately preceding the Minister's announcement, a migrant caregiver who was denied permanent residency because of unfair education requirements, told Minister Miller that even though he had improved the program, "it's too late for me. Soon I will be undocumented. You promised regularization this Spring. It's June, and time is running out. I worked here in Canada for almost six years to take care of children. I left behind my own five kids just to let them have a better future. ... There are hundreds of thousands of us in the same situation. And you have the power to fix this. We are demanding a regularization that will make a way to be reunited with my family, to have a better job, and have the same rights as everybody else. Thousands across the country are watching to see what you will do. Will you deliver on your promise? Will you fight for and defend regularization?"
Migrants Rights Network also quotes Jhoey Dulaca of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, who said that "Many thousands of caregivers have faced abuse and exploitation, and have been in limbo or have become undocumented over the last five years – Canada must now move urgently to implement a regularization program for undocumented caregivers to ensure no one is left behind."
Cenen Bagon, from the Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers & Caregivers Rights points out: "Resilient foreign domestic workers, caregivers, and their long-time advocates have fought hard for recognition in Canada: if they are good enough to work, they are good enough to stay with permanent resident status upon arrival. Although the work is not over, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and IRCC Minister Marc Miller have come one step closer to hearing these decades-long calls for justice through these new pilots. We need regularization right now to ensure everyone is protected."
To read the entire press release, click here
(With files from Migrant Rights Network, The Globe and Mail, CPAC, Government of Canada)
Toronto Action for Regularization and Status for All
The Migrant Workers Alliance for Change held an action at the Toronto constituency office of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Father's Day to demand that Prime Minister Trudeau make good on his pledge made two years ago to begin the process to regularize the status of the tens of thousands of people living without status and without basic rights in Canada.
Speakers who were undocumented but who have been living for years in Canada contributing to the economy and the society spoke out against the refusal of the Trudeau government to keep this promise. A woman worker from Latin America noted that this long inaction on the part of the Trudeau Liberals could only be because of its racist attitude towards migrants, particularly those hailing from Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. Father's Day was used to highlight the plight of families who are living apart. The rally heard from David, an undocumented worker who has spend more than $4,500 in lawyer's fees trying to get immigration status instead of paying for his daughter's education back home.
Another speaker who was able to bring his wife and children from Uganda recalled the hardship he had endured to reunite his family and called on the Canadian government to act quickly to enable other families to be reunited and for all undocumented people in Canada to be regularized so that they can live in security and dignity as is their right.
The action ended with the chanting of the slogan Status for All!
Defend the Pensions We Have, Fight for Pensions for All!
Calgarians Rally for Retirement Security For All!
Close to 100 Calgarians, many of them seniors, rallied at Calgary City Hall on June 8 to demand retirement security for everyone. The rally, organized by Save Alberta's Future for Everyone (SAFE) fittingly took place during Alberta's Seniors' Week.
SAFE is a Calgary-based group formed in March, 2024 by a group of
senior women who say they were outraged by United Conservative Party
(UCP) Premier Danielle Smith's plans to create an Alberta Pension Plan
(APP) and exit the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
One of the emcees from SAFE, in welcoming everyone to the rally, spoke about the provincial government's proposal to take Albertans out of the CPP. She pointed out that the minimum expected cost to implement this plan is $2.2 billion, and said what a burden this would create for Albertans. She asked "why spend billions on this plan, when so many real problems urgently need action, such as health care, education, climate change, cost of living, insurance rates, and the list goes on?"
Speaking to media during the rally, Annette Lengyel, an organizer with SAFE, said; "We are here because we want to make the public aware that Danielle Smith is putting our retirement in jeopardy, and we are not going to stand for it."
It was a cold, windy day for June, but the weather did not put a damper on the spirited and lively event. The program began with well-known Indigenous singer and songwriter, Wendy Walker performing her new and popular song She's Got to Go! The entire rally clapped and sang along. Later the Raging Grannies performed songs, including Hands Off Our CPP, with everyone joining in.
Among the speakers at the Rally were Gil McGowan, President of the Alberta Federation of Labour, and Alex Shevalier, President of the Calgary and District Labour Council. Both labour leaders took the stand that the working people of this province have no intention of permitting this government, led by a premier who said she would like to get her hands on "the pot of money," to hijack pension contributions from workers who have lived or worked in Alberta.
Peggy Askin, President of the Calgary Area Council of the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada (CURC), began her remarks by congratulating the women of SAFE for their hard work in organizing such a successful event. She said: "Seniors' Week is just the time to put forward our stand, which is: defend the pensions we have and fight for pensions for all," and emphasized that what we urgently need in Alberta and from coast to coast to coast is secure pensions at retirement to ensure a Canadian standard of living. To put our security in the hands of an APP created by any government is both unacceptable and, to say the least, very risky, and would risk the retirement security of our younger generation, she said.
Near the end of her remarks, she addressed participants saying: "We must not permit this issue to divide our ranks as all of us want what is best for working Albertans. The danger comes when those with positions of power and privilege steal pension funds to hand them over to narrow private interests to line their pockets by paying for infrastructure projects or to further integrate Canada into the U.S. war economy. We must control our pension funds which must be used to make sure everyone is guaranteed security in retirement. The federal government itself is using the Canada Pension Fund to further the narrow private interests it serves. Neither level of government upholds our security in retirement because they are intent on pushing an anti-social agenda. We must unite in action and take up the fight for pensions for all from our own vantage point so that the vast amounts of money pension funds contain can be put at the disposal of our needs, not those of narrow private interests in the name of high ideals."
Rebecca Brown, an organizer with Enough is Enough, Deborah Schaan, CUPE Alberta General Vice President North and Chair of the Pensions and Benefits Committee, Calgary NDP MLAs, Amanda Chapman, Dr. Luann Metz and Lizette Tejada all brought out the risks involved in replacing the CPP with an APP. Henry Wakoluk, a retired member of AUPE and a former President of AUPE Local 95 representing health care workers, spoke about his life experience organizing for workers' rights and the rights of all, emphasizing the importance of resistance to the anti-worker anti-social agenda of the UCP government, and called on everyone to keep organizing actions like today's rally, and to never give up. A statement of endorsement by the National Pensioners Federation was read during the rally.
This rally was another example that the consistent stand of Alberta workers, through all the attacks launched by one government after the other, no matter what political party was in power, has been Defend the Pensions We Have! Fight for Pensions For All!
Hands Off CPP rallies were also held in Medicine Hat on June 8 and Edmonton on June 9.
Remarks to Hands Off Our Canada
Pension Plan Rally
First I would like to thank the women of SAFE [Save Alberta's Future for Everyone] who have worked very hard to bring us together today. They have participated in many actions against the anti-social agenda and let people know about their work. Particularly they have succeeded in bringing us together to say Hands Off Our Pensions!
This week is Seniors' Week in Alberta. It is a fitting time to put
forward our stand which is: defend the pensions we have and fight for
pensions for all. What we urgently need in Alberta and from coast to
coast to coast is secure pensions at retirement to ensure a Canadian
standard of
living.
It is also very fitting that today, during Seniors' Week, we are together demanding retirement security, retirement dignity for everyone. And we are here because we want no part of, and are opposed to, the UCP's proposal to take Albertans out of the CPP [Canada Pension Plan] and form an Alberta Pension Plan (APP).
Many of us here today are retirees. We know what it means to live on a retirement income. We know how crucial it is to have security in retirement. We know what a struggle it is to pay the bills, particularly now with inflation and the skyrocketing prices of all essentials in life. We are well aware that it is women seniors who live alone who are most vulnerable to living in poverty. It is no accident that it is women seniors who have brought us together today to demand security for all in retirement and demand that this government halt its plans to jeopardize our retirement security.
Our organization, the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada, is made up of union retirees. Many of us have work pensions as well as OAS and CPP. While still in the workforce we experienced an ongoing assault on our defined benefit pensions and their replacement with insecure defined contribution plans. An untold number of workers live with the consequence of this attack on our pensions and retirement security. The vast majority of seniors have no work pensions at all.
A major concern for ourselves and for all working people in this province and across the country is the right to security in retirement, and that the care that seniors require is guaranteed.
This government's proposal to withdraw from the CPP and form an Alberta pension plan, despite their claims, has nothing whatsoever to do with improving the lives of pensioners but everything to do with establishing an Alberta pension plan as part of the battle of competing private interests for control over wealth created by the working people.
Today's rally is part of the non-stop opposition by the working people of Alberta to say No! to an APP and to say, Hands Off Our Pensions! Today is a further opportunity for all of us to show that we have no intention of allowing this government led by a premier who in her own words said she would like to get her hands on " the pot of money" from pension contributions from workers who have lived or worked in Alberta to do so.
To put our retirement security in the hands of an APP created by any government is both unacceptable and, to say the least, very risky. It also would risk the retirement security of our younger generation.
Since the Alberta Federation of Labour initiated a petition campaign to say Hands Off Our Pensions!, tens of thousands of individuals and organizations have tried to join telephone "town halls" to express their views, written letters, participated in pension town halls organized by opposition MLA's and made phone calls to their MLAs to say No! Far from being convinced by the claim that Alberta workers would be more secure in retirement if an APP replaced the CPP, workers have responded by saying No!
We must not permit this issue to divide our ranks as all of us want what is best for working Albertans. The danger comes when those with positions of power and privilege steal pension funds to hand them over to narrow private interests to line their pockets by paying for infrastructure projects or to further integrate Canada into the U.S. war economy.
We must control our pension funds which must be used to make sure everyone is guaranteed security in retirement. The federal government itself is using the Canada Pension Fund to further the narrow private interests it serves. Neither level of government upholds our security in retirement because they are intent on pushing an anti-social agenda. We must unite in action and take up the fight for pensions for all from our own vantage point so that the vast amounts of money pension funds contain can be put to work to satisfy our needs, not those of narrow private interests in the name of high ideals.
The consistent stand of Alberta workers through all the attacks launched by one government after the other, no matter what political party was in power, has been Defend the Pensions We Have! Fight for Pensions for All! Workers consider it the responsibility of all working people to ensure that society looks after its seniors with the respect and humanity they deserve, ensuring their security and a dignified life in retirement.
Ontario Government's Unconscionable Mistreatment of Seniors
Evidence of Harmful Anti-Social
Measures Multiplies
Rally for public health care at opening of Ontario legislature, September 25, 2023.
Every day, the people of Ontario live the self-serving nature of anti-social measures one government after the other implements in the name of high ideals. The Ford government, in implementing its anti-social agenda – specifically the privatization and wrecking of the public health care system – continues the path of strengthening police powers to enforce unconscionable attacks on the most vulnerable.
Now, evidence of the nefarious consequences of the legislation passed in 2022 – Bill 7, More Beds Better Care Act – is revealing how harmful these measures are. The act changes the regulations regarding access to long-term care homes. Besides other things, it requires that hospitals charge patients assessed as requiring long-term care for their stay in hospital if they refuse to accept placement in a long-term care home.
In Ontario, access to both public and private long-term care homes is controlled by the state through the health care system. Prior to the passing of Bill 7, seniors or others assessed as needing long-term care were asked to provide the names of up to five homes in order of preference that they would like to or would be willing to live in. When a bed became available it was offered. The person could refuse a placement and stay on the waiting list until a more suitable bed was available.
For many seniors the need for long-term care occurs after a hospital
admission. When such an individual in hospital no longer requires
hospital-level care they can be designated Alternate Level of Care
(ALC), and wait for placement in a long-term care home. Bill 7 allows
hospitals and discharge
planners to assess an ALC patient, share their personal health
information with long-term care homes, fill in their applications and
admit them into long-term care homes, all without their consent.
Hospitals can send patients to homes not of their choosing up to 70
kilometres away in southern
Ontario and up to 150 kilometres away in the north. Hospitals are
required to charge patients $400 a day if they refuse to accept a
placement in a home that they and/or their family consider unacceptable.
The CBC reported on June 12 that since Bill 7 was passed 424 people have been moved into homes against their will, with about one-third of those in February and March this year. In one case, the refusal by the family of a patient in Windsor to move their mother into a facility that they had checked out and found "disgusting" resulted in a two-month stay in the hospital until an acceptable bed was offered. The family has been billed $26,000 and has no intention of paying.
Several other families have refused to move their loved ones into homes they consider unacceptable either because of the distance from families or the unacceptable conditions of the homes. Many of those who have received bills from the hospitals, like the family in Windsor, are refusing to pay. They are publicly condemning the government for its mistreatment of seniors.
It is the responsibility of the state to provide health care for the people at all stages of life but the outlook of governments whose mission is to pay the rich abandon all social responsibility. What is paramount in their calculations is to hand over control of health care to narrow private interests as a source of guaranteed profits.
Instead of investing in hospitals, long-term care homes and a vast array of community health care services, the Ford government, like those before it for the past more than 30 years, has cut funding and opened up the health care system to private interests, guaranteeing their profits from public funds. Former Premier of Ontario Mike Harris even became an owner of private seniors' homes to make windfall profits. Both private and public homes in Ontario receive government funding and the vast majority of the long-term care homes in the province are now privately owned and operated.
The argument presented for forcing patients out of hospitals and into long-term care homes that are not acceptable to them is that there is a shortage of hospital beds. This is a manufactured shortage due to measures that have forced qualified hospital personnel and staff to leave the public system. The democracy in Canada was called participative because when inadequate budgets were imposed, hospital personnel and staff could choose between keeping beds open and cutting salaries and staff; or raising salaries and cutting beds. In fact both took place.
A shortage of long-term care beds means that there are long waiting lists, particularly for the homes whose services are decent. Bill 7 was designed to kill two birds with one stone: free up hospital beds and force people into long-term care homes with unacceptable conditions.
Investigations into the tragic deaths of hundreds of seniors in private long-term care homes in Ontario during the pandemic revealed the inhumane conditions in some of the private homes. Nothing has been done since to ensure that the living conditions for the residents and working conditions for the professionals and staff in these homes meet a modern and humane standard. In the eyes of the government, seniors and others in need of care are a burden, disposable, without rights and subject to any indignity in the name of 'efficiency.' So too, the workers are disposable.
An example of the disingenuous and mendacious character of these governments is evident in the federal Minister of Immigration's recent announcement concerning foreign home care workers. He said that pilot programs which give permanent resident status to foreign care workers from private household employers are being expanded "to allow for not-for-profit organizations to provide job offers and help address home care needs where labour shortages exist." The announced programs do not address the need for permanent resident status for those who are already working in the country hoping to be reunited with their families here.
What it means is that instead of addressing the needs of the people for proper dignified care throughout their lives, close to their families and communities, in a cultured manner according to their customs and traditions, everything is reduced to matters of dollars and cents which make the rich richer, exploit the vulnerable and abuse the people.
The purpose of the Ford government's Bill 7 and other such measures is to restructure the state so that the word "public" no longer exists. Far from removing the aim given to governments of serving the public good, the very existence of mafia governments which rule thanks to their access to positions of power and privilege must be ended.
In any modern society, health care is a right. To make it so requires the determined fight of the people with the working class in the lead for a change in the direction of the economy to one dedicated to humanizing the natural and social environment. Families of seniors and health care providers have to work together to create the conditions so that No Means No!
Anniversary of National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and Girls
Marking Five Years Since the 231 Calls to Justice Were Issued
A ceremony was held on Parliament Hill at noon on June 3 to mark the fifth anniversary of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, its report released in June 2019, Reclaiming Power and Place, and its 231 Calls for Justice. The event was organized by the Urban Indigenous Action Group, Sisters in Spirit, the Assembly of Seven Generations, Women of the Métis Nation and the Ottawa Coalition to end violence against women.
The ceremony began with a round dance and a song in honour of murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people, followed by speeches from the main organizers as well as by dignitaries, including the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Gary Anandasangaree.
One of the points made in the Report is that steps are needed "to end and redress this genocide" and that these steps "must be no less monumental than the combination of systems and actions that have worked to maintain colonial violence for generations." Several organizers said that it was easy to evaluate where things stood as far as government progress was concerned; -- one just has to look at where things stand on the ground, in real life, in communities such as Winnipeg where families are still demanding to search the landfills to find their missing mothers and sisters.
One of the Calls for Justice is addressed to all governments, that they "establish a guaranteed annual livable income for all Canadians, including Indigenous Peoples, and to meet all their social and economic needs." The spokesperson for Urban Indigenous Action Group referred to this as she called for increased investments in housing and social programs, access to health care, food security and a guaranteed livable income.
Yet another Call for Justice is addressed to all Canadians, "to help hold all governments accountable to act on the Calls for Justice, and to implement them according to the important principles we set out."
The same day, the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations issued a statement entitled "Government of Canada makes progress in addressing the Calls for Justice to end national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and Gender diverse people." In spite of the glaring lack of any kind of "progress," still the report reads: "We must work together urgently to make communities safer, to bring justice to survivors and families, and to dismantle the long-standing, systemic racism, misogyny, and discrimination created by over a century of colonization that has led to this tragic crisis in Canada." Only an institution with no sense of shame or responsibility could call the government's response "progress."
Far from "dismantling" the colonial legacy, the ruling elites are in fact taking all sorts of measures and passing new laws to consolidate their control so as to further marginalize the people of Canada and Quebec and the Indigenous Peoples, and to further suppress their struggles.
The people of Canada and Quebec and the Indigenous Peoples are fighting for new arrangements based on a definition of rights established by the people themselves through their affirmation that our security lies in the fight for the rights of all and rejection of the legacy of British colonial rule which recognizes rights only for a privileged few.
Third Canadian National Conference on Human Rights in the Philippines
Stand with Filipino People to Resist State Terror and Defend Rights
The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines-Canada (ICHRP-Canada) held its third National Conference and Assembly from May 2 to 5 in Montreal. The Conference issued a broad call to stand with the Filipino people to resist state terror and defend rights.
Patricia Lisson, outgoing chair of the Planning Committee of ICHRP-Canada spoke of the significance of holding such an event in Canada at this time. She said, "In a world where human rights abuses know no borders, it is imperative that we stand united in our commitment to justice and freedom for all." She pointed out that Canada's role in Asia is important to consider when addressing the situation in the Philippines. "Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy and recent security cooperation agreements with nations like the Philippines raise red flags, signaling potential complicity in human rights violations," she said, pointing out that "the involvement of Canadian corporations in labour exploitation and resource plundering exacerbates the crisis, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable.
"The statistics paint a chilling picture of numbers of political prisoners, extrajudicial killings, attacks on activists, Church members, and journalists. The shrinking democratic space and the misuse of the justice system to target activist groups demand our attention and action."
The program began with a pre-conference colloquium at Université de Montréal on the importance of research in contributing to advocacy on human rights in the Philippines. During the colloquium, as part of a panel discussion, a young student in the Philippines presented a paper on her research amongst survivors of the 14 years of martial law in the Philippines from 1972 to 1986, and the lack of compensation and of accountability for the crimes committed by the Philippine state against the people at that time.
During the colloquium and conference proper, presentations were made on the "Philippine Human Rights Landscape Activity," and "Red-Tagging and Countering False Narratives," its impacts in the Philippines and actions that can be taken to counter it.
Keynotes were delivered by Amirah Ali Lidasan, a human rights defender and national minority rights activist from the Bangsamoro region of the island of Mindanao; Neri Javier Colmenares, a human rights lawyer and the founding Secretary General of the National Union of People's Lawyers in the Philippines; and Cristina Palabay, Secretary General of Karapatan Alliance Philippines, a national alliance of organizations and individuals working for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines.
Workshops were also organized on exploring possibilities and navigating challenges on the themes of "Charting the Course for Peace in the Philippines," "Unveiling the Struggles of Indigenous Peoples and the Moro Peoples against Scapegoating, Marginalization and Political Oppression" and "Countering Red-Tagging." Organized workshops dealt with "Advocating for Human Rights" here in Canada, "Countering disinformation," "Engaging with the Interfaith Community" from a human rights perspective and "Mobilizing Resources and People for Human Rights" through solidarity work, organizing exposure trips and fund-raising.
Another important component of the proceedings was a very much-appreciated "Solidarity Night" banquet and cultural program, with the participation of many from Montreal's Filipino community.
ICHRP-Canada's regional caucuses also met, followed by the nomination and election of its officers.
The Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) applauds the holding of this important event in the fight in defence of the human rights of the Filipino people, their right to determine their own affairs, and for peace worldwide. For the people of Quebec, Canada and worldwide, their inspiring and heroic struggle stands second to none. We join with them in contributing to the same aims here in Canada as well as worldwide.
Keynote Speakers
Amirah Ali Lidasan, a woman leader from Bangsamoro (officially the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) spoke about the peace negotiations in the Philippines and the need to assess the concept of struggle there in light of the U.S. Government Counterinsurgency Guide released in 2009 which equates the armed struggle against the Philippine government and its anti-people policies with terrorism. Thus, the peace negotiations with the national liberation forces are being "decommissioned," with the aim of extirpating the national liberation movement and the armed struggle that is a part of it.
She went on to explain that when former President Rodrigo Duterte came to power in 2016 he began demonizing the national liberation movement and ended peace negotiations referring to those who have taken up armed struggle, including the New People's Army, as "terrorists." It was at this point that the government shifted from making accusations of terrorism against the Muslim peoples of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan, collectively known as the Moro or Bangsamoro, to leveling such accusations at national liberation fighters. These accusations which label those taking up armed struggle in the service of national liberation as terrorists is known as "red-tagging."
She noted that in Mindanao, Indigenous people, along with other organizations, have set up their own schools and have taken up work to defend rights. However, they have been forced to abandon that work because of being falsely linked by the state to "terrorist financing" as a systematic way of targeting them, which has had a chilling effect on communities. She explained that by assisting those communities they come to known their situation and the problems they face from the government which is militarizing the communities to block the people's attempts to exercise control over their lives. She affirmed the justness of the actions of those taking up national liberation through armed struggle in their communities.
She raised the importance of people understanding what is really happening in her country, explaining that because people are fighting against the mining companies, the military is operating in the communities "to control and force them to remain silent."
She said that her people are well-known as defenders of their communities, that it is how they have fought colonialism and the systematic land-grabbing in their communities, and that they have constantly renewed their practices and traditions, "because that's how we survive."
Now, she said, her community is being demonized and deemed "violent." If a leader who speaks out against a mining company is red-tagged, this is a licence to justify their killing by the Philippine government. "Not only do you lose the leader who is being vilified," she explained, but whole communities are affected through the use of anti-terror laws and are forced to disperse.
She explained that her organization is opposing this government disinformation and its definition of terrorism by calling on people to study and understand the way of life of the Bangsamoro peoples and their struggles.
Lidasan pointed out that citing opposition to terrorism, the government is sidelining the people's struggles, violating human rights through illegal arrests, carrying out aerial bombardment and destroying their livelihoods. She called on everyone to continue to assist in explaining to the world that the government has imposed a state of conflict and war and that the people are fighting for their survival and the future of their communities.
Cristina Palabay, Secretary General of Karapatan Alliance Philippines also addressed the issue of red-tagging, explaining its use by the U.S. and Filipino state to discredit any and all dissent, especially when dissent challenges their position of power. She said it is not only a violation of freedom of expression and association, but also disinformation with the aim of undermining people's thinking about what is what and their right to conscience.
She affirmed the important role of the revolutionary forces who seek to change the system and said that they should not be defensive or forced to hide.
Neri Javier Colmenares, a human rights lawyer and founding Secretary General of the National Union of People's Lawyers (a national association of human rights lawyers in the Philippines), noted that red-tagging is aimed at stifling dissent and freedom of expression through force or the threat of force, including the state threatening people's lives.
The extrajudicial killings for which the Duterte regime was known were also taking place during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001-2010) and Philippine human rights lawyers have always said these are state-sponsored killings, adding that the government would always demand, "What's your proof?" Colmenares explained, "We have two proofs actually. The first is many of these killings were seen by eyewitnesses. There are sworn statements, affidavits saying the military and the police shot the victims." Even for those cases without witnesses, human rights lawyers nonetheless have asserted that these are still state-sponsored killings because they fit an established pattern, a three-step process before the extrajudicial killing takes place.
"The first is public vilification against the victim committed by government. The victim, before he or she was killed, was publicly vilified: 'Oh, you are a terrorist! You are a communist!,' etc. etc.," said Colmenares. The second "is the killing itself, committed in such a blatant fashion against the victim. People were killed, activists were killed, drug suspects were killed, too, in broad daylight, near police stations, in public places, in markets, as if the perpetrators were never afraid at all of being accosted by the police." The third is a complete lack of interest to investigate on the part of the government. "And that's what makes it more dangerous, because that's what stifles dissent, because now you're fearing for your life. Rather than say something, you keep quiet."
Colmenares said that one way of stopping red-tagging, is to expose it and bring it to the attention of the UN and countries around the world that claim to uphold human rights. Another is to ensure that those who are red-tagged are not left to fend for themselves but are defended by others.
He pointed out that "The Philippine government has escalated red-tagging to terrorist-tagging," adding that "human rights advocates assert that the anti-terror law actually facilitates terrorist-tagging, that it makes it easier for them to tag people as terrorists. So first, the government responded and said, 'Well, not really! The anti-terror law is intended for the terrorists!' But that was the debate during the oral argument before our Supreme Court. The army respondents or the government said, 'Well, we need this anti-terror law, because we need to quell terrorism in our country and to help other countries. And they cited Canada, Australia, that have very good anti-terror laws. 'Look, it happened in different countries, and they were respecting human rights there too, so it could happen to us!' [said the government]."
Philippine human rights lawyers have pointed out that the war against those the government considers terrorists has been waged for decades now, as ruthlessly as possible. "They have barged into houses without search warrants. They have arrested people without warrants of arrest," Colmenares explained. "So why did government become so obsessed with an anti-terror law when they never cared before?" he asked. "We argued before our courts and said this is not about terrorists. This is not for or against terrorism. This is against ordinary dissent."
He pointed out that in Philippine law, terrorism is defined as any act intended to cause serious bodily harm to another person or disrupt public infrastructure. Colmenares explained, "They're punishing you for your intention. It's an overbroad, vague definition of terrorism, which makes it easy for them to terror-tag you.
"For us in the Philippines, this specific battle against anti-terror law is getting worse. Ninety eight people have been charged with terrorism and it really threatens a lot of people." It is taking place at a higher rate than red-tagging, he added, because it can now be attached to anybody that the government believes must be silenced.
"The battle therefore must be waged against anti-terror law in the Philippines," he said, while reminding everyone that in the arguments before the courts, Australia, Canada, the U.S. along with many other countries had been mentioned, so there is now "a worldwide web of anti-terror laws, high treason and attacks on the freedom of expression and the liberties of people."
The same battle, he concluded, "must also be waged in your own respective countries. That is the major contribution of the people of Australia, Canada and the U.S., winning their battles against this worldwide web of terror laws that has repressed so many people. That is the greatest solidarity support that any people can give to other people -- waging and winning their war for human rights in their respective countries."
Philippine Supreme Court Rules Against Government Practice of Red-Tagging
On May 8, the Philippine Supreme Court ruled that the government's practice of red-tagging, vilification, labeling, and guilt by association threaten a person's right to life, liberty, or security. The following statement was issued that day by the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines-Canada.
The International Coalition for Human Rights in the
Philippines-Canada (ICHRP-Canada) welcomes the Supreme Court decision
today defining red-tagging as a threat to individual and organizational
security. It marks a significant triumph for the human rights movement.
This ruling comes in the wake
of the ICHRP Canada General Assembly held last weekend in Montreal [May
2-5], where the pressing issue of red-tagging was extensively discussed
and identified as a major concern.
The Supreme Court ruling underscored the urgency of addressing and condemning the practice of red-tagging, which has been frequently employed by both state and non-state agents to label and harass perceived enemies of the state as communists or terrorists.
The ICHRP Canada conference highlighted the ongoing dangers posed by red-tagging, as well as its far-reaching implications for human rights and civil liberties. This ruling reinforces the assembly's commitment to promoting and safeguarding human rights in the Philippines and strengthening solidarity across communities, particularly since the practice of red-tagging is not confined to the Philippines. Last year, there were incidents of red-tagging from within Canada against Atty. Neri Colmenares, a human rights lawyer and former Philippine congressman, during his cross-Canada speaking tour last October 2023; against Canada-based grassroots organizations like Anakbayan Scarborough; as well as against ICHRP Canada and our former Chairperson, Rev. Dr. Patricia Lisson.
Notably, the high court's decision serves as a stern warning to those who falsely accuse and vilify activists, as they could face imprisonment if they continue their wrongful actions. This ruling represents a pivotal step in the ongoing struggle to protect human rights defenders and activists from malicious and unfounded allegations. Neri Colmenares, one of the speakers at the ICHRP General Assembly said that, "The SC decision that red tagging constitutes a threat to another person's life and security is a major legal victory and affirms our long assertion that red-tagging must be banned." He also declared that "red-taggers must be warned that we will file charges against them under our criminal and civil laws."
By addressing the pernicious practice of red-tagging, this Supreme Court ruling aligns with the ICHRP Canada's efforts to foster a more just and equitable society, where human rights are upheld and respected. It is a significant victory that will resonate throughout communities of human rights defenders and beyond.
Cuba
Canadian Network on Cuba Holds
11th Biennial Convention
The Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC), a national organization that works to strengthen ties between the Cuban and Canadian people, held its 11th Biennial Convention at the Steelworker's Hall in Toronto on June 8 and 9. Close to 40 delegates and observers took part.
The guest of honour on the morning of June 8 was His Excellency Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Canada, who was joined by the Consul General of the Cuban Consulate in Toronto Jorge Yanier Castellanos Orta, as well as Leima Martinez Freire, Director of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Malmierca underscored that the Cuban people have been able to withstand the brutal and illegal 65-year long U.S. blockade because of Cuba's solidarity with the world and the world's solidarity with Cuba. In this friendship and solidarity with Cuba, he noted, Canada has been second to none. He highlighted particularly the role of the Canadian people in the campaign to free the Cuban Five anti-terrorists who were imprisoned for many years in the U.S. and in the international campaign to bring home Elian Gonzales, a Cuban child who had been abducted to the U.S. by his relatives. Ambassador Malmierca congratulated the CNC for its fine work and expressed his enthusiastic support for its ongoing endeavours and new projects.
Following the presentation by the Ambassador, the Convention received reports from its member organizations across the country, from Halifax to Victoria, and adopted resolutions on the CNC's work. These included condemnation of the U.S. blockade and demanding that Cuba be removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
In the evening, Leima Martinez made a presentation on behalf of ICAP, entitled "Cuba's Role – Building Global Peace." ICAP was founded in 1960 to inform the world about developments in Cuba and build fraternal relations with the world's peoples. Ms. Martinez highlighted that since the revolution Cuba has been a force for peace in the world, standing with humanity in its aspiration for peace. She cited the leading role that Cuba played in the Declaration of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) proclaiming the region as a "Zone of Peace" and Cuba's principled defence of the Palestinian people today in the face of the U.S./Israeli genocide.
The second day of the Convention began with a presentation by Bill Ryan who explained the "Cubacan Cares" project. Ryan has been working for many years to gather and send various types of much needed medical and sports equipment to Cuba. He announced that the current project of Cubacan Cares is to send medical sutures which Cuba has had difficulty purchasing because of the U.S. embargo and economic blockade. The aim is to raise sufficient funds for an initial shipment of 15,000 sutures to be purchased directly from a supplier in China and sent to Cuba. There was enthusiastic and unanimous support for this life-saving project.
In the afternoon, there was a panel discussion on the theme "Cuba in a Troubled World: The Geopolitics of the Moment," which featured four panellists – Professor Isaac Saney from Dalhousie University, authors and journalists Keith Bolender and Tania Hernandez, as well as ICAP North America Director Leima Martinez. Each spoke about how Cuba is coping in this transitional period of history where the U.S. imperialists and their Western allies continue to block the aspiration of the peoples of the world for a just and peaceful world and Cuba's role within it to find ways forward.
The Convention concluded with the nomination and election of a new seven-member Executive Committee charged with leading the work of the CNC over the next two years.
"Routine Visits" of Russian and Canadian Warships to Havana Harbour
HMCS Margaret Brooke entered the harbour of Havana, Cuba, June 14, 2024
The Canadian navy patrol boat HMCS Margaret Brooke entered the harbour of Havana, Cuba, on June 14 on what both the Cuban and Canadian governments say was a "routine visit." The Canadian Joint Operations Command called it "a port visit in recognition of the long-standing bilateral relationship between Canada and Cuba."
This visit took place just hours after the United States announced a fast-attack submarine had docked at its Guantanamo naval base which is on occupied Cuban territory. "The vessel's location and transit were previously planned," U.S. Southern Command said on X.
Earlier in the week, on June 12, Russian vessels, the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan accompanied by an oil tanker and a rescue tug, entered the harbour at Havana after conducting high-precision missile weapons training in the Atlantic Ocean. Russia's defence ministry says both the frigate and the submarine are carriers of advanced weapons, including the Zircon nuclear-capable hypersonic cruise missile.
The consensus in the U.S. and Canada is that the Russian warships pose no threat to the region. Russia has also characterized the arrival of its warships in Cuba as routine.
Russian nuclear submarine enters the Bay of Havana, June 12, 2024
Omnibus Legislation in Argentina
Neo-Liberal Destruction of Argentina
Demonstration in Buenos Aires, January 24, 2024 against omnibus bill.
Argentina's new Law for the Bases and Starting Points for Argentinians' Freedom is an omnibus bill known as the Bases Law. Introduced by the government of Javier Milei, it aims to restructure the state as part of its "shock therapy." The legislation grants the President special powers to privatize state-owned companies, eliminate a pension moratorium, create a new investment incentive scheme and introduce anti-worker labour reforms.
Milei, who describes himself as an "anarcho-capitalist" was elected in November 2023 after running on a platform to deal with Argentina's high debt and deficit, soaring inflation and rising poverty by slashing spending on public programs and services and "putting everything into private hands that can be."[1]
The Bases Law was passed in the Chamber of Deputies on April 30. On June 12, after the government was forced to negotiate with senators who could otherwise have sunk its bill, a modified form of the legislation was passed in the Senate by one vote. The country's Vice President cast the tie-breaking vote.
The bill was amended to remove from the list of state-owned companies slated for privatization: the national airline, Aerolineas Argentinas; the national radio and television networks; and the national postal service, Correo Argentino. Modifications were also made to certain income tax provisions.
The amended bill must now return to the lower chamber to be ratified, rejected in favour of the bill originally passed there, or approved with some, but not all of the modifications introduced in the Senate. Under Argentina's constitution the possibility of a presidential veto also exists in the event Milei does not accept the end result of the process in the Congress. It can be overridden by a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress.
From the time the bill was introduced through to the present, Argentinian workers, students, retirees and others have been in the streets demanding the withdrawal of the anti-social legislation. In keeping with his declared intentions, Milei has used the repressive forces of the state to attack them, subjecting them to arbitrary detentions and harsh treatment while detained, and accusing them of sedition and of being "terrorists."
Demonstration in Buenos Aires against attacks on public post-secondary education, April 23, 2024
The following are some of the provisions of the Bases Law approved by the Chamber of Deputies and how they will affect the people:
- The retirement age for women is increased from 60 to 65 years. A moratorium on the ability to pay off contributions for years missed to be able to qualify for retirement with a state pension is cancelled. It is estimated that nine out of 10 women and seven out of 10 men will not be able to retire at 65.
- The Social Monotributo tax regime will disappear, leaving 600,000 people more vulnerable.[2]
- Workers who had been exempt or paid low income tax will be taxed at up to 35 per cent of their income.
- The wealth tax paid by the rich is reduced from 2.25 per cent to 0.25 per cent, and this measure measure is extended until 2038, depriving future governments of resources.
- Informal employment is encouraged; people working in companies with less than five employees cease to be considered employees.
- Companies have their fines cancelled and criminal charges for having undeclared workers are annulled.
- A worker can be dismissed for any reason (for example, union activity) and the courts cannot force the company to reinstate them.
- Pregnant women must work up until 10 days before their date of delivery.
- Oil companies will have control over the hydrocarbons they extract and will be able to commercialize them freely without the state intervening or setting prices. Argentinians will pay international prices for fuel despite the fact that Argentina is the producer. This could cause supply problems, without the state being able to intervene.
- Extraordinary powers are granted to the president: he can disappear or merge public agencies, increase at his discretion the cost of services and transportation, defund public health, education and more.
- The new Incentive Regime for Large Investments (RIGI) will grant extensive tax and exchange benefits to big multinational companies but not to small and medium-size enterprises.
- The new tax and exchange rate regime allows these investors to import machinery and inputs, which will destroy the national metalworking industry.
- Conditions for extractivism are promoted, for removing natural resources with minimal processing.
- These measures are extended for 30 years, with future governments unable to undo them.
- The Federal Administration of Public Income allows the laundering of up to $100,000 without the need to repatriate that money, pay any penalties or give any explanation regarding its origin. In other words, tax evaders are rewarded and the laundering of assets of criminal origin is enabled.
- Arbitrary detention is legalized in order to repress protests, just like during the military dictatorship.
In addition to these measures, fourteen state-owned companies can be privatized by the president and the lots where they operate can be auctioned off. Some of these include:
- AySa, the company that processes drinking water for millions of Argentinians. It was recovered from private hands by the state in 2006, when it was determined that the water distributed to homes contained fecal matter.
- Aerolíneas Argentinas, a company operating with a surplus, which connects 21 cities all over the country. The last time it was privatized, the company was emptied out and went from having thirty aircraft to one.
- National radio and television; and
- Argentine railroads.
Notes
1. See "New Presidency Will Plunge Argentina into Ever Greater Crisis," TML Monthly, November 2023.
2. A simplified tax scheme, introduced in 1998, was designed to provide social security to lower income workers who were previously excluded by facilitating their contributions to national pension and health insurance schemes.
(With files from Buenos Aires Herald, Pagina12, Somos Telam, El DiarioAR)
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