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This message is directed at all the CCs: Mr Carney, Mr Champagne, Mr Long, Mr McGuinty. My MP is surely already well aware and fully concerned about the steps the Canadian government is currently taking to play a leadership role and potentially host the new Defence, Security and Resilience Bank. I am calling for you to reject the DSRB.  The steady flow of public and private funds to weapons manufacturers the war bank would facilitate for a rapid expansion of military production will only harm Canadians.  Public-private funding is usually just a shady way of ensuring private enterprise is subsidized by public money so it can maximize its profits. To do so with the goal of increasing the manufacturing and procurement of weapons is fundamentally at odds with hopes for not only a peaceful world but a liveable one.  Moreover, the DSRB will mark an escalation in public spending on weapons and militarism, drawing money away from critical spending on social needs and the climate ...

Who needs the nefarious Evan Duncan when you've got dastardly Sean Fraser to curtail freedoms federally? The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group provided this form letter. Obviously they know their stuff way better than I do so I didn't touch the bulk of it, but I slapped a first paragraph on there to try to get my letter counted as unique. Use the template to write and send your own Dear recipient's full name will go here , At a time when Canadians are overstressed, worried about jobs and affordability and now war, it unconscionable that the government would try to sneak through legislation that harms us while people are too busy with other worries to take notice.  I am alarmed that the proposed Combatting Hate Act (Bill C-9), which the government has said is meant to prevent hate crimes, will instead threaten the Charter rights and civil liberties of all people in Canada, including those communities that the government wishes to help protect. I am doubly alarm...

A letter from World Beyond War, Just Peace Advocates, Canadian Foreign Policy Institute, Canadian BDS Coalition. Slightly adapted.  Send your own Dear Prime Minister Carney, How could you possibly suggest formally dispatching Canadian troops to assist Trump and Netanyahu’s completely illegal aggression? A recent Angus-Reid poll shows that 70% of Liberal party supporters *oppose* this war. The US and Israel have already killed over 1200 Iranians. They’ve been committing a horrific massacre everyday. On Wednesday US War Secretary Pete Hegseth bragged about killing 100 Iranians by blowing up a defenseless, ammunition-less Iranian navy vessel taking part in a ceremonial exercise far away in the Indian Ocean. In Lebanon – which Israel has no reason to pick a fight with -- Israel has killed more than 100 and demanded half a million evacuate their homes. Israel is ramping up its bombings in the country and ground invasion. Even musing about Canada formally dispatching troops boost...

When CMU announced “Singing Resistance” – an event to come on down to the chapel and sing protest songs together with music professors at the beginning of February – at the height of the terrible ICE raids happening in Minneapolis, I thought, yes! This is exactly right.  SINGING RESISTANCE In solidarity with Minneapolis Join us for an evening of singing old and new songs of protest and courage, in solidarity with Minneapolis, shaped by traditions of faithful voices choosing community over violence and hope over despair—part vigil, part community chorus. This is not a concert. It is the community coming together to raise voices in the face of injustice, fear, and the uneasy times we are living through Singing Resistance is an open invitation to remember that even when things feel out of control, our voices still matter. And so does being together. But then I saw how popular it was. The news was racing through Facebook. This event is going to be packed, I realized. My heart sank. Thi...

Thanks to Just Peace Advocates for this letter template. I changed the final paragraph, however. Worrying about Canadian soldiers possibly being harmed by helping out the USA is *not* good enough. Canada should not be anywhere near this totally illegal war.  Spain showed the way. Just say no.  What happened to middle powers pushing back against dominant superpowers?  Dear Defence Minister McGuinty, Contrary to the will of the electorate, the Prime Minister has shamefully maintained he “supports” the US/Israeli aggression against Iran. But, Mark Carney also claimed Canada was not participating directly in the war and “not party to the military buildup or planning.” This appears untrue. Does he think Canadians are stupid? According to the CBC article “Canadian military members likely involved in planning U.S. strikes on Iran, retired general says”, Canadians forces have assisted the US/Israeli aggression. A Canadian military website says there are “approximately 18 CAF me...

In June of 2024, a man was just riding his bike to work. Early in the morning when traffic should be low to nonexistent. Wearing a helmet and a reflective vest.  A racing driver lost control and plowed him over.  Anyone who bikes in this city was grieved and outraged.  This stretch of roadway is designated as a bike route. There's a little green sign with a bicycle icon to tell you that. The wide road that invites speeding certainly doesn't. How does a person even drive 159 km/hr on a sleepy residential street within city limits? (Because the street is too damn wide.) For about as long as it has existed, the cycling advocacy organization has identified this stretch of roadway as a route in critical need of remediation to make it safer.  So, within a week, temporary safety measures had been rolled out. Reduced speed limit signs were erected, poly posts narrowed the roadway and speed cameras made sure folks took it seriously.  Ha ha ha ha ha ha. No. 20, 40,...

Dear Prime Minister Carney, First of all, let us be clear that the regime in Iran has treated its citizens terribly, especially in recent weeks when it has murdered thousands of civilian protestors. There is no question that this regime would be better ended.  There is a very real question about the best way to do that, however. U.S. intervention -- to serve the financial interests of certain wealthy oligarchs -- has never been an effective way of replacing a human rights abusing regime with a human rights respecting one.  Your statements in support of the US/Israeli war on Iran are condemnable. Tens of thousands will likely be killed in the rogue states’ bid to balkanize Iran. Already hundreds of Iranians have been killed, including upwards of 100 in a strike on a girls elementary school in Minab, southern Iran.  Why have you said “Canada supports” the US/Israeli war when this unprovoked attack is clearly a violation of the UN charter? If international law only applies t...

Where is your humanity, Prime Minister and all the ministers included on this message (except my compassionate and intelligent MP )?  I urge you to immediately rescind the proposed Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) co-payments and fully restore comprehensive health coverage for refugees and claimants in Canada, before May 1, 2026. The IFHP co-payments will:  (1) Deny access to essential care – a refugee managing diabetes and hypertension may take five or six medications; at $4 per prescription plus 30% co-pays for dental and mental health care, most will simply go without  (2) Cost more, not less – the government still covers 100% of emergency visits and hospitalizations, meaning untreated conditions will drive up ER and hospital costs that dwarf any savings from co-payments  (3) Punish the most vulnerable – refugees are fleeing persecution, war, sexual violence, and torture; co-payments function as a penalty for seeking safety in Canada  (4) Repeat a proven...

Just before unsubscribing from one of a million mailing lists to an email address I'm trying to shut down, I discovered an opportunity to adapt and send a letter on a subject I care about.  Send your own letter here As a constituent in [your jurisdiction will go here], I want to begin by thanking you for your work on behalf of myself and my neighbours. I’m grateful to live in a country in which we have the opportunity to engage with our elected representatives and speak into issues that affect our communities.  As [my MP] has a record of using her power for the people, I don't think she needs convincing, so the rest of this letter is addressed to Minister Diab and the Department of Immigration, Reguees and Citizenship:   The federal government's Immigration Levels plan for 2026 and beyond is unacceptable. The devastating cuts affect real people fleeing conflict and persecution and real Canadians who love them and are waiting to w...

A letter to the Manitoba government on their ludicrous plan. I can't remember where I found the template which I adjusted with my own comments, but it was probably from the Climate Action Team. Check out their resources for advocacy for a better energy future for Manitoba.  Climate Action Team Dear Premier, minister of the environment and minister of finance  I am writing today to voice my utter horror regarding your government’s recent announcement of plans to build a new, $3 billion fossil gas power plant. Could it get any more wrong at this moment? Building new fossil fuel infrastructure that will fuel the climate crisis and keep us reliant on imported fossil gas from Alberta for decades to come is unacceptable. You haven't even tried to supplement our energy with solar, wind, heat pumps and district heat, to say nothing of improving efficiency so we simply need less. My main concerns with this project are: It expands fossil fuel use during an era of climate emergenc...

The winter Olympics become harder and harder to pull off as shrinking and erratic winter weather makes venues unsuitable meanwhile fossil fuel giants greenwash their image as Olympics advertisers? Not cool. Let the minister of health and secretary of state for sport (and Olympic gold medallist) know you want action. Send a letter Dear Minister of Health Marjorie Michel, Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden, Minister of Identity and Culture Marc Miller: I am writing to urge the Government of Canada to decisively reject fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship at the Olympics.  The companies causing global warming should not get to burnish their corporate image by sponsoring the games that need climate stability.  I'm from Winnipeg and I bike all year round. I hate those cold days but what I hate even more is the thought of losing them to global warming.  During the pandemic, Winnipeggers realized we can have a lot of fun outside in winter. People embraced ska...

Slightly adapted from CJPME: I truly believe that leadership requires the courage to close policy gaps that facilitate reckless violence. The Arms Trade Treaty was meant to prevent the very violations we are seeing today. Whether it is the US-armed genocide in Gaza, the kidnapping of a head of state in Venezuela, or the attempted coup in Iran, the US and Israel are destabilizing the world. What will be harmed by slowing down? Obscene profits do not need protection. Just slow down. In fact, why should we even be selling weapons to anyone else? so they can toss them back at us? Caution and rule following is the least we can do! Preferably not make any weapons at all.  Please at very least support Jenny Kwan’s Bill C-233 to end the special treatment given to the completely out of control and lawless United States of Avarice, and ensure that human rights are the primary factor in every arms export decision. Sign your own letter There's a whole campaign because the second half of s...

 A slight departure from my usual letters... Here's a prayer I wrote for worship leading at church this past Sunday (Jan 25). The Scripture passage for the sermon was John 3:1-21, so I drew on some of the images from there.  The final paragraph is adapted from an assurance written by Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel, in So Loved: Service Prayers for the Fourth Sunday of Lent  (posted on the Worship Ways page of the United Church of Christ website ).  “Light has come into the world” Light has made its home among us as self-giving love.  “But people loved darkness instead of light... for fear that their deeds will be exposed.” There are so many places we long to see the light of truth expose evil deeds:  the genocide in Gaza;  the war in Ukraine;  the conflicts in Sudan, Yemen, DR Congo, Myanmar and the Tigray region of Ethiopia;  political and economic instability in many countries across Latin America;  the lawlessness of law enforcement in...

Re “ Government must get off X” So must the Free Press. I know it’s a difficult time for journalism and local news and one wants to be in as many places as possible to reach readers, but at some point, ethics must outweigh reach. After all, isn’t having an ethics code one of the things that makes journalism different from the many influencers and bloggers slowly draining the readership from legacy news sources? If there are no principles, why should readers prioritize a newspaper over an online source with dubious sources. Note the stand that PressProgress has taken (emphasis mine): PressProgress  aims to be widely accessible and available to the public in the online spaces where they consume information and engage in public debate, however, this must also be balanced by considerations about the governance and conduct of digital platforms themselves . PressProgress  maintains a presence on digital platforms where Canadians consume and debate news or current affairs...

Oddly, CEO banker Mark Carney was actually aware of the dangers of fossil fuels and was tentatively in favour of the green energy transition and industry paying damage fees on their extraction. But as CEO of Canada (he is NOT acting like a Prime Minister but as a business leader), he's forgotten all of it and is full speed ahead on raking in corporate profits while Canadians suffer in every way.   See Narwhal article How Mark Carney is complicating Canada’s climate progress Here's my latest adapted form letter to ask for better. Sign your own here. 350 [dot] org: No Pipelines Dear Prime Minister Carney, The science is clear. Burning fossil fuels is cooking our planet. You said yourself that the “vast majority of reserves are unburnable” over a decade ago. It's not just words on a page: we are seeing this with our own eyes, experiencing it with our own bodies.  Since you opined that we oughtn't be burning the reserves, it has nevertheless continued, and the dire...

This just makes no sense, folks. That's one thing I added to the Climate Action Team's letter to the Manitoba government.  According to a friend's back of the envelop math -- so of course it's possible something is missing/miscalculated/misunderstood -- for only about $1 billion, the government could subsidize insulating homes to a degree that would reduce energy demand to the degree this plans to scale it up. Add to that the fact that clean energy's star is rising as fast as fossil fuel's is tanking ( Check out Max Fawcett's piece in Canada's National Observer ), and it's impossible not to conclude the decision makers are either intentionally idiotic and ill-informed or maliciously pursuing interests that have to do with enormous short term financial gain and zero benefit to the general population.  So, take a look at this letter and please send a version of it yourself.  Send your own letter Thanks, Climate Action Team Manitoba !  I am writing toda...

The fact that governments and respectable news organizations continue to use the social media app formerly known as Twitter has rankled for a while. When news of the AI bot's new feature of sexualizing images nonconsensually came to my attention, I couldn't just rant to friends anymore.  It was time for a letter: Dear Mayor and city councillors This message is addressed to the members who have a listing for Twitter on either their CoW page or their websites.  Please stop. For more than a year, many major organizations have been officially deciding that the reach offered by the social media platform formerly known as Twitter is not worth supporting an almost-trillionaire who is completely comfortable with white supremacist rhetoric, spreading disinformation, displacing human labour with low-quality AI products, and, in only his most recent egregious act, allowing the platform to do non-consensual sexual violence through image manipulation.  https://www.wired.com/story/...

The repression of pro-Palestinian protestors is shocking. The British government is allowing prisoners on hunger strikes to die, simply for asking for their rights as prisoners (e.g., a fair trial). Their crime: protesting an arms manufacturer.  This arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems, get plenty of money from Canada as well.  Learn more here So, it's time for a letter! Here's my edits to Just Peace Advocates' letter for Canadian banks and pension plans. Click here to send your own letter. I am writing today in horror over your institution’s investment in Elbit Systems.  Elbit Systems is an Israeli weapons manufacturer.  Israel is verifiably committing genocide.  According to international law, any state or financial entities aiding and abetting a state committing genocide is complicit.  Stop it.  Elbit provides ground equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles for the Israeli military. It also produces tank shells, rockets, drones, electronic warfare...

Our oh-so-popular and oh-so-duplicitous premier is at it again. Basking in an undeserved reputation of being progressive and caring about climate, he's about to introduce fossil fuel power to our renewably resourced province. Likely to build world-destroying (in so many ways) data centres.  Meanwhile, for a lower investment of millions, the amount of power set to be generated could be saved simply by properly insulating thousands of houses and reducing energy consumption.  To say nothing of the fact that, relative to the “supply” available, we haven't even begun to use solar and wind power.  Thank you to the Climate Action Team of Manitoba who is resisting, educating, and offering alternatives.  Read more: New Provincial Fossil Gas-Fired Power Plant Contradicts Climate Commitments, Misses Opportunities And adapt and write your own letter as I did: Send a letter I am writing today to voice my strong concern regarding your government’s decision to build a new $3 ...