The Peterborough - Kawarthas Chapter of The Council of Canadians
Annual Report: May 2005–June 2006
Campaigns
- FOOD
- Factory Farm event, June 2005
- Negotiation to get a monthly Food Committee article in Peterborough Examiner
- ENERGY
- Committee re–established, with similar members as Peterborough Electricity Coalition
- Representation on Peterborough Energy Day Committee preparing municipal event, May 26
- WATER
- Letters to MPP and on editorial page of Peterborough Examiner on Great Lakes Annex Treaty by Water Committee Co–Chair, Kim Naish
- World Water Day Letter to Editor, March 2006
- Conference Calls on water with different chapters from the Region
- PETERBOROUGH HEALTH COALITION (Chair, Roy Brady)
- Attend most PRHC, CCAC board meetings (and 2 Health Unit ones)
- Participate with Trent–Fleming Nursing class students on public health care policy, Sept.'05, April '06
- Three broadcasts on Trent Radio
- Presentation to the Public Health Board on Poverty & Health, Nov. 9/05 with supporting resolution from Board
- Constant monitoring of PRHC balanced budget process and new hospital construction
- CoC Chair is member of Ontario Health Coalition Board; attends monthly Toronto meetings, participates in conference calls, and works on PC Hospital plebiscites in St. Catherines (June/05) and Hamilton (March/06)
- Participation in Action Assembly, and OHC Hospitas Conference, Oct. 29–30/05 (Roy Brady)
- Attended 4 meetings with Lindsay Health Coalition: organizational, hospital balanced budget, Local Health Integration Network–LHIN (Roy Brady)
- LHINs (Local Health Integration Networks):
- extensive campaign planning
- presentation at Ontario Government Committee Hearings, Jan. 30/06
- spoke at two regional CUPE conferences
- Bill 36 Steamrolling event in Peterborough, March 3/06
- MPP meetings, March 3 and 24/06
- organized successful Town Hall Meeting, Feb. 8/06. Four hundred attended
- participated in day–long public consultation by Central East LHIN plus a meeting with LHIN board chair and planning director, May 11, 10/06
- DEEPER INTEGRATION WITH UNITED STATES
Discussion with local committee based on CoC materials has:
- provided a framework to include in all our work
- identified Thomas d’Aquino and CCCE as focus of attention
- identified theme for Canada Day Parade visuals
- recognized Canada's growing militarization
Action: two Letters to the Editor of Peterborough Examiner linking the Liberal & Conservative Minister of Industry, David Emerson to the concept and practice of deeper integration with U.S. (Ray Hogue)
Federal Election campaign
- Met the day after Election call, Nov. 30, to form the issues survey for all candidates
- Distributed survey to candidates by Dec. 8
- Met Dec. 28 to evaluate the completed surveys and decide how to use results. Note: only Conservatives did not respond in writing
- Chapter Letter to Editor, Peterborough This Week, Jan. 13 outlining the party responses; outrage from the Conservative Party
- Message sent to NDP Jack Layton asking for explanation of reversal in attention to private health care delivery during first weekend in Dec.
- Several members participated at six All–Candidates sessions; particularly impressive questions on Canadian water policy from CoC member, Carol Hodgins.
- Staffed tables at Farmers' Market table to discuss issues
- Distributed almost 3000 Voters Guides at the market and in the community
Community work
- Brief meeting with and written outline sent to Councillor Bernie Cahill regarding perils of privatizating Municipal Public Works
- Participation in an ad hoc Canada and International Development committee preparing session with new Conservative MP (Jamaican Self–Help, Ploughshares, CoC, Development and Peace, Kairos, Linda Slavin)
- Public CoC strategy meeting, Dec. 5
- Participation with other activists in July 1st Parade, 2005
- Organizing meeting held for a July 1st Parade to include other activist groups
- Distribution of CoC materials & issues dialogue at Farmers Market several times over the year
Council of Canadians Work
- Attended 20th Anniversary AGM in Ottawa, Nov. 4–6/05 (Roy Brady, Kathryn Langley, Charlene Creelman and Suzanne Stratton)
- Presented at chapter meetings: Northumberland, Nov./05 , Toronto, June 2005 (Roy Brady)
- Attended Regional Chapter Conference, May 13, 2006 (Roy Brady)
- Attended National Board meetings as ON Chapters' Rep Nov. 6/05 – Meetings: AGM, Feb. 3–6, June 2–4/05 (Roy Brady)
- Participated in several board/staff conference calls for CoC Election and Health Care Committees (Roy Brady)
Partnerships and Sponsoring
- Letter on the Two Terrorisms (Editor, Aug./05) with Kawartha Ploughshares
- Meeting with MP on Security Certificates (Oct./05) with Kawartha Ploughshares
- Co–sponsored meeting on Role of Canadian Troops in Afghanistan, Apr./06 with Kawartha Ploughshares
- Sponsored a film as part of Travelling World Community Film Festival, Jan. 27–29/06
- Participated in the following Coalitions: Stop the Cameras; Peterborough Coalition for Social Justice ; the Walk Wheel and Ride for Dignity Campaign; Peterborough Health Coalition; Activists' Summit, Nov./04, then repeated under our leadership, Oct./05
