By: Human Rights Legal Support Centre | Press Release:

Dr. Clem Marshall

TORONTO, May 14, 2013 – The Toronto Police Service (TPS), the Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB), and educator Dr. Clem Marshall have reached an agreement to settle his Human Rights Application. The terms of the settlement are confidential and neither the TPS nor the TPSB has admitted any liability.

Dr. Marshall and a friend were driving in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto when stopped by police in 2009, an incident Marshall attributed to racial profiling.  “Humiliation hurts. It has left a deep scar. I felt I had to stand up because we want our youth to know we have a right to defend our dignity.  We can use this incident to continue to build a stronger community.”

By: Council of Canadians | Press Release:

TORONTO, May 6, 2013 – The Council of Canadians is extremely disappointed by reports that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has upheld a previous ruling that local content quotas in Ontario’s Green Energy Act violate global trade rules. The grassroots social justice organization is encouraging the Ontario government to stand by its landmark renewable energy policy and, if necessary, to ignore the WTO decision in the interests of sustainable development.

“The use of local content should be a tool available to all governments, globally, to get the most bang for the public buck on major public projects,” says Stuart Trew, Trade Campaigner with the Council of Canadians. “Combining job creation and environmental priorities is the definition of sustainable development. If global trade rules outlaw sustainable development, then there is something seriously wrong with them. It’s not surprising the WTO is suffering a crisis in confidence. This ruling is bound to worsen that crisis.”

“Colleges and universities must take a holistic approach to address violence against women”

By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive:

The Ontario chapter of the Canadian Federation of Students today launched a toolkit that will help Canadian and organization to address sexual violence at the province’s colleges and universities. The toolkit, a collection of best practices for lobbying, outreach, awareness and education on campus, was launched at the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto.

Various students union representatives contributed to the creation of the toolkit.

By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: 

Last Friday’s ExxonMobil Pegasus pipeline disaster in Mayflower, Arkansas, should warn Canadians against Enbridge’s proposed Line 9 project, says Environmental Defence. The Pegasus pipeline raptured and spilled more than 318,000 litres of tar sands oil into a local neighborhood and near a lake. Local residents had to be evacuated.

Environmental Defence, a non-partisan environmental charity, says Line 9 poses serious risks to drinking water and the environment in neighborhoods, cities and farms in Ontario and Quebec.

By: Canadian Auto Workers Union | Press Release

ind Turbine. Photo: Patrick Finnegan/Wikimedia

PORT ELGIN, ON – A CAW owned and operated wind turbine started operating today generating clean wind energy to the electrical grid in Port Elgin, Ontario.

“This is an important day as the start-up of this wind turbine marks an environmental milestone for our union – this is the first union owned and operated wind turbine in Canada,” said CAW President Ken Lewenza. The start of the turbine comes after nine years of planning, preparation, construction and testing.

Press Release | Posted Mar 18, 2013

CCPA More Harm Than Good

Ontario’s experiment with austerity in 2012 is contributing to an economic slowdown that demands a different course of action in 2013, says a new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Ontario office (CCPA-Ontario).

The report, by CCPA-Ontario Director Trish Hennessy and CAW economist Jim Stanford, shows the province has not returned to pre-recession economic health. Austerity measures are compounding the problem, creating a “fiscal drag” effect that is slowing economic growth and undermining budgetary progress.

by The Chiefs of Ontario, Jan. 31, 2013

TORONTO - Yesterday the Ontario Superior Court published a decision which made clear the federal government`s obligation to turn over its archival records on Indian Residential Schools to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada.

“The First Nations in Ontario welcome this decision and expect the federal government to provide all documents necessary to assist the TRC to complete its mandate,“ stated Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy.

by Algonquin Nation Secretariat And Programs and Services

Ottawa, Jan. 22, 2013 – The Algonquin communities of Timiskaming, Wolf Lake, and Eagle Village today announce their assertion of Aboriginal rights and title to their traditional territories. The purpose of the announcement is to put other governments on notice, and to establish a firm basis for an effective consultation and accommodation process regarding developments that impact on their rights.

By Canadian Union of Public Employees  (CUPE) | Jan. 30, 2013:

Tension and merger pains tied to amalgamating two area child welfare agencies will intensify next week unless labour turmoil is avoided this weekend, warn front line workers at Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville in Ontario.

Determined to strengthen programs while servicing a geographic area the size of Prince Edward Island, residential counsellors and child protection and administrative workers at the agency, are using the levers available to them in new contract talks to maintain a safe and healthy workplace. Keeping caseloads manageable to ensure adequate time to effectively protect children and youth from neglect and abuse is a priority.

by Ontario Public Service Employees Union | Jan. 27, 2013:

TORONTO – The president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union has congratulated Kathleen Wynne on her victory in the Ontario Liberal Party leadership race and is calling on her to make fairness the guiding principle of her government when she becomes the province’s first-ever female Premier.