WHERE: Thurs. Jan 12th at 10:30 am at Philippine Women’s Center, 451 Powell St, Vancouver.

WHO: Chinese-Canadian National Council, Canadian Council for Refugees, No One is Illegal, South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy, and Philippine Women’s Center

In recent weeks, federal politicians have attempted to court the "immigrant vote" with certain policy announcements such as hose relating to Chinese Head Tax redress and the $975 landing fee. In response to such announcements, a diverse number of ommunity-based groups will be challenging federal politicians to address immigration issues in a substantive manner at a press conference on Thursday January 12th at 10:30 am at Philippine Women’s Center (451 Powell St, Vancouver)

Head Tax redress has become a key community-driven election issue. At least three Liberal cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister have now spoken about reversing their position of "no apology, no compensation".

Read more here.

3-Channel Video Installation
January 12th to 16th, 2006
Opening Reception: Thursday, January 12th, 2006 @ 7pm

Video In Studios / Satellite Video Exchange Society
604-872-8337 ext. 3, event@videoinstudios.com
Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 11am-6pm

Wake is a three-channel video installation that revolves around a contemporary,fictional, murder mystery that takes place in Vancouvers Hastings Park (now the Pacific National Exhibition Grounds). This area was once referred to as The Pool, a holding pen for Japanese Canadians during WWII.The short video vignettes in Wake formally utilize the Japanese literary form of the palm-of-hand story: a character-driven, short narrative that has no plot and leaves one with a sense of longing or desire.

Read more here.

The federal election will be held on January 23, 2006, and LGBT equality hangs in the balance.

On the very first day of the election campaign, Stephen Harper announced that if he becomes Prime Minister he will re-open the equal marriage issue and ask Parliament to take away our equal right to marry.

We at Egale are doing all we can to ensure the next Parliament continues to advance our equality, rather than roll back the clock. We are working riding by riding to ensure that supportive MPs are elected and MPs who seek to deny equal rights are defeated.

We can only succeed with your support!! We need your help to make Parliament a place of progress and not the home of equality roll-backs!

Read more at egale.ca.

The Question of the Week in the Prince George Citizen is: Are you in favour of restoring Canada's traditional definition of marriage as the union between a man and a woman?

Take a moment to visit their website and make your voice heard. ( the poll is on the right hand side)

The Chinese Canadian National Council has demanded that the federal government verify the accuracy of its list of groups supposedly supporting its controversial head-tax deal. On November 24, Raymond Chan, Minister of State (Multiculturalism), announced an agreement in principle to provide an initial $2.5 million for the “Chinese-Canadian” community to acknowledge the impact of racist immigration legislation in the first half of the 20th century.

Read more at the Georgia Straight .

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - South Africa's highest court ruled in favor of gay marriage Thursday, a landmark decision that clears the way for the country to become the first to legalize same-sex unions on a continent where homosexuality remains largely taboo.

Read more on the pride page.

November 28th

Press Release

With the upcoming First Ministers Meeting on Aboriginal affairs in Kelowna only days away, the United Native Nations, the Vancouver Aboriginal Council, the Aboriginal Mothers Centre, and the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee of Vancouver, and the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society are viewing the governments promise to announce a significant infusion of new dollars into a new Aboriginal Housing Framework with extreme skepticism and trepidation.

Read more here.

Not using your extra winter coats?

PSAC Coat Drive for the Homeless … If you have an extra winter coat you’re not using, would you consider donating it? Please drop it off at our Human Rights Event on Dec. 15^th at the Maritime Labour Centre. Visit the upcoming events page for more details or download the poster below.

hrc_homeless_poster.pdf

If your job role involves assisting people to return to work after an injury or illness, you could benefit from the online modules offered by the National Institute of Disability Management and Research. You can start the Return to Work Coordinator Program in January, or simply take the occasional module. Our format enables participation at the time and place that best suits the individual.

Read more in the pdf below.

Our_Upcoming_Modules_1.pdf

Many people think now that equal marriage is the law of the land, the fight for equality is over. Far from it! There is much work to be done before we can all live our lives openly, honestly and without fear about our sexual orientation or gender identity.

Young people are especially vulnerable, and the vast majority of school environments are unsafe for LGBT kids and children of LGBT parents. "That's so gay" is a phrase that's heard in schoolyards across the country. In most schools, nothing is done to counter this put-down or the taunts, harassment and bullying that so often accompany it. Many students live in fear.

Egale is embarking on our biggest project ever, making schools safe for ALL children. Unlike marriage, this isn't as simple as changing one federal law. We must take action province by province, and school board by school board.

Read more on the Pride page.

Vancouver human-rights activist Sid Tan has brought a message from one of the country’s last remaining head-tax payers before a parliamentary committee. Tan, spokesperson for the Association of Chinese Canadians for Equality and Solidarity Society, appeared before the Canadian Heritage committee on October 24 to criticize a private member’s bill on redress.

Read more at the Georgia Straight.

My name is Quan Song Now. I came to Canada in 1923. At that time, I paid the $500 head tax. This $500 head tax is unjust. As it was not applied to people from other parts of the world, it is discriminatory. I hope the government will refund the head tax in a fair way to all head taxpayers or their families. This is my sincere quest. I hope you accept my proposal.

Read more of Sid Chow Tan's oral presentation on bill C-333 in the pdf below.

Chinese-Cdn group slams feds

TORONTO (CP) - Ottawa is imposing "paternalistic" conditions on Chinese immigrants who want justice for the head tax they were once forced to pay, critics said Tuesday as they denounced a federal private member's bill meant to address their concerns.

The Chinese Canadian National Council said Bill C-333, which is making its way through Parliament, shuts out most of the community by designating one Chinese group to speak for all immigrants and their families.

Read more at canoe.ca.

tan_presentation.pdf

The National Film Board of Canada presents the Vancouver premiere of Why Thee Wed? at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival, Monday November 7th @ 6PM, Cinemark Tinseltown Theatres.

Filmmaker Cal Garingan, who will be in attendance, looks beyond the headlines and introduces the couples who challenged the law in court. Why did they plunge into a controversial issue that meant their lives would be publicly judged? What does it mean to them to exchange marriage vows?

As controversy swirls around this this issue worldwide, Why Thee Wed? offers surprising and diverse perspectives on what it means for same-sex couples to walk down the aisle.

The time is not too late to register for Canada's largest conference on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) health issues.

The conference, sponsored by the Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition (CRHC), is taking place in Halifax, November 3 - 5, 2005. "Last year over 275 people attended our conference in Gatineau and we are expecting even more for this year's conference in Halifax," said Gens Hellquist, executive director of the CRHC.  The conference will address the health and wellness issues faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) Canadians.

Read more on the Pride page.

Sisters, Brothers, Comrades

Yes! There will be a Workers Out! Conference in Montreal in July 2006!

The first World Outgames 2006 will be held in Montreal, Québec, Canada from July 29-August 5, 2006. An integral part of the Outgames is an International Conference on the theme «The Right to be Different».

The organizers of the Outgames plan to make the event “an important contribution to the advancement of the rights and freedoms of gay communities”worldwide and they are including an International Conference as a central part of the cultural, sporting and political events being planned.

Workers Out! Making The Difference will be held in conjunction with the International Conference and we are planning our time so that trade unionists can participate in both the International Conference and Workers Out Conference.

Read more on the Pride page.

John Gordon, PSAC, National Executive Vice President opened the conference. He thanked the various committees for all their hard work, commitment and dedication. During the adoption of the agenda, the delegates moved that the Sunday Workshop sessions would only complete if that the resolutions were fully dealt with as much as possible. For the remainder of the day we listened to panel speakers speak on Leadership.

At lunch, we caucused as a region. This was an excellent opportunity to meet other people from the BC region. Amal Rana, BC Regional Education Officer was present and she briefly discussed encourage people to sign up for upcoming training. Also discussed was the NAIM and Conference Resolutions. The region will again meet on Sunday before Conference Closing.

Read the rest of Mandi's report here.

September 23 : the Georgia Straight

In a city saturated with bubble-tea houses and conversations in Cantonese, it’s easy to overlook the fact that this country once employed legislated discrimination against Asians. But what’s even more surprising is the lack of resolution to the Chinese head-tax issue.

It’s particularly unjust for a country that invited more than 10,000 Chinese immigrants to help build the Canadian Pacific railroad, and then, when the project was completed, turned around and slapped a $50 head tax on all Chinese Canadians. The tax was subsequently raised to $100 in 1900, then $500 in 1903. As if that wasn’t enough, the Chinese Immigration (Exclusion) Act came into effect from 1923 to 1947. The act restricted the flow of Chinese immigrants, thereby stifling the growth of Chinese Canadian communities, fracturing families, and creating economic and emotional hardships.

Read more on the Racially Visible issues page.

Criminologist Doug Janoff says violence against homosexuals in Canada is more "frenzied" and intense than that perpetrated against other victims of violent crime.

"The violence is real, it is intense and it really needs to be taken seriously," Janoff says.

In his new book, Pink Blood: Homophobic Violence in Canada (University of Toronto Press), Janoff says the gay community has to work to ensure that the law is applied to those crimes in the courts and by police forces.

Janoff, a PSAC member, will read from his book on a 15-city National Book Tour (download the schedule here ) with 2 BC events:

• Victoria, Friday, October 7, noon, University of Victoria campus. For more information email bcory@uvic.ca
  
• Vancouver, Tuesday, October 11, 7:30 – 9:00 PM at Gordon Neighbourhood House, 1019 Broughton at Nelson. For more information, call The Centre at (604) 684-5307. This event is sponsored by Xtra West, Little Sister’s and PSAC

The evening will feature a chance to meet the author & get a signed copy as well as an opportunity to discuss this important issue & find out how you can take a stand against homophobic violence.

For more information visit pinkblood.ca 

September 21st

Canadian Labour Congress Solidarity and Pride Conference - November

The third Canadian Labour Congress Solidarity and Pride Conference will take place this November in Québec City. The theme of the Conference is “Beyond Legal Equality to Social Equality”.

Workers Out! Making The Difference 2006

The first World Outgames 2006 will be held in Montreal, Québec, Canada from July 29-August 5, 2006. An integral part of the Outgames is an International Conference on the theme «The Right to be Different».

Read more about these conferences on the Pride page.

September 28 - 29th, 2005, International Symposium

"Food and Human Rights: Hunger, Health and Social Well-Being"

The UBC School of Social Work and Family Studies, in partnership with the UBC Social Work Alumni Association, cordially invite you to a thought provoking and informative public forum on the growth of hunger and food insecurity, internationally and in Canada, and what to do about it. Explore the tensions and complexities of the global food system and learn about the right to food as an effective tool for action at home and overseas.

Celebrate the role of food and nutrition in building healthy and sustainable communities and participate in drafting recommendations for achieving food security to be directed to international institutions, governments (all levels) and civil society.

More information is available below

SYMPOSIUM_POSTER.pdf

The Canadian Labour Congress has a vacancy in the position of National Director of the Anti-Racism and Human Rights Department at CLC Headquarters.

Download the poster below. Note that the application deadline is August 24th.

2005-08National_Director_Anti-Racism__Human_Rights_English.pdf

Taxi Drivers in the city of Toronto have come together to fight back against the anti-driver, anti-immigrant worker policies and laws that regulate their workplace and create an immigrant job ghetto.

The Toronto Coalition of Concerned Taxi Drivers is made up of independent drivers, Taxi Post, On-time Taxi, The Taxi Association of Toronto, and the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty. The Coalition's goal is to put an end to the harassment of taxi drivers including police targeting of cabs, random checks, and excessive ticketing.

Read more on the racially visible issues page.

July 20th - Montreal. The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) today released a report, Lives on Hold, exposing the situation of people trapped in limbo in Canada:  unable to return to their country because of insecurity, they are equally  unable to acquire permanent residence in Canada.  The CCR calls on the  Canadian Government to resolve the problem by granting permanent residence  to people from moratoria countries.

Read more here.

July 19th

Tyson Foods, the owner of hugely profitable Lakeside Packers, has decided to gamble the Alberta economy by forcing a strike in order to bust a fledging union at its Brooks, Alberta packing house where working conditions are dangerous and unsanitary, and where workers are asking for nothing more than the standard industry contract and safeguards in place at other Canadian packing houses.

More than 2,000 workers at the Lakeside Packers plant in Brooks could be on strike as early as Monday, and many worry that a racially charged atmosphere could turn the labour dispute violent.

About 60 per cent of the employees at the town's biggest employer are immigrants, many from Sudan. Some believe local workers would report for work in the event of a strike, while the new Canadians remain on the picket line.

Read more at cbc.ca , and support the strikers at terribletyson.com. Both links

At the International Lesbian and Gay Law Association conference at U of T the morning after Pride Day, Canadian self-satisfaction hangs as heavy in the air as the summer smog.

Lawyers, law profs and activists gathered here to share ideas about how to make the rest of the world more like Canada find themselves in what's become the globe's gayest country, one where the man in charge of the military is a somewhat queenie chap who greets men with a kiss on the lips as he arrives. National Defence Minister Bill Graham has the distinction of throwing a great Pride party, something that could not be said of his U.S. counterpart, Donald Rumsfeld.

But both the strengths and weaknesses of the global gay movement are on display here. On the one hand, advances on relationship recognition are being made throughout western Europe and North America (although most countries still prefer the term "civil union" to marriage). However, for those less privileged parts of the world, the gay movement lacks the vocabulary even to engage in a public debate, let alone the influence to bring about change.

Read more at nowtoronto.com

July 13th

Powell Street Festival Society and Video In present Spatial Poetics IV, an interdisciplinary event which celebrates collaboration, experimentation and innovation in the use of text, visuals, music, and performance by an eclectic line-up of artists.

The end result will be a diverse collection of new works exploring community, identity, boundaries, and the nature of performance by emerging and established Asian Canadian artists, building on the successes of previous Spatial Poetics events.

Read more on the upcoming events page.

If so, download these registration forms to become a member or an ally to the PSAC Aboriginal, Inuit and Metis Network.

• NAIM member registration form
• NAIM ally registration form

The forms are also available to be filled out on-line at the national website

Here are some pictures of PSAC's "55 foot" Tepee that was erected at the 26th Assembly of First Nations AGM and Trade Show in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories from July 4-7, 2005.  We are happy to report that the giant Tepee received national press and media coverage, and is being touted as the largest ever erected in the North. 

Click for the photo gallery. Here is some more information about the NAIM network.

On Wednesday, July 6, the equal marriage bill (C-38) passed second reading in the Senate by a vote of 43 to 12. You can see how the senators voted on the CEM website.

The bill will go to committee hearings next week and back to the Senate on July 18. The final vote is expected that week and, in the likely event that it passes, the Governor General will then sign the bill into law, to take effect immediately.

The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee is set to begin hearings on Monday. The first witness will be Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, followed by Canadians for Equal Marriage and Egale. Hearings are expected to continue through much of next week.

Multi Union Pride will have a float in this year's Pride Parade in Vancouver, July 31st. There will also be fabulous giveaways! The theme to this year's Pride celebration is "No Turning Back".

The Committee will have members with signs at the Denman St. entrance of the West End Community Centre from about 11:30 directing interested labour folks to the MUP float site. Even if you don't plan to march - it's always a fun place to visit prior to the parade.

Click for a listing of other Pride events in the Lower Mainland.

On behalf of Steve Houston, Regional Council Coordinator for GLBT members, please find the minutes of the most recent Multi-Union Pride (MUP) committee meeting below.

MUP-July_5.pdf

At the corner of Grand and Kilpatrick Avenues in Chicago, the Reverend Joseph Kyles addressed a rally last May. “Tomorrow morning,” he said, “we need you to pray for the City Council to vote for Wal-Mart in this community.” That Rev. Kyles would be preaching the virtues of a corporate retail behemoth was no fluke. It was part of a strategy by Wal-Mart executives to cultivate support among black city council members and church leaders for building two stores in Chicago—each about the size of ten football fields. It is also part of a broader strategy to bring Wal-Mart to the ‘hood—touting not just lower prices but also racial equity.

Read more at arc.org.

YELLOWKNIFE - The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has erected a huge tepee at the Assembly of First Nations’ (AFN) Trade Show located at the Sir John Franklin High School, as part of an exhibit during the 26th AFN general assembly being held from July 5 to 7, 2005.

The tepee may be the largest ever erected in the N.W.T. or the North. The poles for the tepee weigh a total of 6,000 pounds, were cut in southern Alberta and shipped to Yellowknife for the event. Dene artist Archie Beaulieu is painting the tepee’s canvas, which will be completed at the Dene General Assembly in Rae in August 2005.

Read more here.

Benefit Evening
"In defense of a people fighting repression"
6 July 2005, 7:00 to 10:30 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm)
Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street, Vancouver
$20.00 per person

Visit the upcoming events page for more information.

Thanks to Steve Houston, GLBT Representative on the BC Regional Council, for links to lists of pride events taking place this summer.

Surrey Pride takes place July 8-10. Visit gaysurrey.com for a list of events in Surrey.

Pride week in Vancouver kicks off July 23rd. The theme of this years parade, July 31st, is PRIDE 2005 – No Turning Back. Visit vanpride.bc.ca for a calendar of events taking place all summer long.

Visit xtra.ca for a calendar of Pride events taking place in other provinces and in the US.

Saturday June 18th: An evening of visual provocation and sensual awakening, Philippine Independence Re-Veiled courses through the veins of the Filipino people's struggle for national freedom and genuine independence. A fusion of theatre and avant-garde fashion, Philippine Independence Re-Veiled is a fashion show for the masses as it chronicles the stories of the ordinary Filipino people. From the Philippines' epic triumph over the Spanish Empire during the 1896 Revolution to the present era of globalization, Philippine Independence Re-Veiled pays homage to the unwept heroes of the Philippine revolution and to the labouring, displaced Filipino migrant workers around the world. Visit the upcoming events page for more details.

July 13th

For black feminist action research project on: AFRICAN CANADIAN WOMEN, INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONS AND SOCIAL CHANGE
 
10 hours per week, Sep 2005-May 2006. $20-25 per hour.

The project aims both to document the history of black women's activism in Canada, and to create a dialogue between young women and senior activists with the aim of sharing effective strategies for social change. The project is focused on Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and Vancouver. Read more here.

Community Outreach Officer - 10-week summer position

Application Deadline: Tuesday, June 14 2005 (5:00 p.m. EST)

In support of its mandate and its advocacy work in the area of justice and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual trans-identified people, and their families, across Canada, Egale Canada is searching for a skilled and dedicated individual to promote and distribute its LGBT guide "Outlaws and Inlaws - your guide to LGBT rights, same-sex relationships and Canadian Law" to diverse LGBT and minority communities across Canada.

Read more here.

Equal marriage legislation is potentially within weeks of being past, so opponents have ratcheted up their campaign and are flooding MP's offices. Please go to www.equalmarriage.ca right away and send a message to all MPs.

Opponents of the bill are actually claiming that the legislation is being fast-tracked. Two years after the first legal same-sex marriages and Parliament still hasn't dealt with the issue. And it's been a busy two years -- cross-Canada hearings of the Justice Committee, eight court decisions, one Supreme Court reference, one election campaign, three House of Commons votes, six months of debate on the Hill. It may be a lot of things, but fast isn't one of them.

Read more here.

June 7th

Gim Foon Wong has a dream of riding his motorcycle across Canada.

He will try to fulfil his dream and bring a message to all Canadians about Canada's infamous Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Acts and the devastation they caused Chinese Canadian families over generations.

"I want to do this ride for the Chinese railway workers and all those Chinese pioneers. I want to do this ride for my good friend Charlie Quan, who is a 98-year old Head Tax payer living in Vancouver. I want to do this ride for my family. This is a pensioner's call on the on the government to quit dragging its feet. This ride is about respect for the generations of Chinese Canadians who build this country. It's time for the government to apologize and redress the Head Tax and Exclusion Act."

Read more here. There is also an article at globeandmail.com

Thanks to Steve Houston, BC Regional Council GLBT Coordinator, for these Pride Celebration listings. More will be posted soon.

The deadline for submitting resolutions to the Unity Conference is Monday, May 30th.

Visit the national website for more information on the Unity Conference. 

May 24th

OTTAWA - The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) applauds the Supreme Court’s decision today that human rights supersede Parliamentary privilege.

The Court issued their decision in a case involving a former chauffeur to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Satnam Vaid, who filed two human rights complaints in 1997 after his employment was terminated.  The House of Commons subsequently claimed Parliamentary privilege and challenged the application of the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) to Parliamentary employees.

“The Supreme Court decision reinforces two previous Court decisions in this case that ruled that Parliamentary privilege is not unfettered,” says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel. 

“This judgement now establishes that the House of Commons and the Speaker of the House are not shielded from the application of human rights law.”

Read more at the national website.

May 19th : via email

Yesterday, supporters of marriage equality became the first non-government witnesses before a 13-member committee of MPs studying the government's equal marriage legislation.

Alex Munter, National Coordinator of Canadians for Equal Marriage, and Laurie Arron, Director of Advocacy of Egale, argued that the bill is a win-win for Canadians, ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from civil marriage while simultaneously ensuring religious freedom.

Read more on the GLBT issues page.

On May 23rd, 1914, the Komagata Maru, a Japanese ship carrying three hundred and seventy-six Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus arrived in the port of Vancouver. As subjects of the Crown, they believed they had the legal right to settle in one of the Empire’s territories. Instead, the passengers lived like prisoners for two months, threatened by famine and disease as the ship was refused permission to land.

The DOXA Documentary Film & Video Festival is pleased to announce that it will open its 2005 Festival with Ali Kazimi's groundbreaking new film about the Komagata Maru, Continuous Journey. Join us at the Vogue Theatre on May 24th, 2005, as we welcome Mr. Kazimi and other distinguished guests to this local premiere.

Visit doxafestival.ca for more information

(OTTAWA, ON) Ending discrimination against gays and lesbians cleared another major hurdle today when Parliament voted in favour of the second reading of Bill C-38. Equal marriage supporters praised Parliament for approving in principle the Bill to bring federal law into compliance with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The vote marks the first time in history that Parliament has affirmatively voted in favour of equal marriage and officially means that Parliament approves the Bill in principle.

Read the news release at equal-marriage.ca

Next come hearings by a legislative committee, a third-reading vote in Parliament and then first, second and third readings in the Senate.

Equality opponents have had a deliberate strategy of using their deep pockets to try to drag out the bill as long as possible. They hope the minority Liberal government will fall in the Commons before the legislation is passed.

Canada is at an historic moment. With your help, Canada could soon become a leader in human rights, internationally by legalising same sex marriage across the country. Visit equal-marriage.ca to take action  to ensure the equal marriage bill passes.

Roots, Rhymes and Resistance 7 - Ipagpatuloy: Living the Storm, An evening of cultural expression by Filipino youth in Canada.

Saturday, May 21, 2005 at the Western Front Artist Run Centre, 303 east 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Doors open 6:30PM, Show starts at 7PM

Tickets are now available for $10, kids under 7 get in free.
hurry! space is limited. For more information, or to order tickets contact: 604-215-1103 or ukpc_fcya@kalayaancentre.net

"Case studies of anti-imperialist struggle: Towards a just & lasting peace"

Wed., May 25, 6:30PM. ILPS forum on State Terror: the history of the American Indian Movement and the wrongful conviction of John Graham. Presentation by International Indigenous Youth Conference Secretariat. At Kalayaan Centre, 451 Powell St., Vancouver.

Mon., June 27, 6:30PM. ILPS forum on indigenous peoples' right to self-determination and resistance to colonization, case studies of mining in Turtle Island (BC) & Philippines. Speakers: Cordillera People's Alliance, BCCHRP, International Indigenous Youth Conference Secretariat.

More information at 604-215-1103. All are welcome!

posted May 4th : via email

In 2003, the Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition partnered with Fondation Emergence and made every first Wednesday in June the  "National Day Against Homophobia".  This year, it falls on June 1st and the theme is "The Family".

Read more on the GLBT issues page.

The deadline date to submit applications to be considered a delegate to the upcoming 2005 PSAC Unity Conference in Halifax, September 23-25, 2005 is next Wednesday, May 11th, 2005.

The application form can be filled out on line on the national website . We ask that you inform your PSAC Racially Visible and Aboriginal, Inuit and Metis brothers and sisters who are PSAC members in good standing to ensure that they are made aware of this conference.

EVENT: Celebrating the Contributions of Aboriginal and Workers of Colour in BC

DATE: Saturday, May 7, 2005 TIME: 1-4pm

PLACE: CAW Hall, 326 12th Street, New Westminister

There will be a panel discussion with speakers from various communities talking about the contributions aboriginal and workers from different ethnic communities have made in BC. Current issues facing aboriginal and workers of colour will also be highlighted as well as the necessity of participating in the upcoming provincial election.

There will be dance and musical performances and refreshments will be provided. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please RSVP to Mable Elmore at the BCFed.

Thank you to Steve Houston, BC Regional GLBT Coordinator for sharing this email from Bill Siksay, MP for Burnaby-Douglas.

The NDP has a long-standing commitment to full equality for gay and lesbian people, and this includes the right to civil marriage.  We strongly support this legislation.

Read more on the GLBT issues page.

The House of Commons has just voted 164 to 132 defeating Stephen Harper's proposal to exclude lesbian and gay people from protection of Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The close vote took place after months of strong, well-financed pressure on MPs to oppose equality for same-sex couples from the religious right.

But that doesn't mean it's over! As reported in the Hill Times, The Conservative Party is beginning a filibuster to avoid the second reading vote that ordinarily would have happened right after tonight’s defeat of the Harper amendment. Second-reading means the bill is approved in principle and sent off to a legislative committee for detailed review.

Read more and find out how to take action at www.equal-marriage.ca

MAY17.ca is a website dedicated to providing citizens in British Columbia with information on the broken promises, negative policies, and regressive legislation of Gordon Campbell and his BC Liberal government.

On the site, you will find information about healthcare, education, broken promises and dollars and sense in several different languages.

They encourage everyone to vote for change and register to vote in the May 17 provincial election. Visit MAY17.ca here

The first vote on the government's Equal Marriage Bill (Bill C-38) has been set for Tuesday, April 12. It's a vote on Stephen Harper's motion to kill the bill. WE MUST WIN THIS VOTE OR THE MARRIAGE BILL WILL DIE!

We have a small lead in the vote count, but there are dangers. Will all supportive MPs show up to vote? Will the four supportive Conservative MPs dare to vote against their leader's motion?

Read more on the Pride page.

"Building the Future: Taking our place in the Union and the world"

Conference Objectives

The objectives of the 2005 National Unity Conference are:

• To enhance our understanding and analysis of the challenges facing Racially Visible and Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis communities in our fight against racism;

• To empower, politicize and mobilize to take action to ensure our Union, workplaces and communities are inclusive and racism free; and

• To strengthen our formal and informal networks, communication and to build solidarity between and among Racially Visible and Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis members at all levels within our Union.

Delegates

All PSAC Racially Visible and Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis members in good standing are eligible to apply to attend this conference.

There will be a minimum of 80 delegates selected to attend the Conference.  Delegates will be selected through a process involving their respective Regions and Components.

Dates

APPLICATION deadline May 11th, 2005 

RESOLUTIONS submission deadline: May 30th, 2005
 
ELECTION NOMINATIONS deadline (for those not attending the conference): September 12th, 2005

CONFERENCE DATES: September 23rd – 25th, 2005
 
CONFERENCE LOCATION:  Westin Nova Scotian Hotel, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Download the full call out letter and application package below.

Callout.pdf

First crucial vote could happen within weeks

Debate will resume in the House of Commons next week on Bill C-38 - the equal marriage legislation - but this week the discussion shifts to Montreal where Conservatives from across Canada are meeting for their new party's first policy convention.!

With over 110 MPs left to debate the bill in the Commons, the bill could reach second-reading vote as early as the first week of April. This is a crucial step: if a bill is defeated at second reading, it dies. If it passes second reading, it will be studied by a legislative committee and then returned to the House of Commons for the final vote (third reading). It must then go through the same steps again in the Senate. 

Canadians for Equal Marriage Needs Your Help! Read more on the Pride page.

From Jennie Chu, EO Rep. for Agriculture Component.

I want to thank all of you for being a part of our Head Tax struggle and I believed PSAC played a vital role in moving the issue along. I am attaching a file ( below) with PSAC chronology of its involvement. Appendix D: The new federal budget of $25 million dollars (once signed might be good) is meant to commemorate of the Chinese Head Tax and the Internment of Ukrainian-Canadians during the First World War.

Read Jennie's report below.

Kudo_EO_committee_Revised.pdf

Langara Student Union Building - Monday March 21- Wednesday March 23 All day with Speakers from No One is Illegal Monday March 21 @ 2:30 pm

Hosted by Langara Students Union

The Canadian Refugee Camp has been constructed by ten immigrant and refugee organizations in Vancouver involved in historical and present struggle against racist policies.

Visit the upcoming events page for more information.

March 9th

Canadians from all walks of life support justice and fairness.

Excluding same-sex couples from civil marriage denies them full citizenship. It suggests they are not equally deserving of protection, respect and consideration.

Excluding same-sex couples from civil marriage violates Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Charter symbolizes Canadian values like equality, fairness and mutual respect. It protects all Canadians. It protects both religious freedom and freedom from discrimination.

Look who supports the inclusion of same-sex couples in civil marriage (.pdf below).

Hill_Times_ad_Mar_3_05_final.pdf

posted March 9th

Here is a letter Patty Ducharme sent to Anne McLellan regarding the Sisters in Spirit fund. Please let Ms. McLellan know (email link) you support the fund as well.

The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister 
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Anne McLellan:

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we are writing to urge you to immediately facilitate the establishment a $10 million fund for research and education related to violence against Aboriginal women.  As Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, we are certain that you can appreciate the importance of affirming the value of the lives of the some 500 Aboriginal women who have been disappeared/murdered over the past three decades.

For almost a year now, the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) has led the campaign to establish the Sisters in Spirit Fund. While there has been some indication of support from the federal government and Parliamentarians, nonetheless, funds have not been forthcoming despite promises to the contrary. The systemic killing of indigenous women in Canada, particularly those who are young and impoverished, has been well-documented by a recent Amnesty International report. With this knowledge, it is now the responsibility of the federal government to honour their commitment to Aboriginal women’s organizations who are working to end the violence through the Sisters in Spirit campaign.

As allied women’s/human rights organizations, we are respectfully asking that you, in your capacity as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, assume the federal government’s responsibilities towards the Native Women’s Association of Canada with respect to the requested $10 million so that they can:

• conduct research to document the number of and circumstances around Aboriginal women missing or killed in Canada;
• do public education work regarding the underlying causes of violence against Aboriginal women;
• offer educational workshops on missing women and their families; and
• establish a hotline and registry to report disappearances and register statistics

We look forward to your quick action regarding this matter so the security and safety of all Aboriginal women in Canada can be realized.

Sincerely,

Patty Ducharme , Regional Executive Vice-President, BC, Public Service Alliance of Canada

Cc: The Right Hon. Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada
The Hon. Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance
The Hon. Andy Scott, Minister of Northern and Indian Affairs
The Hon. Liza Frulla, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

February 16th

Gentlemen:

We are writing to you as gay and lesbian Members of the House of Commons as we begin debate on Bill C-38, The Civil Marriage Act.  We know that you will appreciate that this bill is very important to us and to our lesbian and gay sisters and brothers.

Read more here.

I attended the demonstration on January 23 with sisters Joanne Ursino and Kay Sinclair as well as brothers Luc Guevremont and Fred Michano (Parks - Ontario Region). I am proud to make note of the presence of our members at this very important demonstration of solidarity. My apologies to anyone that I may have missed at the demonstration.

-Steve Houston, LGBT Representative/BC PSAC Regional Council

Read an excerpt from a subsequent CTV report here.

Report on PSAC’s 5th National ACCESS Conference, 2005 – My First! - By Jennie Chu

Brrrr….it’s 25 below in Montreal but there are 128 excluding staff and facilitators at this conference. Access brings together members from the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) group across Canada to network, learn, advocate, bond and elect two new PSAC reps for the Equal Opportunities Committee.

Read more below (.pdf)

Report_on_PSAC_Access_2005Revised.pdf

The Government of Canada has tabled the Civil Marriage Act to extend legal capacity to marry for civil purposes to same-sex couples while respecting religious freedom.

Read more here.

Read an open letter to The Hon. Stephen Harper from Law Professors regarding same-sex marriage.

January 26th : via email

Dear Friend:
 
You know me to be a person who has fought long and hard to build bridges and coalitions between communities. Stephen Harper and the Conservatives have recently introduced an advertising campaign against same-sex marriage which is targeted at the multi-racial and religious community.  I don't know about you, but I found it to be divisive; panders to prejudice; seeks to pit one minority community against another and reinforces unfounded and in fact racist stereotypes that visible minorities are intolerant.

Read the rest of Mary Woo Sims' email here.

January 20th : via email

CANADIANS FOR EQUAL MARRIAGE ACTION ALERT January 2005

Opponents of equality for lesbian and gay people are making a desperate last-ditch attempt to stop equality. When Parliament resumes in a few weeks, they know they face their last chance to roll back the clock on equal marriage. They know the vote in Parliament is closer than many people think.

We need your help. We have to match the determined, well-funded efforts of those who want to deny lesbian and gay relationships equal treatment under the law. Our opponents are getting desperate -- they know they must stop the impending legislation if they can move on to their next goal -- a comprehensive same-sex marriage ban in Canada. Go to http://www.equal-marriage.ca/donate.php to help us match their efforts.

Read more on the GLBT issues page.

January 18th : via email

Dear friend(s) of Egale,

This year, Egale Canada's Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Board of Directors elections will take place at 5 pm, on Saturday, March 19, 2005, at the GLHS building, 203-220 3rd Ave S, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

The Egale Board of Directors has appointed myself as the Chair of the elections committee, with Lisa Lachance as the Board Liaison for the elections committee, and Susan Gapka as the Board Liaison for the nominations committee. This year, the election scrutineers are Geoff Robbins and Lyle Borden.

Read more on the GLBT issues page.

January 17th

Jacquie Hepner and Harry Monk have both shared their presentations made at the meeting: electronic copies are available on the Human Rights Committee minutes page.

87% of Canada’s Population Now Has Equal Marriage

St. John’s, December 21, 2004. Today Chief Justice Derek Green of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador ordered that the definition of marriage in the province include same-sex couples. The case was brought by two same-sex couples: Jacqueline Pottle and Noelle Krista French, and Lisa Ellen Zigler and Theresa Marie Walsh.

Read more on the GLBT issues page.

Aaron Webster murder trial verdicts: one convicted; one acquitted; both free

It didn't take long. Soon after the decision in the Aaron Webster trial came down Dec 10 finding Danny Rao not guilty, and allowing Ryan Cran to go home for Christmas prior to sentencing, you, dear readers, were phoning Little Sister's asking if there was a protest you could come to.

DEMONSTRATION.
Sun, Jan 23, 1 pm.
Courthouse Steps.
Corner of Nelson & Hornby Sts.

Read more here

On Thursday, December 9, at 9:45 a.m. eastern time, the Supreme Court of Canada will release its opinion in the Marriage Reference. The release comes much sooner than expected.

Justice Minister Irwin Cotler is on record as saying the federal government will introduce it's much-awaited equal marriage legislation without delay.

But given that the decision will come just before the holiday break, and Parliament doesn't resume until January 31, there will be lots of time for opponents of equality to make their voices heard before this happens.

Read more on the GLBT issues page.

Friends,

December 10 marks International Human Rights Day. Two years ago on International Human Rights Day, Mohamed Harkat, an Algerian refugee, was arrested in Ottawa, and has been in jail, without charge or bail on secret "evidence" neither he nor his lawyer is allowed to see, ever since. He is one of five Muslim men held under Canada's secret trial process. Mohammad Mahjoub (held since June, 2000), Mahmoud Jaballah (August, 2001), Hassan Almrei (solitary confinement since October, 2001), and Adil Charkaoui (May 2003) all face deportation to torture.

Read more on the racially visible issues page.

Next Friday, November 26, Parliament will be asked to vote on a Private  Members Bill (Bill C-268) which would define marriage as "the lawful union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others." We need your help.

Please contact your MP today and ask them to vote against it!!

Read more on the GLBT issues page.

We are pleased to inform you that there is now space for observers on a “first come - first serve”  basis at the fifth PSAC National Access Conference, which has been rescheduled for January 20, 2005 to January 23, 2005 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

The objectives of the 2005 PSAC National Access Conference are:

• Ensuring the rights of members with disabilities resonate in the Union and in the Workplace;
• Linking decreased rights for People with Disabilities to globalization;
• Developing and implementing Union based strategies to ensure integration of the rights of members with disabilities in the Local, the Workplace and the Government; and
• Mobilizing Members with Disabilities to activism within the Union, their Workplace and their Communities.

We encourage you to personally inform your members with disabilities in order to ensure they are made aware of this conference. Bulletin boards may not always be accessible and additional outreach will be critical for persons with disabilities.

Download the .pdf document below for more details.

ACCESS-CallOut_for_Observers_-_Nov17.pdf

Head Tax Documentary Premieres this Sunday, Nov. 21st, 2004 at Firehall Arts Centre, 280 E. Cordova St., Vancouver BC

Reference:http://www.onf.ca/intheshadowofgoldmountain/

Due to limited seating for this Saltwater City premiere of a significant film by writer/director/narrator Karen Cho about Chinese head tax and exclusion redress. She will be in attendance. Many of you know Saltwater City is the Lo Wah Kiu (old overseas Chinese) name for Vancouver. The redress campaign to now has been predominantly a Lo Wah Kiu story.

Read more on the Racially Visible issues page.

Victoria -- Attorney General Geoff Plant made a number of startling admissions during debate on the BC Liberal government's "Safe Streets" legislation, NDP Opposition MLA Jenny Kwan said today.

Kwan said that for the first time, Plant admitted that asking for a quarter to make a phone call, or change to take a bus is an offence under the legislation, which passed third reading this morning. The Attorney General also said that vendors selling newspapers to motorists on the roadway at BC Ferries' terminals are also now breaking the new law.

Read more on the GLBT issues page.

October 7th

Dear friends:

A historic 600 person banquet is set to take place between First People, Chinese Canadians, and many others on October 23 in Vancouver's Chinatown. It is historic in the sense that a similar one at this scale had not been known for last ¾ century. With endorsements coming in steady, a kick-off press conference attended by major media, and many positive responses from the First Nation and Chinese communities, the banquet promises to be a significant event for BC. 

Read more on the Aboriginal issues page.

Banquet_Poster2.pdf

October 7th

OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada begins three days of hearings Wednesday into the federal government's proposed legislation enshrining the right of same-sex couples to wed.

The nine judges will be asked whether Ottawa's plan to legally recognize same-sex marriage conforms with the Charter of Rights.
Read more on the GLBT issues page.

29866_SC_SS_Marriage_e.doc

September 30th

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Solidarity and Pride Working Group began three days of meetings last night, by inviting Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered union and community activists and allies to a public forum at the Delta Hotel. Almost 100 people attended the forum to discuss issues that concern the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Community in the country and more specifically, in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Participants to the forum expressed frustration with the failure of the province’s government to move forward on same sex marriage; preferring instead to wait until the federal government passes legislation which forces them to comply.

Read more on the GLBT issues page.

A judge has thrown out a drug charge against a young black motorist, finding that two Toronto police officers used racial profiling when they stopped him and later "fabricated" evidence.

"Conduct of this kind by the police is reprehensible. It cannot be condoned or excused," Madam Justice Anne Molloy of the Superior Court of Justice said in her written decision, released yesterday, in the case of Kevin Khan, 29.

"Mr. Khan was targeted for this stop because of racial profiling: because he was a black man with an expensive car."

Read more on the Racially Visible issues page.

TORONTO - Two Toronto police officers are on trial for violently assaulting Peter Owusu-Ansah, a 25-year-old black youth who is deaf.

Officers Moosvi and Taylor were charged after Peter reported that on September 13, 2002, after playing basketball at the Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf, he was stopped by police. Peter reported that he was taken behind Northern Secondary School, handcuffed, and beaten. The trial began in January, 2004. Closing arguments by Crown and Defense have now been held over until September 1, 2004. A Coalition of Community Groups focused on race, disability, and deaf issues will bring their membership to the trial to support Peter and raise awareness of the police discrimination against people of colour and people with disabilities.

Read more on the Racially Visible issues page.