About Us

Founded in 1985, the Council of Canadians is Canada’s largest citizens’ organization, with members and chapters across the country. We work to protect Canadian independence and natural environment by promoting progressive policies on fair trade, clean water, energy security, public health care, and other issues of social, economic and environmental concern to Canadians.

We develop creative [...]

Drive-thrus not ‘viable’ for strong communities, says alderman

Last Updated: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 | 10:54 AM MT Comments3Recommend1
CBC News
A recent move by Calgary city council to omit drive-thrus from one redevelopment plan should happen more often, says one alderman.
Last week, city council left out drive-thrus when it approved a new area structure plan — which dictates [...]

Driven to Action – Stopping Sprawl in Your Community

Sprawl consumes large quantities of land, segregates houses from shops and workplaces, depends on cars, and has little regard for the natural environment. In some parts of
Canada sprawl is the largest driver of greenhouse gas emissions.
Of course, most Canadians do not personally build the houses, streets, schools, parks or water lines that [...]

A Message from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health

healthy-weights-healthy-lives-112404

An epidemic of overweight and obesity is threatening Ontario’s health. I am alarmed to report that, in 2003, almost one out of every two adults in Ontario was overweight or obese. Between, 1981 and 1996, the number of obese children in Canada between the ages of seven and 13 tripled. This [...]

The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction

17 June 2008
London City Council
Subject: Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
I would like to provide the following comments in the context of the Drive-thru debate in the City of London.  Unfortunately, I am unable to be there to make these comments in person
I have been a climate scientist for over 30 years [...]

Tim Hortons – Clean Up Your Act – NOT Your Image!

green•wash
(grēn’wŏsh’, -wôsh’) Used to describe the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.

I was hoping there may have been even a slight essence of corporate responsibility that would rise up within the fast food industry. [...]

The Staggering Numbers

Worldwide Statistics: Eight thousand people a day die from air pollution. There are 3 million annual deaths, worldwide. In Canada toxic emissions from transportation continue to rise drastically. Vehicles are the primary sources of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulates and benzene, a carcinogen. In the past 15 years alone, there has been a fourfold increase [...]

Seeing the Big Picture on Drive-Thrus and the Need to Start Somewhere

Thank you to author of article: Tony Weis: Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario. Tony is also author of: The Global Economy: The Battle for the Future of Farming
In the increasingly heated debate over whether or not the city of London should establish a moratorium on new drive-thrus, an advocate for [...]

This Joint Call To Action Is Issued By The Following Organizations

This Joint Call To Action Is Issued By The Following Organizations
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Campbell River, B.C. CoC Chapter
CAPE – Canadian Physicians for the Environment
Clean Air for Children (England)
Coquitlam Greendrinks British Columbia
Deeper Shade of Green – British Columbia
Fanshawe Social Justice Club
Frank de Jong – Leader of Green Party Ontario [...]