VANCOUVER—CUPE BC joined thousands of Idle No More supporters across the country yesterday as the House of Commons reconvened to calls for justice for First Nations and all Canadians.
In Vancouver, protesters rallied outside the federal Aboriginal Affairs office downtown with speeches, a tobacco ceremony and dancing. The CUPE BC trailer was on hand to provide a sound system for the event.
CUPE BC general vice-president Paul Faoro brought greetings from the 85,000 CUPE members in BC. He pledged CUPE’s continued support and solidarity to Idle No More saying: “It is shameful that it took a hunger strike by Chef Spence and Canada-wide Idle No More protests for Indigenous peoples to bring attention to continued violations of dignity, treaties and human rights.”
“Union members stand in solidarity with first nations and aboriginal peoples across Canada in their long fought and continuing struggle for justice and fair dealings with the government of Canada. We join the call on Mr. Harper to do the right thing and engage in open, honest and ongoing discussions with the first peoples.”
Faoro called omnibus Bill C-45 “an act of bad faith – without negotiation or consultation” that “changes the rules, breaks treaties and opens the door to wholesale privatization.”
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