On July 17th, communities from coast to coast took action to say:
CBC, It is Time to Change the Debate
On July 17th, thousands of people in dozens of communities, from Atlantic Canada to the Yukon, turned out to call for the CBC to organize a federal leaders’ climate debate during the October election.
We forced CBC to make a statement but they still haven’t committed to hosting a climate debate.
The fight isn’t over. You can sign the petition to continue to push the CBC to pick a side.
Sign the petition
Tweet at the CBC
See what’s next
On July 30th, an open letter echoing this demand was signed by some of the most renowned artists, Indigenous leaders, authors, and public figures in the country. The letter was signed by Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and the entire Executive Committee of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs; Chair of Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Senator Murray Sinclair; author of acclaimed novel Life of Pi, Yann Martel; my personal friend and respected author Naomi Klein; Hayden King of the Yellowhead Institute; award-winning actor, Tantoo Cardinal; Executive Director of Indigenous Climate Action, Eriel Deranger; and many more.
See the full letter and list of endorsers
CBC, host a leaders' debate on climate
The CBC's journalistic standards and practices state that it’s their responsibility, in the event of a national emergency, to provide important and timely information to the people. On June 19th, Canada declared a state of climate emergency and since then, we've seen wildfires, drought, and extreme heat ravage communities across the country.
The best way for the CBC to respond to this emergency is to host a federal leaders' debate on climate change and a made-in-Canada Green New Deal.
As the CBC’s Editor in Chief and General Manager, Jennifer McGuire has the power to make this debate happen. Sign the petition to demand that the CBC's senior leadership step up and make sure we have the information we need to elect a government that will deal with the climate crisis.
Dear Jennifer McGuire and CBC Management,
The federal election is around the corner. The CBC needs to host a leaders’ debate on climate change and the only real solution to this crisis: a Green New Deal for Canada.
The federal election is around the corner. The CBC needs to host a leaders’ debate on climate change and the only real solution to this crisis: a Green New Deal for Canada.
The Stories:
Communities used bold visuals to symbolically bring climate impacts to the doorstep of the CBC. Here are some of their stories:
- Masked in Edmonton: In Edmonton, hundreds turned out in a thunderstorm, many wearing dust masks similar to those thousands of people had to don during periods of extreme wildfire smoke.
Photo Credit: Abdul Malik
- Ottawa spells it out with sand bags: In Ottawa, a massive crowd stacked sandbags in front of the CBC studio, spelling out “Climate Emergency.”Just weeks ago, sandbags like these were sold out everywhere in the Ottawa area because people were filling them in masses to protect their homes from 1 in 100 year floods hitting the region.
Photo Credit: Nhattan Nguyen
- Notherners speak up about heatwaves: In Yellowknife and Whitehorse, Northerners called attention to their climate frontlines – wildfires that cut off communities earlier this summer and an unseasonal March heatwave that closed ice roads early. They made such a strong case for a leaders’ debate that even the reporters at CBC North seemed to agree with them.
- People Rising like the water: In Sackville, NB, young organizers stood at the intersection of Bridge and Main streets where floodwaters are expected to rise to shoulder-height within decades. And in Kingston, people waded into Lake Ontario where water levels have been alarmingly high recently.
This is approximately the height of our 1 in 10 year flood level in Sackville. That means there is a 10% chance that flood waters will reach this height in a given year, which will only rise with climate change. This is our future without bold climate action. #ChangeTheDebate pic.twitter.com/txTfNpUe14
— Andrew Linton (@AndrewLinton18) July 17, 2019
- Windsor was dedicated: A woman in Windsor was out for over 12 hours, with people coming throughout the day, outside their local CBC studio calling for a leaders’ debate!
From the CBC headquarters in Toronto, where hundreds of people gathered to Vancouver, Winnipeg, Kingston, Halifax, and all points in between, we turned out en mass in dozens of rallies calling for the CBC to host a federal leaders’ climate debate.
What did CBC say and what’s next?
We turned out in such numbers that the CBC already responded to our call for a climate debate. They told us that they agree climate change is an important issue, but that it’s up to the Leaders’ Debates Commission to make a climate debate happen. Ironically, the Leaders’ Debates Commission told us they thought climate was an important issue, but it would be up to the broadcasters to make a climate debate happen. In our eyes, that means that together, the CBC and the Debates Commission could make this happen, they just need to keep getting pushed.
Here’s how we’re going to make sure this climate debate happens:
- First, during the actions yesterday, we launched a petition asking Jennifer McGuire – the CBC’s Editor in Chief – to make a climate debate happen. This will add to the 10,000+ names that have already called on the Leaders’ Debates Commission to hold a Green New Deal. Click here to add your name.
- Second, we’ll continue to pressure the CBC with creative, hard hitting actions online and off. More on that soon.
- Third, we’re going to keep organizing and building the movement for a made-in-Canada Green New Deal. That’s going to include more actions escalating our fight to win this climate debate. But, that’s just the beginning. Can you donate to help Our Time organize an alliance of voters behind champions of a Green New Deal?