Issue 55 – 25, June 15, 2025
June is a Very Special Month
June is called National Indigenous History Month. During this month, we learn about the different cultures, languages, and traditions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. It’s a time to celebrate their history and recognize how strong and resilient they are. It’s also a chance to listen to Indigenous voices and learn from their stories.
June 21: This day is called National Indigenous Peoples Day.
National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day to celebrate Indigenous cultures through music, dance, stories, and art. It’s a day to honor their traditions and recognize their important role in Canada.
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year when the sun shines the most. For many Indigenous cultures, this day is special because it symbolizes growth, life, and giving thanks to nature and the land.
Important Convention of Congress of Union Retirees of Canada
Resolutions presented to the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada (CURC) convention delegates this week underscores the critical importance of safeguarding and advancing the economic, social, healthcare, and human rights of union retirees across the country. These issues are fundamental not only to ensuring a dignified retirement for union retirees and seniors but also to strengthening Canada's social fabric and democratic principles. Here's why these issues are especially vital to the work and mission of the CURC.
Ensuring Fair and Adequate Retirement Income
Resolutions related to Old Age Security (OAS), Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) highlight the need for a secure, equitable, and predictable income for all union retirees and seniors. Addressing disparities between age groups, increasing benefits in response to rising costs, and protecting pension funds from political or corporate interference are essential to prevent senior poverty and uphold their dignity.
Protecting Pension Rights and Benefits
The emphasis on safeguarding defined benefit pensions, opposing provincial withdrawals from CPP, and advocating for pension protections reflects the importance of retirement security. Ensuring that retirees' accumulated contributions are protected from corporate bankruptcy or risky financial schemes is fundamental for stability and confidence in retirement systems.
Strengthening Healthcare and Support Services
Resolutions advocating for the preservation and expansion of public healthcare, pharmacare, mental health services, long-term care standards, and home care emphasize the importance of accessible, high-quality healthcare as a cornerstone of aging well. Protecting these services from privatization and ensuring they meet the needs of union retirees and seniors are vital for their health and well-being.
Combating Poverty and Ensuring Housing Security
Addressing the high costs of housing, supporting housing-first policies, and opposing punitive measures against homelessness reflect the necessity of stable, affordable housing for seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes. These measures prevent homelessness and foster social inclusion.
Promoting Human Rights and Social Justice
Calls for an International UN convention on the rights of older persons and opposition to abuse, exploitation, and discrimination reinforce the fundamental human rights of union retirees and seniors. Recognizing seniors as rights-bearing individuals ensures they are protected from systemic vulnerabilities.
Advocating for Fair Work and Economic Justice Resolutions on protecting workers’ rights, opposing privatization, and ensuring ethical investment of pension funds demonstrate the interconnectedness of economic justice and senior well-being. Fair labor practices and responsible investment strategies secure the financial future of retirees.
Responding to Global and Domestic Crises
The inclusion of issues like climate change (CPP investment in carbon neutrality), international conflicts (arms shipments to Israel), and AI regulation reflects the recognition that seniors are impacted by, and have a stake in, broader societal issues. Advocacy extends beyond immediate retirement concerns to global justice and sustainability.
Upholding Democratic Principles and Public Services
Resolutions supporting public postal services, opposing privatization, and advocating for transparent governance align with the broader goal of maintaining strong public institutions that serve all citizens, especially vulnerable populations like seniors.
These issues are important because they directly impact the quality of life, dignity, and rights of union retirees. They also safeguard the social safety nets that allow union retirees and seniors to retire with dignity and participate fully in society. For CURC, advocating on these fronts is not only about securing individual retirements but also about defending the collective rights of older Canadians and ensuring a just, inclusive future for all generations.
Be Concerned About Ontario’s Bill 5
June is National Indigenous History Month, a time to learn about and celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada. It’s also a time to reflect on the struggles Indigenous communities have faced, including the harmful policies of the past, such as residential schools and broken treaties. But recent events, like the Ontario Conservative government of Doug Ford’s passing of Bill 5, show that Indigenous rights are still being overlooked and disrespected.
Bill 5, called the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, is a law that allows the government to create special zones called “economic zones.” In these zones, companies can ignore certain laws, rules, and regulations that protect the environment and Indigenous rights and workers' rights. For example, the government plans to make the Ring of Fire, a mineral-rich area in northern Ontario, a special zone. This could mean that companies might pollute the land and water without strict rules, especially affecting Indigenous communities who live there and depend on the land.
Indigenous peoples have a special relationship with their land. Their cultures, languages, and ways of life are connected to the land they have lived on for thousands of years. When laws like Bill 5 allow companies to bypass environmental protections and ignore treaties, it threatens their land, water, and way of life. Many Indigenous leaders have protested because they say the government did not properly consult them before passing this law. This is a violation of treaty agreements, which say the government should work with Indigenous peoples when making decisions that affect their lands.
Treaties are agreements between Indigenous communities and the government that recognize their rights to land and resources. When the government passes laws like Bill 5 without consulting Indigenous peoples, it breaks these treaties. This shows a lack of respect for Indigenous sovereignty and ongoing rights. It also sets a dangerous precedent where economic development is prioritized over the environment and Indigenous communities’ well-being.
This issue is not only about Indigenous peoples. It impacts all Canadians because it threatens our environment, health, and future. If companies can pollute and destroy land without proper rules, everyone’s safety is at risk. Ignoring these rights can lead to more conflicts, protests, and loss of trust between Indigenous communities and the government.
As retirees and Canadians, we should stand up and support Indigenous communities protesting laws like Bill 5. We can learn more about Indigenous history and rights during June and beyond. It’s important to remember that respecting Indigenous rights is part of respecting our shared history and making our country fair and inclusive.
Bill 5 threatens Indigenous rights, the environment, and everyone’s future. The Congress of Union Retirees should be concerned because it shows how laws can be made without respecting Indigenous communities. We all need to listen, learn, and stand together to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples and ensure a healthier, fairer Canada for future generations.
Read more - Anishinabek Nation chief says he briefed OPP on protests against fast-track bills