The Peterborough - Kawarthas Chapter of The Council of Canadians
About Us
Purpose & Principles
View the 2005/2006 Annual Report.
Principles
The Council of Canadians is an independent national citizens’ organization committed to safeguarding our social programs, promoting economic justice, renewing our democracy, strengthening Canadian sovereignty, promoting alternatives to economic globalization and corporate-style free trade, and preserving our environment.
Through its strong national leadership, individual members, and its local action groups (Chapters), The Council of Canadians defends the right of Canadians and citizens of all countries to assert their democratic rights and to demand that our governments make policy in the interests of citizens and communities, not big business.
The Council of Canadians is committed to a campaign style that encourages constituency development, builds grassroots citizen groups for action, and encompasses both centralized and decentralized forms of planning and participation.
The Council is creating a citizens’ movement through its national campaigns, its networks of local action groups (Chapters), and its alliances with like-minded organizations.
We promote a citizens’ agenda in opposition to corporate-driven economic globalization by identifying fundamental issues, providing information and analysis, and creating opportunities for political action.
As Canada’s largest public advocacy group, we are committed to effecting transformational social change, political and economic literacy, and developing a Citizens’ Agenda that will set the political and social agenda for the 21st Century.
We are non-partisan but work to compel all political parties and governments to address the key issues of democracy, sovereignty, and social justice.
We are committed to building an organization with the broadest possible diversity reflective of Canadian society and culture.
Purpose
We, as members of The Council of Canadians:
- give thoughtful consideration to the best interests of Canadians and their communities;
- ensure there are opportunities for everyone involved in the Council’s work to participate in defining the purpose, direction and culture of the Council;
- ensure clear and frequent communication and positive interaction among all those who are involved in our work;
- provide opportunities for people to develop their knowledge, skills and activism in order to further the Council’s goals;
- expect the primary commitment of each person involved in our work is to the goals of the Council;
- aim for open and honest discussion with relevant issues clearly on the table;
- allow for disagreement - one may not always get what one wants but all opinions will be heard;
- maintain commitment and engagement without insisting on control;
- hold ourselves and each-other accountable for positive performance and effective working relationships;
- maintain dignity, integrity and respect for one another;
- and maintain high standards of work
We are forming partnerships with and providing assistance to other organizations e.g. Kawartha Ploughshares, Kawartha World Issues Centre, Peterborough District Labour Council, Peterborough Coalition for Social Justice, Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty, Ontario Public Interest Group–Trent University, Development and Peace, Rice Lake Ratepayers Association, Stop the Cameras Coalition, the Peterborough Older Women's Network and the Peterborough Women's Events Committee
We take pride in our networking!
Send us your thoughts and vision. Where can we work better? Where have we not been successful? What additional or alternative community work should we undertake?
