Human Rights

Click here for a full list of equity days that PSAC commemorates each year

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Rides 'n' Rods 2010

(July 25, 2010)

The Calgary Human Rights Committee volunteered at the annual Rides ‘n’ Rods on July 25, 2010 with Members from RCMP, Immigration Cda, Service Cda and CBSA, plus 10 more volunteers and a couple of spouses, too.

 

The volunteers were privy to showing off the new HandiBus to the public, as well as collecting donations (each bus costs $90,000).

 

Event organizers had a 10-year-old, retired HandiBus for children to paint with water colours. Some of the volunteers painted union sayings and logos on the upper part of the windows and hood of the bus. Helping the kids was the best part of the event. One of the members went around passing out posters and directing the parents and children to the bus. 

 

Volunteers assisted with the castle air bounce where kids got to play, parents gave donations. They also handed out Calgary HandiBus literature and Twizzlers (one of the events sponsors).

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Sisters in Spirit

We have been in contact with the Native Womens Association of Canada (NWAC) and the New Democratic Party Aboriginal Affairs Critic Jean Crowder. There is some new concern that the Conservative government will not fulfill their promise to fund the Sisters in Spirit project. (See the Native Women's Association of Canada website for more information on the Sisters in Spirit project)

Below you will find the petition to the House of Commons calling on Parliament to ensure NWAC-AFAC receives sufficient funding to continue on its work of protecting Aboriginal women. The petition is accompanied by a letter from NWAC outlining the important "Sisters in Spirit" campaign, which fights for justice for missing and murdered women across Canada.

Please circulate to your contacts and return as many signed petitions to your PSAC Regional Office by Wednesday, September 8, 2010.  The petitions will be forwarded to PSAC HQ, who will be gathering the petitions from across the country. (Note: The House of Commons resumes September 20, 2010)

  

           Sisters in Spirit Petition (PDF)                  Sisters in Spirit Petition (RTF)

                 NWAC Letter (PDF)                                   NWAC Letter (RTF)

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PSAC Pride 2010

PSAC is a proud ally in the struggle for the respect of the human rights of gay and lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Canada.

Last March, PSAC held its third National Pride Conference in Toronto, focusing on the theme “Equality: are we there yet?” At this conference, we took stock of the huge progress that has been achieved since homosexuality was decriminalized in 1969, as well as the many challenges that still lie ahead.

Eradicating homophobia and transphobia in the workplace, bargaining and lobbying for the full protection of our trans members’ human rights and ensuring that public services meet the needs of GLBT elders are some of the priority issues that were identified at the PSAC Pride Conference.

At this conference, PSAC activists and leadership renewed their commitment to ensure that all GLBT members of our union are respected and protected in the workplace and in society. This is particularly important in a context where the Harper government has been attacking our hard won victories.

In recent months, the federal government has refused all funding to Toronto Pride, removed any reference to GLBT rights from the new citizenship guide, closed down three regional offices of the Canadian Human Rights Commission and canceled all funding to the Court Challenges Program.

This summer, PSAC activists around the country will participate in Pride events that are being organized across the country. Please join in and show your solidarity and pride!

Regina, SK (June 19, 2010)

Winnipeg, MB (June 6, 2010)

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National Aboriginal Day

(June 21, 2010)

On June 21, from coast to coast, Canada will celebrate National Aboriginal Day -- a day recognizing and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada. It’s a time for us all to reflect on the struggle to improve social, economic and political conditions that Aboriginal peoples face, but also a chance for us to re-affirm our Union’s commitment to solidarity and support for our Aboriginal Brothers and Sisters.

Please see the letter below from Sister Robyn Benson regarding National Aboriginal Day:

                                   *PDF                                    *RTF

 

National Aboriginal Day Events

           For more information, visit the Indian and Northern Affairs Website

Manitoba:

Title of Event: National Aboriginal Day
Day/Time of Event: Mon. June 21, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Locations/Venues of Event: Robinson Street, Indian & Métis Friendship Centre
City and Province of Event: Winnipeg, MB
Spokesperson: Clayton Sandy
Contact: 204-945-8319
Web page: The Indian and Metis Friendship Centre of Winnipeg

Saskatchewan:

Title of Event: National Aboriginal Days
Day/Time of Event: June 18, 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

                            June 19, 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

                            June 20, 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Locations/Venues of Event: Melfort Exhibition Grounds
City and Province of Event: Melfort, SK
Spokesperson: Debbie Edin/Joanne Yakowec
Contact: 306-752-4950 or nad2010@sasktel.net
Web page: Canadian Metis Heritage Corp. Marguerite Riel Centre

Title of Event: National Aboriginal Day
Day/Time of Event: June 21
Locations/Venues of Event: 21 Bradbrooke Drive
City and Province of Event: Yorkton, SK
Spokesperson: Terri-Anne Lepowick
Contact: 306-782-3644 (ext. 265)

Title of Event: Family and Community Wellness
Day/Time of Event: June 21
Locations/Venues of Event: Cree Nations Treatment Haven
City and Province of Event: Ahtahkakoop First Nations, SK
Spokesperson: Freda Ahenakew
Contact: 306-468-2072
Web page: Cree Nations Treatment Haven

Alberta:

Title of Event: NAD Official Commemoration
Day/Time of Event: June 21, 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. (main stage: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
Locations/Venues of Event: Canada Place, Main Atrium
City and Province of Event: Edmonton, Alberta
Spokesperson: Heather Poitras
Contact: 780-495-6728 or Heather.Poitras@inac.gc.ca

Title of Event: Sharing our Stories
Day/Time of Event: June 27
Locations/Venues of Event: Lion's Park (Sir Winston Churchill Avenue & Tache Street)
City and Province of Event: St Albert, Alberta
Spokesperson: Gwen Crouse
Contact: 780-717-6783 or gwencrouse@hotmail.com

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Walkers for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
(June 16 - 19, 2010)

The commission has undertaken to organize seven National Events across Canada. The first will be held in Winnipeg on June 16-19, 2010.  The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada is gathering information on the history of the residential schools, the impacts they have had on communities, and statement gathering.  All of the information will be put a Residential School Survivor Resource centre.  The commission is also tasked with involving the general public and educating them on the issue of residential schools.

A group of walkers left Cochrane, Ontario on May 9, 2010, and are scheduled to arrive in Winnipeg, Manitoba for June 15, 2010.  If you have a relative who has passed on, you offer a ribbon  to the Walkers, which they will carry with them during their walk. The ribbon should be about a metre long.

You can also walk with them for a day or two. Let’s all remember our experiences in the residential schools, and let us honour those who went before us, and those who cannot be there.

Support our Walkers, Thank you

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2010 National Access Conference
(June 4 - 6, 2010)

The objectives of the 2010 PSAC National Access Conference were:

• To strategize on ways to promote more inclusive work environments that ensure barriers are removed for people with disabilities
  

• To empower and engage persons with disabilities to take action and move disabilities rights forward, including through lobbying
  

• To provide tools that educate and advocate for disability rights in our communities, our workplaces and our union
  

• To better connect and to include persons with disabilities in our communities, our workplaces and our union
  

• To defend quality public services for persons with disabilities

For more information on the PSAC 2010 National Access Conference, click here.

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Aboriginal Awareness Week
(May 25 - 28, 2010)

This website provides information on how to organize activities to mark Aboriginal Awareness Week (AAW), as well as other interesting information.

Aboriginal Awareness Week, first introduced in 1992, is held on the four days that follow the Victoria Day long weekend. It was designed to increase awareness of Aboriginal peoples within the Canadian mosaic and the public service. It has evolved into a week to honour the many Aboriginal cultures in Canada, including the Métis, the Inuit and First Nations.

Please note, that various federal government departments and agencies will be planning and hosting their own events throughout Canada. We suggest that you contact departments and agencies directly for information on their respective events.

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International Day Against Homophobia

(May 17, 2010)

The PSAC has a history of fighting discrimination to ensure that members of the LGBT communities are treated with dignity, justice and respect. This fight is often led by the LGBT activists who struggle courageously through their unions and community groups to raise awareness and fight for justice for LGBT issues everywhere.

Please see the letter below from Sister Robyn Benson regarding the International Day Against Homophobia:

                                   *PDF                                    *RTF

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2010 National Pride Conference

(March 26 - 28, 2010)

More than 40 years after Canadian government decriminalized homosexuality, there is still so much to fight for and action is needed now more than ever.

That was the message that participants in PSAC’s National Pride Conference took home, after spending three days debating important issues, participating in workshops and passing resolutions that will help guide the union’s work on behalf of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans workers.

From March 26-28, more than 120 union members had the chance to hear from queer activists from Canada, Quebec and around the world. The conference focused on the question of whether or not LGBT Canadians have achieved equality, and if not, what they should do to fight for change. It was co-chaired by Kay Sinclair and Maria Fitzpatrick, Regional Executive Vice-Presidents for British Columbia and the National Capital Region.

For a full report on the PSAC 2010 National Pride Conference, click here.

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International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

(March 21, 2010)

March 21st marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and I believe this is an important opportunity for PSAC members to celebrate our diversity and strengthen our commitment to eliminate racism and intolerance in our communities.

Please see the letter below from Sister Robyn Benson regarding the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination:

                                   *PDF                                    *RTF

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Prairie Region Council Equity Committee members are part

of the PRC Human Rights, Women & Youth Committee

 

Prairie Region Human Rights Committee (HRC) Contacts