On June 8, 2015 the Working Group to Oppose Bill C-51 organized its 16th consecutive weekly protest against Bill C-51 at the 22nd Street Skytrain Station in New Westminster. Once again, many people were very appreciative and stopped on their way home from work to voice their opposition to Bill C-51. As public opposition has grown, the Conservative government has struggled to push Bill C-51 through the final stages of parliamentary approval. In this time, the weekly pickets have grown into an important campaign which has spread across Metro Vancouver.
The pickets have an important public education component, as the Working Group sets up with banners, placards and an information table at different busy transit hubs. Often they become more like outdoor forums as people stop to listen to speakers, ask questions or voice their support for the campaign.
An exciting step forward came on May 16th, when the Working Group were able to hold 5 simultaneous actions at busy skytrain stations in Surrey, New Westminster, Burnaby and Vancouver. Over 2100 educational brochures were distributed in the 5 locations. The Working Group also began collecting letters to send to the Senate demanding that they vote against Bill C-51. So far over 1000 letters have been signed, sealed and delivered as part of this initiative.
The Working Group also participated on May 20, the third National Day of Action Against Bill C-51, joining with others from across Metro Vancouver, as well as across Canada, to remind the government of Canada that our opposition to Bill C-51 continues.
The campaign has so far been to stations in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Surrey and Richmond. The next actions will be on Monday June 15 with another picket at the Broadway and Commercial Skytrain Station in Vancouver, starting at 4pm. At 7pm that evening, the Working Group is also organizing a Public Forum to discuss the new developments with Bill C-51 and the movement to oppose it at Joe’s Cafe, 1150 Commercial Drive (at Napier Street) in Vancouver. All are welcome to attend!
For more information about the Working Group to Stop Bill C-51, e-mail:
stoppolicestatebillc51@gmail.com or check out the very active Twitter account @StopBillC51 and www.firethistime.net
Back to Article Listing
