MEDIA RELEASE: Action to Abolish Bill C-37 & C-39 at the Manitoba Legislature
WINNIPEG (October 20, 2026) – Winnipeg’s climate activists, Indigenous communities, labour advocates, Mennonite voices and concerned citizens are coming together in coalition on October 24th @ 2pm at the Manitoba Legislature to “Fight Bill C-37 & C-39.”
The peaceful gathering is open to the public and will be focused on raising awareness about the consequences of this proposed legislation. Our goal is coalition building and to amplify the voices of impacted Indigenous communities such as the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. This action parallels related actions across the country including the National Day of Action to Stop Bill C-39 in Ottawa on October 26 led by Walking Forward Together, the National Week of Action by the Okiniwak First Nations Youth movement, and the conclusion of the Arctic Crossroads Tour by Climate Reality Canada.
The organizers’ key concerns include the impacts of these two bills on vital environmental protections, First Nations rights, and labour practices. We are concerned this proposed legislation is being fast-tracked through our parliamentary system in order to create a path for resource extraction projects, while at the same time, communities are reaping the consequences such projects have had on their water, land, natural ecosystems and livelihoods. Many of these communities are sovereign Indigenous Nations whose cultural practices and way of life rely on a consistent and healthy relationship to the land and water.
Bill C-37, the First Nations Clean Water Act, would actually remove assertion of drinking water as a human right, excluding source water and aquifers, and limit First Nation negotiation with other governments. It also limits the scope of First Nation impacts to reserve land, despite their close proximity to many extraction projects.
Bill C-39, the Build Canada Strong Act, sets fixed deadlines that limit the time available for consultation; in tension with this government’s own Bill C15 that requires the consistency of all legislation with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly the right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent to projects impacting Indigenous lands and livelihoods.
As well, Bill C-39 is a direct attack on labour power on the federal level which will bleed into all labour practices over time. Bill C-39 rewrites our entire Canada Labour Code including section 107, which labour leaders have called to repeal entirely, and weakens our labour strength. Weakened labour power results in employers not bargaining in good faith, creating lower quality jobs, unsafe workplaces and an inability for workers wages to keep up with inflation caused by corporate monopolies.
The gathering will include music by the FAF Marching Band. Anticipated MC and speakers include:
- MC – Rhea Resendes of Anakbayan Manitoba
- Leah Gazan, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Central
- Ramon Kataquapit, Okiniwak Youth-led Movement
- Roland Whiteway, Berens River First Nation
- Noah Schulz, MB Health Coalition
- MJ from Camp Morningstar
- Paul Refvik, Peace Alliance Winnipeg
- Anne Lindsey, NoNukesMB
- Taylor Galvin, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
- And more
As a coalition of concerned groups, we are calling on the Government of Canada to:
- Maintain environmental reviews and meaningful consultation with affected First Nations for each project.
- Uphold First Nations sovereignty, Treaty and inherent rights, laws, and decision-making authority.
- Ensure affected First Nations have a meaningful role in decisions about “Regions of National Interest.”
- Protect lands, waters, wildlife, medicines, and future generations.
The event is a collaboration by: Mennonite Coalition on Indigenous Solidarity, Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition, Seniors for Climate, Camp Morning Star Land Protectors, Environmental Conservation Laboratory (University of Manitoba), University of Manitoba Students for Cuba, Winnipeg Mutual Aid Society, Anakbayan Manitoba, Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery, Manitoba Pride Alliance, Peace Alliance Winnipeg, and others.
For more information contact:
Kerry Saner-Harvey, Phone: 431-334-8877, Email: kerrysanerharvey@mccmb.ca
or Jackson Unger, Phone: 204-771-4275, Email: jacknunger@gmail.com
One Response
thank you for this announcement,
Good luck,
Julie Finch, co-clerk Indigenous Affairs Committee, New York Yearly Meeting,
Society of Friends (Quakers)