Tens of Thousands to Flood the Streets Tomorrow to Demand a Budget for People and Planet — Not Billionaires

WHO: Draw the Line Coalition

MEDIA CONTACT: Gur Tsabar and Alicia Parker, [email protected]

Toronto, ON - Prime Minister Mark Carney has set the date for his first federal budget — and with so much at stake, communities across the country are making their demands clear. Tomorrow, tens of thousands in more than 65 communities will rise up to demand Prime Minister Mark Carney and the federal government pick a side: injustice, violence, and climate destruction — or a just and safe future for all of us. Carney, are you listening?

This is not business as usual. The upcoming budget will decide who this country serves: billionaires and war profiteers, or the people who actually make Canada run — we cannot afford to stay silent.

The Draw the Line campaign’s five demands are crystal clear — and this weekend, people across Canada will put them on blast:

Put People Over Corporate Profit. Fund Our Families and Communities.

"This budget must centre people and their communities, not billionaires and shareholder returns,” said Nathan Prier, President of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE). “Carney must choose: arbitrary, deep cuts that threaten health and dental care, reconciliation, employment insurance, and childcare, or real investment in the things that let families live with dignity in a historic economic crisis.”

Refuse Colonialism. Uphold Indigenous Sovereignty.

“Budgets can be either weapons or tools for justice,” said Janelle Lapointe, Senior Advisor, David Suzuki Foundation. “Our government has a responsibility to Indigenous Nations, not corporations. Carney must fund Indigenous housing, languages, land-based economies, and climate solutions — or be remembered as just another Prime Minister who upheld Canada’s colonial project.”

Stop Blaming Migrants. Deliver Status for All.

“Migrants grow our food, care for our elders, and keep the lights on, but are denied basic rights and scapegoated for the housing and affordability crisis,” said Syed Hussan of Migrant Rights Network. “This budget must ensure decent jobs and a dignified life for everyone that must include permanent resident status for all migrants. Anything less is division and distraction.”

End the War Machine. Stand for Justice and Peace.

“Carney has been sustaining Israel's genocide in Gaza while cutting spending from community services at home,” said Dr. Kavita Algu of World Beyond War. “This budget must defund war and policing and cancel plans to quadruple Canada's military spending. No more war crimes and senseless suffering in our name.”

End the Era of Fossil Fuels. Protect Mother Earth.

“Carney cannot continue to fast-track fossil fuel projects and subsidize oil and gas companies while Canada burns,” said Amara Possian, Canada Team Lead at 350.org. “This budget must stop fossil fuel expansion, make polluters pay, and fully fund a just transition at home and abroad.”

Prime Minister Carney, your budget will reveal which side you are on. This weekend, communities across Canada are showing what they stand for. Are you listening?

Tomorrow, tens of thousands of people across Canada will mobilize across 65+ cities to draw the line: we will not allow corporate profit and government inaction to destroy our future. Full details at drawtheline.world/dtl-canada-s11.

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The Draw the Line mobilizations in Canada are organized by Seniors for Climate, Migrant Rights Network, Indigenous Climate Action, Sacred Earth Solar, Climate Action Network Canada (CAN-Rac), 350.org, World Beyond War Canada, For Our Kids, Climate Reality Project Canada, Climate Emergency Unit, Greenpeace Canada, Council of Canadians, Music Declares Emergency, and Palestine Solidarity Network, and endorsed by over 300 organizations representing millions of Canadians. From rallies to strikes, marches to gatherings, this September 20th, communities will mobilize across the country and demand that Prime Minister Carney and the Canadian government pick a side: injustice, violence, and climate destruction.

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