Tens of Thousands in 50+ Canadian Cities Will Join Global Day of Action to Demand Justice for Workers, Indigenous Peoples, Migrants, and the Climate.

For immediate release. Le français suit.

Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 11 September 2025:

As Parliament resumes and Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to introduce his fall budget, tens of thousands will take to the streets from coast to coast next Saturday, September 20, demanding the government pick a side: injustice, violence, and climate destruction—or a just and safe future for all of us.

With coordinated actions in over 50 cities, this mobilization will be an unprecedented and historic coming together of 200+ climate justice, migrant justice, Indigenous justice, labour rights, anti-war, and Palestine solidarity groups, to reject the Carney agenda and to demand that the Canadian government prioritize our communities over billionaires. 

Communities will hold rallies, strikes, marches, and gatherings, organized by labour unions, Indigenous movements, migrant justice organizations, climate activists, seniors, and peace advocates. Thousands are expected in the following major cities:

• Vancouver – VPL Plaza, 2pm PT 
• Edmonton – City Hall, 2pm MT
• Toronto – Yonge and Dundas, 2pm ET
• Ottawa – PMO Office, 11am ET

The full list of cities participating is included at the end of this advisory. 

The mobilizations are part of a global week of action, with people taking to the streets in 96 countries, while world leaders convene at the United Nations General Assembly. 

September 20 is more than just one day of action. Community groups and social movements across the country are uniting in this process to learn from each other, and build lasting alliances that will organize together long after the day of action.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

• Photo and video opportunities: Massive demonstrations, from marches to murals will be happening in cities across the country. Visuals will include large banners, murals, colourful contingents. There will be music, chanting, and drumming. Photos and videos for media use will be uploaded here.
• Interviews available: Spokespeople are available for interview, including Indigenous leaders, immigration experts, union representatives, youth and senior climate activists, and anti-war activists.

WHY NOW

These mobilizations come days after Parliament returned to session, and ahead of the promised fall “austerity” budget. While people are struggling to put food on the table and pay rent, and communities are facing heatwaves and climate collapse, Carney has:

• Rammed through Bill C-5 to fast-track destructive projects on Indigenous land without consent and appointed former Trans Mountain CEO to lead Major Projects Office
• Promised 15% spending cuts over three years, affecting up to 57,000 public sector workers while announcing over $9 billion in new military funding
• Proposed Bill C-2 to cancel immigration permits en masse, restrict asylum claims, and expand warrantless surveillance on all Canadians
• Slashed taxes for the wealthy while continuing subsidies for large corporations
• Declared Air Canada strike illegal within 24 hours 
• Capitulated to Trump by shelving Digital Services Tax and reportedly considering joining his "Golden Dome" missile defense program
• Continued to support Israel's genocide in Gaza by selling weapons to the IDF

KEY DEMANDS

1. Put people over corporate profit. Fund our families and communities. 
2. Refuse ongoing colonialism. Uphold Indigenous Sovereignty. 
3. Stop blaming migrants. Demand full immigration status for all now! 
4. End the war machine. Stand for justice and peace. 
5. End the era of fossil fuels. Protect Mother Earth. 

See detailed demands here.

QUOTES

Karen Cocq, Spokesperson, Migrant Rights Network:

“Politicians have been blaming migrants for the affordability and housing crisis so that we turn on each other instead of turning on them and their corporate backers. The immigration cuts this scapegoating has justified in the last two years have devastated migrant families, and Carney has shown he too wants to keep blaming migrants for problems he has no intention of fixing. That’s why thousands of migrants across the country will take to the streets to reject Carney’s anti-migrant, pro-war and austerity agenda by uniting with climate activists, indigenous communities, working class people, anti-war and pro-Palestine movements to draw the line against division. This is just the beginning - we will not stop until we have won immigration status for all and justice and dignity for everyone.” 

Willo Prince, Campaign Manager, Indigenous Climate Action:

“In just over 100 days in office, ‘Carbon Cowboy’ Mark Carney has ridden his PONIs (projects of ‘national interest’) all across this country - at the expense of Indigenous communities, lands and waters, and any hope for a just future and green planet for our children to inherit. After another summer of devastating wildfires and years of fossil-fuelled disasters (*not natural), Carney has proven not only his competitive spirit in winning this economic race to the bottom, but also that so-called Canada can be bought - by oil and gas officials, Israel, and oligarchs that continually place profit over people. The co-optation of words like “reconciliation” and “sustainability” to create a false sense of progress from colonial states like Canada is not lost upon us. 

On September 20th, we will Draw the Line - enough is enough. Biodiversity over billionaires.”

Lauren Latour, Member Services & Movement-Building Manager, Climate Action Network Canada:

“In the face of converging crises, it can feel as though we’re on a collision course, with an alternate path seemingly out of reach. But September 20th, the work leading up to it, and the work to follow is about demonstrating to those in power, and to ourselves that this pathway is not an inevitability, and it’s not our only choice.

When we say we’re drawing a line, it’s a line between cruelty and care, fascism and freedom, genocide and peace; between a liveable planet for all, and a future designed to cater to the one percent. The future doesn’t have to be a frightening prospect built on individuality and insularity — together, we can choose to build a future where there is enough for all. The people simply have to step into our power, and draw the line.”

Amara Possian, Canada Team Lead, 350.org:

“Mark Carney is running a climate shell game – promising clean energy while fast-tracking pipelines and LNG exports that lock us into decades of fossil fuel expansion. That’s dangerous denial, not leadership. On September 20th, we’re taking to the streets because the climate crisis demands we choose: fast-track renewable energy and make polluters pay, or keep letting oil executives write climate policy while our communities burn.”

Rachel Small, Canada Lead, World Beyond War:

“In just his first few months in office Carney has already promised to quadruple Canada’s military budget and join an escalating global arms race, exactly what Trump demanded. We’re coming together from coast to coast to reject Carney’s vision of austerity, war, and a foreign policy for Canada based on ever-increasing militarization and warmongering in lockstep with the US. We demand an arms embargo on Israel and an end to Canada’s role propping up a genocide. We demand investment in food and homes, not bombs, in welfare and healthcare, not warfare.” 

Wyanne Sandler, National Network Director, For Our Kids:

“We can’t stand by while powerful corporations put profits ahead of our kids’ health and wellbeing and while governments fail to hold them to account. After another summer of wildfires and drought, we see that corporate greed continues to drive climate damage, war, cuts to public services and higher costs, putting our kids and future generations at risk.  So on September 20th, we’re coming together in solidarity across experiences and across movements to draw a line to protect the people and the places we love. ”

Seth Klein, Team Lead, Climate Emergency Unit:

“It has been disorienting watching our new prime minister greenlight new oil and gas projects while the planet burns. We've gone from “elbows up” to welcoming massive investment in fossil fuel projects from some of Trump’s biggest corporate bagmen. The Carney government abandoned the consumer carbon price but has replaced it with nothing, and is now walking back other promised climate policies. But the solutions to the climate crisis – to mass electrifying our economy – are ready and waiting to be deployed at speed and scale. That’s why we’re calling for a just transition to a 100% renewable energy economy that puts workers, Indigenous peoples, and frontline communities first. We need this government to invest in a Youth Climate Corps and a publicly-owned East-West electricity grid, and do its fair share globally by cancelling unjust debt and funding climate solutions in the Global South with grants, not loans.” 

Keith Stewart, Senior Energy Strategist, Greenpeace Canada:

“We will be in the streets to remind Mark Carney that he promised to be Elbows Up against Trump-style climate denial, scapegoating of migrants and billionaire broligarchs. Canadians want a safe, fair and green future – it’s time for our elected representatives to pick a side.” 

Kim Fry, Coordinator, Music Declares Emergency Canada:

“More than 300 musicians used their platforms in April  to stop Pierre Poilievre from becoming Prime Minister and many supported Prime Minister Mark Carney because of his commitment to investing in the arts, increasing funding to the CBC and promising leadership on the Climate Emergency.  Carney positioned himself as a progressive alternative to Poilievre but is now cutting $25 billion in public services (including arts funding and cuts to the CBC), increasing military spending, and holding private meetings with oil and gas executives. Despite decades of purported climate leadership, climate action is not on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s agenda. In fact, every major climate policy of the last decade is now up for debate while he courts major fossil fuel companies. We are demanding this government put people in Canada before corporate interests.”

Emma Jackson, National Coordinator, Palestine Solidarity Network:

“For over a year, the Liberal government has claimed that Canada has stopped arming Israel while Canadian military exports continue to fuel this genocide. Enough is enough – we need our government to stop the lies, loopholes, and exceptions, and enact a full and complete arms embargo on Israel. On September 20th, the Palestine solidarity movement will unite with labour unions and social movements across the country to march for peace, justice, and a liveable future—  in Palestine, and around the world.”

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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, Palestine Solidarity Network, and Music Declares Emergency, and endorsed by over 200 organizations representing millions of Canadians.

Current list of communities participating in Draw the Line actions across Canada, at the time of this release: 

ALBERTA: Calgary, Edmonton;  BRITISH COLUMBIA: Cache Creek, Campbell River, Castlegar, Cortes Island, Courtenay, Denman Island, Duncan, Kamloops, Kelowna, Kimberley, Lillooet, Masset / Gaw Tlagee, Nanaimo, Nelson, Penticton, Prince George, Qathet (Powell River), Saltspring Island, Sechelt, Shuswap, Smithers, Vancouver, Vernon, Victoria; MANITOBA: Winnipeg; NEW BRUNSWICK: Fredericton, Saint John; NEWFOUNDLAND: St.John's; NOVA SCOTIA: Antigonish, Bridgewater, Halifax, Sydney, Truro; ONTARIO: Guelph, Haldimand/Norfolk, Halton Hills, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Niagara, Oakville, Ottawa, Owen Sound, Peterborough, South Bruce Peninsula, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Windsor; PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: Charlottetown; QUEBEC: Montreal, Saguenay; SASKATCHEWAN: Saskatoon; YUKON: Whitehorse. See www.drawtheline.world/canada for times and exact locations.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Gur Tsabar & Alicia Parker

[email protected]

Social media: #DrawTheLine 

Dans plus de 50 villes partout au pays, des dizaines de milliers de personnes se participeront à cette journée mondiale d’action pour réclamer justice pour les travailleureuses, les communautés autochtones, les personnes migrantes et le climat. 

Pour publication immédiate.

Territoires non cédés de la Nation algonquine anishinaabe [OTTAWA], 11  septembre 2025 :

Alors que le Parlement reprend ses travaux et que le premier ministre Mark Carney s’apprête à présenter son premier budget fédéral, des dizaines de milliers de personnes descendront dans les rues, d’un océan à l’autre, le samedi 20 septembre pour exiger que le gouvernement choisisse son camp: l’injustice, la violence et la destruction du climat, ou un avenir juste et sécuritaire pour tout le monde. 

Avec des actions coordonnées dans plus de 50 villes, cette mobilisation pancanadienne représente une coalition historique et sans précédent de plus de 200 groupes et organisations des mouvements pour la justice climatique, la justice pour les personnes migrantes, la justice des travailleureuses, les droits des peuples autochtones, les mouvements antiguerre, et en solidarité avec la Palestine, qui s’unissent afin de rejeter l'agenda de Carney et d’exiger que le gouvernement priorise nos communautés plutôt que les milliardaires.

Plusieurs communautés organiseront des ralliements, des manifestations, des marches et des rassemblements, coordonnés par des groupes syndicaux, des mouvements autochtones, des organisations pour la défense des droits des personnes migrantes, des personnes engagées pour le climat, pour la paix, et des personnes âgées. Des milliers de personnes sont attendues dans les grandes villes suivantes : 

• Vancouver – VPL Plaza, 14 h PT 
• Edmonton – City Hall, 14 h MT
• Toronto – Yonge and Dundas, 14 h ET
• Ottawa – Bureau du premier ministre, 11 h ET

La liste complète des villes participantes se trouve à la fin de cet avis aux médias.

Ces mobilisations s’inscrivent dans le cadre d’une semaine d’action mondiale. Les citoyennes descendront dans les rues de 96 pays alors que les dirigeants mondiaux se réunissent à l’Assemblée générale des Nations unies.

Le 20 septembre est plus qu’une simple journée d’action. Partout au pays, des communautés, des groupes de la société civile et des mouvements sociaux s’unissent pour apprendre les uns des autres et bâtir des alliances durables qui perdureront bien au-delà de cette journée d’action.

OPPORTUNITÉS POUR LES MÉDIAS

• Opportunités de photos et de vidéos : Des mobilisations massives, allant de manifestations à la création de murales, auront lieu dans des villes de partout au pays. Les actions seront accompagnées de grandes bannières, de murales, d’accessoires colorés, etc. Il y aura de la musique, des chants et des tambours. 

Les photos et vidéos destinées aux médias seront téléchargées dans ce dossier.

• Entrevues disponibles : Des porte-paroles sont disponibles pour des entrevues, notamment des leaders autochtones, des experts en immigration, des représentantes syndicaux, des jeunes et des personnes âgées engagées pour le climat, ainsi que des militantes pour la paix.  

POURQUOI MAINTENANT

Ces mobilisations ont lieu quelques jours après la reprise des travaux parlementaires et avant la présentation du nouveau budget « d’austérité » promis pour l’automne. Alors que la plupart d’entre nous n’arrivent pas à joindre les deux bouts, et que plusieurs communautés sont confrontées à des vagues de chaleurs intenses et aux conséquences de l’effondrement climatique, Mark Carney a :

• Fait adopté sous bâillon, à toute vitesse, la loi C-5 afin d’accélérer la mise en oeuvre de projets destructeurs sur les terres et territoires autochtones, sans leur consentement, et a nommé l’ancienne PDG de Trans Mountain Corporation à la tête du Bureau des grands projets
• Promis des coupes budgétaires de 15 % sur trois ans, touchant jusqu’à 57 000 travailleureuses du secteur public, tout en annonçant plus de 9 milliards de dollars en financement militaire additionnel
• Proposé le projet de loi C-2 visant à annuler en masse les permis d’immigration, à restreindre les demandes d’asile et à étendre la surveillance des Canadiennes sans besoin d’un mandat 
• Réduit le taux d’imposition des riches tout en maintenant les subventions aux grandes entreprises 
• Déclaré illégale la grève de Air Canada en moins de 24 heures
• Capitulé devant Trump en suspendant la taxe sur les services numériques et en envisageant, selon certaines informations, de rejoindre son programme de défense antimissile « Golden Dome »
• Soutenu le génocide israélien à Gaza en maintenant la vente d’armes canadiennes à l’armée israélienne 

NOS REVENDICATIONS

1. Faisons passer les gens avant les profits des entreprises. Finançons nos familles et nos communautés.  
2. Dénonçons le colonialisme rampant. Défendons la souveraineté des peuples autochtones. 
3. Cessons de jeter la faute sur les migrantes. Réclamons un statut d’immigrant pour toutes les personnes migrantes. 
4. Mettons fin à la machine de guerre. Défendons la paix et la justice. 
5. Mettons fin à l’ère des énergies fossiles. Défendons notre Terre mère. 

Consultez les revendications en détail.

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Les mobilisations Fixons les limites (Draw the Line) au Canada sont organisées par Seniors for Climate, Migrant Rights Network, Indigenous Climate Action, Sacred Earth Solar, Réseau action climat Canada (CAN-Rac), 350.org, World Beyond War Canada, For Our Kids, Climate Reality Project Canada, Climate Emergency Unit, Greenpeace Canada, and Music Declares Emergency, et sont soutenues par plus de 200 organisations représentant des millions de Canadiennes. 

Voici la liste actuelle des communautés participant aux mobilisations Fixons les limites (Draw the Line) partout au Canada au moment de la publication de ce communiqué : 

ALBERTA : Calgary, Edmonton;  COLOMBIE-BRITANNIQUE : Cache Creek, Campbell River, Castlegar, Cortes Island, Courtenay, Île Denman, Duncan, Kamloops, Kelowna, Kimberley, Lillooet, Masset / Gaw Tlagee, Nanaimo, Nelson, Penticton, Prince George, Qathet (Powell River), Saltspring Island, Sechelt, Shuswap, Smithers, Vancouver, Vernon, Victoria; MANITOBA : Winnipeg; NOUVEAU-BRUNSWICK : Fredericton, Saint John; TERRE-NEUVE : St. John's; NOUVELLE ÉCOSSE : Antigonish, Bridgewater, Halifax, Sydney, Truro; ONTARIO : Guelph, Haldimand/Norfolk, Halton Hills, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Niagara, Oakville, Ottawa, Owen Sound, Peterborough, South Bruce Peninsula, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Windsor; ÎLE-DU-PRINCE-ÉDOUARD : Charlottetown; QUÉBEC : Montréal, Saguenay; SASKATCHEWAN : Saskatoon; YUKON : Whitehorse. Visitez drawtheline.world/canada pour connaître les heures et les lieux exactes des différentes actions.

CONTACT MÉDIA

Gur Tsabar & Alicia Parker

[email protected] 

If you want to ask something that isn't covered in the Frequently Asked Questions, please email us at [email protected].