In September, The Walrus published an enthusiastic profile of Prime Minister Mark Carney. Noting his “astonishing” 64 per cent approval rating after four months in office, author Mark Bourrie tacked on a caveat:
“There are outliers: Sikhs are angry about Carney’s invitation to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for the G7 summit held in Alberta in June; environmentalists are worried about Carney’s push for east–west trade infrastructure, which might include petroleum pipelines; Indigenous leaders fear that infrastructure might be bulldozed through their territory. But there are — as yet — no rail and highway blockades, which dominated Trudeau’s second term before COVID-19 came along, no marches on Ottawa, no anti-Carney rallies.”
That is about to change.
On Sept. 20, people around the world will hit the streets for a day of action called Draw The Line, mobilizing “for people, for peace, for the planet.”
In Canada, a rare alliance has formed to push back against Carney’s hard right turn.
“The Carney government is attacking migrants. It’s attacking Indigenous people. It’s attacking the climate. He’s building up his war machine,” says Syed Hussan. “And we need to use this as an opportunity to unite our different movements.”
Hussan is the spokesperson for the Migrant Rights Network, one of 14 Canadian partner organizations behind Draw The Line, which includes environmental groups like 350.org and Indigenous groups like Indigenous Climate Action. Over 250 Canadian organizations have endorsed the action.
In June, the Carney Liberals (with help from the Conservatives) passed Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act. It empowers the government to fast-track infrastructure and resource extraction projects “in the national interest” and to bypass environmental and impact assessments. The Globe and Mail leaked the list of 32 major projects that are being considered for fast-tracked approval, which includes a new oil pipeline from Alberta to the West Coast, as well as mining in Ontario’s Ring of Fire.
“They’re sending several signals that oil and gas profits come before our lives and our livelihoods. And this is after a summer of wildfires, toxic smoke, escalating climate impacts,” says Amara Possian, Canada team lead at 350.org and another organizer of the Draw The Line protest.
C-5 would also let corporations skirt Canada’s treaty and constitutional obligations to consult with Indigenous nations. In a submission on Bill C-5, Neskantaga First Nation, whose lands stand to be destroyed by mining in the Ring of Fire, wrote: “We say very clearly: there will be no ‘constitution-free zones’ in Canada, even in an ‘emergency.’ Further, there can be no zones carved out from within Treaty No. 9 in which Canada is able to avoid its obligations under the Treaty.”
Another signature Carney bill is C-2, the Strong Borders Act. If it passes into law, it will deny migrants the right to claim asylum after they’ve lived in Canada for one year, give police new access to people’s online activity without a warrant, and allow the immigration minister to change, suspend and cancel immigration documents.
These new bills seem designed to appease U.S. President Donald Trump and satiate Canada’s business lobby. They go hand-in-hand with Carney demanding a whopping 15 per cent cut to the public service, pledging to increase Canada’s military spending to five per cent of GDP by 2035 and considering splashing out $83 billion to join Trump’s Golden Dome missile defence scheme.
During an affordability crisis, people are asking: where is the money for health care, education, climate change research and clean water for Indigenous communities?
“The project is one of exploitation of workers for the enrichment of the billionaires,” says Hussan. “The creation of war for profit and the destruction of the Earth, the planet, for the well-being of the few.”
The Draw The Line protest brings together a legion of progressive organizations not just for one day, but to build “our collective power to defend our communities,” he explains.
“C-5 has passed,” Hussan says. “The question is: when it gets implemented, and goes into Indigenous communities, how will those communities put up blockades and stop it from going forward? How will the people in the cities create enough of a disruption combined with that? Can we shut down Canada again as happened in 2020, in response to the call from Wet’suwet’en, to be able to stop these projects?”
Draw The Line actions are being held in over 66 cities and towns across Canada, and 300 locations worldwide.
In Belém, Brazil, activists will be taking to the water in a canoe flotilla, holding banners scrawled with the message “DELIMITE: AMAZÔNIA SEM PETRÓLEO” — “Amazon without petroleum” — decrying President Lula’s plan to explore for oil in the rainforest.
In New York City, a “Make Billionaires Pay” march will go by the Trump Hotel, the investment firm BlackRock and the condos of the ultra-wealthy on Billionaires’ Row.
People in Suva, Fiji will “draw the line” at 1.5 degrees of global warming with traditionally woven mats depicting impacts of the climate crisis, and a sports tournament to engage new supporters.
In Toronto, the Draw The Line protest is being held on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 2:00 p.m. at Yonge and Dundas.
This article appeared in the 2025 Oct/Nov issue.
