Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty

Tax Changes Impact Low-income

2012-02-01T12:53:00.001-05:00

The province has changed the way that tax refunds are paid to low income people and this means that these credits are no longer being paid in lump-sum tax refunds.
Many low-income people count on the lump sum during Christmas and Easter and sell their taxes for a nominal fee.
Low-income people, thinking they could get a tax refund and are still going to tax preparers. The government failed to inform or consult with the low-income community.
Another example of how little they care about society’s most vulnerable citizens

Justice for Levi

2012-02-01T11:59:00.004-05:00

A Justice for Levi event Tuesday night held at the Peterborough Public Library for further information check out the link provided.

http://www.justiceforlevi.org/

Changes

2011-03-16T03:28:00.004-04:00

Currently we are undergoing changes but in spite of the challenges we are still here.

We are hoping to get a new office up and running and keep people posted ...

Peterborough Rally for Accountability of Children's Aid

2010-12-28T16:45:00.002-05:00

Peterborough Rally for Accountability of Children's Aid and Bill 131
Public Event

Date: Thursday, December 30
Time: 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Location: Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society (Peterborough office)
1100 Chemong Road
Peterborough, ON

The Children’s Aid Society (CAS) and family courts

2010-10-08T12:18:00.004-04:00

Date: Monday November 8, 2010

Time: 5:30pm for refreshments - Meeting will start at 7:00pm.

Location: 21 Veterans Way in Huntsville in the Legion Doors open

Question and answer period will follow the presentation with representatives from various parent groups.

Lots of free parking available.
This important public meeting is FREE so please plan to attend

further info email: pcap[at]riseup.net
or leave a message (705) 243-1405

Queens Park

2010-10-08T12:10:00.003-04:00

October 4, 2010

Over 50 people participated in a rally outside the provincial parliament.
The rally was addressed by MPP Cheri DiNovo of Parkdale-High Park and Sheila White.
Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller and Peterbourough MPP Jeff Leal attended without speaking.
Speakers included:
Chris York, Kelly Mackin, Steve Rudd, Molly Bannerman,
Florence Taylor, Chris Carter, Catherine Frei, Julian Ichim.

PCAP Meeting

2010-09-16T17:44:00.003-04:00

PCAP is once again in the process of an organizational overhaul.
Further information will be posted as to the time and place for the upcoming meeting

Please join us at our upcoming Monthly General Meeting:

For information about volunteering at PCAP please contact 749-9694
or email
pcap[at]riseup.net

Tell your local Liberal MPP- Don't cut the Special Diet - RAISE THE RATES INSTEAD

2010-05-10T14:26:00.001-04:00

The Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP) is challenging the decision to eliminate the Special Diet for people on welfare and disability. We are demanding this vital benefit be left alone and that the Government Raise the Rates now!
Coming out of the momentum of April 15th, we are organizing a series of actions to build up resistance to the attack on the Special Diet between now and the closing of Provincial Legislature in June. This will include a major mobilization at the Provincial Government Buildings on June 17. To ensure that the fight is taken into as many communities as possible, we are calling for a day of actions at local Liberal MPPs' offices on Thursday, May 20.
We leave it up to people to decide the kind of event that is right for them. Some may choose to occupy an office. Some may think it better to rally outside. Others may want to bring a delegation and call for a meeting. Please let us know what ideas you have for ways to drive this issue home at Liberal offices so we can share them with people in other communities.
Whatever tactic you think is possible and works best for you, we are calling on people across this Province to make May 20 a day when the cut to Special Diet is put before the Liberals in a way they can't ignore.
The loss of the Special Diet means people will not have a healthy diet. Some will be made homeless, many will suffer ill health and lives will be shortened. We don't just want to protest this attack but intend to defeat it.
If you want to be part of this fight back and the May 20th Day of Action,
e mail us at pcap@riseup.net or call us at 749-9694

Special Diet Clinic

2009-09-24T14:27:00.002-04:00

PCAP is working on hosting a Special Diet Clinic in the near future.

If you are on Ontario Works, or Ontario Disability Support Program you may qualify for the Special Diet Program. This bonus can add up to a lot on your cheque.

How the program works: If you are diagnosed with one or several pre-determined allergies, illnesses or other medical issues you can be award a certain amount depending on the condition and your age.

You need to get a Special Diet form from your worker at OW or ODSP. If you want to get on this clinic, get one of these sheets as soon as possible.

If you have your old paper work from the Special Diet, find it and keep it handy.

What PCAP is doing: We are working on getting a Doctor/Registered Nurse Extended and a place for this event to happen. If you know any that have helped out in the past, please send their contact info to the office.

If you are on the Special Diet and are soon running out contact the office by phone or email to find out more information. If you are on OW or ODSP and not on the Special Diet, you should check it out.

PCAP General Meeting

2009-08-02T13:20:00.001-04:00

PCAP is under "New Management" - YOU!

PCAP is in the process of an organizational overhaul. We are making big
changes and are interested in gathering new members and hearing ideas from
our membership.

Please join us at our upcoming Monthly General Meeting:

*****
Wednesday July 29th
7:30pm
Victoria Park (Water St, between Brock and Murray)
*****

Transportation and childcare are available, contact us ahead of time to
make arrangements.

If the meeting is rained out, it will instead be held on Thursday the
30th, same time and place.

Exposed: Understanding Canada’s Economic Crisis

2009-06-01T13:51:00.001-04:00

Armine Yalnizyan
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
“Exposed: Understanding Canada’s Economic Crisis”

June 8, 2009
7:00 p.m.
St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church
Free

The Peterborough Community Legal Centre, Peterborough and District Labour
Council and the Ontario Federation of Labour, together with other
community sponsors are proud to present Armine Yalnizyan as a part the
“Drive to Work Caravan”, a province wide tour to find out how the
recession is really affecting working people.

Ms. Yalnizyan will be a guest speaker when the Caravan pulls into
Peterborough on June 8, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. at City Hall and will make an
evening presentation at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium at St. Paul’s
Presbyterian Church at the corner of Water and Murray Street.

For more information, contact the Peterborough Community Legal Centre at
749-9355.

Decent, affordable, accessible housing for all!

2009-05-15T13:37:00.000-04:00

*Stop the sell-off of public housing!*

May 23
11:30 am
13 Trefann Street
(north of Queen, just east of Parliament)
Free Meal

The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, TCHC (Toronto Community Housing
Corporation) tenants, people on the TCHC waiting list and supporters will
meet outside of one of the houses slated to be sold by TCHC to demand it
and all TCHC units remain public housing.

TCHC is quietly proposing to sell-off 326 apartment units and 45 single
family homes that are located in sought-after neighbourhoods, primarily
downtown and in the Beaches. Many large families are living in two bedroom
apartments, waiting for larger units, while TCHC is emptying select units
in an attempt to to sell-off its prime real estate. These sales (and the
City's displacement of poor people through “redevelopment”) means that
many TCHC residents are being displaced from their schools, friends and
communities - neighbourhoods that many residents have lived in for years.

TCHC says that the units up for sale are in such a state of disrepair that
they cannot be fixed. We have seen many of the units and it is a bold
faced lie! Further, the units that are in really bad repair were
purposely not kept up by TCHC so that they could sell the units off down
the road and use their dilapidation as an excuse.

Public housing can be updated and revitalized without selling the land,
forcing people from their homes and displacing entire communities.

We Demand:

Build housing, don't sell it! Repair, don’t redevelop! Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell!

Stop the “Redevelopment” of Our Neighbourhoods
Currently, there are six large housing projects undergoing or slated for
redevelopment this redevelopment is being promoted as an improvement to
TCHC communities. Specifically, the city argues that the so called “mixed
communities” will improve the lives of poor people. The truth however is,
that this is an excuse to take away poor people's homes that have high
property values. The City isn't demanding that Rosedale be turned into a
'mixed neighbourhood' – just the places where poor people live. Further,
over time, these rebuilt communities will become gentrified; we can expect
TCHC to rent more of the units at market value, pushing poor people out.

Ensure that Enough Social, Supportive and Accessible Housing is Built to
Eliminate the Waiting List Over 70,000 households are waiting to get into
social housing. It takes about 5 years to get a tiny bachelor unit in
Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and about 10 years to get
anything else. Thousands of people are working multiple jobs, going
hungry, and living in rotten conditions while they wait. Thousands of
homeless people pack into shelters or sleep on the streets every night
because no supportive housing is available. Accessible housing for
disabled people is very hard to find and is often extremely expensive. As
the economic crisis continues, this situation will get even worse. We
need more housing and we need it now!

Repair TCHC Units
Nearly 60,000 units of public housing in Toronto are being allowed to
deteriorate. TCHC admits that $300 million worth of repairs is needed to
bring their buildings up to a minimum legal standard. People are forced to
live with gaping holes, leaking ceilings, exposed pipes, peeling paint,
electrical sockets that spark and infestations of rats, mice and bedbugs.
This is unacceptable, this is illegal and it has to stop!

Don't Ask Don't Tell
People without immigration status are especially marginalized in our city.
People without status are forced into precarious housing, unable to access
safe, decent paying work and shut out from public services. There are
over 500,000 people living without status across Canada, many of whom live in
Toronto. A person without status is not eligible to apply for Toronto
Community Housing. Further, if a family, living in housing, has even one
family member without status that entire family will be evicted. We
demand the city implement a Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. This policy would
prevent all TCHC workers from asking people what their immigration status
is, from refusing housing to people without status and from sharing that
information with immigration authorities.

Community Learning Garden Kick-Off

2009-04-23T20:31:00.000-04:00

*INVITATION TO KICK-OFF OF COMMUNITY LEARNING GARDEN
AND REQUEST FOR SEEDS, MATERIALS AND TOIL IN THE SOIL*

*The whole community is invited to gather
Saturday and Sunday May 9th and 10th
at Garden 579 (579 George North)
to clean up, build and plan
for the 2009 community learning garden season.

We will be raking, cleaning, building boxes and creating a community plan
for the garden. Everyone is welcome to lend an hour or more or to just
stop by and lend a smile. We are seeking seed, soil and sage advice.

Garden 579 in an unfunded community driven food security and community
building project.

We are looking for donations of plants, seeds, compost, soil, mulch,
LUMBER, gardening tools, building tools, fencing, straw, rainbarrels
outdoor art pieces, books relevant to growing, sustainability and
community building and any other resources that one might offer to create
a downtown oasis.

We will be having our community planting weekend on the 30th and 31st of
May and our kickoff community potluck that same weekend.

Garden 579 is a collaborative, collective project and it is 'run', planned
and actualized by those who choose to participate. We are seeking persons
to take an active role and be a guardian of Garden 579 in 2009. This
commitment means that you are interested in participating when you can
throughout the season as an active part of a collective organizing and
planning gardening and community learning activities...

Contact Rachelle at 748-6857,
check out garden579.com
or e-mail garden579@gmail.com

No One Is Illegal! May Day of Action

2009-04-19T12:14:00.000-04:00

Rally and March
2 May - 1pm
Meet: Sherbourne and Carlton

*** Greyhound bus leaves Peterborough at 10:30 (return buses at 5:00 & 7:30) ***
*Cost is $15 for a return ticket*
Contact PCAP if you would like to attend the rally but need the cost of your ticket covered

On April 2nd and 3rd, over 100 temporary and undocumented workers were attacked by armed border guards, dragged in to detention and are now being forcibly deported.
On 2 May, thousands of us will say Enough!

Migrants, poor and working people; undocumented people and people of colour live in constant crisis in Canada. A crisis has always existed in Teesdale, in Regent Park, in farm fields, on factory floors and in hotel service areas.

Power is controlled by global economic and political elites who have made large metropolitan cities their home. From here, they supervise people’s oppression from Turtle Island to Afghanistan to Palestine.

Canada, like other governments, bends to their demands, passing discriminatory laws like Bill C-50 without consultation.

Corporate and political elites are using the economic crisis as an excuse to attack poor, working-class and racialized communities by increasing immigration enforcement; steal public funds; wrecking social services; taking away people’s jobs rather than cut profits and targeting those they perceive as the weakest – indigenous people; the homeless; failed refugee claimants; women in shelters; queer and trans migrants; caregivers; factory workers and temporary workers.

We say there are no illegal human beings, only unjust laws and governments. No one, poor or undocumented, is illegal. The struggle of workers - waged and unwaged, with or without immigration status – is against powerful elites and systems of oppression. Citizenship, jobs and
houses - granted to some and denied to others - are tools to divide us.

We will not be divided.
We say enough is enough. No One Is Illegal!

On May 2, join thousands of us as we take to the streets and demand an end to corporate and state attacks on our communities. We demand an end to detentions and deportations. We demand access without fear to essential services. We demand an end to security certificates and secret trials. We demand a full and inclusive regularization program. We demand justice, dignity, and status for all!

We did not create this crisis, and we will not pay for it.

On May 2nd, take to the streets, create power. Resist.
The May 2nd rally and march will be preceded by a May Day Festival, on May 1st at 6pm, at 25 Cecil Street.

coorganized by: No One Is Illegal-Toronto | Mujeres al Frente | SAWRO |
Migrante Ontario | Canadian HART | Casa Salvador Allende | Basics
Newsletter | OCAP | Jane and Finch Action Against Poverty | Sikh Activist
Network | Toronto New Socialists |Barrio Nuevo | the Stop Community Food
Centre | BAYAN Toronto | PCLS | OPIRG Toronto | CAIA | GGAPSS

Act Now! Raided Workers Facing Deportation

2009-04-14T12:59:00.001-04:00

ACT! CALL! WRITE!

This Sunday, 41 workers will be handcuffed, dragged to an airport and
placed on a plane to Thailand. Many of them will never have the chance to
return to Canada. They were arrested with dozens of others on their way to
work or while packing food at Cericola Farms, in southwestern Ontario last
week. CBSA then lied to them and tricked them into waiving their legal
rights. This is a targeted attack by the Tory government against migrants.
Minister Van Loan can stop these deportations; Minister Kenney can grant
them status.

YOU can insist that they do so.

1. Take public action against your MP, Immigration or Enforcement Office.
(See list of cities below)

2. Spread the word!
(http://rabble.ca/news/2009/04/protests-respond-ontario-immigration-raids)

3. Call Kenney and Van Loan. And call your local MP to pressure the
Ministers.

4. Send a letter to Ministers Van Loan and Kenney (sample below). Ask your
MP to do the same. Write to your local media outlet.

5. Spread the word. Stop the raids. Stop the deportations. Demand status
for all. On 2 May, take to the streets
(http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/275)

Further details in sample letter below.

Peter Van Loan, Minister
Constituency Office
T 1-877-738-3748; T: 613-996-7752
F 905-898-4600; F 613-992-8351
E vanlop1@parl.gc.ca
45 Grist Mill Road, Unit 10, Holland Landing, ON L9N1M7
Room 209-S, Centre Block, Ottawa, ON K1A0A6

Jason Kenney, Minister
P. 613-992-2235; F. 613-992-1920
P. 403-225-3480. F. 403-225-3504
E Minister@cic.gc.ca. AND kennej@parl.gc.ca
325 East Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
1168 137 Ave SE. Calgary, AB T2J 6T6

Ministers Van Loan and Kenney,

On April 2nd and 3rd, CBSA raided three food processing factories where
they held all workers at gun point. These workers were herded into a
cafeteria where citizens and permanent residents were separated from other
workers.

These other workers, many of whom possess temporary work permits, were
handcuffed and held on a bus for over eight hours. In unprecedented
weekend hearings, most of the detained workers were tricked into waiving
legal advice or the right to dispute their removal.

These illegal and egregious actions were followed by speedy requests for
travel documents, as their original passports are held by unscrupulous,
corrupt agents at TNT Recruitment. The Thai consulate has provided these
papers and 41 of the arrested are being put on a plane on Sunday April
19th.

Removing workers from Canada in this way is arbitrary and illegal. The
recruitment agency and the company which paid these workers $9.00 an hour
for 12 hours of back-breaking and brutal work have not been charged.

Minister Van Loan, sign a notice to stop the deportations. Minister
Kenney, grant all workers arrested full status. Stop using the economic
crisis as an excuse to target migrant workers and their families!

++++++++++++++++++++++
Endorsed by:
No One Is Illegal-Toronto
Justicia for Migrant Workers
Migrante Ontario
No One Is Illegal Vancouver
Solidarity Across Borders (Montreal)
Immigrant Workers Center (Montreal)
Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty
++++++++++++++++++++++

Actions:

18 April
Toronto
Details to be announced

17 April
Montreal
Meet at downtown CBSA Offices

14 April
Calgary
1130, Calgary Chamber of Commerce
100 - 6 Avenue S.W

9 April
Vancouver
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=1048

7 April
Edmonton
http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/local/article/210247

5 April
Toronto
http://rabble.ca/news/2009/04/protests-respond-ontario-immigration-raids

(Please email nooneisillegal@riseup.net if you're organizing an action)

CN: Drop your Racist Lawsuit!

2009-04-07T13:57:00.002-04:00

*Call-out for phone and fax campaign* - please forward to interested others.

CN: Drop your racist lawsuit!
Support the Mohawks of Tyendinaga

Call out for a month-long phone and fax campaign

Canadian National Railway is suing Shawn Brant, Jason Maracle, and Tara
Green as well as their families and community (Jane and John Doe, also named
in the suit). CN's lawsuit is a response to a blockade on CN tracks during
April 2007, and another lawsuit against Shawn Brant for a blockade on June
29, 2007. CN has not yet specified the amount in damages they are seeking.

Statements of defence and counterclaims have been filed against CN, claiming
that CN pollutes Tyendinaga lands, creates a nuisance by the noise their
operations cause, and scares away game. CN has filed a motion asking the
courts to strike much of these counterclaims.

That motion will be argued in open court on April 7.

Supporters of the ongoing resistance in Tyendinaga are being asked to
demonstrate their solidarity by faxing (preferable) or emailing letters to
CN during this critical court case. Below is background information and a
sample form letter that can be modified and emailed or faxed to CN
headquarters.

*We are holding the phone and fax campaign from April 1st to 31st.
*We are encouraging supporters to fax or phone because these are more
effective ways to pressure CN, but if you interested in sending an email
please also BCC indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com so we can track the
campaign.

*There are two important dates we are asking supporters to focus their faxes
and phone calls around:*

The first is *April 7th*, the first day of court in the injunction process
mentioned above.

The second date is *April 21st*, date of CN's shareholder meeting in
Calgary.

*MONTREAL SPECIFIC:*
We are also giving a workshop on the history of CN railway and the
resistance at Tyendinaga on April 6th, 2009 at the Carrefour dâ€™Education
Populaire (2156 Centre St., Metro Charlevoix) at 6pm. The workshop is in
French, whisper translation is available. Printed letters will be available
to be signed, and we will fax these in following the presentation.

In solidarity,
The Montreal Tyendinaga Support Committee
a working group of QPIRG-Concordia.

indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com
514-848-7583
www.amp-montreal.net

************************************************************************
Sample form letter

E. Hunter Harrison, President and CEO
CN Railway
935 De La Gauchetiere Streetâ€¨ West
16th floor Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2M9

March 31, 2009

Mr. Harrison,

I am writing to encourage you to drop CNâ€™s lawsuits against three
activists, Shawn Brant, Jason Maracle and Tara Green, of the Tyendinaga
First Nation.

In April and in June of 2007, some of the Tyendinaga Mohawks blockaded a
CN rail line between Toronto and Montreal in protest against the injustices
suffered by their First Nation. Specific issues included their
impoverishment and the lack of action with respect to the pollution of their
water so that it is not fit to drink or even to bathe in and with respect to
the return of lands that were unlawfully taken from them. Shawn Brant has
spent months in jail as a result of his participation in those blockades.

It is my opinion that CN (and the previous railroad companies that
became part of CN) played a significant role in creating the impoverishment
of First Nations people, and that CN continues to unjustly profit from its
so called â€œrights of wayâ€ through First nations territories. I feel
that it
is completely inappropriate for CN to pursue these lawsuits in these
circumstances.

Your website claims that "CN seeks to promote a harmonious working
relationship with the many Aboriginal communities along its rights-of-way
across Canada... through a climate of mutual trust and understanding".

Your continuation of these lawsuits is not an act of mutual trust.

I understand that lawyers representing CN will be arguing in a Toronto
court on April 7, 2009 that much of the statements of defence and
counterclaims of the Defendants should be struck out. I urge you to
reconsider and to instruct your lawyers to simply drop the lawsuits.

Sincerely,

__________

*Please fax to: *514-399-5985

*Email **Robert Noorigan (Vice-President) or Janet Drysdale (Investor
Relations) from the link: **
http://www.cn.ca/en/investors-shareholder-contacts.htm**

Mail to:
*E. Hunter Harrison, President and CEO
CN Railway
935 De La Gauchetiere Streetâ€¨ West
16th floor Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2M9
*
Or call in your dissent at:
514-399-6450 *
(you will reach the office of Bryan Tucker, the Senior Manager of Public
Affairs and Media Relations)
*514-708-6450 *(Bryan Tucker's cell phone)

************************************************************************
Background
Tyendinaga is a Mohawk community located on the shore of the Bay of Quinte
between Toronto and Montreal, in eastern Ontario. The Mohawk Nation is one
of the five original nations of the Iroquois Confederacy.

As part of long-standing struggles for land and self-determination â€“
including unresolved land claims, poverty, suicides and polluted water --
members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk community have organized to defend their
territory. In particular, several actions, including blockades, have taken
place to expedite the slow negotiation process over the Culbertson Tract, a
piece of land the government has long acknowledged was taken illegally from
the Mohawks. A quarry on the land was reclaimed in March 2007, and Mohawks
have maintained a fulltime presence on-site ever since.

CN is seeking damages for lost revenue as a result of the blockades. Though
CN has not yet named the amount of money it will seek in the suit, we
understand this threatening process as a blatant form of financial
persecution against Jason Maracle, Tara Green and Shawn Brant as well as
their families and community (Jane and John Doe, also named in the suit).
We also see it as an attack on the struggles of Native peoples to obtain
justice in the face of ongoing neo-colonial attacks on their sovereignty and
lands.

Info:
indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com
514-848-7583.

Register for Waiting List for Family Doctors

2009-04-07T13:57:00.001-04:00

The Primary Health Care Services are in the process of phoning everyone on
their existing list to tell them that they need to call to register their
name on the NEW provincial list. People on the existing list will NOT be
automatically transferred to the new list, and new vacancies will be
filled ONLY from the new list.

The new number to call at Health Care Connect is :

1-800-445-1822

To register, you need to have your Ontario Health Card number, and know the
address it is registered to. If you don't know the address, you will be
given another Ministry number to call to verify the health card.
Individuals are asked about any chronic health conditions, state of health
and mental health, disabilities, and if female, whether or not they are
pregnant. This allows them to priorize people on the list according to
their need for a doctor.

Please pass this information along to anyone you know who doesn't have a
family doctor.

Say NO to the HARMONIZATION of PST & GST!

2009-03-25T15:04:00.000-04:00

The Ontario Liberal Government has recently hinted that the province will combine the five per cent federal goods and services tax with the province's eight per cent sales tax.

This decision was made after consulting business groups, and it is clear that the “harmonization” of PST and GST will directly benefit corporations who will gain massive tax cuts and reduced production costs through refunds for the provincial portion of taxes paid for equipment and materials.

While companies will save an estimated $100 million per year, this merging will negatively impact middle and low income people, and will disproportionately impact women and parents. The price of several household products that are currently exempted from the PST will rise, such as baby food and formula, diapers, shoes, and vitamins and medicine.

It is also unclear as to how Fist Nations will be impacted by this decision, since they are currently exempted from paying PST where sales take place on reserve land.

Instead of getting people what they need and financially supporting the people with the lowest income levels in the province in the midst of an economic crisis, yet again the government will be making tax breaks for the rich. We didn’t create the economic crisis and we should not have to pay for it!

The decision to harmonize GST and PST could happen as early as tomorrow!

CONTACT your local representatives, the Premier of Ontario and the Federal Finance Minister NOW to let them know that YOU DO NOT SUPPORT THE HARMONIZATION OF PST AND GST!

Premier Dalton McGuinty – 1-416-325-1941
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty – 1- 613- 992-6344
Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal – 705-742-3777

FIGHT TO WIN!

Put Poverty in the Budget!

2009-03-18T21:38:00.003-04:00

*URGENT! Phone the Finance Minister NOW to get Poverty in the Budget!*

The economy is getting worse. People who live in poverty feel it most.
We need a provincial Budget on March 26 that makes poverty reduction the
priority.

Take 2 minutes today to phone the Finance Minister and tell him – you want
him to put funding in the Budget to tackle poverty!

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan’s public statements so far indicate poverty
reduction might not be his priority. But economists around the world agree
that the best economic stimulus is to put money in the hands of low-income
people, and to invest in social infrastructure to create jobs.

Now is the time for the Finance Minister to make the connection between
economic stimulus and poverty reduction.

Take two minutes to call him, and tell him to put funding in the budget to
tackle poverty in Ontario! Don’t be shy! It’s easy and effective.
Here’s what to do:

If you’re calling from the GTA: Dial 416-325-0400.

If you’re calling from outside the GTA: Dial 0-416-325-0400.

Use the automated operator to call collect.
The collect call will be accepted.
When the receptionist answers, tell him or her:

“*I’m calling from [your community]. I’d like to leave a message for Dave Pryce, the Minister’s Chief of Staff.*”

The receptionist will either write down the message, or will put you through
to voicemail.

Feel Free to leave a message along these lines (or your own!):

· *I’m calling from [your community].*

· *I’m disappointed by the Minister’s speech to the Canadian Club
that he didn’t mention investments to reduce poverty in the upcoming budget.

· *I’m very concerned, and I really want to see you make a
significant investment.*

· *With the economy getting worse, now is the time for the
government to get moving on poverty reduction.*

· *[Here’s how this is affecting me / people in my area…]*

· *Please make poverty the priority in the March budget. *

When you’ve made your call, please send a quick email at isac@lao.on.ca so they can track how many calls have been made.

*Make the call for poverty in the Budget – Today!*

Bridging Communities of Resistance: Solidarity in Anti-Racist, Anti-Colonial Struggles

2009-03-18T21:35:00.000-04:00

Peterborough Public Library - Auditorium
10am - 6pm

A day-long forum that aims to address issues of Indigenous people and people of colour in political organizing, both within academia and within grassroots movements. The forum will feature a plenary session around the racialization of poverty, and several workshops ranging from a DARC Resistance workshop on solidarity between Indigenous peoples and people of colour to women of colour involved in punk scenes. We hope this forum will provide a space (physical and discursive) for Indigenous people and people of colour to explore strategies for challenging white normativity/supremacy within organizing as well as to foster new activist communities built on similar experiences with racism. This forum is being co-organized by the Decolonizing Anti-Racism Coalition (DARC) and the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP).

Schedule
Date: Saturday March 21, 2009 (International Day for the Elimination of Racism)

10:00 am: Welcome and Introductions (coffee and tea will be provided)

11:00-12:00 pm: Presentation of TCCBE project: "Canadian Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination (CMARD)" and "Spaces of Racism II"
Discussion on racism in Peterborough and the CMARD initiative.
Speakers: Andres Salazar, Muna Ali and Manal Elawar

12:00-1:00 pm: Workshop
"Challenging Invisibilized Whiteness: Organizing within Predominantly White Settings" (closed; hosted by DARC)
This workshop will be a space to address the experience of organizing within predominantly white settings (specifically at Trent and within Peterborough) and to come up with strategies for dealing with invisibilized whiteness in these setting. As a group, we will discuss our experiences with activism and academia as Indigenous people and people of colour working within spaces where we might be a minority. How can we ensure accountability on the part of groups we organize with to address issues of invisibilized whiteness and racism? How can we offer substantial and productive challenges to invisibilized whiteness? How can we approach these issues without exhausting ourselves or bearing the burden of responsibility? This will be a closed workshop for Indigenous people and people of colour.
Facilitators: Teresa Cheng and Kam Husbands

12:00 – 1:00 pm: Workshop
“Challenging Invisibilized Whiteness: Organizing within Predominantly White Settings” (open; hosted by the Trent Women’s Centre)
This will be an open workshop for participants to discuss similar issues of accountability, invisibilized whiteness, and racism within organizing. The Trent Women’s Centre will share some past and present experiences of dealing with these issues within their organization and potential strategies for ensuring a truly anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework.
Facilitators: Meghan Ritchie and Zahra Murad

1:00 - 1:45pm: Lunch
Lunch will be catered by organizers from DARC and PCAP as well as by donations from local organizations. We will also have snacks throughout the day, catered by local businesses.

1:45 – 2:45: Workshop
'Cultural Appropriation/Cultural Theft"
In this workshop the group will arrive at working definitions for 'Cultural appropriation"/ 'cultural theft' generated from discussion, the participants own experiences and the critical race theory I will present as a facilitator. We will watch videos, listen to songs and look at visual art and fashion examples to build on our understanding of these two terms. We will dicuss what cultural appropriation means in the context of colonization, slavery, global racism, power and privilege. We will discuss the importance of self representation as marginalized people who generally have less power to represent ourselves in ways that we decide upon ourselves or as communities. We will discuss the damage that can be done through cultural theft, stereotyping.
We will then look at cultural theft through looking at histories of American Pop music and the appropriation of queer, trans and Black music and dance. We will look at appropriation in the context of European racism and how appropriation relates to privilege, money, fame and power. Finally we will look at the notion of appropriation and how it informs our practices as community organizers - what does appropriations of tactics, movements and voices look like? What are the differences between appropriation and solidarity? What are differences between appropriation and reclamation? Emphasis will be put on how cultural theft impacts LGBTTT2IQQ people and racialized people and how to use these concepts to shape responsible art and organizing practices. We will interrogate our own practices as community organizers and activists and learn tactics for how to become anti racist ally.
Speaker: Leah Newbold

2:45-3:00 Break

3:00-5:00: Panel Discussion
"(e)RACEing Poverty: Developing Anti-Racist Actions and Strategies to Eliminate Poverty"
The goal of this panel is to bring together activists and community based organizations to discuss racialized poverty. Presenters will be from a broad base and will include members from the New Canadians Centre, PCAP, DARC, OCAP, Community Race Relations Committee and No One Is Illegal. The panel will also serve as an action-oriented event to develop strategies and actions to eliminate poverty with an emphasis on issues of racialization, colonization and imperialism.

5:00-6:00 pm: Workshop
"DARC Resistance: Bridging Anti-Racist and Anti-Colonial Struggles" (closed)
This informal workshop is for people of colour and Indigenous peoples who want to learn more about the ongoing colonization of Turtle Island and how to support each other in Anti-Racist and Anti-Colonial organizing. Through this workshop, people of colour and Indigenous peoples will unmap their complex relationships by sharing experiences and thinking through the following topics: How can people of colour be effective allies and work in solidarity with Indigenous peoples and movements without reproducing colonialism? What is the relationship between Indigenous peoples and people of colour as colonized peoples?
Facilitators: DARC members

**********************************************
9:30 pm-2:00 am:
Beats 4 Justice!
A Fundraiser for DARC and No Olympics on Stolen Native Land Organizing
We will be having a music/performance/spoken word night at the Sadleir House Dinning Hall to raise money for DARC and an No Olympics on Stolen Native Land organizing.

Performers:
LAL
Sean Conway
Dakus of Disco Duniya
Stolen from Africa

For more information, contact: darcpeterborough@riseup.net or pcap@riseup.net

(e)RACEing Poverty: Developing Anti-Racist Actions and Strategies to Eliminate Poverty

2009-03-18T21:32:00.003-04:00

Saturday, March 21, 2009
Peterborough Public Library
3:00-5:00

The goal of this panel is to bring together activists and community based organizations to discuss racialized poverty. Presenters will be from a broad base and will include the New Canadians Centre, PCAP, Decolonization and Anti-Racism Coalition, OCAP, and No One Is Illegal - Toronto. The panel will also serve as an action-oriented event to develop strategies and actions to eliminate poverty with an emphasis on issues of racialization, colonization and imperialism.

This panel is poart of Bridging Communities of Resistance

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILM NIGHT

2009-02-18T23:07:00.002-05:00

THE LITTLE BLACK SCHOOL HOUSE AND STOLEN FROM AFRICVILLE

When: Wednesday Feb 25th @ 7 pm
Where: Sadleir House Lecture Hall
751 George St N (north of Parkhill)
Free!

Please join us for an evening of films on Black pasts and presents in Canada:

The Little Black School House (2007)
The Little Black School House unearths the story of the women, men, and children who studied and taught at Canada's racially segregated schools. Compelling personal stories illustrate that many of the students who attended Canada's all-Black schools look back on the experience with conflicting feelings: fondness for the dedication of their Black teachers, and outrage at being denied equal access to education, a right fundamental to democracy in Canada. The Little Black School House provides an historical perspective on recent calls to create "Black-focused" schools, after ongoing claims from within the Black community that their students are being ill-served by the education system.

Stolen from Africville (2007)
Stolen From Africville outlines the rise and fall of the historic Black community of Africville, Nova Scotia. Africville was a peaceful and thriving community whose roots can be traced back to the mid 1700s and the historic Underground Railroad. However, under the guise of "development", the Nova Scotia government bulldozed the land in 1969. In 2004, the United Nations conducted an assessment of this tragic injustice and recommended reparations for the Africville community. To this day, nothing has been done.

*Featuring Q & A with Stolen from Africa
STOLEN FROM AFRICA is a Toronto Based Movement used to promote cultural and historical awareness through education, fashion, music and the arts. We hope to empower society by confronting issues surrounding black/indigenous oppression and humanity as a whole. We are merely people of various ethnicities, who are inspired by the effects of colonialism wit aspirations of connecting and learning from the communities in which we live in world wide.

*Discussion of racialized poverty in Peterborough with PCAP.

Presented by the Community and Race Relations Committee of Peterborough, OPIRG-Peterborough, and the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty.

For the full list of Black History Month 2009 events in Peterborough, please visit http://www.racerelationspeterborough.org/calendar.html

"The Harris Years Were a Dress Rehearsal for What's Coming”

2009-02-17T12:53:00.003-05:00

When: Thursday, February 26, 2009
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Sadleir House (751 George St. N.) - Hobbs Library

What: A public lecture by John Clarke, member of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, addressing ongoing anti-capitalist and anti-poverty struggles. Reflecting upon the Mike Harris years, Clarke will speak to the need for a renewed resistance against the powerful as the economic crisis increases inequality, violence and suffering.discussing the ongoing struggles of middle and working-class people under the oppression of the Canadian State.

Sponsored by the Canadian Studies Department, CUPE 3908 and PCAP

For more information please visit the following links:
http://trentarthur.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1208&Itemid=47
http://www.ocap.ca/archive/short_history_of_ocap.html

OCAP Statement on 2009 Federal Budget

2009-01-29T10:57:00.001-05:00

Today’s budget will do little to help low income Canadians. Harper’s
government has made some attempt to placate the opposition, but his
efforts will only help a shrinking fraction of the population. The
spending strategy is described as Timely, Temporary, and Targeted. Indeed
it is. It’s too little, too late, for too few. While 75 billion dollars
are given to the financial sector, there are only scraps left for the
poorest in our society.

In line with the ongoing Harper agenda, the budget emphasizes tax cuts,
instead of making real investments in housing, infrastructure and people.
He crows about investing in social housing and unemployment insurance. The
budget says that it will invest 2 billion into social housing. Sounds
great. But the cost of repairs to Ontario's housing are estimated at about
$1.2 billion. And 60,000 people are on the waiting list for social housing
in Toronto alone. Given that much of the infrastructural funding is
dependent on cost-sharing with the cash-poor provinces and municipalities,
the figures are misleading. Harper claims that he’s making things easier
for laid off workers by adding 5 weeks to employment insurance. Given that
60% of Canadians aren’t eligible, this will do little for the majority of
those suffering in the economic downturn.

As factories close and businesses go bankrupt, more and more Canadians
will need help. Unfortunately the tax cuts, benefits and incentives will
do little for them when they’re evicted, unable to obtain employment
insurance, or scraping by on welfare and food banks. A budget that would
really address the needs of the increasing ranks of poor Canadians would
raise the welfare rates, expand employment insurance in a serious way,
build new and quality social housing invest in transit, education and
health care. This budget doesn’t even try.

An economic recession that leads to layoffs, evictions and poverty is not
the time for bailing out the corporations and playing political games.
It’s the time to organize in our communities to support one another, and
to fight to ensure that the poorest, the most vulnerable, are not
abandoned yet again.

Beats for Justice!

2009-01-19T09:42:00.004-05:00

*******************************************************
When: Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 9:30pm
Where: The Spill (414 George St. N)
*******************************************************

A fundraiser for both PCAP and a local migrant worker project

Featuring artists, poets and musicians including:
Gein Wong
John Akpata
DJ Ash
Film - Sedition
by Min-Sook Lee
Ziysah

GREAT raffle prizes!

Pay what you can!

Part of ReFrame Film Festival

Sponsors:
Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty
The Spill Café
The New Canadians Centre Peterborough
ReFrame Film Festival
Sociology Dept., Trent University
Trent Queer Collective
Trent Central Student Association
CUPE Local 3908

Background
Started in 2005 by a Trent professor and a local spoken word artist, Beats for Justice! seeks to raise awareness around issues related to borders, immigration, and Indigenous rights. Each event has raised over $1000 to support organizations who work toward human rights in these areas.

Outside EUrope

2009-01-19T09:40:00.001-05:00

The Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty and the New Canadians Centre Present:

Outside of EURope

*******************************
When: Friday, January 23, 2009
5:15pm - 7:00pm
Where: Market Hall
*******************************

Outside of EUrope
2008 Belgrade Serbia
Directed by Amy Miller, Boban Chaldovich
27:40

Outside of EUrope is a critical, short documentary examining the exclusionary nature of EU immigration and border policies and the responsibilities that are placed on periphery countries to handle the flow of migrants and refugees. Ukraine is used as the case study. Far from the eyes of the public, and never seen before on film, the documentary takes the viewer inside the Mukachevo Detention Centre for Women and Children Refugees, as well as the Pavshino Detention Centre for Illegal Migrants and Refugees in Ukraine. Through diverse interviews that include refugees who failed in their attempt to cross into the EU, as well as officials such as the Immigration Minister for the Transcarpathia region, 'Outside of EUrope' throws light on various human right issues that incur from the expansion of the European Union.

PCAP & New Canadians Centre (NCC) are sponsoring this film and aim make the connections between (im)migration, displacement, incarceration and poverty, as well as the links between the film and the Canadian context of border oppression.

Part of ReFrame Peterborough International Film Festival

Dates of Festival: Friday January 23 - Sunday January 25
Venues: MarketHall, Showplace and the Peterborough Public Library

Weekend passes for the Film Festival are available for $25 or $12 student/unwaged. OR, you can pay by donation at each film you want to see.

Tickets available at k.w.i.c., Have You Seen, Titles, Happenstance, Bear Essentials and Common Grounds.

Visit www.quidnovis.com for film titles, venues and times and more info.

Protest against Israeli Attack on Gaza!

2009-01-10T16:28:00.002-05:00

*********************************************
When: Saturday, January 17th 2009, at 12:00pm
Where: Peterborough City Hall
What: Rally & Speak Out
*********************************************

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Protest against Israeli Attack on Gaza – Peterborough

This Saturday, January 17th 2009, at 12pm the Peterborough Coalition for Palestinian Solidarity (PCPS), Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP) and the Decolonization & Anti-Racism Coalition (DARC) will rally outside City Hall to protest against the Israeli attacks on Gaza. All members of the Peterborough community are encouraged to join us in speaking out in support of the people of Gaza.

The current situation in Palestine is devastating. Nearly 800 people have been killed so far, including several hundred women, children and aid workers. Thousands of innocent people have also been injured. As a massive humanitarian crisis unfolds among Gaza’s 1.4 million citizens, Israel is prohibiting shipments of medical supplies and other necessities from entering Gaza, as well as preventing the International Committee of the Red Cross and foreign journalists from entering the area. Most Palestinians living in Gaza are now struggling to survive without basic necessities and access to medical treatment.

People around the world are protesting against the violence being carried out by the state of Israel. We call on the people of Peterborough to join the growing chorus of voices calling on Israel to end its attacks on Gaza. As PCPS and DARC member Muna Ali points out, “This rally will give the people of Peterborough a chance to join thousands of people in speaking out and condemning the state of Israel’s actions.”

For more information, please contact Ayesha Asghar at(705)-868-3699 or by e-mail at hussein.ayesha@gmail.com

DEMONSTRATE AGAINST THE ISRAELI ASSAULT ON GAZA!

2008-12-29T22:49:00.010-05:00

*************************************************************************
*WHEN: 2pm on Saturday January 3rd, 2009
*WHERE: Yonge-Dundas Square (buses leave Palestine House 1:15pm sharp)
*************************************************************************

Statement from the Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions Campaign National Committee (BNC) in Palestine:
"Stop the Massacre in Gaza – Boycott Israel Now!"

Occupied Ramallah, Palestine - 27 December 2008: Today, the Israeli occupation army committed a new massacre in Gaza, causing the death and injury of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including a yet unknown number of school children who were headed home from school when the first Israeli military strikes started. This latest bloodbath, although far more ruthless than all its predecessors, is not Israel 's first. It culminates months of an Israeli siege of Gaza that should be widely condemned and prosecuted as an act of genocide against the 1.5 million Palestinians in the occupied coastal strip.

Israel seems intent to mark the end of its 60th year of existence the same way it has established itself – perpetrating massacres against the Palestinian people. In 1948, the majority of the indigenous Palestinian people were ethnically cleansed from their homes and land, partly through massacres like Deir Yassin; today, the Palestinians in Gaza, most of whom are refugees, do not even have the choice to
seek refuge elsewhere. Incarcerated behind ghetto walls and brought to the brink of starvation by the siege, they are easy targets for Israel's indiscriminate bombing.

Prof. Richard Falk, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and international law expert at Princeton University, described Israel 's siege of Gaza last year, when it was still not comparable in its severity to the current situation, as follows:

"Is it an irresponsible overstatement to associate the treatment of Palestinians with this criminalized Nazi record of collective atrocity? I think not. The recent developments in Gaza are especially disturbing because they express so vividly a deliberate intention on the part of Israel and its allies to subject an entire human community to life-endangering conditions of utmost cruelty. The suggestion that this pattern of conduct is a holocaust-in-the-making represents a rather desperate appeal to the governments of the world and to international public opinion to act urgently to prevent these current genocidal tendencies from culminating in a collective tragedy."

The most brutal episode of this "collective tragedy" is what we have seen today.

Israel's war crimes and other grave violations of international law in Gaza as well as in the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem , could not have been perpetrated without the direct or indirect complicity of world governments, particularly the United States, the European Union, Egypt, and other Arab regimes.

While the US government has consistently sponsored, bankrolled and protected from international censure Israel's apartheid and colonial policies against the indigenous people of Palestine, the EU was able in the past to advocate a semblance of respect for international law and universal human rights. That distinction effectively ended on December 9th, when the EU Council decided unanimously to reward Israel's criminal disregard of international law by upgrading the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Israel clearly understood from this decision that the EU condones its actions against the Palestinians under its occupation. Palestinian civil society also got the message: the EU governments have become no less complicit in Israel's war crimes than their US counterpart.

The large majority of world governments, particularly in the global south, share part of the blame, as well. By continuing business as usual with Israel, in trade agreements, arms deals, academic and cultural ties, diplomatic openings, they have provided the necessary background for the complicity of world powers and, consequentially, for Israel's impunity. Furthermore, their inaction within the United Nations is inexcusable.

Father Miguel D'Escoto Brockman, President of the UN General Assembly prescribed in a recent address before the Assembly the only moral way forward for the world's nations in dealing with Israel:

"More than twenty years ago we in the United Nations took the lead from civil society when we agreed that sanctions were required to provide a nonviolent means of pressuring South Africa to end its violations. Today, perhaps we in the United Nations should consider following the lead of a new generation of civil society, who are calling for a similar non-violent campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions to pressure Israel to end its violations."

Now, more than ever, the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee, BNC, calls upon international civil society not just to protest and condemn in diverse forms Israel's massacre in Gaza, but also to join and intensify the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions ( BDS) campaign against Israel to end its impunity and to hold it accountable for its persistent violation of international law and Palestinian rights. Without sustained, effective pressure by people of conscience the world over, Israel will continue with its gradual, rolling acts of genocide against the Palestinians, burying any prospects for a just peace under the blood and rubble of Gaza, Nablus and Jerusalem.

* The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) includes: Council of National and Islamic Forces in Palestine; General Union of Palestinian Workers; Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions; Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations' Network (PNGO); Federation of Independent Trade Unions; Union of Palestinian Charitable Organizations; Global Palestine Right of Return Coalition; Occupied Palestine and Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative (OPGAI); General Union of Palestinian Women; Palestinian Farmers Union (PFU); Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign ( STW); Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI); National Committee to Commemorate the Nakba; Civic Coalition for the Defense of Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem (CCDPRJ); Coalition for Jerusalem; and Palestinian Economic Monitor.

Economic Crisis and the Poor: Probable Impacts, Prospects for Resistance

2008-12-10T13:10:00.000-05:00

Author: John Clarke

Now that the crisis of the financial markets has become a crisis of
the 'real' economy, it is obvious that those who already face poverty
(or live on the edge of it) will be hit extraordinarily hard in the
days ahead. Over the last three decades, social programs that served
to partially redistribute wealth or limit the disciplinary power of
unemployment on the working class were massively reduced. With this
'social safety net' seriously compromised, we can expect a rapid and
deep process of impoverishment to take effect as the downturn unfolds.
The scale and severity of this will pose major challenges but open up
huge possibilities in terms of mobilizing poor communities.

In the last weeks since the crisis came to head on Wall Street and
scandalous bailouts for the rich ensued, a question has been lurking
in the background: who will pay for this crisis of capitalism? That
the capitalists and bankers do not intend to pay is more than obvious.
That workers and the poor face massive austerity is also very clear.
However, in order for this to happen, those in power are going to have
to impose their harsh 'solutions' and that will produce suffering and
an anger that forms the basis for fighting back. I would like to look
at how poor communities may be attacked and at some of the forms that
resistance could take. I speak from the standpoint of someone who is
active in anti poverty struggles in Toronto. In some smaller and more
heavily industrialized cities, the situation is already further
advanced but we may expect a deepening downturn to affect Toronto very
seriously. In many smaller centres, systems of social provision are
even more inadequate than in Toronto and many people facing conditions
of poverty and destitution will be forced to head for the major centre
out of necessity.

The Shredded 'Safety Net'

In assessing the likely impacts of the downturn, the first important
question to consider is the fact that 'employment insurance' (EI) has
been so drastically undermined. If all that people have to turn to is
the welfare system, they will face a devastating shock. EI, while it
has highly restrictive rules, considers eligibility from the
standpoint of unemployed status. Welfare, in contrast, is a system of
last resort that can only be accessed by those on the very edge of
destitution. Those with any other sources of income are ineligible by
reason of the welfare means test. In conditions of rapid economic
downturn, that will translate into a whole mass of people who are
without work but who cannot even apply for income support until they
have exhausted their savings. Once they have reached the required
level of poverty, those who were previously working for living wages
will be expected to make do with the degrading pittance that welfare
provides. I spoke recently to a man who had just lost his job and
wanted to know about accessing welfare if he could not collect EI. He
was truly devastated to learn that his very modest bank account would
have to be almost emptied before he could go to Social Services. As
this kind of thing happens on a major scale, it will send a shock wave
of indignation through whole communities.

However, even the miserably low income provided by welfare is not
something we can assume will be available. The social assistance
system is massively arbitrary in its actual implementation and
municipalities have to foot the bill for part of it. Ontario Premier
Dalton McGuinty has already made clear that local governments will
face cost cutting measures in the months ahead and, in such a
situation, it is to be expected that local welfare offices will engage
in an intensified drive to deny entitlements by way of a covert
process of improper denial. If the crisis becomes deep enough and
caseloads reach a high enough level, the very viability of welfare
provision will be called into question.

In fact, Toronto's City Council has already set the stage for a
disastrous situation to develop in the near future. Under Mayor David
Miller and his progressive allies on Council, the City's welfare
reserve fund has been depleted to pay for day-to-day operating
expenses. From a high point of $94.4 million in 2003, it has been
taken down to a mere $8.3 million. This means that we are going into a
major international economic downturn with the income support system
of the largest city in the country ready to collapse at the first
test. Aside from generalized demands for increases in welfare rates,
we will have to be ready to fight for the very right of people to
obtain even a minimum level of income support.

Nor can we forget that, for hundreds of thousands of low-income
people, the undermining of social programs has meant that they must
frequently access private charity in order to survive. If food banks
and other such services face a big increase in demand, while finding
it harder to bring in donations, the costs in terms of hunger and
illness will be very great indeed. Food banks have become a de facto
second layer of welfare provision that until now has partly concealed
the gross inadequacy of social assistance payments and limited the
spread of hunger. If they are overwhelmed, the resulting situation
will be tragic.

We can expect other impacts in the area of municipal services. 180,000
public housing tenants in Toronto are living in buildings and units
that are in a state of massive disrepair. Infusions of cash from
Queen's Park have been well short of the hundreds of millions needed
to bring this huge quantity of public housing stock up to a standard
that even meets legal requirements. In conditions of funding cutbacks,
this process can only intensify. Already, despite a waiting list for
social housing of some 70,000, City owned buildings are left vacant
for want of resources to restore them to a level where they can be
occupied. There are not a few buildings that have been neglected to
the point where action must be taken soon if they are to continue to
house people. The loss of public housing in conditions where growing
numbers of people lack the means to pay rent in the private market
would be a disastrous addition to the overall crisis.

Even before this downturn really takes hold, hundreds of thousands of
low-income tenants in Toronto barely keep themselves housed and pay
the rent only by going short on decent food. There are already more
evictions taking place under McGuinty than during the Harris years. If
jobless rates shoot up and income support systems are further
restricted, an epidemic of economic evictions will ensue. Then, as the
loss of housing drives people to seek emergency shelter, we see
another situation where the course charted before the downturn has
horrible implications. Toronto has taken up a relentless drive to
remove shelters and services for the homeless from the central part of
the city. At present, finding a bed for the night in the overcrowded
shelters is a challenge for the homeless. An upsurge in destitution
will mean more people trying to access a system that is already
inadequate. There will be a great political reluctance to respond to
this need. Not only will Toronto City Council want to minimize
expenditures but it will also be loath to open facilities in areas it
has recently worked to clear of the homeless in the interests of
upscale redevelopment. Some of the fights we face ahead will be for
the very right to find shelter and stay alive.

Marginalized Communities and the Crisis

It would be hard to overestimate the degree to which this crisis will
intensify the abuses faced by precarious workers in the most
exploitative and low paying sectors of the job market. The level of
enforcement of the most basic legal rights for such workers has
already sunk to the level of tokenism. A worker who actually receives
the protections of the Employment Standards Act enjoys little enough
but these protections are a dead letter in many workplaces. The
payment of wages below the level of the minimum wage, failure to
provide overtime pay, the disregarding of statutory holidays, blatant
safety violations – all these things are widespread now. In conditions
of rising unemployment, we may expect employers to intensify the
abuses very considerably.

There is one 'service' that has been exempt from austerity and,
indeed, has had money thrown at it to the point where its budget has
swollen to unheard of proportions. That exception to the rule is, of
course, policing. This institution and its repressive role will be
preserved and pampered no matter how dire the fiscal situation in the
period ahead. The role of the police in poor communities will be
stepped up in conditions of worsening poverty and destitution. If we
look at the history of the Great Depression, we can see how local
authorities responded in that period to the explosion of homelessness
that took place. The police were used to ensure that those without
work and housing received a very clear message that they were
unwelcome and should move on.

Over the last few years, the drive to clear the central part of the
city of poor and homeless people in order to make way for the process
of gentrification, has given the Toronto cops extensive experience in
harassing and terrorizing people the merchants, developers and
politicians would rather not have around. Toronto's drive to remove
panhandlers has been stepped up greatly in the last couple of years
and it has provided the police with a huge training exercise in
criminalizing a population and disregarding its most basic legal
rights. As pressure on services and the level of visible homelessness
increases, we can count on intensified police repression to be a key
element of the attack that poor communities will have to respond to.

In every aspect of the unfolding crisis that I have pointed to, it is,
very sadly, a given that immigrant communities will face a massively
disproportionate level of attack. A few days ago, the Ontario
Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) office took a call from a Central
American family who had applied to their local welfare office for a
health related benefit. An official informed them that she did not
believe they needed the benefit and threatened to make sure they were
deported for making false claims. A Somali woman applying for the same
benefit was told by another office that she should not expect such
assistance because she was already better off in Canada than she had
been in Africa. The impending drive to restrict social provision will
have a racist, anti immigrant element that will shape and define it.
With immigrant communities already disadvantaged and vulnerable, any
movement of resistance to poverty will need to confront racism whether
it is sanctioned officially and hides its face or it begins to come
out in the open as expressions of political backwardness.

Continue reading:
www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/bullet166.html#continue

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Donations Needed! Housing NOT Demolition!

2008-12-03T13:13:00.001-05:00

Show your support for a family that is facing eviction and for the rights
of tenants! (Ways that you can get involved are listed below.)

A family in the Peterborough community has recently received notice that
an affordable housing corporation, Homegrown Homes, is evicting them and
demolishing their home rather than making the basic repairs and minor
renovations that are needed.

Homegrown Homes has also refused to reimburse the tenants for the
materials that they have purchased to make repairs, and has refused to
compensate the family for the possessions that they have lost because of
the corporation’s negligence.

Landlords are legally responsible to conduct renovations and compensate
tenants!

Since Homegrown Homes refuses to negotiate and has been uncooperative, the
tenants have taken their case to the Landlord and Tenant Board to pursue
their entitlement to compensation for out of pocket expenses. However, due
to the complexities of the case, the tenants need the legal expertise of a
lawyer. Financial contributions will mean that the tenants can afford to
have this legal expertise and that they can push their case forward at the
Landlord and Tenant Board.

***How you can help:***

1). Make a donation to financially support the tenant’s legal case.
$660.00 are required to cover legal fees. If we recieve donations in
excess of this amount, then we will use it to create a fund for legal
and/or processing fees.

Please make donations out to:
Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty
393 Water, Unit #17
Peterborough, ON
k9h 3l7
Attention – Housing not Demolition!

Or you can send donations through paypal.
Please email us to let us know that your paypal donation is for Housing not Demolition.

2). Let members of City Council and the board of Homegrown Homes know that
people have a right to stay in their homes, and that housing corporations
have a responsibility to conduct necessary repairs and to provide
compensation.

Tell City Councillors and Homegrown Homes not to demolish affordable
housing units!

Please send letters to:

Donna Clarke
Administrator
Homegrown Homes
P.O. Box 2425
Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7Y8

Colin MacLeod
Chair
Homegrown Homes
P.O. Box 2425
Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7Y8

D. Paul Ayotte
c/o City Hall, 500 George Street North, Peterborough, Ontario K9H 3R9
Mayor’s Office - (705)742-7777 x1870
Fax » (705) 748-8861
E-Mail » mayor@peterborough.ca

*Also send letters to your representative member of City Council*

3). Boxes for moving are very much needed!
If you have boxes or other items that would be useful for moving, please
drop them off at the PCAP office.

Fight to Win!

OCSJ Assembly

2008-11-27T11:03:00.000-05:00

ONTARIO COALITION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

Assembly on Saturday, November 29, 2008
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Steelworkers' Hall
25 Cecil St.
Toronto, Ont.
(near College & University subway)

“GOOD JOB” CAMPAIGN &
RAISE RATES / END POVERTY!

10:00 a.m. “Good job” campaign:

John Cartwright, Toronto & York Region Labour Council

11:00 a.m. Report on status of Ont. poverty reduction strategy

11:15 a.m. End poverty:

*Aboriginal poverty: Ian Jacobsen & Teala Quintanilla,
Ont. Coalition of Indian Friendship Centres & aboriginal education

12:00 p.m. LUNCH break, & networking

12:30 p.m. Resume - End Poverty

*Activists against poverty: Carolyn Hamlin & Christine Watts
Northumberland Coalition Against Poverty, plus
Cindy Buott, National Anti-Poverty Organization

*Disability community: John Rae, Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians
Cheryl Duggan, ODSP Action Coalition
Peter Page, Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups

2:00 p.m. Small group discussions

3:00 p.m. Josephine Grey: facilitate concluding strategy discussion

Questions? Contact:

John Argue, Co-ordinator
Ontario Coalition for Social Justice
15 Gervais Dr., #305
Toronto, Ont., M3C 1Y8
(416) 441-3714
info@ocsj.ca

CALL FOR COURT SOLIDARITY WITH THE CHARKAOUI FAMILY

2008-11-27T11:02:00.002-05:00

LET'S PACK THE COURT! SOLIDARITY WITH ADIL CHARKAOUI THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER
28TH

Important UPDATE and Call to come to court

-------------------
REMINDER: Come out to court on FRIDAY, 28 November, starting at 9:30am.
Hearings normally last until about 4pm, with a lunch break. The hearings
will take place at 30 McGill St., Metro Square Victoria, Montreal. The
Coalition is calling for a strong presence in court as a show of solidarity
with the Charkaouis, who have been struggling for very basic rights for five
years and nine months.
-------------------

***New scandal in Charkaoui case:
After five and a half years, CSIS asks for time to gather evidence
Judge decides: Show trial will proceed on the basis of CSIS opinions, no
need for evidence

On Friday morning, the Quebec Bar Association will appear in court to argue
that it should be allowed to intervene in Adil's case. The Quebec Bar
Association wants to present its arguments that the security certificate law
remains unconstitutional (see their written arguments here:
www.adilinfo.org/en/updates).

During Monday's hearings, a very lively debate - some of it at high
decibels - took place between Charkaoui's lawyers and the Federal Court
judge.

Charkaoui's lawyers argued for a complete review of his bail conditions,
before and separately from public hearings on the security certificate. His
lawyers had requested this review in April 2008, arguing that his detention
is illegal because C-3 itself is unconstitutional. They also argued that the
public hearings on the certificate should not take place before the
government hands over evidence. On 27 October, CSIS admitted to the judge
that it needed more time - six months - to gather information to support its
case against Adil. Five and a half years into the case, it turns out that it
is not only Adil and his lawyers who haven't been given disclosure; CSIS
hasn't even given it to the judges or the Ministers who signed the
certificate in the first place! CSIS's admission came as a result of a June
2008 Supreme Court ruling that intelligence reports, and in particular
summaries of alleged interviews, were definitely not a sufficient basis for
the security certificate process; CSIS would have to back up its opinions
with actual evidence (photos, recordings, notes, etc.).

Adil's lawyers demanded to have a full and final set of all evidence
available to them (ie, everything that is not withheld on grounds of
national security) as well as a 'snapshot' of the entire case (including the
secret parts) before they begin any public hearings on the security
certificate.

Astonishingly, on Wednesday, the judge ruled that the public hearings on the
certificate must proceed on Monday, 8 December, before the missing evidence
is handed over either to the judge or Adil, let alone the other information
Adil would need to know the case against him. She also said that two days of
secret hearings would take place on 3 and 4 December, which could lead to a
new summary of information being released on the Friday before the show
trial. This could well lead to the kinds of sensationalist headlines which
we saw in February 2008, when the Federal Court posted CSIS's unproven
allegations on their website. This would create a huge prejudice against
Adil just before he heads into an already astonishingly unjust process - a
show trial, which is the public face of a secret process to determine
whether Adil will be deported to face torture.

!!!!!OTHER WAYS OF SHOWING YOUR SOLIDARITY!!!!!

If you can't make it to hearings on Friday, please:

* Ask your group to join Federal Court Watch:
www.adilinfo.org/en/federal-court-watch

* Participate in the cross-Canada day of Action against secret rendition
hearings on Wednesday, 10 December:

- In Montreal: Theatrical Action at NOON outside the Federal Court (30
McGill St., Square Victoria metro) on Wednesday, 10 December. More details
at www.adilinfo.org.

- Outside Montreal: contact tasc@web.ca (english) or
justiceforadil@riseup.net (french).

-------------------------------------
Coalition Justice for Adil Charkaoui
www.adilinfo.org
justiceforadil@riseup.net
tel. 514 848 7583

To subscribe to our listserve: justiceforadil-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

PCAP Film Night

2008-11-22T11:33:00.000-05:00

*Free Films and Organic Popcorn!*

What: No Place Called Home & Raise the Rates
When: Wednesday, November 26 at 7:00
Where: Sadleir House, 751 George St. N.

*No Place Called Home*

No Place Called Home illustrates the desperate struggle faced by the Rices
and a growing number of working poor families.

Shot in an intimate, cinema verite style, No Place Called Home follows the
Rice Family over the course of a year as they move in search for
affordable housing.

No Place Called Home demonstrates the power of people with low income to
challenge oppressive landlords, and fight back!

*Raise the Rates*

Following the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty's (OCAP) campaign to raise
social assistance rates in Ontario in 2005-2006, this documentary features
first-hand accounts of 5 women involved in the campaign as well as footage
from special diet clinics, demonstrations, and occupations. From powerful
voices of people directly affected by the welfare system comes a demand to
raise the rates, and a determination to fight back.

These films are part of OPIRG's Free Documentary Film Series

Algonquin blockade: Urgent call for support for Barriere Lake, and arrested community spokesperson Marylynn Poucachiche

2008-11-19T12:32:00.003-05:00

This morning at 7:30am, 70 members of the Algonquin community of Barriere
Lake and 30 non-native supporters peacefully blockaded highway 117 in
Northern Quebec, while a Christian Peacemaker Team observed the action.

The Government-backed minority faction currently in power had fed
information about the blockade plans to the Quebec police, who established a
significant presence before the blockade was set up. They issued threats of
mass arrest, dismantled the blockades, and followed protesters down the
highway in a high-speed chase until the access road to the Barriere Lake
reserve, where Algonquins and their supporters are maintaining a presence.

Community spokesperson Marylynn Poucachiche has been arrested for
obstruction and mischief and is currently detained.

Once again, the community needs the public to make it clear right now that
this treatment is unacceptable, that the Algonquins have suffered enough
division at the hands of the government, and that the signed agreements need
to be honoured.

On October 6th, the first peaceful blockade of Highway 117 - a tactic of
last resort, after months of being ignored or dismissed by the Canadian and
Quebec governments - was met with violent repression, including tear-gassing
and pain compliance. In the last few weeks, forestry companies were
discovered cutting new logging roads without consent from Barriere Lake's
legitimate leadership - a violation of the November 2007 ban on new forestry
operations in the Trilateral territory. Despite decades of struggle and
these recent developments, the community refuses to back down.

"Instead of doing the dirty work of the federal government, Quebec should
implement its agreements and immediately lobby the federal government to
deal fairly with our community," said Norman Matchewan, a community
spokesperson. "Charest's brutal treatment of our community shows his
government has absolutely no respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples,
which should be an urgent matter of debate during the provincial election."

The Algonquins were promising to maintain the blockade until Canada and
Quebec committed in writing to honour their agreements and Canada appoints
an observer to witness and respect the outcome of a new leadership selection
in Barriere Lake in accordance with their Customary Governance Code.

*** What you can do right now to help: ***

We need people to let the government know that they support the demands
Barriere Lake has been fighting for for decades.

Please take 15 minutes to phone or fax a letter, see below for a model
letter, or modify and send a *sample letter.

*You can do that here:*
.http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post.html

*Stephen Harper*, Prime Minister of Canada
(fax: 613-941-6900)
*Lawrence Cannon*, Transportation Minister and MP for Pontiac
(613 992-2940 Fax: 613 944-9376)
*Chuck Strahl*, Minister of Indian Affairs
(819 997-0002, Fax: 819 953-4941 )

*** More information: ***

Demands, and a list of groups that have endorsed them:
http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2008/03/mission.html
Video of the October 6th blockade: http://blip.tv/file/1391794

A quick visual introduction to the community:
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/1947

GIMME SHELTER!

2008-11-19T12:16:00.003-05:00

Demand the government ACT NOW to provide more emergency shelter and food!

**Demonstration & Press Conference**

*12noon – Wednesday, November 26, 2008
*Corner of Queen & Sherbourne, Toronto
*HOT LUNCH PROVIDED***

The economy is crashing and people are losing their jobs – and their homes.
More and more of our brothers and sisters are being pushed onto the streets,
in need of safe shelter and food. But THE SHELTERS ARE ALREADY FULL! In
fact, the government has recently CUT hundreds of beds from the system!

With winter setting in, this is a matter of life and death, with hungry
people spending nights outside the over-crowded shelters as the temperature
drops. The government MUST ACT NOW to prevent even more deaths!

*We urgently need more, *safe* beds and meals to deal with the crisis right
now - in addition to decent housing.

*EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SAFE AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE SHELTER & FOOD!

___________
*For more information, childcare, or accessibility, contact TDRC:

**TORONTO **DISASTER RELIEF COMMITTEE (TDRC)
416-599-8372 | housingnotwar@tdrc.net** |
www.HousingNotWar.ca

TYENDINAGA Invite to Meeting This Sunday

2008-11-08T15:34:00.001-05:00

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVITATION FROM TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TERRITORY:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We have sent an invitation wampum to all Mohawk communities requesting
their assistance in dealing with the current crisis that we face. We have
asked the Longhouse community to come to Tyendinaga to council and develop
a strategy that will assist us in getting through the impasse that we face
with the govt of Canada and its police. The Mohawk council is set for
Sunday Nov. 9 at 10am.

We are further wanting to extend an invitation to all people within the
Mohawk Nation and including non native people and organizations to come to
the community on Sunday to see and hear first hand the reality of our
situation.

This is to avoid a similar reoccurance of media manipulation and
propaganda that clouded the issues of Kanesatake in 2004.. It is
anticipated that a third attempt will be made sometime next week with
respect to the police building. There are currently efforts being made to
recruit officers from other communities with promises of $3000.00 per week
pay with all expenses paid.

The similarities between Tyendinaga 2008 and Kanesatake 2004 are too
obvious to be ignored. There is no expectation with respect to people
coming. We simply want people to know the truth before crisis ensues.

- Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
Thursday, November 6th, 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9TH, 2008
Supporters are welcome from 12pm onwards

Driving Directions from Toronto:

Highway 401 East
Highway 401 past Belleville to Shannonville/Tyendinaga Mohak Territory exit
Exit 401 at Shannnonville/TMT exit and turn right at stop sign onto
Shannonville Road
Stay on Shannonville Road until it ends at an intersection
Turn left and then immediate right on to York Road
Stay on York Road (about 10 minutes) to Norways Side Road (on the right
hand side)
Turn right on Norways Side Road
Stay on Norways until it ends at Ridge Road
Turn right on Ridge Road
Stay on Ridge Road for 5 minutes, look for longhouse on the righthand side
(518 Ridge Road, longhouse is just past the mailboxes)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Driving Directions from Montreal:

Highway 40 and Highway 20 to Ontario: Highway 401 East
401 East past Napanee
Exit 401 at Shannnonville/TMT exit and turn left at stop sign onto
Shannonville Road
Stay on Shannonville Road until it ends at an intersection
Turn left and then immediate right on to York Road
Stay on York Road (about 10 minutes) to Norways Side Road (on the right
hand side)
Turn right on Norways Side Road
Stay on Norways until it ends at Ridge Road
Turn right on Ridge Road
Stay on Ridge Road for 5 minutes, look for longhouse on the righthand side
(518 Ridge Road, longhouse is just past the mailboxes)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTACT THE FEDS: Back off Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory:
COLONIAL GOVERNMENT OUT OF FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Tyendinaga Support Committee

(November 5th, 2008) At present, Tyendinaga Mohawk community members are
being targeted for their opposition to an expensive new police station,
paid for in part by the Federal Government of Canada, as well as their
opposition to quarry operations where no adequate environmental
assessments have taken place.

The Band Council in Tyendinaga put up half the money ($1 million) for the
new cop shop, while the Ministry of Public Safety and Security put up the
other half of the funding. Plans were made for this roughly $1.9-million
facility, even though the money could have been spent to address the lack
of safe water on the Territory and poor housing conditions.

A month ago, on September 24th, 2008, the new police building was put on
hold after community members blockaded the intended site of the building.
Such demonstrations took place again last week. Now several dozen
community members are facing arrest and criminal charges.

It seems clear the the Canadian government is intent on ensuring this new
cop shop be implemented, in a community which has stood up for its people
and its land, time and time again.

Take a moment to call on the feds who are helping to make this police
station happen, and express your concern at their involvement in pouring
increased policing monies into a First Nations community where water and
housing issues and the legitimate Culbertson Tract land claim remain
unresolved.

CONTACT:

Peter Van Loan
Minister of Public Safety
House of Commons
Ottawa K1A 0A6

phone: 613-944-4875 or 1-800-830-3118
fax: 613-954-5186
email: communications@ps.gc.ca

Stephen Harper
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa K1A 0A2

phone (constituency office):(403) 253-7990
fax: 613-941-6900
email: pm@pm.gc.ca

Harper.S@parl.gc.ca

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT FROM TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TERRITORY:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WARRANTS ISSUED: 30 MOHAWKS FACING ARREST
Tyendinaga Police 'Respond' to Community Concerns
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Wednesday, November 5, 2008) It appears that Tyendinaga Police Chief Ron
Maracle is making good on his promise of charging people involved in
demonstrations at the intended site for a second police station, as well
as a contested second quarry operation on the Territory (different
location than the original and on-going reclamation of the Thurlow
Aggregate quarry site).

It is believed that Tyendinaga Mohawk Police have issued warrants for 30
community members.

The people targeted for arrest are Longhouse people who maintain scrutiny
over Band Council operations and spending. This amounts to an
unprecedented attempt to criminalize and jail any effective opposition
that exists in the community. This is an attack on our families, our
children, our culture and the way we think. This has moved beyond a
simple community dispute. The federal government is making a final push
to eradicate those people who believe in the strength and power of the
Mohawk Nation and who will stand in its defence.

Despite community concern over widespread exposure to water that has been
declared unfit for human consumption throughout reserve homes and schools,
the Government continues to prioritize the second station over these
needs.

Concern over the second quarry operation stems from alarm at the
tremendous speed with which this particular quarry has been established
and grown in size. Community members are aware of the extremely rigorous
environmental study and assessment practices that are required before
quarries and aggregates can be established elsewhere in the province. Such
laws do not apply on reserves and concern as to whether environmental and
safety assessments have been properly conducted and meet recognized
professional standards.

These fears have increased in recent weeks as households in the direct
vicinity of quarry operations have experienced water problems and
collapsed wells for the first time ever.

The quarry is operated by Build-All Contractors, a company owned by Police
Chief Maracle's brother. The site preparation and overseeing of the
building construction at the site of the new police station was also
awarded to Build-All, the Police Chief's brother, in an untendered
contract.

All of this is taking place because we oppose a decision made by the Band
Council.

With army helicopters and fighter jets circulating the Territory today,
the Federal Government of Canada is making it clear that it intends to
exercise what it views as its interest in community affairs.

- Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

New First Nations police station draws protest

By Brian St. Denis

http://www.thepioneer.com/?q=node/2983

Friday, October 31st, 2008

A protest against the installation of a new Tyendinaga police building
ended early Wednesday night when activists delayed its delivery for a
second time.

Native protesters braved the frigid weather for several days to protest
the installation of the York Road station on the Tyendinaga Mohawk
Territory, west of Deseronto.

The building, which was assembled off-site, was trucked in Oct. 29 but was
not successfully installed on the site.

"The trucking company had to leave because their permits were only good
for the daylight hours, so it when it started getting dark they had to get
out of there," said Brant Bardy, a spokesperson for the Tyendinaga Mohawk
Territory band office.

The original delivery date was Sept. 23, making this the second delay in
just over a month. Bardy said the protest has not deterred plans to bring
the building in.

"The building is bought and paid for, and every delay is pushing up
costs," said Bardy. "That's an injustice to the community coffers."

The issue of the heart of the protest was clean drinking water. According
to the protesters, approximately 80 per cent of the community's wells are
contaminated. The Quinte Mohawk School, just seconds down the road, has to
provide bottled water for students because the tap water is unsafe.

"They need to address the issues," said Dan Doreen, spokesperson for the
protesters. "They have bags over the fountains at the school."

He said that they don't object to the new building, but to the community
having to match the government funding of $980,000. They believe this
money should go to solving the drinking water problem first.

"Kids are number one," said another protester.

York Road was blocked off by the Mohawk Fire Department and several police
officers for the duration of the protest. The protesters had a pick-up
truck parked on the cement pad where the new building was to be placed.

The protesters also used a small tractor to dig on the property, claiming
it was for a new youth centre, but Bardy said it was just a red herring.

Police announced early Wednesday morning that the protest had become a
matter of public safety and blocked the public, including media, out of
the area. Bardy said that a police investigation is underway, but
Tyendinaga Police Chief Ron Maracle could not be reached for comment.

_______________________________________________
Tyendinaga_support mailing list
Tyendinaga_support@masses.tao.ca
https://masses.tao.ca/lists/listinfo/tyendinaga_support

Stop Bill 106: Faster evictions do not make our communities safer!

2008-10-28T15:05:00.002-04:00

*Tell your MPP to vote against Bill 106 on October 30!*

Background

Bill 106 - The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act (SCAN) was
introduced as a private member's bill on October 2, 2008. This Bill
will have serious impacts on the rights of tenants and fails to address
real concerns of community safety. Bill 106 (SCAN) would enable
municipalities to appoint a Director of Safer Communities and
Neighbourhoods that will accept anonymous allegations of unsafe or
illegal activities occurring on or near specific properties. The SCAN
Director has sweeping powers to conduct surveillance of accused tenants
and homeowners. The Director can then apply to Superior Court to evict
the tenant or close the property for up to 90 days through a 'Community
Safety Order'.

You can view the full bill at:
www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=2064

Bill 106 (SCAN) will be bad for our communities:

- The Residential Tenancies Act and Criminal Code already address unsafe
and illegal activities occurring in residential properties.

- SCAN will undermine security of tenure for tenants and lead to an
increase in homelessness.

- SCAN violates the rights of tenants to a fair, open process.

- SCAN will violate our right to privacy in our homes.

- SCAN will likely result in human rights violations and
over-investigation of racialized community members. Women and children
may face homelessness based on allegations against their partners or
other males in the household.

- There is no oversight of the SCAN Director.

- SCAN could violate the right to security of the person provided for in
the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

- Police officers can carry out SCAN-ordered evictions, something they
are not allowed to do under the Residential Tenancies Act.

There are no guarantees that SCAN will do much more than move the
offending activities from one community to another. We need real
solutions that address the root causes of unsafe behaviour including
non-coercive community dispute resolution processes, adequately funded
drug and alcohol treatment programs and social programs for
disenfranchised community members. Ontario could spend up to $8 million
implementing Bill 106. Ontario already spends $3.4 billion on policing.
Public dollars are better spent to address the lack of decent, accessible, affordable housing in Ontario.

What you can do to protect the rights of tenants:

-Write your local MPP and tell them that Bill 106 is a bad idea. Share
your concerns in a clear, polite manner and urge your MPP to vote for
tenants rights and against Bill 106.

-Send a copy of your letter to the Honourable Jim Watson,
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and MPP Yasir Naqvi, the MPP
who introduced Bill 106.

You can find the contact information of MPPs
by visiting: www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/member_addresses.do?locale=en
You can email the Honourable Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs
and Housing at: jwatson.mpp@liberal.ola.org
You can email Yasir Naqvi, MPP at: ynaqvi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

-Spread the word! Tell people about this issue and encourage them to take action!

Bill 106 is scheduled for second reading on October 30, 2008.

*Tell your MPP to vote against Bill 106-SCAN on October 30!*

For more information on Bill 106, Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods
Act and tenant rights contact the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario by
emailing: dirksy@lao.on.ca

Maintenance not Demolition! Affordable Housing Now!

2008-10-21T10:32:00.001-04:00

***Community Member facing *Eviction* from Affordable Housing Corporation***

*Please attend City Council Meeting October 27th at 6:00*

A member of the Peterborough community has recently received notice that a housing corporation is pursuing eviction rather than making the basic repairs and minor renovations that are needed to ensure the health and safety of the tenants.

This Monday, Homegrown Homes, recommend to City Council that the house be demolished.

The motion was passed.

Next Monday, the decision will have to be approved in order for Homegrown Homes to go forward with evicting the tenant and demolishing the affordable housing unit.

***Let members of city council know that people have a right to stay in their homes and that housing corporations have a responsibility to conduct necessary repairs by attending the City Council Meeting on Monday, October 27th at 6:00!***

Fight to Win!

Forum and Rally Supporting Non-Status Women Fleeing Violence

2008-09-23T19:28:00.004-04:00

FORUM: Supporting Non-Status Women Fleeing Violence

Thursday October 2, 2008
9:30am Registration
10:00am Forum

Location: Ryerson University
Student Centre
55 Gould St
Rm SCC115

** March and Rally to follow at 12:00pm **

* Learn about how recent changes to immigration law impact diverse women, including women without status

* Hear about attacks on safe spaces and community responses to support non-status women fleeing violence

* Q&A with immigration lawyer, front line workers and service providers

To register please contact Sonia at sonia@workersactioncentre.org or
(416) 531-0778, ext. 221 by September 25, 2008

************************************************************************

MARCH and RALLY at the Immigration Refugee Board

Thursday October 2, 2008
Meet 12:00pm at the corner of Yonge St. and Gould St.

Let Them Stay!

* Support domestic violence survivor Isabel Garcia and her children to stay in Canada

* Call for protection of women fleeing violence through the refugee determination process

Isabel Garcia, single mother and survivor of domestic violence, and herchildren are just one of many families whose lives have been put at risk as a result of negative decisions at the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Isabel came to Canada with her children 3 years ago seeking protection from her violent ex-husband in Mexico. Ignoring overwhelming evidence pointing to a lack of state protection for women surviving domestic violence in Mexico, the Immigration and Refugee Board heartlessly denied Isabel's claim for asylum.

By issuing an abrupt and last minute deportation notice, Immigration Enforcement ensured that Isabel and her lawyer did not have time for a fair review at the Federal Court for a stay on her removal. Isabel made the difficult decision to go into hiding rather than face further violence in Mexico.

Canada's failing Immigration and Refugee Protection Act is allowing huge numbers of women fleeing violence to fall through the cracks. The Federal Court of Canada has begun to question decisions of the Refugee Board and has recently overturned several decisions where women faced gender violence.

These women have been unable to access shelters, crisis centers, professional support, guidance or counseling because of Immigration Enforcement's targeting of these spaces.

Stand up against immigration decisions and policies that put women and children, like Isabel and her family, at risk of violence. Join us as we call on the government to:

* Let Them Stay! - Allow this family to stay in Canada while their Humanitarian Application is considered, and to grant their Humanitarian Application

* Ensure protection for women fleeing violence through the refugee determination process

** How can you help? **

1) Endorse the rally and help us mobilize. Organize a delegation from your church, union, or community center to come out to the forum and rally. Call us for help in spreading the word and for copies of flyers and posters or to make a financial or in-kind donation.

2) Write a support letter for Isabel Garcia and mail it to the Workers Action Centre. For a sample, see the letter below.

3) Invite campaign representatives to do a workshop or presentation at your organization, agency or community centre.

4) Make a financial or in-kind donation to help with this campaign.

Cheques can be made payable to Workers Action Centre.

For more information, or to send an endorsement or a letter of support, contact:

Workers' Action Centre - Sonia Singh: (416) 531-0778, ext. 221,
sonia@workersactioncentre.org
Interim Place - Cindy Cowan: cindy@interimplace.com
No One is Illegal: nooneisillegal@riseup.net

Donations and support letters can be sent to:
Workers' Action Centre
720 Spadina Avenue, Suite 223
Toronto ON M5S 2T9

***ENDORSED BY***
Centre for Feminist Research
Interim Place
Mennonite New Life Centre
METRAC
Mujer
Nellie's
No One Is Illegal - Toronto
North York Women's Shelter
Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses
OPSEU
Parkdale Community Legal Services
Step It Up Campaign
The Stop Community Food Centre
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre
Toronto Women's Bookstore
Workers Action Centre

CN: Drop your Racist Lawsuit!

2008-09-18T23:05:00.003-04:00

*Support Shawn Brant and the Mohawks of Tyendinaga*

Tyendinaga is a Mohawk community located on the shore of the Bay of Quinte between Toronto and Montreal, in eastern Ontario. The Mohawk Nation is one of the five original nations of the Iroquois Confederacy.

As part of long-standing struggles for land and self-determination – including unresolved land claims, poverty, suicides and polluted water -- members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk community have organized to defend their territory. In particular, several actions, including blockades, have taken place to expedite the slow negotiation process over the Culbertson Tract, a piece of land the government has long acknowledged was taken illegally from the Mohawks. A quarry on the land was reclaimed in March 2007, and Mohawks have maintained a fulltime presence on-site ever since.

Because of his role as an outspoken spokesperson for the community, Shawn Brant has been repeatedly targeted for arrest and incarceration. Shawn's trial for his role in blockades of highways and railways running through the Tyendinaga territory will begin in January 2009; the Crown prosecutor is asking for 12 year prison sentence.

The attack on Shawn Brant is no less than an attack on all Indigenous peoples who stand up to defend their land and community. Other members of the Tyendinaga community have also been charged with serious offences, and forbidden from participating in protests. Instead of acknowledging the just claims of the Tyendinaga Mohawks, the government and police are criminalizing the community.

We must not let the state succeed with their attacks on Shawn Brant and the Mohawks of Tyendinaga. As non-native allies, living in settler communities on or near Mohawk lands, we need to stand up in support of Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. Read more below about "How you can help?"

--- CN: Drop your racist lawsuit! ---

While various Mohawk activists are facing criminal charges, some are also facing civil lawsuits by CN Rail, a multi-billion dollar company with installations and tracks from ocean-to-ocean. CN's corporate headquarters are in Montreal (935 de La Gauchetière Street West, right beside the main Central Train Station). CN's rails through the territory of Tyendinaga were blocked in April 2006, and again in June 2007.

In a legal maneuver that can only be described as colonial, CN is currently suing three activists from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory – Shawn Brant, Jason Maracle and Tara Green -- for over $100 million. CN's lawsuit is that much more offensive when you consider that CN tracks cross native territories all over "Canada." Their lawsuit is about intimidating and marginalizing effective indigenous organizers, who are active in the legitimate defense of their land and livelihood.

While CN uses the courts to attack native activists, the company's CEO -- E. Hunter Harrison -- is a member of the North American Competitiveness Council, a key promoter of the recently formed "Security and Prosperity Partnership" (SPP) between Canada, the United States and Mexico. The SPP continues the imposition of the pro-corporate North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), combined with paranoid "Homeland Security" policies.

When travelers consider the "inconvenience" of delayed trains, or blocked highways and bridges, contrast that temporary inconvenience with the permanent and deeply entrenched theft of land from native communities, and the adverse social conditions that hundreds of years of genocide have produced.

As part of the campaign of support for the Mohawks of Tyendinaga, Montreal-area organizers are also organizing a campaign to target CN Rail for their colonial and racist role in attacking the Mohawks of Tyendinaga. They are demanding that CN drop their racist lawsuit.

---- How you can help? ----

* The Montreal Tyendinaga Support Committee is actively raising money for the Tyendinaga Legal Defence Fund, which divides funds raised between the legal costs of Shawn's trial, and maintaining the quarry reclamation site. Get in touch to contribute, or if you're organizing your own fundraising events. Check out their website for more info about the $5 x 1000 Montreal Fundraising Campaign.

* The Montreal Tyendinaga Support Committee is also continuing their campaign against CN Rail, whose corporate headquarters are in Montreal. If you can help with popular education and action efforts in the coming months, please get in touch. More info about the CN campaign is also on their website below.

* More generally, get in touch so that you can receive more info about upcoming events and actions, as well as updates.

INFO: indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com - 514-848-7583 -
http://www.amp-montreal.net

Tenant's Rights Workshop

2008-09-07T22:37:00.003-04:00

Wednesday, September 10
1:00 - 2:00
LEC Pit, Trent University

Not sure what do you do when your landlord invades your privacy, fails to do repairs, asks for a deposit???

This workshop will help you determine if your living arrangement falls under the Residential Tenancies Act, and will provide you with the information and tools that you need to start asserting your rights!

For more information contact PCAP at
(705)749-9694
pcap@riseup.net

or stop by our office at
#17 - 393 Water Street
Peterborough, Ontario, K9H 3L7

Fight to Win!

Psych Survivors Chalk Sidewalks and Walls of CMHA:

2008-08-30T18:52:00.004-04:00

On August 11th 2008, Psychiatric Survivors and their allies went to the streets outside the local CMHA – Canadian Mental Health Association in a protest against the policies of the organization. Organized by the Peterborough Coalition against Poverty (PCAP), Psychiatric Survivors and Allies Group, and Food Not Bombs, the protest raised a number of issues concerning homelessness, poverty, and poor mental health support.

Despite the emotional weather during the day, several ex-consumers of CMHA were present at the speak-out and voiced their concerns on how the CMHA forces dependency and does not respect the rights of survivors. A number of issues were put forth including the over-use of psychiatric drugs and lack of supportive and individual counsellings. The local CMHA has a history of poor services and often violates tenant rights under its supportive housing program.

Another major issue that was brought out were the actions of CMHA in absorbing Crazy Cooks and bringing it into its own financial management which now runs as Catering Plus. Crazy Cooks used be a catering service run by psychiatric survivors as a means of livelihood and skills development. The Trustee Program has similar problems and often poor-bash survivors as not being able to have control over their own
financial funds.

Protesters, that included psychiatric survivors, ex-consumers, and PCAP advocates, chalked the sidewalks and the walls near the association to express their feelings.

Following the speak-out, a statement was delivered to the CMHA by the psychiatric survivors. The statement outlined many concerns, requested a response from the CMHA, and listed a set of demands for improving services and respecting the needs, agency, and choices of people with mental health issues. The statement also made an invitation to CMHA to participate in a workshop on how to provide supportive services and being an ally of survivors that will be put together by a psychiatric
survivor.

The CMHA has yet to respond to the psychiatric survivors' statement demonstrating once again how they treat the opinions and voices of the consumers and survivors. PCAP and the psych survivors group will be continuing their protest against the CMHA and demanding that CMHA stop forcing dependency, and respect the agency of survivors.

Check out the following links for coverage from the Examiner:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplayGenContent.aspx?e=7369
and
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1152756

A CALL FOR ENDORSEMENTS AND SOLIDARITY

2008-08-06T21:09:00.002-04:00

Dear friends and allies --

As you might know, in March the Algonquin community of Barriere Lake, located 400 kms north of Montreal, Quebec, had their Customary Chief and Council deposed by the Canadian government, with support from the Quebec government, in an attempt to get out of binding agreements signed with the community.

This is only the latest chapter in Barriere Lake's long struggle to wrest control over their lives and lands from governments and corporations. In 1991, Barriere Lake compelled Canada and Quebec to sign a groundbreaking land management and sustainable development agreement, after a campaign of civil disobedience that caught international attention. The Trilateral agreement set important precedents: it would give Barriere Lake decisive say in the management of 10,000 square kilometers of their traditional territory, protect Algonquin land uses, and give them a share in the resource-revenue from logging and hydro projects on their land. Praised by
the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the agreement was an alternative to the Comprehensive Land Claims process, which Barriere Lake rejected because it would force them to extinguish their Aboriginal title and rights, among other reasons.

The federal and provincial governments never liked the agreement, and have tried everything to undermine it – including the unilateral leadership change in March. It's the third time in the past 12 years that the government has refused to recognize the legitimate community leadership. Today, the agreement remains unimplemented.

For background and information on Barriere Lake:
http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/

Though a small community with few resources, Barriere Lake has demonstrated remarkable tenacity in their struggle for self-determination and the protection of their culture and land. But it is a struggle that can only succeed with broad support and solidarity from non-native people.

The Barriere Lake Solidarity collective in Montreal, taking direction from Barriere Lake, is looking for groups and organizations to *ENDORSE THE COMMUNITY'S LIST OF DEMANDS* in order to build pressure on the federal and provincial government

Email us if you can: barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com

* Barriere Lake's List of Demands*

1. That the Government of Canada agree to respect the outcome of a new leadership re-selection process, with outside observers, recognize the resulting Customary Chief and Council, and cease all interference in the internal governance of Barriere Lake.

2. That the Government of Canada agree to the immediate incorporation of an Algonquin language and culture program into the primary school curriculum.

3. That the Government of Canada honour signed agreements with Barriere Lake, including the Trilateral, the Memorandum of Mutual Intent, and the Special Provisions, all of which it has illegally terminated.

4. That the Government of Canada revoke Third Party Management, which was imposed unjustly on Barriere Lake.

5. That the Province of Quebec honour signed agreements with Barriere Lake, including the 1991 Trilateral and 1998 Bilateral agreements, and adopt for implementation the Lincoln-Ciaccia joint recommendations, including $1.5
million in resource-revenue sharing.

6. That the Government of Canada and the Province of Quebec initiate a judicial inquiry into the Quebec Regional Office of the Department of Indian Affairs' treatment of Barriere Lake and other First Nations who may request to be included.

7. That the Government of Quebec, in consultation with First Nations, conduct a review of the recommendations of the Ontario Ipperwash Commission for guidance towards improving Quebec-First Nation relations and the SQ's procedures during policing of First Nation communities.

------
Apart from *ENDORSEMENTS*, we are seeking other forms of support:

**Consider getting *INVOLVED* in our campaign – as a group, or as an individual – during the upcoming months.

**Consider making a *DONATION*, to support Barriere Lake's needs and to help with our mobilization efforts. Contact us by e-mail to make a donation, or donate directly to Barriere Lake through our website.
http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2008/03/donations.html

**If you want *UPDATES*, we can add you to an email list to notify you about upcoming events and actions. Just email barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com

-- the Barriere Lake Solidarity collective

RALLY and SPEAK-OUT AGAINST CMHA

2008-08-05T09:49:00.001-04:00

********************************************
End Psychiatric and Mental Health Abuse!
Stop poor-bashing and homelessness!
********************************************

Join us for a speak-out against the Canadian Mental Health Association:

Monday, 11th August 2008
3.30pm
outside CMHA-Peterborough
(466 George St.N.)

...followed by a Food Not Bombs feast at City Hall.

Organized by the Psychiatric Survivors and Allies Group, and Peterborough Coalition against Poverty (PCAP).

------------------------
WHY ARE WE PROTESTING?

Because the CMHA has failed in providing mental care support and supportive housing, and instead it has forced dependency and abused the rights of survivors. These issues can no longer wait:

*Lack of social support and individual counselling services. • Promotes drugs rather than good health. Not enough information about pharmaceuticals and their side effects. *Takes control of people limited finances through the Trustee Program instead of promoting living wages, affordable housing and decent social assistance
*Poor CMHA housing services with lack of freedom and violations of tenants rights
*Creates dependency through Trustee program and by encouraging medications, and over-use of buddy program,
*Absorbed survivor’s self-run catering service “Crazy Cooks”

WHAT ARE OUR DEMANDS?
•Provide capacity-building services and life coping skills
•Offer adequate counselling and social support services to individuals when requested
•Foster independence and freedom rather than dependency
•Provide educational materials and information on medications, side effects and alternatives to pharmaceuticals
•Respect the lifestyles, choices and livelihoods of survivors and stay out of the way!
•Focus on prevention programs and lobbing the government to raise social assistance rates and provide affordable housing
•Improve and increase supportive housing units
•Provide accountability and rights information
---------------------------

Good mental health comes from the freedom to be who we are - culturally, racially and individually, from being able to live at a decent standard and from being able to access the right resources, healing and therapy we need, especially those that are not institutionalized.

End Psychiatric and Mental Health Abuse, Stop Poor-Bashing and Homelessness!!!

PCAP Film Night - July 30th

2008-07-28T21:01:00.001-04:00

***PLEASE JOIN US FOR FREE SCREENINGS of the PCAP FILM and DARK DAYS***

On Wednesday, July 30th, PCAP and OPIRG will be presenting the 'A Video History of PCAP' alongside 'Dark Days' as part of OPIRG's summer documentary series.

The films start at 7:00 sharp in the Sadleir House lecture hall (the large, red Victorian building at 750 George st. North).

Through these films we hope to spark discussions around housing issues, so we will be focusing on the sections of the PCAP film that show the squat. Dark Days is a film that documents a group poor people who build a community in an abandoned section of the New York City underground railway system. During filming, Amtrak, a government-owned corporation that provides intercity passenger train service, announced their plans to forcibly evict the people living in the tunnels. Dark Days shatters myths about homelessness by revealing a thriving community, the power of poor people to struggle for survival, and the corporate interests and government policies which create – and can eliminate – poverty.

*All are welcome to join us in this accessible space, and their will be FREE organic POPCORN for your enjoyment!*

***Please Note that the weekly meeting in the PCAP office will be canceled on this day!***

Solidarity with Katenies! 'Canada' has no jurisdiction over Mohawk land

2008-07-27T19:43:00.004-04:00

Included below are links and the text of some recent articles concerning Katenies
and her refusal to recognize the jurisdiction of Canadian colonial courts and the
Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA). Katenies again refused to recognize the
jurisdiction of the Superior Court in Cornwall, Ontario this past July 14, 2008. She
is due to appear before a judge in the Superior Court of Ontario in Alexandria on
October 21, 2008. It appears as if both Katenies and Kahentinetha will be charged
criminally in relation to the CBSA attack on them on June 14, 2008.

Cornwall Standard Freeholder: Protesters pack city courtroom
Article below and linked HERE

Ottawa Indymedia/The Dominion: Mohawk Grandmother challenges border jurisdiction
(Video). Video linked HERE

Statement: Solidarity with Katenies! "Canada" has no jurisdiction over Mohawk land
Statement below and also linked HERE

Background Info/Previous Articles & Audio linked HERE

INFO: indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com - 514-848-7583

-----------

Protesters pack city courtroom;
Cornwall Standard Freeholder

Protesters from Ottawa, Montreal and Hamilton packed a Cornwall courtroom Monday in support of Janet Davis, a New York State Iroquois woman who was arrested on June 14
at the Cornwall border crossing in relation to three Customs Act charges from 2003.

Davis, 43, who is also known by her Iroquois name of Katenies, is facing two
additional charges of failing to appear in court after she allegedly passed through
the border in 2003 without stopping for a Canada Customs agent.

She claims the Canadian judicial system has no jurisdiction over her as an
indigenous woman, and even filed a motion in January 2007 to dismiss the charges on
those grounds.

The motion was denied, but Davis renewed her objections yesterday by demanding that
the court provide written proof of their authority to arrest her and charge her
based on what she calls "colonial law."

"My people never gave up their rights or their land to anyone, it was taken from us,
these laws were forced on us," said Davis outside the Cornwall courthouse.

"They have no jurisdiction here. I've asked them a question and they have refused to
answer it. Where do they get this authority?"

Davis added that she signed her official objection to the court with her fingerprint
instead of a written signature as a statement of her individuality as a native
woman.

About 30 people packed the courtroom yesterday morning as Davis, who has refused
representation, addressed Justice of the Peace Linda Leblanc along with Frank Horn,
a Cornwall defence lawyer who says he was only there with Davis as a friend of the
court.

"Katenies stands by the Two Row Wampum Treaty," said Horn, referring to an agreement
signed between the Dutch and the Iroquois Nation of northern New York in 1613.

"Two cultures may live side by side, but they will never cross. She feels that these
charges are a crossover between our two cultures, and that's not right."

Horn was also present in court to object to the treatment of his sister,
Kahentinetha Horn, who was with Davis in June.

Horn said both Davis and Kahentinetha, who is 68 years old, were handcuffed and
wrestled to the ground by border guards, treatment he said led his sister to suffer
a heart attack and be rushed by ambulance to Cornwall Community Hospital.

"She hasn't been the same since this happened," he said. "She won't leave the house,
and she's already been back in the hospital once since June. It's just terrible what
our family has been going through."

Horn said tensions have been mounting over the past few months between border guards
and those from the Akwesasne reserve, adding that many believe the guards are
unfairly targeting aboriginals as an excuse to beef up security.

"The Harper government has this whole strategy to get tough at the borders, and
they're using our people as the means to stir up Canadians and say: 'Look, we've got
this issue at the border, so we've got to increase security,'" he said. "My people
don't appreciate being used in that manner."

Horn said many aboriginals are getting sick of the treatment, and protests such as
yesterday's will continue until the message is received.

Davis' case will go to trial in Alexandria court starting Oct. 21, 2008.

Original article here: http://www.standard-freeholder.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1114035

-----

Solidarity with Katenies!
"Canada" has no jurisdiction over Mohawk land

On July 14, 2008, Mohawk grandmother and activist Katenies appeared before a judge
in the Superior Court of Cornwall, Ontario. And again, Katenies refused to recognize
the authority of the courts, and demanded that Canadian officials prove they have
jurisdiction over her as an Indigenous woman. She has been ordered to appear in
court again on October 21, 2008, in Alexandria, Ontario.

On June 14, 2008, Katenies -- accompanied by Kahentinetha of the Kahnawake Mohawk
Territory - was targeted for arrest by Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) guards
on an outstanding warrant for allegedly "running the border" in 2003, and offenses
resulting from her refusal to appear in court and validate the colonial justice
system.

Katenies has maintained since 2003 that border officials and the Canadian colonial
courts have no jurisdiction over Kanion'ke:haka people or land. In January 2007,
Katenies served court officials with a Motion to Dismiss, demanding that they
establish jurisdiction, if any, over Mohawks and their ability to travel freely
between "Canada" and the "United States".

During the CBSA attack, Katenies and Kahentinetha - who are both writers and
contributors to Mohawk Nation News (MNN) - were treated brutally by border guards.
Both were handcuffed and tackled to the ground. Katenies was jailed for three days.
Kahentinetha suffered a heart attack and had to be hospitalized for several days.

As mainly non-native groups and collectives based in settler communities on or near
Mohawk lands, we are publicly standing in support of Katenies, and demand all
charges against her by the colonial courts be dropped. We also condemn the brutal
attacks by the CBSA on both Katenies and Kahentinetha on June 14, 2008 and declare
our solidarity with Indigenous struggles for land, freedom and self-determination.

Endorsed by:
Agitate (Ottawa)
Les Apatrides Anonymes (Montreal)
Block the Empire-Montreal
Coalition Guerre à la guerre (Quebec City)
Collectif opposé à la brutalité policière (Montreal)
Collectif pour l'Autonomie du Peuple Mapuche (Montreal)
Comité Solidarité Nouveau Equateur (Montreal)
Common Cause Ontario
CUPE Local 3906 (Hamilton)
DIRA Bibliothèque Anarchiste (Montreal)
Kingston Indigenous Solidarity Network
La Otra Campaña (Montreal)
NEFAC-Montreal
No One Is Illegal-Kingston
No One Is Illegal-Montreal
No One Is Illegal-Ottawa
No One Is Illegal-Toronto
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (Toronto)
OPIRG-Carleton
OPIRG/GRIPO-Ottawa
Ottawa Raging Grannies
People's Global Action Bloc (Ottawa)
Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty
Peterborough Coalition for Palestine Solidarity
Solidarity Across Borders (Montreal)
and others.

Reports about the CBSA attack, and background information, are linked HERE

To endorse this statement, please e-mail indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com;
Katenies' next scheduled court date is October 21, 2008 in Alexandria, Ontario.

Dentures Campaign Update

2008-07-13T17:04:00.005-04:00

City Council is Listening – Tell Them that You Support PCAP’s Fair Access to Dentures Campaign!

In December 2007, PCAP launched its 'Fair Access to Dentures Campaign' in response to the increasingly high volume of calls we received from people on ODSP and OW (many people on Ontario Works live with disabilities that make them unemployable) who had been denied access to dentures benefits. Upon investigation, we found a two-tiered discriminatory municipal policy that violated provincial legislation. Currently, the dentures benefit is only available for employment related reasons (even if you need them to relieve pain or for medical reasons). This policy has forced people to make a hard choice – feed the kids, pay the rent or buy new teeth.

Over the past 6 months PCAP has continued to lobby City Council to change this municipal policy. Our campaign is part of a broader effort by organizations and individuals in the city and across the province who recognize that welfare rates are set at dangerous subpoverty levels and that proactive measures need to be taken to increase benefits at all levels of government.

Several community groups and local dentists have endorsed our campaign, including the Peterborough Health Coalition, CUPE Local 3908, OPIRG Peterborough, NDP Local Riding Association, the Peterborough Coalition for Palestinian Solidarity, the YWCA Peterborough, Victoria, and Haliburton, and Dr. Andrew Hebden. If you are a local dentist or a member of a community group, please show your support by endorsing our fair access to dentures campaign!

On July 7th, 2008 Council approved a report aimed at expanding discretionary benefits for people trying to live on meagre social assistance incomes. It is most promising that Council recognized the need to expand eligibility criteria by making the dentures benefit available to people for both employment and health-related reasons. However, the following recommendations must also be implemented to ensure that full access to dentures is secured.

1. Accept retroactive applications from all recipients previously denied under the discriminatory policy.

This includes providing full reimbursement to those who have paid for their own dentures, and approving benefits payments for those who still require dentures.

2. Secure ongoing funding for the newly enhanced benefit.

The recommendations approved by Council last Monday only guarantees funding for the 2008 budget year. While we applaud the City for keeping these funds directed at social assistance for 2008, this will need to be secured in the 2009 budget as well. These enhanced benefits are a weak gain if funding is only guaranteed for one year.

3. Develop a standard application form for all discretionary benefits.

The problem of accessibility, accountability, transparency and tracking has been widely acknowledged in the community (and was much discussed at the October 22/07 public forum on discretionary benefits policy reform). The idea of a standard application form was put forth as a reasonable and easily achieved solution, yet is absent from the report.

4. Provide dentures coverage for $1500 total, rather than splitting the entitlement into two separate claims ($750 for lower and $750 for upper dentures work).

This imposes an unworkable limit since upper or lower dentures cost an average of $200 more than that, thus denying access to dentures for even more people.

5. Lobby governments for a 40% raise in OW/ODSP rates!

**Email City Councillors and Encourage Them to Make the Dentures Benefit Fully Accessible**

Please copy all emails to:

PCAP: pcap@riseup.net
and Ken Doherty, Director of Community Services: kdoherty@city.peterborough.on.ca

Contacts:
Paul Ayotte, Mayor
e-mail: mayor@city.peterborough.on.ca

J. Douglas Peacock, Chair of Social Services
e-mail: dpeacock@city.peterborough.on.ca

Director of Community Services
e-mail: kdoherty@peterborough.ca

Henry Clarke, Deputy Mayor, Chair of Finance
e-mail: hclarke@city.peterborough.on.ca

Eric Martin, WARD 1 – Otonabee
e-mail: emartin@peterborough.ca

Jack Doris, WARD 2 – Monaghan
e-mail: jdoris@peterborough.ca

Ann E. Farquharson, Ward 3 – Town
e-mail: afarquharson@peterborough.ca

Dean Pappas, WARD 3 - Town
e-mail: dpappas@peterborough.ca

Patti S. Peeters, WARD 4 - Ashburnham
e-mail: ppeeters@peterborough.ca

Len Vass, WARD 4 - Ashburnham
e-mail: lvass@peterborough.ca

Shirley Eggleton, WARD 5 - Northcrest
e-mail: seggleton@peterborough.ca

Bob Hall, WARD 5 - Northcrest
e-mail: bhall@peterborough.ca

Fight to Win!
Raise the Rates!

-PCAP

For more information on the 'Fair Access to Dentures Campaign' please click HERE

To view the social services report (Ontario Works Discretionary Benefits Review) approved by Council please click HERE (with attention to item 14)

Peterborough Examiner article: click HERE

**The changes to the dentures benefit policy will be in effect as of October 1st 2008 - please contact PCAP (pcap@riseup.net, 749-9694) if you need dentures or have been denied access to the benefit.

City Council responds positively to PCAP campaign for expanded benefits

2008-07-05T11:54:00.003-04:00

PCAP invites you to join us at next week’s City Council meeting (Monday, July 7 @ 6:30pm, City Hall, 500 George St. N.). If you have been denied dentures benefits due to restrictive city policy, or if you have supported PCAP’s “Fair Access to Dentures Campaign” over the past 6 months, please show your support for a promising report to be voted on by Council.

The central aim of the report is to expand discretionary benefits for people trying to live on the meagre provincial social assistance incomes (OW and ODSP). While PCAP continues to press for a 40% increase in welfare rates across Ontario, we approve of the direction of the report as an interim measure.

PCAP appreciates the work of the Mayor’s Action Committee on Poverty Reduction in moving these demands forward to Council, and are glad to see a positive response to reasonable demands being made by PCAP and many others in the community.

In December 2007, PCAP launched its “Fair Access to Dentures Campaign”. The campaign was a response to the increasingly high volume of calls we got from people on OW/ODSP who had been denied access to dentures benefits. Upon investigation, we found a two-tiered municipal policy. Currently, if you cannot work due to disabilities that render you unemployable, you cannot receive dentures benefits (even if you need them to relieve pain or for medical reasons). This policy has forced people to make a hard choice – feed the kids, pay the rent or buy new teeth.

Over the past 6 months PCAP has continued to lobby City Council to change this municipal policy. Our campaign is part of a broader effort by organizations and individuals in the city and across the province who recognize that welfare rates are set at dangerous subpoverty levels and that proactive measures need to be taken to increase benefits at all levels of government.

We are encouraged to see that City Council is listening. The report passed through the Committee of the Whole last week, gaining the approval of Councillors in attendance. We expect no less at the vote in Council next week.

Most importantly, the report calls for a change in the guiding principles for municipal policy on discretionary benefits. Specifically, it recommends eliminating the former two-tiered policy in favour of a policy that allows access to benefits “to relieve pain or for medical or therapeutic purposes or to increase employability.” If this motion is passed, dentures benefits will be available for all OW and ODSP recipients beginning October 1, 2008.

While we are encouraged by this direction in Council, PCAP wants clarification on some questions to ensure that full access to dentures is secured.

1. We want to ensure that those who applied under the old policy (and were denied access) will be eligible to re-apply without penalty immediately on October 1.

2. We are concerned about securing ongoing funding for the newly enhanced benefits. The funds being directed to Discretionary Benefits are to come from money saved by the City due to the restructuring of social assistance in 2008. While we applaud the City for keeping these funds directed at social assistance for 2008, this will need to be secured in the 2009 budget as well. These enhanced benefits are a weak gain if funding is only guaranteed for one year.

3. We are seeking a standard application form for all discretionary benefits. The problem of accessibility, accountability, transparency and tracking has been widely acknowledged in the community (and was much discussed at the October 22/07 public forum on discretionary benefits policy reform). The idea of a standard application form was put forth as a reasonable and easily achieved solution, yet is absent from the report.

4. We have questions about the decision to split the $1500 entitlement into two separate claims ($750 for lower and $750 for upper dentures work). This will impose an unworkable limit on those who require more expensive work on either upper or lower, and limits choices.

Please join us at City Council on Monday to support PCAP’s work in further strengthening the report and to make sure these gains are secured by a positive vote.

Fight to Win!
Raise the Rates!

PCAP

Join us at 6:00 p.m. for the weekly Food Not Bombs dinner at City Hall - Free, delicious, and vegetarian!

For more information on the 'Fair Access to Dentures Campaign' please click HERE

To view the City Council Meeting Agenda, please click HERE (with attention to item 4 d.)

To view the social services report (Ontario Works Discretionary Benefits Review) being considered by Council please click HERE (with attention to item 14):

Poverty Reduction?

2008-06-30T10:17:00.002-04:00

‘Poverty Reduction’? Reforming without Reforms in a Neoliberal World by John Clarke

Workers' Rights Night - June 26

2008-06-16T15:11:00.001-04:00

Share your story - Learn your rights - Work for change

Thursday, June 26
6:00 - 8:00 pm

St. Paul's Presbyterian Church
Corner of Murray and Water

Feeling like a second-class citizen?
Not getting holiday or vacation pay?
Working overtime and not getting paid?

FREE! ALL WELCOME!

Come out for a free dinner, entertainment, education and action! Bring the kids for activities!

For more information call The Peterborough Community Legal Center at 705-749-9355

Presented by the Peterborough Community Legal Center and The Workers Action Center

Sponsored by The New Canadian Center and the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP)

City Asked To Support Moratorium On Uranium Mining, Council Votes On Resolution This Monday

2008-06-13T16:19:00.001-04:00

Safe And Green Energy - Rally at City Council

Monday, June 16, 2008
6:30pm - 9:30pm

Peterborough City Hall
500 George Street North

City Asked To Support Moratorium On Uranium Mining, Council Votes On Resolution This Monday

We need people to come out to city hall on Monday June 16th at 6:30 pm to show support for a moratorium on Uranium Mining in the Peterborough area. Council pushed the resolution forward last Monday in an enthusiastic manner to be voted on this Monday...... but we are worried there is pressure on them from the 'Industry'. So, we don't want to be bothersome, or disrespectful, but we want to be there, and show the councilors how important this is. We have a presentation to give and If we pack the
place, they will see the concern of the people. There is more info on the issue below.

The Peterborough resolution goes to council vote on Monday, June 16th at 6:30 pm, Peterborough City Hall, 500 George Street North. Please be there and help make Ptbo history.
******************************************

On Monday June 16th, Peterborough may become the 20th municipality in southern Ontario to sign on to the growing list of cities, counties and townships that have rejected the idea of uranium mining.

A resolution submitted by Safe And Green Energy Peterborough (SAGE) is asking the City of Peterborough to petition the province to initiate an immediate moratorium on uranium exploration and mining in the Otonabee River watershed. At last Monday's Committee of the Whole meeting, it was moved that the resolution go to council vote on June 16th.

The submission to council was prompted by the seven known uranium exploration projects underway within the Otonabee River watershed in Haliburton County, directly upstream from Peterborough. At least one project bears real potential of becoming an operating uranium mine. All five Haliburton County municipalities have recently passed similar moratorium resolutions.

Information supporting the resolution underlines the possible impacts of uranium mining on Peterborough. Of particular concern is that the Otonabee River supplies the City of Peterborough with all of its drinking water. The Serpent River near Elliot Lake is considered contaminated for a distance of over 100 kilometres downstream due to abandoned uranium mining operations. People are cautioned not to drink the water or consume fish from this segment of the river.

"The communities and businesses along the watercourse between Haliburton County and Peterborough should also be concerned," commented Roy Brady of SAGE. "That includes almost all of the Kawartha Lakes region."

The Otonabee River and the Kawartha Lakes constitute major segments of the Trent-Severn Waterway, which is routed directly through the City of Peterborough. This recreational waterway is central to overnight visitor activity in the Peterborough area, which includes close to 300,000 overnight boating visitors per year.

Within the 19 municipalities that have passed resolutions against uranium mining, about a million Ontarians have been represented on this issue. The Peterborough resolution goes to council vote on Monday, June 16th at 6:30 pm, Peterborough City Hall, 500 George Street North.

For further information, contact:
John Etches - Safe And Green Energy Peterborough
705-748-2219 or email: etchesjohn@yahoo.ca

MPP to Host Poverty Discussion and Media Release: OCAP Not Participating in Sham Consultations: Minister Matthews lies

2008-06-13T13:56:00.003-04:00

Local Liberal MPP Jeff Leal to host discussion on poverty in feeble attempt to cover up his Government's public relations disaster (i.e. provincial “poverty tour” which was designed to shut out the voices of people who are poor, low-income or anti-poverty activists) and legitimize their 'poverty reduction strategy' ...

MPP Jeff Leal discussion on issues concerning poverty:

Tuesday June 17, 2008
Peterborough Public Library
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Refreshments and snacks provided

For more info contact his office at:
742-3777 or jleal.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Tell the Liberals we need less talk and more action!

40% Raise to the Rates Now! Affordable Housing Now! Living Minimum Wage Now!

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Subject: [ocap] For Immediate Release: OCAP Not Participating in Sham
Consultations: Minister Matthews lies to legitimize secret 'poverty meetings'

As you likely know, the Provincial Liberals are currently touring the province with a consultation scam to make it seem like they care about poor people while they do nothing for us. We are going to go to the Toronto closed-door consultations and tell Minister Matthews and the government that we don't need more talk, we need action!

June 18th
3:30 pm
meet at PARC - 1499 Queen Street West

We have been unable to get a bus so if you have one (or a car or van) please let us know at the OCAP office as we are scrambling to make sure we have enough space for people to get there.

Accessibility - call or e-mail to make arrangements.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCAP Not Participating in Sham Consultations: Minister Matthews lies to legitimize secret 'poverty meetings'

(June 11, 2008) Yesterday, during an interview with CBC's Metro Morning, the Minister of Children and Youth Services, Deb Mathews, claimed the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) was invited to and attended a secret poverty consultation.

In reality, these meetings have been designed expressly to avoid interacting with anti-poverty groups like OCAP and with poor people in general. OCAP has never received an invitation to attend these private consultations. These meetings make no attempt to address systemic poverty in this province, rather they seek to allay the public's concerns "within existing resources."

"We don't need to waste our time in secret consultations. We need a government that is actually going to do something about poverty," says A.J. Withers, an OCAP Organizer. "We know what the problems are. Welfare and disability rates are too low, we need a livable minimum wage now, we need more affordable housing and we need the housing we do have to be in decent repair."

The Liberal government would like the public to believe it will make real and substantial changes in people's lives. Instead, this government continues to quietly chip away at crucial money and services. "While they talk about reducing poverty, the Liberals continue to let welfare and disability rates lose ground to inflation. They slashed the Special Diet supplement that let thousands of people eat healthier food, and they introduced the confusing Ontario Child Benefit that means parents probably won't be able to buy coats for heir kids this winter," says John Clarke of
OCAP. "This is not a government that actually cares about poor people, it is a government trying to get political capital by talking a lot about us, but doing nothing for us," Clarke says.

While Matthews is a liar, she was right about one thing: there have been protesters outside of her sham consultations, in cities all across Ontario. This month, in Toronto, we plan to be among them.

**
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
10 Britain St. Toronto, ON M5A 1R6
416-925-6939 ocap@tao.ca www.ocap.ca
**

Gathering of Mother Earth Protectors

2008-05-19T15:45:00.000-04:00

Sleepover: Toronto, Queen’s Park May 26th – May 29.

Rally: Queen’s Park May 26th, 5 p.m. – dusk. MCs: Thomas King and Cathy Jones. More special guests and musicians to be announced. For more info: michelle.langlois@ryerson.ca

Respect the right of First Nations to say no to economic exploitation and environmental destruction.

No jail for saying no.

Free Bob Lovelace and the KI Six.

On May 26th Indigenous communities and supporters including environmental and social justice groups will gather at Queen’s Park to uphold our duty to protect the land, forest, water, and air and to promote respect for our Indigenous rights to say no to economic exploitation and environmental destruction. It is time to end the jailing and harassment of our people for protecting mother earth and traditional ways. Please come to our large rally on May 26th at the legislature. We are also inviting supporters to join us in four days of ceremony, speakers, workshops, music, and a three night sovereignty sleep-over directly on the front lawn of the legislature.

Right now Indigenous communities across Ontario are taking a stand to assert our right to protect our traditional territories and the future of our peoples. Our communities are peacefully protesting destructive industrial projects that the government is permitting on our traditional lands without community consent.

Rather than respecting Treaties of co-existence and the UN recognized Indigenous right to withhold consent over industrial projects on traditional lands, the Ontario government is harassing Native people and jailing community activists and leaders including Bob Lovelace, Donny Morris, Sam McKay, Jack McKay, Cecilia Begg, Darryl Sainnawap, Bruce Sakakeep, and others. This cannot stand! Please join us in supporting freedom for First Nations and respect for the land.

NO CONSENT means STOP the DESTRUCTION to MOTHER EARTH!

We Need: volunteers, donations of money, food, tents, blankets, billeting, endorsements, and publicity.

Please let us know if your group wants to organize an event during the Gathering on May 27, or May 28.

To help out, or for information updates contact: sovereigntysleepover@gmail.com

Supporters: come prepared to take care of your own needs and to take direction from the communities.

This is an event of: Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI), Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) [others may join soon].

Supporters: Christian Peacemaker Teams, Rainforest Action Network, No One is Illegal Toronto, Canadian Federation of Students, Canadian Labour Congress, CAW Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy, Ryerson University, Mining Watch, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, ForestEthics, NOW Magazine, Defence for Children International.

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Gathering of Mother Earth Protectors:
http://gatheringofmotherearthprotectors.blogspot.com

Welcome Rally:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=16866967546&ref=mf

Sovereignty Sleepover:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=16866967546&ref=mf

Mother Earth Protectors Walk:
http://mother-earth-walk.knet.ca

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GROUND RULES

1) Respect the decisions of the community reps and abide by them.
2) Practice nonviolence, bring no weapons, show respect, do no property damage or graffiti
3) No alcohol or illegal drugs.
4) Take responsibility for your own actions.
5) No racist, sexist, homophobic, or other oppressive behaviour.
6) Stay sanitary. Wash your hands and clean up after yourself.
7) Help out with the tasks that are needed including cooking, cleaning, etc.
8) Children under age 16 need an adult supervisor.
10) We ask that you not cover your face or wear camouflage at this event.
11) You are at a public action intended to draw public attention. If you don’t want your image photographed or on video, please turn away or politely ask the photographer to stop.

Closed doors, closed minds, justice denied

2008-05-17T15:49:00.000-04:00

The Liberals are certainly no friends of poor, low-income people and anti-poverty activists in this province. After 4 years in office, they have kept social assistance at dangerous subpoverty levels, raising the rates by a paltry 2 or 3% while feeding themselves a hefty 25% raise. The Harris Tories made the first devastating cut to welfare in 1995, but the McGuinty Liberals are to blame for failing to return this stolen 22% to the people.

The Liberals’ recent provincial “poverty tour” is simply more of the same - an expensive public relations exercise to cover up their continued violent inaction. Even worse, the heavily policed, closed door meeting/photo-op at the Evinrude Centre on May 5th was designed to shut out the voices of people who are poor, low-income or anti-poverty activists.

PCAP and allies showed up to expose this shameful hypocrisy. Instead of listening to our reasonable demand to open the meeting to the public, Liberal mouthpiece Deb Matthews and her sidekick Jeff Leal ordered the doors locked and allowed rent-a-cops to assault at least three people.

It is unacceptable for Peterborough City Council to participate in this Liberal charade, and their complicity in this assault on the people of Peterborough is a serious breach of public responsibility. Mayor Ayotte’s comments to the Examiner clearly show that he thinks that poor people and anti-poverty activists are the main barrier, not the police or the Liberals who hired them to shut us out of the dialogue. Shame!

So far, only one right-thinking Councillor has publicly denounced the Liberals’ exclusionary process. We applaud Councillor Peacock for standing on the side of justice and for acting in the broader interests of his constituency. But one is not enough. The rest of Council now needs to follow his lead and become fully accountable to all poor and low income people in this city.

Mayor Ayotte has clearly abandoned all leadership on this issue and fully revealed his betrayal of the public trust last week. He failed to denounce both the closed meeting and the “police” violence at the event, and then conveniently blamed PCAP and dismissed us as “yelling” activists. And he is the City’s model for poverty reduction?

Let’s be clear. The Mayor has never wanted to hear from anti-poverty activists, yelling or not, and will only hear poor and low-income people of this City when forced to do so. Thanks to the leadership taken by people living in poverty, the Mayor had to broaden representation on the Action Committee. Recall that he originally wanted to exclude low-income people from the “poverty” roundtable!

Raising our voices was the only appropriate response to the Liberals’ public relations machine in action. Our demand was simple and non-controversial, and in line with the broadest anti-poverty coalition in the province. The 25-in-5 coalition of 60+ organizations and prominent people (like Stephen Lewis and Frances Lankin) are demanding that the Liberals “move beyond closed sessions” and hold a “bold public consultation process”.

Mayor Ayotte suggests that PCAP should learn how to contribute to the community “by helping other organizations”. Council ought to be embarrassed by this statement because it clearly shows how clueless their “leader” is about what happens in this city. Mayor Ayotte clearly needs a lesson in the real meaning of “community relations”, so here’s a reality check.

PCAP’s record of contributions to this community is clear and solid. For over seven years we have worked with countless organizations and groups (the Legal Centre, Homegrown Homes, churches, unions, the PCSJ, E-Fry, Food Not Bombs, the New Canadians Centre, the Community Race Relations Committee, students and teachers, workers at agencies like Ontario Works, Housing Resource Centre, Whitepath, OPIRG, the media, etc.). We hold Special Diets Clinics, educational meetings, film screenings, provide workshops, and attend community meetings. We participated in the Mayor’s Task force and stay in regular contact with some of its members. And, most importantly, PCAP works everyday with all the fine people of this city who are forced to live in poverty. We constantly struggle, on the ground, with those who access our advocacy services and keep us informed and whose enormous work in the community is simply ignored by Council.

Mr. Ayotte needs to start paying attention. He could learn a thing or two from PCAP about democratic participation, respect, equal treatment and real dialogue. We hold weekly open meetings – no token representatives, no locked doors, no rent-a-cops. If you have something to say about the systems that create wealth for the few by making the poor pay we will discuss and debate the idea as equals. Just show up and take a seat. And, unlike City Hall, we take real action to challenge attacks on the poor and confront issues of poverty all the time.

PCAP’s goals and intentions are clear, and we’re loud and proud about these. We will continue to raise our voices, make demands, disrupt elite meetings and expose the dirt beneath shiny public relations campaigns. We have no interest in making the Liberals or any politician, political party or Council look good as their policies create more poverty and let the rich get richer.

What we want to know from City Council is what side of the poverty line are you really on?

Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP)
May 15, 2008

THE ONTARIO LIBERALS AND ‘POVERTY REDUCTION’

2008-05-10T10:23:00.003-04:00

OCAP Statement:

Are they Trying or Lying?

The McGuinty Liberals have jumped onto the very overcrowded bandwagon of ‘Poverty Reduction’. They have set up a process of highly selective consultation to ‘define the problem’. Then, they tell us, they will ‘set targets’ to reduce poverty and implement a package of reforms to that effect. Implied in all this is an expectation that we should accept it as a good faith initiative. In fact, we are expected to play
along and wait patiently for the eventual benefits that will, supposedly, flow from it.

The first thing that needs to be said is that an uncritical acceptance of this undertaking would be an act of extraordinary naiveté. This is the second term for the Liberals and everything they have done to date consolidates the Harris Common Sense Revolution while smoothing over social divisions with token gestures.

Perhaps we should just take a glimpse at how the Liberals have dealt with the poor over the last few years. They campaigned the first time they were elected on a platform that included repealing the Safe Streets Act that Harris used to set the cops on the homeless. To-day, that law is still in effect, being used on a scale far greater than when the Tories held power. In Toronto, over the last three years, there has been a nearly 300% increase in the number of Safe Streets tickets being issued. The Liberal Attorney General has sent his people into Court to oppose legal challenges to the Act and his prosecutors are seeking and obtaining jail time for people convicted of panhandling.

While an oversupply of upscale housing crowds out the skyline, decent and truly affordable housing remains a dream for the poor. Toronto Community Housing says it needs $300 million to repair and preserve its buildings. Less than 10% of that has been provided by Queen’s Park and 180,000 public housing tenants in Toronto are living in units that are, literally, falling apart.

Under pressure, modest increases to the minimum wage have occurred but welfare and disability rates have lost ground against inflation under the Liberals. More people than ever are being evicted from their housing for lack of income. Attempts to use the ‘Special Diet’ policy within the welfare system to actually provide people with enough to eat have been fought tooth and nail by the Liberals. Now, the new Ontario
Child Benefit, their first step towards ‘poverty reduction’, will not even be the promised $50 a month for those on assistance and will be reduced even further through the elimination of clothing allowances.

A 40% reduction in real income for people on welfare still casts its shadow over the lives of hundreds of thousands in this Province years after McGuinty first took office on a platform of ‘change’. Meanwhile, Deb Matthews, the Minister who will be handling his belated conversion to ‘poverty reduction’, has promised to leave intact the Harris tax cuts that made the rich richer and the poor poorer. But these were
paid for in large measure by the people and families on assistance who had their income slashed. If that is not be reversed, then we are talking about a process of reform that is denied the resources it would need to be meaningful.

If this poverty reduction initiative, then, is lacking in sincerity, we may ask ourselves what it is about. In fact, it has several aspects to it and is part of a process that goes well beyond Ontario.

There is actually a wing of the corporate structure that has become nervous about overly crude methods when it comes to reducing social provision. The Toronto Star with its present ‘war on poverty’ is perhaps the best example of such timid, post Harris ‘social engineering’. It worries about the impact of outright social
abandonment and the damage done by earlier cutbacks. There’s no nostalgia for the post war social infrastructure, of course, but measures to deal with the worst excesses of poverty are something to look at, provided they don’t go too far.

The above consideration, very limited as it is, is the only element of the ‘poverty reduction’ process that has any genuine quality about it. We may also anticipate that a great deal of what Ms. Matthews wants to develop would be highly regressive in nature. Even with the brutality of the Harris cuts to social assistance, the system can still be redesigned in ways that make it more effective in forcing the poor into
low wage employment. By separating the benefits for children from those of their parents, a classical use of the division between the ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’ poor is to be seen. Once a mythical adequacy has been developed for children, welfare can become an even better tool for driving adults into the most exploitative jobs. Even at this early stage, Matthews is fixating on children as if she actually believes their poverty can be considered as something apart from that of their parents or that the poverty of single adults is of secondary importance.

The roots of the new religion of ‘poverty reduction’ are actually to be found in the neo liberal assault on poor countries. Structural adjustment programs have removed limited protections for poor people and driven vast sections of the population from rural self sufficiency into huge and expanding mega cities, where they are warehoused in squalor on the fringes of economic life. Abandoned people in their abandoned communities are then told that they can be ‘empowered’ and become ‘self sufficient’ through community economic development. The World Bank and IMF, having inflicted misery on billions of people, now offer them such preposterous ‘solutions’ in place of the resources they need.

It was striking that ideas drawn from the international ‘poverty reduction’ industry were present in Matthews’ comments on how she sees her work. She stressed that reducing peoples’ poverty was only to a limited degree about resources. (This is very convenient since the rich have taken those resources and don’t intend to give them back). No, in fact, a large part of dealing with poverty is about giving people ‘opportunities’. Notions of ‘personal responsibility’ and measures of ‘tough love’ are not very far away and give us another warning that there is an actively regressive element to this process.

Of course, the main models of poverty reduction being pointed to are those that have emerged in other ‘developed countries’. Ireland and the UK are held up a great deal. The achievements in those countries were, actually, much more limited and contradictory than they would like to acknowledge but they also took place in a very different context to that facing Ontario to-day. Especially in the case of Ireland, the twenty six county republic was experiencing an unheard of expansion and industrialization. With recessionary storm clouds gathering here and, with the industrial base massively eroded ahead of time, we would be overly trusting to expect that the McGuinty Government will charge uphill for social justice. If this process and its directions remain in their hands, the prospects for any progress in the fight against poverty are bleak indeed.

As Matthews moves from community to community with her little circus, we should note that we are seeing here a specialty of the Liberal Party at work. That body is, after all, the main political mechanism for demobilizing communities and channeling grievances into blind allies of ‘dialogue’ and consultation. They plan to give the poor very little in terms of concessions and to include in their reform package measures that make things worse. The question, then, has to be will this thing unfold as a safe and controlled exercise with the results mapped out by the Government ahead of time or will the demands and the anger of poor people and their communities break through and dominate the process?

If the Liberals lose control of this, it would not be the first time that an attempt to divert community anger has, instead, provided a focus for it. In the early 1970s, the Senate Committee on Poverty became a lightning rod for community anger. The Social Assistance Review Committee in the Ontario of the late 80s did not at all divert poor people from mobilizing. Matthews is trying to prevent this by holding controlled, invitation only consultations. Already indignant voices are being raised and communities are starting to challenge her attempt to keep the anger of poor people from intruding on her sanitized deliberations.

We have been warned against ‘simplistic’ solutions and told that we can’t tackle the complexities of poverty until we ‘define the problem’. We should have very limited patience with a notion that works so well for those wanting to do as little as possible for as long as they can. If Matthews wants a definition of poverty, the amount of money people get from her Government’s welfare system is a good definition. So is the wage people bring home at the legislated minimum her Government sets. When you have to make a choice between paying the rent and eating decent food, that is poverty and it is created and maintained by the Government Matthews is part of. She and her ‘Cabinet colleagues’ need to hear that from the poor and their allies.

Our demands for living income, decent housing and other vital community needs must force their way to the forefront. The Liberal’s circus of consultation needs a large measure of truth and big dose of reality.

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The Urgent Need for Anti-Poverty Action!

By Gary Kinsman

Submitted to Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Roundtable meeting in Sudbury, Monday, May 26, 2008.

The situation for people living in poverty in Ontario is worse than it has been in a long-time. People living in poverty have still not recovered from the previous Harris/Tory government war on the poor and unfortunately the Liberal government continues to maintain key features of this war on the poor. The most urgent action needed by the provincial government today is the raising of social assistance rates by 40% but even this will only bring people living on social assistance back to the
place they were before the Harris government attacks began. This is especially important in Sudbury where Kimberly Rogers died in the context of the Tory war on the poor and where Sara Anderson was forced to go on a hunger strike to try to get some justice from the Liberal government and social assistance bureaucracy. We also need to remember that poverty in the Sudbury area is highly racialized with a major
impact on indigenous people.

Listen to the voices of people living in poverty

The people who are the experts about living in poverty in this province are people living in poverty in all their diversity. If the provincial government was really interested in addressing the roots of poverty they would be organizing meetings with people living in poverty all across this province in which people living in poverty would set the agenda. Instead with the roundtable discussions the agenda is already set by the government around particular questions and topics and only a few hand-picked representatives of groups of people living in poverty get invited to these private sessions. Unions like CUPE have correctly criticized the meetings for excluding most of those who live in poverty from their roundtable discussions. And even when more people living in poverty manage to get invited because they were picketing outside, as happened in Hamilton, Maggie Hughes from the radio show the Other Side at 93.3 CFMU FM reports that: “Those that knew poverty, were essentially being shut out of the process again, even though they were in the room and at the table, they were unable to have their voice.”

‘Poverty Reduction’ or Getting Rid of Poverty?

The roundtable discussions are focused on ‘poverty reduction.’ We are no longer talking about getting rid of poverty but our sights have been lowered to living with poverty for a long time. For many people living in poverty this is unacceptable and this does not meet their needs. Think about it this way - do we simply want to reduce racism or sexism or do we wish to get rid of them. We wish to get rid of them! ‘Poverty reduction’ strategies never get to the root of the problem since they do not address the social relations and policies that consistently produce poverty in a society marked by major class, gender, racial and other forms of social power and inequality.

Prioritizing Child Poverty Over Other People Living in Poverty

Poverty impacts on the lives of young people in especially devastating ways but the roundtable ‘poverty reduction’ strategy repeats the problems of earlier anti-poverty initiatives that suggested that somehow child poverty could be addressed without addressing the problems of people living in poverty more generally. The reasons why children are in poverty have to do with the relations of poverty that their parents and families have been pushed into. Without addressing how and why adults are poor no major progress is going to be made in addressing child poverty. It is almost as if a new moral division between the ‘deserving’ and the ‘undeserving’ poor is now being
introduced and children are identified as the only ‘deserving’ poor. But as anti-poverty activist groups point out all people living in poverty are deserving, and this includes single adults.

The Six Questions

In the context of the above problems with the roundtable ‘poverty reduction’ strategy those of us invited have been asked to focus on “six questions that will help frame our discussion” to be found at the end of “Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Plan.” This sets the agenda for and clearly restricts the discussion moving it in certain directions and away from others.

The first question focusses on children and asks what we can do with “existing resources.” While there are ways that existing resources can be allocated more effectively for fighting poverty in ways that do not stigmatize people living in poverty to really address poverty requires the allocation of new resources including the major raise to social assistance rates mentioned earlier, and the creation of
more affordable and quality housing. Another area requiring more resources is support for early child and youth education and to provide easier access to post-secondary education for young people. Too often young people have to give up on their dreams of higher education because they cannot afford it with escalating tuition fees. Another area requiring more resources is creating more access to quality not-for-profit childcare for all who need it. One place to look for these needed resources is in the Harris governments tax cuts that made the rich richer and the poor poorer and that the Liberal government has maintained. These tax cuts were paid for in part by the people and families on assistance who had their incomes slashed.

But there are also steps that can be taken without new financial resources. The minimum wage needs to be raised immediately to at least $10 an hour for people working for wages who are living in poverty and labour legislation needs to be altered to make it easier for low-wage workers to organize and secure higher wages and better working
conditions.

The second question also focusses on children and existing supports. The above points are all relevant here but we also need to get rid of the anti-poor, anti-working class and white-focussed curriculum that permeates the schools (including the formal and informal curriculums) and the racism that limits so many indigenous students. The ways that the school systems reproduce class and racial hierarchies in our society
still need to be addressed.

The third question focusses on what is working in communities to support “children, youth and their families.” While there are major projects, programs and initiatives that are crucial in our community including street outreach, the Corner Clinic and many others that suffer from a lack of funding we also need new projects and resources to assist and house the homeless and to create safe homes for young people. What
is also missing is support for community-based activist groups against poverty that can undertake support and advocacy work for persons living in poverty.

The fourth question talks about the need to integrate the work of various groups including those in the “not-for-profits, the private sector ... and all levels of government.” The question that can be asked is integration for whom? Is this integration to meet the needs of people living in poverty? Again the groups and organizations of people living with poverty are not mentioned as part of the solution. It is the policies of governments and corporations who produce the relations of poverty so it is far better to look for solutions from community-based groups and those who do direct street-level support work.

It is only with the fifth question that the concerns of other people living in poverty aside from children are raised. One immediate goal which has a major impact on the lives of many children living in poverty is to immediately raise social assistance rates by 40%. The restrictions imposed by the Liberal government on OW and ODSP recipients accessing the Special Dietary Supplement which are preventing people from getting enough funds for good nutrition and health need to be removed. Another is raising the minimum wage immediately to $10 an hour. The minimum wage and social assistance rates need to be raised consistently to keep up with the rising cost of living. Another is to make it easier under labour legislation for low-wage workers to unionize and organize for better wages and working conditions. More affordable quality housing needs to be built and made available to homeless and poor people as soon
as possible.

Another is to get rid of the Harris Tory legislation criminalizing people living in poverty which played an important part in the war on the poor by demonizing and stigmatizing people living in poverty like the so-called ‘Safe Streets Act’ that Harris used to set the cops on the homeless. To-day, that law is still in effect, and being used on a scale far greater than when the Tories were in government. The Liberal
Attorney General has sent his people into Court to oppose legal challenges to the Act and his prosecutors are seeking and obtaining jail time for people convicted of panhandling. And here in Sudbury the Greater Sudbury Police are telling people to not give money to panhandlers but instead to report them to the police so that action can
be taken against them under the ‘Safe Streets Act’ (Sudbury Star, May 22, 2008, p. 3).

The final question asks about how to measure progress on ‘poverty reduction’ and not the elimination of poverty. One major way of signalling a real beginning for a campaign to eliminate poverty would be for the Liberal government to immediately repeal all the remaining policies and regulations stemming from the Tory war on the poor. This would include repealing the ‘Safe Streets Act,’ raising social assistance rates by 40%, raising the minimum wage rate, and getting rid of all anti-union legislation inherited from the Tories. This would only be a beginning but a beginning point that would ensure the people living in poverty were at least back to where they were before the Tory war on the poor started.

The Need for an Integrated Anti-Poverty Approach

It is also crucial to recognize that the social organization of poverty is tied up with racism, sexism, class exploitation, and the oppression of people with disabilities. Justice for indigenous people, including in their crucial land claims struggle is an important aspect of fighting against poverty. Recognizing that the work that women (most often) do in the home raising children - often in very difficult situations with a lack of social support - is vital socially necessary work is another. Related to this we need to recognize that for all too many women leaving their male partners because of violence and abuse means getting forced into relations of poverty. This needs to be addressed as part of any anti-poverty strategy. Allowing working class people the ability to more freely organize unions and to secure higher wages is another part of such a strategy. Making a society that does not have systematic barriers for and exclusions of people living with disabilities is another. And this just gets us going if we are serious about ending poverty.

Gary Kinsman was involved in the Sudbury Coalition for Social Justice and the Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty and is a supporter of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty. He teaches Sociology at Laurentian University.

Monday May 5th - Liberal Minister in Ptbo - Rally to Demand a Raise in the Rates

2008-05-01T17:13:00.007-04:00

Join PCAP in demonstration as we 'welcome' Liberal Minister Deb Matthews to Peterborough, the first stop on her 'poverty tour' ...

On Monday May 5th at 12:30 p.m.,

PCAP will gather at the Bus Terminal on Simcoe St. - join us as we ride to the Evinrude Arena together to demand accountability from Liberal MPPs who gave themselves a 25% raise while their government continues to deny poor people the means to get by. We can assist with bus fare. Bus leaves at 12:40 - don't be late!

Children and Youth Services Minister Deb Matthews, who chairs the cabinet committee on provincial poverty reduction, is hosting a roundtable on reducing poverty in Ontario on Monday, May 5th 2008 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. The event is being held at the Evinrude Arena (911 Monaghan Road, Peterborough) in the Multi-purpose Room.

This roundtable is one of 13 Provincial Public Meetings on strategies to reduce poverty.The problem is that the meeting is NOT PUBLIC. It is a closed door meeting and open to those who have been invited by the Liberals only!

Let the Ontario Liberal’s know that we won’t sit by while they ‘dialogue’ behind closed doors about Ontario's poverty reduction strategy! Enough talk! Time for action! Join the fight for a decent income and demand that the Liberals RAISE THE RATES!

The NDP and CUPE are also calling for people to join them at the Evinrude Centre at 1:45 p.m. on Monday May 5, 2008. Matthews "private" invite only session begins at 2:00p.m.

The Ontario Liberal Government, which was elected on a platform of change, has done little to reverse the Tory’s anti-poor agenda and has done almost nothing to improve the living conditions of poor people. The Liberals have made miserable token gestures when serious action was called for. This Government will continue the war on the poor until it is challenged by way of a serious social mobilization. More and more communities are refusing to go back to the old choices between dignity and rent. The government is facing people who are demanding what they deserve from their welfare workers, their City Councillors and their MPPs.

PCAP and our allies across Ontario are organizing in a major way to get the rates raised. We know the liberals have the money – but we will have to fight to get it. We know that we won’t get a raise unless we come out in record numbers and put continued pressure on the Liberals to give us what we deserve. Fight to Win!

-------

Did you know that the Ontario Liberals …

… are responsible for imposing poverty and hunger on the 760,000 women, children and men who are forced to live on miserable welfare and disability payments in Ontario. The Liberals raised assistance rates and minimum wage by an insulting fraction of what it would take for rates to be livable. Two and three percent raises to OW/ODSP rates is an insultingly pathetic gesture when 40% is needed to restore the 21.7% Harris cuts and fully compensate for ten years of cost of living increases. The lowest paid workers in the province won’t receive a liveable minimum wage until 2010.

… cut the Special Diet Policy under which huge numbers were obtaining relief from poverty and hunger. The Liberals introduced a new policy, determined to shut down the OCAP initiated community clinics where thousands of poor people were obtaining the $250 a month the policy entitled them to. The special diet cuts ensured that these people would be returned to hunger and ill health. PCAP demands the reversal of this vicious measure and a 40% increase in social assistance rates.

… introduced an Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) that will benefit families on OW and ODSP significantly less than it appears. People who rely on social assistance will only receive a portion of the OCB beginning in July 2008 because of a simultaneous restructuring of social assistance rates. As of July, 2008, monthly ODSP and OW benefits for families will be reduced and families will no longer receive a separate winter clothing allowance or back-to-school clothing allowance. Some of the National Child Benefit will continue to be clawed back under this new system. The value of the clawback is $122 for one child. The government has said that when the OCB is fully implemented in 2011, families will be better off by at least $50 a month per child. This means that for a family with one child, the there will still be about $72 being clawed back by the provincial government. Deb Matthews was recognized in the 2007 Ontario Budget speech as having been a driving force behind the new OCB; come out and let her know that the OCB is not enough!

… implemented a so-called “new and improved” Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) that has failed to “balance” the power between landlords and tenants. For the second straight year, and the first year under the new RTA, almost 65,000 Ontario households faced eviction applications in 2007. In contrast only 1,228 tenant applications were made to take landlords to the Board for maintenance issues. We need measures to reduce and control rent, and to improve tenant incomes. We demand safe, decent affordable housing now!

… promised better health care but instead whacked low- and moderate-income Ontarians with an unfair, regressive health tax. Then, they cut vital health services like physiotherapy, chiropractic and eye care services.

--------

Minister to start poverty tour here Monday
Peterborough Examiner (ON)
Thu May 1, 2008 - City/Region - B1
BRENDAN WEDLEY

A provincial cabinet minister will discuss ways to reduce poverty in Ontario at a roundtable discussion with a local committee Monday.

Peterborough will be the first stop on a multi-community tour by Children and Youth Services Minister Deb Matthews, who chairs the cabinet committee on provincial poverty reduction, Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal said.

"There are certainly some innovative ideas that have been put forward by the local poverty reduction initiative in Peterborough," he said. "She wants to hear those ideas."

The roundtable discussion with the mayor's action committee on poverty reduction will be held at the Evinrude Centre, on Monaghan Road just north of Lansdowne Street, from 2 to 5 p.m.

The local committee will emphasize the importance of community partnerships, said Coun. Doug Peacock, who is the chairman of the mayor's task force on poverty reduction. "We have a community oriented process.... We're trying hard to establish community relationships," he said. "Within the community, with a number of efforts that are primarily volunteer-based and charitable organizations that are offering support, we have a plan."

The local committee will look for more than moral support in its struggle against poverty in the community. There will also be a pitch for money to support specific initiatives. As much as $30,000 would suffice, Peacock said. The committee will tell Matthews about a recently launched homelessness outreach program, a plan to open a community garden and an initiative that would help troubled young people learn skills while volunteering at a food bank, Peacock said. The committee will ask for small-scale funding, Peacock said."What we're looking for is to just plug some of the gaps with those initiatives," he said.

Matthews may tour local facilities such as the Youth Emergency Shelter during her
visit, if she has enough time, Leal said.

----

25 in 5 Press Release: Open process needed for provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Poverty consultations must lead to real change

TORONTO, May 2 –

Advocates are calling on the Ontario government to move beyond closed sessions and ensure an open, inclusive and solutions-oriented process as the province begins consultations for its Poverty Reduction Strategy.

“Too many Ontarians who have been shut out need this opportunity to be heard, and we expect the Province to make low-income voices a priority in their consultations. But we will know that government really means business when we see the voices of those living in poverty front and center in these discussions,” said Pat Capponi of the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction and a low-income advocate with Voices from the Street.

The 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction is calling on the Ontario government to commit to reducing poverty by 25 per cent in the next five years. It issued an open letter to all MPPs earlier this week calling for a bold public consultation process that leads to real, tangible change in tackling poverty. 25 in 5 expects that the process will include:

A focus on solutions that address the realities of all Ontarians living in poverty, not only children

Meetings that are open and accessible to the public, and include those groups, communities and individuals who are most marginalized

Consultation that is properly funded and resourced

Consultations are recorded and those reports are made public in a timely manner

“We need this government to articulate a plan that sees every Minister and every MPP working harder than ever to bring Ontarians together for a real plan for poverty reduction,” said Peter Clutterbuck of the Social Planning Network of Ontario and a partner of the 25 in 5 Network.

“This government has been given the benefit of the doubt so far. Now communities across this province are mobilized, ready, and eager to have their say. Now it’s
government’s turn to make an open process a reality” said Andaleen Adamali of 25 in 5 and the Council of Agencies Serving South Agencies. “We will be watching and tracking the consultation process closely.”

The 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction will bring to the consultations a three-pronged action plan to combat poverty. That requires significant new action. The plan focuses on ensuring that jobs pay living wages, achieving liveable incomes for every Ontarian, and strategies to expand access to affordable housing, early learning and child care, public education and other community programs that help people connect.

The 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction is a province-wide Ontario coalition of over 100 organizations and individuals calling for a 25 per cent reduction in poverty in five years. For more information, and to view 25 in 5’s Principles for Consultation: www.25in5.ca

Media contact: Alissa Von Bargen,
Community Social Planning Council of Toronto, 416-351-0095 x214, cell:
647-230-9164 e-mail: avonbargen@cspc.toronto.on.ca

-30-

Update: Tense Standoff Continues in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

2008-04-28T15:53:00.003-04:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Update: Tense Standoff Continues in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
Shawn Brant Arrested on Trumped-Up Charges Once Again
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**please note that circumstances on the ground continue to change constantly, so full updates are not possible at this time **

DETAILS FOR TORONTO SUPPORT DEMONSTRATION BELOW: COME OUT ON TUESDAY,
APRIL 29, 2008 AT NOON TO 720 BAY STREET

After a tense exchange this morning, in which the OPP informed Mohawk spokesperson Jason Maracle to get people out of the area or they would come in, the OPP instead disbanded a Mohawk roadblock erected on the perimetre of the reclaimed quarry site. This psychological warfare on the part of the police resulted in a tense face-off between the OPP and community members. At present, the OPP has removed one of the roadblocks on the Slash Road and pulled back, but remains present in the direct vicinity of the quarry in great numbers. At the centre of the dispute is the Culbertson Tract, land which rightfully belongs to the Mohawks of Tyendinaga. Community members have been occupying a gravel quarry site for over a year.

In addition, a blockade of Highway 6, taken in support of the Tyendinaga Mohawks, continues by people of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Six Nations community members have said they will remove the Highway 6 bypass blockade once they receive confirmation the OPP have withdrawn from the Mohawks of Tyendinaga. The road is now barricaded with a downed hydro tower, wires and a telephone pole.

Important to note is that, despite the reporting in mainstream press, Mohawk spokesperson Shawn Brant's arrest on Friday, April 25th stems from an incident which took place on Monday April 21st. Specifically, Shawn Brant has been charged for his role in allegedly preventing further attacks on a woman from Tyendinaga and a young child by racist rednecks from the town of Deseronto.

These new charges were laid less than two weeks after Shawn Brant was acquitted of charges alleging that he threated Canadian Forces soldiers during a demonstration to prevent development of the Culberston Tract in 2006.

Once again, for his role as a spokesperson in the community, Shawn Brant is facing trumped-up charges. Arrested during an interview he was conducting with APTN, Shawn's final words during his arrest on Friday were "This is it, justice for first nations communities: lock us up. Anybody who speaks out, lock-em up. KI6, Bob Lovelace: lock-em up...Don't fix the problems, lock-em up." (to watch, click HERE)

Supporters rushed to the quarry after watching or hearing of Shawn's arrest. An altercation with the OPP is alleged to have ensued. Four Mohawks were then arrested and jailed. The OPP were reported to have drawn their guns on the Mohawk community members remaining the quarry.

According to Mohawk spokesperson Jay Maracle, "The OPP led us into this incident by jumping five of our men, arresting them and taking them to jail and then sticking guns in our faces, in women and children's faces," he said.

There has been open communication between the Mohawks and the OPP but Maracle said things will not improve unless OPP retracts a statement indicating there are armed Mohawks at the quarry. He said there are no guns at the site.

Matt Kunkel, Clint Brant, Dan Doreen, and Steve Chartrand remain in custody and will appear in bail court in Napanee today. The group includes Dan Dorene, spokesperson for the Mohawk blockade on Highway 2 one week ago, erected to prevent development on the Culberston Tract, land which rightfully belongs to the Mohawks.

A couple from the community who were also arrested by the OPP on Friday were later were released unconditionally.

Shawn Brant will also likely appear in court today.

This brings the total number of First Nations people in Ontario jails for defending their land to 12.

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EMERGENCY RALLY: TORONTO

TOMORROW: Tuesday, April 29th
12 noon

Ministry of the Attorney General
720 Bay Street
(Bay, just north of Gerrard, eastside)

OPP back off!
Free all First Nations Political Prisoners Now!
Hands off Stolen Land: Return the Culbertson Tract to the Mohawks of
Tyendinaga!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please continue to call the premier's office and urge the Provincial
Government to:

Honour Mohawk land, call off the OPP: Do not risk people's lives for a gravel pit the government has already acknowledged is on Mohawk land!

Release all First Nations political prisoners!

Premier Dalton McGuinty: 416-325-1941 (phone)
416-325-3745 (fax)
dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

URGENT ACTION: Call Premier: SWAT Teams ammassing in Tyendinaga 9:30 am Monday

2008-04-28T12:21:00.001-04:00

**URGENT** Tyendinaga 9:30 am Monday morning, April 28th

We have just been informed by the Tyendinaga Mohawk community spokespeople that SWAT teams are amassing now on the Deseronto and Slash Roads, bordering the Tyendinaga quarry reclamation site.

Community spokesperson Jason Maracle has just been told by the OPP to pull people out of the quarry because they are going in.

Tyendinaga Support Committee
support.tmt@gmail.com

----------------------------------------------------------

CALL THE PREMIER! CALL THE PREMIER! CALL THE PREMIER! CALL THE PREMIER!

Please call the premier's office immediately and urge them to:

-Honour Mohawk land, call off the OPP: Do not risk people's lives
for a gravel pit the government has already acknowledged is on Mohawk land!

-Release all First Nations political prisoners!

Premier Dalton McGuinty: 416-325-1941 (phone)
416-325-3745 (fax)
daltonmcguinty@premier.gov.on.ca

----------------------------------------------------------

Yesterday's Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FROM TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TERRITORY:

Ontario Jails Five More First Nations People Involved in Land Struggles

(Sunday, April 27, 2008 -Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory) Five men from Tyendinaga are in jail today bringing the total number of First Nations people in Ontario jails for defending their land to 12.

Ontario, it appears, has opted for the incarceration of First Nations people over the resolution of outstanding land issues as their status quo.

As for the Ontario Provincial Police, it appears the adoption of Justice Linden's Ipperwash Inquiry recommendations is experiencing some delay.

While in custody at the Napanee Detachment several different officers repeatedly informed Shawn Brant that they were going to "slit his throat" and that he was a "dead man."

This followed a similarly disturbing incident that occurred on Monday, April 22nd during the road closures in Deseronto when an officer on the scene clearly and audibly commented to her colleagues "we should just shoot them (Mohawks) all."

Meanwhile, road closures continue in Tyendinaga and Six Nations until, as one man said, "We finish the job."

Spokesperson: Jay Maracle: 613-243-4993

- 30 -

For more info: http://www.ocap.ca/supporttmt.html

MAY DAY OF ACTION: STATUS FOR ALL!

2008-04-24T15:50:00.003-04:00

MAY DAY OF ACTION: STATUS FOR ALL!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Christie Pits Park (at Christie subway station) TORONTO
12 Noon

*This is a child-friendly demonstration. Food and drinks will be available. There will be vehicles on-hand for those with reduced mobility.*

Millions across North America have taken to the streets in the last two years demanding Status for All! In Toronto, workers, students, trade unionists, activists and community members have led passionate demonstrations calling for justice and dignity for immigrants and refugees.

The last year has seen unprecedented targeting of refugees in Sanctuary. Asylum seekers have been arrested from schools, workplaces and even hospital beds. Families have been torn apart. Over 12,000 friends, family, and community members have been deported.

On March 14th 2008, the Conservative government introduced a series of amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), buried in Bill c-50, a 136-page "budget implementation bill". If passed, the Minister will have the discretion to refuse applications even where the applicants meet the elitist and racist criteria for
permanent residence, to refuse to even examine humanitarian applications filed from abroad, and to arbitrarily set quotas on the "category" of person that can enter Canada – including quotas based on country of origin.

In the face of this intimidation and fear, our communities have refused to be silenced. Together, we have forced immigration enforcement out of Toronto District schools. Inspired frontline community workers have taken up the struggle for Access Without Fear. We have fought against, and stopped the deportations of allies and
friends.

But the fight is not over. There are over 500,000 undocumented people living and working across Canada, over 200,000 in Toronto alone. They are forced to live in daily fear of jailing and deportation, without access to essential services. Bill C-50 would create even more categories of "temporary foreign workers" without full status and
without rights. These workers will be exploited as cheap labour, as mere commodities, used and then removed. We will not stand for this.

On May 3rd, as part of the National Days of Action for Status for All, we will take to the streets. We demand an end to detentions and deportations. We demand access without fear to essential services. We demand an end to security certificates and secret trials. We demand a full and inclusive regularization program. We demand justice, dignity and respect!

The March will be followed by a community fair featuring music, performers, food, children activities and visual art displays.

JOIN US!

WAYS TO SUPPORT:
1) Organize a loud contingent to come out on May 3rd.
2) Endorse the May Day of Action by emailing NOII a short statement of support.
3) Financial and in-kind (photocopying, translation) donations.
4) Organize a NOII workshop/presentation at your school, union local, agency, community centre or workplace.
5) Help out with postering and outreach

For more information about how you support the march or get involved:
Email: nooneisillegal@riseup.net
Website: www.nooneisillegal.org
Phone: 416 604-5765

-------------------------------------------------------------

No One is Illegal-Toronto is looking for volunteers and allies to help out for the Day of Action on May 3rd.

If you can help out, attend our Volunteer Meeting

Wednesday April 30th - 6:30pm

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)

252 Bloor Street West (between Bedford and St George, at the St George Subway Station)

The room location will be posted in the lobby

-----------------------------------------------------

Endorsed by: AMNI Student Group - University of Toronto * Basics Community Newsletter * Black Action Defence Committee * Bolivarian Circle - Manuelita Saenz * Campaign Anti-Sharia * Canadian Federation of Students * Caribbean Studies Student's Union at UofT * Carranza Barristers & Solicitors * Central Neighbourhood House * Centre for Feminist Research * Centre for Spanish Speaking People * Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid * Community Social Planning Council of Toronto * CUPE 1281 * CUPE 1777(Social Service Workers) * CUPE 3896 (Social Service Workers) * CUPE 3902 (Educational Workers at UofT) * CUPE 3907 (OISE T.A.s) * CUPE 4308 (Social Service Workers) * CUPE International Solidarity Committee * CUPE Ontario * Education Not
Deportation * Educators for Peace and Justice * Elementary Teachers of Toronto Regional Council * UKPC (Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance) * Glendon College Student's Union - York University * Grassroots Youth Collaborative * Industrial Accident Victims' Group of Ontario * International Federation of Iranian Refugees in Canada * Justice for Alwy Campaign * Justice for Mohamed Harkat Campaign * KAIROS * Law
Union of Ontario * Liberation of Women in Iran * New Socialist Group * No One Is Illegal – Brampton * No One Is Illegal – Kingston * No One Is Illegal – Ottawa * No One Is Illegal- Montreal * No One Is Illegal-Vancouver * Ontario Coalition Against Poverty * OPIRG-Toronto * OPIRG-York * OSSTF District 12 - Human Rights Committee * ROAD Network * Ryerson Students Union * Sistering * Department of Sociology
and Equity Studies at OISE * Sociology and Equity Studies in Education Student Caucus * Solidarity Across Borders * Somali Youth Association of Toronto * South Asian Women's Rights Organization * Status Now * Teachers for Palestine * The Bickford Centre * The Socialist Project * The Stop * Toronto Haiti Action Committee * Toronto Adult Student Association * Toronto Climate Change Coalition * Toronto Coalition to
Stop the War * Toronto Immigration Legal Committee * United Black Students at Ryerson * York University Black Students Alliance * York University Muslim Student's Association *

Check out the national No One Is Illegal statement on the new changes to the Immigration Act proposed by the Conservative government:

http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/935

To see photos, video and report backs from last year's Status for All demo, check out:

http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/683

Hollow Victory: Shawn Brant Acquitted of Threat Charges

2008-04-19T15:26:00.002-04:00

On Monday, April 14th, a trial involving highly political charges laid against Shawn Brant and two other Mohawks from Tyendinaga, ended in acquittals for two of the three charged. The charges stemmed from a demonstration that was part of the struggle for the Culbertson Tract.

Shawn Brant was found not guilty on Monday on three charges of uttering threats at soldiers during a 2006 demonstration against a proposed development on Mohawk land. Justice Charles Anderson, in Napanee, Ont., also cleared his co-accused Jerome Barnhart on two charges of uttering threats and one charge of mischief. Mario 'Skin' Baptiste Jr., was convicted of two counts of assault soldiers and one count of mischief for attacking a vehicle. Sentencing of Skin will occur after the completion of a pre-sentencing report, which could take eight weeks to prepare.

These particular charges stemmed from an earlier demonstration around the Culbertson Tract, land which the federal government has long acknowledged rightfully belongs to the Mohawks but which is languishing at the negotiation table. On November 15th, 2006, Mohawks from Tyendinaga erected posters at the site of a proposed 140-home development project which was later scuttled due to Mohawk resistance to building on their land. During the protest, five Canadian Military vehicles were spotted traveling in a convoy through the reserve. In the context of the history of military involvement in policing Native protest across Canada, the convoy was seen as a veiled threat. The Mohawks blocked the vehicles' path with cars and trucks, eventually allowing the O.P.P. to escort the military away. No one was charged until two months later - just days after Shawn Brant announced that Tyendinaga Mohawks planned to take blockade actions as part of the upcoming June 29th Aboriginal Day of Action, the three Mohawks were charged.

The defence attorney argued during this trial that the laying of these charges was politically motivated, in order to ensure that Shawn Brant would have outstanding legal issues before the Day of Action, and would likely be held without bail if he participated in any future blockades. After this week's acquittal, Shawn Brant told reporters, "I know it weighed heavy on the judges when I was denied bail on two different occasions." He went on to say, "I spent two months in jail because of this; I've been on conditions for 18 months. To have them set aside like this is a hollow victory at best." In addition, Shawn Brant is the sole Mohawk facing charges in connection with Tyendinaga Mohawks' highway and rail line blockades in April and June 2007. The latter blockades happened in conjunction with the Assembly of First Nations' National Day of Action.

The political nature of this trial, and the on-going criminalization of Tyendinaga Mohawks around their struggle for the land, continues to be made clear through the heavy police presence each time the Mohawks appear in court. On Monday, OPP officers in tactical uniforms were stationed at the courthouse, and anyone entering was scanned with a metal detector. People attending the verdict were not allowed to bring cellphones inside, after being told that explosive devices could be smuggled in this way.

Similar to previous occasions when Shawn Brant and other members of his community have gone to court in 2007 and 2008, this excessive security presence is repeatedly implemented in an effort to influence the outcome of the court proceedings, and is another form of intimidation and threat against people who are fighting for their land.

A CBC documentary aired last month (see below for link), revealed that OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino had heavily armed tactical units on hand, to use lethal force against the Mohawks if necessary, in order to re-open Highway 401, which was shut down during the actions of June 29th. The OPP ignored the recommendations of the Ipperwash Inquiry Report, which resulted from Dudley George's death, and disregarded
their common practice of obtaining injunctions before considering using force against indigenous occupations.

The lengths to which the colonial state, cops, and courts are prepared to go, in their efforts to repress and destroy indigenous resistance and struggle for sovereignty, self-determination, and justice, is laid bare by these facts. Shawn Brant goes to trial in January 2009, facing a possible 12 years in a federal penitentiary.

The personal sacrifice and the tremendous price he stands to pay for his leadership and courage warrant our utmost efforts to ensure Shawn Brant does not go to trial isolated and unawares of the depth of respect and support that exists across Turtle Island, and how deeply tied the struggle for social justice must be with First Nations
peoples. It is vital that people of conscience act to support the Mohawks of Tyendinaga.

The Tyendinaga Support Committee
support.tmt@gmail.com

--------------------------------------------------

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Listen to the recent CBC radio documentary: The Long Hot Summer
The Current CBC Radio 99.1FM
Link to hear the documentary at http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2008/200803/20080326.html

In June 2007, thousands of native Canadians turned out for the national Aboriginal Day of Action, a day of peaceful protest designed to educate non-native Canadians about the issues that plague native communities. Despite concerns of violence, the day came and went more or less peacefully. Those in power -- native and non-native -- congratulated each other on how well it all went and concluded that the predicted "long, hot summer" of aboriginal discontent had been skillfully, peacefully and -- in the most Canadian of ways -- quietly averted. But that very nearly wasn't the case. And the day came closer than most people realize to ending with a violent confrontation.Freelance broadcaster Susanna Kelley investigated what happened that
night.

2. Donate money to the Tyendinega Legal Defence Fund, which divides funds raised between Shawn's legal costs and maintaining the quarry reclamation site. Cheques can be made out to "Tyendinaga Legal Defence Fund" and mailed to the address below.

3. Host a facilitated workshop or information session with a member of the Tyendinaga Support Committee. Contact us at support.tmt@gmail.com

4. Put forward a resolution in your local or organization in support of Shawn Brant and the struggle of the Tyendinaga Mohawk community to reclaim their land.

5. Officially endorse the TSC campaign to support Shawn Brant's legal defence and the quarry reclamation site by contacting us at supporttmt@gmail.com

6. In Toronto, contact us to become actively involved in the work of the TSC and come to one of our meetings.

7. Visit our website to sign an online petition or to join our mailing list: http://www.ocap.ca/supporttmt.html

Tyendinaga Support Committee
c/o 10 Britain St. Toronto ON M5A 1R6
support.tmt@gmail.com
http://www.ocap.ca/supporttmt.html

April 17th - PCPS Event: Palestinian Prisoners Day Film Festival

2008-04-16T16:28:00.000-04:00

Palestinian Prisoners Day Film Festival

Free films on Palestine, all day!

Thursday, April 17
1 pm - 9 pm
Peterborough Public Library Auditorium (345 Aylmer St North)
Wheelchair accessible space

WEAR BLACK to show your solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners!

Zatoun fair trade olive oil and soap from Palestine will be sold

FILM SCHEDULE

1:00 – 2:45 - Occupation 101

2:45 – 3:00 - Break

3:00 – 3:30 - A Caged Bird's Song

3:30 – 4:15 - Azmi Bishara's address to Israeli Apartheid Week in South Africa

4:15 – 4:30 - Break

4:30 – 5:00 - Short talk on Palestinian Political Prisoners
With speakers from the Peterborough Coalition for Palestinian Solidarity

5:00 – 6:00 - The Iron Wall

Short film programme:
6:00 – 6:10 - The Easiest Targets
6:10 – 6:20 - Clip from "We" – Arundhati Roy on the Israel/Palestine Conflict
6:20 – 6:30 - Clip from Ilan Pappe's March 29 address in Vancouver – "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine"
6:30 – 6:40 - Clip from Naomi Klein's keynote address at Canada's first Independent Canadian Jewish Conference – "Israel, Don't Act Normal"

6:40 – 7:00 - Break (light dinner will be provided)

7:00 – 9:00 - Evening Presentation: Indigenous Political Prisoners in Turtle Island
A talk on Caledonia/Kanonhstaton and screening of The Dish With One Spoon, a new documentary by Dr. Dawn Martin-Hill

Sponsored by the Trent Film Society.

More information HERE

FREEDOM for IVAN APAOLAZA SANCHO

2008-04-16T16:23:00.003-04:00

From: "Liberte pour Ivan"

UPDATE:
IRB ISSUES DEPORTATION ORDER AGAINST IVAN APAOLAZA SANCHO

Montreal, 13 May 2008 - This morning, IRB Board member Louis Dubé rendered his decision in Ivan Apaolaza Sancho's case, accepting that a key declaration in the case was provided under torture but nevertheless issuing a deportation order against him.

Mr. Apaolaza Sancho, a refugee claimant of Basque origin, has been detained at the Rivière-des-Prairies prison since June 2007. He was arrested by the RCMP, acting at the behest of the Spanish authorities, who alleged that he was a member of the Basque nationalist group ETA, a "listed entity" under Canada's Antiterrorism Act. Mr. Sancho vigorously denies the allegations. Nevertheless, the Minister has argued that Mr. Apaolaza Sancho is inadmissible to Canada on these grounds.

In his decision to issue a deportation order against Mr. Sancho, Commissioner Dubé relied SOLELY on the information contained in arrest warrants issued by the Spanish authorities, despite the fact that NO evidence was ever filed by the Canadian authorities to sustain the allegations in the warrants.

Mr. Dubé also discounted evidence that the allegations in the Spanish warrants are based on a declaration obtained by the Spanish police though the use of torture. Under Canadian and international law, information obtained under torture cannot be used in any judicial proceeding. While Mr. Dubé agreed that the declaration had likely been obtained under torture, he did not accept evidence that the allegations were based on this declaration.

"It seems that when police write words on a piece of paper, a disconnect is somehow created between the information they write and the same information in a detainee's declaration obtained under torture. This puts an impossible burden on Mr. Apaoloza Sancho," said Me. William Sloan, Mr. Sancho's lawyer.

"I am shocked that the tribunal could find that the only evidence against me was obtained under torture, while at the same time concluding that the Spanish allegations, which are based on that same evidence, are somehow valid. This decision makes a mockery of the prohibition against the use of evidence obtained under torture," said Mr. Apaolaza Sancho after hearing the decision.

As a result of this decision, Mr. Apaolaza Sancho is barred from making a refugee claim in Canada. He fears torture at the hands of the Spanish police if deported. Amnesty International has reported that torture is frequent in Spain in cases such as Mr. Sancho's.

Mr. Apaolaza Sancho will seek judicial review of the IRB's decision in the Federal Court. Though he has been ordered detained pending deportation, he will seek a writ of habeas corpus in order to be released from prison.

----

Update from the Freedom for Ivan Committee

Thursday, 17 April, is political prisoner's day. In Montreal, Ivan Apaolaza Sancho - a 36 year old Basque refugee claimant and political prisoner - has been in detention for over ten months.

Ivan is accused of having been a member of the ETA (an armed nationalist Basque organization); an accusation that he denies. He has been detained at Rivière des prairies Detention Centre since June 2007 and faces deportation solely on the basis of accusations made by the Spanish state; no actual evidence to support the allegations has been presented. Moreover, the allegations themselves seem to come from a confession obtained under torture (see below). If the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) Commissioner accept those allegations, Ivan faces deportation to Spain where he expects further arbitrary detention and possible torture.

Ivan is one of hundreds of Basque political prisoners, held at the behest of the Spanish state, often with the complicity of other states like Canada. For centuries, the Spanish state has inflicted intense and cruel repression on the Basque left-sovereignist movement (which enjoys broad support in Basque society). Today, following in Franco's footsteps, the state continues to use political repression as it attempts to dismantle the Basque movement's base of social support. Of the 18,721 people arrested in Basque country for political reasons between 1977 and 2002, 9200 people served jail time, 5300 people reported having been tortured, and 9 people were murdered during police interrogations.

On 24 March, the newly formed Freedom for Ivan committee organized a press conference in Montreal to publish evidence indicating that all of the allegations against Ivan originate from the "confession" a Basque woman made under torture while she was held incommunicado by Spanish police. Ivan's committee and lawyers called on Stockwell Day to immediately release Ivan and cease Canadian complicity in torture.

The following day, Ivan's lawyers argued in an IRB hearing that the case against Ivan should be thrown out for lack of evidence and because there are reasonable grounds to believe that the allegations are based on information obtained under torture, which is inadmissable under Canadian law. French legal expert Didier Rouget testified that Canada could also be breaking international law if it deported Ivan on that basis. The hearing will resume on 25 April.

In the meantime, Ivan underwent another routine detention review. Just two days before Political Prisoner day, the IRB Commissioner had another opportunity to cease participating in torture and repression - but refused.

BELOW:
1. Press release: "Canada is detaining a Basque refugee on the basis of torture information"
2. Media coverage of press conference and hearing
3. New letters of support (Ligue des droits; ACAT; CDHL)
4. Campaign demands and Backgrounder
5. How you can help

:::::PRESS RELEASE: "Canada is detaining a Basque refugee on the basis of information obtained under torture"

"Ivan Apaolaza Sancho, a refugee claimant of Basque origin, has been detained at the Rivière-des-Prairies prison since June 2007 and currently faces deportation proceedings, and all of this solely on the basis of allegations by the Spanish government. In spite of the numerous requests made by Mr. Apaolaza Sancho's lawyers, no evidence has been filed to support these allegations. Moreover, it seems that the accusations put forth by the Spanish government are based entirely on declarations made by a woman who was being held 'incommunicado' in Spain at the time. ..."Complete press release: www.cmaq.net/en/node/29565.

:::::MEDIA COVERAGE OF PRESS CONFERENCE AND HEARING:::::

--> Link to audio of the press coverage on CKUT 90.3 FM:
http://secure.ckut.ca/64/20080404.11.00-11.30.mp3 (download);
http://secure.ckut.ca/64/mp3.20080404.11.00-11.30.m3u (stream).

--> CP: Expert says Canada could break international law if terror suspect deported

"A French legal expert is warning Canada it will break international law if evidence obtained through torture is used to deport a suspected Basque terrorist. Didier Rouget, a lawyer who has represented several torture victims, suggested Thursday that Canada is walking a dangerous line if it returns Ivan Apaolaza Sancho to Spain. ..." Complete article: www.canadaeast.com/news/article/252057.

--> More mainstream media coverage (compilation):
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/12/nouvellesnews-ivan-apaol aza-sancho.html

:::::NEW LETTERS OF SUPPORT::::::

--> Letter from the Ligue des droits et libertés

"The claim of territorial inadmissibility by the Canadian authorities in the case of Ivan Apaolaza Sancho is based on allegations of belonging to a terrorist organization, the ETA, which have never been judged in court. Moreover, these allegations of the Spanish state appear themselves to be based on allegations obtained under torture, according to information provided by Mr. Apaolaza Sancho's lawyer. Canada has ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Article 15 of that Convention stipulates that no evidence that has been obtained under torture can be considered valid. ... If he is returned to Spain, Mr. Apaolaza Sancho faces a strong risk of being subject to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. In January 2008, Amnesty International called for an inquiry into the behaviour of the police force during the arrest of Mr. Igor Portu, a suspected member of the Basque independence organization, the ETA. According to doctors who examined him, he was admitted to emergency hospital care with severe wounds after the arrest (www.amnistie.ca/content/view/11282/107/). ... " (Our translation. For complete letter (in french only), email us at libertepourivan@gmail.com.)

--> Letter from Action chrétien contre la torture

"L'ACAT-CANADA (affiliated with International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture), which has consultative status at the United Nations and the Council of Europe, is very concerned by the situation of a Basque asylum seeker, originally from the city of Beasaín, detained since June 2007 at the Rivière-des-Prairies Detention Centre in Montréal. Facing forcible deportation to Spain, this man is at risk of torture or other forms of ill treatment with great injury to the security of the person. ... " (Our translation. For complete letter (in french only), email us at libertepourivan@gmail.com.)

--> Letter from Comité pour les droits humains en Amérique latine (CDHAL)

"We are writing to register our very great concern about the decision of the Canadian government to keep Mr. Ivan Apaolaza Sancho in detention without any evidence. Moreover, we are deeply concerned by the fact that the allegations are based on information obtained under torture. In addition to doubting the truth of such information, we are very concerned that the Canadian government would approve this type of practice ... " (Our translation. For complete letter (in french only), email us at libertepourivan@gmail.com.)

:::::DEMANDS AND BACKGROUNDER:::::

--> The Freedom for Ivan Sancho committee demands:

1- An immediate release of Ivan from detention and immediate freedom for all political prisoners.
2- A stop to Ivan's deportation and an end to Canadian complicity in the use of torture.
3- Refugee status for Ivan and an end to the two-tiered justice system for non-citizens in Canada.

--> Open letter by Ivan Sancho

"My name is Ivan Apaolaza Sancho, I am a graduate in sociology and my nationality is Basque. I have been detained at the Rivières-des-Prairies detention centre in Montreal since June 29th 2007 on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by the Spanish state (and with the help of Immigration Canada). ... " Full letter:

http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2008/03/open-letter-by-ivan-apaolaza-sancho.html

--> Backgrounder: The Making of another Basque Political Prisoner in Canada

" Ivan is a 36 year old Basque man from the town of Beasaín. He first came to Canada six years ago. Ivan grew up in the Basque country where he was active in the student movement while attending the Universidad del País Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV-EHU). Like many Basques, he was also a sympathizer of the left-sovereignist party Batasuna. ...."

Full backgrounder, email us at libertepourivan@gmail.com.

::::HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT FREEDOM FOR IVAN:::::

At this point, Ivan and his supporters are asking organizations to:

1) Endorse the campaign demands (above).

2) Write a statement of support for Ivan in which we also encourage you to speak to the larger political issues behind his situation (Ivan would like this campaign to be explicitly political and to clearly denounce the actions of the Spanish authorities).

3) Write and if possible gather letters of support from individuals and organizations for the purpose of pressuring the Minister of Immigration and Minister of Public Safety to agree to our demands. (Letter writing guide available: email us at libertepourivan@gmail.com.)

4) Write letters to Ivan (email us for contact info).

5) Spread information about Ivan's case to your networks.

6) If you are in Montreal, get involved in Ivan's support committee!

--------------------------------------
The Freedom for Ivan Committee
libertepourivan@gmail.com
514-848-7583

Ontario Child Benefit and Restructuring of OW/ODSP Rates

2008-04-16T16:14:00.003-04:00

For information on the Ontario Child Benefit and Restructuring of OW / ODSP Rates CLICK HERE

The Ontario Child Benefit was announced in March 2007 and will go to all low-income families with children between the ages of 0 – 18, whether they are working or receiving Ontario Works (OW) or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). As a result, if a family leaves social assistance, they will not lose their child benefits.

The Ontario Child Benefit will be implemented in July 2008 and is scheduled to increase gradually from $50/month/child to $92/month/child by 2011. As of July, 2008, the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) will also no longer be deducted monthly from the cheques of families on OW and ODSP. While families on OW and ODSP will apparently be better off as a result of these changes, the amount they will get is significantly less than it appears. As of July, 2008, monthly ODSP and OW benefits for families will be reduced and families will no longer receive a separate winter clothing allowance or back-to-school clothing allowance. Thus, a single mother on OW with one child, for example, will only be better off by $31/month as of July 2008, growing gradually to $50/month by 2011.

**For eligibility, be sure to file your 2007 tax returns**

If you have questions or concerns, please contact PCAP at (705) 749-9694 or email pcap@riseup.net

CROSS-COUNTRY MOBILIZING AGAINST BILL C-50...

2008-04-09T17:18:00.004-04:00

YOUR URGENT SUPPORT NEEDED- CALL, FAX, OR EMAIL LIBERAL AND NDP MPS TO SCRAP BILL C-50!

*** WED APRIL 9 - FRI APRIL 11, 2008: Flood the offices of Liberal and NDP Members of Parliament with calls, emails and faxes to pressure them to vote AGAINST Bill C-50.

Recently the Conservative government introduced a series of amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act buried in Bill c-50, the 'budget implementation bill'. This fundamentally undemocratic move sneaks in critical changes to Canada’s immigration policy without proposing any of those changes before Parliament. These sweeping changes will give enormous and arbitrary powers to the Minister around application processing, while perpetuating a racist and anti-poor agenda of setting immigration agendas based on 'labour market needs'. In respose to an overwhelming negative response to these amendements- including the Canadian Bar Association- the Immigration Minister has recently been forced to attempt to spin these regressive changes as being guided by the principles of 'fairness'!

* A full backgrounder and statement on Bill C 50 and its impacts is included below *

+++> TAKE 5 MINUTES TO PRESSURE MPS TO VOTE AGAINST BILL C-50 <+++

Flood the Opposition parties with your calls, faxes and emails. Demand that they must vote against this Bill; accepting the bill, or abstaining from voting on it, would send the message that they are in support of the anti-immigrant agenda of this Bill.

1) Contact your MP:
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx

2) Contact key MP's (please contact them all!)
- Stephane Dion
Tel: (514) 335-6655. Fax: (514) 335-2712. Email: DionS@parl.gc.ca
- Maurizio Bevilacqua
Tel: (905) 303-5000 or (613) 996-4971. Email: Bevilacqua.M@parl.gc.ca
- Irwin Cotler
Tel: (514) 283-0171. Fax: (514) 739-9452. Email: cotler.i@parl.gc.ca
- Ujjal Dosanjh
Tel: (604) 775-5323. Email: dosanjh.u@parl.gc.ca
- Hedy Fry
Tel: (604) 666-0135. Email: Fry.H@parl.gc.ca
- Sukh Dhaliwal
Tel: (604) 598-2200. Email: dhalis@parl.gc.ca
- Jack Layton
Tel: (613) 947-0867 Fax: (613) 947-0868. Email: laytoj@parl.gc.ca
- Olivia Chow
Tel: 416-533-2710. Fax: 416-533-2236. Email: chowo@parl.gc.ca

######## BACKGROUNDER: Scrap Bill C-50! ########

Recently the Conservative government introduced a series of amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), buried in Bill c-50, a 136-page “budget implementation bill”.

This fundamentally undemocratic move sneaks in critical changes to Canada’s immigration policy without proposing any of those changes before Parliament. By making it a matter of confidence, the government forces Opposition parties to either accept them or call an election.

This series of amendments places more arbitrary power in the hands of the Immigration Minister:

- Under the existing s. 11 of the IRPA, anyone who meets the already stringent criteria to enter Canada as a worker, student, visitor, or permanent resident, shall be granted that status. However, under the proposed changes, despite meeting the criteria, the Minister will have the discretion to arbitrarily reject an application.

- Sec. 25 currently says that the Minister “shall” examine a Humanitarian and Compassionate application – this is changed to “shall” examine the H&C application if the applicant is in Canada, but only “may” examine the application if the applicant is outside Canada. Although the government claims will have no impact on family reunification, in practice it will have a serious impact on family reunification as H&C applications are one of the most frequent avenues for family reunification (for example separated refugee children).

- Proposed s. 87.3 of the Act will allow the Minister to issue “instructions” setting quotas on the “category” of person that can enter Canada – including quotas based on country of origin. This unprecedented modification of IRPA would risk putting in place implicit equivalents to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1923, the Order in Council of 1911 prohibiting the landing of “ any immigrant belonging to the Negro race”, that of 1923 excluding “any immigrant of any Asiatic race”, or the “None is too many” rule applied to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi concentration camps in 1945.

- Ministerial power in deciding the order in which new applications are processed, regardless of when they were filed. This means prioritizing immigration applicants based on their ability to fulfill the needs of the Canadian job market, “whether it's people to wash dishes and make sandwiches, or whether it's the highly skilled engineers”, as stated by Minister Diane Finley. This is a profoundly dehumanizing and racist conception of immigrants as disposable commodities.

- New sections 87.3 (4) and (5) of the IRPA would allow the Minister to simply hold on to, return, or throw out a visa application and deny any opportunity to review that decision in Court. This precedent is truly alarming, especially in the context of a deeply flawed appeals process, including the existing lack of implementation of a Refugee Appeal Division, despite being provided for under IRPA.

The Conservatives argue that these changes are necessary to “modernize” the immigration system and reduce the existing backlog. However, the true objective is clear from Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s comments that the government seeks a “competitive immigration system which will quickly process skilled immigrants who can make an immediate contribution to the economy."

The major lobby behind these changes comes from employers’ organizations and business lobbies. Indeed, Bill C-50 is being praised primarily by business associations. Philip Hochstein, president of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of British Columbia, has stated that the government is moving in the right direction by focusing on Canada’s economic needs, “We need strong, young, willing workers to come,
much like the people who built this country.”

Mr. Hochstein seems to forget the historical exploitation of immigrant workers, the most well-known example of which is the Chinese railway workers. The estimated 17,000 Chinese workers who came to Canada from 1881-1884 were met with dangerous working conditions and discrimination upon their arrival. Chinese workers earned $1 a day, and it is estimated that anywhere from 1500-2500 Chinese migrants died during the construction of the railway. As soon as this dangerous work was completed, the message
was clear: Chinese people were no longer welcome.

These proposed legislative changes come in the context of a global capitalist and nationalist reinforcement of labour flexibility as the guiding principle of immigration policy, where migrants are only as valuable as their labour. It is clear that the priorities will be relatively wealthy people applying under the skilled worker program and investor classes, as well as increasingly vulnerable temporary migrant workers. Immigration policy will serve the needs of Canadian industry by regulating migration and providing a flexible labour pool rather than upholding the dignity of migrants.

These changes are directly in line with Canada’s commitment to the Security and Prosperity Partnership, which lays out the need for a rapid expansion of both “low-skill” temporary guest worker programs and “high-skill” professionals. In Canada today, the number of people admitted each year on temporary worker visas is greater than the number admitted as permanent residents. We must reject temporary migrant worker programs of indentured servitude and call for the unconditional right of migrant workers to permanent residency and labour rights equal to those of citizens.

At the same time, such changes comes at the deliberate expense of refugees, non-status migrants, or those seeking family reunification- who are seen as increasingly ‘undesirable’ and potential security threats in light of repressive post 9/11 controls. Decisions such as the $101 million arming of Canadian border guards; the establishment of Canadian Border Services Agency as an enforcement division in processing refugee claims that sends the message that refugee claimants are a threat to public safety; the ongoing unjust use of Security Certificates against
non-citizens; the implementation of the Safe Third Country Agreement between the Canada and US which has drastically reduced the number of asylum seekers able to make a claim in Canada; and increasing rates of deportation to over 13,000 a year from Canada have all perpetuated a racist, anti-poor, and anti-migrant agenda.

This agenda is normalized due to the heightened racialized national identity of Canada that continuously places racialized immigrants (although not white immigrants) as ‘Outsiders’ to the Canadian nation. For example, much of the opposition to this Bill has challenged the secretive process behind the bill, while still accepting the norm that “Canada should be able to select its preferred immigrants”, thus feeding into the commodification of migrants and the assertion of Canada’s sovereign and racist right to select who it allows to remain, as reminiscent through the Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese-Canadian internment, and Komagatamaru incident. Therefore although nothing new, in the post 9/11 climate, we are witnessing an escalation of attacks against ‘immigrants’- the eternally hyphenated citizens- for example through the reasonable accommodation’ hearings, the wearing of the hijab and turban, the phenomenon of “nippertipping” against Asian-Canadians, and many more. The constant questioning of immigrants (although most are long-time citizens) “ability to integrate”, their “suspicious behaviours”, their “overburdening of the system”, and their “Third World traditions” reveals an incredibly shallow multiculturalism.

This mutual reinforcement of corporate and state interests - cheap labor and national identity, respectively – evident in the prioritization of labour market needs within the global War on Terror, is legitimized not only by recourse to colonial and racist discourse but also by the constant cultivation of fear in the hearts and minds of citizens. The production of migrants as disposable commodities goes in tandem with their construction as the dangerous “Other” or “The Enemy Within” as the threat they pose can be tamed through a process of commodification and the withholding of citizenship rights as a mechanism of social control. Fear of the “dangerous Other” thus underwrites the production of exclusivist nationalist identity (and therefore support for the state) while fear of the “commodifiable Other” (as "stealing" employment and eroding the social system) produces fearful and disciplined citizens vulnerable to increasing corporate exploitation and state repression.

Therefore, the general message to poor and working people of colour and their families- the overwhelming majority of migrants from the Global South- is that they need not apply as permanent residents unless they are willing to come as temporary workers in exploitative jobs and whose status will be legally reinforced as ‘non-Canadians’. This is particularly revolting in a context where the Canadian government and Canadian corporations actively participate in the creation and reinforcement of a system of global displacement of migrants and refugees who are fleeing poverty, persecution, war and corporate exploitation of their lands.

In light of this reality, we call for an end to deportation and detentions and a comprehensive, transparent, inclusive and ongoing regularization program that is equitable and accessible to all persons living without permanent residency in Canada to ensure free migration and full rights for all those who seek them. We also call for the abolition of agreements such as NAFTA and the SPP, which are making Canadian borders increasingly open to capital and those who represent capital, while at the same time restricting the movement of those who have been displaced by these very
same neoliberal policies.

At a most basic level, we must also challenge the notion that some migrants are more worthy than others; we believe that freedom of movement is a fundamental human right and we struggle for a world in which no one is forced to migrate against their will and where people can move freely in order to live and flourish in justice and dignity.

NO ONE IS ILLEGAL!

* For more information, contact No One Is Illegal-Vancouver
www.nooneisillegal.org
email: noii-van@resist.ca

In Solidarity with Sysco Workers - Join them on the CAW Picket Line!

2008-04-01T19:05:00.003-04:00

**Important Update**

A tentative agreement has been reached. There is no picket on Thursday. Thanks to all for their support.

_____

The National Anti-Poverty Organization is calling for a social justice movement presence in support of the locked out Sysco workers on

Thursday, April 3rd at Noon

North Monaghan Parkway and Elmdale Road

Take the Parkway to Sir Sandford Fleming (right turn) and follow through to Elmdale Rd. Sir Sandford Fleming Dr. turns into North Monaghan Parkway.

You may be able to catch a ride at 11:30 a.m. from the liquor store on Sherbrooke St.

https://www.cawlocal.ca/414/

http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=964034

The CAW has worked closely with and supported the broad social justice movement in Peterborough for many, many years. CAW was a great ally to PCAP during the 1130 Water St. Squat. Now the Peterborough social justice and anti-poverty movements have an opportunity to help CAW members in Peterborough in their hour of need.

CAW Local 414 members been locked out at Sysco, food warehousing and distribution on, on North Monaghan Parkway (at Elmdale Road) and other CAW organized Sysco locations across Ontario since Friday last week. Now the employer is attempting to scab the operations. The issues are basic - recognition of seniority in the collective agreement being among them. The attempt to humiliate our membership by using strike-breakers in a lock-out is a challenge not only to the dignity of those members and the CAW as an organization but also to the integrity of the whole Peterborough community - a community which has a strong tradition of social solidarity, social cohesion and support for the rights of workers to organize and
bargain collectively to improve their lives and the quality of life in the
community as a whole.

The attempt to divide the community by a corporate entity interested only in profit no matter what the cost has to be rejected.

We have heard that the company is recruiting strike-breakers through homeless shelters. While these rumours are unconfirmed, they pose a potential threat to the unity and cohesion of the community.

Moreover, the CAW Local 414 members at Sysco would have their hearts lifted to see a large and spirited contingent from Peterboro social justice movements march down to the picket line at North Monaghan and Elmdale Road with banners flying and representing different organizations - NAPO, Food not Bombs, PCAP, Peterborough Coalition for Social Justice, ODSP recipients and more.

Tuesday April 8th - Colour of Poverty Workshop

2008-04-01T10:39:00.001-04:00

What is the growing connection between race and poverty, and why does it matter? Find out at

The Colour of Poverty Workshop

Tuesday, 8 April 2008

6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Knights of Columbus Hall, 317 Hunter St. W.

Refreshments provided. Free event. All Welcome. Accessible Space.

The Colour of Poverty Campaign, sponsored by Heritage Canada, is a province-wide community-based effort to help raise public awareness about the serious problem of poverty within the racialized communities of Ontario. For more information on the campaign, see http://www.colourofpoverty.ca/

The workshop is sponsored by by the New Canadians Centre Peterborough, the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty, and the Community Race Relations Committee of Peterborough.

Wednesday April 2nd - Racism and Free Speech

2008-03-31T13:36:00.001-04:00

Please note that the regular PCAP meeting is cancelled this week so folks can attend this very important event, which has been organized in response to events surrounding racist school board trustee Gordon Gilchrist.

Click HERE for more info on Gilchrist and community responses to him.
--

RACISM AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH

A discussion with MPP Peter Tabuns

Special Guests include: 1) School Trustee, Brian R. Cowie, B.Sc., JD, 2) TrentU Professor of Politics, Nadine Changfoot, 3) Executive Director of New Canadians Centre, Carmela Valles

Wednesday April 2nd / 7:00-8:30 pm
Junior Common Room, Traill College
310 London Street (between Stewart and Reid)

Peter is the MPP for Toronto-Danforth and Citizenship and Immigration critic for the NDP. He was recognized by NOW magazine as "Best MPP" in 2006. He was also the Executive Director of Greenpeace Canada, Deputy Mayor of Toronto, Special Advisor on Climate Change to the federal NDP, Chair of the Toronto Board of Health, Toronto City Councillor, President of Citizens for a Safe Environment, and Vice Chair of the Co-op Housing Federation of Toronto.

Presented by Trent University's Dept. of History, Dept. of Politics, Frost Centre for Canadian and Indigenous Studies, New Canadians Centre, OPIRG, PCAP, Peterborough-Kawartha Council of Canadians, Peterborough Older Women's Network, Peterborough coalition for Palestinian solidarity, Peterborough Community Legal Centre and the Community and Race Relations Committee of Peterborough.

March 27 - Jaggi Singh Talks

2008-03-21T17:32:00.001-04:00

1) Our Terrain of Struggle: The Walls of Global Apartheid

This presentation is open to the public and features no borders, anti-capitalist, and social justice activist, Jaggi Singh. This presentation will explore the research and lived experiences that ground a "no one is illegal/no borders" analysis. Among the conclusions: all border controls are fundamentally racist; all nation-states are inherently oppressive; all human beings have the autonomous right to migrate, to resist displacement, and to return; and, in opposition to imposed notions of "race" or "community", we struggle to assert self-determined identities. In a context of global apartheid, there are very specific challenges for organizing on a shifting terrain of struggle that is rooted in the lived reality of those who daily confront oppression.

Date: March 27th
Location: Peterborough Public Library Auditorium
Time: 3pm - 5pm

Sponsored by: OPIRG, PCAP, CRRC, KWIC, Trent Women's Centre, Ploughshares, TCSA, and Council of Canadians

2) OPIRG Annual General Meeting

This is a public event. An evening of great food, performances, and community activism. The free food will be provided by Island Cream (Vegatarian and Vegan). The night will include performances by the Resource Sirens and others (open mic). As well, the keynote speaker for the evening is Jaggi Singh. Singh is a no borders, anti-capitalist, migrant and indigenous solidarity organizer, involved with No One Is Illegal-Montreal, Solidarity Across Borders and other groups; he is also active with the People's Global Action Bloc (PGA-Bloc). His talk for the evening is titled "Resistance 2010! Organizing & mobilizing against the G-8 and SPP". More information on the talk below.

Date: Thursday March 27th
Time: 6pm - 11pm (Singh's talk begins @ 8:30pm)
Location: Sadleir House Dining Hall

Resistance 2010! Organizing & mobilizing against the G-8 and SPP

In the year 2010, three major international events will be taking place in the Canadian state: the Winter Olympics in Vancouver/Whistler, the G-8 Leader's Summit and the meeting of the NAFTA leaders as part of the so-called "Security and Prosperity Partnership" (SPP).

Already, a convergence of groups on the West Coast, led by indigenous organizers, have come together under the banner of "No Olympics on stolen native land", calling on "all native warriors, anarchists, anti-capitalists, anti-poverty activists, environmentalists, and concerned individuals, to converge against the 2010 Winter Olympic Games."

With two years before the Olympics begin, there is a huge opportunity for coordinated and developed campaigns against the Olympics, G-8 and SPP: campaigns that are rooted in our every-day mobilizing, and survival; campaigns that understand that the institutions of oppression and power function daily in our own communities; campaigns based on direct action, disruption and popular education.

This presentation will explore some of the roots of anti-capitalist and anti-colonial resistance to the G8 and SPP, as we support our day-to-day organizing, reinforce our local campaigns, and build together towards Resistance 2010 and beyond.

Email opirg@trentu.ca for more info or visit their website: http://www.opirgpeterborough.ca/

Fighting Psychiatric Institutions - Pat Capponi Talk

2008-03-19T10:28:00.002-04:00

**************************************
FIGHTING PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTIONS, POVERTY & HOMELESSNESS
**************************************

A Public Talk by Pat Capponi

Remaking Ourselves: From Mental Patient to Psychiatric Survivor

Monday, 31st March 2008 -
7.00 to 9.00 PM,
at Auditorium - Peterborough Downtown Public Library (345 Aylmer St. N.)

Free Food Not Bombs dinner meal will be served at 6:30 p.m. at the library.

All Welcome! Free Admission!

Light Food & Refreshments Served. Reception following the talk.

Pat Capponi is a leading advocate on mental health and poverty issues and author of several books. She overcame an abuse-ridden childhood and subsequent mental illness, as well as warehousing in a psychiatric boarding home, to become one of Canada’s leading spokespeople for improvement in the quality of life for those labelled mentally ill. As a psychiatric survivor, she has written Upstairs in the Crazy House and Beyond the Crazy House. Her own direct experience of poverty lead to cross Canada look at inner-city poverty, detailed in Dispatches from the Poverty Line and The War at Home: An Intimate Portrait of Canada's Poor. She has also written Bound by Duty: Walking the Beat with Canada's Cops. Pat Capponi has been very active in community groups, founding member of Gerstein Centre, the Supportive Housing Coalition and has won the Queen's Jubilee Medal for her community work and advocacy.

Sponsored by
Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough
Frost Centre for Canadian and Indigenous Studies
Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty
Peterborough-Kawartha Chapter of Council of Canadians
OPIRG-Peterborough
Trent University Canadian Studies, Politics, and Women Studies Departments
Trent Queer Collective
Trent Women's Centre
Women's Events Planning Committee

Racism and Poverty: The Local Reality

2008-03-15T17:21:00.005-04:00

***Please note the CHANGE OF TIME - Event Starts at 7:00 p.m.***

Racism and Poverty: The Local Reality

Thursday March 20, 2008 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer Street North)

Free admission. All Welcome. Accessible Space.

Featuring a performance by Dub Poet Chet Singh with Beau Dixon & Jarret Prescott

And a panel discussion featuring:

*Patrick Clark on migrant workers in the Peterborough region
*Ziysah D. Markson, New Canadians Centre, on poverty and immigration
in Peterborough
*Gillian Balfour, Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough
*Mike Ma, Community Race Relations Committee, on a year of racism in
Peterborough
*Speakers from the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty and the
Northumberland Coalition Against Poverty

Further details will be posted as they become available. For more information email pcap@riseup.net or racerelation@gmail.com

Communities Uniting: Talking About Justice, Disability and Possibilities

2008-03-15T17:19:00.001-04:00

Important Event - Note Toronto Location:

COMMUNITIES UNITING: TALKING ABOUT JUSTICE, DISABILITY AND POSSIBILITIES

6:30 PM

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19TH

PARC (1499 Queen St. West - on Queen just West of Lansdowne. TORONTO)

MEAL PROVIDED

Disabled people are imprisoned, impoverished and denied immigration status. The only way this will ever change is if disabled people and our supporters join together to fight for justice for everyone. Disabled people are an important part of every community. This should make us an important part of every community organizing effort, which largely isn’t the case. Join us as several community organizers address the role of disability and disabled people in the struggle for resistance as we begin
discussions about where to go from here.

Ableism and Accessibility: Griffin Epstein, DAMN 2025

DAMN 2025 is a direct action group currently bringing together disabled people, those affected by ableism, and our supporters. We believe that accessibility is more than adding in ramps, it is about ensuring that things are made accessible in a wide variety of ways to a wide variety of people. It also means looking at how different identities intersect and ensuring that there is room for everyone in our struggles. Disabled people must work towards cross disability organizing which allies us to
other people with disabilities as well as with other oppressed groups.

Ableism in the Immigration Act and the Case of Kader Belaouni: Jared Will, legal council for Kader Belaouni

Disability discrimination is written into the Immigration Act. If you are disabled, it is very likely that you will NEVER become a Canadian citizen because you are considered a ‘drain on the system’ and possibly a ‘danger’ to the country.

One of the worst examples of this is the case of Abdelkader Belaouni Kader), an asylum seeker from Algeria who has been in sanctuary in Montreal for over two years. As people concerned with equity and justice, we demand immediate status for Kader. As a disability organizing campaign, we are particularly concerned with how ableism plays out in his case. He is blind, and his status has been denied, in large part, on the basis of a flagrantly discriminatory policy. Immigration Canada denied his case
largely because he was unemployed; however, they failed to take into consideration the reality of systemic discrimination against disabled people.

Poverty, Productivity and Why Disabled People Are Poor: A.J. Withers, OCAP

Disability and poverty are inextricably linked in our society. It is impossible to fight poverty without addressing disability and how so many disabled people are poor. Poverty is a reality in many disabled people’s lives; it acts to limit our mobility, our opportunities, even our health.

Many disabled people are poor but contrary to popular belief it is not because we are unable to work. Systemic discrimination, the undervaluing of our labour, as well as social assistance rules that keep us from being employed or employed at the levels that would work for us are what keep us poor. One in five people on welfare in Ontario are disabled and social assistance rates are always too low. Fighting poverty means disabled and other poor people fighting back.

Come help start these discussions on organizing in Toronto and where to go from here.

PCAP Statement - Racist KPRD School Board Trustee

2008-03-09T13:08:00.003-04:00

On Wednesday March 5th PCAP participated in a press conference organized by the Community Race Relations Committee of Peterborough. Twelve local activists and community leaderes condemned Gordon Gilchrist, KPRD School Board trustee for Cobourg and Hamilton and Alnwick/Haldimand townships, calling for his resignation.

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To read Gilchrist's Statement for yourself CLICK HERE

To read letters of condemnation CLICK HERE

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PCAP Statement:

Dear Board of Trustees and Diane Llloyd,

PCAP is a direct action anti-poverty group made up of poor people and their allies, and we are committed to challenging policies that affect poor, homeless and working communities and speaking out against all forms of injustice.

We are pleased to join voices here today in solidarity with other groups and organizations expressing outrage and concern about Trustee Gordon Gilchrist's racist, anti-immigrant public statements of last week. We also thank the Trustees and the Equity and Diversity Committee for applying censure to Mr. Gilchrist for violating the public trust.

At PCAP, however, we feel that further action is now required, and it is urgent. It is simply unacceptable that Mr. Gilchrist be permitted to continue on in his position as a servant of the public. His racist and anti-immigrant statements have clearly demonstrated that he is unworthy of the position. Indeed it is an abomination of the position to call him a Trustee when he has so clearly violated all of the basic principles of public trusteeship defined in the policy.

Statistics on racism in education have long revealed a pattern of deep inequality for racialized students in Canada's school system. As the Colour of Poverty Campaign so clearly shows, "Racialized students face discrimination in schools. They are often streamed into lower level non-academic programs, and unfairly targeted for expulsion. Children from poor families are half as likely to attend university as those who are well-off, and some racialized groups have very low rates of high school completion." Furthermore, "they have few teachers and other role models from racialized communities who they see working within the various fields of education." To make matters worse, aboriginal students and immigrant students of colour living in poverty bear the brunt of inequality in the education and all of Canada's institutions. For PCAP, we recognize the racialization of poverty as a serious problem in this country when "32% of children in racialized families, and 47% of children in recent immigrant families in Ontario live in poverty". That is a national outrage.

We have a responsibility to acknowledge these deep inequalities when they occur in our communities. We have placed the trust in our Board to take action against members of the public like Trustee Gilchrist who clearly contributie to this problem.

He has devalued diversity, created a climate of hostility towards racialized immigrants, denigrated inclusiveness, deployed stereotypes, contributed to a climate of mistrust between the Board and the diverse communities it represents (especially aboriginal and racial/ethnic communities), violated the Human Rights Code, and compromised the Board's commitment to valuing racial diversity. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

PCAP supports the Board in taking more definitive action to protect ALL students and families - this means recognizing that the effects of racism will continue unless Mr. Gilchrist is removed.

Removing Mr. Gilchrist, however, is not enough. PCAP also feels that a deeper reckoning needs to occur in order to fully restore both the broader public trust and the safety of immigrants and people of colour in the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB). This is particularly urgent for those who also face poverty. It is disturbing to know that someone with such deeply racist views has remained in this position for almost 8 years. How did this obvious violation go undetected or unreported by so many, for so long? At minimum then, this incident calls for the need for a full equity audit in which anti-racism is central. This incluides the development and implementation of procedures for identifying and addressing both individual and systemic racism at all times.

The time for definitive action is now. We applaud the Board of Trustees actions so far, but it is now time for the next step. It is time to put the needs of the most vulnerable members of the public at the centre and restore their trust in the local education system. It is time for Mr. Gilchrist to be removed, and it is time for a full equity audit to be taken and acted upon.

------

For some of the news coverage, copy and paste these links into your web address bar:

http://www.cbc.ca/ottawa/media/audio/ontariotoday/06e.ram

http://www.mykawartha.com/news/article/27222

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080306.GILCHRIST06/TPStory/?query=gilchrist

http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=931743

http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=931218&auth=ANDREA+HOUSTON

http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=931767

http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=931221

http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=931222&auth=ANDREA+HOUSTON

http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=931223

http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=928731&auth=Andrea+Houston%2c+Peterborough+Examiner

Environmental Justice Conference

2008-02-25T15:49:00.005-05:00

Why Green Isn't Enough: An Anti-Racist Anti-Colonial Environmentalism Conference

March 14-15 2008, Peterborough

Co-sponsored by PCAP

Check out the conference site for more details: http://whygreenisntenough.blogspot.com/

Take Action - Support the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation

2008-02-17T11:17:00.010-05:00

Stop Frontenac Ventures Corp. (FVC) uranium mining - Moratorium Now!
Free Political Prisoner Bob Lovelace!
Reverse all Court Decisions Relating to AAFN co-Chief Paula Sherman!

More information below or click HERE and HERE

For a listing of related Peterborough events click HERE
---

Please consider offering financial support to the on-going struggle of the AAFN to reclaim their lands and resist FVC's destructive behavior targeting Turtle Island.

The AAFN is asking supporters to please send donations for legal fees and household maintenance. Cheques can be made out to "Chris Reid, in trust for the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation" and sent to the address below:
Christopher M. Reid
Barrister & Solicitor
154 Monarch Park Ave.
Toronto, ON M4J 4R6
Tel: (416) 466-9928
Fax: (416) 466-1852

To The Community Coalition Against Mining Uranium (CCAMU), whose mandate
is raising public awareness on the uranium issuing and achieving a moratorium.
Please make cheques out to: "Uranium Mining Moratorium Fund" and mail to: 83 Cockburn St., Perth, ON K7H 2B7
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Click HERE to sign the Petition to Dalton McGuinty urging him to respond to the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation proposal for resolution.

Be aware that after entering your name and e-mail address on the petition, it will take you to a screen requesting donations for iPetition. At this point your name has already been entered on the petition, and you are under no obligation to donate to iPetition.
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ARDOCH ALGONQUIN FIRST NATION
(613) 329-3706 omamikwe@bell.blackberry.net
Media Advisory - February 22, 2008

FREE BOB LOVELACE – RALLY
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Sat. February 23
Quinte Detention Centre, Napanee

Last week, AAFN Spokesperson Robert Lovelace was sentenced in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Kingston to 6 months incarceration and stiff fines for upholding Algonquin law forbidding uranium mining within our homeland. In addition, our community was fined $10,000 and Chief Paula Sherman $15,000, and our statement of defense was struck out, which means that we are forbidden from challenging the constitutional validity of Ontario’s Mining Act. With support from the lawyers representing Premier McGuinty and Michael Bryant, Ontario’s Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, the court made it clear that the interests of the mining industry trump the
rights of First Nations and all people who care about protecting our homeland.

Shouts of “shame!” erupted in the courtroom as the sentences were read by Justice Cunningham and Bob was taken into custody. Many were shocked by the harshness of the sentence imposed for participation in a peaceful protest against a uranium exploration project which was approved by McGuinty without any consultation with our community.

Chief Paula Sherman said: “No consideration was given to the circumstances that led to our actions. The testimony given under oath by Bob Lovelace outlined Algonquin Law and the corresponding responsibilities of Algonquin people with respect to human activity in our territory. Bob also testified that the government of Dalton McGuinty, and his Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Michael Bryant, have consistently refused to consult
with our community on uranium exploration. All this was tossed aside by the judge. The message delivered clearly is one of domination and oppression; the government of Ontario will enforce one set of values with respect to human relationships with the land and there is no room for First Nations laws or values.”

Bob Lovelace is now in jail in Quinte Correctional facility in Napanee. Chief Sherman said: “He is a prisoner of the government of Ontario, and the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation places blame for this mess on Premier McGuinty and Michael Bryant. We have repeatedly asked for consultations on the mineral claims on our lands. We have offered Ontario several options for consultations. Every option was rejected out of hand. Our
position is clear and just: Meaningful consultation must occur before any of our land is damaged or given away to mining companies.”

For more information, contact: Chief Paula Sherman (613) 329-3706
or Chris Reid (lawyer) (416) 666-2914
----

ARDOCH ALGONQUIN FIRST NATION PRESS RELEASE:
February 19, 2008
Jailing Aboriginal Leaders to Promote Uranium Mining in Ontario

In a travesty of justice, AAFN Spokesperson Robert Lovelace was sentenced in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Kingston to 6 months incarceration and crippling fines amounting to $25,000 for upholding Algonquin law within our homeland. An additional sanction of $2,000 per day will be imposed for every day that Bob continues to obey our law rather than the court order.

In addition, our community was fined $10,000 and Chief Paula Sherman $15,000, and our statement of defense was struck out, which means that we are forbidden from challenging the constitutional validity of Ontario's Mining Act. The court made it clear that First Nations' laws do not exist in Canada legal system and anyone who tries to follow First Nations law will be severely punished.

Shouts of "shame!" erupted in the courtroom as the sentences were read by the judge and Robert was taken into custody. Many were aghast at the harshness of the sentencing imposed for participation in a peaceful protest against uranium exploration which was approved by the province of Ontario without any consultation with our community.

Chief Paula Sherman said: "No consideration was given to the circumstances that led to our actions. The testimony given under oath by Robert Lovelace outlined Algonquin Law and the corresponding responsibilities of Algonquin people with respect to human activity in our territory. It was tossed aside by the judge and deemed to be of no relevance. The message delivered clearly through this court decision is one of domination and oppression; the law will enforce one set of values with respect to human relationships with the land in Ontario and there is no room for Algonquin laws or values."

Ontario and Canada portray themselves as shining examples of democracy and human rights for the world to emulate, all the while creating laws, policies, and value systems that oppress and deny Aboriginal peoples' human right to life as distinct people. Robert testified that Algonquin identity is tied to the relationships that we maintain with the land.

Lovelace is now in jail in Quinte Correctional facility in Napanee. Chief Sherman said: "He is a political prisoner of the Government of Ontario and Ardoch Algonquin First Nation places blame for his incarceration on Premier Dalton McGuinty and the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Michael Bryant. We have repeatedly asked for consultations on the mineral claims on our lands within the larger Algonquin homeland. We have offered Ontario a variety of options to enable consultation. Every option was rejected out of hand.

Ontario's position has been consistent: Drilling on our land must occur. Our position has equally been consistent: Meaningful consultation must occur before any of our land is damaged or alienated to mining companies.

March 12 - Film on Migrant Workers

2008-02-14T12:28:00.001-05:00

OPIRG, the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP), and the KWIC Food Issues Working Group invite you to a free screening of the new documentary film:

LOS MEXICANOS: Le Combat de Patricia Pérez (2007)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 ~ 7:00 PM ~ SADLEIR HOUSE LECTURE HALL
751 George Street North at Parkhill

Everyone is welcome. The lecture hall is wheelchair accessible.

Film Description: Sometimes we ignore the exploitation of workers on our own doorstep. In 2006, nearly 4,000 Latin Americans and West Indians came to Quebec to work on farms. The men, most of them Mexican, fill Canada's labour needs under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP). Isolated by geography and language, they work in conditions that are hard to imagine. Patricia Pérez is founder of a support group for migrant workers that is funded by the Quebec chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). She helps as many as she can, informing them of their rights and organizing union drives. Her fight will not be easy.

A discussion with Lincoln Ellis from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) will follow the film.

Vist http://www.opirgpeterborough.ca/ or call 741-1208 for more information.

Black History Month Events

2008-02-14T01:47:00.002-05:00

BLACK HISTORY MONTH - Peterborough ~ February 2008

- Feb 14th, 5:30pm, St. John's Anglican Church - Potluck dinner with a BHM focus,. Hosted by New Canadian Centre. Afrocentric Awareness Network of the Kawarthas (AANK) will present a participatory fun activity. FREE.

- Feb 23rd, 11am – 3pm, Market Hall - Blues Festival Family day with music, art, and face painting. AANK will participate. FREE.

- Feb 23rd, 7pm, Market Hall – Fundraiser for Zimbabwian school. Hosted by Africville and DJ WHO. Featuring Adam Solomon and his ull-force band, MC Eternia, Chet Singh, Klyde Broox, and others. Admission: $20.

- Feb 28th, 7pm, Prince of Wales Elementary School - Live Performance: *…And Freedom For All. *(Featuring* *Beau Dixon and others). PWES, 1211 Monaghan Road (corner of Sherbrooke). Presented by Kawartha World Issues Centre and Heritage Pavillon Stage. $5/person, $10/ family, or pay what you can.

- Feb 27th, 7pm, Sadlier House - OPIRG is screening two movies: * Journey to Justice & Black Mother, Black Daughter. *FREE.

- Community and Race Relations Committee are showing *Speakers for the Dead* to various elementary and high schools in Peterborough. If you or your school are interested, please contact Mike at racerelation@gmail.com

Watch for Black History Month displays at the Peterborough Public Library – Downtown Branch (Afrocentric Awareness Network of the Kawarthas), Fleming College - Brealey Campus (Fleming College Diversity Office), and Trent University Bata Library (Trent African and Caribbean Students' Union.

For more information, , http://racerelationspeterborough.org/, http://www.kwic.info/, http://aank.org/ or please contact the Community and Race Relations Committee at 742-9658 or racerelation@gmail.com

Presented by the Community and Race Relations Committee of Peterborough, the Afrocentric Awareness Network of the Kawarthas, the Trent African and Caribbean Students' Union, the Kawartha World Issues Centre, OPIRG-Peterborough, the New Canadians Centre, Trent University Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Native Studies, Heritage Pavilion Stage, Prince of Wales Elementary School, Africville, DJWho, and Fleming College Diversity Office.

Building Movements Against Apartheid

2008-02-11T13:48:00.000-05:00

Building Movements Against Apartheid: From South Africa to Palestine to Canada

Sunday 2 March 2008
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Peterborough Public Library
345 Aylmer Street North

Panel Speakers:

*Adam Hanieh, Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid and co-author of Stolen Youth: The Politics of Israel’s Detention of Palestinian Children (2004)

*Paula Sherman, Co-Chief of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and Indigenous Studies Professor at Trent University.

*Salim Vally, South African activist and former regional executive member of the high school South African Student's Movement (SASM). He is the chairperson of the Palestine Solidarity Committee and the Anti-War Coalition in South Africa and is currently a visiting scholar at the School of Social Sciences at York University.

A Canadian news documentary on 'Canada Park' will also be screened. Built over three destroyed Palestinian villages, Canada Park serves the Israeli public as a recreation area. The documentary reveals the complicity of the Jewish National Fund of Canada, which enjoys charitable status, in ethnic cleansing, land expropriation and occupation.

For more information email: peterboroughcps@gmail.com or visit this LINK

2008: Finish The Job!

2008-02-11T11:24:00.000-05:00

Shawn Brant Speaks on Mohawk Militancy and the Struggle for Aboriginal Rights

Tuesday 26 February 2008
3:00-5:00 p.m.

The Great Hall, Champlain College, Trent University

All Welcome

Sponsored by Trent University Department of Canadian Studies, Political Studies, History, Sociology, and Indigenous Studies as well as the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty and Champlain College.

Background Information HERE

Laibar Singh - Update on the National Days of Action

2008-02-04T18:27:00.000-05:00

http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2008/02/laibar-singh-en.html

Laibar Singh is a paralyzed refugee claimant facing deportation to India. He is currently in sanctuary inside the Guru Nanak Gurudwara (Sikh temple) in Surrey, British Columbia.

Between January 25-29, 2008, eleven cities and towns across Canada participated in support actions, delegations and awareness-raising events in solidarity with Laibar Singh. Activities were held in Halifax, Fredericton, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Guelph, London and Vancouver/Surrey.

Together, from Halifax to Vancouver, Laibar's supporters were demanding that the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Minister Stockwell Day respect Laibar Singh's sanctuary, and that Laibar be granted permanent residency.

Across the Canadian state, protesters were showing their solidarity with the inspiring mobilizations, led by the South Asian community, in support of Laibar. The national actions also aimed to counter the racist backlash against Laibar Singh and the South Asian community, due to deliberate misinformation by the CBSA and some media outlets.

-> Click here for a PHOTO-REPORT from the National Days of Action in Support of Laibar Singh.

-> Click here to read an OPEN LETTER: Montreal Supports Laibar Singh!

-> Click here for VIDEO of a demonstration in support of Laibar Singh and Kader Belaouni at the Greater Toronto Enforcement Center.

-> Click here to read a NEWS COMPILATION relating to Laibar Singh.

-> For BACKGROUND and up-to-date information about Laibar Singh, visit both:
http://supportlaibar.blogspot.com
and
http://noii-van.resist.ca

Israeli Apartheid Week - Peterborough Events

2008-01-26T17:26:00.000-05:00

Israeli Apartheid Week 2008: http://www.apartheidweek.org/

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INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY: LABOUR AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN PALESTINE

Sunday, February 3rd
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Traill College Lecture Hall (next to Crawford House) - 310 London Street

This event is free and all are encouraged to attend. The space is wheelchair accessible.

The event will include:

-A presentation on CUPE Resolution 50 by Katherine Nastovski, former Chair of CUPE Ontario International Solidarity Committee, and member of the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA). Delegates to the 2006 CUPE Ontario annual convention voted almost unanimously in favour of Resolution 50, which supports the international campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel until that state recognizes the Palestinian right to self-determination, including the right of return of Palestinian refugees.

-A presentation by Herman Rosenfeld, retired staff person Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), and member of CAIA, on why Canadian workers and unions should support the rights of Palestinians.

-Zatoun Fair Trade Products from Palestine will be available for sale. www.zatoun.com

This educational workshop will include information on the basics of Israeli Apartheid and why there has been a call for boycott, divestment and sanctions from over 170 Palestinian civil society organizations, including the Palestine trade union movement. Issued in July 2005, this call to action is modeled on the movement to end South African Apartheid. Labour-focused, the event will also cover the role of trade unions in a growing global movement in solidarity with Palestine, and against racism, occupation, and discrimination. Social justice is a basic principle of the labour movement and support for the Palestinian struggle is a matter of justice.

Sponsored by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3908, representing contract faculty and student academic workers at Trent University, the event is organized by the Peterborough Coalition for Palestinian Solidarity (PCPS).

PCPS is a coalition of individuals who share an ethos of social justice, dignity and self-determination for all, and who came together out of a shared interest in building a broad-based collective voice in support of the growing Palestinian solidarity movement. The aim of PCPS is to encourage awareness and informed debate, to create spaces for engagement and dialogue, and to organize collectively against Israeli apartheid. PCPS opposes racism, Islamophobia, and anti-Semitism and hopes to make links with decolonization and Indigenous resistance movements. PCPS also seeks to make links with ongoing International struggles to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine, such as the Wall Must Fall and the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions campaigns. Through organizing regular public events and actions PCPS aims to connect these struggles to broader social justice movements in Peterborough and in Canada.

For more information please contact Sarah at skardash@trentu.ca

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Film Screening of Occupation 101: Voices of the Silenced Majority

Wednesday February 6th at 7:00 p.m.

Sadlier House, 751 George St. N.

This is a wheelchair accessible event. Even the popcorn is free, but donations are happily accepted!

'Occupation 101' (2006) is an award-winning introductory documentary on the nature of Israeli rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. http://www.occupation101.com/

Co-hosted by the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) - Peterborough and the Peterborough Coalition for Palestinian Solidarity (PCPS)

For more information contact OPIRG at (705) 741-1208 or opirg@trentu.ca

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Youtube Video of Palestinian workers held up at a Bethlehem ‘checkpoint’: http://youtube.com/watch?v=d1FaWE1SIZk

CUPE ON Resolution 50: http://cupe.on.ca/doc.php?lang=en&subject_id=51

CUPE BC Publication ‘The Wall Must Fall’: http://www.cupe.bc.ca/1592

U.S. Unions and Boycotting Israel, a reply to US labor leaders, from Canada: http://www.pacbi.org/boycott_news_more.php?id=591_0_1_0_C

Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid: www.caiaweb.org

Palestine BDS Campaign: http://www.bds-palestine.net/

The Wall Must Fall Campaign: http://stopthewall.org/worldwideactivism/896.shtml

Al-Awda, Palestine Right to Return Coalition: http://www.al-awda.org/index.html

Laibar Singh - Stop the Deportation!

2008-01-26T17:21:00.000-05:00

Stop the Deportation!

Join the National Days of Action in Support of Laibar Singh: January 25-29

Laibar Singh is a 48-year old paralyzed refugee claimant who is facing deportation to India. On December 10, 2007, over 1500 people peacefully gathered at the Vancouver airport and effectively stopped his deportation. A month later, on January 9, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) tried to remove Mr. Singh from sanctuary at a Sikh temple in Surrey. B.C. Once again, the deportation was stopped as supporters gathered at the temple, which refused to allow his removal.

The list of organizations and individuals supporting Mr. Singh is long and growing. It includes human rights organizations, anti-poverty groups, unions, disability advocates, academics, faith groups, health care professionals and a petition of 40,000 individuals.

For more information visit:
http://supportlaibar.blogspot.com
http://noii-van.resist.ca/

E-mail Ministers Diane Finlay and Stockwell Day:

Demand that the Canadian Government
* respect sanctuary NOW!
* rescind the deportation order against Singh NOW!
* grant permanent residency to Mr. Singh NOW!

IMMIGRATION MINISTER DIANE FINLAY
EMAIL: minister@cic.gc.ca and Finley.D@parl.gc.ca
MINISTER STOCKWELL DAY (RESPONSIBLE FOR CBSA)
EMAIL: day.s@parl.gc.ca or days1@parl.gc.ca

Please copy your e-mail to Noone Is Illegal – Vancouver:
noii-van@resist.ca

PCAP's Letter of Support:

Minister Finley and Minister Day,

Regarding: Laibar Singh

As one of the many actions underway for the National Days of Action, we are writing regarding the situation of Mr. Laibar Singh, the paralyzed Punjabi refugee claimant who is currently facing deportation.

The Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP) joins the vast and growing sector of the Canadian public who have expressed their support for Mr. Singh’s bid to remain in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Human rights organizations, anti-poverty groups, unions, disability advocates, academics, faith organizations, community groups, health care professionals and individuals from across the country oppose Mr. Singh’s deportation. These groups include the Canadian Labour Congress, BC Coalition of People with Disabilities, B.C Hospital Employees Union, the Multifaith Action Committee, and a long list of South Asian community groups and gurudwaras. Approximately forty thousand people have signed an Official petition to Parliament in support of Mr. Singh remaining in Canada.

PCAP demands that you rescind the deportation order against Mr.Laibar Singh immediately and grant him permanent residency status. We further demand that the Canadian government and CBSA officials respect the sanctity of sanctuary that the Guru Nanak Sikh temple have granted to Mr. Laibar Singh. It would be unconscionable for the Canadian government to attempt to remove Mr. Singh from sanctuary or detain him if he requires urgent medical attention at a medical facility.

Ministers Finley and Day, we put you on notice that we stand 100% behind the South Asian community for bringing Laibar Singh’s case to national attention. And we will continue to mobilize against your racist immigration policies and practices, drawing strength from the growing tens of thousands of individuals and the long list of organizations and communities across the country who have also rejected your course of
action. Be assured, we will not back down from the fight to win Mr. Singh’s freedom, and we will continue to build support across Canada and across borders in the broader struggle against deportations.

Sincerely,
The Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP)
Peterborough, Ontario

Two Film Fest Events in Support of Indigenous Resistance

2008-01-18T16:03:00.000-05:00

1) Native Youth Movement Speaker and PCAP Sponsored Film - RESIST 2010 OLYMPICS
2) Beats for Justice! - Fundraiser In Solidarity with Indigenous Resistance

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1) Native Youth Movement (NYM) Speaker and PCAP Sponsored Film

NYM Speaker
Friday January 25th
12:00 Noon at Market Hall, 336 George St. N.
Light Lunch Served

NO 2010 OLYMPICS ON STOLEN NATIVE LAND!
http://no2010.com/

Nation Kanahus Pellkey of Secwepemc Nation is a member of the Native Youth Movement, an organization that uses education to revive traditional knowledge, and inspires native youth to defend their land. One of their current campaigns is resistance to the devastating effects the preparation for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics is having on their land and culture. They are currently touring Ontario, looking to make connections across communities, and share important perspectives on colonialism, ecological justice, and community resistance.

PCAP Sponsored Film ‘Garlic and Watermelons’ to follow
1:00 p.m. at Markethall, 336 George St. N.
Pay What You Can

Garlic and Watermelons chronicles the lives of Prokopis Nikolau and his extended family in the year leading up to the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. Their struggle to find a new home, to extract the subsidies that they were promised from the local municipality, and to rebuild their lives represents a humble battle against racism and poverty. But their story is bittersweet. While Prokopis deals with unresponsive bureaucrats, family disputes, and several evictions, his wife has a beautiful new baby girl, his sons learn to read and write, and the entire family savours a traditional Easter feast. A prizewinner at film festivals from Montreal to Macedonia.

For more information on the Travelling World Community Film Festival
visit: http://www.quidnovis.com/filmfest/default.asp

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2) Beats for Justice!

Splice, 379 George St. N.
Saturday January 26th, 9:00 p.m.

A fundraiser In Solidarity with Indigenous Resistance.

Featuring an all-women cast of poets, hip hop artists, filmmakers, and DJs, including filmmaker/musician Sarah DeCarlo, and Lan Anh's Trespassing Poets.

$10 waged/$5 unwaged, or pay-as-much-as-you-can.

Beats for Justice! will be preceded by Peterborough's monthly poetry slam.
Sign-up at 6:45 pm, competition at 7 pm.
www.peterboroughpoetryslam.blogspot.com

For questions, comments, or media, please contact:
Ziysah at ziysah@nccpeterborough.ca or 743-0882, ext. 224.

Take Action! - Dentures Campaign

2007-12-16T21:43:00.000-05:00

TAKE ACTION ON PCAP'S FAIR ACCESS TO DENTURES CAMPAIGN TODAY!

In This Post:

1) Learn more about the Fair Access to Dentures Campaign

2) Read a letter by a PCAP member that urges the City to redirect the
"windfall" money to poverty relief

3) Take Action Now - Write the City to Support PCAP's Demands; Donate to
the Dentures Fundraiser

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1) Fair Access to Dentures Campaign

Only those OW/ODSP recipients who are employable are permitted to receive dentures benefits. Those who are unable to work due to disabilities cannot receive the one-time $1500 denture benefit, and must pay for this out of their already inadequate assistance benefits, sacrificing necessities such as food and clothing.

Go To PCAP's blog to read more about the Fair Access to Dentures Campaign:

http://peterboroughcoalitionagainstpoverty.blogspot.com/2007/11/fair-access-to-dentures-details-demands.html

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2) PCAP Member's Letter to the Examiner:

“Windfall” Spending Ignores Poverty in Peterborough

As reported by the Examiner on Tuesday, December 6, City Council recently announced an “unexpected windfall” for the 2008 City budget in the amount of $895,987. City Council proposes to allocate the extra money to capital projects ($500,000), a contingency fund ($100,000), and property tax relief ($295,987). Although money spent on these initiatives has come as a welcome surprise to some Peterborough residents, larger questions loom regarding the priorities of City Council.

At a time when thousands of Peterborough residents are living below the poverty line, it is fair to ask why some of this “windfall” was not directed toward any of the urgent needs of the poor. The City has repeatedly told anti-poverty advocates that there is simply no money in the budget to help Peterborough’s poor. Yet now we are informed of nearly $900,000 in new money, none of which is being allocated to combat poverty. While Mayor Ayotte has set up a Mayor’s Task Force on Poverty Reduction,
and encourages “broad community engagement, as we identify community-wide strategies to support change in areas where we can make a difference,” this windfall spending demonstrates a complete disregard for issues of poverty in Peterborough.

One example of a pressing and dire need for funding is reflected in the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty’s (PCAP’s) ongoing campaign for fair access to dentures. The Ontario Works Act allows municipalities to provide “discretionary benefits” to people on social assistance, which includes “the cost of dental services.” However, local policy in Peterborough only allows these benefits for individuals who are “pursuing and maintaining employment.” This means that individuals on ODSP (Ontario
Disability Support Program), most of whom cannot work due to disability, are currently being refused access to denture benefits. PCAP is currently working with a number of people who have lost all their teeth, are being refused dentures benefits, and have been placed in a situation where they must choose between buying food and paying for new teeth to eat it with.

Most of us probably take our teeth (real or false) for granted. Imagine a life without teeth, and no way of paying for dentures. This is a lived reality for some members of our community, and a reality that should simply not be tolerated. Not even a fraction of this unexpected $895,987 is being allocated to the “discretionary benefits” program, even when the Province would match one dollar spent by the Municipality with four additional dollars. Even $20,000 from the City would lead to
life-changing improvements for many members of our community.

Lack of fair access to dentures is just one of many poverty related issue that has been neglected in the “windfall” spending. It’s time we demand that Council stops the rhetoric, and starts prioritizing poverty reduction measures in Peterborough through concrete action. For more information on PCAP’s campaign for fair access to dentures, or information regarding what you can do, please see PCAP’s blog:
http://peterboroughcoalitionagainstpoverty.blogspot.com/ or e-mail PCAP at pcap@riseup.net

Dave Thomas, PCAP member

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3) TAKE ACTION on the FAIR ACCESS TO DENTURES CAMPAIGN NOW!

1. Write to Paul Ayotte and all Councillors urging them to support PCAP’s
core demands:

• EXPAND eligibility criteria for ODSP and OW now!
• INCREASE benefits budget now!
• IMPLEMENT retroactive benefits coverage now!
• LOBBY governments for OW/ODSP increase – 40% now!

Contacts:
Paul Ayotte, Mayor
e-mail: mayor@city.peterborough.on.ca (cc PCAP: pcap@riseup.net)

J. Douglas Peacock, Chair of Social Services
e-mail: dpeacock@city.peterborough.on.ca (cc PCAP: pcap@riseup.net)

Henry Clarke, Deputy Mayor, Chair of Finance
e-mail: hclarke@city.peterborough.on.ca (cc PCAP: pcap@riseup.net)

2. If you are able, please SEND A DONATION. This money will go directly to
the fundraising campaign for Sharron, to recover her dentures costs. No
donation is too big or too small! Every dollar donated will be immediately
forwarded to Sharron. Read more about Sharon's case at:
http://peterboroughcoalitionagainstpoverty.blogspot.com/2007/11/fair-access-to-dentures-details-demands.html

Please make cheques payable to:
Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (“Dentures Campaign”).
393 Water Street, Unit 17, Peterborough, Ontario, K9H 3L7 (send or deliver).

--

Fair Access to Dentures Campaign Kick-Off Event!

2007-11-29T18:29:00.001-05:00

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is! PCAP Dentures Campaign Kick-off!

Forum, Film Screening and Fundraiser

When: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Wednesday December 5th

FREE Meal: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. All welcome to join us for a meal before the event!

Where: at the Argyle Centre, 780 Argyle St.

Why: Only those OW/ODSP recipients who are employable are permitted to receive dentures benefits. Those who are unable to work due to disabilities cannot receive the one-time $1500 denture benefit, and must pay for this out of their already inadequate assistance benefits, sacrificing necessities such as food and clothing.

Forum:
•PCAP Speakers: Elisa Wynne-Hughes, Mary-Jo Nadeau
•Peterborough Dental Coalition: John Poch
•Speaker from the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
•ODSP recipient, speaker for Human Rights complaint against the local
dentures policy: Paul Pennington

Films:
•"Housing Takeover" by the Women Against Poverty Coalition (2007)
•"Raise the Rates" by Neil Cavalier and Liisa Schofield (OCAP, 2006)

Forum and Films will be followed by discussion.

Fundraiser: This event is also a fundraiser for Sharron Fowler who has had to pay to remove and replace her teeth and has very little money left to pay for rent and food.

This event is being held in remembrance of the Montreal Massacre. Violence against women comes in many forms, including structural and systemic violence that governments perpetuate through discriminatory policies that disproportionately impact the lives and livelihood of single mothers.

Please email or call PCAP if you need childcare or transportation assistance for this event: pcap@riseup.net or 749-9694

Fair Access to Dentures - Details, Demands and Actions

2007-11-29T18:23:00.000-05:00

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!

What is the Ontario government policy on OW/ODSP dentures benefits?

The Ontario Works Act allows municipalities to provide “discretionary benefits,” which includes “the cost of dental services.” Municipalities may provide dental services under two conditions: “to relieve pain or for medical or therapeutic reasons” (i.e., to cover those who have health or medical-based needs), or “for the participant who is actively looking for work and is job ready” (i.e., to cover those whose needs are employment-related).

What is Peterborough’s local policy?

Local policy is much narrower. Only those OW/ODSP recipients who are employable are permitted to receive dentures benefits. For ODSP recipients, this means that you are NOT eligible – regardless of need - if you are unable to work. This is made explicit in the first Guiding Principle for the Peterborough discretionary benefits policy. It states that ODSP recipients must be “pursuing and maintaining employment” in order to be eligible for the $1500, one-time only, denture benefit. And, this benefit is not guaranteed, even for those who meet the eligibility criteria. It is subject to the “discretion” of OW administrator.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS POLICY?

It creates a two-tier benefits system: This policy establishes a two-class benefits system based on whether you are able to work. So, if you are “employable” and on ODSP (or OW) you MIGHT be deemed “deserving” of dentures benefits. If you cannot to work due to disabilities, you cannot receive dentures benefits (even if you need them for medical reasons). This means that only some people who need the benefit can receive it and, ultimately, very few will.

It’s discriminatory: This policy discriminates against persons with disabilities, especially those whose health conditions render them unemployable. It effectively makes ineligible a large core of ODSP recipients who simply cannot work, through no fault of their own. The Ontario Human Rights Code states that it is discriminatory to implement policies and procedures that create barriers to inclusivity. Service providers, like Peterborough Social Services, are named in the code. Like employers, they have a legal obligation, or “duty to accommodate” the needs of persons with disabilities. This means that OW/ODSP service providers must create policy that allows “equal benefit from and participation in services.” In a consultation on October 22nd 2007, community agencies and OW/ODSP recipients challenged the premises of this policy on the grounds of discrimination, and demanded that the municipality restore this benefit for those with health or medical-based needs.

It’s inhumane: Those deemed undeserving of dentures benefits are forced to pay for both the removal and replacement of their teeth using their already inadequate assistance benefits. This effectively forces people to make a hard choice – feed the kids, pay the rent or buy new teeth?

It’s dishonest: The local policy currently assumes that ODSP recipients can afford to pay for their own dentures because they “benefit from a higher asset level than OW clients.” Local policy makers know very well that this is a deceptive claim. Both OW and ODSP levels of assistance are well below the poverty line.

It’s unfair: In narrowing the eligibility criteria in this way, local policy ensures that Peterborough’s poorest citizens have had to pay the price for the last decade of federal and provincial governments who have downloaded costs to municipalities.

PCAP’s DEMANDS TO THE MAYOR’S TASK FORCE ON POVERTY REDUCTION:

Since their election in December 2006, Peterborough Mayor Ayotte and the city council have acknowledged that “poverty is a reality in Peterborough” and have stated their commitment to “put in place a long term, local strategy which attempts to reduce the impact of poverty on our overall social and economic health.” Ayotte himself has stated that “poverty can result in lack of opportunity and choice. People living in poverty cannot keep pace with housing costs, taxes, utilities, food and other expenses. The choice between paying the rent and buying food is one we do not want citizens of our community to have to make.” PCAP is also concerned that people are having to make the choice between buying food and paying for the teeth they use to eat it with!

To reduce poverty, the Mayor has set up a Mayor’s Task Force on Poverty Reduction. Ayotte encouraged “broad community engagement, as we identify community-wide strategies to support change in areas where we can make a difference.”

PCAP is holding Ayotte and the city council to their word. It is urgent that council develop a “strategy to support change” in the lives of people living in poverty.

PCAP demands that the Mayor’s Task Force make the following recommendations to City Council, and make it an urgent priority to lobby council to take immediate action on them!

• Remove the requirement that those eligible for dentures benefits must be “employable” – immediately. This would make the policy fully inclusive, allowing ALL ODSP and OW beneficiaries to be eligible for up to $1500 for dentures, as a one-time benefit.

• Increase the budget for discretionary benefits. There is no limit to the amount of money Peterborough can spend on discretionary benefits, it is merely a question of priorities. Council needs to put the money where its mouth is – reducing poverty requires money. The provincial government will match every dollar the municipality puts into discretionary benefits with four more!

• Accept retroactive applications for discretionary benefits to cover all who have been denied dentures funding while this discriminatory policy has been in place. This includes providing full reimbursement to those who have paid for their own dentures, and approving benefits payments for those who still require dentures.

• Lobby the provincial and federal governments for a bigger piece of the surplus. A recent report shows that the Federal government has “racked up 10 back-to-back surpluses,” resulting in a $96 billion surplus. Provincially the surplus is now at $16.5 billion (and growing). Last year, Ontario alone announced a $2.3 billion surplus. Poor people across Canada, and in Ontario, have funded the growing surplus – we deserve our fair share, and this means rebuilding social programs and refunding the social wage.

• Act in coalition with other Mayor’s Task Forces across Ontario to pressure the provincial government to increase funding for ALL OW/ODSP benefits immediately.

People in Peterborough Directly Affected By This Policy

Sharron is on ODSP and a single mother working at home raising four young children on $1400/month. Due to long-term use of prescription medications for multiple disabilities, Sharron’s teeth deteriorated to the point of crumbling and she developed permanent and painful abscesses. She was unable to eat solid food for several months and survived on a diet of liquids and mashed foods. To relieve the pain, Sharron reluctantly opted to have her remaining six teeth permanently removed from her mouth. She cannot afford dentures, so she applied for discretionary benefits. She was denied. Wanting to remain healthy enough to raise her children, Sharron cobbled together the money to pay for the dentures. In the end, she bore this expense at great cost to herself. She is now living with the debt, and struggling to recoup the $1,634 she paid out to get the teeth she needs. PCAP has joined Sharron in her courageous fightback against this discriminatory and cruel policy.

Paul is on ODSP and has had all of his teeth removed. He applied for discretionary benefits because he requires dentures but cannot afford to pay for them on his monthly disabilities cheque. Paul’s physical and mental health will be negatively affected if he does not have teeth, and yet, his application for benefits was denied by Ontario Works because he is not “employable”. That is, because of his disabilities, Paul’s doctor has ordered him to stop working. The director of social services, Pat Knapp will not help him, though under the OW Act she has the discretion to do so in special cases. She has directed him to appeal
to City Hall. He has done so through numerous letters to all members of City Council and the Mayor, but was offered no help. His need is urgent as he has not had teeth since September. He is appealing to the Social Services Tribunal under the Human Rights code and, if this fails, will pursue this case at the Ontario Human Rights Commission. PCAP supports Paul and is joining him in his struggle to attain this most basic benefit.

Do ODSP recipients need access to dentures benefits? You do the math!

Single person: $18, 147 Poverty line, 2006
Single person, ODSP $11,988 (or $999/month, before taxes)
- 6,159 (below poverty line)
- 1,500 (dentures)
- 7,659 (even further below poverty line)

3 person household $27,773 Poverty line, 2006
Single parent, 2 children $25,692 (or $2,141/month, July 2008)
- 2,081 (below poverty line)
- 1,500 (dentures)
- 3,581 (even further below poverty line)

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

1. Write to Paul Ayotte and all Councillors urging them to support PCAP’s core demands:

• EXPAND eligibility criteria for ODSP and OW now!
• INCREASE benefits budget now!
• IMPLEMENT retroactive benefits coverage now!
• LOBBY governments for OW/ODSP increase – 40% now!

Contacts:
Paul Ayotte, Mayor
e-mail: mayor@city.peterborough.on.ca (cc PCAP: pcap@riseup.net)

J. Douglas Peacock, Chair of Social Services
e-mail: dpeacock@city.peterborough.on.ca (cc PCAP: pcap@riseup.net)

Henry Clarke, Deputy Mayor, Chair of Finance
e-mail: hclarke@city.peterborough.on.ca (cc PCAP: pcap@riseup.net)

2. If you are able, please SEND A DONATION. This money will go directly to the fundraising campaign for Sharron, to recover her dentures costs. No donation is too big or too small! Every dollar donated will be immediately forward to Sharron.

Please make cheques payable to:
Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (“Dentures Campaign”).
393 Water Street, Unit 17, Peterborough, Ontario, K9H 3L7 (send or deliver).

Consumer Rights Day Workshop with Legal Centre

2007-11-14T23:05:00.000-05:00

Topics of discussion will include agressive collective agencies and payday lenders

Tuesday, November 27, 2007
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Peterborough Public Library Auditorium, 345 Aylmer St. N.

Contact Legal Centre for more details: 749-9355
Click here for the link.

November General Meeting

2007-10-22T15:36:00.000-04:00

***
Monthly General Meeting
Wednesday November 14th, 7pm
At the PCAP office (#17 - 393 Water St)
ALL ARE WELCOME
***

Our General Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month at 7pm. We meet at our office at #17 - 393 Water Street.

We can provide childcare and help with transportation if you give us a call ahead of time.

Unfortunately, our office space is not accessible at this time (up a flight of stairs).

General Meetings are a great way to learn more about PCAP and how to get involved. It is your chance to hear about recent and upcoming events and to provide organizers with input and direction.

Mohawk Shawn Brant Faces Serious Jail Time

2007-10-22T15:14:00.000-04:00

------------------------------------------------------------------
PROSECUTION SEEKS MINIMUM 12 YEARS OF FEDERAL PENITENTIARY TIME:
If Convicted, Mohawk Shawn Brant Faces Serious Jail Time
------------------------------------------------------------------

(October 16, 2007) On Friday, October 12th, Mohawk spokesperson Shawn Brant of Tyendinaga appeared in court to finalize the details of his impending trial.

Released on bail after spending two months in pre-trial custody, Shawn is currently facing a total of 9 charges in relation to two blockades, one in April 2007, and the other as part of the Aboriginal National Day of Action on June 29, 2007. Included in these charges are 6 "mischief" charges, which the Crown has elected to proceed on by indictment.

The Ottawa-based Crown, Robert Morrison, has indicated that he intends to seek a minimum of 2 years imprisonment per charge, for a minimum sentence of 12 years in a federal penitentiary.

Shawn's trial has been set for January 2009. He will continue to live under bail conditions that include a curfew, inability to leave the Province of Ontario, and a ban from attending any protest of any kind.

In the meantime, the reclamation of the quarry and the fight for the return of the Culbertson Tract to Mohawks of Tyendinaga – the land that lies at the heart of the recent blockades and actions – continues to hold strong. Tyendinaga Mohawks have long established a permanent presence on the former quarry site, with dozens of trailers and
families living on the land on a fulltime basis. People are currently making preparations for the winter.

The severity of the prison time openly being sought by the Crown indicates the punishment the Canadian state is prepared to inflict on First Nations people who struggle for their land and their communities.

Clearly, the gravity of this possible sentence is proof that Shawn is being singled out, in an effort by the colonial authorities to crush First Nations' resistance. The community of Tyendinaga has, through working to re-establish a longhouse, self-governance, and economic self-sufficiency, long been a thorn in the side of the Canadian state, and its project of oppression and genocide of First Nations peoples.

Asking for twelve years prison time is not about the blockades of this summer. It is about sending a loud message to First Nations people who are not interested in submitting to the exploitation of their lands and resources, nor the continued denigration and suffering of their communities.

Shawn is being made an example of, in a state response of fear and concern that First Nations resistance will continue, and will succeed in forcing the rest of this country's population to realize that long-standing crimes against the Mohawk community of Tyendinaga, and all other First Nations communities, must be righted.

-------------------------------
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
-------------------------------

1. CALL/FAX/EMAIL:

In September of this year, the international community adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, despite high-profile opposition from Canada and three other settler states - New Zealand, the United States and Australia. Article 26 of the UN declaration states: "Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired."

By voting against the Declaration, Canada clearly belies its on-going contempt, racism, and lack of will to negotiate in good faith with or atone for the genocidal crimes committed against the First Nations peoples of this land. Colonialism continues.

The criminalization and persecution of Shawn Brant, a Mohawk who has made great sacrifices to stand up for his community, his people, and his land, serves as a sharp and unacceptable example of this very colonial agenda.

Seeking to send Shawn to jail for the acts of resistance taken by his community is unacceptable. In turn, return of the Culberston Tract to the Mohawks of Tyendinaga is a crucial step in building a new relationship between First Nations peoples and the rest of Canada.

Write or call the Attorney General of Ontario, the Minister of Indian Affairs, and the Head Office of CN Rail, to call for the following:

We demand that:

1. Michael Bryant, Attorney General of Ontario drop the charges against Shawn Brant, who, if convicted, could face serious time in a federal penitentiary.
2. CN Rail abandon its multi-million dollar lawsuits against Shawn Brant, Jason Maracle, and Tara Green.
3. The Provincial and Federal governments return all lands that rightfully belong to the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and immediately cease exploitation of resources on those lands, thereby committing to negotiating land claims issues in good faith, and to honest governance for all Ontarians.
4. The Provincial and Federal Governments engage in meaningful dialogue to end the exploitation of First Nation lands and resources.

ADRESS YOUR DEMANDS TO THE FOLLOWING:

Michael Bryant,
Attorney General of Ontario
Ministry of the Attorney General
720 Bay St, 11th Flr
Toronto ON M5G 2K1
Tel : 416-326-4000
Fax : 416-326-4016
mbryant.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Chuck Strahl,
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal
Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Phone: (613) 992-2940
Fax: (613) 944-9376
ottawa@chuckstrahl.com

Canadian National Railway Company
935 de La Gauchetière Street West
Montreal, Quebec
H3B 2M9
Phone: 1-888-888-5909
contact@cn.ca

-------------------------------------------

2. MAKE A DONATION:

Shawn Brant faces a jury trial that will likely last 3-4 weeks. Although the two defence lawyers have generously donated their time free of charge, there are still significant costs associated with the defence. Travel and accommodation expenses will be incurred as the trial is being held in Napanee, over 200 km from Toronto. Expert witnesses need to be paid, transcripts and other documents must be obtained, and there are significant other expenses generated in mounting the defense for a lengthy and complex jury trial.

In addition to defending Shawn Brant, the campaign to have the quarry license revoked and the Culbertson Tract returned to the Mohawk community requires the maintenance of an effective presence over the winter at the reclaimed quarry site on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Doing this will put a substantial financial burden on the community. They will have to pay for winterization and equipping of the housing units, purchase of a diesel generator, fuel for heating, electricity and transport, additional clothing and food.

To cover the legal costs and to contribute to the winterization of the quarry site the Tyendinaga Support Committee has set a target of $40,000 for the Tyendinaga Legal Defence Fund. The money collected will be divided between legal costs incurred by Shawn Brant's counsel, and funds needed to winterize the quarry site in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.

Shawn Brant must have adequately funded legal representation if he is to successfully defend himself against a very determined Crown Attorney who is set on making an example of him. To adequately prepare the case, defense counsel needs funds sooner rather than later. For example, expert witness reports cannot simply be secured at the last minute if the money happens to come in. Defence strategy is seriously impaired if we don't know what we're looking at in terms of incoming
funds and tailoring strategy. Thus far this embattled community, in the forefront of indigenous struggle, has received little financial support for their legal battle. So it is with a sense of urgency that we request you to act on this appeal as soon as possible.

All donations are valued and appreciated.

CHEQUES PAYABLE TO:
Tyendinaga Legal Defence Fund
c/o 10 Britain Street
Toronto, ON
M5A 1R6

---------------------------------------------------------

3. READ MORE:

RECENT BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Shawn Brant: Another case of Canada's political persecution of indigenous people (Justin Podur, September 19/07)
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=30&ItemID=13830

Free Shawn Brant: Toronto Event: August 29/07

VIDEO:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwQdz7dHeaQ
AUDIO:http://storywordspics.blogspot.com/2007/08/free-shawn-brant-meeting.html

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4. GET INVOLVED:

If you are interested in finding out about organizing efforts to support the Mohawks of Tyendinaga, if you would like to work with the Tyendinaga Support Committee here in Toronto or people in other cities, or if you think your progressive union local, organization, school, or faith group would like to learn more about this struggle, please visit our website or contact:

Tyendinaga Support Committee:
http://www.ocap.ca/supporttmt.html
support.tmt@gmail.com

Northumberland Anti-Poverty Meeting

2007-10-22T14:53:00.000-04:00

The Northumberland Community Legal Centre and the Northumberland Coalition Against Poverty invite you to attend our 5th Annual Justice Forum:

BUILDING A POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY

Thursday, October 25th
1:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Port Hope Health Unit, 200 Roseglen Road, east of Hwy # 401 and Hwy #28 interchange

PANEL MEMBERS
Jaqueline Maund, Co-ordinator, Campaign 2000
Wayne Samuelson, President, Ontario Federation of Labour
Cindy Buott, Mayor’s Anti Poverty Committee, Peterborough
Carl Ross, Manager, Income and Housing Services, County of Northumberland
Dr. Lynne Noseworthy, Medical Officer of Health, Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit
Sylvia Terpstra, Director of Education, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board
Representative, Children’s Services Committee

RSVP to Northumberland Community Legal Centre
(905) 373-4464 or 1 800-850-7882

OCAP Perpetual Calendars For Sale

2007-10-22T09:26:00.000-04:00

The OCAP Perpetual Calendar is on sale now at the PCAP office.

This beautiful compilation of art and history can be used year after year to mark important dates, birthdays, and anniversaries. It contains artwork by several celebrated political artists including Pete Colins, Shannon Muegge, Stefan Pilipa and others.

All revenue from this calendar goes back into the daily work of the organization, from casework and advocacy to large-scale mobilizations for dignity, housing, and economic justice for poor and oppressed people.

To make orders, e-mail pcap@riseup.net or call PCAP at 705-749-9694.

You can view the back cover and artwork of the calendar online at: http://www.ocap.ca/files/perpetualbackbig.jpg

Calendars are being sold at $20 each.

Peterborough's Emergency Shelter System - Time for Action!!

2007-10-18T18:30:00.000-04:00

PCAP opposes the decision to award the Emergency Shelter Services Request For Proposal to Brock Mission and the YES Shelter!

On Monday October 22nd at 6:30 Peterborough City Council will make a decision on this recommendation - the recommendation report is available online at:

This link.

PCAP has reserved spots to speak to council on this issue. Join us at 5:00 p.m. at the PCAP office for discussion and strategizing about these issues. We will then head to City Hall at 6:00 to share a free meal, provided weekly by Food Not Bombs before attending the council meeting.

We support Peggy Shaugnessy's efforts to provide comprehensive emergency shelter services. Peggy has proven herself to be in solidarity with the poor while the Brock Mission has continually demonstrated mismanagement of finances and its inability to provide adequate services. The YES shelter is headed up by a man who was once the president of the Downtown Business Improvement Association, an organization that consistently runs poor-bashing, anti-youth, and anti-panhandling campaigns.

It's time to demand that the City put some of the most marginalized members of our community first - we need a warming room to open now! We need a fully funded shelter service for single women over the age of 24! We need laundry and shower facilities that are fully accessible to everyone who needs them! We need shelters that are clean, that don't overcrowd, and that have a proper budget for decent food so people aren't forced to eat crappy meals like pasta with cut up weiners and corn and no sauce!

Special Diet Clinic - Forms and Update

2007-10-11T14:56:00.000-04:00

There is still room to register for the PCAP special diet clinic but spots are filling up quickly and there aren't many left.

All the details are available at the PCAP office and online at:
http://peterboroughcoalitionagainstpoverty.blogspot.com/2007/10/special-diet-clinic-in-peterborough.html

There are additional information sheets in the PCAP office for people who have registered.

Please let us know if you, or anyone you know, are having any problems getting a special diet application form from the welfare or disability office. Workers must give forms when they are requested. We can help you get the forms, no matter what
the difficulty is, so don't hesitate to get in touch.

Community Consultation: Discretionary Benefits Program Review - October 22

2007-10-11T14:48:00.000-04:00

In addition to the community consultation about the discretionary benefits program for OW/ODSP on Monday Oct. 22 at 1:00 in the Public Library on Aylmer St. (see below for more details), PCAP will also be attending a morning session for 'agencies' and 'stakeholders.'

If you have ideas or input about how the discretionary benefits program could be improved, please let us know so we can raise your issues at the consultation meeting for agencies, or at the open afternoon meeting.

We will also be meeting at Noon at the PCAP office to hear back about the mornings session and to plan for the afternoon. We will provide some food for lunch. Please join us.

Please consider registering to attend the event even if you can't make it. We heard that they were thinking of cancelling the afternoon session for lack of interest and we want to make sure that OW/ODSP recipients have a chance to have their voices heard. Registration details are below.

PCAP: (705) 749-9694 or pcap@riseup.net. Office is open Mon-Fri, 1:00-3:00, #17 393 Water. St. (we're sorry to say that our office is up a flight of stairs).

--

OW and ODSP clients and other concerned members of the community are invited to a Social Services community consultations about the Ontario Works Discretionary Benefit Program, which is under review.

Monday, October 22 at 1:00 p.m. in the lower level at the Public Library.

The discretionarybenefits program provides benefits such as dental and vision care, recreation subsidies, emergency funding for heat and hydro deposits and disconnections, and more. Learn more about the program and have some input into its
future directions and how it can be improved.

Contact Laura Warne of Social Services at lwarne@peterborough.ca or 748-8830 ext 3201 for more information or to let her know that you plan on attending.

For more information or assistance about how to apply for discretionary benefits contact PCAP. You can also check out this easy to read description of the benefits at
http://www.incomesecurity.org/publications.html.
Under 'Public Education Materials' click on the 'OW/ODSP Benefits - October 2006' link.

PCAP will be attending this community consultation as we know Social Services could do more to increase awareness and access to these benefits.

Appeal for Support

2007-10-06T17:14:00.000-04:00

Dear PCAP Members and Friends,

Below is an appeal for assistance from a friend of PCAP's who is looking for help with her housing situation. Sylvie is seeking financial donations, somewhere to move her mobile home to, and someone who can move her mobile home for her. More details and her contact information are included in her personal letter below. Thank you for taking the time to read it.

Sylvie's case reminds us of the local face of Canada's national disaster - housing insecurity and homelessness. People in Ontario need living incomes to bridge the large gap between the cost of housing and the money available to pay for housing. In addition to improvements in emergency services, we need services and supports that help people become adequately rehoused and help them stay housed. We want more measures to prevent homelessness and housing insecurity. More affordable housing now!

---

My name is Sylvie Allaire; I live in the City of Kawartha Lakes. I am a single mother of a 14-year-old son. At the present time, I am in a dilemma; I have lived in my mobile home (12 X 64) on a farmer's lot for the past 10 years. I have been informed that I have to move my home; this is not a small task for a single parent with limited income, it is virtually impossible.

On Thursday, September 27, 2007 I was facing eviction, the decision at the landlord and tenant tribunal was in my favour. I was given til May to vacate the property. I'm looking for a trailer park that would have room for a mobile home, a Granny Flat on a farmers land, or land that would allow a mobile home. I feel that it would be in the best interest for my son as well as me to remain in the area in order for my son to continue his education at Fenelon Falls Public School and for me to continue with supports in the area.

My son has lived in this house since he is 4 years old and his friends from public school are in high school with him. He is planning to stay in school and learn a trade and the only way I can help him with his future is to be able to keep this house and support us.

I have gone to the politicians for assistance, only to be told there is no funding available and that the best option that I have is to go to my local church or A Place Called Home. These services only offer assistance once your homeless. I have applied for low income housing only to be told that there is a 3 to 5 years waiting period.

This situation has not only been stressful for me but for my son as well. I've made several attempts to find an alternative solution in order to resolve my predicament but I feel like I am getting nowhere. I have some friends and organization that are going to do some fundraising so I can move my mobile home. I'm also looking for a home moving company to give me a quote. If you would like to help I can be contacted at the following:

Email: allaire_sylvie@yahoo.ca

CIBC bank account: 01992 - 71-24430

Paypal account at www.paypal.com vilee_2000@yahoo.ca

Thank for taking the time to read this. Hope to hear from you soon.

Sylvie Allaire

Special Diet Clinic in Peterborough - Register Now

2007-10-04T08:47:00.000-04:00

Are you on welfare or disability? Have you heard of SPECIAL DIET MONEY? You could get extra money through the special diet allowance for you and your family! PCAP can help – register for our special diet clinic now!

The special diet benefit is a government provision that allows people on welfare and disability to receive funds for dietary needs when prescribed by a nurse or doctor. PCAP is an anti poverty organization that fights the government for what poor people need. We are NOT part of welfare and get no funding from the government.

PCAP is organizing a SPECIAL DIET CLINIC IN PETERBOROUGH on Friday October 19th from 12:00 – 3:00. A free meal will be served at Noon. We can assist with child care and transportation to the clinic – let us know ahead of time. You MUST PRE-REGISTER for this clinic.

Health professionals will be available to fill out the special diet forms for OW and ODSP recipients who have pre-registered. FIFTY SPOTS are being made available on a first come - first served basis. The fifty spots include children as well as adults so you should register as soon as possible if you want to ensure that you get a spot. TO PRE-REGISTER CONTACT SARAH AT PCAP@RISEUP.NET OR 749-9694 and leave your name along with the best way that we can reach you – phone number, email, address, usual hang out spots.

You must register yourself and every child in your family who you will be bringing with you to be assessed. Once registered, PCAP will give you the clinic's location. Only those who have pre-registered will be able to see a health professional. So please, don't invite relatives and friends to tag along. If they haven't pre-registered, there is absolutely NO chance that they will be seen.

But remember, attending the clinic is no guarantee that you will qualify for the maximum $250 Special Diet Allowance. Because of the strict criteria, the $250 maximum is hard to get and most people will probably qualify for less and some may not qualify for anything. THE CLINIC CAN GIVE NO ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE OF MONEY AT ALL. Nonetheless, the medical providers will do everything they can under the new regulations to get people money.

You will need to REQUEST A SPECIAL DIET FORM FROM YOUR WORKER for every member of your family attending the clinic and bring it with you on October 19th – only original forms are valid as photocopied forms are not accepted by the OW/ODSP office. Without this form, your application will NOT be accepted by Social Services. Your worker MUST give you a form if you ask for one.

We recommend that you bring along your health card and any copies of previous special diet forms that you have submitted to social services – this is only a recommendation as these items are not required to be seen by a health care provider at the clinic. A note for parents – your kids do not need to be physically present at the clinic as long as you have their medical history.

Contact PCAP for more info: pcap@riseup.net, (705) 749-9694

Appeal for Support and More Info on Special Diet Clinics

2007-10-04T08:46:00.000-04:00

The McGuinty Government cut the Special Diet Policy under which huge numbers were obtaining relief from poverty and hunger. The Liberals introduced a new policy, determined to shut down the OCAP initiated community clinics where thousands of poor people were obtaining the $250 a month the policy entitled them to. Over $40 million extra was paid out through the special diet to people on welfare and disability. Several months after the cut, the Liberal government raised over all assistance rates by 2%. With an additional 3% raise, this is still 35% short of what it would take for rates to be brought up to what they were before the Harris Government cuts.

In the year since the cut took place huge numbers of people have been robbed of the income they needed to eat properly and provide for their children. But the Special Diet Campaign has created a new sense of entitlement and a new feeling of hope for people which the government can't cut or revise. People are simply not ready to go back to the old choice between eating properly and paying the rent. Hundreds of poor people joined the fight for the right to decent income and Doctor’s offices and health centres have seen an ongoing flow of patients on welfare seeking any help they and their families might obtain under the food allowance. This initiative by poor people enabled progressive health providers to understand that the new Special Diet form, while it made things much harder, did not totally prevent the Policy from being used as a tool to protect the health of low income patients.

As soon as Health Providers Against Poverty (HPAP) came to the conclusion that Special Diet clinics were still an option, the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty enthusiastically started running them again. In October 2006 Round II of special diet clinics began. These special diet clinics are being organized under strict government regulations designed to block access to this money. The government failed.

Under ROUND II, thousands more people have since gone through the clinics. Some Welfare and ODSP offices have responded by trying to cheat people out of benefits
their own rules say should be available. Just as in 2005, we are having to confront the welfare bureaucracy and its political controllers to ensure that this abuse is prevented.

We face a government reaching the end of its term that has raised assistance rates by just 5% - an insulting fraction of what it would take for rates to be livable. We face government at each level that intentionally deny people the means to get by. But the government faces communities that refuse to go back to the old choices between dignity or rent. They face people who have joined the fight for a decent income, who are demanding it from their welfare workers, their city councillors and their MPPs. They face people willing to fight for what they deserve.

We are faced right now, as we have been for more than a decade, with 760,000 people living on welfare and disability; hungry, unable to get by on assistance with a government that refuses to raise overall assistance rates by any meaningful amount. In this context the special diet allows people money to provide for themselves. It also begins the recovery of the 40% we are owed by the government.

We are doing all we can to push back the limits of hunger and poverty. This is a Government that willfully inflicts misery and suffering on poor communities. It is a Government that needs to be fought.

We are appealing to all our allies to support us in this fight and to help us achieve as much as we possibly can through our present round of community clinics.

➢ If you are a health provider, contribute your time and skills to help out at a Special Diet Clinic.

➢ If you are a community agency or grassroots organization, endorse the special diet campaign

➢ If you can, contribute cash to help us ensure low income people can attend our clinics

➢ When welfare officialdom tries to deny people their legitimate benefits, we need to put pressure on them, through call-ins and public delegations. If you can help with this activity, let us know.

Contact PCAP at pcap@riseup.net or (705) 749-9694

Peterborough Organizations that Endorse the Special Diet Campaign:
Ontario Public Interest Research Group, Peterborough
PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network
Peterborough Coalition for Social Justice
Peterborough Social Planning Council
United Way of Peterborough and District
YWCA of Peterborough, Victoria and Haliburton

The Peterborough Board of Health and the Toronto Board of Health, along with many professional health organizations have also passed resolutions that support the campaign. Despite provincial cutbacks to the allowance, the campaign has been very successful, receiving much favorable media coverage.

Related Links of Interest:
http://ocap.ca/taxonomy/term/44
http://dawn.thot.net/special_diet_supplement.html
http://www.odspaction.ca/~new/drupal/node/37
http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=1482&SiteNodeID=327
http://peterboroughcoalitionagainstpoverty.blogspot.com/

How to Apply for Special Diet Money Without Attending the PCAP Clinic

2007-10-04T08:43:00.000-04:00

WHAT IS THE SPECIAL DIET?

The special diet is $$ from the government for people on welfare or disability - you can get this money if a qualified health care provider says you need it. New regulations brought in by the Ontario Liberal government in November 2006 made the special diet very hard to get. In the last year thousands and thousands of people who were on the special diet lost all or most of their money under the new rules. The policy was changed after the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty and allied groups started telling people how to get the special diet and signing people up. Thousands and thousands of people then received the special diet and were finally able to survive. The government brought these changes in to stop us from getting the money we deserve for ourselves and our children. There are still ways to get money through the special diet. To find out how read on. Every time we get special diet money we are taking from the government some of what they owe the 760,000 people on assistance in Ontario. Every time we get the special diet money we have to be ready to fight for that money.

HOW TO APPLY FOR SPECIAL DIET MONEY WITHOUT ATTENDING A CLINIC:

Has your special diet allowance been cut? Have you seen the new forms and don't think you qualify for any extra money? Can't find a health professional that understands the impact of poverty on people's health and is willing to take the time to fill out the forms correctly? Didn’t register in time to make it to the Peterborough clinic? Don't despair. YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR MORE MONEY THAN YOU THINK. It's a matter of finding a health provider that understands how to interpret the new forms so you get the money you deserve.

Ask your worker for a special diet application form for you and each adult and child in your family. Your worker must give you these forms if you ask. Read through the conditions listed below and think about whether any of them apply to you. Contact PCAP to get a tip-sheet for your health care provider to help them complete your form. The tip-sheet was compiled by Health Providers Against Poverty and it provides specific directions about how to successfully complete the special diet forms. Bring the tip-sheet and your application form for health care providers to a good doctor/nurse practioner/dietician. Ask the doctor to carefully go through the form with you. Explain to the doctor how much you and your family receive on social assistance. Your doctor will need to check each box that applies to you and your family. Bring the completed forms to your worker. Make and keep a copy of your special diet forms and the date you handed them in. You should get your special diet money by the end of the month or within several weeks. IF YOU ARE DENIED CALL PCAP at 749-9694.

These are very COMMON CONDITIONS you can get special diet $ for:
- Constipation: $10 lots of people have this problem.
- Allergies (egg, wheat, soya) Think hard about any problems any of you may have after eating any of these things. Lots of people have allergies and don’t know it.
- Lactose intolerant: between $35 and $97. Very common problem among both children and adults there is no test for lactose intolerance
- High Cholesterol: $32 common among adults
- Chewing, teeth problems. $25 with a one time $75 to get a blender. If you have teeth or jaw problems that effect your chewing, this is for you. This includes children with baby teeth falling out.
- Blood pressure: $32 common among adults
- Anemia: $32 common in women and children
-Diabetes: $42. Lots of people develop this and have symptoms for a while before they get diagnosed.

The following HEALTH PROFESSIONALS can complete the Special Diet Allowance application form for you:
-Physician who is registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
-Registered Nurse in the Extended Class - RN(EC) who is registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario
-Registered Dietician who is registered with the College of Dieticians of Ontario
-Registered Midwife who is registered with the College of Midwives of Ontario or Traditional Aboriginal Midwife recognized and accredited by his or her Aboriginal community (Midwifes may only confirm that a special diet is required for the following medical conditions: Inadequate lactation to sustain breast feeding diet or breast-feeding is contraindicated, and for the Pregnancy Nutritional Allowance)

Advocacy and Support

2007-09-28T16:26:00.000-04:00

PCAP is not a charity or a political party. We don’t work for profit and we have no paid staff. PCAP is a direct action anti-poverty group made up of poor people and their allies. We believe in the power of people to organize themselves in struggle. PCAP mounts campaigns against regressive government policies that affect poor, homeless and working communities. We also provide free advocacy for individuals and families.

People call PCAP when they are under attack, whether it is by their landlord, their boss or the welfare office. We combine normal channels of advocacy with direct action to help individuals and families who are being wronged. We are able to help people claim what is rightfully theirs and get the benefits they are entitled to. People call us because they know that our tactics get results – we fight to win!

We can help with problems related to:

Ø Housing / Eviction / Homelessness
Ø Hydro and Heat Arrears and Cut-offs
Ø Ontario Works (OW)
Ø Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
Ø Social Services and Agencies (food banks, shelters, etc.)
Ø Police Brutality, Harassment and Misconduct
Ø Panhandling rights, Safe Streets Act, Municipal tickets
Ø CAS
Ø Other Cases of Poor-bashing

PCAP opposes all systems of violence and oppression that are connected to poverty and works in solidarity with other resistance movements fighting for justice and dignity.

Contact our office if you need advocacy or support. The PCAP office is open Monday to Friday, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., and is located at Unit #17 - 393 Water St. We regret that our office is up a flight of stairs. You can also reach us by phone at (705)749-9694 or by email at pcap@riseup.net

If there are important issues affecting you or your community, PCAP can help organize support and take action.

The office has many resources on housing issues, legal rights, welfare and disability.

October General Meeting

2007-09-28T16:21:00.000-04:00

***
Monthly General Meeting
Wednesday October 10th, 7pm
At the PCAP office (#17 - 393 Water St)
ALL ARE WELCOME
***

Our General Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month at 7pm. We meet at our office at #17 - 393 Water Street.

We can provide childcare and help with transportation if you give us a call ahead of time.

Unfortunately, our office space is not accessible at this time (up a flight of stairs).

General Meetings are a great way to learn more about PCAP and how to get involved. It is your chance to hear about recent and upcoming events and to provide organizers with input and direction.

Anti-Poverty Day of Action Video!

2007-09-12T11:49:00.000-04:00

In the run-up to the September 26th Day of Action against poverty, and the October 10th provincial election, Toronto Anti-Poverty (TAP) has just released a video outlining its demands.

If you want to go with PCAP to Queen's Park on September 26th, see below or contact us: pcap@riseup.net or 749-9694

Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty

Tax Changes Impact Low-income

Justice for Levi

Changes

Peterborough Rally for Accountability of Children's Aid

The Children’s Aid Society (CAS) and family courts

Queens Park

PCAP Meeting

Tell your local Liberal MPP- Don't cut the Special Diet - RAISE THE RATES INSTEAD

Special Diet Clinic

PCAP General Meeting

Exposed: Understanding Canada’s Economic Crisis

Decent, affordable, accessible housing for all!

Community Learning Garden Kick-Off

No One Is Illegal! *May Day of Action*

Act Now! Raided Workers Facing Deportation

CN: Drop your Racist Lawsuit!

Register for Waiting List for Family Doctors

Say NO to the HARMONIZATION of PST & GST!

Put Poverty in the Budget!

Bridging Communities of Resistance: Solidarity in Anti-Racist, Anti-Colonial Struggles

(e)RACEing Poverty: Developing Anti-Racist Actions and Strategies to Eliminate Poverty

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILM NIGHT

"The Harris Years Were a Dress Rehearsal for What's Coming”

OCAP Statement on 2009 Federal Budget

Beats for Justice!

Outside EUrope

Protest against Israeli Attack on Gaza!

DEMONSTRATE AGAINST THE ISRAELI ASSAULT ON GAZA!

Economic Crisis and the Poor: Probable Impacts, Prospects for Resistance

Donations Needed! Housing NOT Demolition!

*OCSJ Assembly*

CALL FOR COURT SOLIDARITY WITH THE CHARKAOUI FAMILY

PCAP Film Night

Algonquin blockade: Urgent call for support for Barriere Lake, and arrested community spokesperson Marylynn Poucachiche

*GIMME SHELTER!*

*TYENDINAGA Invite to Meeting This Sunday*

Stop Bill 106: Faster evictions do not make our communities safer!

Maintenance not Demolition! Affordable Housing Now!

Forum and Rally Supporting Non-Status Women Fleeing Violence

CN: Drop your Racist Lawsuit!

Tenant's Rights Workshop

*Psych Survivors Chalk Sidewalks and Walls of CMHA:*

*A CALL FOR ENDORSEMENTS AND SOLIDARITY*

RALLY and SPEAK-OUT AGAINST CMHA

PCAP Film Night - July 30th

Solidarity with Katenies! 'Canada' has no jurisdiction over Mohawk land

Dentures Campaign Update

City Council responds positively to PCAP campaign for expanded benefits

Poverty Reduction?

Workers' Rights Night - June 26

City Asked To Support Moratorium On Uranium Mining, Council Votes On Resolution This Monday

MPP to Host Poverty Discussion and Media Release: OCAP Not Participating in Sham Consultations: Minister Matthews lies

Gathering of Mother Earth Protectors

Closed doors, closed minds, justice denied

THE ONTARIO LIBERALS AND ‘POVERTY REDUCTION’

Monday May 5th - Liberal Minister in Ptbo - Rally to Demand a Raise in the Rates

Update: Tense Standoff Continues in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

URGENT ACTION: Call Premier: SWAT Teams ammassing in Tyendinaga 9:30 am Monday

MAY DAY OF ACTION: STATUS FOR ALL!

Hollow Victory: Shawn Brant Acquitted of Threat Charges

April 17th - PCPS Event: Palestinian Prisoners Day Film Festival

FREEDOM for IVAN APAOLAZA SANCHO

Ontario Child Benefit and Restructuring of OW/ODSP Rates

CROSS-COUNTRY MOBILIZING AGAINST BILL C-50...

In Solidarity with Sysco Workers - Join them on the CAW Picket Line!

Tuesday April 8th - Colour of Poverty Workshop

Wednesday April 2nd - Racism and Free Speech

March 27 - Jaggi Singh Talks

Fighting Psychiatric Institutions - Pat Capponi Talk

Racism and Poverty: The Local Reality

Communities Uniting: Talking About Justice, Disability and Possibilities

PCAP Statement - Racist KPRD School Board Trustee

Environmental Justice Conference

Take Action - Support the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation

March 12 - Film on Migrant Workers

Black History Month Events

Building Movements Against Apartheid

2008: Finish The Job!

Laibar Singh - Update on the National Days of Action

No One Is Illegal! May Day of Action

OCSJ Assembly

GIMME SHELTER!

TYENDINAGA Invite to Meeting This Sunday

Psych Survivors Chalk Sidewalks and Walls of CMHA:

A CALL FOR ENDORSEMENTS AND SOLIDARITY