Take Action! - Dentures Campaign

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).


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Fair Access to Dentures Campaign Kick-Off Event!

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

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

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

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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

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PROSECUTION SEEKS MINIMUM 12 YEARS OF FEDERAL PENITENTIARY TIME:
If Convicted, Mohawk Shawn Brant Faces Serious Jail Time
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(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.

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WHAT YOU CAN DO:
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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

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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

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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

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

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!!

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

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

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).

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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

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!

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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

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

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

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

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

***
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!

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

Donate Online to PCAP Today!

Support PCAP and Anti-Poverty Organizing in Peterberough: Donate Online Today - It's Easy!

1) Go To: http://paypal.com

2) Click 'Send Money'

3) Fill Out the Form and Choose CAD for the Currency Option

4) Click 'Continue' and Proceed as Instructed by PAYPAL

5) PAYPAL will automatically send you a receipt

September General Meeting

***
Monthly General Meeting
Wednesday September 12th, 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).

Anti-Poverty Day of Action

Before the Provincial Election … Rally at Queen’s Park

Wednesday September 26
8:30 a.m. at City Hall,
500 George St. N.

Take the FREE BUS to Toronto and put poverty on the provincial election agenda!

Contact PCAP for more info or to reserve a seat:
#17 – 393 Water St.
749-9694
pcap@riseup.net

On Wednesday, September 26, a broad coalition of community organizations, trade unions, health providers, students and low income people will be challenging Queen's Park to increase social assistance rates, raise the minimum wage and build affordable/social housing.

· $10 minimum wage now

· A 40% increase in social assistance rates

· New affordable housing to be built in Ontario

· Access without fear to government services for non-status people. Don't Ask/Don't Tell.

Join the fight for a decent income. The Ontario Liberal Government, which was elected on a platform of change, has done little to reverse the Tories' anti-poor agenda. Before the provincial election, rally and demonstrate to demand accountability from the Provincial Government and those who might follow them.

August General Meeting

***
Monthly General Meeting
Wednesday August 8th, 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).

PCAP Benefit Flim Night: 12 May, Friday - 7pm @ Cinema 379

Date & time:
12 May, 2006 - 07:00

Location:
Cinema 379 (379 George Street North)

Info on this event:

PCAP Benefit Film Night

Cinema 379 - 379 George St. N. Peterborough
Friday May 12
7:00 p.m.

$5-10 or PWYC ... All proceeds go to PCAP

A Video History of PCAP
by David Newberry (35 minutes)

Direct Action 00:17
by S.K. Hussan and Brendan Bailey (16 minutes)
(about the recent action which shut down the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal)

Stop the Cameras Coalition

LATEST UPDATE:
Shortly after the City Council approved Lance Sherk's recommendations about the surveillance cameras, Councillor Bill Juby announced that the DBIA was withdrawing their request for City approval and their offer to pay the $85 000 for the cameras' installation. Instead, they have decided to pay the full costs to have cameras on their private property. According to Coun. Juby, the cameras will cover about 90% of the downtown area, and the images will be broadcast live on the internet.
---

PCAP and STCC opposses City's move to install Surveillance Camera's:
The City of Peterborough has moved toward having several surveillance cameras installed in the downtown core, covering a span of 15 blocks. Stop the Camera's Coalition, which PCAP is part of, has organized action to stop the implementation of these cameras that will target marginalized communities. STCC has been victorious in deterring the downtown camera plan. The City is now reviewing alternatives to cameras.

THE ISSUES
Below are a number of our arguments against the installation of the cameras:

The cameras will not deter crime.

* In London, England, where there are more than 150 000 cameras in place, there has been a 40% increase in street crime.
* Charleston West Virginia and in Long Island found that their cameras made little or no difference.
* London, ON; Ottawa, ON; Miami Beach, FL; Detroit, MI; Atlantic City, NJ; Newark, NJ; Times Square, NY; White Plains, NY and Mount Vernon, NY have all dismantled their systems because they were found to be too expensive and ineffective.
* Cameras will not deter crime, but rather displace it, making it more difficult for police to do their job.
* While the crime rate in the residential areas of Peterborough has been on the rise, the street crime in the downtown has gone down 1.3%. Why use the cameras to further push the criminals away from the downtown and into the residential areas?

The cameras are an infringement on our basic civil liberties and fundamental rights as Canadians.

* In Sherbrooke, Quebec, the Privacy Commissioner of Quebec stated that the proposal of cameras was a contravention of privacy legislation and violate our Privacy Act.
* In Edmonton, Alberta, their cameras were turned off after the Privacy Commissioner of Alberta stated that they violated to Privacy Act.
* In Yellowknife, NWT, the Privacy Commissioner called the cameras "unlawful under Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act".

There is no mechanism for public scrutiny in place to ensure that the cameras and videos will not be used for the wrong purposes.

* 1 in 10 women are targeted by male operators for voyeuristic reasons.
* camera operators have been found to focus disproportionately on people of colour "black people were between 1.5 and 2.5 times more likely to be surveilled that one would expect from their presence in the population" -U.K.
* 30% of targeted surveillances on black people were protracted, lasting 9 minutes or more, compared with just 10% of white people.
* 40% of the population was targeted not for their activities but for the way they looked: minorities; homeless; panhandlers; youth - U.K.
* monitors spied on political activists.
* monitors/police officers have tracked estranged spouses or stalked women for friends or themselves - Michigan.
* used images to threaten motorists after traffic altercations.
* targeted license plates to research the background of the vehicle owners .

The costs for the maintenance, repair and monitoring, to be paid by the taxpayers, are too high.

* It has been estimated that the upkeep of the cameras will cost between $100 thousand and $400 thousand per year .
* London, Ontario was paying $236 000 per annum for the upkeep of their 16 cameras, and have recently cut the cameras out of their budget because the costs were too high, especially for a system found to be ineffective.

We feel that our tax dollars would be better spent addressing the root causes of crime: level of intoxication; poverty; substance abuse; homelessness; unemployment etc. It's a better use of our money to prevent crime than just to watch it, and attempt to use the cameras to catch people after they commit it.

Possible Alternatives

* Street crimes have risen drastically since the Government of Ontario introduced new legislation allowing bars to remain open until 3am, rather than 1am. Perhaps this issue should be addressed, since it is after bar closing that the majority of the downtown crimes occur. The City of Peterborough could change the bar closing time back to 1am, at no cost to taxpayers.
* Since it is mostly the clients from the bars that are committing the crimes after bar closing, perhaps the issue of the level of intoxication needs to be addressed. The City of Peterborough should be enforcing the laws about serving alcohol.
* People act differently in the dark than they do in the light. An alternative to the cameras might be to install better lighting in the downtown.
* Put more money towards crime prevention. Address the root causes of crime: poverty; substance abuse; homelessness; unemployment etc.
* Increase policing in the downtown area

Peterborough Labour Flying Squad

Throughout the world, and at home here in Peterborough, poor and working people have met the unfolding political and economic conditions of the 21st Century with steadily growing mobilizations to fight for decent livelihoods, self-determination and peace. Underneath the official currents of globalization, the “War on Terrorism” and the agenda of multinational corporations, governments and international trade organizations; across many borders, we are the “unreported resistance”. Much of this work is being accomplished by new forms of organizing which have in common the usage of consensus or direct democracy for internal decision-making and a strategy which attacks the root causes of inequality and oppression while relying wherever possible on our own collective strength to make change, rather than appealing to a “higher power”. In recent years, groups like PCAP and OCAP have been organizing in our communities to defend, empower and advance the interests of unemployed, homeless and low-income people using these principles for organization and activity. The potential exists for a parallel network which would bring together working people from all different workplaces for mutual aid. As the economy, whether on a local or international level exists on the basis of our collective labour, it is essential for the pursuit of social justice that we recognize this and organize ourselves accordingly. Labour flying squads have existed before, often created spontaneously in the midst of a labour battle, as an effective, flexible tool able to quickly bring together workers and carry out an economic action with a very minimal amount of bureaucracy.

The Peterborough Labour Flying Squad seeks to build rank and file solidarity among workers engaged in social and economic struggles in the Peterborough area and beyond. Through the principal use of phone and email contact lists, participants will inform each other of any ongoing strikes, lock-outs, protests or other events related to social and economic justice. The Flying Squad can issue support to both labour union actions and workers defending their rights at non-unionized job sites. Calls for support and the coordination of Flying Squad intervention, will be organized over the email listserv, phone communication and group meetings, wherever interest for this exists. To maintain its’ full autonomy, the Flying Squad is not affiliated or accountable to any existing labour union, organization or political party. The Flying Squad welcomes the involvement of anyone who shares the principles of rank and file labour solidarity and militancy including union and non-union workers, unemployed and retired. The Flying Squad has held a couple of organizing meetings and will soon be joining the picket lines of local unions. Through the strength of grassroots organization, we aim to put our interests as working people, ahead of corporate profit and power.

PCAP Benefit Film Night

PCAP Benefit Film Night

Cinema 379 - 379 George St. N. Peterborough
Friday May 12
7:00 p.m.

$5-10 or PWYC ... All proceeds go to PCAP

A Video History of PCAP
by David Newberry (35 minutes)

Direct Action 00:17
by S.K. Hussan and Brendan Bailey (16 minutes)
(about the recent action which shut down the Ontario Rental
Housing Tribunal)

more info: pcap@riseup.net or 705-749-9694

Free Lunch provided by Food Not Bombs and Public Speak Out ...

Wednesday February 28th, 2007
1pm
Confederation Park

with members of PCAP, Marion Burton - President of the Peterborough and
District Labour Council, and Linda Slavin - member of Ontario Needs a
Raise Campaign, Ontario Coalition for Social Justice, and the Mayor’s Task
Force on Poverty Reduction.

March to MPP Jeff Leal’s office to demand accountability from the MPP who
gave himself a 25% raise while his government continues to deny people the
means to get by.

Social assistance rates and minimum wages are dangerously inadequate - so
low that many people are forced to choose between paying the rent or
putting food on the table.

Contact PCAP at 749-9694 or pcap@riseup.net for more information

The 25% Raise equals an extra $22,000 annually for MPPs – their raise
alone is $15,000 more than a single person received from welfare in
Ontario in 2005. Meanwhile, the Liberals have only provided measly amounts
to Ontario’s lowest earners. A 5% raise to OW and ODSP rates is sorely
short of the 40% required to meet basic necessities – hardly a ‘raise,’
forty percent would only restore the 21.7% Tory cut to welfare while fully
compensating for cost of living increases.

At 40 hours of work per week minimum wage earners are still below the
poverty line and $2 short of earning the $10 per hour required for a
living wage. Their 3.2% raise to $8.00 on February 1st means that the
lowest paid workers in the province settled for a 25 cent raise while some
of the highest paid get a 25% raise. Without a commitment beyond the
February 2007 increase to raise the minimum wage, the working poor will be
once again be stranded in poverty. We demand that MPP Jeff Leal support a
40% raise to social assistance rates and the passage of the private
member's
bill (150) to boost Ontario's minimum wage to $10.

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.
They cut the Special Diet Policy under which huge numbers of social
assistance recipients were obtaining relief from poverty and hunger. Any
they still haven’t kept their promise to end the clawback of the National
Child Benefit Supplement. Now, to add insult to injury, the Liberals have
passed a 25% raise for MPPs.

We face a government reaching the end of its term that has raised
assistance rates and minimum wage by an insulting fraction of what it
would take for the rates to be livable. We face government at each level
that intentionally denies 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.

PCAP and our allies across Ontario are organizing in a major way to get
the rates raised. We know the liberals have the money – the 25% MPP pay
raise proves it - 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 stop padding their own pockets and give us
what we deserve. We will be heard!