*************************************************************************
*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.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Economic Crisis and the Poor: Probable Impacts, Prospects for Resistance
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(((( T h e B u l l e t))))~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Bullet is produced by the Socialist Project. Readers are
encouraged to distribute widely. Comments, criticisms and
suggestions are welcome. Write to info@socialistproject.ca
If you wish to subscribe: www.socialistproject.ca/lists/?p=subscribe
The Bullet archive is available at www.socialistproject.ca/bullet
For more analysis of contemporary politics check out
'Relay: A Socialist Project Review' at www.socialistproject.ca/relay
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(((( T h e B u l l e t))))~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Bullet is produced by the Socialist Project. Readers are
encouraged to distribute widely. Comments, criticisms and
suggestions are welcome. Write to info@socialistproject.ca
If you wish to subscribe: www.socialistproject.ca/lists/?p=subscribe
The Bullet archive is available at www.socialistproject.ca/bullet
For more analysis of contemporary politics check out
'Relay: A Socialist Project Review' at www.socialistproject.ca/relay
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Donations Needed! Housing NOT Demolition!
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!
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!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
*OCSJ Assembly*
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
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
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
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
Saturday, November 22, 2008
PCAP Film Night
*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
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
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Algonquin blockade: Urgent call for support for Barriere Lake, and arrested community spokesperson Marylynn Poucachiche
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
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!*
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
**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
Saturday, November 8, 2008
*TYENDINAGA Invite to Meeting This Sunday*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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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
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Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Stop Bill 106: Faster evictions do not make our communities safer!
*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
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
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Maintenance not Demolition! Affordable Housing Now!
***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!
*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!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Forum and Rally Supporting Non-Status Women Fleeing Violence
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
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
Thursday, September 18, 2008
CN: Drop your Racist Lawsuit!
*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
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
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Tenant's Rights Workshop
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!
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!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
*Psych Survivors Chalk Sidewalks and Walls of CMHA:*
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
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
*A CALL FOR ENDORSEMENTS AND SOLIDARITY*
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
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
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
RALLY and SPEAK-OUT AGAINST CMHA
********************************************
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!!!
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!!!
Monday, July 28, 2008
PCAP Film Night - July 30th
***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!***
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!***
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Solidarity with Katenies! 'Canada' has no jurisdiction over Mohawk land
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.
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.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Dentures Campaign Update
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.
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.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
City Council responds positively to PCAP campaign for expanded benefits
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):
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):
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Workers' Rights Night - June 26
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)
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)
Friday, June 13, 2008
City Asked To Support Moratorium On Uranium Mining, Council Votes On Resolution This Monday
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
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
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!
--------------------------------------------------------
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
**
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!
--------------------------------------------------------
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.
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Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
10 Britain St. Toronto, ON M5A 1R6
416-925-6939 ocap@tao.ca www.ocap.ca
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