PCAP is working on hosting a Special Diet Clinic in the near future.
If you are on Ontario Works, or Ontario Disability Support Program you may qualify for the Special Diet Program. This bonus can add up to a lot on your cheque.
How the program works: If you are diagnosed with one or several pre-determined allergies, illnesses or other medical issues you can be award a certain amount depending on the condition and your age.
You need to get a Special Diet form from your worker at OW or ODSP. If you want to get on this clinic, get one of these sheets as soon as possible.
If you have your old paper work from the Special Diet, find it and keep it handy.
What PCAP is doing: We are working on getting a Doctor/Registered Nurse Extended and a place for this event to happen. If you know any that have helped out in the past, please send their contact info to the office.
If you are on the Special Diet and are soon running out contact the office by phone or email to find out more information. If you are on OW or ODSP and not on the Special Diet, you should check it out.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
PCAP General Meeting
PCAP is under "New Management" - YOU!
PCAP is in the process of an organizational overhaul. We are making big
changes and are interested in gathering new members and hearing ideas from
our membership.
Please join us at our upcoming Monthly General Meeting:
*****
Wednesday July 29th
7:30pm
Victoria Park (Water St, between Brock and Murray)
*****
Transportation and childcare are available, contact us ahead of time to
make arrangements.
If the meeting is rained out, it will instead be held on Thursday the
30th, same time and place.
PCAP is in the process of an organizational overhaul. We are making big
changes and are interested in gathering new members and hearing ideas from
our membership.
Please join us at our upcoming Monthly General Meeting:
*****
Wednesday July 29th
7:30pm
Victoria Park (Water St, between Brock and Murray)
*****
Transportation and childcare are available, contact us ahead of time to
make arrangements.
If the meeting is rained out, it will instead be held on Thursday the
30th, same time and place.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Exposed: Understanding Canada’s Economic Crisis
Armine Yalnizyan
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
“Exposed: Understanding Canada’s Economic Crisis”
June 8, 2009
7:00 p.m.
St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church
Free
The Peterborough Community Legal Centre, Peterborough and District Labour
Council and the Ontario Federation of Labour, together with other
community sponsors are proud to present Armine Yalnizyan as a part the
“Drive to Work Caravan”, a province wide tour to find out how the
recession is really affecting working people.
Ms. Yalnizyan will be a guest speaker when the Caravan pulls into
Peterborough on June 8, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. at City Hall and will make an
evening presentation at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium at St. Paul’s
Presbyterian Church at the corner of Water and Murray Street.
For more information, contact the Peterborough Community Legal Centre at
749-9355.
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
“Exposed: Understanding Canada’s Economic Crisis”
June 8, 2009
7:00 p.m.
St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church
Free
The Peterborough Community Legal Centre, Peterborough and District Labour
Council and the Ontario Federation of Labour, together with other
community sponsors are proud to present Armine Yalnizyan as a part the
“Drive to Work Caravan”, a province wide tour to find out how the
recession is really affecting working people.
Ms. Yalnizyan will be a guest speaker when the Caravan pulls into
Peterborough on June 8, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. at City Hall and will make an
evening presentation at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium at St. Paul’s
Presbyterian Church at the corner of Water and Murray Street.
For more information, contact the Peterborough Community Legal Centre at
749-9355.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Decent, affordable, accessible housing for all!
*Stop the sell-off of public housing!*
May 23
11:30 am
13 Trefann Street
(north of Queen, just east of Parliament)
Free Meal
The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, TCHC (Toronto Community Housing
Corporation) tenants, people on the TCHC waiting list and supporters will
meet outside of one of the houses slated to be sold by TCHC to demand it
and all TCHC units remain public housing.
TCHC is quietly proposing to sell-off 326 apartment units and 45 single
family homes that are located in sought-after neighbourhoods, primarily
downtown and in the Beaches. Many large families are living in two bedroom
apartments, waiting for larger units, while TCHC is emptying select units
in an attempt to to sell-off its prime real estate. These sales (and the
City's displacement of poor people through “redevelopment”) means that
many TCHC residents are being displaced from their schools, friends and
communities - neighbourhoods that many residents have lived in for years.
TCHC says that the units up for sale are in such a state of disrepair that
they cannot be fixed. We have seen many of the units and it is a bold
faced lie! Further, the units that are in really bad repair were
purposely not kept up by TCHC so that they could sell the units off down
the road and use their dilapidation as an excuse.
Public housing can be updated and revitalized without selling the land,
forcing people from their homes and displacing entire communities.
We Demand:
Build housing, don't sell it! Repair, don’t redevelop! Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell!
Stop the “Redevelopment” of Our Neighbourhoods
Currently, there are six large housing projects undergoing or slated for
redevelopment this redevelopment is being promoted as an improvement to
TCHC communities. Specifically, the city argues that the so called “mixed
communities” will improve the lives of poor people. The truth however is,
that this is an excuse to take away poor people's homes that have high
property values. The City isn't demanding that Rosedale be turned into a
'mixed neighbourhood' – just the places where poor people live. Further,
over time, these rebuilt communities will become gentrified; we can expect
TCHC to rent more of the units at market value, pushing poor people out.
Ensure that Enough Social, Supportive and Accessible Housing is Built to
Eliminate the Waiting List Over 70,000 households are waiting to get into
social housing. It takes about 5 years to get a tiny bachelor unit in
Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and about 10 years to get
anything else. Thousands of people are working multiple jobs, going
hungry, and living in rotten conditions while they wait. Thousands of
homeless people pack into shelters or sleep on the streets every night
because no supportive housing is available. Accessible housing for
disabled people is very hard to find and is often extremely expensive. As
the economic crisis continues, this situation will get even worse. We
need more housing and we need it now!
Repair TCHC Units
Nearly 60,000 units of public housing in Toronto are being allowed to
deteriorate. TCHC admits that $300 million worth of repairs is needed to
bring their buildings up to a minimum legal standard. People are forced to
live with gaping holes, leaking ceilings, exposed pipes, peeling paint,
electrical sockets that spark and infestations of rats, mice and bedbugs.
This is unacceptable, this is illegal and it has to stop!
Don't Ask Don't Tell
People without immigration status are especially marginalized in our city.
People without status are forced into precarious housing, unable to access
safe, decent paying work and shut out from public services. There are
over 500,000 people living without status across Canada, many of whom live in
Toronto. A person without status is not eligible to apply for Toronto
Community Housing. Further, if a family, living in housing, has even one
family member without status that entire family will be evicted. We
demand the city implement a Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. This policy would
prevent all TCHC workers from asking people what their immigration status
is, from refusing housing to people without status and from sharing that
information with immigration authorities.
May 23
11:30 am
13 Trefann Street
(north of Queen, just east of Parliament)
Free Meal
The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, TCHC (Toronto Community Housing
Corporation) tenants, people on the TCHC waiting list and supporters will
meet outside of one of the houses slated to be sold by TCHC to demand it
and all TCHC units remain public housing.
TCHC is quietly proposing to sell-off 326 apartment units and 45 single
family homes that are located in sought-after neighbourhoods, primarily
downtown and in the Beaches. Many large families are living in two bedroom
apartments, waiting for larger units, while TCHC is emptying select units
in an attempt to to sell-off its prime real estate. These sales (and the
City's displacement of poor people through “redevelopment”) means that
many TCHC residents are being displaced from their schools, friends and
communities - neighbourhoods that many residents have lived in for years.
TCHC says that the units up for sale are in such a state of disrepair that
they cannot be fixed. We have seen many of the units and it is a bold
faced lie! Further, the units that are in really bad repair were
purposely not kept up by TCHC so that they could sell the units off down
the road and use their dilapidation as an excuse.
Public housing can be updated and revitalized without selling the land,
forcing people from their homes and displacing entire communities.
We Demand:
Build housing, don't sell it! Repair, don’t redevelop! Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell!
Stop the “Redevelopment” of Our Neighbourhoods
Currently, there are six large housing projects undergoing or slated for
redevelopment this redevelopment is being promoted as an improvement to
TCHC communities. Specifically, the city argues that the so called “mixed
communities” will improve the lives of poor people. The truth however is,
that this is an excuse to take away poor people's homes that have high
property values. The City isn't demanding that Rosedale be turned into a
'mixed neighbourhood' – just the places where poor people live. Further,
over time, these rebuilt communities will become gentrified; we can expect
TCHC to rent more of the units at market value, pushing poor people out.
Ensure that Enough Social, Supportive and Accessible Housing is Built to
Eliminate the Waiting List Over 70,000 households are waiting to get into
social housing. It takes about 5 years to get a tiny bachelor unit in
Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and about 10 years to get
anything else. Thousands of people are working multiple jobs, going
hungry, and living in rotten conditions while they wait. Thousands of
homeless people pack into shelters or sleep on the streets every night
because no supportive housing is available. Accessible housing for
disabled people is very hard to find and is often extremely expensive. As
the economic crisis continues, this situation will get even worse. We
need more housing and we need it now!
Repair TCHC Units
Nearly 60,000 units of public housing in Toronto are being allowed to
deteriorate. TCHC admits that $300 million worth of repairs is needed to
bring their buildings up to a minimum legal standard. People are forced to
live with gaping holes, leaking ceilings, exposed pipes, peeling paint,
electrical sockets that spark and infestations of rats, mice and bedbugs.
This is unacceptable, this is illegal and it has to stop!
Don't Ask Don't Tell
People without immigration status are especially marginalized in our city.
People without status are forced into precarious housing, unable to access
safe, decent paying work and shut out from public services. There are
over 500,000 people living without status across Canada, many of whom live in
Toronto. A person without status is not eligible to apply for Toronto
Community Housing. Further, if a family, living in housing, has even one
family member without status that entire family will be evicted. We
demand the city implement a Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. This policy would
prevent all TCHC workers from asking people what their immigration status
is, from refusing housing to people without status and from sharing that
information with immigration authorities.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Community Learning Garden Kick-Off
*INVITATION TO KICK-OFF OF COMMUNITY LEARNING GARDEN
AND REQUEST FOR SEEDS, MATERIALS AND TOIL IN THE SOIL*
*The whole community is invited to gather
Saturday and Sunday May 9th and 10th
at Garden 579 (579 George North)
to clean up, build and plan
for the 2009 community learning garden season.
We will be raking, cleaning, building boxes and creating a community plan
for the garden. Everyone is welcome to lend an hour or more or to just
stop by and lend a smile. We are seeking seed, soil and sage advice.
Garden 579 in an unfunded community driven food security and community
building project.
We are looking for donations of plants, seeds, compost, soil, mulch,
LUMBER, gardening tools, building tools, fencing, straw, rainbarrels
outdoor art pieces, books relevant to growing, sustainability and
community building and any other resources that one might offer to create
a downtown oasis.
We will be having our community planting weekend on the 30th and 31st of
May and our kickoff community potluck that same weekend.
Garden 579 is a collaborative, collective project and it is 'run', planned
and actualized by those who choose to participate. We are seeking persons
to take an active role and be a guardian of Garden 579 in 2009. This
commitment means that you are interested in participating when you can
throughout the season as an active part of a collective organizing and
planning gardening and community learning activities...
Contact Rachelle at 748-6857,
check out garden579.com
or e-mail garden579@gmail.com
AND REQUEST FOR SEEDS, MATERIALS AND TOIL IN THE SOIL*
*The whole community is invited to gather
Saturday and Sunday May 9th and 10th
at Garden 579 (579 George North)
to clean up, build and plan
for the 2009 community learning garden season.
We will be raking, cleaning, building boxes and creating a community plan
for the garden. Everyone is welcome to lend an hour or more or to just
stop by and lend a smile. We are seeking seed, soil and sage advice.
Garden 579 in an unfunded community driven food security and community
building project.
We are looking for donations of plants, seeds, compost, soil, mulch,
LUMBER, gardening tools, building tools, fencing, straw, rainbarrels
outdoor art pieces, books relevant to growing, sustainability and
community building and any other resources that one might offer to create
a downtown oasis.
We will be having our community planting weekend on the 30th and 31st of
May and our kickoff community potluck that same weekend.
Garden 579 is a collaborative, collective project and it is 'run', planned
and actualized by those who choose to participate. We are seeking persons
to take an active role and be a guardian of Garden 579 in 2009. This
commitment means that you are interested in participating when you can
throughout the season as an active part of a collective organizing and
planning gardening and community learning activities...
Contact Rachelle at 748-6857,
check out garden579.com
or e-mail garden579@gmail.com
Sunday, April 19, 2009
No One Is Illegal! *May Day of Action*
Rally and March
2 May - 1pm
Meet: Sherbourne and Carlton
*** Greyhound bus leaves Peterborough at 10:30 (return buses at 5:00 & 7:30) ***
*Cost is $15 for a return ticket*
Contact PCAP if you would like to attend the rally but need the cost of your ticket covered
On April 2nd and 3rd, over 100 temporary and undocumented workers were attacked by armed border guards, dragged in to detention and are now being forcibly deported.
On 2 May, thousands of us will say Enough!
Migrants, poor and working people; undocumented people and people of colour live in constant crisis in Canada. A crisis has always existed in Teesdale, in Regent Park, in farm fields, on factory floors and in hotel service areas.
Power is controlled by global economic and political elites who have made large metropolitan cities their home. From here, they supervise people’s oppression from Turtle Island to Afghanistan to Palestine.
Canada, like other governments, bends to their demands, passing discriminatory laws like Bill C-50 without consultation.
Corporate and political elites are using the economic crisis as an excuse to attack poor, working-class and racialized communities by increasing immigration enforcement; steal public funds; wrecking social services; taking away people’s jobs rather than cut profits and targeting those they perceive as the weakest – indigenous people; the homeless; failed refugee claimants; women in shelters; queer and trans migrants; caregivers; factory workers and temporary workers.
We say there are no illegal human beings, only unjust laws and governments. No one, poor or undocumented, is illegal. The struggle of workers - waged and unwaged, with or without immigration status – is against powerful elites and systems of oppression. Citizenship, jobs and
houses - granted to some and denied to others - are tools to divide us.
We will not be divided.
We say enough is enough. No One Is Illegal!
On May 2, join thousands of us as we take to the streets and demand an end to corporate and state attacks on our communities. We demand an end to detentions and deportations. We demand access without fear to essential services. We demand an end to security certificates and secret trials. We demand a full and inclusive regularization program. We demand justice, dignity, and status for all!
We did not create this crisis, and we will not pay for it.
On May 2nd, take to the streets, create power. Resist.
The May 2nd rally and march will be preceded by a May Day Festival, on May 1st at 6pm, at 25 Cecil Street.
coorganized by: No One Is Illegal-Toronto | Mujeres al Frente | SAWRO |
Migrante Ontario | Canadian HART | Casa Salvador Allende | Basics
Newsletter | OCAP | Jane and Finch Action Against Poverty | Sikh Activist
Network | Toronto New Socialists |Barrio Nuevo | the Stop Community Food
Centre | BAYAN Toronto | PCLS | OPIRG Toronto | CAIA | GGAPSS
2 May - 1pm
Meet: Sherbourne and Carlton
*** Greyhound bus leaves Peterborough at 10:30 (return buses at 5:00 & 7:30) ***
*Cost is $15 for a return ticket*
Contact PCAP if you would like to attend the rally but need the cost of your ticket covered
On April 2nd and 3rd, over 100 temporary and undocumented workers were attacked by armed border guards, dragged in to detention and are now being forcibly deported.
On 2 May, thousands of us will say Enough!
Migrants, poor and working people; undocumented people and people of colour live in constant crisis in Canada. A crisis has always existed in Teesdale, in Regent Park, in farm fields, on factory floors and in hotel service areas.
Power is controlled by global economic and political elites who have made large metropolitan cities their home. From here, they supervise people’s oppression from Turtle Island to Afghanistan to Palestine.
Canada, like other governments, bends to their demands, passing discriminatory laws like Bill C-50 without consultation.
Corporate and political elites are using the economic crisis as an excuse to attack poor, working-class and racialized communities by increasing immigration enforcement; steal public funds; wrecking social services; taking away people’s jobs rather than cut profits and targeting those they perceive as the weakest – indigenous people; the homeless; failed refugee claimants; women in shelters; queer and trans migrants; caregivers; factory workers and temporary workers.
We say there are no illegal human beings, only unjust laws and governments. No one, poor or undocumented, is illegal. The struggle of workers - waged and unwaged, with or without immigration status – is against powerful elites and systems of oppression. Citizenship, jobs and
houses - granted to some and denied to others - are tools to divide us.
We will not be divided.
We say enough is enough. No One Is Illegal!
On May 2, join thousands of us as we take to the streets and demand an end to corporate and state attacks on our communities. We demand an end to detentions and deportations. We demand access without fear to essential services. We demand an end to security certificates and secret trials. We demand a full and inclusive regularization program. We demand justice, dignity, and status for all!
We did not create this crisis, and we will not pay for it.
On May 2nd, take to the streets, create power. Resist.
The May 2nd rally and march will be preceded by a May Day Festival, on May 1st at 6pm, at 25 Cecil Street.
coorganized by: No One Is Illegal-Toronto | Mujeres al Frente | SAWRO |
Migrante Ontario | Canadian HART | Casa Salvador Allende | Basics
Newsletter | OCAP | Jane and Finch Action Against Poverty | Sikh Activist
Network | Toronto New Socialists |Barrio Nuevo | the Stop Community Food
Centre | BAYAN Toronto | PCLS | OPIRG Toronto | CAIA | GGAPSS
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Act Now! Raided Workers Facing Deportation
ACT! CALL! WRITE!
This Sunday, 41 workers will be handcuffed, dragged to an airport and
placed on a plane to Thailand. Many of them will never have the chance to
return to Canada. They were arrested with dozens of others on their way to
work or while packing food at Cericola Farms, in southwestern Ontario last
week. CBSA then lied to them and tricked them into waiving their legal
rights. This is a targeted attack by the Tory government against migrants.
Minister Van Loan can stop these deportations; Minister Kenney can grant
them status.
YOU can insist that they do so.
1. Take public action against your MP, Immigration or Enforcement Office.
(See list of cities below)
2. Spread the word!
(http://rabble.ca/news/2009/04/protests-respond-ontario-immigration-raids)
3. Call Kenney and Van Loan. And call your local MP to pressure the
Ministers.
4. Send a letter to Ministers Van Loan and Kenney (sample below). Ask your
MP to do the same. Write to your local media outlet.
5. Spread the word. Stop the raids. Stop the deportations. Demand status
for all. On 2 May, take to the streets
(http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/275)
Further details in sample letter below.
Peter Van Loan, Minister
Constituency Office
T 1-877-738-3748; T: 613-996-7752
F 905-898-4600; F 613-992-8351
E vanlop1@parl.gc.ca
45 Grist Mill Road, Unit 10, Holland Landing, ON L9N1M7
Room 209-S, Centre Block, Ottawa, ON K1A0A6
Jason Kenney, Minister
P. 613-992-2235; F. 613-992-1920
P. 403-225-3480. F. 403-225-3504
E Minister@cic.gc.ca. AND kennej@parl.gc.ca
325 East Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
1168 137 Ave SE. Calgary, AB T2J 6T6
Ministers Van Loan and Kenney,
On April 2nd and 3rd, CBSA raided three food processing factories where
they held all workers at gun point. These workers were herded into a
cafeteria where citizens and permanent residents were separated from other
workers.
These other workers, many of whom possess temporary work permits, were
handcuffed and held on a bus for over eight hours. In unprecedented
weekend hearings, most of the detained workers were tricked into waiving
legal advice or the right to dispute their removal.
These illegal and egregious actions were followed by speedy requests for
travel documents, as their original passports are held by unscrupulous,
corrupt agents at TNT Recruitment. The Thai consulate has provided these
papers and 41 of the arrested are being put on a plane on Sunday April
19th.
Removing workers from Canada in this way is arbitrary and illegal. The
recruitment agency and the company which paid these workers $9.00 an hour
for 12 hours of back-breaking and brutal work have not been charged.
Minister Van Loan, sign a notice to stop the deportations. Minister
Kenney, grant all workers arrested full status. Stop using the economic
crisis as an excuse to target migrant workers and their families!
++++++++++++++++++++++
Endorsed by:
No One Is Illegal-Toronto
Justicia for Migrant Workers
Migrante Ontario
No One Is Illegal Vancouver
Solidarity Across Borders (Montreal)
Immigrant Workers Center (Montreal)
Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty
++++++++++++++++++++++
Actions:
18 April
Toronto
Details to be announced
17 April
Montreal
Meet at downtown CBSA Offices
14 April
Calgary
1130, Calgary Chamber of Commerce
100 - 6 Avenue S.W
9 April
Vancouver
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=1048
7 April
Edmonton
http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/local/article/210247
5 April
Toronto
http://rabble.ca/news/2009/04/protests-respond-ontario-immigration-raids
(Please email nooneisillegal@riseup.net if you're organizing an action)
This Sunday, 41 workers will be handcuffed, dragged to an airport and
placed on a plane to Thailand. Many of them will never have the chance to
return to Canada. They were arrested with dozens of others on their way to
work or while packing food at Cericola Farms, in southwestern Ontario last
week. CBSA then lied to them and tricked them into waiving their legal
rights. This is a targeted attack by the Tory government against migrants.
Minister Van Loan can stop these deportations; Minister Kenney can grant
them status.
YOU can insist that they do so.
1. Take public action against your MP, Immigration or Enforcement Office.
(See list of cities below)
2. Spread the word!
(http://rabble.ca/news/2009/04/protests-respond-ontario-immigration-raids)
3. Call Kenney and Van Loan. And call your local MP to pressure the
Ministers.
4. Send a letter to Ministers Van Loan and Kenney (sample below). Ask your
MP to do the same. Write to your local media outlet.
5. Spread the word. Stop the raids. Stop the deportations. Demand status
for all. On 2 May, take to the streets
(http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/275)
Further details in sample letter below.
Peter Van Loan, Minister
Constituency Office
T 1-877-738-3748; T: 613-996-7752
F 905-898-4600; F 613-992-8351
E vanlop1@parl.gc.ca
45 Grist Mill Road, Unit 10, Holland Landing, ON L9N1M7
Room 209-S, Centre Block, Ottawa, ON K1A0A6
Jason Kenney, Minister
P. 613-992-2235; F. 613-992-1920
P. 403-225-3480. F. 403-225-3504
E Minister@cic.gc.ca. AND kennej@parl.gc.ca
325 East Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
1168 137 Ave SE. Calgary, AB T2J 6T6
Ministers Van Loan and Kenney,
On April 2nd and 3rd, CBSA raided three food processing factories where
they held all workers at gun point. These workers were herded into a
cafeteria where citizens and permanent residents were separated from other
workers.
These other workers, many of whom possess temporary work permits, were
handcuffed and held on a bus for over eight hours. In unprecedented
weekend hearings, most of the detained workers were tricked into waiving
legal advice or the right to dispute their removal.
These illegal and egregious actions were followed by speedy requests for
travel documents, as their original passports are held by unscrupulous,
corrupt agents at TNT Recruitment. The Thai consulate has provided these
papers and 41 of the arrested are being put on a plane on Sunday April
19th.
Removing workers from Canada in this way is arbitrary and illegal. The
recruitment agency and the company which paid these workers $9.00 an hour
for 12 hours of back-breaking and brutal work have not been charged.
Minister Van Loan, sign a notice to stop the deportations. Minister
Kenney, grant all workers arrested full status. Stop using the economic
crisis as an excuse to target migrant workers and their families!
++++++++++++++++++++++
Endorsed by:
No One Is Illegal-Toronto
Justicia for Migrant Workers
Migrante Ontario
No One Is Illegal Vancouver
Solidarity Across Borders (Montreal)
Immigrant Workers Center (Montreal)
Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty
++++++++++++++++++++++
Actions:
18 April
Toronto
Details to be announced
17 April
Montreal
Meet at downtown CBSA Offices
14 April
Calgary
1130, Calgary Chamber of Commerce
100 - 6 Avenue S.W
9 April
Vancouver
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=1048
7 April
Edmonton
http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/local/article/210247
5 April
Toronto
http://rabble.ca/news/2009/04/protests-respond-ontario-immigration-raids
(Please email nooneisillegal@riseup.net if you're organizing an action)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
CN: Drop your Racist Lawsuit!
*Call-out for phone and fax campaign* - please forward to interested others.
CN: Drop your racist lawsuit!
Support the Mohawks of Tyendinaga
Call out for a month-long phone and fax campaign
Canadian National Railway is suing Shawn Brant, Jason Maracle, and Tara
Green as well as their families and community (Jane and John Doe, also named
in the suit). CN's lawsuit is a response to a blockade on CN tracks during
April 2007, and another lawsuit against Shawn Brant for a blockade on June
29, 2007. CN has not yet specified the amount in damages they are seeking.
Statements of defence and counterclaims have been filed against CN, claiming
that CN pollutes Tyendinaga lands, creates a nuisance by the noise their
operations cause, and scares away game. CN has filed a motion asking the
courts to strike much of these counterclaims.
That motion will be argued in open court on April 7.
Supporters of the ongoing resistance in Tyendinaga are being asked to
demonstrate their solidarity by faxing (preferable) or emailing letters to
CN during this critical court case. Below is background information and a
sample form letter that can be modified and emailed or faxed to CN
headquarters.
*We are holding the phone and fax campaign from April 1st to 31st.
*We are encouraging supporters to fax or phone because these are more
effective ways to pressure CN, but if you interested in sending an email
please also BCC indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com so we can track the
campaign.
*There are two important dates we are asking supporters to focus their faxes
and phone calls around:*
The first is *April 7th*, the first day of court in the injunction process
mentioned above.
The second date is *April 21st*, date of CN's shareholder meeting in
Calgary.
*MONTREAL SPECIFIC:*
We are also giving a workshop on the history of CN railway and the
resistance at Tyendinaga on April 6th, 2009 at the Carrefour d’Education
Populaire (2156 Centre St., Metro Charlevoix) at 6pm. The workshop is in
French, whisper translation is available. Printed letters will be available
to be signed, and we will fax these in following the presentation.
In solidarity,
The Montreal Tyendinaga Support Committee
a working group of QPIRG-Concordia.
indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com
514-848-7583
www.amp-montreal.net
************************************************************************
Sample form letter
E. Hunter Harrison, President and CEO
CN Railway
935 De La Gauchetiere Street
 West
16th floor Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2M9
March 31, 2009
Mr. Harrison,
I am writing to encourage you to drop CN’s lawsuits against three
activists, Shawn Brant, Jason Maracle and Tara Green, of the Tyendinaga
First Nation.
In April and in June of 2007, some of the Tyendinaga Mohawks blockaded a
CN rail line between Toronto and Montreal in protest against the injustices
suffered by their First Nation. Specific issues included their
impoverishment and the lack of action with respect to the pollution of their
water so that it is not fit to drink or even to bathe in and with respect to
the return of lands that were unlawfully taken from them. Shawn Brant has
spent months in jail as a result of his participation in those blockades.
It is my opinion that CN (and the previous railroad companies that
became part of CN) played a significant role in creating the impoverishment
of First Nations people, and that CN continues to unjustly profit from its
so called “rights of way†through First nations territories. I feel
that it
is completely inappropriate for CN to pursue these lawsuits in these
circumstances.
Your website claims that "CN seeks to promote a harmonious working
relationship with the many Aboriginal communities along its rights-of-way
across Canada... through a climate of mutual trust and understanding".
Your continuation of these lawsuits is not an act of mutual trust.
I understand that lawyers representing CN will be arguing in a Toronto
court on April 7, 2009 that much of the statements of defence and
counterclaims of the Defendants should be struck out. I urge you to
reconsider and to instruct your lawyers to simply drop the lawsuits.
Sincerely,
__________
*Please fax to: *514-399-5985
*Email **Robert Noorigan (Vice-President) or Janet Drysdale (Investor
Relations) from the link: **
http://www.cn.ca/en/investors-shareholder-contacts.htm**
Mail to:
*E. Hunter Harrison, President and CEO
CN Railway
935 De La Gauchetiere Street
 West
16th floor Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2M9
*
Or call in your dissent at:
514-399-6450 *
(you will reach the office of Bryan Tucker, the Senior Manager of Public
Affairs and Media Relations)
*514-708-6450 *(Bryan Tucker's cell phone)
************************************************************************
Background
Tyendinaga is a Mohawk community located on the shore of the Bay of Quinte
between Toronto and Montreal, in eastern Ontario. The Mohawk Nation is one
of the five original nations of the Iroquois Confederacy.
As part of long-standing struggles for land and self-determination –
including unresolved land claims, poverty, suicides and polluted water --
members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk community have organized to defend their
territory. In particular, several actions, including blockades, have taken
place to expedite the slow negotiation process over the Culbertson Tract, a
piece of land the government has long acknowledged was taken illegally from
the Mohawks. A quarry on the land was reclaimed in March 2007, and Mohawks
have maintained a fulltime presence on-site ever since.
CN is seeking damages for lost revenue as a result of the blockades. Though
CN has not yet named the amount of money it will seek in the suit, we
understand this threatening process as a blatant form of financial
persecution against Jason Maracle, Tara Green and Shawn Brant as well as
their families and community (Jane and John Doe, also named in the suit).
We also see it as an attack on the struggles of Native peoples to obtain
justice in the face of ongoing neo-colonial attacks on their sovereignty and
lands.
Info:
indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com
514-848-7583.
CN: Drop your racist lawsuit!
Support the Mohawks of Tyendinaga
Call out for a month-long phone and fax campaign
Canadian National Railway is suing Shawn Brant, Jason Maracle, and Tara
Green as well as their families and community (Jane and John Doe, also named
in the suit). CN's lawsuit is a response to a blockade on CN tracks during
April 2007, and another lawsuit against Shawn Brant for a blockade on June
29, 2007. CN has not yet specified the amount in damages they are seeking.
Statements of defence and counterclaims have been filed against CN, claiming
that CN pollutes Tyendinaga lands, creates a nuisance by the noise their
operations cause, and scares away game. CN has filed a motion asking the
courts to strike much of these counterclaims.
That motion will be argued in open court on April 7.
Supporters of the ongoing resistance in Tyendinaga are being asked to
demonstrate their solidarity by faxing (preferable) or emailing letters to
CN during this critical court case. Below is background information and a
sample form letter that can be modified and emailed or faxed to CN
headquarters.
*We are holding the phone and fax campaign from April 1st to 31st.
*We are encouraging supporters to fax or phone because these are more
effective ways to pressure CN, but if you interested in sending an email
please also BCC indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com so we can track the
campaign.
*There are two important dates we are asking supporters to focus their faxes
and phone calls around:*
The first is *April 7th*, the first day of court in the injunction process
mentioned above.
The second date is *April 21st*, date of CN's shareholder meeting in
Calgary.
*MONTREAL SPECIFIC:*
We are also giving a workshop on the history of CN railway and the
resistance at Tyendinaga on April 6th, 2009 at the Carrefour d’Education
Populaire (2156 Centre St., Metro Charlevoix) at 6pm. The workshop is in
French, whisper translation is available. Printed letters will be available
to be signed, and we will fax these in following the presentation.
In solidarity,
The Montreal Tyendinaga Support Committee
a working group of QPIRG-Concordia.
indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com
514-848-7583
www.amp-montreal.net
************************************************************************
Sample form letter
E. Hunter Harrison, President and CEO
CN Railway
935 De La Gauchetiere Street
 West
16th floor Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2M9
March 31, 2009
Mr. Harrison,
I am writing to encourage you to drop CN’s lawsuits against three
activists, Shawn Brant, Jason Maracle and Tara Green, of the Tyendinaga
First Nation.
In April and in June of 2007, some of the Tyendinaga Mohawks blockaded a
CN rail line between Toronto and Montreal in protest against the injustices
suffered by their First Nation. Specific issues included their
impoverishment and the lack of action with respect to the pollution of their
water so that it is not fit to drink or even to bathe in and with respect to
the return of lands that were unlawfully taken from them. Shawn Brant has
spent months in jail as a result of his participation in those blockades.
It is my opinion that CN (and the previous railroad companies that
became part of CN) played a significant role in creating the impoverishment
of First Nations people, and that CN continues to unjustly profit from its
so called “rights of way†through First nations territories. I feel
that it
is completely inappropriate for CN to pursue these lawsuits in these
circumstances.
Your website claims that "CN seeks to promote a harmonious working
relationship with the many Aboriginal communities along its rights-of-way
across Canada... through a climate of mutual trust and understanding".
Your continuation of these lawsuits is not an act of mutual trust.
I understand that lawyers representing CN will be arguing in a Toronto
court on April 7, 2009 that much of the statements of defence and
counterclaims of the Defendants should be struck out. I urge you to
reconsider and to instruct your lawyers to simply drop the lawsuits.
Sincerely,
__________
*Please fax to: *514-399-5985
*Email **Robert Noorigan (Vice-President) or Janet Drysdale (Investor
Relations) from the link: **
http://www.cn.ca/en/investors-shareholder-contacts.htm**
Mail to:
*E. Hunter Harrison, President and CEO
CN Railway
935 De La Gauchetiere Street
 West
16th floor Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2M9
*
Or call in your dissent at:
514-399-6450 *
(you will reach the office of Bryan Tucker, the Senior Manager of Public
Affairs and Media Relations)
*514-708-6450 *(Bryan Tucker's cell phone)
************************************************************************
Background
Tyendinaga is a Mohawk community located on the shore of the Bay of Quinte
between Toronto and Montreal, in eastern Ontario. The Mohawk Nation is one
of the five original nations of the Iroquois Confederacy.
As part of long-standing struggles for land and self-determination –
including unresolved land claims, poverty, suicides and polluted water --
members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk community have organized to defend their
territory. In particular, several actions, including blockades, have taken
place to expedite the slow negotiation process over the Culbertson Tract, a
piece of land the government has long acknowledged was taken illegally from
the Mohawks. A quarry on the land was reclaimed in March 2007, and Mohawks
have maintained a fulltime presence on-site ever since.
CN is seeking damages for lost revenue as a result of the blockades. Though
CN has not yet named the amount of money it will seek in the suit, we
understand this threatening process as a blatant form of financial
persecution against Jason Maracle, Tara Green and Shawn Brant as well as
their families and community (Jane and John Doe, also named in the suit).
We also see it as an attack on the struggles of Native peoples to obtain
justice in the face of ongoing neo-colonial attacks on their sovereignty and
lands.
Info:
indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com
514-848-7583.
Register for Waiting List for Family Doctors
The Primary Health Care Services are in the process of phoning everyone on
their existing list to tell them that they need to call to register their
name on the NEW provincial list. People on the existing list will NOT be
automatically transferred to the new list, and new vacancies will be
filled ONLY from the new list.
The new number to call at Health Care Connect is :
1-800-445-1822
To register, you need to have your Ontario Health Card number, and know the
address it is registered to. If you don't know the address, you will be
given another Ministry number to call to verify the health card.
Individuals are asked about any chronic health conditions, state of health
and mental health, disabilities, and if female, whether or not they are
pregnant. This allows them to priorize people on the list according to
their need for a doctor.
Please pass this information along to anyone you know who doesn't have a
family doctor.
their existing list to tell them that they need to call to register their
name on the NEW provincial list. People on the existing list will NOT be
automatically transferred to the new list, and new vacancies will be
filled ONLY from the new list.
The new number to call at Health Care Connect is :
1-800-445-1822
To register, you need to have your Ontario Health Card number, and know the
address it is registered to. If you don't know the address, you will be
given another Ministry number to call to verify the health card.
Individuals are asked about any chronic health conditions, state of health
and mental health, disabilities, and if female, whether or not they are
pregnant. This allows them to priorize people on the list according to
their need for a doctor.
Please pass this information along to anyone you know who doesn't have a
family doctor.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Say NO to the HARMONIZATION of PST & GST!
The Ontario Liberal Government has recently hinted that the province will combine the five per cent federal goods and services tax with the province's eight per cent sales tax.
This decision was made after consulting business groups, and it is clear that the “harmonization” of PST and GST will directly benefit corporations who will gain massive tax cuts and reduced production costs through refunds for the provincial portion of taxes paid for equipment and materials.
While companies will save an estimated $100 million per year, this merging will negatively impact middle and low income people, and will disproportionately impact women and parents. The price of several household products that are currently exempted from the PST will rise, such as baby food and formula, diapers, shoes, and vitamins and medicine.
It is also unclear as to how Fist Nations will be impacted by this decision, since they are currently exempted from paying PST where sales take place on reserve land.
Instead of getting people what they need and financially supporting the people with the lowest income levels in the province in the midst of an economic crisis, yet again the government will be making tax breaks for the rich. We didn’t create the economic crisis and we should not have to pay for it!
The decision to harmonize GST and PST could happen as early as tomorrow!
CONTACT your local representatives, the Premier of Ontario and the Federal Finance Minister NOW to let them know that YOU DO NOT SUPPORT THE HARMONIZATION OF PST AND GST!
Premier Dalton McGuinty – 1-416-325-1941
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty – 1- 613- 992-6344
Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal – 705-742-3777
FIGHT TO WIN!
This decision was made after consulting business groups, and it is clear that the “harmonization” of PST and GST will directly benefit corporations who will gain massive tax cuts and reduced production costs through refunds for the provincial portion of taxes paid for equipment and materials.
While companies will save an estimated $100 million per year, this merging will negatively impact middle and low income people, and will disproportionately impact women and parents. The price of several household products that are currently exempted from the PST will rise, such as baby food and formula, diapers, shoes, and vitamins and medicine.
It is also unclear as to how Fist Nations will be impacted by this decision, since they are currently exempted from paying PST where sales take place on reserve land.
Instead of getting people what they need and financially supporting the people with the lowest income levels in the province in the midst of an economic crisis, yet again the government will be making tax breaks for the rich. We didn’t create the economic crisis and we should not have to pay for it!
The decision to harmonize GST and PST could happen as early as tomorrow!
CONTACT your local representatives, the Premier of Ontario and the Federal Finance Minister NOW to let them know that YOU DO NOT SUPPORT THE HARMONIZATION OF PST AND GST!
Premier Dalton McGuinty – 1-416-325-1941
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty – 1- 613- 992-6344
Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal – 705-742-3777
FIGHT TO WIN!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Put Poverty in the Budget!
*URGENT! Phone the Finance Minister NOW to get Poverty in the Budget!*
The economy is getting worse. People who live in poverty feel it most.
We need a provincial Budget on March 26 that makes poverty reduction the
priority.
Take 2 minutes today to phone the Finance Minister and tell him – you want
him to put funding in the Budget to tackle poverty!
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan’s public statements so far indicate poverty
reduction might not be his priority. But economists around the world agree
that the best economic stimulus is to put money in the hands of low-income
people, and to invest in social infrastructure to create jobs.
Now is the time for the Finance Minister to make the connection between
economic stimulus and poverty reduction.
Take two minutes to call him, and tell him to put funding in the budget to
tackle poverty in Ontario! Don’t be shy! It’s easy and effective.
Here’s what to do:
If you’re calling from the GTA: Dial 416-325-0400.
If you’re calling from outside the GTA: Dial 0-416-325-0400.
Use the automated operator to call collect.
The collect call will be accepted.
When the receptionist answers, tell him or her:
“*I’m calling from [your community]. I’d like to leave a message for Dave Pryce, the Minister’s Chief of Staff.*”
The receptionist will either write down the message, or will put you through
to voicemail.
Feel Free to leave a message along these lines (or your own!):
· *I’m calling from [your community].*
· *I’m disappointed by the Minister’s speech to the Canadian Club
that he didn’t mention investments to reduce poverty in the upcoming budget.
· *I’m very concerned, and I really want to see you make a
significant investment.*
· *With the economy getting worse, now is the time for the
government to get moving on poverty reduction.*
· *[Here’s how this is affecting me / people in my area…]*
· *Please make poverty the priority in the March budget. *
When you’ve made your call, please send a quick email at isac@lao.on.ca so they can track how many calls have been made.
*Make the call for poverty in the Budget – Today!*
The economy is getting worse. People who live in poverty feel it most.
We need a provincial Budget on March 26 that makes poverty reduction the
priority.
Take 2 minutes today to phone the Finance Minister and tell him – you want
him to put funding in the Budget to tackle poverty!
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan’s public statements so far indicate poverty
reduction might not be his priority. But economists around the world agree
that the best economic stimulus is to put money in the hands of low-income
people, and to invest in social infrastructure to create jobs.
Now is the time for the Finance Minister to make the connection between
economic stimulus and poverty reduction.
Take two minutes to call him, and tell him to put funding in the budget to
tackle poverty in Ontario! Don’t be shy! It’s easy and effective.
Here’s what to do:
If you’re calling from the GTA: Dial 416-325-0400.
If you’re calling from outside the GTA: Dial 0-416-325-0400.
Use the automated operator to call collect.
The collect call will be accepted.
When the receptionist answers, tell him or her:
“*I’m calling from [your community]. I’d like to leave a message for Dave Pryce, the Minister’s Chief of Staff.*”
The receptionist will either write down the message, or will put you through
to voicemail.
Feel Free to leave a message along these lines (or your own!):
· *I’m calling from [your community].*
· *I’m disappointed by the Minister’s speech to the Canadian Club
that he didn’t mention investments to reduce poverty in the upcoming budget.
· *I’m very concerned, and I really want to see you make a
significant investment.*
· *With the economy getting worse, now is the time for the
government to get moving on poverty reduction.*
· *[Here’s how this is affecting me / people in my area…]*
· *Please make poverty the priority in the March budget. *
When you’ve made your call, please send a quick email at isac@lao.on.ca so they can track how many calls have been made.
*Make the call for poverty in the Budget – Today!*
Bridging Communities of Resistance: Solidarity in Anti-Racist, Anti-Colonial Struggles
Peterborough Public Library - Auditorium
10am - 6pm
A day-long forum that aims to address issues of Indigenous people and people of colour in political organizing, both within academia and within grassroots movements. The forum will feature a plenary session around the racialization of poverty, and several workshops ranging from a DARC Resistance workshop on solidarity between Indigenous peoples and people of colour to women of colour involved in punk scenes. We hope this forum will provide a space (physical and discursive) for Indigenous people and people of colour to explore strategies for challenging white normativity/supremacy within organizing as well as to foster new activist communities built on similar experiences with racism. This forum is being co-organized by the Decolonizing Anti-Racism Coalition (DARC) and the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP).
Schedule
Date: Saturday March 21, 2009 (International Day for the Elimination of Racism)
10:00 am: Welcome and Introductions (coffee and tea will be provided)
11:00-12:00 pm: Presentation of TCCBE project: "Canadian Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination (CMARD)" and "Spaces of Racism II"
Discussion on racism in Peterborough and the CMARD initiative.
Speakers: Andres Salazar, Muna Ali and Manal Elawar
12:00-1:00 pm: Workshop
"Challenging Invisibilized Whiteness: Organizing within Predominantly White Settings" (closed; hosted by DARC)
This workshop will be a space to address the experience of organizing within predominantly white settings (specifically at Trent and within Peterborough) and to come up with strategies for dealing with invisibilized whiteness in these setting. As a group, we will discuss our experiences with activism and academia as Indigenous people and people of colour working within spaces where we might be a minority. How can we ensure accountability on the part of groups we organize with to address issues of invisibilized whiteness and racism? How can we offer substantial and productive challenges to invisibilized whiteness? How can we approach these issues without exhausting ourselves or bearing the burden of responsibility? This will be a closed workshop for Indigenous people and people of colour.
Facilitators: Teresa Cheng and Kam Husbands
12:00 – 1:00 pm: Workshop
“Challenging Invisibilized Whiteness: Organizing within Predominantly White Settings” (open; hosted by the Trent Women’s Centre)
This will be an open workshop for participants to discuss similar issues of accountability, invisibilized whiteness, and racism within organizing. The Trent Women’s Centre will share some past and present experiences of dealing with these issues within their organization and potential strategies for ensuring a truly anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework.
Facilitators: Meghan Ritchie and Zahra Murad
1:00 - 1:45pm: Lunch
Lunch will be catered by organizers from DARC and PCAP as well as by donations from local organizations. We will also have snacks throughout the day, catered by local businesses.
1:45 – 2:45: Workshop
'Cultural Appropriation/Cultural Theft"
In this workshop the group will arrive at working definitions for 'Cultural appropriation"/ 'cultural theft' generated from discussion, the participants own experiences and the critical race theory I will present as a facilitator. We will watch videos, listen to songs and look at visual art and fashion examples to build on our understanding of these two terms. We will dicuss what cultural appropriation means in the context of colonization, slavery, global racism, power and privilege. We will discuss the importance of self representation as marginalized people who generally have less power to represent ourselves in ways that we decide upon ourselves or as communities. We will discuss the damage that can be done through cultural theft, stereotyping.
We will then look at cultural theft through looking at histories of American Pop music and the appropriation of queer, trans and Black music and dance. We will look at appropriation in the context of European racism and how appropriation relates to privilege, money, fame and power. Finally we will look at the notion of appropriation and how it informs our practices as community organizers - what does appropriations of tactics, movements and voices look like? What are the differences between appropriation and solidarity? What are differences between appropriation and reclamation? Emphasis will be put on how cultural theft impacts LGBTTT2IQQ people and racialized people and how to use these concepts to shape responsible art and organizing practices. We will interrogate our own practices as community organizers and activists and learn tactics for how to become anti racist ally.
Speaker: Leah Newbold
2:45-3:00 Break
3:00-5:00: Panel Discussion
"(e)RACEing Poverty: Developing Anti-Racist Actions and Strategies to Eliminate Poverty"
The goal of this panel is to bring together activists and community based organizations to discuss racialized poverty. Presenters will be from a broad base and will include members from the New Canadians Centre, PCAP, DARC, OCAP, Community Race Relations Committee and No One Is Illegal. The panel will also serve as an action-oriented event to develop strategies and actions to eliminate poverty with an emphasis on issues of racialization, colonization and imperialism.
5:00-6:00 pm: Workshop
"DARC Resistance: Bridging Anti-Racist and Anti-Colonial Struggles" (closed)
This informal workshop is for people of colour and Indigenous peoples who want to learn more about the ongoing colonization of Turtle Island and how to support each other in Anti-Racist and Anti-Colonial organizing. Through this workshop, people of colour and Indigenous peoples will unmap their complex relationships by sharing experiences and thinking through the following topics: How can people of colour be effective allies and work in solidarity with Indigenous peoples and movements without reproducing colonialism? What is the relationship between Indigenous peoples and people of colour as colonized peoples?
Facilitators: DARC members
**********************************************
9:30 pm-2:00 am:
Beats 4 Justice!
A Fundraiser for DARC and No Olympics on Stolen Native Land Organizing
We will be having a music/performance/spoken word night at the Sadleir House Dinning Hall to raise money for DARC and an No Olympics on Stolen Native Land organizing.
Performers:
LAL
Sean Conway
Dakus of Disco Duniya
Stolen from Africa
For more information, contact: darcpeterborough@riseup.net or pcap@riseup.net
10am - 6pm
A day-long forum that aims to address issues of Indigenous people and people of colour in political organizing, both within academia and within grassroots movements. The forum will feature a plenary session around the racialization of poverty, and several workshops ranging from a DARC Resistance workshop on solidarity between Indigenous peoples and people of colour to women of colour involved in punk scenes. We hope this forum will provide a space (physical and discursive) for Indigenous people and people of colour to explore strategies for challenging white normativity/supremacy within organizing as well as to foster new activist communities built on similar experiences with racism. This forum is being co-organized by the Decolonizing Anti-Racism Coalition (DARC) and the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP).
Schedule
Date: Saturday March 21, 2009 (International Day for the Elimination of Racism)
10:00 am: Welcome and Introductions (coffee and tea will be provided)
11:00-12:00 pm: Presentation of TCCBE project: "Canadian Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination (CMARD)" and "Spaces of Racism II"
Discussion on racism in Peterborough and the CMARD initiative.
Speakers: Andres Salazar, Muna Ali and Manal Elawar
12:00-1:00 pm: Workshop
"Challenging Invisibilized Whiteness: Organizing within Predominantly White Settings" (closed; hosted by DARC)
This workshop will be a space to address the experience of organizing within predominantly white settings (specifically at Trent and within Peterborough) and to come up with strategies for dealing with invisibilized whiteness in these setting. As a group, we will discuss our experiences with activism and academia as Indigenous people and people of colour working within spaces where we might be a minority. How can we ensure accountability on the part of groups we organize with to address issues of invisibilized whiteness and racism? How can we offer substantial and productive challenges to invisibilized whiteness? How can we approach these issues without exhausting ourselves or bearing the burden of responsibility? This will be a closed workshop for Indigenous people and people of colour.
Facilitators: Teresa Cheng and Kam Husbands
12:00 – 1:00 pm: Workshop
“Challenging Invisibilized Whiteness: Organizing within Predominantly White Settings” (open; hosted by the Trent Women’s Centre)
This will be an open workshop for participants to discuss similar issues of accountability, invisibilized whiteness, and racism within organizing. The Trent Women’s Centre will share some past and present experiences of dealing with these issues within their organization and potential strategies for ensuring a truly anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework.
Facilitators: Meghan Ritchie and Zahra Murad
1:00 - 1:45pm: Lunch
Lunch will be catered by organizers from DARC and PCAP as well as by donations from local organizations. We will also have snacks throughout the day, catered by local businesses.
1:45 – 2:45: Workshop
'Cultural Appropriation/Cultural Theft"
In this workshop the group will arrive at working definitions for 'Cultural appropriation"/ 'cultural theft' generated from discussion, the participants own experiences and the critical race theory I will present as a facilitator. We will watch videos, listen to songs and look at visual art and fashion examples to build on our understanding of these two terms. We will dicuss what cultural appropriation means in the context of colonization, slavery, global racism, power and privilege. We will discuss the importance of self representation as marginalized people who generally have less power to represent ourselves in ways that we decide upon ourselves or as communities. We will discuss the damage that can be done through cultural theft, stereotyping.
We will then look at cultural theft through looking at histories of American Pop music and the appropriation of queer, trans and Black music and dance. We will look at appropriation in the context of European racism and how appropriation relates to privilege, money, fame and power. Finally we will look at the notion of appropriation and how it informs our practices as community organizers - what does appropriations of tactics, movements and voices look like? What are the differences between appropriation and solidarity? What are differences between appropriation and reclamation? Emphasis will be put on how cultural theft impacts LGBTTT2IQQ people and racialized people and how to use these concepts to shape responsible art and organizing practices. We will interrogate our own practices as community organizers and activists and learn tactics for how to become anti racist ally.
Speaker: Leah Newbold
2:45-3:00 Break
3:00-5:00: Panel Discussion
"(e)RACEing Poverty: Developing Anti-Racist Actions and Strategies to Eliminate Poverty"
The goal of this panel is to bring together activists and community based organizations to discuss racialized poverty. Presenters will be from a broad base and will include members from the New Canadians Centre, PCAP, DARC, OCAP, Community Race Relations Committee and No One Is Illegal. The panel will also serve as an action-oriented event to develop strategies and actions to eliminate poverty with an emphasis on issues of racialization, colonization and imperialism.
5:00-6:00 pm: Workshop
"DARC Resistance: Bridging Anti-Racist and Anti-Colonial Struggles" (closed)
This informal workshop is for people of colour and Indigenous peoples who want to learn more about the ongoing colonization of Turtle Island and how to support each other in Anti-Racist and Anti-Colonial organizing. Through this workshop, people of colour and Indigenous peoples will unmap their complex relationships by sharing experiences and thinking through the following topics: How can people of colour be effective allies and work in solidarity with Indigenous peoples and movements without reproducing colonialism? What is the relationship between Indigenous peoples and people of colour as colonized peoples?
Facilitators: DARC members
**********************************************
9:30 pm-2:00 am:
Beats 4 Justice!
A Fundraiser for DARC and No Olympics on Stolen Native Land Organizing
We will be having a music/performance/spoken word night at the Sadleir House Dinning Hall to raise money for DARC and an No Olympics on Stolen Native Land organizing.
Performers:
LAL
Sean Conway
Dakus of Disco Duniya
Stolen from Africa
For more information, contact: darcpeterborough@riseup.net or pcap@riseup.net
(e)RACEing Poverty: Developing Anti-Racist Actions and Strategies to Eliminate Poverty
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Peterborough Public Library
3:00-5:00
The goal of this panel is to bring together activists and community based organizations to discuss racialized poverty. Presenters will be from a broad base and will include the New Canadians Centre, PCAP, Decolonization and Anti-Racism Coalition, OCAP, and No One Is Illegal - Toronto. The panel will also serve as an action-oriented event to develop strategies and actions to eliminate poverty with an emphasis on issues of racialization, colonization and imperialism.
This panel is poart of Bridging Communities of Resistance
Peterborough Public Library
3:00-5:00
The goal of this panel is to bring together activists and community based organizations to discuss racialized poverty. Presenters will be from a broad base and will include the New Canadians Centre, PCAP, Decolonization and Anti-Racism Coalition, OCAP, and No One Is Illegal - Toronto. The panel will also serve as an action-oriented event to develop strategies and actions to eliminate poverty with an emphasis on issues of racialization, colonization and imperialism.
This panel is poart of Bridging Communities of Resistance
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILM NIGHT
THE LITTLE BLACK SCHOOL HOUSE AND STOLEN FROM AFRICVILLE
When: Wednesday Feb 25th @ 7 pm
Where: Sadleir House Lecture Hall
751 George St N (north of Parkhill)
Free!
Please join us for an evening of films on Black pasts and presents in Canada:
The Little Black School House (2007)
The Little Black School House unearths the story of the women, men, and children who studied and taught at Canada's racially segregated schools. Compelling personal stories illustrate that many of the students who attended Canada's all-Black schools look back on the experience with conflicting feelings: fondness for the dedication of their Black teachers, and outrage at being denied equal access to education, a right fundamental to democracy in Canada. The Little Black School House provides an historical perspective on recent calls to create "Black-focused" schools, after ongoing claims from within the Black community that their students are being ill-served by the education system.
Stolen from Africville (2007)
Stolen From Africville outlines the rise and fall of the historic Black community of Africville, Nova Scotia. Africville was a peaceful and thriving community whose roots can be traced back to the mid 1700s and the historic Underground Railroad. However, under the guise of "development", the Nova Scotia government bulldozed the land in 1969. In 2004, the United Nations conducted an assessment of this tragic injustice and recommended reparations for the Africville community. To this day, nothing has been done.
*Featuring Q & A with Stolen from Africa
STOLEN FROM AFRICA is a Toronto Based Movement used to promote cultural and historical awareness through education, fashion, music and the arts. We hope to empower society by confronting issues surrounding black/indigenous oppression and humanity as a whole. We are merely people of various ethnicities, who are inspired by the effects of colonialism wit aspirations of connecting and learning from the communities in which we live in world wide.
*Discussion of racialized poverty in Peterborough with PCAP.
Presented by the Community and Race Relations Committee of Peterborough, OPIRG-Peterborough, and the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty.
For the full list of Black History Month 2009 events in Peterborough, please visit http://www.racerelationspeterborough.org/calendar.html
When: Wednesday Feb 25th @ 7 pm
Where: Sadleir House Lecture Hall
751 George St N (north of Parkhill)
Free!
Please join us for an evening of films on Black pasts and presents in Canada:
The Little Black School House (2007)
The Little Black School House unearths the story of the women, men, and children who studied and taught at Canada's racially segregated schools. Compelling personal stories illustrate that many of the students who attended Canada's all-Black schools look back on the experience with conflicting feelings: fondness for the dedication of their Black teachers, and outrage at being denied equal access to education, a right fundamental to democracy in Canada. The Little Black School House provides an historical perspective on recent calls to create "Black-focused" schools, after ongoing claims from within the Black community that their students are being ill-served by the education system.
Stolen from Africville (2007)
Stolen From Africville outlines the rise and fall of the historic Black community of Africville, Nova Scotia. Africville was a peaceful and thriving community whose roots can be traced back to the mid 1700s and the historic Underground Railroad. However, under the guise of "development", the Nova Scotia government bulldozed the land in 1969. In 2004, the United Nations conducted an assessment of this tragic injustice and recommended reparations for the Africville community. To this day, nothing has been done.
*Featuring Q & A with Stolen from Africa
STOLEN FROM AFRICA is a Toronto Based Movement used to promote cultural and historical awareness through education, fashion, music and the arts. We hope to empower society by confronting issues surrounding black/indigenous oppression and humanity as a whole. We are merely people of various ethnicities, who are inspired by the effects of colonialism wit aspirations of connecting and learning from the communities in which we live in world wide.
*Discussion of racialized poverty in Peterborough with PCAP.
Presented by the Community and Race Relations Committee of Peterborough, OPIRG-Peterborough, and the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty.
For the full list of Black History Month 2009 events in Peterborough, please visit http://www.racerelationspeterborough.org/calendar.html
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
"The Harris Years Were a Dress Rehearsal for What's Coming”
When: Thursday, February 26, 2009
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Sadleir House (751 George St. N.) - Hobbs Library
What: A public lecture by John Clarke, member of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, addressing ongoing anti-capitalist and anti-poverty struggles. Reflecting upon the Mike Harris years, Clarke will speak to the need for a renewed resistance against the powerful as the economic crisis increases inequality, violence and suffering.discussing the ongoing struggles of middle and working-class people under the oppression of the Canadian State.
Sponsored by the Canadian Studies Department, CUPE 3908 and PCAP
For more information please visit the following links:
http://trentarthur.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1208&Itemid=47
http://www.ocap.ca/archive/short_history_of_ocap.html
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Sadleir House (751 George St. N.) - Hobbs Library
What: A public lecture by John Clarke, member of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, addressing ongoing anti-capitalist and anti-poverty struggles. Reflecting upon the Mike Harris years, Clarke will speak to the need for a renewed resistance against the powerful as the economic crisis increases inequality, violence and suffering.discussing the ongoing struggles of middle and working-class people under the oppression of the Canadian State.
Sponsored by the Canadian Studies Department, CUPE 3908 and PCAP
For more information please visit the following links:
http://trentarthur.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1208&Itemid=47
http://www.ocap.ca/archive/short_history_of_ocap.html
Thursday, January 29, 2009
OCAP Statement on 2009 Federal Budget
Today’s budget will do little to help low income Canadians. Harper’s
government has made some attempt to placate the opposition, but his
efforts will only help a shrinking fraction of the population. The
spending strategy is described as Timely, Temporary, and Targeted. Indeed
it is. It’s too little, too late, for too few. While 75 billion dollars
are given to the financial sector, there are only scraps left for the
poorest in our society.
In line with the ongoing Harper agenda, the budget emphasizes tax cuts,
instead of making real investments in housing, infrastructure and people.
He crows about investing in social housing and unemployment insurance. The
budget says that it will invest 2 billion into social housing. Sounds
great. But the cost of repairs to Ontario's housing are estimated at about
$1.2 billion. And 60,000 people are on the waiting list for social housing
in Toronto alone. Given that much of the infrastructural funding is
dependent on cost-sharing with the cash-poor provinces and municipalities,
the figures are misleading. Harper claims that he’s making things easier
for laid off workers by adding 5 weeks to employment insurance. Given that
60% of Canadians aren’t eligible, this will do little for the majority of
those suffering in the economic downturn.
As factories close and businesses go bankrupt, more and more Canadians
will need help. Unfortunately the tax cuts, benefits and incentives will
do little for them when they’re evicted, unable to obtain employment
insurance, or scraping by on welfare and food banks. A budget that would
really address the needs of the increasing ranks of poor Canadians would
raise the welfare rates, expand employment insurance in a serious way,
build new and quality social housing invest in transit, education and
health care. This budget doesn’t even try.
An economic recession that leads to layoffs, evictions and poverty is not
the time for bailing out the corporations and playing political games.
It’s the time to organize in our communities to support one another, and
to fight to ensure that the poorest, the most vulnerable, are not
abandoned yet again.
government has made some attempt to placate the opposition, but his
efforts will only help a shrinking fraction of the population. The
spending strategy is described as Timely, Temporary, and Targeted. Indeed
it is. It’s too little, too late, for too few. While 75 billion dollars
are given to the financial sector, there are only scraps left for the
poorest in our society.
In line with the ongoing Harper agenda, the budget emphasizes tax cuts,
instead of making real investments in housing, infrastructure and people.
He crows about investing in social housing and unemployment insurance. The
budget says that it will invest 2 billion into social housing. Sounds
great. But the cost of repairs to Ontario's housing are estimated at about
$1.2 billion. And 60,000 people are on the waiting list for social housing
in Toronto alone. Given that much of the infrastructural funding is
dependent on cost-sharing with the cash-poor provinces and municipalities,
the figures are misleading. Harper claims that he’s making things easier
for laid off workers by adding 5 weeks to employment insurance. Given that
60% of Canadians aren’t eligible, this will do little for the majority of
those suffering in the economic downturn.
As factories close and businesses go bankrupt, more and more Canadians
will need help. Unfortunately the tax cuts, benefits and incentives will
do little for them when they’re evicted, unable to obtain employment
insurance, or scraping by on welfare and food banks. A budget that would
really address the needs of the increasing ranks of poor Canadians would
raise the welfare rates, expand employment insurance in a serious way,
build new and quality social housing invest in transit, education and
health care. This budget doesn’t even try.
An economic recession that leads to layoffs, evictions and poverty is not
the time for bailing out the corporations and playing political games.
It’s the time to organize in our communities to support one another, and
to fight to ensure that the poorest, the most vulnerable, are not
abandoned yet again.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Beats for Justice!
*******************************************************
When: Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 9:30pm
Where: The Spill (414 George St. N)
*******************************************************
A fundraiser for both PCAP and a local migrant worker project
Featuring artists, poets and musicians including:
Gein Wong
John Akpata
DJ Ash
Film - Sedition
by Min-Sook Lee
Ziysah
GREAT raffle prizes!
Pay what you can!
Part of ReFrame Film Festival
Sponsors:
Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty
The Spill Café
The New Canadians Centre Peterborough
ReFrame Film Festival
Sociology Dept., Trent University
Trent Queer Collective
Trent Central Student Association
CUPE Local 3908
Background
Started in 2005 by a Trent professor and a local spoken word artist, Beats for Justice! seeks to raise awareness around issues related to borders, immigration, and Indigenous rights. Each event has raised over $1000 to support organizations who work toward human rights in these areas.
When: Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 9:30pm
Where: The Spill (414 George St. N)
*******************************************************
A fundraiser for both PCAP and a local migrant worker project
Featuring artists, poets and musicians including:
Gein Wong
John Akpata
DJ Ash
Film - Sedition
by Min-Sook Lee
Ziysah
GREAT raffle prizes!
Pay what you can!
Part of ReFrame Film Festival
Sponsors:
Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty
The Spill Café
The New Canadians Centre Peterborough
ReFrame Film Festival
Sociology Dept., Trent University
Trent Queer Collective
Trent Central Student Association
CUPE Local 3908
Background
Started in 2005 by a Trent professor and a local spoken word artist, Beats for Justice! seeks to raise awareness around issues related to borders, immigration, and Indigenous rights. Each event has raised over $1000 to support organizations who work toward human rights in these areas.
Outside EUrope
The Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty and the New Canadians Centre Present:
Outside of EURope
*******************************
When: Friday, January 23, 2009
5:15pm - 7:00pm
Where: Market Hall
*******************************
Outside of EUrope
2008 Belgrade Serbia
Directed by Amy Miller, Boban Chaldovich
27:40
Outside of EUrope is a critical, short documentary examining the exclusionary nature of EU immigration and border policies and the responsibilities that are placed on periphery countries to handle the flow of migrants and refugees. Ukraine is used as the case study. Far from the eyes of the public, and never seen before on film, the documentary takes the viewer inside the Mukachevo Detention Centre for Women and Children Refugees, as well as the Pavshino Detention Centre for Illegal Migrants and Refugees in Ukraine. Through diverse interviews that include refugees who failed in their attempt to cross into the EU, as well as officials such as the Immigration Minister for the Transcarpathia region, 'Outside of EUrope' throws light on various human right issues that incur from the expansion of the European Union.
PCAP & New Canadians Centre (NCC) are sponsoring this film and aim make the connections between (im)migration, displacement, incarceration and poverty, as well as the links between the film and the Canadian context of border oppression.
Part of ReFrame Peterborough International Film Festival
Dates of Festival: Friday January 23 - Sunday January 25
Venues: MarketHall, Showplace and the Peterborough Public Library
Weekend passes for the Film Festival are available for $25 or $12 student/unwaged. OR, you can pay by donation at each film you want to see.
Tickets available at k.w.i.c., Have You Seen, Titles, Happenstance, Bear Essentials and Common Grounds.
Visit www.quidnovis.com for film titles, venues and times and more info.
Outside of EURope
*******************************
When: Friday, January 23, 2009
5:15pm - 7:00pm
Where: Market Hall
*******************************
Outside of EUrope
2008 Belgrade Serbia
Directed by Amy Miller, Boban Chaldovich
27:40
Outside of EUrope is a critical, short documentary examining the exclusionary nature of EU immigration and border policies and the responsibilities that are placed on periphery countries to handle the flow of migrants and refugees. Ukraine is used as the case study. Far from the eyes of the public, and never seen before on film, the documentary takes the viewer inside the Mukachevo Detention Centre for Women and Children Refugees, as well as the Pavshino Detention Centre for Illegal Migrants and Refugees in Ukraine. Through diverse interviews that include refugees who failed in their attempt to cross into the EU, as well as officials such as the Immigration Minister for the Transcarpathia region, 'Outside of EUrope' throws light on various human right issues that incur from the expansion of the European Union.
PCAP & New Canadians Centre (NCC) are sponsoring this film and aim make the connections between (im)migration, displacement, incarceration and poverty, as well as the links between the film and the Canadian context of border oppression.
Part of ReFrame Peterborough International Film Festival
Dates of Festival: Friday January 23 - Sunday January 25
Venues: MarketHall, Showplace and the Peterborough Public Library
Weekend passes for the Film Festival are available for $25 or $12 student/unwaged. OR, you can pay by donation at each film you want to see.
Tickets available at k.w.i.c., Have You Seen, Titles, Happenstance, Bear Essentials and Common Grounds.
Visit www.quidnovis.com for film titles, venues and times and more info.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Protest against Israeli Attack on Gaza!
*********************************************
When: Saturday, January 17th 2009, at 12:00pm
Where: Peterborough City Hall
What: Rally & Speak Out
*********************************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Protest against Israeli Attack on Gaza – Peterborough
This Saturday, January 17th 2009, at 12pm the Peterborough Coalition for Palestinian Solidarity (PCPS), Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP) and the Decolonization & Anti-Racism Coalition (DARC) will rally outside City Hall to protest against the Israeli attacks on Gaza. All members of the Peterborough community are encouraged to join us in speaking out in support of the people of Gaza.
The current situation in Palestine is devastating. Nearly 800 people have been killed so far, including several hundred women, children and aid workers. Thousands of innocent people have also been injured. As a massive humanitarian crisis unfolds among Gaza’s 1.4 million citizens, Israel is prohibiting shipments of medical supplies and other necessities from entering Gaza, as well as preventing the International Committee of the Red Cross and foreign journalists from entering the area. Most Palestinians living in Gaza are now struggling to survive without basic necessities and access to medical treatment.
People around the world are protesting against the violence being carried out by the state of Israel. We call on the people of Peterborough to join the growing chorus of voices calling on Israel to end its attacks on Gaza. As PCPS and DARC member Muna Ali points out, “This rally will give the people of Peterborough a chance to join thousands of people in speaking out and condemning the state of Israel’s actions.”
For more information, please contact Ayesha Asghar at(705)-868-3699 or by e-mail at hussein.ayesha@gmail.com
When: Saturday, January 17th 2009, at 12:00pm
Where: Peterborough City Hall
What: Rally & Speak Out
*********************************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Protest against Israeli Attack on Gaza – Peterborough
This Saturday, January 17th 2009, at 12pm the Peterborough Coalition for Palestinian Solidarity (PCPS), Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP) and the Decolonization & Anti-Racism Coalition (DARC) will rally outside City Hall to protest against the Israeli attacks on Gaza. All members of the Peterborough community are encouraged to join us in speaking out in support of the people of Gaza.
The current situation in Palestine is devastating. Nearly 800 people have been killed so far, including several hundred women, children and aid workers. Thousands of innocent people have also been injured. As a massive humanitarian crisis unfolds among Gaza’s 1.4 million citizens, Israel is prohibiting shipments of medical supplies and other necessities from entering Gaza, as well as preventing the International Committee of the Red Cross and foreign journalists from entering the area. Most Palestinians living in Gaza are now struggling to survive without basic necessities and access to medical treatment.
People around the world are protesting against the violence being carried out by the state of Israel. We call on the people of Peterborough to join the growing chorus of voices calling on Israel to end its attacks on Gaza. As PCPS and DARC member Muna Ali points out, “This rally will give the people of Peterborough a chance to join thousands of people in speaking out and condemning the state of Israel’s actions.”
For more information, please contact Ayesha Asghar at(705)-868-3699 or by e-mail at hussein.ayesha@gmail.com
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