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!

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

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

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!

*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

*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

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!!!