[homeles_ot-l] Fwd: [Ocsj-announce] Ontario Coalition for Social Justice e-news

[Terrie]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: info at ocsj.ca <info at ocsj.ca>
Date: 18 Sep 2007 08:39
Subject: [Ocsj-announce] Ontario Coalition for Social Justice e-news
To: ocsj-announce at list.web.net

Ontario Coalition for Social Justice (OCSJ) e-news      September 18, 2007


Hi everyone,

This e-news is kept to 2 issues per month because of the volume of
e-messages we all receive.  However, the provincial election increases the
ways in which we can advocate for social justice, and so for the next
month there will be 3 extra messages distributed.

In particular, we shall elaborate on the exciting event at Massey Hall in
Toronto on the evening of October 1st, and also emphasize the importance
for all of us to support the MMP campaign for the referendum on October
10th, and then share news about election meetings that highlight social
justice issues.

This e-news includes:

1)  Message cards
2)  Vote out poverty in provincial election!
3)  Referendum & MMP
4)  Political parties & Ontario election
5)  EVENTS


1)  MESSAGE CARDS

We have received over 2600 cards signed by persons across the province.
Thanks to everyone distributing and signing these cards!  We shall send a
strong message to provincial political leaders that they must take action
to end poverty!

The people living in and around Owen Sound have been amazing in sending
cards.  It seems that every person living there is determined to tell the
political candidates that ending poverty must happen!

This is the last week we are having them signed, so please send any which
are signed to the OCSJ office so we can deliver that message to the
political leaders.


2)  VOTE OUT POVERTY IN PROVINCIAL ELECTION!


***VOTE OUT POVERTY RALLY, OCT. 1st
A rally of culture and politics is planned for Monday, October 1st at 7:30
p.m. to raise awareness of the need for a poverty reduction strategy for
Ontario.  It will be in Toronto at Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., one
block north of the Queen St. subway stop.

Stephen Lewis will be the keynote speaker;
George Stroumboulopoulos and Mary Walsh will co-host the event;
and entertainers will include Susan Aglukark, the Hidden Cameras, the
Nylons, and more.

The OCSJ and Make Poverty History are presenting this event and numerous
sponsors and supporters are listed on the event website at
http://www.voteoutpoverty.ca/index.php

The website also indicates how to buy tickets, and explains the price of
tickets.

***CAMPAIGN 2000
Campaign 2000 is co-operating with numerous supporters and allies to end
poverty in general by urging real action on child poverty.  Since
politicians which agreed unanimously in the House of Commons to end child
poverty by the year 2000 have failed to follow through, Campaign 2000 and
others are urging the crucial step of adopting a poverty reduction
strategy to achieve specific goals by dates that are identified so that
the plans are public and can be evaluated whether they are succeeding or
need change.   Its provincial election website is at
http://www.campaign2000.ca/on/index.html

***COLOUR OF POVERTY CAMPAIGN
The Colour of Poverty campaign has created fact sheets which illustrate
racialized poverty in Ontario and are available at its website at
http://www.colourofpoverty.ca/

The campaign is led by African, Chinese, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and
Spanish-speaking communities in the province intends to publicize
awareness of poverty through community meetings in Windsor, London,
Hamilton, the Greater Toronto Area, and Ottawa this autumn.

***EDUCATION & POVERTY
The issue of poverty and the debilitating effects for student learning,
and so the inadequate funding that education worker federations are
highlighting in the election are having a greater influence on voters than
the issue of spending more money on faith-based schools.

***EQUAL PAY COALITION
Like child poverty, women's economic equality has been supported in theory
by most political parties, but the gap in income between women and men
remains 30 years after the equal pay Coalition was formed to advocate for
women's human rights.  Their new website is available at
http://www.equalpaycoalition.org//

***FAIR DEAL FOR CITIES
A strong coalition of community, environmental, labour, and social justice
groups has been formed to fight for a fair funding deal for Toronto, and
consequently, for municipalities throughout the province.  Information of
what the coalition is organizing and how to contact it is available at
http://www.fairdealforourcity.ca/

***FAITH GROUPS & POVERTY
The Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC) and KAIROS which
focuses on ecumenical social justice are also mobilizing people of faith
to urge political candidates to support poverty reduction measures.  An
example of the kind of support being organized is a letter being
circulated by John Courtneidge:

Dear [Candidate's name here] ** The Abolition of Poverty in Ontario
Mindful of the Ontario Provincial Election on October 10th, 2007, I write
to ask the following questions:  1) Are you and your Party committed to
the abolition of poverty in Ontario – within one year, three years, or by
an unspecified time?   2) What mechanisms do you and your Party intend to
enact to abolish poverty in Ontario?
Thanks - details of your reply will be publicized during the first week of
October 2007.
Yours sincerely
Copies of any letters sent may be e-mailed to John at
john at courtneidgeassociates.com

***FIRST NATIONS:  RIGHTS, YET POVERTY
The poverty among First Nations' people in this province is shocking
because it is so severe and because it remains this long in our country's
development.  Amnesty International in Canada is focusing on the economic
and social rights of First Nations and as one example will publish a
report on Friday, September 21 about multinational logging companies
disregarding the rights to their lands of the Grassy Narrows Band who live
in northwestern Ontario near Kenora.  A rally on this issue in support of
the Band will take place on September 21 at Queen's Park (see below in
events).

***HEALTH & ACCESS TO OHIP
The Association of Ontario Health Centres is publicizing the unfairness of
immigrants being forced to wait for three months in order to have health
care coverage in Ontario in order to urge change through the provincial
election.  Information is available at http://www.aohc.org

***HOUSING & POVERTY
The cost of housing is so high that low-income people face drastic
choices.  Cathy Crowe, famous as a street nurse in helping persons who are
homeless, is working on a film that focuses on children below age 14 in 3
Ontario cities, as well as in Calgary.  In Toronto, the film project is
working with Women's Habitat to portray some of what immigrants and
refugees face; in Sault Ste. Marie, the Urban Aboriginal Homelessness
Program and the Soup Kitchen Community Centre help First Nations' kids, in
particular; and in Hamilton, anti-poverty groups and community health
centres are trying to grapple with the huge economic changes aggravated by
job loss in that area.  Information about Cathy's newsletters and about
subscribing to them is available at http://www.tdrc.net/cathycrowe.htm

***HUNGER & POVERTY
The Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto is urging people to make their mark
to end hunger by clicking on a website message to politicians that there's
no excuse for people to go hungry in a country like Canada.  It's at
http://www.dailybread.ca/hungrycity/

As part of this campaign, a Hungry City Bus will tour about 20 candidate
and anti-poverty meetings in the GTA leading to the October 10th election.

***MANUFACTURING JOBS
Information about union plans to campaign for jobs as a key way to fight
poverty, and also to influence political candidates, is at their websites
at  http://www.caw.ca/index.asp,  http://canadianlabour.ca/,  and
http://www.ofl.ca/

***MENTAL HEALTH & POVERTY
The Ontario section of the Canadian Mental Health Association is stressing
the need for support for people facing mental health challenges.  Clearly,
poverty isolates people and prevents them from pursuing the help they need
to live meaningful lives, and of course, mental health is simply necessary
to deal comfortably with life's challenges.  The CMHA offers insightful
information at  http://www.campaign2000.ca/on/index.html


3)  REFERENDUM & MMP

The website for the Vote for MMP campaign at  http://www.voteformmp.ca
has the time clicking by the second in the 21 days (!) remaining before
the vote for the referendum.  The campaign is participating in an
increasing number of meetings to educate voters about the importance of
this issue, and volunteers are sought to distribute fliers and information
so that every voter on October 10th knows that it's important to support
the MMP.


4)  POLITICAL PARTIES & ONTARIO ELECTION

The Green Party has decided to throw a party for its leader Frank de Jong
at the time of the TV debate among leaders of the 3 parties represented
now in the Legislature in order that he can "participate" directly at this
event, to the questions raised during the debate.  Its website is at
http://www.gpo.ca/

The Liberal Party seems to be pursuing a quiet campaign featuring its
leader, presumably hoping that other political parties will make their own
campaign mistakes.  Its website is
http://www.ontarioliberal.ca/en/Default.aspx

The New Democratic Party continues its reputation of explaining policies
that it believes will improve the province.  Its website is at
http://ontariondp.com/

Progressive Conservative leader John Tory is reported in the National Post
on September 14th that he is wary of political party dominance in an MMP
system, and so will likely vote against the referendum.  Its website is at
http://www.ontariopc.com/


5)  EVENTS

Sept. 18        The Green, Liberal, New Democratic, and Progressive
Conservative
parties will have representatives at an all-party debate in Toronto to
discuss poverty and disability at the Alumni Hall, Old Victoria College,
Room VC112 at the University of Toronto.  Numerous organizations are
sponsoring this event, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.   The meeting is across the
street from the Museum subway stop, past Emmanuel College.

Sept. 18 - 19   Campaign 2000 is hosting a National Forum on living wages in
Toronto, with a panel discussion on Sept. 18 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at
Grenoble School  in Flemingdon Park and a day forum on Sept. 19 at the
Ont. Federation of Labour building, 15 Gervais Dr., from 9:00 a.m. till
4:00 p.m.  For information, contact Jacquie Maund or Liyu Guo at
jacquiema at fastoronto.com  or (416) 595-9230 x244.

Sept. 19        Social Justice groups in Kingston are hosting an
all-candidates'
meeting featuring Make Poverty History's interview guidelines by which
candidates will be interviewed for the job, as an innovative way to help
voters decide how to cast their votes.  The meeting will take place at the
North Kingston community health centre, 400 Elliott Ave. in Kingston.
Specific information and the time of the meeting will follow in the next
e-news.

Sept. 19        The Guelph-Wellington Coalition for Social Justice in
co-operation with the Guelph & District Labour Council will host an
all-candidates' meeting at 7:00 p.m. at Dublin St. United Church.

Sept. 20        Citizen's Income Toronto will feature a fund-raising and
education forum in Toronto at 519 Church St., the East Room, from 6:00 -
8:00 p.m.  Rob Rainer, executive director of the National Anti-Poverty
Association (NAPO) is featured to speak. Information is available at
http://www.citizensincome.ca

Sept. 20                 The Women's Future Fund and Equal Voice are
co-hosting
the next Women's Power Cocktail hour at L'Espresso Bar Mercurio in Toronto
at 321 Bloor St. West (near the St. George subway station) at 5:30 - 8:00
p.m. to discuss the benefits of Mixed Member Proportional voting (MMP) for
women & minorities.  The event will cost $20, or $15 for students and
seniors.  Reserve via Jan Divok at jmdivok at sympatico.ca

Sept. 21        The First Nation of Grassy Narrows in northwest Ontario is
organizing an action at Queen's Park in Toronto at Noon till 2:00 p.m. to
support native rights and specifically, the band's demand that industrial
logging not take place without community consent.  Numerous organizations,
including Amnesty International - Canada, are supporting this action.
Information is available at  http://www.freegrassy.org/

Sept. 25        The Liberal, New Democratic, and Progressive Conservative
parties
will be participating in an election debate on poverty and health at 7:00
p.m. at Innis Town Hall, University of Toronto on St. George St. at Sussex
Ave., just one block south of the St. George subway station.   The debate
will be moderated by Toronto Star columnist Carol Goar, and it is
sponsored by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Health
Providers Against Poverty, and the Income Security Advocacy Centre.  For
information, contact Kate Melino at kmelino at rnao.org  or (416) 408-5613.

Sept. 26        Toronto Anti-Poverty, a coalition of community
organizations,
unions, community health providers, and low-income people, is organizing
an Anti-Poverty Day of Action to challenge all political parties running
for election to the Ontario Legislature to support a range of poverty
reduction measures.  Information is available at
torontoantipoverty at tao.ca

Sept. 27        The coalition of community health & resource centres
community
forum Rethinking Poverty in Ottawa will take place at Nepean Sportsplex,
701 Woodroffe Ave. from 8:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m.  To register or for
information, contact  rethinkingpoverty at yahoo.ca  or  (613) 238-8214
x2883.

Oct. 1          Vote Out Poverty at Toronto's Massey Hall.  Information
about time
and price is available at http://www.voteoutpoverty.ca/index.php .

Oct. 4          The LINKS (Linking Individuals & Neighbourhoods in Kindness
&
Support) Coalition is co-hosting an all-candidates meeting in
Leeds-Grenville riding at the Portland Community Hall in Portland with the
Leeds Grenville Make Poverty History coalition, the Leeds Grenville Child
& Youth Wellness, Community & Primary Health Care (formerly VON), and
Leeds Grenville Rehabilitation & Counselling to focus on poverty, plus
children, youth, and adult mental health issues.  The meeting will be from
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Oct. 10 ONTARIO ELECTION & REFERENDUM.

Oct. 14 - 20    Co-op Week is the opportunity for Canadian co-operative and
credit union members to celebrate their contributions to this country and
to positive, progressive activity overseas.  October 18 in particular,
will be Credit Union Day.

Oct. 17 The United Nations Day to Eradicate Poverty will be part of the
Week to End Poverty which will feature students and schools across Ontario
expressing their concerns about poverty, faith groups expressing their
serious concerns that poverty exists amidst riches in this province, and
supporters of Make Poverty History joining with supporters of Campaign
2000 to renew the urgency of ending child poverty now, not in the future.
Of course, the date became an anti-poverty symbol through the work of the
Fourth World Movement and it will be active that week in mobilizing people
and groups in countries around the world to take action to end poverty as
soon as possible.

Oct. 19 The Women's Legal Education & Action Fund (LEAF) celebrates
advances in women's equality at a LEAF Persons' Day breakfast in Toronto
at 7:00 a.m. at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, 100 Front St. West across
from Union Station and the subway station there.  Contact:
pdb2007 at leaf.ca  or (416) 595-7170 x222.




John Argue, Coordinator
Ontario Coalition for Social Justice (OCSJ)
15 Gervais Dr., #305
Toronto Ont., M3C 1Y8
info at ocsj.ca

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-- 
Terrie ( mocharebyl at gmail.com )
"If you see an injustice being committed, you aren't an observer, you are a
participant." June Callwood
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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