Poverty Awareness in York Region

York Region Social Assistance Review Commission

2012-02-27T15:50:00.000-05:00

Anyone interested to give their input in the York Region Social Assistance Review Commission in person (March 7 2012) can register here by Feb 2 - March 2, 2012.

Include your name, contact information, and any accommodation requests to:

Carie.Barrieau@york.ca

Transit? What transit? York Region horror stories

2012-02-18T01:15:00.010-05:00

York Region Heaquarters

So the transit strike is over in York Region is it? The local papers declared it so, so it must be true! To hear the banter thrown around by our elected officials as well as the media and some wannabe citizens cum politicians, no one rides them anyway except a few students and they run empty all the time. I wonder when the last time these armchair experts even rode transit? Where were the stories about those affected?

Last I checked there were lots of people using transit here. Tell it to the 63 year old who told me he hadn't missed a day in 12 years until he met the Y.R.T.. First they changed his route so it no longer went directly to his workplace in the industrial area of town clear across from where he lives just W of Bathurst, and of course they changed it so he would now have to travel in the opposite direction to catch a connecting bus which he would just miss, unless as he found out, he left for work 2 1/2 hours early - this to travel about 10 minutes in a motorized vehicle folks. Then they went on strike now for almost 4 months ending his job completely - and the transit service still has not returned to his route today as it's one of the routes deemed not important enough to resume yet. Pity that guy. Doesn't matter that he makes barely enough to survive on even working full time, that's his problem, and now that he's not working and applying for assistance because he's out of work? He's a bum. A burden. They all are. Feed them cans and shelter them in controlled environments instead of personal homes I say, so we can all share in their misery. You do know sarcasm when you read it I hope. This is what we do already however to 'help" people.

He's not the only one, another Mom I met with a teenager has been unable to get him to the various appointments and councilors and now he uses no buses as a reason to stay away at 'friends" overnight. She fears he's treading down some wrong paths and feels powerless because she's immobilized..it's $20 two ways from her place for groceries and on a limited income it doesn't take long for panic and stress to take over a household under such times..isolation kills..and that is where they place our most vulnerable - on the outskirts and then take away their connection to amenities and doctors and jobs because they are least important on the scale. They don't pay enough you see. It's all about the mighty dollar. Let them eat cake.

And what of that 60 year old woman who lost her job due to the strike whom I mentioned in an earlier blog?.All 3 are from the same one neighbourhood where transit is still out and no she cannot walk the 50 minute trek to the nearest bus to her at this stage in life. She'll never be hired back again. Businesses look for excuses to get rid of people like her at this stage in life and we as a society accept and nourish it through our actions of ignorance to anything not us. What's 2 months free service going to do for her get her to the welfare office and back now that she's out of a job?

Lastly - the youth- the ones who supposedly are the only ones to use transit here. Many do. It's to get to school for that one same neighbourhood mentioned, as that's how many kids get to school since the school board deemed them out of range. How many of the kids from that neighbourhood dropped out because they couldn't hack or wouldn't hack the hour walk with backpacks during the strike? Likely the same ones who couldn't work jobs over the winter for bus pass money since they had no way there or back. Their crime? Poor families, so who cares?!

    One 18 year old teen again from the same neighbourhood has the best story of all to sum up Y.R.T. those responsible for it - namely our Regional Council and its anointed er ah I mean appointed Chairman Bill Fisch. This girl, who has a disability that flares up in severe weather, ventured out over a year ago on a day when the weather turned nasty and as her foot swelled and ached from her condition, she decided to take the bus two stops along Yonge St to someone's house she knew to rest for a spell before trying to make it home when the weather mellowed. She fully intended to repay the fare she explained to me, but was in severe pain and her mom doesn't drive and "it was only two stops".

This is why I don't like the "step-on service' of VIVA which traps young people and the homeless or low income people out of fare change, into owing fines for these 'stepons of a few stops" or in the case of homeless people to get warm. Then they USE that money as the victims of crimes fund. Talk about a sham set up to take from the vulnerable. And it's for this they hired all the security when VIVA started, as before there was none!

    Back to the girl..so she was caught by the transit police and explained her dilemma to them but they fined her anyway. Thinking the "court" would understand she tried to have it dismissed but couldn't..meantime her fine went past the due date and as her part time job had only enabled her to pay back $100 of the now $300 plus dollar fine - late fees you see - she'll be starting out life with poor credit as the collections company now says. She was to start a job before xmas across town but without transit (STILL)she's been unable and with a tumour one can hardly expect her to walk...but we do...no mercy. She had planned on College.

That, my friends, in a nutshell is everything that is wrong with Y.R. and its handling of our low income earners and transit users. I can take it a step further - why are there not more transit users? Because York Region has the least amount per capita of rental properties / to owned in the entire country and which runs also at between 2 and 3% for availability, so there are thusly and logically less riders to service, but that doesn't mean you can destroy them Chairman Fisch, Regional Councillors and Mayors. Actually read the social audit we gave you and you approved, it's a map for your use to make some inroads, not a place-mat.

                               Next!
Update on Dan and Ashley who are being put through the ringer because they are disabled and dared want children...turns out the medication that Ashley was made to take FOR 6 YEARS caused her the seizures
she got all these years and they kept upping her dosage! She's now not had a single seizure in 4 months since stopping and the new doctor has even told her to buy a walker that she could walk again! Whaaaat! Meantime Children's Aid has ordered them to take anger management and follow what they say to do. Yea! Trust us! We know best! That's why 6 out of 10 in our foster care become criminals or homeless.

Hubby Dan says to them "The only people who get me angry are you people..I raised two kids already, am a grown man, and don't need your advice". But they say do it or lose rights to their kid and are making them start all over again in their 'program" because they dared want the (grand)mom out of the scene so they can have their baby to raise as parents like anyone else - without interference. Sorry, big brother says our way or the highway and has now ordered them to visit at the Children's Aid office for visits with their daughter instead of their home and told to bring hot food. Oh, and by the way, they too live in the same neighbourhood without transit so if they don't get on a ride with wheel-trans, as they often can't come at the times or days you want them to, they are s.o.l. and so is their kid. And they don't get the child tax credit money so this extra transit and hot food meals come out of pocket of someone unable to work, but most willing if only they could.

Dan receives award for outstanding volunteer service

Dan's awarded by MP Lois Brown for outstanding character, yet Children's aid refuses Ashley and himself custody whilst as Dan put's it, " Even people who are drug addicts even get their children but not us. What's up with that Tom?"

What a system we have here folks..Do you really think if they had an income that a lawsuit against that doctor wouldn't be huge!!?? Or that children's aid would be that entrenched in their lives? It' led them directly to lose control of their lives and baby for gods sakes!Severe seizures was why they got involved saying it was unsafe but what;s the excuse now that she doesn't have them? No, Children's Aid still want to stay in and control their lives and frankly they've had it with how they have been treated. But no money, no justice, my friends and unless a lot more of you start caring beyond lip service, our most vulnerable will continue to be exploited, mistreated and taken advantage of. Speaking of which they are slated to 'go out" Sat Feb 25 to a dance but with our wheel-trans system, they have go separately (from same address) and leave an hour apart coming back while staying only to 11PM and 10PM at an event scheduled until 1am. I guess he won't be DJ ing. They also spent last weekend snowed in as no-one showed from the charity - our usual solution to assist people's needs - to let them out!

Here's a great strategy using electronic media to change an election issue!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nw3zNNO5gX0

Ideas welcome about how to adapt this strategy to our purposes on income adequacy for social assistance recipients.

The social assistance review has been a major let down and appears to try to once again blame people like dan and ashley for being"poor". It pitts 'working people' versus those who 'need incentives to work" etc rehashing the tired mantra that people choose to live in squalor. they still don't get it. Perhaps people want to view and make comments on the social assistance review. There is a form on the Commissioners’ web site at www.socialassistancereview.ca where people can write comments of up to 150 words. A More detailed comment can be e-mailed the Commissioners at socialassistancereview@ontario.ca

Or Finally, submissions can be mailed to:

Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario

2 Bloor Street West

4^th Floor, Suite 400

Toronto, ON

M4W 3E2

FAX 416-212-0413

Now is not the time to cut programs to help people work their way out of poverty. Yes, our government has a deficit, but we must not solve it on the backs of vulnerable people in Canada or in other countries. They need Canada’s support now more than ever.

Canada can afford to give more life-saving aid and to ensure a decent standard of living for all Canadians without cutting other programs. Here’s how: a small tax on trading in stocks, currency and derivatives by commercial banks, brokerages and hedge funds could raise hundreds of millions annually.

Please join me in sending a message to the Minister of Finance that now is the time to protect aid and social spending.

Watch for our youth road hockey challenge promo on Rogers TV

Don't forget about P.A.C.C.'s now longest running in Ontario Road hockey tourney! We need players and volunteers still! Meeting next Wed at 1220 Stellar Dr. Newmarket unit 205 Deli House Catering hall 6:30 PM - 8PM.
2012 Youth Road Hockey Challenge Newmarket

Youths can sign up here for the annual youth road hockey event!

Tom out!

2012 Youth Road Hockey Challenge Newmarket

2012-02-15T05:56:00.001-05:00

The registration form for PACC's annual road hockey challenge is available online this year. Please visit 2012 Youth Road Hockey Challenge Newmarket to register your neighbourhood team. Registration is FREE!

Playing Road Hockey on Main Street

We Want You....Back On The Streets!

Organize your own road hockey team for Ontario’s longest running annual Friendly Neighbourhood Youth Road hockey Challenge played this year at the new Riverwalk Commons area off Main St in Newmarket and you could win up to $1000 Education Award!

No cost to enter. Tourney players must be 12 years of age and up (pick up games for all ages day of event as well). 6 Players minimum per team. Open to all sexes.

Volunteers also welcome.

Car!

Entrants can access registration forms at www.tpeproductions.com

More info at www.povertyacc.com/getinvolved.

Contact: TP@ 289-221-0928

Gripes will be on available to share his opinion on everything, including hockey.

Replace York Region Chairman - you read it here first

2012-01-15T16:00:00.014-05:00

YRNG reports about York Region Council needing an elected Chairperson months after PACC urged action.

It seems the York Region Media Group is finally getting with the program. Several months after we first began blogging, creating media, and reporting about a need to replace the York Region Chair not only because of the present chairperson Fisch's incompetence but also because an elected chair seems more democratic than having the same guy anointed every year with no challengers. It's just too cozy an arrangement for a guy making over $200,000 a year! The elected Mayor of Toronto doesn't make that much - and meantime Fisch seemingly doesn't think transit drivers should make even $50,000 a year - which is only 1/2 of the average household income in York Region. Pay them a fair wage, give them reasonable working conditions - like breaks - and let's get on with this thing! You can flop around all you want Fisch but your filet is cooked my friend, so I suggest you take the high road and bow out gracefully while you still can.
Better yet take transit.

Speaking of cozy arrangements, am I the only one who finds it astoundingly outrageous that an organization purportedly selling products donated free, that most people think are used to build homes for people in need, instead spends over a million dollars in 2011 for "administration costs". Huh? Let me get this straight..they built exactly 0 homes in Newmarket, Aurora or Georgina in 2011 and incurred over $1,000,000 in expenditure costs? On What!? And now "need" to hire professional fundraisers too?

This U.S. based model corporate connected "charity's" usefulness has gone the way of the dinosaur I'm afraid as it doesn't fit our Canadian ideals or system and it stigmatizes those chosen - as they are expected to be the face in the media mouthing wonderful things about these wonderful people before and as they move in as part of the deal instead of with privacy and dignity - while at school the kids become the "habitat kids" and other labels which can lead to low self esteem and mental health issues.. Because they are vulnerable, the chosen families of course will go along with it all and who could blame them?

They also build so few homes and include numerous qualifying conditions that should not allow them to market themselves in their numerous commercials as providers of "affordable housing". It's a wonderful sounding buzz phrase, but a misleading one, as it is one usually reserved for real builders of "affordable housing" - in the dozens or hundreds at once - not one or two units per year as they typically might build - and then uses the very people they claim to want to help for publicity campaigns.
Well you can't have it both ways I'm afraid. Sure it helps a few people a year locally, but at what cost?

Habitat for Humanity York Region's future plans apparently include developing isolated ghetto-like properties by the sounds of it - a number of units per property - "because it makes fiscal sense" according to Habitat's E.D. Nancy Van Kessel - which goes against all the studies about building isolated low income housing projects. This is exactly what is wrong with charitable solutions often. Since when does fiscal sense trump accepted social housing policy? And since when does York Region in general care about actual fiscal sense anyway? I mean where was "fiscal sense" when York Region Council ordered destroyed a perfectly good shelter a few years back whilst almost simultaneously announcing plans to build a "much needed" single women's shelter?

So Why is H.F.H. seemingly exempt from procedure or scrutiny? Because they are a wonderful charity with great commercials that say they are great so they must be? Or perhaps because they are, as their head office corporate website says, a great brand partner worth 3.1 billion dollars, as much as Starbucks as they write? Corporate charity is not the solution for affordable housing woes in York Region - building units in the dozens or hundreds of units with government funds are what is needed or an alternative like PACC presented which was a private venture offering mixed income owned condos along with some affordable units that the company would qualify tenants to own who normally wouldn't - not some band-aid U.S. modeled feelgoodgroup confusing reality by sounding like they are "providing affordable housing" in York Region, when in actuality most who need affordable housing would not even qualify for a habitat house based on their eligibility requirements. They do a lot of advertising but little actual building anyway from my perspective, and even then it's with conditions for those lucky enough to have enough of the right disabilities, or fit the correct "culture" or 'mold" that they are looking for each time, as often seems to be the case. Smile for the camera!

Tom Taylor, former Newmarket Mayor, and Father of Regional Councilor John, Chairs or sits on the Boards of a number of Y.R. service providing charities including YR Habitat for Humanity, Neighbourhood Network and Inn From the Cold.

It all reminds me of these "Champions" some groups trot out each year from various sources who praise the organizations and charities they've accessed up and down meantime behind the scenes they're often getting extras like jobs, food, fees, and free goodies that bribe them enough to be the media 'face". In one case the face of the family shelter one year got up and said how she'd been homeless with her kids in Toronto and ended up in our Y.R. shelters, then Y.R.'s assisted housing, and that she loved her new life and job and now volunteered in the community she loved. Awww it was a wonderful speech. Teared me up. She left out the part about having a husband when this all went down who had lived with her right up until that very day ( now years on from her dilemma) as best I knew, as she'd introduced me to him when she moved in and I'd seem him often around - but who wasn't anywhere to be seen or mentioned on this day - coming across like a distraught single mom who'd gone through terrible ordeal all alone. Oh and volunteering? She'd looked me in the eyes previously at her own community hall and said "Fuck em" when dropping out the week we were to put on a puppet show for the kids in her neighbourhood - because there weren't enough other volunteers she'd said. I appealed to her that some just couldn't make it that night, but she wasn't interested. To say I was stunned would have been an understatement. We never saw her back to help again as I suppose she was busy with her new "career". The 'career" she referred to her in her speech was given to her by housing not long after she was moved in - while many others should have been considered before her - as it was a (part-time) tenants position and many qualified residents had lived there a number of years before her arrival. Not bad for someone who went homeless in Toronto! I sat quietly throughout her speech, although I may have shaken my head a few times in disbelief but I wasn't going to spoil their party and besides the food was great ...and the tour wonderful and programs sounded just wonderful too! Ha!

Still, it's a sad state of affairs that vulnerable people are used to legitimize groups that upon further examination - including the recent social audit done on York Region - that many of these groups are failing and in some cases rewarded time and again for programs or services that are poorly run or useless or not user friendly. And it is them who seem always left out - the majority - the ones not the chosen "champions" - that we need to look out for because our society and especially York Region seems to prefer pretty stories instead of reality, and consequently keeps rewarding the same offenders with funds. I wonder if somewhere in here a conspiracy exists ....and the various boards with seemingly many of the same people involved is a good place to start.

Kristine Carbis on the scooter along with a number of people involved with Y.R.'s 1st ever social audit Behind The Masks hiding her face with the report in this photo as she seeks no recognition for her immeasurable efforts

You want a "Champion"- look no further than P.A.C.C.'s own Kristine Carbis who not only represents her community by sitting on a unique tenant reference group providing input to the Region to best manage housing tenant issues but has also tirelessly (and quietly) volunteered in her community (association) for years and is the one distributing food and goods to those in need, organizing her community events and Christmas Parties, connecting people to resources and schools, assisting with numerous projects to help end the affects of poverty in her community such as sitting for several years on the board for a P.A.C.C. assisted group we helped start - Operation Sparrow - which provides low income kids access to recreation and transportation at no cost, as well as assist the Put the Food in The Budget Campaign, Do the Math campaign, the P.A.C.C. hosted I.S.A.R.C.(York Region) Social Audit, Oct 17 Int Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and the annual Friendly Neighbourhood Youth Roadhockey Challenge she also helps organize both with P.A.C.C. and within her community to make sure a team is formed and everyone can get there. Currently she is quietly presenting to the Y.R. District School Board people to help them better understand dignified approaches to dealing with those who come from lower income homes' and why seemingly simple assignments might be an issue for others - such as access to libraries, computers, printers, embarrassment and such. And she's done so the last few years with use of a cane, then scooter, due to her deteriorating physical condition. Her biggest regret? Not getting chosen to be on the York Region Disabilities Committee - another controlled YR entity. She wasn't given a reason why not. Probably because she'd speak her mind for the rights of everyone and not quietly vote yes to everything without question.
Now there's a real champion.

Don't forget to vote for PACC's finalist video One Paycheck Away before Jan 20!

Tom Pearson Out!!

Transit Strike - A York Regional Embarrassment

2012-01-09T19:44:00.026-05:00

Good morning Vietnaaaaam! This famous line was uttered of course from Robin Williams' character in the movie of the same name which was based on a real person's story, took place in war times, and was recognised by the soldiers and personnel as the signal that they were about to be put at ease through the power of laughter - via a radio show. This comedy formatted show acted to keep spirits raised during a time that was extremely distressing and stressful. I think that is what is needed right now, especially for those who have been handcuffed by the York Region Transit Strike - which is now Canada's 2nd longest in history. To that end, TP produced a short spoof called Depressing Country Hits a mock commercial for a record album that uses the recurring theme of the transit strike in it. It's design is to make you laugh.

P.A.C.C. and the C.B.C. reported on poverty and transit issues

To date it seems nothing P.A.C.C. or anyone has done or said has had any influence on ending this strike. We've done our usual mix of addressing (and embarrassing) politicians, councils, approaching other groups and bus drivers / union reps as well as our own online media campaign to create awareness and attempted to solicit more attention from the mainstream news media - which we think is covering it far too little - therefore keeping minimal pressure on to resolve it.

In addition my letters to the Editor of the local (York Region Media Group) papers including the Era Banner go unpublished - even though they quote or use me/us when it suits which works both ways but we are the established voice for those on low or no incomes in York Region and recent host group for the most in-depth look at the state of York Region's social services, programs and safety net systems in the area's history via a social audit. The resulting report was adopted for recommendations by the Regional Council as well, and this 6 months to produce audit was a significant achievement admired and widely respected across Ontario, but has gone relatively unnoticed and unused here.

As no one seems to be stepping forward to help end this strike which has now expanded to become a crisis maker for many, we feel P.A.C.C.'s experience and ability to connect people from diverse backgrounds and positions gives us a unique ability to get parties communicating, and feel we could negotiate a fair end to this for all parties involved.Uniquely as well, PACC supports the drivers' rights to a living wage and reasonable working conditions but also the rights for those riders who've had no choice and whose extreme users are most affected.

P.A.C.C.'s Letters to the Editor never get published!
I thought I'd print one of my recent letters to the Editor that they never publish, and if they do they change, as it's purpose was / is to bring more attention to the seriousness of this transit strike to more people.

Don't forget to vote once a day for our video contest 1 min adspot finalist One Paycheck Away here!

Dear Editor,

I am absolutely outraged by the lack of concern or action on the part of our York Region Council and Chair, Bill Fisch, in regards to the transit strike.

Regional council is made up of all the elected mayors and regional councilors who are all seemingly directed in council by a chairperson who is not elected. This chair has previously stamped an emphatic no to arbitration which would have ended this madness long ago and allowed those who had no choice in this matter - who have missed out on jobs, work, school, doctor visits, hospitals visits, medications, groceries, been evicted or in process of, and some youth now with their future post secondary school plans on hold having been unable to work over xmas or in some cases likely lost forever - and a number that simply won’t ever get back on track.What about those in isolated communities like Mulock Village W of Bathurst St. which also contains some special needs and mental health and other residents who already have little access to much including high schools without a town bus, as the school board refuses to bus them?

People in wheelchairs are affected too. Do you think they only need to go out once a week as per their "book a week ahead" policy? Get real! Many have numerous worker, therapist, and doctor, etc appointments on differing days, times and locations - and those without someone to shovel their driveways from a charity source, may be isolated even more. that's a service that could be considered for regional coverage or maybe our exclusive service (in Y.R.) the “Talk-2-One” the 24 hour / 7days week messaging system, through which we have literally placed a number of Y.R. homeless people into jobs and homes thereby lowering the burden on the public - and we've only had 10 contact numbers to give out - which we had to negotiate free from the company to show the region it's effectiveness. Placing just two people pays for it for a year for thousands of the free contact # placements, something that can be monitored, and valuable rare Y.R. data also collected, yet no one calls us. Those are the types of social service programs our dear council should have been spending your G.T.A. pooling dollars on instead of balancing its last two budgets on the backs of them. Those dollars were fought for by 110 groups because Y.Regioners claimed we needed them for our own services, but thus far this smug group has done little but pay lip service.

The strike is no different, as they save $500,000 per week on the backs of those people who have to rely on transit. Do you really think offering free service for a month when it resumes, as I saw on the agenda at the last council meeting when I made a deposition to council to plead with them to end it, will suffice for what they’ve done? And where is the media outrage in this and coverage!

Make no mistake this is affecting many - from the 60 year old lady who cannot get to work and who will never get her job back now, to the employer who will think twice about hiring someone relying on transit, to the youth, to the 44 year old male who is the statistical average newest homeless person.

I’d be happy to sit in and negotiate a deal if this council and its unelected leader don’t have stomach for it. I have training and a certificate in group facilitation, and as well hosted, co-Convened and co-Authored York Region’s only ever social audit in it’s history not long ago, called "Behind The Masks", which the region itself through council adopted recommendations from. Such an audit had to cover input from a diverse group of people experiencing poverty from across York Region – which we could replace with riders – and included politicians, social workers, and social activists, even the Y.R. United Way's Danieli Zanotti was a moderator, all working together with the final product being heavily referenced in The Ontario- wide version put out by interfaith group I.S.A.R.C.. To date I’ve seen no recommendations implemented and received no invites to offer consultation or on how to collect affective data whilst peoples dignity is kept intact, or offers to assist via our real solutions ideas. Besides I can't do any worse than what is being done right now.

I also got a standing ovation from the union members in council chambers when proposing that council leave their cars at home for the duration to speed up the process - so they like us - although the motion was declined. Unlike some of your Writers and Columnists, I’ve actually spoken to the union guys, and they are not asking for parity which is so commonly reported - having been poisoned initially by a quote from Chair Fisch - but at least we'd go in baring facts, and neutral, as our mandate dictates us to be.

Tom Pearson

Chairman, Poverty Action for Change Coalition

Era-Banner's "Newsmaker" " A New Shelter ..." An array of misinformation

2012-01-02T21:02:00.028-05:00

A sign on the door of one of the "non-existent" single women's shelter spots in York Region

I just read with glee once again about how badly we need another women's shelter in York Region and thank goodness Belinda Stronach has come to the rescue of all those 500 downtrodden homeless single women we have! The Writer, Chris Traber, left out some pertinent facts like 90% of all homeless are me n and that the 500 homeless women stat he quotes are in fact not 500 women at all but instead 500 contacts made by any woman single or not to find shelter, that didn't end with them staying there. So, in other words the same people calling numerous times per year to find out if room is available are counted each time, as well as calls referred to another shelter - as long as it doesn't end in them sheltering the caller. So if someone calls the Yellow Brick House and is then directed to call the youth shelter and then the family shelter, that's 3 people to their "stats". Belinda has a good heart I think, but she is often misinformed by people around her, either that or she really believes this bullcrap spin. And no offense meant, but she has no grass-roots experience and no real understanding of what low / no income people go through, man or woman. For goodness sake, her father in the same paper / issue was mentioned as Canada's 21st richest citizen...and anyway aren't there enough buildings, streets, and trails named after people still alive and still involved in community workings around here already!?

The now defunct Homelessness Alliance's former Director, Jane Wedlock, from where the Era article quotes its "stats", knew that homeless / low income men have by far the least supports here - from shelters to programs ( no men's center here!) and I confronted the former Director in her office at the time for caving in and supporting the manufactured bandwagon of obviously the least need, when this single women's shelter was being worked up for proposal behind the scenes to the Region some years back now.
Affordable housing was what was / is needed and she knew it. It played well though - this brand new of course - shelter for vulnerable single women, with the players and media, as they too were either bamboozled or sell-outs, or in some cases part of the conspiracy of half-truths spun as facts that translated into this manufactured idea of an overwhelming need for more shelters, which was then more or less rubber stamped by council. We don't. Wedlock seemed to take the position that since we weren't likely to get any affordable housing soon, then both a men's and women's shelters were "needed". "One at a time" she'd said. To which I'd replied, "Then we should be taking care of the most in need first shouldn't we!" She now has a cozy Y.R. United Way job.

With a homeless father and son in 2011 we finally got some attention to the lack of supports for men in Y.R.- still nothing.

Another missing stat is the one that says individual women's shelter use in York Region was down in 2011..why? because of the opening of the new family shelter which takes a lot of the women in, as well the INN From The Cold and Out From the Cold which now shelters all women and still have room for plenty more as they aren't near full on the women's side- or even used at times. That's right the room sits empty...often! The youth shelters also cater to single young WOMEN up to age 27 which the writer claims so passionately that York Region has absolutely none of. So where is this great demand! It's manufactured my friends to make some people look good.

Now what should have been done, if they worried about costs at all, was realized in advance the family shelter would / is take the load off the other women's shelters - and then turned one of them into a single women's shelter - thereby saving taxpayers millions of dollars. Those dollars could then have been used to build what is ACTUALLY needed - more affordable housing. Instead, the Region approved the release of $3 (or was it 4?) million dollars to build one, providing this caring "group", and now board, raised the rest. Oh yea, and it has to be run as well, with paid staff lest we forget.And what of the area's Y.R. Councilor? What is his position on this issue? The one who's dad and former mayor sits on or Chair's many of the area's related charity and shelter boards? Hmmmm.

What we really need immediately is affordable housing for singles so that those homeless women that they'll be shipping here - likely from outside York Region - to fill it up like what we do with affordable housing here for families - can have a place to live after their 6 weeks are up at Belinda's Place - or will they get special status to stay longer than the men do? And I assume by all the wonderful "life changing" programs the writer says they are going to do there it will all happen after supper time - as I 'm thinking that, like the men, they'll be kicked out during the day to their own devises. And guess what? There's a building already available on Leslie St. that could house what they want but no - it has to be a 5 million dollar project that taxpayers are paying the bulk of and whenever Belinda bores of it you'll be stuck maintaining it without her influence. I wonder if the Quakers knew before donating land for this?

I first spoke about the idea with Belinda, I believe, at one of her functions several years ago. In fact memory serves it was the Good Brothers concert who she'd rented for the Aurora Town Park which I assume she booked for the B.B.Q. as a thank-you gesture for (her) Neighbourhood Network volunteers. P.A.C.C had joined the N.Network in order to open up dialogue by supporting their start-up charity and I attended with P.A.C.C. member Dan who hails out of a wheelchair. I don't think she remembered it was I who had beckoned her to join the "Squaretable on Poverty" that we organized while she was M.P., to which she agreed only after I went live on the C.B.C. to solicit a response from a group who had until then, all but ignored us (P.A.C.C.). At any rate, at that time, she said to me, " Did you know they have no women's shelters in York Region?"..I was aghast knowing of 3 right off the top in Markham, Aurora, and Georgina which have the distinction of houses for those "abused" but where no real verifiable proof is needed, so regularly women have gotten around the "abuse" condition by simply claiming it. It's common knowledge of women booking into Georgina for years for summer time in advance, and this was relayed to me by someone who worked there in front of many others. There are also Inns from the Cold which shelter all women, and youth shelters which shelter women up to 27, and the family shelter which I assumed includes women too. I informed her she was misled somewhat at the time and I would have discussed it further had she attended any of our Square Table on Poverty meetings, other than the forced initial one, after which it was an assistant always instead.

Here's a letter a P.A.C.c.er sent to Regional Chair Bill Fisch in 2009 before they tore down another existing building that also could have been fixed up and used as the shelter or transitional housing of which only a few for adult women exist currently in York Region and none for men.The Region claimed it couldn't be fixed, yet the foundation looked solid to our visual inspection.

This property on Leslie St. in Queensville is ideal for a shelter and has sat empty since last January. The Region knows it.

Attention: Regional Chairman – Bill Fisch Fri May 8 2009

Dear Chairman Fisch,

It has come to our attention that the shelter known as “Leeder Place” has been slated to be torn down next week. The reason given according to your reports is that the building was not worth fixing up due to costs, yet another shelter (family) is currently being erected at significantly more of a cost. It would seem to us that spending $100, 000 - $150,000 to fix it up, as opposed to $3,000,000 on a new building would make more fiscal sense - or at least lower the need for a full new 40 bed structure as you plan, and save costs. Subsequent inquiries as to seeing the building inspectors report that lead to this decision have not been available to us to view as we were referred by a board member to seek it through the freedom of information act - leading us to wonder if there is something more to this decision?

The same report indicates that shelter beds are in demand in the region, which is well known, thus we feel the tearing down of any shelters need be scrutinized with public input and as far as we can see no public consultation has been done to date.

I wonder if we could have the destruction of this shelter postponed until such time as we and others have had a chance to have some input.

In our opinion this shelter could be used as true ‘transitional” housing as there seems to be no exit strategies for shelter dwellers other than 6 weeks and then out to the streets in many cases, whereas in other regions they offer some longer term temporary housing, especially for men who tend to be homeless longer term which could include an “exit strategy” - instead of recycling them back into shelters via the streets.

The slated building is only 40 years old whereas the existing buildings being kept are 100 therefore we don’t see how one and not the other can be kept.

Please let us know if you are willing to delay implementation of the raze order this so that we can have some public consultation on this important matter.

Sincerely,

Rick H, Housing Specialist, Poverty Action for Change Coalition
They did not reply.

Adult Men in York Region have only 26 full time beds to choose from in a population of over 1 million people. No abuse shelters for them even though many are robbed, beaten, and terrorized while living homeless. Even though statistically men are assaulted and killed in far greater percentages than women or children and lest we forget - men are humans too. They bleed. They cry. They fear.They die.

A winter shelter for single women in York Region which the Y.R.M.G. claims none exist in YR. It sat empty that week

Next up..the local Y.R. boards of these hostels, shelters and organizations seem to be a closed door to a select few with no real grassroots membership. P.A.C.C. will look into this further for the P.A.C.C. report on You Tube! Watch for it!

Happy Holidays York Region

2011-12-27T22:57:00.007-05:00

York Region Council refused to trash their vehicles during the transit strike

I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season. I know it's been especially tough for some I'm sure, including striking transit drivers and their families as well as transit users and theirs. Both are being affected by the lack of action to end this strike, and both are beginning to suffer the effects of having no or limited access to work.

In some cases the Y.R.T. drivers are part-timers, but even those working for supplemental income purposes are doing so often times to keep their houses afloat or simply maintain what they have but were once able to maintain without the extra income. That's what inflation does folks, and when the rising costs begin to outweigh the notsorising income levels then something has to give. Thus the Mexican stand-off which has become the York Region Transit strike.

The strike is taking a severe toll however on those that rely on it for work and every day life connections. A normally reserved young lady of 18 or so is heard screaming at her lone parent who happens to also have a chronic illness, "You cash poor fuck!", when refusing to cover yet another taxi from their isolated community to her workplace and spoken in frustration about not being able to get to her job again. This recurring household tension is magnified in communities that may be otherwise isolated from most amenities, work or activity centres.

Imagine having your car suddenly not only taken away but your transit to work or food as well and on top you're isolated. Then your phone is disconnected because you've been unable to get to work and back with enough left over to pay it. What would you do? Would you stand for it? I doubt it. Yet they expect these riders to sit by and be used as pawns while their lives are put in turmoil, future school plans are scrapped with no income now able to be saved, kids unable get to high school or dropping out, homes lost and on...someone has to be held accountable for the lives it's destroying!! But who?

If you ask the Regional Council or its Chair, Bill Fisch, it has absolutely nothing to do with them. Nope, they are not in the mix they've arbitrarily decided. Now there's a funny word. Back to that later. At any rate, these fat cat councilors, a mixture of privileged mayors and Regional Councillors who are sworn to look out for all its residents and who are failing them badly, make no mistake, and who also very quickly turned down my proposed resolution to council a few weeks back to leave their cars at home during the strike.

Council's silence speaks volumes and mirrors their record in council of pandering to paying off debts and balancing books on the back of money earmarked or designated for social programs - such as the G.T.A. pooling dollars which they "redesignated" for their own purposes instead of using it for what it was successfully fought for to be returned to York Region from Toronto because we purportedly needed it for our own programs by dozens of honest citizens groups who believed they'd do the right thing. Well they didn't. They've given a pittance to where it was supposed to go while smuggly putting together a balanced budget largely on the back of it in 2011.

Here's an example of how out of touch this York Region council is with reality. Here we have transit riders, presumably many of whom are low income earners, increasingly who may now be facing eviction from their homes because of lost income, yet the rules of the anti-homelessness program that is distributed by the Church of the Salvation Army (lest we forget they are a religion) on behalf of the Region eliminate them from qualifying. That's right the anti-homelessness programs are not open to low income earners and these rules are set out by the Region of York, or so I was told by the local S.A. head Brian Bishop a year or so ago when I asked him to justify why they excluded the lowest income earners from qualifying. I told him they should refuse to distribute the funds under those conditions then. I had been there at the time at the invite of Mr Bishop to follow up on a complaint we'd received from someone who felt their family was treated disrespectfully through their qualification process.

I'll bet many people don't realize that 80% of all the Salvation Army funding for all their programs comes from government sources. Don't take my word for it, I read it on their website. They are like the perfect cross between corporation and charity (they are a church) that gets to walk through unchallenged, and with an American CEO who makes over 3.3 million dollars a year, a well paid servant of the Lord methinks..so be wary of the wonderfullness of charities as solutions for our social ails for they all have issues, and accountability for such is best served through government distribution, not charities that claim to offer dignity through feeding the poor.Give us a break, there is absolutely nothing dignified about how people have to open up their lives to complete strangers in order to simply to access food or extra groceries or toys at Christmas..enough of the government handouts to charities and give it right to the people..because right now they need taxis to get food and to work and doctors and hospitals and pick up medications - not toys - thousands of which will now sit in warehouses.

Vote for PACCs one minute video contest finalist above One Paycheck Away Here!

With the transit strike on and snow falling, residents like Dan and Ashley who have to get by in wheel-chairs will feel the pinch too, living in a town with no grocery delivery and taxis that refuse to even if you can afford them, and having to rely on a system that asks them to book a week in advance that he and his girlfriend are unable to take together often, having different kinds of wheelchairs...and on and on..slowly they lose the will to go out..and then the zest for life wains...and did they ask for this life? Perhaps our social programs money could have been spent here so our disabled could lead normal lives. They even have to rely on hoping charities like Neighbourhood Network can fit them in to shovel their driveways. What about those who they can't get to? These councillors, unions, companies all owe a chance at life to these people and it's more than a freakin blip those I've met as the media would have you believe, but it's been a ship sinker.

This strike could have gone to arbitration which is a fancy way of saying someone who'll negotiate a compromise which is then binding, but Dictator, ah, I mean Chairman Fisch and his cohort band of merry councilmen and women) and mayors are holding steadfast and likely secretly drooling at all the extra money they think they'll have to spend at the end of this. My seeing this on the council's last meeting agenda about how to spend it, was a reminder that they are saving millions a month on the backs of the poor during this, and no wonder they are trying to distance themselves.

Sorry dudes and dudettes, you made the original deal, you fix it. If you want I'd be happy to step in and negotiate as I'm trained in group facilitation and experienced at bringing parties of differing views and opinions together with a positive result - such as our P.A.C.C. hosted and york Region approved social audit "Behind the Masks.. testimonials from those marginalized by income"of which it seems few, if any of the recommendations, have yet to be acted on.

Well I can tell you one thing..come election time each and everyone will be held accountable, so maybe this was the shake up we needed to show this council for what it truly is which is certainly not one that is doing all it can for its most vulnerable residents - true signs of any sick civilization used to privilege. Yup the beginning of the end for them methinks..and definitely the smug Dr Dolittle himself Chairman Fisch.

Curious to note The York Region Food Network, the one true ally in the fight against social injustice in York Region, even though their connection is food related, has been apparently evicted from the Inn From The Cold Building by the Inn From the Cold people..Hmmm..WONDER WHO PULLED THAT STRING! At any rate I hope this doesn't now jeopardize the fresh foodbox programs and the regular Thursday food and supplies distribution the PACC has been running for several years now...we'll see..looks like someone wants to be headmaster!

P.A.C.C. in cooperation with some community groups including from Bray and Mulock community associations along with P.A.C.C. distributed Y.R. Food Network's food boxes, and an anonymous toys/clothes donor, were successfully able to provide toys, food, fresh food, toiletries diapers, supplies etc for several communities for distribution and neighbourhood xmas parties which was very appreciated - especially by those mothers without vehicles to transport the supplies and who may of had to spend much more than usual of their xmas budgets in just getting around over the past months.

Y. R. Food Network's Yvonne Kelly & Director Joan Stonehoecker speak at Int Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The friends of the hungry have been squeezed out of 510 Penrose, the wannabe York Region "hub" for poverty issues. They were the only advocate for the 'poor" in that building, to the rest they are 'clients", "cases"and 'patrons"..too bad.

Special thanks to P.A.C.C.ers Linda and Kristine who were both instrumental in making sure people accessed the Christmas and holiday goodies and that a good time was had by all!

Tom out!

Minister Hoskins Informed York Region Strike Inconvenient Only

2011-12-20T03:19:00.012-05:00

P.A.C.C. generated report pictured above about the York Region Transit strike on C.B.C.

Occupy Newmarket at Yonge and Eagle St Sat Dec 10

Whew! Where to begin? Maybe with the guy on the street riding his bike, who explained to me that he couldn't get to work (Toronto/Bradford) or now afford presents for his kids for xmas and asked what is he to do? Some are thinking "we have toy drives" I bet. That's because we've been slowly brainwashed into believing that's an accepted solution. Charity is not the best way. Maybe he wants to be able to pick out his own presents that his kids actually asked for, and with his dignity fully intact, or you know, perhaps experience the joy of getting something for someone you picked out especially for them! Want to rob people of that feeling? Well, that's what charitable solutions do. Or how about the Mom I met who's kids and self haven't seen her husband for over 2 weeks because they have to stay at friends' homes in order to get the kids to school, as they live in Richmondhill and school 15 miles away in Aurora? And what about those arts school kids who the school board refuses to bus, even though they live in some cases 10's of miles away? What of them in all this?

The local mainstream media would have you believe that transit riders blame the drivers, with one penning "having searched the blogs it seems most are against the drivers", as Y.R.M.G. Writer, I believe David Fleischer put it, or something to that affect. Really? Because we've been blogging about it for months now, and we blame the Y.R. Council mostly as they made the deal that got us into this mess, then sit back on their hands? Remember us? P.A.C.C.? The voice for low income residents in York Region? The ones who attracted and Hosted (RE: Coordinated), Co-convened and Co-authored York Region's only ever social audit this past year called 'Behind The Masks testimonials from those marginalized by income" that the York Regional Council adopted recommendations from, and that the Ontario wide I.S.A.R.C. Social audit referenced extensively in its own report, Persistent Poverty, voices from the margins, citing the quality of the York Region collected data? That P.A.C.C.! He obviously didn't follow our blogs or videos or any P.A.C.C. video reports...Get with the program buddy! We don't care who ends it just do! Do it now! This council knew it to be a problem all the way back to 2008 when they also had a shorter transit strike and did nothing since. Am I the only one finding it ironic that the council meeting agenda included how to spend all the savings being made from the strike - on the backs of the lowest income earners who are getting shafted!

P.A.C.C. Chair Tom Pearson got an ovation from a packed Regional Council chambers including union members on Thursday after asking for a resolution that Council leave their cars at home for the duration of the strike as a means to speed up the process. It was declined.

They are doing a good (snow) job though because I had an opportunity to speak with the newest guy in charge of the poverty reduction plan today at the Ontario government's Poverty Reduction Strategy's Third Progress Report in Toronto. The usual yes-people were there like The Daily Bread Foodbank's Gail Nyberg and other hanger's on and of course new in-house converts the 25in5club, of which I was once a believer in myself. Too bad they chose selling out over truth.

Speaking of which, truth is the management of YRT / Viva has been terrible from the get go, with a big U.S. style city transit guy bringing in a goonsquadlike security force to a system that seemingly never needed one before - and this only after implementing the youth and homeless trapping 'honour system" that allows people to walk on without interaction with the drivers, thus eliminating the common greeting a driver & rider might have, like people in in towns do, which is what make up York Region, towns, and in them town-folk. Remember them? The robotlike Viva line is certainly not tailored for the rider experience and connects to a YRT system seemingly designed to takes someone up to 21/2 hours to travel a distance that takes 10 - 15 minutes by vehicle because they can't simply schedule connecting buses which is outrageous, and no wonder it doesn't grow, if not for the Yonge St. every 15 minutes, rush hour, VIVA cash cow.

The same day I met the new Minister in charge of the poverty reduction strategy I got his xmas card!

At any rate, I took the occasion to mention the transit strike to the Honourable Minister of Children and Youth Services, Dr. Eric Hoskins, who has been appointed charge now of the poverty reduction strategy for the Ontario government and that it was destroying some families literally, affecting kids who needed access to schools and jobs for not only xmas presents but for education costs as well. He responded that he was grateful to hear the passion in my voice because the Minister had been under the impression that the transit strike has been nothing more than an inconvenience to some! He also asked when it was that I'd made the deposition regarding the Y.R. transit strike to council and I told him of course last week. Really? An inconvenience? Reminds me of a movie title - The Inconvenient Truth - I made sure he knew it was more than that, but couldn't dwell on the point too long because A) he's not really the guy to target to make waves for that issue and B) We were there (5 strong) to represent the Put Food in The Budget campaign and I wanted to stay on track. I later found out the Minister's background is a medical one, he's a newcomer to politics and he has run charities in the past...so I guess you know which way our social programs are leaning - towards charities taking them on which should be a government responsibility. I hope I'm wrong on this one.

In fact a whole section in the pamphlet for the poverty reduction strategy called " Breaking The Cycle - the Third Progress Report - in which they boast to have lifted some 34,000 children out of "deep poverty" in 2009 etc - is about new "partnerships" but leaves out the stuff like the cost of living increases outstripping rate raises and single people still being hung out to dry by the system, and the fact that assistance rates have never returned to pre-Harris 22.5% cuts social assistance rates since the Ontario Liberal's stepped in.. still!

P.F.I.B.'s Mike Balkwill, one of whom we all strategized with about what to do at this soiree in terms of approaching the subject matter inside, had an excellent exchange with Minister Hoskins asking him to "Do The Math", a questionnaire budget type of exercise designed to educate politicians to real costs to people, to which I believe he got a form of commitment and went on to ask for support for the $100 Healthy Food Supplement - the exchange all of which I captured on camera! Unfortunately it's digital tape so you'll have to wait until I can transfer / post it! Ha..But it's textbook stuff ....Advocacy 101!

Watch our PACC Channel video and upcoming report on the growing trend of low income earners having their lives controlled by government interference including our seniors and residents with disabilities!

Now should I win the Canadian Labour Congress One Minute video contest with my entry ONE PAYCHECK AWAY which is one of only 5 FINALISTS from across Canada..because you keep voting for it up until January 20 2012
then I can buy new equipment and post the goods immediately with clarity! Vote for it every day up until Jan 20 and win a chance to win a trip!!! Okay I made that up..but we need the equipment as we get no government funds!!Ha! Hey it's one way to fund raise!

Tom out!

Giant Christmas Card For Dalton Mcguinty Courtesy of the P.A.C.C. backed Put Food In The Budget Campaign

Occupy Transit Stops

2011-12-01T11:38:00.112-05:00

Sign at "Occupy Newmarket"

Please view PACC Channel's 60 second video above One Paycheck Away and vote for it in the Canadian Labour congress Contest via the link!

Hey, if you think about it, occupying a bus shelter or a 'wack" of them is not such a bad idea. I'm not sure it resonated with the Occupy Newmarket group at the recent 3rd official meeting which was held at Newmarket's Fairy Lake Park and then again unofficially at the C.U.P.E. offices the following Sunday for an event billed, "Why Occupy?", an event that's intent I suppose, was to encourage people to join in answering that very question through a Q and A session. From my understanding - I don't know because I didn't attend - the Sunday unofficial meeting included a few people from "Occupy Toronto" who had come up to share visions I suppose, and help discuss a direction that this movement can all take together in one form or another. Even the "Occupy Aurora" group has joined the fray. Perhaps the world will unite on this, who Knows? At any rate, to my knowledge the bus shelter occupy idea has not been put forward for action (yet), but it was a heck of an idea (mine of course ha!) especially since they're not being used with this transit strike on.

Occupy Newmarket occupies a bus shelter Sat Dec 10 2011

Like why not set up an occupy for example I thought, in the bus shelter in front of York Region head-quarters, as it would symbolically encompass many of the issues the occupy movements seem to be about such as youth who are losing out on getting to school or even to part time jobs for Christmas season, since they've now missed out on being able to obtain one now and even if they were lucky enough to have a job will likely be sacrificing half their night's wages in cab fares . It doesn't help that the town of Newmarket allowed for a fare hike for cabs last year (during a recession no less), which the lower income earners mostly use as is... and let's not even bother mentioning the countless people who have lost jobs, work, or even homes now because of this strike. Those trying to access the hospital or Doctors in non- emergency visits or for loved ones have also been affected and left to fend for themselves and, unfortunately, not everyone can afford $50 two way rides from taxis which is another outrage. But hell, with the price of parking there, I don't know which is worse. The growing gap between rich and poor would also be part of the symbolic mix, and as well the lower wage and middle class workers who mostly use their transit service with many now feeling the crunch like never before. The lack of action shows blatant disregard and discrimination against lower income earners if you ask me. The entire York Regional Council, especially Chairman Bill Fisch is to blame, as the union offered to go back to work if they sent it to arbitration, yet still York Regional Council does nothing and refuses to use this, or any route towards ending it, before more people are devastated by it like the "kid" who came to my door for a box of food for his mom last night because they have no car and no food and she could not get to work on time consistently so lost her job. The kid works too - for a minimum wage seasonal contract job - to which I'm not sure how he's managing transportation but the look on his face as he had to "stoop" to asking for food for his mom was enough to remind me why I stay on this "mission", that seemingly has become an ingrained part of my life.

Occupy Investment in Kids not War at Occupy Newmarket Day 1

People were not allowed to have owner-ship in more than one corporation when they were first started in the 1700's

There is no doubt we need to survive in this world and to do that people must be able to do business, whether through barter or funds or what have you, but the expectation now seems to be to have people carry a debt load.What ever happened to one income families being able to own a home or low income earners being able to live in a place that left them enough to afford a place to live, with enough left over to actually live!? My father came to this country as a skilled person, as he was trained in making dentures, and he wasn't allowed to do that here ( hey some things never change!) but he was still able to buy a home in time, from sweeping floors in a factory.

Today you cannot even be sure of long term employment it seems since many and much have been replaced by contract work, part time and temp jobs which don't have to abide by the same rules as full-time workers and you are essentially left to your own devises between jobs and they do not have to give you full time hours. Gone are the days of knowing you'd be working one job for one company for a long time.

Recently a guy I was able to get a "job" for, someone down on their luck and on the verge of the streets, and I got him a position which lasted 8 months at which point my colleague's company lost the contract. That worker was then left on his own and didn't qualify for employment insurance..he subsequently hit rock bottom (again) before a few months later the contract was returned as the newer lower bidding company had failed to deliver...and back he went...but for how long this time? And how much can someone making $13 an hour save in case it happens again in this climate with inflation climbing at 3% yearly and wages essentially frozen but for incremental increases begrudgingly given by "our elected government"? Is this what we asked for or expect? Is this fair? I think this is what irks the base of the "Occupy Movements" too, because many, many people are just sick and tired of the status quo bullshit they / we're fed...I mean it's become "the norm" to know certain "promises" will be broken once elected - it's accepted as "normal"? Well I don't find it "normal", as well as the more and more I hear about how things are run and how they're all about image and photo-op / branding with messages that are more like an ad campaign of a corporation model, it really, really irks me.

A Corporation is made up of a group of people lead by a board who have one common main goal which is to make as much profit as possible for its shareholders - by law!- over all other concerns - including environment or community concerns. In actuality, corporations are faceless, soulless entities that have the legal standing of a person. Not everyone is aware of that, but it's true ever since a group of smart lawyers had them declared so back in the 1800's. Why it's never been challenged is beyond me. Smart lawyers were also instrumental in using laws such as Bill c140 - enacted to protect blacks from being dispossessed of their land - for corporation use. The 1st year of this law, that was tabled to help blacks, out of 287 claims only 17 were from Blacks, the rest by corporations! Somehow these corporations that were first started as a gift for the people to assist in times of war for bridges, and ship building, & that no one was allowed to have ownership in another corporation of have somehow morphed into what we have today.

So no, a corporation is not a fun clown like Mcdonald's image or an nice old man like Wendy's or a Rice Crispy "Snack Crackle Pop" guy...No, that's all for convincing you to trust their product...so it's whole premise is based on selling you on a false image. Where did everything get so twisted?

We need to back away from a corporate government model that I know. Instead of more private partnerships we need less...I want to be living in the Town of Newmarket again - not the Corporation of the Town of Newmarket...Foodbanks get 80% of their donations from corporations who are embraced by people like our minister in charge of the Ontario poverty reduction efforts, who had a photo op with the president of Cambpell's Soups last summer, as they celebrated a 'donation" to the hunger fight' - via soup sales that gave a kick back of cans of soup to food banks in return and makes the corporation look wonderful in doing so, and I guess the minster too..or so she thought, as they seemed to have back-tracked from that a bit..likely a recent Harvard Study which showed those eating canned soup vs fresh had 1,121 times more levels of harmful diabetes and heart disease causing Bisphenol A. Try more money people, it works much better.
Food for thought!

more "Occupy" messages

Strike won't affect this stop much running until only 7:30 pm ..good luck enjoying the new downtown evening riders!

Later, Tom

PACC Report "Occupy Newmarket" Day

2011-11-29T19:50:00.005-05:00

This PACC report is a wake up call to the federal, provincial and regional governments to end the York Region Transit Strike.

York Region Transit Strike

2011-11-29T12:20:00.001-05:00

As a result of an ongoing six week strike by the York Region Transit bus drivers, I started supporting Occupy Newmarket. Sounds crazy but halting public transportation affects alot of low-income people and those that can do something about it don't seems to care. Who do these people think they are? High school kids can't get to school, people depending on public transportation cannot go to work, elders running out of food ... It's ridiculous that neither the York Region Council nor the striking bus drivers will even entertain the thought of going to the bargaining table. SIX WEEKS!! That's enough now. Fred Joly

Occupy Newmarket Facebook Profile Picture

York Region Christmas Dinners Vouchers

2011-11-26T08:09:00.001-05:00

I know about the Christmas voucher that the Salvation Army gives out but does anyone know of others. I was hoping to attend a couple of the Christmas dinners that are hosted at York Region churches, community dinners what not. It would be nice if we could compile a list here of places for low-income people to go during the holidays. Do the food banks give out extra food for seasonal supplies? Maybe a place to get a few small gifts like toiletries etc. Fred Joly

Videos Occupy Newmarket

2011-11-23T07:34:00.000-05:00

Please see the PACC News / Report - short news-like clips includes transit strike, "Occupy Newmarket", humourous corporate info!

Day 1 - http://youtu.be/vVeTWGY4vfQ

Day 2 - http://youtu.be/mj_3wIp6SAw

Enjoy!

PS Despite the transit strike some are still asking to meet regarding xmas drives/food /youth road hockey event etc so we'll look to do so soon..when is good for people!?

Occupy Newmarket on Facebook

Occupy Newmarket Transit Strike Meeting

2011-11-18T08:13:00.005-05:00

Occupy Newmarket Meetings at Fairy Lake

Saturday November 19th 2011 at Fairy Lake.

Video produced by TP. It's absolutely hilarious. He plays about 20 different recognized characters in a 60 Minutes style presentation. Some tough opinions but funny nevertheless.

Occupy Newmarket Video

Strike... what strike?!

2011-11-08T19:37:00.011-05:00

As the York Region Transit strike moves into a 3rd week, those workers and kids needing to get to their destination workplaces and schools, have been nothing more than an afterthought it seems...no outcry from our main-stream media for transit workers to end their strike...no indications from the regional government to end it or declare it an essential service - like Toronto did....What's wrong? Aren't our transit users as important or their survival as essential as the city folk!?..Or is it just that we in rich York Region are composed of mostly car users as opposed to local transit users, and therefore we don't have to care enough?....It should be an even more vital a service in suburbia as far as I'm concerned, especially for those communities isolated from schools, amenities, food or any non Y.R.T. transit station. Ironically only Conservative M.P.P. Frank Klees seems to be saying anything about it politically. Everyone else keeps playing the don't look at me game.

I don't know what they could possibly be striking about anyway as YRT is quite possibly the worst service I've ever experienced and I've taken it often and ridden transit systems right across Ontario. Frequently with connecting routes on the YRT that run every hour and drop you to wait another 45 minutes to an hour for a connector often without a shelter..I've had it take me 3 hours to travel a 10-15 minutes car ride distance... or after getting in town from work taking up to an hour and a half to get home. Ridiculous...and the newest Y.R.T. drivers are often rude and seem more interested in picking up green lights than passengers ....one driver stops daily while already running 10 minutes late to use the bathroom at Tim Horton's on Yonge St because it's apparently better than the one at the Go terminal she tells me..nice perk, er I mean perc., ha...and that route already runs only once per hour...on strike!?...Ha!

The VIVA drivers of course have no conversations with you whatsoever eliminating friendly hellos with their "honour system" designed to criminalize and sentence our poor, young, and homeless to lives with bad credit ratings for daring get warm in the winter, and which it's personnel has been boosted in recent times by an apparent influx of transit security police, not previously needed, who last summer delayed me an hour for simply insisting on full time on my transfer...sure I got an apology...but tell that to the meat, ice-cream, and milk that spoiled...where's my payback? I was treated like a criminal for insisting on my full fare value for which there was no argument in the end...just a driver having a bad day wanting to take it out on someone was my best guess...until I played my P.A.C.C. card. They've since changed the transfer system to a digital timed one now which eliminates the manual option and the little discretion a nice driver may have had in the past to give a few more minutes on a system you never every minute for! It's become a sad, face-less transit system with an even sadder direction in which it seems to be going ...the only reason the service has increased in number of riders in 2010-11 is because they now offer 15 minute interval runs up Yonge St to Finch Station which is convenient, but connecting a bus(es) home in a timely manner once back in your town is another thing entirely....This service does not warrant a raise and needs a new manager to run it as the guy they brought from the U.S. and his crony security cops style of service is not the Canadian way. This is not Boston city. He also has no concept of priorities it seems.

Over the summer they quietly changed some routes again....meaning chopped them..like the route 53's 6:20 a.m. run which connected remote Bathurst St. dwellers in Newmarket to work and schools and amenities. What were those people supposed to do that relied on that? Did you not know the route covered an area rife with low income earners? This route is changed constantly as well it seems so how do they expect to grow ridership?...One man I spoke to last year was late for the 1st time in 12 years after another one of the silly route 53 changes which, when changed, made him miss his usual connecting bus....and this without any strike!! And did they need to cancel completely their transportation to Walmart Sundays too for those working there? And shorten the last bus time so students from the mall can't catch it home after work whereas before there was one more that ran? Those workers can't afford the 30 buck cab fares on the wages paid ... even with a union! That is, short of labour laws that ensure they make a living wage so they could afford a car to drive...and to top it off Y.R.T. already charges more than the T.T.C. which offers much better and frequent service with talk of another fare raise in early 2012.Please! Improve your service and you'll improve your ridership and in turn more revenue. Just gouging the poor riders for more doesn't cut it. Terrible service. Terrible planning.

Street Talk

Street hockey took on some life early for us - our free Friendly Neighbourhood Youth Road hockey Challenge takes place in March - via the Era-Banner / town council hoopla....with Newmarket council - woman, Maddie Dimuccio, attempting to have it restricted and or require kids to have permits to play. Ha! It's all just good publicity for us anytime anyone tries to control road hockey - a Canadian icon as a past-time - so I had to weigh in...but no worries ...a safe bet it's not going anywhere soon.

Fairy Lake Park home to upcoming "Occupy Newmarket"General Meeting Sat Nov 14 with a 12pm start I'm told

This time of year seems to always flush out people in dire need and at the end of their ropes...not literally usually, thank God, but spiritually and mentally...having been exhausted by the various processes designed to keep them warm and fed for our harsh winter months... it catches up to some around now in different ways for different people.One mother of 3 came to me for a box of food (often we hand them out to families we come across too proud or without access to food banks) who lives in an abusive relationship for the sake of her kids and who is now second guessing her moves after being ditched rent day with no money and no income, having relied on this person...As she asked me, "What kind of a man does that?"...Now she / they are in transition..again...she had assisted housing once but foolishly gave it up and try as she might they wouldn't reinsert her.....Now it's a life of the constant grind to once again try and find an affordable place to live having not known their rights in the last one and having felt intimidated when the landlord's brother went as far as to break the door in while she huddled with her kids..scared..alone...and now she's back with him, having been shunned by welfare..to return to the cycle until her kids are of age where she can branch off to survive on her own....if she can last..and if the demoralizing system hasn't destroyed her first...Another woman that PACC was asked to help direct made the gut wrenching decision to have her now school aged son live most often at Dad's who makes a steady income and has family around and a car...for that decision she's to be turfed from YR housing and was informed she's being bumped to market rent of $1250.00 per month...she had been paying $134....and of course made to apply for welfare..and explain to them..and on and on...no daycare and no opportunity equals this result...Still another woman, a newcomer, found out the hard way that some schools' credentials don't get recognized by some agencies...beware of accelerated P.S.W. programs / courses...just because the government covers it doesn't mean it's recognized by the industry...confused? Join the club...Another couple tells me they've been told by Children's Aid Society workers, who have inserted themselves into this disabled couple's lives because they dared have a child even though her mom has custody to appease their worries of their disability and despite the fact the dad has raised two successfully previously, that they feel they HAVE to go to a mediator..thus controlling them just so they can have access to their daughter...What gives anyone the right? An opinion is all they should get...goodness all couples have argued throughout history on occasion and these two are tame compared to many I've seen who weren't ORDERED to!..If they had money of course there wouldn't be all this intervention....another story for another day...!@...Last note...someone has proposed a "Occupy Newmarket" platform for Fairy Lake...wasn't me...just saying! Here's my latest 1 minute creation...a tribute to the growing gap between rich and poor.. Enjoy!

Tom out!

York Region..Shame on Oct 17

2011-10-25T17:05:00.009-04:00

Lack of politicians present prompted this man to speak out

Robin Wardlaw losing candidate for Aurora Newmarket provincial election

Tom Pearson of PACC generates story in media TV and newsprint of homelessness resulting in unprecedented response.

Oct 17 2011 Fairy Lake Park..she got some hot soup, free entertainment and company!

Hip Hop Group Krhyme Syndicate

Oct 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is a day you would think the "do-gooders" and agencies representing clients with low income issues etc would want to be a part of?! This inspirational day was started in 1987 in France, in front of 100,000 people from all continents and all social and economical backgrounds who had gathered at the United Nations Troscadero building to give a voice to those without one so often. Oct 17 was recognized by the United Nations in 1992 and has been adopted around the world as THE day to set aside to give serious thought to our strategies on reducing and eliminating poverty around the world and offering a voice to it. It's a shame York Region is not pulling her weight.

For the past 5 years PACC has had to organize an event to ensure it's continued marking of this important day but with few local agencies in attendance this year, and even fewer information booths, one has to wonder. The one "ally" if you will which seemed to really recognize it's important significance, The York Region Alliance to End Homelessness, is now defunct leaving the York Region Food Network, with its loose affiliation to low income issues through food as PACC's only "partner" in actually making changes for the better of the people in income crisis.

Perhaps it's not important to some organizations (or churches) to participate but it is certainly to your "clients", so we suggest you help them out and earn the grant money you're likely receiving by putting in a few hours at the internationally marked event next year when it's moved to more accommodating location at the north side of Fairy Lake in the newly dubbed "Riverwalk Commons". They are people to us, not clients or cases....and perhaps the Mayor will make it out next year...nice to see Deputy Mayor John Taylor again who showed and spoke without being prepped and attending on his own merit it seemed to me, but where were the rest of the politicians as one observer asked me. It actually inspired him to speak on our microphone which he hadn't planned, wondering aloud about the absence of the mayor among others and politicians in general.

Composer Singer Fred Joly

Youthful Signage..See video regarding kids needing buses to school and how the transit strike affect these kids.http://youtu.be/7FlNrLIInlk

Fred plays from heart and sings from experience

New ideas emerged that day..and new groups sprouting..

Of course I had not been given a reason (for the mayors absence) and so I couldn't say why, but as I understand it he himself may have been hosting something the same day - on Oct 17 - which since he had it declared a day with official recognition a few years back at our behest - would indicate that the date never really resonated. Too bad.Making it to the grand opening party for the town's new (still unfinished) River walk Commons in the pouring rain was no problem but I guess to give support (with a friendly hello) for those in need was not important enough this year...Oh well, maybe he can make up for it by fighting for the route YR transit route 53 run at 6:20AM past Mulock Village which they quietly cancelled over the summer be reinstated after the strike is over (why no essential service declaration?) so those folks can get to work on time instead of being replaced, and perhaps have buses that run past 7:30PM, the current time it last goes by Main St from the new "River walk Commons". MP Lois Brown's office had informed me she couldn't attend because she was to be in Ottawa, while Frank Klees' office gave no reason for why he wouldn't be showing up. Turns out he was busy flip-flopping... No other politicians responded except failed NDP candidate Robin Wardlaw who did show up briefly. Area Newmarket councilor Joe Sponga, although not present, did assist with some aspects behind the scenes so we'll cut him some slack this time!

In the end we were crunched for time in terms of marketing along with that $budget issues which we resolved as we went which made for a tough balancing act...special thanks to PACC's Kristine Carbis who took charge of the fresh hot soup and food prep, to Deli House catering for the serving utensils and as well to the St John's Church (and Jean Lashley) for letting us use their church kitchen as 510 Penrose added a $ charge this year for its use which wasn't there last year...well sorry, the "hub" will have to make money on someone else when the Inn isn't even open yet.. who could it have hurt? Ridiculous. Hey!! I know!! Offer 1/2 hour showers! $2 a pop!

Oct 17 is not PACC's event or RESPONSIBILITY..it's everyone's and those who try to do nothing will get called to the carpet right here..that I can assure you..by the way not one shelter was represented at this year's Oct 17 event as no-one responded to our calls for a booth or information to display. I guess PACC didn't generate enough media attention for them via the story of the men living in the forest which PACC orchestrated and which the writer Chris Traber told me they had an unprecedented reaction to. So we know it generated extra revenue for them.

So everyone start figuring out how you're going to get along in the next year and work collaboratively with others because those who don't will eventually find themselves on the outside looking in.

Here's a pictovideo from Oct 17 -
http://youtu.be/k_AkwRZGT24

Collaborate This!.......Oct 17 Coming To a Community Near You!

2011-10-14T13:49:00.013-04:00

Author, Senior, and long time outspoken local resident Ivan Propovchuk returns to speak for 2011 event.

Newmarket MP Lois Brown will not be attending the Oct 17 as she will be in Ottawa. She last attended in 2009. Inquiries to have a federal representative offer an update on Canada's obligations to the UN agreement to end child poverty went unanswered.

I figured with Oct 17 around the corner, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, I should blog something - if not to remind people about the significance and importance of this day which was started some years ago by a French Priest, Joseph Wresinski, who came from poverty and who unveiled a commemorative sculpture at the Trocadera Human Rights Plaza on October 17, 1987, in front of 100,000 people from every social background and continent. Known as the World Day to End Extreme Poverty, the day was recognized by the United Nations as the International Day for The Eradication of Poverty in 1992.

PACC actually kicked off it's existence on that date in 2004 and subsequently has held an event every year since in York Region to try and instill a sense of obligation that we as a community have to change things. The hope was also to attract organizations on the same page in hoping better for people, and perhaps assisting to that end. A great opportunity also was the thinking for some of that collaboration we hear so much about as a buzz word. Oct 17 is marked by simultaneous events worldwide, resulting most recently in setting world records in successive years for those standing at once against poverty with over 20 million standing and pledging at once!Yet in York Region we have struggled to get organizations or even churches to attend, assist, participate (or donate) to ensure their voices or those in their programs or care or guidance are given the opportunity to be heard and a shot at dignity.

http://youtu.be/geLeYrJ5Mc0
Here's an original in-house fun video by TP Entertainment designed to make you laugh...and think!

Recently I was asked to say a few words after Regional Councilor and Deputy Mayor John Taylor had spoken at the 510 Penrose building in Newmarket, containing York Region's winter shelter north Inn From the Cold which shelters single men and women of all adult ages in winter as well as some other groups related to poverty issues, during the launch of the Poverty Free Ontario campaign. Additionally in attendance, on top of those who we've worked together with in the past on projects such as the 1st ever York Region social audit "Behind The Masks" like the York Region Food Network's Director Joan Stonehocker as well as (then) Programs Coordinator Yvonne Kelly, were Pat Taylor Co-Chair of the YR Planning Council among some - and volunteers under the care a mental health assist group who were packing boxes of fresh healthy food that are for sale to the public as well as directors and operators from Inn From The Cold and other organizations contained in the wannabe "hub" building - home to the local food bank - which ironically carries no fresh food. York Region Media group poverty writer Chris Traber also was in attendance for the launch ..his eventual story did not explain Poverty Free Ontario was even a comprehensive campaign containing input from those with learned experience and professional social workers and planning councils from across Ontario...but that's another day.
At any rate Councilor Taylor, who's father Tom coincidentally is on the Board of the Inn From The Cold I believe, had just voiced something positive about groups in YR working together well to fight poverty and as the speaker after, I tried to carry that theme forward as I began to speak but added I thought we could do better and that I felt too many groups still worked in "silos", at times perhaps duplicating work or sometimes even provided programs that masquerade as such or programs that need fixing. Funny, accounts of these conditions that have been propelling people towards reliance and a sence of being trapped were also what the social audit highlighted, yet to date we've seen no real changes implemented by the region or providers thus far, despite the Region adopting the report and recommending many of its conclusions and recommendations and despite rumblings of an as yet undecided possible transit supplement. Instead it seems to me it's full speed ahead on everyone's own agendas and theories and ideas with little or no thought to or input and reports already in from the end users who want and NEED change... and no or little real grass roots participation with decision makers making for self serving solutions at times or ones that compromise on then side that sacrifices people's dignity, other than organizational "show ponies" I call them..People often happy to get (used) in order to receive "extras" or paid part time jobs having been given special treatment for endorsing a group or organization publicly or via the media.

Nevertheless it was enlightening to hear with all those present including some shelter heads, as surely they must know it was PACC who generated that story in the media (among many we've done) last winter about the homeless father and son that generated an unprecedented amount of interest to donate to them? And do they not think our advocacy work and media attention from the stories had something to do with the decision to allow the YR Winter Inn(s) to be open 7 days a week for 2011-12 instead of the previous 5 days per week? And surely we're appreciated for the dollar value that translates into via sympathetic donors not knowing who else to give it too from that series of articles who we often direct people to do? That's working together my friends despite wishing them not be needed.

Of course then the newspaper write their spin, but never really talk much or in detail about the lack of affordable housing and full time jobs and lack of affective or even any programs for some people in dire need, but write what wonderful things and programs we have for them all...what a load of garbage...we are failing people on so many levels I don't even know where to begin, yet we keep patting ourselves on the backs for.....what? Keeping quiet so we can control people and what little money they get? Herding our mentally ill and those without hope into shared rooms whilst taking the bulk of what little money they get and offering free trips to the mall as entertainment or activities? We need to install dignity back into the fray and those burnt out by dealing with peoples continual crisis' need to get out or get angry and start speaking up...Although a recent otherwise complementary yet anonymous blog comment did mention avoiding being angry - or at least showing it. I'm not convinced on that because anger is what sometimes fuels me to keep going, as these days there are so few points in the win column...but I will try to heed the advise..and it's going to be tough coming into my next segment.

We have a long way to go yet!...Oct 17 is International Day for The Eradication of Poverty, aka World Day to End Extreme Poverty, and as I mentioned earlier, it's a day designed to give a voice to those in poverty - and we've added free hot soup and encouraged entertainers to write and perform on our stage and any assist organizations to feel free to jump in or even have a booth or speak. And yet, instead of love and collaboration, after all the publicity we've generated for the 510 Penrose and encouragement to other organizations like John Howard Society to move there and how we promoted it to PAccers and the media as a "hub" for help and included linking ourselves to groups there trying to build legitimate grass roots connections which we did to give them legitimacy with the very people many of the organizations house within it. Yet we're told that we have to pay this year to use the kitchen for Oct 17th's food preparation...are they serious!? What happened to all that talk about collaborating and working together? What about some slack for a group that likely helped rake in thousands of dollars for them if not 10's of thousands over the years through our media work and advocacy ? We don't owe an obligation to this event this event - you do - to prove you're worthy and actually care. To help people.

Whoever made the apparent decision to charge PACC, the event's organizing group led by grass roots volunteers and which receives no government grants per say or charity status for write-offs, money in 2011 , to use the kitchen in a "community poverty assist hub"during a time it's not being used so we can give out free food to people on a day marked and recognized by the U.N. as well as the town to help end poverty, tells me they are not interested to end it otherwise they'd be offering us hands to help and a donation to ensure its success! What else does one conclude for such an act..really.. I'm offended and so are the people they purport to want to help. We're paying for basically using the park via a permit, we now have to pay for insurance, and we have to pay for the town stage, posters, transportation, food and now we also are expected to pay to use the kitchen we always have used before? Someone needs to get out of the "business" because it isn't one my friend, it isn't one.People are not a commodity.

Despite this and the fact we've struggled right up until today to raise the little amount of funds needed to keep this going...it has made our resolve only stronger to continue forward and for us encourage communication. In fact who I am hearing from, aside from the usual suspects, are from contrasting groups like different churches, and like upstart democracy groups and groups in infancy wanting to be heard by our MPPs and MPs, and aboriginal, and even youth groups and interest such as Rogers TV - Teenz Talk which will be covering it and having me on as guest while clips run of the talent etc at the event...and The Era Banner plans to attend and take pics this year...entertainers are forming a line...so it's becoming exciting despite everything...and maybe...there's hope still.

I will continue to be hard hitting and truthful to the best of my ability, and be opinionated based on facts as I know them.So if you're looking for frilly or nice or ass kissing then I suggest you read some local mainstream news for that. I hope to see you or hear you Oct 17 at Fairy Lake ParkI produced this video to make people laugh ..we all need to sometimes!..Otherwise we're too angry!Ha!

Here's an original in-house fun video by TP Entertainment designed to make you laugh...and think!
http://youtu.be/geLeYrJ5Mc0

50 Ways To Close the Food Banks-Sung by York Region Food Bank volunteers!
http://youtu.be/lC2y8vnVFkI

Some of York Regions most devoted fighters for those mired in poverty - unsung heroes all.

Tom Pearson

Election Banter and Oct 17 Int Day for Erad of Poverty

2011-10-04T13:57:00.017-04:00

This Poverty Free Ontario sign along with numerous others somehow disappeared in the past weeks.

NDP candidate Robin Wardlaw (above) inserted himself in poverty reduction efforts while still a reverend by getting involved in the Put Food In The Budget campaign months before even deciding to enter the political arena. I believe his absolute disbelief at the lack of effort or care our politicians seem to have with those in poverty was a major deciding factor in his decision to run.

I was told the other day by a colleague, yelled at in fact, that I should always vote for the party when voting not the person. He was incredulous, almost frothing at the mouth in fact, that I could even entertain such a thought. Really?

I tried in vain to explain that I believed there were those that run because they care, and those that run because they care about power and ego and their party before the concerns that the locals have even come into play. I explained that I believe some people are more inclined to actually represent the people's will to their respective parties than others, and some seemed bound to or unwilling to listen to anything that went against their (party's) ideology or "plan".

For example several years ago, while a relatively newish naive PACC Chair, I met with Conservative MPP Frank Klees (and others) in a series of meetings called " A Square-table on Poverty" where we brought a succession of people who were living on low income and who all had unique circumstances that brought them there. The idea for the square-table was to bring various levels of government together to see if we could hammer out some solutions, but no matter what we did or brought to the table it seemed, nothing concrete ever got done. Of course it was around the time that then MP Belinda Stronach had famously walked across the floor to the Liberal Party, still we had her officially on board as well, although she sent only sent representatives in her place after the initial meeting. Regional Councillor John Taylor and various others including Georgina's Mayor Rob Grossi, Councillors from Aurora council, Newmarket and East Gwillumbury also attended and it was driven by live testimonials from those living in poverty. Residents involved included everyone from single moms surviving cancer, to wheel chair bound recipients, to those with mental health issues etc who came in to share their personal stories often tragic or embarrassing - something lost in the whole process - with the hope and trust that this grouping would accomplish something towards change. How naive was I? All MPP Klees would say as a solution was "Just give them a job" which in itself showed his lack of understanding of the issue as well as his lack of compassion I felt. I tried to explain that even those that can work are not guaranteed out of poverty at the current minimum wage and with all the contracting and temporary jobs replacing "real" jobs. I met a steely gaze.A recent review of the 905 area candidates by a Toronto Sun scribe who claims to know York Region said, "Frank Klees is ridiculously good at his job". If his job is being a slick politician that avoids doing anything from election to election by constantly putting down the opponents and speaking eloquently then he'd be right, but I always thought being a good MPP meant representing the constituency well - and unless you have autism or a stash of money I don't see it.

During the square-table, MPP Klees offered up that the owner of a favourite restaurant he attended liked our (wheelchair bound PACCer Dan's) idea to start a bottle collections and recycling company which we'd then use to enable guys like Dan with limited motor functions to work, as he would have "received" the bottles after collection. The restaurant had apparently agreed to come on board as a client to help get it started but it never happened. Now I can't blame the MPP completely on this particular failure though, as Stronach's attending representative also had a hand in it by not coming through with a promise made to set up the initial meeting with the restaurant even after repeated prompting by myself. At that point, when it became apparent that this "square-table" was not functioning as a solutions based body but just making it look like we were accomplishing something all the while collecting media brownie points for participating, we ended it.

It was apparent almost from the outset that MPP Frank Klees was not going to play ball with anything resembling solutions when it came to poverty. Recently we met again in 2011 when we invited him to "Do The Math", an action oriented exercise designed to inform and engage politicians about how some people are barely able to afford food and after he agreed people got little he offered up food stamps - a U.S. style of feeding the poor - as a solution. When told this creates have and have-not food centres, stigmatizes, and is undignified he said, " Tom, you and I could go back and forth all day and we're not going to agree". Enough said, he knows better than the thousands living day to day, some slowly falling or sinking (and adding cost to) into our mental health care system. Thanks for the compassion and understanding Frank. The media write-up about the "Do The Math" exercise - like what they did with the square-table on poverty - painted Klees as a willing participant for change, which from my experience was a farce. Even just recently, prior to the election candidates roll-out, Klees was quoted as saying "Poverty will certainly be an election issue". He and his party have not mentioned it since, nor announced any plan. I personally believe that YRMG poverty writer is a closet Conservative.

Now some are likely thinking that PACC is supposed to be non-partisan - which we are - but frankly (no pun intended) when a "leader" won't listen to the residents he's supposed to lead at all, without room for flexibility because his party (or he) are against it, then something is broken in our system. I believe they should be representing the people first and the party-line second. Besides these are just my observations and conclusions - you can all draw your own.

Who else is in the election race in my area of York Region?...Well there is also the Liberal Christina Bisanz whom I have heard little about. They have not contacted us (PACC) or me personally as a voter so I have not much to go on, except she was quoted in the local paper as having "hands-on experience with people in poverty" from her "volunteer" board position with Belinda's Place. That's very noble and the shelter thing is very "sexy" in the realm of volunteering, however one problem...that shelter isn't even built yet so what kind of "hands-on" experience is that? Bisanz also goes on to quote false / misleading information and statistics about homelessness in York Region to make her volunteer position seem even more noble. Now I don't know anything else really about this candidate, but when what I do know are exaggerations and misleading info I know enough - at least for me personally - to make a decision because I vote for the candidate. Integrity means something to me, and when I see politicians or in this case wannabe make statements with part truth and part falsehood and spun to make them look better, then they get automatically crossed from my list - regardless of party. They actually had a chance with me. Not now.

The Green Party Candidate I know absolutely nothing about..in fact I wasn't even sure a Green candidate was running here until a couple weeks back and to date have seen only 2 roadside signs for them so I'm not sure how serious they are in this.Regardless, if the guy called me up so I could get a feel for the kind of person / character he was then candidate Kristopher Kuysten would at least have a shot.

The last candidate in my electoral riding, Robin Wardlaw is an ex- church minister at Trinty United church who, when still a reverend, would attend socially conscious meetings designed to influence change and often engaged his church in understanding more and helping more those in need. Under his watch the local homeless were allowed showers daily and hosted a free lunch Tuesdays to feed some of our hungry. Wardlaw also was a catalyst in getting a homeless father and son some work painting at the church which led to the duo getting a work reference and more work. PACC ultimately got involved and found the father a full time job so I witnessed this first hand. (Then) Rev Wardlaw, was able to identify that by enabling these two homeless guys he was assisting everyone and that it was not solely a "good deed" on compassionate grounds, but also one that enhanced society. Wardlaw has actual first hand experience of the hardships people go through that survive on low income (and all incomes) through his clergy work and understands that some need more to work with at the very least. It's obvious to him and should be to the rest as well. Wardlaw has experience with people, integrity, compassion and is smart - the only one of the 4 candidates with all these traits based on my experience and knowledge. I also know he would listen to what I (we) had to say, would actually try to work with (us) to reduce poverty and assist us to put people back to work or in better positions to be positive contributors to society. Party platforms I cannot recite to you, however I can ask you all to look into the eyes and souls of the candidates you choose.

Sometimes, I suppose, you can't know candidates personally, but you can get a sense of their person and what they believe in personally by asking some simple questions - such as " Do You Support A Poverty Free Ontario?" or " What do you intend to do to house - not shelter- our growing number of low incomers ?"
As it stand now none of the parties actually have a poverty reduction plan that we feel is a good comprehensive plan, however we do feel there are candidates and parties that can be influenced to look at others' ideas - such as the Poverty Free Ontario Plan.

Above Pic Native group NinOs Kom Tin from 2010 Oct 17 at Fairy Lake Park to Mark International Day for The Eradication of Poverty. see video link below! The 2011 event needs some funds to help pay for it. Please help if you can as we need to raise about $750 to cover the full costs. Info Booths welcome.

Oct 17 is International Day for The Eradication of Poverty. Regardless of who wins I hope winners can come out to Fairy Lake Park from 3PM - 7PM and speak up and out about their plans to reduce or eliminate poverty...Those from groups or individuals that are affected by poverty as well as musicians and performers depicting poverty awareness are also welcome to come and participate!

PS: Inform anyone homeless in the Newmarket Aurora riding that they can go to the York Region Food Network at 510 Penrose for the breakfast drop in on Wednesday Oct 5 where there will be someone there who can sign a certificate of identity and residence that will allow them to vote in the provincial election at the polling station at the Magna Centre on election day, Thursday October 6th.

Today's Blog represents my personal opinions and are not representative of PACC's official views.

Tom out

Election Observations and Related Banter

2011-09-30T00:52:00.014-04:00

Above York Region's break down of spending. Below Queen of The Food Banks

The Poverty Free Ontario campaign kicked off across Ontario Sept 23 with a number of areas garnering media and MPP attention, a good start to a campaign tailor- made for this upcoming Oct 6 provincial election.That being said, the coverage in local papers was rather vague about what the actual launch / campaign is, leaving readers believing some wonderful poverty reduction headway has already been made here in York Region, which it has not.It also misrepresented my point as I agreed only that York Region needs to work more collaboratively and less in silos - not that a good job has been done as it reads.

In my travels over the summer, what I have found are numerous(mostly) men living on the streets, in forests, or on the fringes and on couches or rooms often immersed in dangerous environments around dangerous people, and with affordable vacancy availabilities so low it's pitting groups of young people and old alike against each other for anything affordable, wreaking havoc in low income communities.In Edmonton of the 38 murders in 2011 an astounding 20 were people who had been in hostels or homeless! That is danger my friends...and we have the same atmosphere brewing here where these men deserve a safe affordable choice too. Isn't murder and assault abuse? These men have no abuse shelters to flee to..Being killed, assaulted or recruited on the street is their option for housing or shelter after their 6 weeks maximum shelter stays are up? And that's if they are lucky enough to get one of only 25 beds for single men in the entire York Region. Men make up 90% of our homeless yet soon less than 20% of all available shelter beds here. Having to defend from often deranged or dangerous types because of lack of choice, that's fair? Or check into a place where a fellow patron who may not like you is checking their weapon out when you're booted in the morning? An otherwise meek homeless person could be terrorized into doing crimes or joining gangs he or she would not normally under such conditions, or worse yet, killed. Statistically men are murdered and assaulted far more than any grouping including women and children. Men too need homes and safety nets to survive! But that's okay they're men... they can handle it...Right.

Yesterday I came across a guy who receives ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) as his financial support who must rent out a room in his 2 bedroom apartment to get by. This is typical because they don't give enough $ to afford your own apartment. When the "roomee" couldn't make rent (again), he had to scrounge to find it, and asked the guy to leave in order to get someone else who could pay. This was not the first time this scenario has played out for the single ODSPer. Generally the tenant hasn't paid because he can't and then will become homeless, which they HATE SHELTERS. At this point guys get desperate and did so here, returning with 5 men who forcibly made the owner wait outside whilst they destroyed his place and re-broke his already broken foot. His new "roomee" returned to the destruction just after they'd gone - dishes smashed, furniture wrecked, his bike(transportation) spokes all broken and tossed out the 2nd floor window. Upset, he grabbed a kitchen knife and went downstairs to warn these younger thugs not to come back. He was then charged.The 5 men were not arrested with the owner being too afraid to say anything.

I'm not going to say that if we had enough SAFE, affordable housing and some affective programs to help these men, that these crimes wouldn't have happened - or actually yes I am - if we did, we likely wouldn't have had this scenario play out, which fell short this time of any casualties. Not so lucky for the 20 homeless connected murdered this year in Edmonton.

I was astounded to hear that some of our York Region shelters - including Sandgate Woman's Shelter, Inn From The Cold and the Youth Shelters (single men and SINGLE women up to age 26) as well - allow guests to check weapons in and out when they leave. Our shelters allow a person to bring a gun as long as they check it in and get it when they get out..Wha-a-a-at!!? I wonder if the proposed new women's shelter will allow this practice? ...and where will these homeless women come from? Mark my words, like the subsidized housing here in York Region where we Ship people(mostly families) in from outside York Region currently, they'll have to do the same for in-the-works Belinda's Place Shelter, because frankly we don't have enough women homeless in YR to fill it, despite all the sound bites of false information (STATS BASED ON # OF PHONE CALLS, NOT BODIES) our local papers and politicians keep spouting. Good luck housing them after their 6 weeks are up though, since we have no housing for them, same as the men - although I heard there are transitional homes proposed for some single women as well. There is none for men in York Region whatsoever.I may sound like a broken record at times but I will keep on writing the facts because I despise bullshit...and should I continue to see and hear false or misleading stats or info in our media or from our politicians I will continue to point it out even when obvious...Like we need more affordable housing for all singles, all ages, all sexes....Speaking of stats the same Era Banner reported last Sunday that there was an "unexpected" drop in YR shelter use this year. Well here we go again, because it should have been expected with the opening of the new family shelter which should have (and obviously did) taken some of the load away from the women's various shelters resulting in less bodies per.
There is absolutely no doubt that with the least amount of rentals stock to begin with IN CANADA (under 12%), that York Region is lacking (affordable) places for residents to live, and as the cost of living surpasses wage and income increases, the situation is being exasperated. Building affordable units should be built into the region's official plan but is not.. Why? Because they think it's easier (and cheaper) to build shelters that are only for temporary stays. Wrong.

Build affordable homes, not jails, to reduce crime, poverty, and homelessness.

SIGN WARS!!
I noticed when I first went out after signs were up that all the NDP signs in my area seemed knocked over or perhaps poorly placed but I had my doubts...next time out the Conservative signs seemed knocked over and after which I read something in the papers about this sign wrecking being a "crime"..and only mentioned Conservative signs..hmmm...then we had our own sign launch as well as POVERTY FREE ONTARIO signs and lawns signs went out...but I noticed the ones I placed at strategic locations are....Gone! Hmmm.. someone is afraid of poverty....I also found out that a certain party routinely break the sign placement laws by placing them too close to corners and bus shelters etc...I've noticed the blatant disregard every election...how come illegal sign placement is not a "crime"!?

This Video was made by..Disgruntled York Region Food Bank Volunteers who want to retire!
http://youtu.be/lC2y8vnVFkI

This Original Video Depicts problems low income kids face in York Region and Ontario
http://www.youtu.be/7FlNrLIInlk

Tom out!

Close The Food Banks

2011-09-12T01:10:00.024-04:00

YR Police have told Outreach workers not to give tents out to the homeless and slit holes in any they find in a new "policy" it would seem, trying to force people into unhealthy often dangerous environments against their wishes.
The Wild Flowers Cafe at 225 Main St S in Newmarket Ontario will house a combination Open Stage Fundraiser and Youth education award presentation Fri Sept 23 from 7PM - 9:30 PM. Musicians and singers/players welcome. Also featuring TP Entertainment presents..., Khryme Syndicate, Dulcimer Head, Fred Joly...more TBA. Proceeds to PACC.

With such a catchy heading I suppose you're expecting another well meaning but off-base rant from me about the evils of food banks and that we should close them...something the average person might not even fathom as a possibility..." How could we possibly exist without food-banks!?"... I can hear the incredulous cries now, but hey, this isn't even my idea...it came from a group of mostly, or almost seniors, who have been (wo)manning food banks as volunteers in York Region for the past 20 years, and are tired of watching people suffer the indignity of it for little food in the big scheme of things. People need much more than food banks can possibly provide, and healthier, and they know it, and face the frustration of that directly from people in dire need. So who knows better? Who better to have seen how demoralized and undignified the food bank system makes people feel than its volunteers? If they say it's wrong there must be a ring to it. So what does a group of frustrated food bank volunteers do about it? Why sing of course!

"50 Ways To Close The Food Banks" was spearheaded by York Region Food Networker, Yvonne Kelly, who approached the food bank volunteers originally to meet, but later evolving into their desire to do a sort of protest song designed to send a message to politicians and the public, that food banks are not an answer. They, in fact, were started as a temporary measure in the 1970's and were expected to last a few weeks but have now become ingrained as part of the food security network. This perception of it helping is terribly misguided.

The biggest downfall to food banks, besides the fact that they are perceived to solve the problem by some and are not a dignified means to receive a basic need or that locations can be hard to access, is the fact that most do not include any fresh or healthy foods and provide rations for only 3 day a month. Why bother? Just give them more money in whichever capacity that needs to be and let them buy food they actually like... themselves! Egads! They don't need a food depot and we especially don't need to maintain them in order to keep volunteers or donors happy. There's plenty of room on the shelter band wagons for anyone interested in that.

At any rate somehow I got pulled into the heap and agreed to make a video recording of the group - aptly named Freedom 95...The Table-Knacker Choir! Hopefully I can release it soon.

That's the fun part over with. I'm noticing in my travels an increase in desperation on the streets. Increased incidence of public fighting and arguing due to financial stress, people having to move into crack/drug houses (with no alternative), and numerous stories of people stealing food basics or steaks from stores - even people's fridges - which all tell me people are increasingly desperate - and desperate times call for desperate measures. What that means is more assistance to those in need, and I don't mean solely by income supports but through independent access to affordable, safe housing and income - as I've also noticed an increase in evictions (attempts), as well programs and special living arrangement situations are so crammed up they seem to be inventing things to get rid of anyone that doesn't play along nicely, to the point where people are even afraid to speak up about an organization (that's supposed to be looking out for their mental well being) for fear of losing their meeting spot or home.

So if you placed in a room with two others who stink, cough or do heavy drugs or are violent, you're expected to be quiet and accept that? Sorry I don't...Or go live in a room with 20 others like this if you don't like it? No. I don't accept that either. People need their own places / spaces to live.

It's all about the money and make no mistake they all need their client quotas. I also find it outrageous an organization that is supposed to be taking care of people evicts them even knowing they are wrong - such as a case I came across wherein ODSP pays the landlord directly, yet each time (3 in past year) the "community support organization"served notice on the tenant who's out of the loop, causing severe ongoing stress. The last time, he was finally evicted because he didn't go to Toronto to fight the application. This causes someone in such predicaments to make decisions they might not otherwise make. How's his mental health now?!

It really tells you something when we have a system that controls its most vulnerable through a series of traps all encompassed within a creation of reliance on them as "care-givers" for income, shelter, welfare, help programs, treatment, housing and all contingent upon them playing along with any whim thrown their way no matter how impossible, unreasonable or unmanageable. It's not a wonder some never escape the trap because we encourage its continuance by saying that we can't afford to feed, house and cloth people in need in a cold country as vast in resources and riches as we are - yet we can continue to feed money and time to a broken system not designed to lower its reliance but to encourage it.

Speaking of reliance I know the guys living on the streets are sure missing (former Rev) Robin Wardlaw, now that he's left as the Pastor of a local church and become the NDP representative for Newmarket Aurora in the upcoming provincial elections. During his watch the homeless were permitted a shower every day - the only place in Newmarket where they could - and since he left they've apparently stopped allowing the practice. Amazing, you get out of one thing to help people, and immediately someone is undoing your good work left behind...too bad for the guys. Now there's a guy who can claim actual experience with low income issues unlike the Liberals' local filly Christina Bisanz, quoted in the paper as having experience with the issue "first hand" through her "volunteer work" as a board member for a shelter (Belinda's Place) that doesn't even exist yet. Its not even a building! The magical candidate! Meantime MPP Frank Klees was quoted commending " the network of food banks" for their fine work. Ha. Great stuff. Couldn't make it up. Here's a link to a story about a group offering REAL concrete solutions now being looked at in other communities.

The police have apparently also told the OUTREACH people not to issue the homeless any tents as well and have slit any existing tents they've found with knives I'm told.....nice...forced jail cells next perhaps? Too bad no one seems to face the reality that York Region has problems...that are only bubbling now.. but should we continue to arrogantly throw food bank drives and used clothing giveaways and make baseless statistical quotes while pushing people into corners to drive our poverty reduction efforts ....we're surely doomed....
....and by the way a reminder the POVERTY FREE ONTARIO campaign kicks off Sept 15 across Ontario...you can get in on the action locally at 510 Penrose in Newmarket at 10:30 AM.
50 Ways To Close The Food Banks!

Tom Pearson

...With winter approaching here's a link to a PACC Commotion (part comedy, part promotion) video focusing on a volunteer service that is surely needed - snow-shoveling for the elderly and disabled!
<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-XaBJ3ZwktM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Homeless Need Homes, Jobs not Shelters

2011-08-28T20:35:00.020-04:00

"House of Hope" in final stages of renovations much done by paid homeless and at-risk workers. Volunteer tradesmen helped organize the crews.
A minimum wage worker working full time in Ontario makes $1,000 below the poverty line.
Former Golden Glove boxer John Fletcher lived here. He died in June homeless.
Ed sits on Fletch's former "couch" in his former "apartment" behind a donut shop in Newmarket.

What a disappointment our media here(York Region) is and predictable too. For that reason I have no excuse for setting up a formerly homeless person to be interviewed by the papers in hopes it might spark offers of work for him. I knew better if I was really honest with myself, but instead I delivered him to the slaughter. Have I finally become what I despise? Someone or something that uses the plights of others to further their own personal agendas?

Not that the article was that hard hitting on (sic)except that it humiliated him amongst his street friends. He had also asked that his former boss not be named, yet Chris Traber the Era Banner Reporter printed it anyway. In addition he wrote the story without even coming out personally to meet him, instead sending a photographer/videographer alone who informed me the story was already written. I controlled (asked) the questions put to him for the YRMG video, so it at least hit hard on some points - providing they didn't sensor, I mean edit it to death - instead of what this article turned into, which was a poster for propping up the shelters. We were very clear this was to be about next steps for the homeless and not another commercial for the local shelters. Thanks to our efforts last year in the media and beyond, the York Region shelters did well with donations and got extended to 7 days from 5 at Inn from the Cold, yet we've never heard a word from those running them ..I don't know maybe to say thanks or invite us to something?

YRMG Writer Traber had contacted me originally seeking a story and pic of homeless people and how they deal with insects etc in the summer living outdoors, but I wasn't going to work too hard on that storyline as I didn't feel it compelling enough to be asking someone to expose themselves publicly. I informed him that since the last article we set them up with (winter), some of those guys that were homeless we've now gotten jobs in some cases, places to live, given phone numbers through which they've been enabled, trained for work and on, and so asked can we not do a story that spoke about these things that PACC has been involved in? Real difference making via trying to get people back into the loop of life instead of focusing on shelters (again). THESE PEOPLE HATE LIVING IN THEM I(we) told the writer but that never got printed. Nothing against writing about shelters but this was not their time. Why not touch on assisting people out of them?

I mentioned to the writer and photographer that a former local golden glove boxer John Fletcher who lived on the streets had died in June homeless, and that his story would make a great piece about a former champion boxer who became an alcoholic and who'd had a wife and 3 kids and a house which he gave her when he moved to the streets. He was well known and lived behind the Tim Horton's Plaza at Davis and Leslie where his stuff still lies - his can for cigarette butts untouched and filled with water and his bench and green tarp makeshift tent still in place. The street guys tell me no one goes there anymore since he died, his home left intact as a tribute to his memory almost, his presence eerily looming. He was dead 6 days before they found him. This was a story! I offered the photographer to go right across the street from where we were to take some shots of his former "home" but he declined - instead opting for the beer store "money shot" of our hapless victim toting recycled cans he collects for money while unemployed. As Old John Fletcher would say, " It's 60/40 for the good guys."

Even the quote attributed to me does not even resemble what I said regarding contract work - my quote should have read, " What ever happened to people getting a job with a company and that was their job, instead of constantly having to work around contracts which can end at anytime. People need full time sustainable work." as the photoed subject person had lost his contract job (PACC got him it, also left out of the article) after 7 months - but making barely minimum wage and then not qualifying for EI makes one vulnerable to homelessness. This could have been their other focus, but no, it was determined to follow it's script to the end, homeless person be damned.

The facts are wrong too - first they quote provincial election candidate Christina Bisanz as apparently having " first hand experience" from her volunteer work at Belinda's Place - a women's shelter that is not even open yet! - and then claims we have no shelter beds for single women in York Region whatsoever and that we turned away 500 last year from getting shelter. Funny, an earlier issue of the same Era-Banner stated that it was 220 women, but nevertheless what they leave out is the fact that its not 500 or even 220 at all, in fact the same person(s) calling an abuse shelter mistakenly and who then gets referred to a youth shelter or a family shelter etc would still get counted as someone refused shelter in these stats. In addition, the same people calling numerous times throughout the year are treated as different people artificially skewing the numbers. Mark my words the women they get will be shipped here from outside York Region. The same article had stated over 1200 men were refused. No shelter calls for them. They want homes not shelters anyway.

Ms. Bisanz also seems unaware York Region has INN From The Cold as well as OUT of the Cold which both house single women, and the youth shelters for single women up to 26 years also count I would think? Most others are picked up by the various women's abuse or family shelter categories, leaving the men -with a mere 25 full time bed in the entire York Region - by far the most in need. No mention of that in the article or from publicity seeking Bisanz. No quotes from happy shelter dwellers either, just all the owners and 'volunteers".

The article finishes with a bang quoting Frank Klees that poverty needs real attention and stating that it is "definitely an issue for the election." Who is he kidding? He did nothing to contribute to the square-table on poverty but spout " just give them a job", and has sat face to face with myself and many others looking for ways for people to get out from the misery of poverty - from those in wheel-chairs, to those with (mental)health issues, low income workers, single parents, cancer survivors and on we brought before him ,yet MPP Klees' only concession was to agree it would be hard to live on the income one gets from welfare while supporting the humiliating use of food stamps to assist. This would be his solution. Of course no word back from his camp yet on their thoughts on the Poverty Free Ontario Platform. His " just give them a job" solution doesn't even guarantee one from poverty here anymore. That's how far we've digressed.

Nope, and the York Region Media Group article couldn't have bothered to mention PACC and detail some of efforts we've made in the community perhaps or maybe mention the fact we hosted and organized the region's 1st ever social audit in history as well as co-authored the report (Behind The Masks) or that we organized the 1st ever anti-poverty "protest", or some bone for us. We've never had a story focus of any kind, yet served them award winners on a plate and even while offering real proof of making a difference still no fluffy story about us like everyone else gets ...yet still we plod on... with no government funding... and meantime the article listed organizations pretending to offer non-existing counselling and "housing support" and who received several hundred of thousands of dollars recently to place people into nowhere - as there is no affordable housing available!..while leaving source PACC's contact info out of it! Thanks! Geez, we could open the " House of Hope" with affordable units and in-house REAL supports with job skills training for only $50,000, and then sustained it by running it as having also a built-in business with some newly trained paid workers living there...had I been able to get some attention to a story on it and maybe a fundraiser ...I've asked about it but nothing to date ...and yet the Hoedown gets 6 weeks of promos everywhere you turn!...or money from the Region. Ha.

But it was I who gambled that man's integrity, and for that I'm no better than the newspaper people. Shame on me. Perhaps I've lost my way and am not fit to lead anymore.

PACC will be hosting an evening of open Stage Entertainment and handing out a $1,000 youth education award on Friday Sept 23 at Wild Flowers Cafe om Newmarkets (225) Main St South. Proceeds to PACC. 7 pm - 9:30 pm. Voluntary cover charge. Entertainers welcome. Feature Acts include Bestov Elvis, Singer/composer/guitarist Fred Joly, Rapper Sensations Khryme Syndicate!

Powerful PACC Production....Pictorial Reminder

Tom out

PACC for a Poverty Free Ontario

2011-08-02T19:09:00.014-04:00

Poverty Action for Change Coalition's Vice Chair Kristine Carbis outside PFO launch
Professor Marvin Novick and Peter Clutterbuck at a recent Poverty Free Ontario introduction
PACC Chair & PFO booster Tom Pearson with social assistance review Commissioner Sheikh

Tom-A-Talk

A Poverty Action For Change - PACC - Blog Report

Well the summer started with a bang until the sky started falling. First I lost my phone for a week, and many contacts permanently, when a Viva bus inadvertently ran over my cell phone…it’s a long story... I did resist reaching to grab for it despite a few seconds window and my cheap Scottish instincts rooting me on. Suffice to say, inconvenience would be an understatement as I try to conduct business mostly on this phone. At any rate I got another after shelling out way too much $ while also deciding to check out a new provider which has since suspended my service twice as I struggled to set up payments with them…it didn’t help that my bank paid the wrong account…Imagine not having a phone though? Many don’t and PACC has been distributing phone numbers to those without phones since March thereby enabling at-risk families and homeless individuals into homes, jobs, keep consistent contact for appointments with doctors and social workers etc, and take and receive messages 24/7. Next my computer went wonky so I wasn’t receiving emails for 2-3 weeks...imagine not having access to email or internet ever? Many don’t.

I travel the York Region transit system often and have noticed that in their quest to save money YRT have quietly (again) begun to cut service to isolated areas often containing low income residents, such as Newmarket’s route 53 bus to Bathurst St. which now stops running northbound from Yonge St around 8:30 pm, so kids working jobs to further their educations, and parents struggling to survive better hope they work 9-5 hours locally to allow them time for shopping, appointments or activities after they get home. Too bad that even if they get a job at the big local mall to pay for a bus pass there is no bus now for them to get home like there was previously as the mall closes at 9:00 pm ... and since the town raised taxi rates last year during the recession (poor people without cars mostly take cabs), giving away an hours pay from a part time job just to get home doesn’t make any sense either, when you may only get a 3 or 4 hour shift and may have to pay a babysitter. It’s bad enough this service runs every hour most times, but stopping service to these areas at such an early hour to a location that’s a 50 minute summertime walk to a grocery store or high school, is hurting people’s ability to survive and further isolates and marginalizes people. This bus service doesn’t even start early enough to get someone to work by 7 or 7:30 am need be – locally! – and connections often leave one waiting a half hour or an hour leading to some local trips taking two hours to travel a 15 minute vehicle ride while hourly only service from Fairy Lake / Main Street Newmarket stops at 8:30 pm. Ridiculous. So much for the new downtown renovations being for everyone to enjoy.

I was never more frustrated than the other day. As I struggled to make an appointment on a very hot afternoon my bus pulled in as my connecting bus was in the bay waiting already. "Great!” I thought, “Perfect timing!” But, alas, there was no spot for my bus to pull in right away and as it waited it circled the building once again before finally docking just as my connecting bus pulled out....running just once an hour! These are the reasons their YRT ridership is low on these local routes – terrible service (although increased Viva usage on main routes has helped skew the stats)! ......Keeping with the transit talk the local high-school claims the same neighbourhood is .1 km out of busing range – therefore making those kids walk or pay for transit at $80 per month - oh, and incidentally, of course increase YRT ridership with this ‘arrangement”. How people are expected to rise up out of circumstances when they are burdened with not even being able to consistently travel to work or school is a travesty and frankly a mystery as to why we’ve got this “system”. Many just quit…life or school.

In 2010, PACC in cooperation with the YRDSB, assisted some of these kids expected to walk by supplying free back-packs. PACC identified several areas where students are burdened with lengthy high school walks from isolated low and mixed income neighbourhoods. PACC Vice- Chair Kristine Carbis is currently negotiating another PACC to School program now for 2011. It’s not a bus but the wheels are turning!

I point these things out because it seems no one else (media) does. We always get a pretty picture painted it seems in our local media of all our regional run stuff here in good old York Region, and we’re told how we need all these beautiful new shelters when what we really need is more affordable housing for everyone, and especially singles, since we boast the lowest rental availability rates in the entire country! It is often men here who mostly (90%) end up truly homeless and living on the streets and who ironically have the least amount of shelter beds available to them - while being expected to ward off violent assaults, "druggies", disease, winter conditions, find jobs, housing, and access the system with few supports - unlike all other categories for people we create to decide who is more worthy of helping out…and god only help these men should they have missed a child support payment somewhere through it all because they’ll likely be denied financial assistance, or be jailed, or suffer a loss of their drivers licenses should they own one despite any circumstances. Circumstances we often help create and then exasperate in our rush to 'make someone pay".

Some of those connected with the Poverty Free Ontario campaign from across the province attended in person and on the phone last Friday, along with social service review Commissioners Francis Lankin and Munir Sheikh. Lead by PFO's Peter Clutterbuck the meeting was set up in order to express PFO’s mission, to influence the Commissioners and to make some asks such as would they make short-term recommendations prior to the election?... which I asked for... and which they politely turned down citing the need to remain non-partisan in an election year. My hope was to also have the Commissioners create a sense of urgency, in short supply with all these government bodies it seems, and I informed the Commissioners that York Region - with winter coming and only 25 full time beds for men in a population of 1.1 million (Y.R.) - could benefit from a resident influencing statement from them acknowledging the vastness and importance of this real problem (poverty) - believing such a statement may assist people to decide who to vote for - but t’was not to be… although the meeting was very productive, as I believe we assisted the Commissioners through providing clear, concise ideas and 1^st hand testimonials, and as well garnered their interest to receive more statistical and practical information for their peruse to assist towards recommendations of change. Commissioner Lankin particularly liked the framing of a term put forward by PFO’s Professor Marvin Novick when he said during his time to address – “People need to be able to earn their way out of poverty” but I’d take that one step further, based on my experience and from our own PACC hosted (ISARC) social audit, and say that “People WANT to earn their way out of poverty.”

Other PFO target points included unveiling the plan to virtually eliminate poverty in Ontario – like some Scandinavian and Nordic countries have accomplished with much fewer resources. Reducing poverty to 4%, as opposed to the over 10% we have now, meets this goal and the plan outlines how this can be accomplished through various adjustments including minimum wage and social service increases and carry-over benefits that cover low income workers. If you’d like to be more informed about the Poverty Free Ontario campaign or see how you can become involved click on through! A “reverse” election campaign with lawn signs will commence this Sept 15 via a province wide release for those interested! Order PFO signs and buttons through your local organizations or PFO for 25 cents a piece or through me at $1 each to help PACC survive. Signs run $2.42 per unit with metal legs for18” x 12” footers. Larger lawn signs available as well.

Speaking of survival, I received a call from a very perturbed long time PACC mom struggling to keep a roof over her head as she wrestles with red tape, income woes, rent arrears, and being refused help from welfare for making too much money - even though her total work income including child support is less than $1,000 per month. Complicating her case seems to be having two teenagers, one who just graduated high-school and is now 18, which seems to always freeze our social safety-net “system”. Usually everyone gets denied any benefits regardless of situation these days, perhaps to weed out the weak, and then has to fight for basic rights to survive. This stressed out mom is also in the middle of horrific work conditions, dictated by an empowered abusive female supervisor who seems to have a cozy after-hours relationship with male management to the point where the workers are afraid to say anything in fear of losing their jobs - as one long time employee did for speaking up. Meantime, the unchecked supervisor gains even more strength to wreak havoc with abusive conduct towards her subordinates, while complaints about her are met with threats on their jobs or a reduction of hours.

A doctor’s note explaining this PACCers medical condition asking for retraining (desk) and a move to a later start time have been ignored as well she tells me and ultimately they will use her “tardiness” against her despite the Doc's letters. As I listened to her plight and the desperation she feels regarding the degrading conditions in her work place, I advised her to take videos and contact the labour board. I began to realize that this is why and how things get started - with someone who’s just had enough and has nothing left to lose. I asked about a union. While some of their shop is unionized, some workers in this large company are not, and the caller wondered about starting one? She's shared in the past that she has always spoken up for peoples rights, even in her native Guyana before coming to Canada and having kids here, and that she will fight for her rights and the rights of her co-workers and her fired friend – who by all accounts was a well liked supervisor when let go for frivolous reasons. Her co-workers are interested to start one as well but afraid of being fired. I promised her I’d spread the word to help her start a union in her workplace, and so this is what I’ve done here!

Here’s a fun original video with some important messages as Bumbling Brit Reporter Thompson Williams is still Stuck In Canada Day 49

Tom Out!

PACC Crashes Party... er meeting ...Making Ends Meet in York Region

2011-06-14T14:46:00.067-04:00

A snapshot look at York Region's breakdown as presented in Feb 2011

PACC has literally put homeless and at risk persons to paid work at the "House of Hope", an affordable housing prospect attached to built-in supports initiatives already running and now "hoping" to raise funds to open doors in Sept 2011

Men's shelter bed are critically low in York Region yet there are still no plans to help them

York Region was exposed as having little affordable housing affecting our vulnerable in winter

Newly announced Newmarket/Aurora provincial NDP candidate Robin Wardlaw at a recent " Do The Math" meeting

I'd received an e-mail regarding a presentation of a new collaborative initiative being put forward by the Human Services Planning Board called, "Making Ends Meet in York Region" and had decided to check it out... only to discover...I wasn't expected! Yikes! Likely the message had come from another group PACC stays in the loop with called the Forum for Children, Youth and their Families in York Region, and meant sent to me as information about the upcoming launch of this initiative but not as an invite, per say, to the presentation... C' est la vie! Surprise! I'm staying now...(awkward silence)! I guess it was one way to forge closer ties! Ha!

It did give me a chance to meet with the York Region presenter to mention some "solutions" directly to as well as meet Kirsten Eastwood Executive Director of the Women's Centre of York Region, Janice Chu Director of Community Investment United Way York Region and Dino Basso York Region's Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives and Administration among some. Introductions were quickly made around the table and the presentation commenced - of which a copy on " memory stick" was made available in the "kits" everyone received to assist in launching, " Making Ends Meet" in York Region.

The idea, I think, was that in order to maximize participation levels, numerous organizational Chairs and E.D.'s endorse "Making Ends Meet" in advance of asking agencies to participate in this data collecting/solutions based exercise, which by design, receives input from agencies and community groups which is then entered into their computers. This "data" is compiled, deduced, and calculated, hopefully spitting out focused solutions in the end! Sound simple? Complicated? It does sound like more of that " collaborative" talk - with an electronic twist - that was the buzz lingo of last week....before that it was 'silos". Of course under the right setting and circumstances, and starting with such an impressive list of endorsing organizational heads, this may actually prove a useful exercise and anyway I figure if Y.R.'s newish Commissioner Adelina Urbanski backs it then it's likely well planned, as the Commish has proved efficient and forward thinking during her short tenure thus far.

I inquired as to why they chose the before tax amount of income to decide the " low income cut-off" threshold for it's purposes and not the after tax amount, and Mr. Basso was quick to point out that a difference of $2,000 per year could be deemed a significant amount to some. He's very right. Off the stats sheet provided with the Making Ends Meet launch kits I read that a single person in York Region would be considered at the low-income cut-off mark when making $19, 144 per year - wherein someone receiving social assistance could be receiving about $11,000 less than that. Tough to do in York Region or anywhere, but of course those rates are set out by the provincial government and out of the Region of York's control - yet available GTA pooled, and other funds can be used to assist we feel.

These millions of dollars in returning "pooling dollars" were revenues successfully lobbied back to the Region from Toronto some years ago by numerous " collaborating" organizations on the guise they were needed for our own social service costs, yet Y.R. has consistently used major portions of it to pay down debt and pay infrastructure costs instead. Not really fair to those lobbying groups and residents I'd say. This part IS a regional (council) responsibility and when I see the immaculate lawns of these magnificent structures we house our government workers in, one has to wonder about our society's priorities when pretty lawns trump giving someone food and shelter with dignity. An alien visiting earth would be confused methinks, but this is our societal "norm".

From the Making Ends Meet literature I read that in addition to having one of if not the lowest rental housing stock availability rates per capita in all Canada (with only 12% of all available housing stock as such), in 2006, 57.3% of low and "moderate income residents" had post secondary education certificates, diplomas or degrees, that the majority of of low and moderate income earners also worked during the year, and that 35% of moderate income residents spent between 30-50% of their earnings on housing - 71% of low income residents did the same. This means having an education in York Region does not necessarily mean you will be out of poverty. This data backs a recent U.K. study that also showed having an education or a job does not guarantee one can live above the poverty line, but the available local jobs / pay rates and conditions do. So a job is no guarantee against living in poverty in other words.One is actually considered "at risk" of becoming homeless when you pay more than 30% or your income on housing costs. Gulp.

At any rate I raised desire for quicker action, citing homeless men in our forests in winter as an example of obvious needed changes that don't need "data" or further 'study", and as well pointed to Behind the Masks - testimonials from those marginalized by income - York Region's first ever social audit and one the Region has adopted already, as containing many suggested "solutions", conveying my hopes that it was / would be consulted as well. The Region looks to receive input from as many organizations( in York Region) as possible and is asking participating agencies and organizations to start promoting it by displaying their "Statement of Endorsement" certificates in-house also included in the "kits". Each participating organization then inputs specific data and ideas on easy to use computer entry-ware!

Ready set....go!

Deadline for submitting solutions is October 6 2011.

Watch for the Official Making Ends Meet in York Region Launch June 21 in Markham.

....And it was nice to have been able to meet everyone that I did, although somewhat haphazardly, and was great to chat a little with the Women's Centre of York Region's Executive Director to throw some thoughts to her about the House of Hope/men's centre idea and as well mentioned our pilot PACC /TALK 2 ONE " project wherein we distribute free phone numbers /24/7 message service" for at risk and homeless persons - as some women in need would benefit by being able to leave a "safe" contact number where they can be left private messages either by workers, jobs, or housing providers where only they have access to their messages. This is a service I hope to convince the Region to pick up, as it will assist numerous people across many sectors and can be used to collect important data. I also spoke a little about how we've been placing persons at risk and others into jobs and training some others to be skilled, which the E.D. told me the Women's Centre was starting to look at similar ideas with more private enterprise involvement, offering to share any experiences she's had already. Hmm... maybe there's something to this 'collaborating " thingy after all!
I do know our "Do the Math" collaborative group was interested too and looking to learn more
about "Making Ends Meet in York Region."

Meantime PACC's Vice-Chair Kristine Carbis was able to attend the East Gwillumbury Accessibility Council input meeting, where she heard they await a report being tabled by Charles Beer, who was one of the Rapporteurs of the PACC hosted, ISARC guided social audit "Behind The Masks", and which also featured Speaker David Lepofski who's famous for having audio announcements on public transportation made mandatory under the law. Not bad action from an organization that refuses government funding. Lepofski finished with this,

"Know the three rules of advocacy. 1) Know exactly what you want 2) scream as loud as you can 3) scream until you get it!" Ha!

And speaking of advocacy, Robin Wardlaw, formerly known as Rev Wardlaw of Trinity United Church, has been officially nominated as the provincial NDP candidate for the Newmarket / Aurora riding for the upcoming fall election. I know Robin well from attending some of PACC's various initiatives as a socially conscious pastor including for the Put Food in the Budget campaign, as well a supporter for years of the Oct 17, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty held at Newmarket's Fairy Lake Park, and as a Reverend also worked with me to get a homeless father and son situated (see video) as he's always been a vocal supporter for people's rights, especially the vulnerable. Robin Wardlaw is most certainly a man of good character and I believe a man of principles - something rare in politics these days I find.
God only knows. Oops, sorry Rev..er Robin..old habit! Not that habit! There I go again! Doh!

Well..folks..That's it! Watch for the next action from Poverty Free Ontario including lawn signs..coming soon to an electoral district near you! Next PFO meeting June 20

Next PACC meeting Wed June 22 - TBA time/place

Now..Enjoy Part 2 of Homeless in York Region

Tom out!

Working Poor, the new "sexy"

2011-06-07T19:01:00.054-04:00

Aurora Public Library home of June 7th's York Region Poverty Free Ontario presentation
York Region draws modest turnout to a stellar presentation
Hey..the fresh coffee was great and fair trade product
Dennis Bailey, Legal Clinic of YR Director (above left) engages YR Councillor John Taylor at Poverty Free Ontario presentation held at the Aurora Public Library. Poverty Free Ontario has a mission to eradicate, not reduce, poverty.

Poverty Free Ontario Presenter Professeur Marvin Novick engages afterward PACC's Deedra dropped in and high fived me..okay maybe it was a slap! Ha!

Someone asked me at a fundraiser for Edward and Damian, what it was that I had meant in a video where I'd said volunteering at a homeless shelter was "sexy". The two guys' names I refer to were a once homeless father and son who had found themselves by circumstance homeless and living in the forest in winter. The system seemingly deemed them not a fit, but as a result of publicity we generated about their plight through mainstream (York Region Media Group) media and PACC channel on You Tube, received a tremendous outpouring of public support for them and the friends from the street they'd leave behind. The media coverage brought much needed attention to the lack of shelters and programs for men in York Region at the time, the absurd rules within the system and the fact that affordable housing - homes - for these guys, or at least transitional housing, was needed to give a chance to succeed or "step out". Surely we could do better for our own than this had been the outcry!

Getting back to 'sexy". What I meant was that many "do-gooders"(god bless them), as "good" as they are, would mostly rather be known amongst their friends and peers for ' helping the poor" by volunteering at an Inn From the Cold, than for advocating for those they purportedly want to "help"per say. If people truly wanted to "help" they'd lobby to get their fellow human beings more money from social services so as to help them afford to get a place to live, buy their own food with dignity and able them to compete for a life.... and they'd help lobby our government to encourage and support step-out opportunities to help these sons and daughters and fathers and sons survive, and encourage them to provide some safe and affordable homes to actually live in after their 6 weeks maximum shelter stay is up. I used to say compete, we needed to try and help people marginalized by circumstance by providing all the tools needed to compete I'd say, but now it's down to survive. That type of help just isn't as sexy it seems with the Jones' though, especially if they live next door to the Nimby's, however it's people's dignity that is sacrificed, and as those numbers grow so too do the mental health crisis costs. So why not try and reduce this mainstream-onians? Not sexy enough? Grab me another blanket please.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states " Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of ALL members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace.......

Why the sexy talk? Because I believe it's the same formula the provincial poverty reduction strategy will be taking in this election year, judging by all pre-indications. Last round for them, their "sexy" was tackling poverty through the heart strings by focusing on woman and children, while 90% of our homeless are men. 44 year old males have been the median age for those newly becoming homeless for over 10 years running now, but who cares about facts? Facts get in the way of a good thing for some.

York Region, Ontario, Canada has only 25 full time shelter beds for men in a population base of 1 million. Women and some children make up the bulk of the available spaces through various categories ( family, abused women, youth, women's) with 2 more shelters for women in the works including some more transitional housing, meantime the Sandgate Women's Shelter in Georgina and located on the beach is somehow annually booked in advance by returning attendees during summer season so I'm informed. How they know in advance they are going to be abused (again) during a certain month I don't know, but this has been common knowledge for some time (from an inside worker) and yet we keep getting fed this line about the tremendous "need" for shelters. These types of abuses and misuse of the system leave an unwanted black-eye of another kind, and leads to misguided use of our scarce resources for housing and programs in York Region.

What we actually "need" in York Region - spelled out in the YR Social Audit " Behind The Masks" - are more affordable places to live for singles ( male and female) and (older) couples without children as well as transitional housing for men - or a men' s centre with programs similar to those the women have already, as written about in a recent YRMG article.

Poverty Reduction Strategy
The next strategy of poverty reduction attempted by the current provincial government and lead by Minister Laurel Broten will be focused on the working poor is my prediction, with a cross over housing benefit open to low income earners or perhaps property owners - but ultimately packaged along with some other goodies- I'm sure on the backs of the sexy "working poor". Much sexier than "bums on welfare" don't you think? Of course no-one says focusing on something isn't good, just not at the expense of others, which is what we'll see is my prediction.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 25 states that " (pre-amble) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate to the health and well being of himself(herself) and of his (her) family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age, or other lack of livelihood beyond his or her control."

By allowing such conditions currently such as providing our lowest income residents with an income that is $11,000 below the poverty line and that within the make-up of our "system" asks our own to use unhealthy sources for food - like food banks - and by not providing these above listed rights but instead CHOOSING to spend our country's wealth on tax breaks, military " needs", and any other cost - my goodness, are we not in breach of this declaration now!?

Edward was able to get off the streets and into a place to live and into a job through our and your assisting efforts and donations, and now so too has his son gotten off the streets. For some others however, without the helping hand we and you gave, and who may be enjoying summer weather now, come October will again looking to spend some winter time in and out of living outdoors - which is criminal to do to an animal in this country - but not apparently our residents!

There is no investment better this province and country can make than giving back dignity, and in turn strength, to her own.

Recent POVERTY FREE ONTARIO article from YRMG

Enjoy part 1 of the documentary on Damian and Edwards plight!

TP Out!

Vote for a Poverty Free Ontario

2011-06-01T19:42:00.054-04:00

York Regioner's recently attended a Put the Food in the Budget campaign rally in Toronto

MM-mm-marginalized! New Seasonal Multicultural Mexican Fajita keeps workers happy too!

Social Planning Council of YR meets recently with PACC in attendance to keep things honest! Ha

York University Professeur Marvin Novick addresses at the Poverty Free Ontario launch

I read an article today in the Toronto Sun about the Campbell's Soup Company of how they are helping end hunger by selling a 'special"nutritious soup called "Nourish", and donating 25 cents from each can sold towards supposedly ending world hunger, then also donating one can for every can sold to Food Banks Canada. MMM - m-marginalized! Or as Nancy Roman, spokesperson for the important sounding United Nations World Food Program said,

" When children start the day hungry, they can focus on little else, including their schoolwork."

Aw, how nice...touching in fact..I can just see all those kids lining up in droves to eat a can of "Nourish" soup for breakfast. Right. Somehow I don't think this will be a "Hey Mikey, he likes it!" moment. How about just doling the $ right into their parents' hands so they can purchase fresh food themselves that their kids may actually eat? Dignity needs no middleman as our PACC Vice- Chair Kristine Carbis once panned. Uncanny. Pun semi-intended. Okay fully.

I say this knowing our provincial government's assigned poverty reduction taskmaster, er mistress rather, Minister Laurel Broten, recently had a photo-op with the Campbell's company president extolling the virtues of reducing poverty through "these types of partnerships". It's time they officially married methinks. This is how our government chooses to attack poverty? By leaving it to private organizations to provide charity - and we assume tax breaks - in lieu of taking on the responsibility of ending poverty themselves, erstwhile entrenching food-banks as a viable source for nutrition - which they are not. Where we live they dole out 3 days rations a month, with many people choosing to forgo this option as too much of an expense / trip or as too stigmatizing. While Nordic countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and Netherlands can virtually eliminate poverty, we here in rich Ontario (Canada) cannot afford to take care of our own it would seem. Don't buy into the excuses. Ask your provincial election candidates to publicly support real changes for families and singles through initiatives like the $ 100 Healthy Food Supplement ... Watch for further updates.

Or for those wishing to address the much "sexier" issues of the 'working poor"(my prediction on the government's next strategy focus, through housing benefits etc and initiatives focused to low income workers) please attend the upcoming movie screening of " Poor No More" on June 2nd at the R Hill Library 1 Atkinson St or June 9th in Newmarket at 7pm at Crosslands Church at 47 Millard Ave W in Newmarket which examines the "working poor" issues in Canada and visits Sweden to showcase that / how poverty eradication can be done. Email kima@yrfn.ca to attend a screening.
Eradicating poverty, as opposed to reducing poverty, is also part of the mission of new Poverty Free Ontario.

We also look towards announcing some new soups ourselves - including mental- health minestrone, vagabond vegetable, cream of crop, Broten broth, and much much more!
Watch for our new Marinated Mediterranean SALAD IN A CAN as well!
MM-mm - multicultural good!!Ha! Can it already!

Here are some more cool dates and events upcoming:

Since I missed Toronto's, June 6 in Hamilton is an invite for attending the forum for "Playing for "Keep's" an invite to decide what gets done with facilities etc after the upcoming 2012 and 2015 games here.

The Social Planning Network of Ontario in cooperation with the Social Planning Council of York Region and the Human Services Planning Board of York Region presents - Human Dignity for All - Working for a Poverty Free Ontario - at the Aurora Public Library 15145 Yonge St 9AM - 12 noon on Tues June 7th with presenters SPNO's Peter Clutterbuck and Professeur Marvyn Novick.
www.povertyfreeontario.ca

ISARC religious leaders forum. By invite only.This should be good, as I never pictured myself as a religious leader, but by virtue of PACC hosting and myself co-authoring the YR ISARC directed social audit, I guess somehow I sneaked in through the back door.
http://isarc.ca/religiousleadersforumJune10.html

..And finally if you haven't yet and live in York Region or work regionally please check out this important survey part of a Trillium Foundation and York University in partnership with the York Region Community Foundation project asking for direct input for change.

I leave you with this inspirational musical pictorial inspired by Y.R.'s first ever social audit
Behind The Masks... testimonials from those marginalized by income