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Music
for Deaf Persons by Bruno Cruz Petit
The
title of this article could be ironic or a joke for some,
including deaf persons. That is what happened to a friend,
a music teacher, at arriving at a school for the deaf and
being told that he was hired to teach music. Music for deaf
people? How are we to explain the evolution of music from
Bach to the Beatles to someone who cannot hear their works?"
Source: Reprinted from Esperanza on Disability
World
December
22, 2003
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Ottawa
gets serious on mental health - Canada the only G8 country
without a national policy - Ottawa
is finally paying close attention to mental health issues,
according to experts in mental health policy who spoke
at a recent meeting of the Canadian Psychiatric Association
(CPA) Much of the discussion centered on the work of the
Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and
Technology. Its chairman, Senator Michael Kirby, outlined
the committee's specific focus on mental health and mental
illness. Source: Medical
Post
December
22, 2003
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The
True Story Project: Where Theater and the True Nature of
Disability Meet
by Ross M. Wolfarth (Half the Planet)
In artistic programs for people with
disabilities, there is a dangerous tendency to let the disability
take precedence over the art. The True Story Project is
an acting company that overcomes that tendency. Rather than
treating the productions of its troupe of disabled adult
actors as therapy, The True Story Project holds its performers
to a standard comparable to that of any other professional
company. And by doing so, The True Story Project uses its
genuine art to demonstrate the unique and yet fundamentally
human experience of Americans with disabilities
December
22, 2003
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Examination
of Disability in the Context of Sustainable Human &
Social Development
from Chapter 33 in the Universal
Design Handbook
Written by
CJ Walsh, this
Paper examines "disability" and "contextual
factors" from the broad perspective of Sustainable
Human and Social Development. It remains for the reader
to decide whether or not the concepts of "Universal
Design/Design-for-All" are sufficiently elastic to
remain on the European Disability Agenda for the short term
- up to the year 2010
December 21, 2003
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Send
the Hon. Coell/Cruel in BC a Clear Message
Stop hurting people in need! Rescind the two year limit
on welfare!
Coell/Cruel billboard located on Pat Bay
Highway from Dec-15-03 to Jan-15-04
Sponsored by End Legislated Poverty - caricature is by Dirk
Van Stralen
December
20, 2003
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Updates
on the Coroner's Jury Recommendations (Kimberly Rogers Inquest)
Scant
solace for the poor
by Sarah Blackstock & Jacquie Chic, Op/Ed
Toronto Star, Dec. 19, 2003
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Celebrate
the 2004 Youth Exchange on the International Day of Disabled
Persons
The Active
Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability (ALACD)
is pleased to celebrate the International Day of
Disabled Persons by inviting 50 young people from across
Canada to Ottawa for the experience of a lifetime.
In partnership with premiere sponsor, Pfizer Canada Inc.,
the fourth annual Youth Exchange will be held in
Ottawa at Carleton University from June 29 to July 4, 2004.
This event is supported by the YMCA Youth Exchanges Canada
program funded by Canadian Heritage.
December 3, 2003
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choose
to change this - Women and children more at risk in province
"Since
June 1995: 161
women, 21 children,
10 family and friends murdered.
33% increase in
murders of women between 2000 and 2001--virtually all in
Ontario" - The
title of this report is borrowed from the Liberal Party
election campaign slogan "choose change"
because we look forward to a new approach that will offer
hope to women and children experiencing violence in Ontario.
Abused women work hard every day to change their lives and
the lives of their children. Governments can take women's
lives from poverty to promise, from fear to freedom--if
they choose to take action now. During November Wife
Assault Prevention Month in Ontario, we especially look
forward to positive and speedy change. Read
the report released by OAITH
- Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses
- on Monday, Nov. 24, 2003 at Queen's Park. (Reproduced
in HTML from PDF file)
November 26, 2003
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Research
Paper – The Legal Concept of Employment : Marginalizing
Workers
Now available on the Law Commission of Canada’s web
site, the research report: “The
Legal Concept of Employment: Marginalizing Workers“
by Judy Fudge, Eric Tucker & Leah Vosko of York
University. The report provides an interesting statistical,
historical and legal analysis of self-employment in Canada.
The report, which was funded by the Law Commission of Canada
& Human Resources Development Canada, was produced for
a project examining law reform and policy options to better
meet the needs of vulnerable workers in Canada. Copies of
this Research report are available at this pinpoint URL:
English: http://www.lcc.gc.ca/en/themes/er/tvw/worker_main.asp
Français: http://www.lcc.gc.ca/fr/themes/er/tvw/worker_main.asp
November
26, 2003
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United Nations International Day of Disabled Persons
The National Film Board of Canada & the Canadian Association
of Independent Living Centres (CAILC) will present a special
live web cast screening & discussion of the film Bearing
Witness: Luke Melchior
on December 3, 2003 at 7
pm EST
November 26, 2003
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Stop
Violence Against Women
website launched Nov. 25, International Day Against Violence
Against Women by Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, in
cooperation with UNIFEM & Network Women's Program of
OSI
November
25, 2003
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November
23 - 29, 2003 is Child
Poverty Awareness Week
Test your knowledge of Child & Family Poverty
by taking the Child
Poverty Quiz
and find out what needs to happen to ensure the well-being
of children and families
November 23, 2003
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Speech
from the Throne - Strengthening The Foundation For Change
Text of first
Throne Speech of the new McGuinty government
McGuinty's
First Throne Speech focuses on Restraint
Special Throne Speech Edition - United Ways of Ontario
TAKE
ACTION!
The
Throne Speech ignored the Liberal Party's campaign promise
to increase welfare benefits by the cost of living for
the first time in eight years. Social
Services Minister Sandra Pupatello
said the gov't can't afford to increase benefits now because
of the $5.6 billion deficit left by the former Tory gov't.
"Our goal will be to do exactly that ... timing
is going to be the issue... because we have some huge
fiscal challenges," she said. It
is absolutely essential that MPPs across the province
hear from their constituents that this is an outrageous
violation of promises made during the election, and a
callous disregard for the lives of the people who have
been suffering for years without enough income to survive
in the richest province in one of the richest countries
in the world. Call
your MPP today, and demand that they take immediate
steps to raise the rates. Ontario
MPP contact information available at http://olaap.ontla.on.ca/mpp/contact.jsp
November 21, 2003
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Amnesty
International Canada ACTION Alert
Uncovering the truth: Why was Maher Arar deported to Syria
Canadian citizen Maher Arar was subjected to torture,
repeated interrogation and horrific conditions while being
held without charge for over a year in Syria. His fundamental
rights were violated after being detained in the in the
US in September 2002 and accused of links to "terrorism".
Amnesty International Canada is calling for a public
inquiry into what role, if any, Canadian law enforcement
and security agencies played in his deportation to Syria.
Without the answers, there is no guarantee it won't happen
again. Read More
TAKE ACTION:
Sign
the online petition
November
19, 2003
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ACTION
Alert - Liberals Fast track New Adams Mine Bid
Public Concern Temiskaming: Barely
30 days into office, the new Liberal government has made
the shocking decision to issue
a draft permit to drain the Adams Mine. The draft
permit sets the stage for Adams Mine Rail Haul to begin
pumping 26 million litres of groundwater out of the pit,
everyday for to up two years. Once drained, the pit will
then be filled with garbage. The move flies in the face
of an election promise by Premier Dalton McGuinty to halt
all development at Adams Mine pending a full review of the
controversial project.
November 18, 2003
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 Have
you seen Cecilia Zhang? 9 year-old Missing Girl
The missing girl has been identified as Dong-Yue (Cecilia)
ZHANG
a 9-year old grade 4 student at Seneca Hill Public
School, Ontario. Her parents last saw the child when she
went to bed on Sunday Oct. 19th, 2003. She is described
as female, Asian, 9 years of age, 4'11", 70 lbs,
thin build, shoulder length black hair with blond highlights,
brown eyes, wearing unknown clothing. Anyone
with Information is asked to contact 33 Division at
416-808-3300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
November 12, 2003
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Hon.
Jean Augustine speaking on Beijing platform of Action
The Honourable Jean Augustine, Secretary
of State, will be guest speaker at a public forum Sunday,
November 16, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. at Committee Room 1, Toronto
City Hall. The event is being sponsored by The Older Women's
Network, an organization committed to act in support of
justice, equality, dignity and respect for older women in
Ontario
November 11, 2003
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UN
Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women
Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) media release
In recognizing
the UN Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women
(November 7th), the Canadian Association of Social Workers
(CASW) calls upon the public, governments and communities
to join social workers in working towards the amelioration
of the social and economic conditions that contribute to
the persistence of violence against women. Read
More
November
7, 2003
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Call
for Abstracts for the inaugural meeting of the Canadian
Disability Studies Association. Abstracts
invited from academics, community members and graduate students
for papers/panels on the intersections with (and within)
disability and disability studies, including disability
and medicine; social policy and disability; disability history;
the immigrant experience and disability; law and disability;
disability and queerness; disability and culture; disability
in literature; feminism and disability; ethics and disability,
disability and pedagogy; and disability and personal/private
space.
November
3, 2003
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Access
to Breast Cancer Screening Programs for Women with Disabilities
by Maria Barile -- Equal
access to health services for women with disabilities
to health services is a constant concern in all aspects
of throughout their life cycles. Often, women with
disabilities are denied services provided to women simply
because these services are “unintentionally”
geared to non-disabled women. In some cases, as in
the case of breast-cancer screening, this inequality of
access for all women with disabilities can have life-threatening
consequences. Read
More
November 2, 2003
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October
17th - the International Day Against Poverty
Poverty
is a human rights violation. Every
woman, man, youth and child has the human right to a standard
of living adequate for health and well-being, to food, clothing,
housing, medical care and social services. These
fundamental human rights are defined in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, CEDAW, the International Covenants and
other widely adhered to international human rights treaties
and Declarations -- powerful tools that can empower efforts
for social and economic justice worldwide.
How much do you know about poverty? Take
these Poverty Quizzes:
World Poverty Quiz
Poverty
in Canada Quiz
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Spotlight
on Angie Sandow
Co-founder & lead guitarist of Bare Rump:
AC/DC Tribute band
Angie Sandow is a musician with a disability living
in Mississauga, Ontario who has been playing the electric
guitar for nearly 25 years. 3 years ago, Angie and her musician/drummer
husband, Lloyd Walsh, formed a band called "Bare Rump"
- a tribute band to the music of AC/DC. Angie is the "Angus"
or lead guitarist. One of the reasons why Angie chose to
do this was because she wanted to show people what a person
with disability can achieve. Read
More
October
13, 2003
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Elections
Ontario Needs Volunteers to Participate in an Important
Survey
On
behalf of Elections Ontario, Ipsos-Reid - the national opinion
research firm - will be conducting a comprehensive research
project among eligible voters (whether they voted or not).
The findings will help us make further improvements to the
administration and management of the electoral process in
Ontario. The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete
and will be conducted in English. If the nature of
your disability would make it difficult for you to do a
telephone interview, please contact Ipsos-Reid
at Toll free 1-888-666-8541, TTY 1-888-292-2312,
or email electionsurvey@ipsos-reid.com.
Read More
October
1, 2003
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Who
cares about Ontario's poor? Op/Ed in Toronto Star - Sept.
29, 2003
by Sarah Blackstock & Jacquie Chic - It
should outrage all of us. But it doesn't. Nearly 2 million
people in this rich province live in poverty. In spite of
this, poverty has barely been mentioned by candidates in
the current election campaign. Why? Perhaps, after eight
years of Progressive Conservate rants blaming poor people
for their own poverty, we've started to believe the rhetoric.
However, the consequences of buying into such rhetoric are
dire.We would do well right now to take a lead from the
jury which examined the death of Kimberly
Rogers. Eight months pregnant, convicted of welfare
fraud and sentenced to house arrest during the height of
summer, Rogers died in August, 2001. Read
More
September 29, 2003
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Update
in the case of Bilquis and Imran!
(disabled women and her teenage son)
On
September 17, 2003 Bilquis and Imran received approval
to appeal their PRRA rejection to the Federal Court of
Appeal. Their
appearing at the Federal Court of Appeal is set for December
and until then a stay has been granted and they are being
released from detention on Mon. Sept. 29, 2003. Their
case HAS NOT BEEN WON until they are granted a permanent
stay and their deportation order is overturned. Minister
Coderre still has the ability to intervene and stop the
deportation and our campaign must continue.Read
More & TAKE ACTION
September 29, 2003
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McGuinty
in the middle by
Scott Piatkowski
Anyone keeping score had to give Hampton top marks for
staying on topic, for consistency and for actually proposing
ideas. Ontario
Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty has developed a strategy
for exceeding the expectations of voters. Aided admirably
by the Conservatives' negative campaign against him, McGuinty
has systematically ensured that those expectations are so
low that he exceeds them simply by showing up and not tripping
over his own tongue. Aside from his surprising revelation
that we are now living in 2005, he did that Tuesday evening
in the televised leaders' debate. Read
More on Rabble
September 25, 2003
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CHANGE
the Voting System - Take Action - Contact your MP!
We have the opportunity to finally change the way our
federal politicians are elected. Members of Parliament will
be voting on Tuesday, September 30th on a motion to call
a referendum asking Canadians if they would like to change
the electoral system to proportional representation
September 25, 2003
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Strategic
Voting? Hold Your Nose
September
25, 2003
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Obstacles
to Justice Research Project
This is a research project aimed at identifying obstacles
in the justice system which prevent or discourage sexual
assault survivors' access. The project will examine the
current trend towards criminalizing women or making them
responsible for men's violence (eg. dual charging, using
the defense of provocation in aid of violent men, criminalizing
women when they do not give abusive fathers access to their
children, and requiring that women supervise/monitor the
violent behaviour of abusive fathers in the home).
Read Project Descriptions & Questions
September 20, 2003
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When
Social Policy is Health Policy MS
Word doc size 1.3
mb
Why Increasing Poverty & Low Income Threatens Canadians'
Health & Health Care System by Dennis Raphael School
Of Health Policy & Management, York University
September 19, 2003
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Make
poverty an election issue in your community: September 10
province wide event
With
nearly 2 million people in Ontario living below the poverty
line, politicians in this province need to take poverty
seriously. They need to commit to raising the minimum wage
and social assistance rates. On Sept 10, in communities
across Ontario, activists will be making it clear to political
candidates that raising the minimum wage and social assistance
rates must be a priority. Read
More
September
5, 2003
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EI
Program robs workers, especially women
Women
who work to support their families and pay for unemployment
insurance protection get robbed by the federal government.
A new report released today shows that the EI Program, which
was set up to administer unemployment insurance in 1996,
pays insurance to just one third of working women who lose
their jobs. Read
More on the Canadian Labour Congress site
September 4, 2003
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Feeding
the Poor in Yorkville from rabble.ca
While no one got to literally "Eat the Rich"
at OCAP's feast in Toronto's Yorkville, people who would
ordinarily only go into the posh neighbourhood to work as
waiters got a chance to wine and dine like working class
kings and queens. Read
more
August 29, 2003
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Postal
Workers Torn on Contract
For the next month, Canadian postal workers will be voting
to accept or reject the contract their union negotiated
last month. Most agree that finally contacting-in some 6,000
Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers was a massive gain. But
some union locals say that came at the expense of too many
concessions for the traditional urban membership. Read
more
August 29, 2003
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Florida
Governor Jeb Bush Sends Lawyers to Represent a Fetus:
Targeting A Mentally Retarded Pregnant Woman for Pro-Life
Intervention
FindLaw columnist and Rutgers law professor Sherry Colb
discusses a new angle on the controversial decision by Governor
Jeb Bush to seek the appointment of a fetal guardian in
an abortion controversy. In the case in which he has sought
a guardian, the woman at issue is a mentally disabled rape
victim. Colb argues that the fact that Governor Bush chose
hers as the test case for fetal guardianship should trouble
all Americans -- whether pro-life or pro-choice. Read
More
August
29, 2003
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Disablement
and Feminisation of Poverty by
Maria Barile
"From
the economic viewpoint, one can infer that poverty and disablement
are synonymous with each other. What happens when poverty
and disability are experienced at the same time?" Article
looks into the economic and social experiences of women
with disability based on the Canadian experience.
August
26, 2003
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 WTO
Pusher profile: ACCENTUREA
Identifying
Characteristics: Big business consultants who
are big-time privatization pushers of gov't services, especially
social services. Makes lots of money replacing people's
jobs with machines, love to slash welfare benefits, &
pillage public health care & education funds.
Persistent Patterns:
Appetite for privatizing welfare & social services.
Hunger for profits satisfied through the elimination of
public sector jobs. Has a record for major cost overruns
& receiving payments far greater than initial projections.
Despite substantial profiteering, practices major job cts
on their own.
Known
Hangouts: Head
office 40 King St. W. Toronto. Check out www.accenture.com
for more locations Known
Aliases: Was known
as Andersen Consulting,
changed name in Jan. 2001, in largest, most costly "re-branding"
effort in history.
Known Allies:
Member
of a number of influential business groups including the
U.S. Coalition of Service Industries (USCSI), a major GATS
pusher. Connections to Shell Oil's nasty activities in Nigeria
and Inco's pillaging of Innu Land in Labrador.
Follow this link for more detailed information
GATS Pusher Profile: ACCENTURE |
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Provincial
Party Leaders Respond to Letter from Ontario’s Religious
Leaders
Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC)
- On 24 Feb, 2003, a letter from Ontario religious leaders
was sent to each of the three Ontario provincial party leaders
asking him to respond to
six questions within the next six weeks. ISARC was asked
to receive the letters and distribute them to religious
leaders and various coalitions. The responses from the two
opposition leaders came by 1 April 2003. After numerous
calls to both Premier Ernie Eves MPP & Minister Brenda
Elliott MPP, ISARC finally received the government’s
letter, dated 10 June 2003. All responses under each leader
are complete, unedited quotes from their letters. No information
was deleted except salutations & closings. Read
More
August 19, 2003
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Disablement
and Feminisation of Poverty by Maria Barile
From the economic viewpoint, one can
infer that poverty and disablement are synonymous with each
other. What happens when poverty and disability are experienced
at the same time? This article will look into the economic
and social experiences of women with disability based on
the Canadian experience. Read
More August 14, 2003
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New
Snapshot of Family Violence
Family
violence now accounts for one-quarter of all violent crimes
reported to Canadian police services, according to new data
from Statistics Canada. The vast majority of victims (85%)
were women, and two-thirds of perpetrators were spouses
or ex-spouses. Read
More
August
13, 2003
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Kids
with Disabilities & Families Struggle
... 155,000 Canadian
kids with disabilities & their families NOT getting
the help they need
Data
recently released by Statistics Canada examining the lives
of the estimated 155,000 Canadian children (ages 5 to
14) with some form of activity-limiting condition reveals
they and their parents don’t always get the help
they need. Read
More
August
13, 2003
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Ontario
Settles Pay Equity Dispute Affecting 100,000 Women
In June a settlement was reached in a
long-standing pay equity dispute affecting more than 100,000
Ontario women. The settlement covers female dominated workplaces
in the public sector and many community-based organizations
that receive transfer payments from the province. Read
More
August 13, 2003
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W32.Blaster.Worm
- Virus Alert & Steps to Recovery
In
mid-July, Microsoft issues a critical update about a security
hole that made Windows systems
vulnerable to viruses. Microsoft urged users to download
and install a software update to "patch" the hole
/ vulnerability. Computers
running Windows XP were among the systems that needed to
be patched. Apparently, some people didn't get the message
(or couldn't get the update to work). A
new computer virus/worm that takes advantage of the security
hole is spreading rapidly around the world this week. The
worm is known by several names, including "MS Blaster"
& "Lovesan." Read
More
August 12, 2003
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Prisoners'
Justice Day - August 10
August
10th is a day set aside to remember all the men and
women who have died unnatural deaths inside Canadian prisons.
This
August 10th marks the 27th Anniversary of Prison Justice
Day, a day when prisoners across the country go on a
one day hunger strike and work stoppage to protest the deaths
of all the men and women who die at the hands of an apathetic
prison system. Read More
August 10, 2003
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A
look at what a Budget can buy
on the 2nd Anniversary of the death
of Kimberly Rogers by Barbara
Anello
Today,
August 9th marks the second anniversary of the death of
Kimberly
Rogers who died while serving a conditional sentence
of 6 months under house arrest after pleading guilty to
welfare fraud. So it was interesting to read in the Toronto
Star today just how much of our tax dollars, the Eves
government wasted on the "Magna Budget" Read
More
August
9, 2003
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Women's
Health Matters Resource Database
Searchable
bilingual database of women’s health resources for
consumers and health professionals; provides women with
information about where to find women’s health resources
to support their health-care decision-making. Users can
search the database using a variety of criteria to retrieve
results that contain standardized descriptions of reviewed
resources
August 1, 2003
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Canadian
ISM activist, Tarek Loubani, arrested and beaten by Israeli
police
A
London Ontario activist named Tarek Loubani was
arrested by the Israeli police while working with International
Solidarity Movement (ISM) peace activists some time ago.
Though the arrest was outrageous enough (they were
merely observers to monitor and prevent human rights abuses
in the occupied territories of Palestine) the
treatment they have received in prison is nothing short
of shocking. Read the 8 updates on the issue, including
a note that Tarek slipped to
attornies during preliminary trials - Tarek describes
beatings and solitary confinement conditions that he has
been subjected to while in prison. We
urge you to contact your MP
& Bill
Graham, the Minister of Foreign Affairs to express
your outrage at this situation. This is especially relevant
to the government given the recent brutal beating death
of
Zahra Kazemi, the Canadian photo journalist, in Iran.
Read More & Take Action
July 23, 2003
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Feminist
Principles, Practices and Processes - An
Online Guidebook
Feminist
principles guide the work that we do within equality-seeking
organizations, as well as the way
that we do it. Taking the time to examine or revisit our
feminist principles can assist in deepening our understanding
of feminist practices and processes, and reconnecting
with our feminist basis of unity. (Reproduced in HTML
by DAWN Ontario from PDF version of a segment from the
Feminism: Our Basis for Unity published by PACSW
Newfoundland & Labrador)
Read More
July
20, 2003
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Getting
Off Welfare
Submitted anonymously to
Sound,
a social justice magazine in Kamloops BC
"So, here you are. All your life you have been self-sufficient
and now you find yourself in this place. Feeling a little
ashamed, perhaps? Voices whispering in your ear, “What’s
the matter, loser, can’t you find a job?” No,
not yet? Well, while you wait, let me tell you about some
of the experiences that are coming your way..." Read
More
July 19, 2003
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Eves
Gov't Invests $1 Billion to Help People with Developmental
Disabilities
MCFCS News Release dd July 18, 2003: "To help people
with developmental disabilities live meaningful lives, close
to their families and their communities, the Ernie Eves
government is increasing funding by $56 million in 2003/04,
Minister of Community, Family and Children's Services Brenda
Elliott announced today"
July
19, 2003
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Adams
Mine Consortium applying for dewatering permits
On
July 9th, Adams Mine Rail Haul applied for dewatering
Permits for Adams Mine! The move comes as farmers are
assembling evidence that the pit is no longer filling
with water --meaning pit water is probably flowing
into the surrounding groundwater. If
the MOE approves this permit, they will be destroying
the evidence needed to prove this pit poses a risk to our
groundwater. As well, by approving this now, they will
be saddling the incoming provincial government with
an "on the ground fact"-- ie. an Adams
Mine operation that is well on its way to completion.
We
Need Action Immediately. Read
More
July 18, 2003
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Addiction
and mental health privatization in Ontario?
Leaked memo indicates Tories plottiing
another P3 give-away
The
privatization zeal of the Ontario Tories knows no bounds:
now they are apparently ready to let business make a buck
on the backs of citizens requiring addiction and mental
health treatment. The Toronto Star reports that the province
is quietly considering a plan to amalgamate four Toronto
addiction and mental health treatment sites - with a big
role for their favourite friends - the private sector. Read
More
July
11, 2003
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Pay
the Rent Lobby Blitz
Take Action to raise the shelter allowance portion of Ontario
Works and Ontario Disability Support Program to average
rent levels. Phone, fax or email your
MPPs on July 17 and August 7 to deliver the message
that social assistance rates must be raised so that everyone
can pay the rent, feed themselves and if they have children,
feed the kids. Take Action
July 9, 2003
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The
Coca Cola Campaign - Boycott
Coca-Cola
22nd July 2003 - International Day of Action
Coca
Cola & Nestlé both stand accused of serious
human rights violations in Colombia. While Nestlé
sack union members, Coca Cola kill them. Paramilitary
Death Squads, acting under orders from Coca Cola management,
have assassinated 8 trade union leaders in their workplaces.
The union, SINTRAMINERCOL, has responded by calling for
an international boycott of Coca Cola & all of their
products, starting 22 July
July 8, 2003
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Higher
Child Benefits Needed To Counter Persistent Poverty
Toronto
- Increased investments in the Canada Child Tax Benefit
are needed in order to substantially reduce child poverty,
say researchers and advocates following the release of the
2002 National Child Benefit Progress Report (1).
They argue that enhancement of child benefits combined with
an end to the clawback of the National Child Benefit (NCB)
from families on social assistance would go along way to
bolster family income security in Canada -- Press Release
dd July 4, 2003 Campaign 2000
July 7, 2003
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Canada
slips on U.N. list
We drop to 8th place in index based
on quality of life - U.S., Australia, even Belgium ranked
as better places to live. "For
the first time in more than a decade Canada has slipped
below the United States, Australia and Belgium as the world's
best place to live, according to a United Nations quality
of life report. This year's Human Development Index, part
of the U.N.'s Human Development Report 2003, ranks Canada
as the 8th best country in the world in terms of living
conditions. Read
More on the Toronto Star
July 4, 2003
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Squat
Evicted in Peterborough, Squatters move to City Hall
As
of Friday, July 4th, the squatters of 1130 Water Street
will be residing on the lawn in front of city hall. The
decision to move to City Hall was made after the squatters
were forcibly removed from their home at 6:30 am on Thursday
July 3, 2003. Half an hour after a city official and police
officer notified the squatters that they were trespassing
and advised the squatters to leave, nine police officers
in full riot gear and gas masks descended upon the building
while a dozen other police officers surrounded the building.
The squatters were later released in a public park without
charge. Read More
July
4, 2003
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Housing
Ontario Means Everyone
| HOME |
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Read
the HOME brochure online! HOME is a new Toronto-based
coalition of community groups, tenant organizations and
organizations working with homeless people & people
with housing problems. We want to raise awareness of housing
and homelessness issues in the month's ahead.
Download the HOME Brochure
(PDF size 135 kb)
July 3, 2003
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Make
Trade Fair - Cotton Pickin' Madness
US
cotton subsidies mean big bucks for big business in the
US, but they spell ruin for millions of African cotton farmers.
It doesn’t sound very fair does it? It isn’t -
but now’s your chance to do something about it. Take
Action
July
2, 2003
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Support
the PCAP Squat
PCAP
has occupied an empty city-owned building
at
1130 Water St.
Community members took over the empty building
as part of the Peterborough Coalition
Against Poverty's "Give
it or Guard it" Housing Campaign & Squatting
tour. The summer-long campaign tours unused buildings
in the city that could be used for squatting or affordable
housing.
July 1, 2003
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 Say
“NO” to Hong Kong’s Proposed Article 23
Legislation
On July 9, 2003 the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (SAR) is attempting to implement the globally opposed
Article 23 legislation due to pressure from China. Article
23 poses a
great threat to the civil liberties
and basic freedoms to the people of Hong Kong
and those who set foot on Hong Kong soil. Article 23 gives
the police total power. Police won’t need a court
order or evidence to search homes or to arrest law abiding
citizens. Read
More & Take Action
June 30, 2003
update
July 7, 2003 - see Toronto
Star article "Hong Kong
backs off bill"
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Final
call for the Lesbians & Breast Cancer Project
With your help, the Lesbians & Breast Cancer Project
Team has connected with 29 lesbians willing to tell their
stories about breast & gynecological cancer. See
early quotes from women interviewed so far.
This is our final recruitment call! Interviews
with lesbians across Ontario who have had breast or gynecological
cancer will be booked until July 15th, to take place in
July & August. Read More
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June 29, 2003
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Urgent
Appeal to Save Maryam Rajavi 
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, leader
of the Iranian Resistance movement,
was arrested on June 17 in a savage raid by the French
Police at her residence in a suburb of Paris. Various
media reports have described Mrs. Rajavi “the hope
of Iranian people for freedom,” “symbol of national
unity and solidarity”, &“the anti-thesis
to the fundamentalist regime in Tehran.” Times named
her among 100 powerful women of the world and her theories
on women’s equality and women’s rights in Islam
are being taught in some of the best universities in the
United States. Her services and initiatives in the field
of women’s equality and freedom, are well-known for
women’s rights activists. Read
More =>
June 28, 2003
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Bill
C-13: The Assisted Human Reproduction Act
Take Action
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Women's
Equality Minister's Hands Are Tied
BC
Coalition of Women Centres' Media Advisory dd June 23, 2003:
The
BC Coalition of Women's Centres met with Minister Lynn Stephens,
Friday June 20th to discuss preventing the closure of the
37 Women's Centres across the province. The Minister made
it clear to the delegation that her hands are tied and that
she has no power within her own party. Read
More =>
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LEAF's
Family Law Legal Aid Affidavit Campaign by Pro
Bono Law of BC
West
Coast LEAF describes the purpose of the affidavit campaign
and how you can become involved: "The Attorney General
announced deep funding cuts to the Legal Services Society
in May 2002. These cuts eliminated legal aid representation
for all poverty law matters and severely restricted family
law legal aid to only those matters involving violence and
a threat to life or physical safety. Read
More =>
June
26, 2003
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Medical
Care Out-of-Reach for Disabled
Research
by the Canadian
Council on Social Development reveals that disabled
Canadian often face difficulty affording the drugs they
need, and barriers in accessing other medical services.
Many disabled people require medication on a regular basis.
However, almost 20% of working age women and 12% of working
age men report that they can't afford their medication.
Despite higher rates of medication usage, disabled seniors
tend to have fewer affordability problems because of access
to provincial drug assistance plans. Read
More =>
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TD
Study Tackles Affordable Housing
A
new study by TD Economics calls on policy makers
to develop a new approach to affordable
housing. Rather than simply being viewed as a
social or health issue, the report suggests that housing
solutions also be viewed as "smart economic policy".
Read More =>
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Funding
Trends Threaten Non-profits
A new report raises disturbing questions about the impact
the trend towards short-term or project funding is having
on the non-profit and voluntary sector. Commissioned as
part of the Voluntary Sector Initiative, Funding Matters,
assesses the impact these shifts in funding are having on
the financial capacity and long-term sustainability of non-profit
and voluntary organizations, and on their ability to fulfil
their mandates.
June
19, 2003
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"Tell
It to Ottawa"
Advocacy
Toolkit -- Legislative Workshop
Tooklit
Includes: Meetings with Legislators: Getting Organized;
Guidelines
for Meetings with Legislators; After the Meeting: The
Debriefing; The Do's and Don'ts of Legislative Letter
Writing; Tell It to Ottawa: Effective Communications with
Public Officials; Negotiation: A Very Short Course; Working
Effectively with the Media.
Read
More
June 15, 2003
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Bibliography
on Women With DisAbilities
Anyone
looking for materials about the lives and experiences of
women with disabilities a few years back would have found
little to read. Today there is a growing body of literature
addressing different aspects of the lives of women and girls
with disabilities. Read
More
June
15, 2003
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SARS
WARS
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS)
She
Says
(M. Kathleen Williams) ... He
Says (Andrew D. Tutty)
A new column on DAWN Ontario
June 13,
2003
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Women's
History Month (WHM)
In October 2003, Canadians will celebrate
Women's History Month (WHM),
with the highlight being Person's Day on Octr
18. The theme for WHM this year is "What
do you mean, women couldn't vote?"
Follow this link to Status
of Women Canada's Women's
History Month 2003
June
13, 2003
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Statement
of Principles: New Landlord/Tenant and Rent Control Legislation
The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) &
the Legal Clinics' Housing Issues Committee (composed
of representatives from legal clinics in Ontario) have jointly
released this paper. Topics include: fair eviction application
process, security of tenure against forfeiture, what a new
tribunal would look like. This platform will be distributed
to the government and both opposition parties, and LCHIC/ACTO
will request a meeting with all three parties.
June 5, 2003
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Ontario
Media Directory - In preparation for the upcoming
Ontario election, we have worked hard to develop the following
resources with updated contact information of Media in Ontario.
Use your voice - write letters to the editor! Ontario
Media Email Addresses - Letters to the Editor
Ontario
Media Detailed Contact Information
June
5, 2003
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2
Grannys and the Crown
Jen Bradley writes from prison
Next
hearing for the 2 Grannys arrested for civil contempt will
be at 10 AM Thurs. May 22. Rally at 9:30 AM in front of
courthouse on Smithe St. in Vancouver
May 20, 2003
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Federal
Government Survey on Internet Usage
Please
take a few minutes to fill out the survey & let the
gov't know that women do constitute a critical mass online,
that women are accessing government information via the
Net; and the
necessity of the state to provide appropriate resources,
access, and information
Apr
19, 2003
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Abortion
in Nepal Legal but Women Still Imprisoned Please
TAKE
ACTION to
support the release of Women in Prison in Nepal. Despite
the legalization of abortion in Nepal last September,
50 women remain imprisoned on abortion and related offences
Apr
18, 2003
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Can
ICTs Empower People?
Participate in an e-discussion on transforming ICTs (Information
Communication Technology)
to benefit all people
Apr
17, 2003
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Lesbians
and Breast Cancer Project:
Tune
in Saturday, April 19th, 5:30 pm,
to CIUT Radio 89.5 FM to hear women connected to the Lesbians
& Breast Cancer Project talk about sexuality after cancer
Apr
16, 2003
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Games
... or Bread? Take
Action: Email IOC members to
reject the Vancouver-Whistler Olympic Bid in June -
Say NO to GAMES at expense of BC People with disAbilities!
Mar 25, 2003
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"Spouse
in the House" Case Update
The
Ontario government was granted leave to appeal to the Supreme
Court of Canada in the Falkiner case (“Spouse in the house”)
case on March 20, 2003
Mar
21, 2003
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Social
Safety News - the OSSN Newsletter March 2003
Social
Safety News is produced
by the Coordinating Committee of the Ontario Social Safety
NetWork (OSSN), which is made up of anti-poverty groups,
legal clinics, faith groups, labour organizations, community
agencies and social activists
Mar
11, 2003
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Contact
the UN Today
Email
UN Members to express support for efforts in the Security
Council to assure that int'l inspections are given sufficient
time & resources to achieve the containment & disarmament
of Iraq without resorting to war
Feb
27, 2003
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University
of Toronto's New Production of The
VAGINA MONOLOGUES
on International Women's Day - Sat.,
March 8, 2003
Innis Townhall - 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto; wheelchair
accessible
Showtimes: 2:30 pm;
7:00 pm*; 10:30 pm * ASL Interpretation at 7:00
pm performance
Feb 21, 2003
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Kim
McConnell Inclusion Leadership Award
DAWN Ontario
announces that nominations
are being accepted for our annual Inclusion Leadership
Award. We are looking for individuals & organizations
who understand that by including people with disabilities
in all life activities, we are all enriched.
Nominations will be accepted until May 31, 2003
Feb
10, 2003
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With
great sorrow, we announce the sudden death of disAbility
activist, Kim
McConnell on Tues. Feb 4th,
in her 38th year in Sudbury. A memorial
site for Kim is available at
this link
Please sign condolences & sharings in the guestbook
at
this link
Feb
9, 2003
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Denial
By Design: The Ontario Disbaility Support Program
John
Fraser, Cynthia Wilkey, JoAnne Frenschkowksi
-- Income
Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) Jan
2003,
Jan 29, 2003
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Take
Action on ODSP Reform Access to ODSP Campaign
- Ontario Disability Support Program - Contact
Brenda Elliott,
Minister MCFCS urging her to Adopt the Recommendations of
the ODSP Action Coalition & Make the ODSP Accessible
to People with Disabilities
Jan
28, 2003
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Ontario
Lifetime Ban Statistics View
statistics on the number of people in Ontario (as of Nov
27, 2002) permanently ineligible for social assistance as
a result of being convicted of welfare fraud (source:
ISAC)
Jan
27, 2003
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It’s
Time for a Fair Wage, not a Poverty Wage!
Justice
for Workers, a coalition
of low wage immigrant and young workers, women, community
groups and union members is building a campaign in Toronto
and across Ontario to raise the minimum wage
Jan
27, 2003
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More
Effective Gun Control Legislation Needed to Protect Women
from Violence
Jan
22, 2003
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Canada's
Failure To Act: Women's Inequality Deepens FAFIA's
Submission to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination
of Discrimination Against Women
As a WORD
document (676 kb) |
As a PDF
file requires Acrobat Reader (355 kb)
Jan
3, 2003
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