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December
22, 2003
DisAbility News of Interest:
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, November 18, 2003, Volume 39 Issue 42
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."
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
21, 2003
Additions
to the site include:
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, then, 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
20, 2003
Additions
to the site include:
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
List of
organizations involved in Income Support work in Ontario
http://dawn.thot.net/coalition-work.html
Letter
to Premier McGuinty from the Association of Community Legal Clinics
of Ontario (ACLCO) calling for an Increase to Social Assistance
Rates
http://dawn.thot.net/aclco.html
Organizing
Information & Resources for Ontario Social Justice Activists
http://dawn.thot.net/organizing-ontario.html
December
15 - 19, 2003
Additions to our Kimberly Rogers site include:
- Scant
solace for the poor
by Sarah Blackstock & Jacquie Chic, Op/Ed Toronto Star,
Dec. 19, 2003
- Call
for ACTION - To Implement ALL the Recommendations from the Rogers
Inquest Jury Dec. 18, 2003
- Hansard
- Legislative Assembly - Oral Questions - Social Assistance
exchange between MPP Shelley Martel, NDP Nickel Belt, and Minister
of Community and Social Services, Sandra Pupatello - Dec. 17,
2003
- Kimberly
Rogers Inquest: a year later
press conference - Queen's
Park - Dec. 17,
2003
- Pupatello
vows to act on welfare by Kate Harries, Toronto Star
Dec. 17, 2003
- Welfare
activists baffled by Grits' inaction by
Bob Vaillancourt, Sudbury Star, Dec.
15, 2003
December
10, 2003
Additions to the site include:
Disability
in Canada: A 2001 Profile
Report released by Human Resources Development Canada highlights
selected findings from Statistics Canada's 2001 Participation
and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS).
The
report is available on HRDC's website in HTML, text, and PDF formats.
HTML: http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/hrib/sdd-dds/odi/documents/PALS/PALS000.shtml
Text: http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/hrib/sdd-dds/odi/documents/PALS/PALS.txt
PDF: http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/hrib/sdd-dds/odi/documents/pdfs/PALS.pdf
[size: 4.3 mb]
December
7, 2003
Additions to the site include:
New
from the Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD)
* Strategies
to Ensure Economic Security for All Canadians
* Urban Poverty Project
December
6, 2003
Additions to the site include:
Honouring
our beloved daughters, sisters and friends - NUPGE - Dec.
6, 2003 - Montreal tragedy happened 14 years ago today
Canadians
called to remember and take action against violence against women
-
Status of Women Canada News Release dd Dec. 6, 2003
December 5, 2003
Additions to the site include:
"The
Failed Experiment - Gun Control and Public Safety in Canada, Australia,
England and Wales" - New
Gun Control Study released by Fraser Institute - Nov. 2003
Op/Ed
by tOM Trottier
December
3, 2003 - International Day for Persons
with Disabilities
Additions to the site include:
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 which is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Read More =>
VIA Rail to Appeal Ruling
Previously Enablelinker reported news that the disability
community had proved victorious in a Canadian Transportation
Agency ruling against VIA Rail. The ruling obliges the company
to make all of its rail cars accessible. However, the Council
of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), which lodged the
original complaint, has just received notice that VIA Rail is
launching an appeal of the decision. In a recent press release,
CCD declared:
“Now
Canadians with disabilities face another lengthy and costly
legal battle to ensure we can use the trains. At the end, when
we win, VIA - who is now retrofitting these same cars to meet
Canadian safety standards - will have to rip those cars apart
again to make them accessible. Canadian taxpayers will pay again
and again for VIA’s mismanagement in purchasing unsafe
and inaccessible passenger rail cars.”
For more information
or to find out how to contact your MP about this issue, contact
CCD at 204-947-0303 or visit their website at http://www.ccdonline.ca
Watch
Your Back!
The Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) has developed
a list of recommendations for safe snow shoveling through the
winter months. It reports that many Canadians experience muscle
fatigue, low back and/or shoulder pain, vertebral disc damage
and even spinal fractures during the winter season. For a list
of back- friendly tips for safe snow shoveling, visit the CPA
website at http://www.physiotherapy.ca/release2003_9.htm
November
28, 2003
Additions to the site include:
Master
and Slave
- Op/Ed by tOM Trottier
November 26, 2003
Additions to the site include:
choose
to change this - Women and children more at risk in province
Read
the report released by OAITH - Ontario
Association of Interval and Transition Houses - on Monday,
Nov. 24, 2003 at Queen's Park. (Reproduced from PDF file)
— "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.
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
 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
25, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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
23, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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
21, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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 government can't afford to increase benefits now because
of the $5.6 billion deficit left by the former Tory government.
'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
19, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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 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
Child
Poverty & Housing Crisis
North Bay Network for Social Action - Media Advisory dd Nov. 19,
2003
The North Bay Network for Social Action will hold a Press
Conference Friday, November 21, 2003 at 11:00 A.M at the Catholic
Centre, 387 Algonquin Avenue
November
18, 2003
Additions to the site include:
ACTION
Alert - Liberals Fast track New Adams Mine Bid
Nov. 18, 2003 - 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. Read
More =>
November
11 -12, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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
Canada. Her parents last saw the child when she went to bed on
Sunday night (Oct. 19th, 2003). Her disappearance was not noticed
until Monday morning shortly before 8:30 A.M. She is described
as; female, Asian, 9 years of age, 4'11", 70lbs, thin build,
shoulder length black hair with blond highlights, brown eyes,
wearing unknown clothig. Anyone with Information is asked to contact
33 Division at (416) 808-3300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS
(8477)
Presentation
to Judy Marsales, MPP, and staff of Ted McMeekin MPP -- At
the Meeting of the Campaign for Adequate Welfare and Disability
Benefits (CAWDB) on Nov. 12, 2003 - Presented by
Mike Hogeterp and Darlene Burkett
November
11, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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. Read
More
November
7, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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 =>
United
Ways of Ontario's Government Relations Bulletin - Issue dd
Nov. 7, 2003
* New Government, New Ministries, and New Committees
* McGuinty Moves Swiftly to Tackle Deficit
* Food Banks Struggle with Growing Hunger
* Study Cites Factors Driving Dramatic increase
in Children’s Aid Cases
* Ontario to End Hydro Rate Freeze
* Commission Seeks Removal of Barriers for
Disabled Students
* B.C.’s Two-Year Welfare Cut-off Challenged
November
3, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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
2, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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 =>
October
31, 2003
Addition to the site
Alternative
Federal Budget predicts substantial surpluses and spending room,
despite Ottawa¹s fear mongering
Press
Release: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
dd Oct-31-2003
OTTAWA: Despite John Manley and Paul Martin¹s
repeated warnings of a dismal fiscal outlook, the Alternative
Federal Budget¹s calculations show Canadians can expect an
underlying federal surplus of $6.6 billion in fiscal year 2003-04.
Read More =>
October
28, 2003
Addition
to the site
Bad
walls make bad neighbours
Op/Ed by tOM Trottier
October 24, 2003
Addition
to the site
Message
from the Coalition for Fair Opposition
NDP
Party Status
October 14, 2003
Addition
to the site
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
October 13, 2003
Addition
to the site
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
1, 2003
Announcement
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 =>
September
29, 2003
Added to the
site
Who
cares about Ontario's poor? Op/Ed in Toronto Star - Sept. 29,
2003
by Sarah Blackstock And 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 =>
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. The
percentage of claimants that are approved for an appeal hearing
is under 10% and this major victory has undoubtedly been due
to the massive political campaign in support of Bilquis and Imran
all around the country. Thank
you to the hundreds of supporters and allies who have previously
written to Minister Coderre, attended press conferences and rallies,
organized solidarity actions and campaigns in various cities and
offered their support to Bilquis and Imran and all the Pakistani
refugees.
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 Monday September 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
26, 2003
Added to the
site
Access
to Justice - Governance in the America
Deadline for
responses to questionnaire Tues. Sept. 29,
2003
Women from
across Canada are invited to participate in an Americas-wide
project to assess the progress made by the region’s governments
in the areas of: access to justice, freedom
of expression, access to information,civil society participation
and strengthening local governments since the 2001 Summit of the
Americas in Quebec City. Information on the current
legal/regulatory state of these issues in theory and practice
will be collected in 21 participating countries, including Canada.
Follow this link for a brief description
of the Access to Justice Project
Follow
this link for some information
about the Canadian Foundation for the Americas
Follow
this link to read and
respond to the questionnaire
Follow this link to print & respond to the questionnaire
(10 pgs + cover)
Rich Text Format
size 504 kb - Accessible
to Word & WordPerfect users
Word Document size
226 kb
September
25, 2003
Added to the
site
Court
Overturns Stoning Sentence of Woman in Nigeria
Amina Lawal Case Update - Sept. 25, 2003
Strategic
Voting? Hold Your Nose
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.
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 24, 2003
Added to the
site
Happy
Retirement to Gilles Seguin from HRDC
Publisher of Canadian Social Research Links - a
virtual resource centre for Canadian social program information
Justice
with Dignity (Jwd) Action Package - September 2003
September
20, 2003
Research Posting:
Sudbury
emergency food aid because of August blackout was badly done
Anti-Poverty
Group, City Squabble Over Blackout Payments
Contrast Sudbury's
$50 for singles and up to $125 for families with Hamilton's measly
$10 and $20 vouchers. In both cities, the responsible authority
failed to get the word out effectively
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 19, 2003
Additions to
the site:
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
Dennis Raphael, PhD, is an Associate
Professor at the School of Health Policy and Management at York
University in Toronto, Canada. The most recent of his over 100
scientific publications have focused on the health effects of
income inequality and poverty, the quality of life of communities
and individuals, and the impact of government decisions on North
American's health He is co-editing the volume Social Determinants
of Health: Canadian Perspectives" that reports the findings
from a Health Canada funded national conference he organized at
York last November. Many of his papers and presentations on these
topics are available for downloading and distribution from the
Library in his website.
September
18, 2003
Additions to
the site:
Series
of helpful Q & A sheets on the child tax benefit, the minimum
wage and social assistance, developed by John
Fraser, former
policy analyst with the
Income Security Advocacy Centre.
Leaving
Welfare for Work? Questions & Answers
Child
Benefits in Ontario? Questions & Answers
Minimum
Wage - Questions & Answers
September
16, 2003
Additions to
the site:
Political
Campaign in Support of Bilquis & Imran
Disabled woman & her teenaged son to be
deported - Reason(s) given: "Cost"
to Canadians - Contact Members of
Parliament Today!
September
8, 2003
Additions to
the site:
Ontario
Health Coalition - Election Planning Kit #1
All Candidates' Meeting Planning
September 6, 2003
Additions to
the site:
The
Killing of Dudley George - Eight Years on Many Questions Remain
Unanswered
Dudley George was killed by a sniper on Sept. 6, 1995,
when
the Ontario Provincial Police attacked a small group of unarmed
protestors occupying Ipperwash Provincial Park. Eight years later,
critical questions remain unanswered about the decision to use
force against the protestors and the influence of government officials.
Amnesty International released this week, a new report on the
case,
Canada:
Why there must be a public inquiry into the police killing of
Dudley GeorgeCanada: Why there must be a public inquiry into the
police killing of Dudley George
September
5, 2003
Additions to
the site:
Make poverty an election issue in your community: Sept 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 4, 2003
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. Read
More
September
3, 2003
Additions to the site include:
ODSP
Issues in Provincial Election Campaign - Questions for Ontario
Election 2003
ODSP
Fact Sheet - Media Stats
Ontario
Election 2003 - Organizing Information & Resources for Social
Justice Activists
70+
links to a comprehensive collection of information about social
justice campaigns happening around the Ontario provincial election
called for Oct 2, 2003
September 2, 2003
Announcement
Pls
note our mailing address is no longer valid as the place where
our post office box was housed closed its door as of Sept 2/03
- New address to be advised
Ontarians
With Disabilities Act (ODA) Committee Election Ontario Action
Kit
United
to Achieve a Barrier-Free Ontario
The ODA Committee
is a voluntary coalition of individuals & community organizations
who have united to secure the passage in Ontario of a new law
which would achieve a barrier-free society for people with disabilities.
For the Oct. 2, 2003 Ontario Election, we've launched a campaign
to move forward on the long, challenging road to a barrier-free
Ontario for 1.9 million Ontarians with disabilities.
ODA
Committee Action Kit
ODA
Committee Election 2003 Leaflet
ODA
Committee Chronology
Election
2003 Political Parties Voting Record Factsheet
August 29,
2003
Additions to the site include:
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
=>
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 =>
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
26, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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.
Plain
Talk - Summer 2003 Issue
Newsletter of the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC)
Looking
for justice in all the wrong places
Low Income People Hit Hardest By
Blackout
ISAC Persuades Premier To Declare
ODSP Offices An Essential Service
ISAC's
Income Security Consultation
Ontario Needs a Raise!
An Ontario Child Benefit?
Regional Updates
The "Lifetime Ban" Goes
to Court
ISAC AGM Notice
August
23, 2003
Additions to the site include:
 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
More
Cut-Offs of BC's Most Vulnerable - People with DisAbilities (PWD)
Today's
Georgia Straight
article by Bill Tieleman is about the BC Liberal Government's
ongoing threats to people with disabilities (PWDs), and about
what intentions the BC Liberals' most recent media spin is likely
designed to cover up. The BC Liberals designed its arduous 23-page
reassessment process to reduce the number of people with disabilities
(PWDs) who qualify to receive disability benefits (maximum $786
monthly). However, evidence now suggests that the PWDs who (between
October 2002 -- April 2003) were exempted from the reassessment
process (because the ministry considered them unable to complete
it for medical/disability reasons) are still likely to be reassessed
and, for those PWDs again unable to successfully complete the
arduous form and process, are still likely to be cut off their
disability benefits income . . . Read
More =>
BC
Court Victory - DisAbilities, Autism
Another at least temporary
court victory for People with Disabilities! In this case there
are implications for at least children with autism.
Read More =>
August
19, 2003
Additions to the site include:
Amina
Lawal: continuing appeals process to prevent execution by stoning:
TAKE ACTION: Please sign the Amnesty International
Petition
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
14, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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
13, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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 =>
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 =>
Ontario
Settles Pay Equity Dispute ... Affecting 100,000 Ontario 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
12, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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
10, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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
9, 2003
Additions to the site include:
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
3, 2003
Additions
to the site include:
Hate
Crimes - What are Hate Crimes & Hate Propaganda and The Criminal
Code in Canada
August
2, 2003
Additions
to the site include:
Using
the Internet for Outreach & Organizing: A Virtual Activist
Training Reader
This organizing tool was developed by NetAction
and has been reproduced on the DAWN Ontario website with additional
pointers to Canadian content and alternative text added to images.
NetAction permits reproduction with appropriate credit.
Consensus
Decision Making
Tips
for Equal Access Presentations Suggestions
for making your presentation accessible
DAWN
Women Write page
A collection of Op/Eds, stories and commentaries by Women with
disAbilities connected to DAWN.
Submission
- Poetry by Debbie Kerr
August
1, 2003
New links added to links page:
Women's
Health Matters Resource Database
The Women’s
Health Matters Resource Database is a searchable bilingual database
of women’s health resources for consumers and health professionals
alike. It 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.
Kathleen
O'Grady - website launch announcement
Kathleen
O'Grady is a writer and academic. She is the author of numerous
articles and the editor of several books in the fields of philosophy,
religious studies and women's issues, including, with Paula Wansbrough,
Sweet Secrets (Sumach Press), and, with Morny Joy and Judith Poxon,
French Feminism and Religion and Religion in French Feminist Thought
(Routledge Press). Her reviews and articles on women's health,
sexuality and cultural issues have also appeared in a variety
of magazines and newspapers, including The Chicago Tribune, The
Women's Review of Books, BUST magazine, Publisher's Weekly, The
Globe and Mail, The Ottawa Citizen, Toronto Star and many others.
The
Woodcarver by Christine Watts
Sars,
Stones and Accessibility by
Kathleen Williams
July 31, 2003
Additions to the events calendar:
Diaspora,
Memory & Silence Conference Hosted
by the Centre for Feminist Research
Where:
Founder's Assembly Hall, York University
Plenary Speaker: Floya Anthias
-- From Oxford Brookes University in the UK, Professor Anthias
is well known internationally for her work in social divisions
and identities, social exclusion and inequality, and gender, ethnicity,
racism and migration. She will be speaking about Rethinking Translocations,
attempting to move forward the debate in the study of population
movements and their understanding.
Speaker: Pamela Sugiman --
Associate Professor from McMaster University's Department of Sociology,
Professor Sugiman will speak on "Passing Time, Moving Memories:
Three Narratives of Japanese Canadian Women's Wartime Experience".
Speaker:
Audrey J. Whitson
-- Author of Teaching Places, Ms. Whitson received her MS from
the Franciscan School-Graduate Theological Union at Berkley. Teaching
Places is her tale about a woman's spiritual search, how that
search calls her to the land and how the land teaches.
Speaker:
Vijay Agnew
-- Director of the York Centre for Feminist Research and author
of the new Wilfrid Laurier Press publication "Where I Come
From", Vijay will be speaking on The Quest for the Soul in
the Diaspora.
Program and Registration can be found at http://www.yorku.ca/cfr/events/conference%20program.htm
Co-sponsored by MCRI Diaspora, Islam and Gender and York Centre
for Asian Research and Founders College
July
28, 2003
New link added to links page:
YouthARE
A non-profit employment program at the YWCA for young adults with
disabilities, called Youth ARE (able, ready, employed)
July 25, 2003
Additions to the site:
Mental
Pause and Menopause or Mutation
She
Says (M. Kathleen Williams)
... He Says (Andrew D. Tutty)
... a
new Op/Ed column on the DAWN Ontario site -- Read the first SARS
WARS
July
23, 2003
Additions to the site:
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.
In this note Tarek describes beatings and solitary confinement
conditions that he has been subjected to while in prison. We
urge everyone reading this to contact your MP
and 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 =>
July 22, 2003
Additions to the site:
Board
Development ToolKit
 Role
of Chair/President
Role
of Secretary
Role
of Treasurer
Board
Meetings
July
21, 2003
Additions to the site:
Ontario
Disability Support Program (ODSP)
Facts and Questions: Ontario Election 2003
July
20, 2003
Additions to the site:
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)
These are the feminist principles of:
July
19, 2003
Additions to the site:
Getting
Off Welfare
Submitted anonymously to
Sound,
a magazine for social justice 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 =>
Eves
Government 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" Read
More =>
July
17, 2003
Additions to the site:
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
16, 2003
Conference Announcements:
4th
Annual National Aboriginal Women in Leadership Training Conference
October 23 - 25, 2003 | Ottawa
Crowne Plaza Ottawa, 101 rue Lyon Stree, Ottawa
For more information, contact: First Nations Training and Consulting
Services
Mailing address: P.O. Box 69 Saanichton, BC V8M 2C3
Courier address: 7449 West Saanich Rd, Saanichton, BC V8M 1R7
Phone: (250) 652-7097 || Fax: (250) 652-7039
E-mail: fntcs@telus.net
Website: www.firstpeoplescanada.com
BC
Women's Breast Health Conference
October
17 - 19, 2003 | Vancouver, BC
This interdisciplinary conference will address new
directions in breast cancer health, including approaches in diagnoses,
medical/legal issues and risk management. The conference will
provide information, resources and networking opportunities for
health care professionals. Hosted by Interprofessional Continuing
Education.
For more information, please visit http://www.interprofessional.ubc.ca/Breast%20Health/Advance%20Notice.html
or call 822-0054; or send an email to interprof@cehs.ubc.ca.
Online conference registration is available at http://www.interprofessional.ubc.ca/
10th
Canadian Conference on International Health
October
26 - 29, 2003 | Ottawa
The theme
of this year's conference
is "The Right to Health: Influencing the Global Agenda.
How Research, Advocacy and Action can shape our future."
The Preliminary Program and online registration is now available!
Conference Goal: To provide a forum for practitioners, researchers,
educators, policy makers and community mobilizers, interested
in health and development issues, to share knowledge, experience
and promote innovation and collaborative action.
For more information, contact the Conference Secretariat at:
Toll free in Canada: 1-877-722-4140
Phone: 613-722-4140
Email: conference@csih.org
Conference
URL: http://www.csih.org/what/conferences2003.html
July
11, 2003
Additions to the site:
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
9, 2003
Additions to the site:
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
8, 2003
Additions to the site:
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
7, 2003
Additions to the site:
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 Read More =>
July
4, 2003
Additions to the site:
Canada
slips from 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. The ranking is based
on 2001 data. Read
More on the Toronto Star
Canada fell from third to eighth place on the United Nations'
annual human development report after spending most of the 1990s
in the top spot. Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Australia, the Netherlands,
Belgium and the United States are all ahead of Canada on the United
Nations Human Development Index. It will be released next week.
Read
more on the CBC
National
Child Benefit Reduces Child Poverty
"The National Child Benefit Progress Report: 2002 confirms
that the incidence of low-income families with children is steadily
declining, dropping from a high of 15.8 percent in 1996 to a low
of 11.4 percent in 2000. This is just one of the highlights of
the report..." Read
More =>
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 =>
Support
the right of transexuals to obtain gov't funding for Sex Reassignment
Surgery (SRS)
It's up to the Federal Government to make sure
the Provinces provide equal health care to all the people in the
provinces. They cannot discriminate against transexuals, but they
do by not paying for S.R.S. Please
join in and write to your Government. Read
More & Take Action =>
How
I Feel About Men
Op/ed by Chrstine Watts
July 3, 2003
Additions to the site:
| HOME |
 |
Housing
Ontario Means Everyone
Read the HOME brochure online!
HOME is a new Toronto-based coalition of community groups,
tenant organizations and organizations working with homeless people
and 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)
Anti
WTO Demonstrations in Montreal
A
newly formed coalition in Toronto is mobilizing to attend the
anti-WTO demonstrations in Montreal starting July 27, 2003.
-
What is going on in Montreal?
- How
and when are we going to get there?
- Anything
happening in Toronto?
- I
want to help organize!
-
I want to be kept up to date, I have more questions.
July
2, 2003
Additions to the site:
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
1, 2003
Additions to the site:
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.
Happy
Canada Day!
June
30, 2003
Additions to the site:
Say
“NO” to Hong Kong’s Proposed Article 23 Legislation
- update
July 7, 2003 - see Toronto
Star article "Hong Kong backs off
bill"
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
29, 2003
Additions to the site:
This
Day in History: June 29th
2002:
First Gay Pride Parade in Croatia
1974:
Isabela Perón takes office as Argentine president
1972: US
Supreme Court strikes down death penalty
Final
call for the Lesbians and Breast Cancer Project
With your help, the Lesbians and Breast Cancer Project Team has
connected with 29 lesbians willing to tell their stories about
breast and gynecological cancer. Read
early quotes from women we have 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 and
August. Read More =>
June
28, 2003
Additions to the site:
Urgent
Appeal to Save Maryam Rajavi
 Mrs.
Maryam Rajavi, leader
of the Iranian Resistance movement,
was arrested on June 17 and detained since, 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”,
and “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
26, 2003
Additions to the site:
Bill
C-13: The Assisted Human Reproduction Act
Take Action !
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 =>
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 =>
Job
Opportunities for People with Disabilities under the age of 30
in Ontario
Tetra Ontario's Youth Apprenticeship program is inviting applications
for 3
chapter coordinators in Ottawa, Kingston & Sarnia and 8
assistant coordinator positions in London, Sarnia, Windsor, Sudbury,
Hamilton, Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Kingston & Ottawa.
Read More =>
June 19,
2003
Additions to the site:
Source:
United Ways of Ontario's Government Relations Bulletin - Issue
dd June 18, 2003
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 =>
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 =>
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. Read
More =>
June
18, 2003
Additions to the site:
The
Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD) recently released
a major new study providing an in-depth examination of how the
voluntary and nonprofit sector in Canada is coping after a decade
of cost-cutting & restructuring by governments.
The study
reveals the enormous financial strain facing nonprofit and voluntary
groups across Canada because of the short-term, project-based
funding now favoured by governments and many other funders, and
details the day-to-day struggle for survival of many organizations
forced to deal with the harsh realities of Canada's new funding
regime.
"Funding
Matters: The Impact of Canada's New Funding Regime on Nonprofit
and Voluntary Organizations" by Katherine Scott.
The full report
is available
online, along with the Summary Report, press release, and
a series of fact sheets. [June 15, 2003] Pinpoint URL: http://www.ccsd.ca/pubs/2003/fm/
June 15,
2003
Additions to the site:
"Tell
It to Ottawa" Advocacy
Toolkit & Legislative Workshop
Tooklit Includes:
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 =>
Listening
to Canadians: A First View of the Future of the Canada Pension
Plan Disability Program Report
of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the
Status of Persons with Disabilities
Judi Longfield, M.P. Chair || Carolyn
Bennett, M.P. Chair, Subcommittee on the Status of Persons with
Disabilities; Tabled
in the House June 12, 2003 Read
the Report =>
June
13, 2003
Additions to the site:
SAR
WARS - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
She
Says (M. Kathleen Williams)
... He Says (Andrew D. Tutty)
... a
new column on the DAWN Ontario site
Women's
History Month 2003
In
October 2003, Canadians will celebrate Women's
History Month (WHM), with the highlight being Person's
Day on October 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 5, 2003
Addition to the Site
Ontario Media Directory
(created June 5, 2003)
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
Statement
of Principles: New Landlord/Tenant and Rent Control Legislation
Released by the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO)
and the Legal Clinics' Housing Issues Committee (composed
of representatives from legal clinics in each region of 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. Read
More =>
May 31, 2003
Addition to the Site
To
better assist our visitors, we
have added a Search Feature to the DAWN Ontario site.
You may use it to search through the DAWN site or to search the
WWW. Follow this link to use
the search feature.
May 28, 2003
Of Interest ...
Poverty:
4 million Canadians can't afford basics of life - Ottawa unveils
new yardstick called 'market basket measure'
More than 13
per cent of all Canadians cannot afford enough food, shelter,
clothing and transportation for a healthy life, according to a
new gauge of poverty developed by Human Resources Development
Canada. The Market Basket Measure (MBM) classifies more Canadians
as poor than does any other yardstick used by Ottawa. Read
more from => National
Union of Public and General Employees
10-year
Tory war on welfare devastates Ontario's poor - New study by CCPA
shows 37% 'real value' plunge in assistance rates
Toronto
- A decade after the last small increase in benefits, and eight
years after the Harris-Eves Tory government won power and declared
war on welfare, Ontario's poorest citizens are finding it almost
impossible to meet basic needs such as food and secure shelter,
says a new study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Read More => National
Union of Public and General Employees
Tory
cuts ensure "basic needs" hard to meet for Ontario's
most vulnerable --study
Since Ontario’s Tories were elected in 1995, welfare rates
have plummeted by an inflation-adjusted 37 per cent. Welfare incomes
now fall well below the Sarlo-Fraser Institute’s poverty
line — Canada’s most conservative scale. Not surprisingly,
a new report finds that Ontario’s poorest are finding it
nearly impossible to meet their basic needs for food and secure
shelter. Read more from => Canadian
Centre for Policy Alternatives
May 27, 2003
Resource Announcement
CLEO
- Community Legal Education Ontario Publications
These
documents point to the CLEO website (CLEO does NOT give legal
advice) and open in a new browser window.
Please
note that in order to view the publication, you must have Adobe
Acrobat Reader which is available for download FREE at: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Patients' Rights: Form 1 - Are you in hospital for a psychiatric
assessment?
http://www.cleo.on.ca/english/pub/onpub/PDF/may03/form1.pdf
(PDF - 98 KB) Rev April 2003
Need
Welfare? How to apply for Ontario Works benefits
http://www.cleo.on.ca/english/pub/onpub/PDF/may03/needwelf.pdf
(PDF - 179 KB) Rev. March 2003
May 24,
2003
Additions to the Site
Why
the poor are getting poorer
Op/Ed
in Toronto
Star, by Jacquie Chic & John Fraser
May 23,
2003
Additions to the Site
ONTARIO
NEEDS A RAISE!
June 5th Flyering Day
On June 5th, the Ontario
Needs A Raise Coalition has organized an Ontario-wide day
of flyering,
calling for increases to the minimum wage and social assistance
rates and for indexing of both to keep pace with inflation. Read
More =>
May
20, 2003
Additions to the Site
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
19, 2003
Additions to the Site
Statistics
Comparing Basic Social Assistance Rates in Canada
Estimated
2002 Annual Basic Social Assistance Income by Type of Household
May
16, 2003
Additions to the Site:
Top
court to rule in landmark judicial activism case
B.C.
Court ordered province to provide treatment for autistic children
May 15,
2003
Additions to the Site:
May
2, 2003
Additions to the site:
Op/Ed:
How Many "C's" in "Canada"? by Kathleen
Williams
Happy
10th Anniversary to ERDCO!
May
1, 2003
Additions to the site
Campaign
2000 Press Release: Legacy
of Child Poverty Eclipses Government's Proposals
Eves
Government Throne Speech Makes No Commitment to Strengthen the
Ontarians with Disabilities (ODA) Act 2001
Press
Release: NDP MPP Tony Martin's Response to Eves Government's Throne
Speech
April
30, 2003
Additions to the site
ISAC Press Release on Throne Speech dd April 30, 2003:
ODSP Raise A Step Forward, Ontario
Works Recipients Disregarded
Women
Vote '03 Kit
Sign
Online Petition to support Bill C-250
... to amend the Criminal Code of Canada to include
Sexual Orientation for protection from hate crimes
Petition
closes May 5, 2003
April
22, 2003
Additions to Events Calendar:
ADDA
2003 National Conference
May 2 - 4, 2003 | Portsmouth, VA
Over 800 people from around the world, including most of the top
professionals in the AD/HD field, will be in Portsmouth, VA, May
2-4 for Connections 2003 - connecting to ideas, connecting to
people, connecting to purposeful lives. This conference will be
a time to reflect, a time to re-evaluate and a time to re-energize
and recommit to what is valuable in your life. Come and benefit
from the most complete, up-to-date and diverse resources on AD/HD
http://www.add.org/conf2003
The
29th National IRI Conference
May 5 - 6, 2003 | Washington D.C.
The IRI, which has existed under various names since 1947, produces
quality training materials that are used extensively in human
resource development and staff training throughout the field of
rehabilitation. At the National Forum, the two Primary Study Groups
present the results of their year-long studies in concurrent sessions.
Interested individuals are invited to register for one of the
two topics to be presented at the conference. Topic 1: Promoting
Consumer Empowerment through Professional Vocational Rehabilitation
Counseling Topic 2: Teaching Orientation and Mobility Professionals:
Non-Traditional Approaches to Meet Critical Staffing Shortages
http://www.gwu.edu/~rrcep/National.htm
Official
Congress of The International Brain Injury Association
May 24 - 26, 2003 | Stockholm Sweden
http://www.congrex.se/braininjury/
The
Empowerment of Children With Physical Disabilities Pediatric Conference
May 22-24, 2003 | Austin, Texas
The Pediatric Power Network™ is an association, which deals
with issues relating to children with physical disabilities. The
three day agenda will consist of classroom lectures by therapists
and physicians and 'hands on' labs and exhibits of pediatric related
products and services. This course is designed to make a difference
in the future of a child, by turning disabilities into capabilities.
Mobility, positioning, communication, and access will be highlighted
throughout the presentations. The Exhibit Hall will provide attendees
the opportunity to view and try a wide range of Pediatric equipment.
Communication and computer access will be highlighted in various
exhibits and labs during the conference. This entire conference
is dedicated to providing attendees an educational environment
specifically dedicated to the needs of children with physical
disabilities. From the lecture rooms to the exhibit hall, the
focus will be on 'Empowerment of a Child to Succeed.' The topics
will be directed at mobility, communication, education, medical
intervention, and fun.
http://www.pediatricpowernetwork.com/
International
Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
June 16 - 19, 2003 | St. Louis, Missouri
The NACC Conference on ICF provides an opportunity for valuable
knowledge sharing and open discussion on issues related to the
ICF. It is associated with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
National Center for Health Statistics and Washington University
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/otheract/icd9/icfhome.htm
NFB
National Conventions
June 28 - July 4, 2003 | Louisville, Kentucky
NFB Conventions give government representatives, agency administrators,
and leaders in politics, business, and industry the opportunity
to address and respond to a large nationwide audience primarily
of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The topics
of interest include: relevant civil rights issues; rehabilitation
of the blind for competitive employment; the operation of vending
facilities by blind persons on public property; specialized library
services for the blind; Social Security and Supplemental Security
Income programs; advancements in technology; the organization
and funding of federal programs; and other timely topics. Legislative
proposals, new laws, administrative policy, and program changes
are all considered during the Convention."
http://www.nfb.org/convent/convens2.htm
RESNA
26th International Conference on Technology & Disability:
Research, Design, Practice
June 19 - 23, 2002 | Hyatt Regency Atlanta, GA.
Each year, assistive technology's leading researchers, expert
clinicians, and policy specialists fill the RESNA program with
an unmatched level of knowledge and expertise. Presenters and
attendees of the RESNA conference can expect to experience a packed
Exhibit Hall, Product Demonstrations and Training sessions, two
days of Pre-Conference Instructional Courses, and 3 full days
of Workshops, Interactive Poster Sessions, Themed Paper Sessions,
and distinguished speakers. As always, the professional networking
will be intimate, easy and unparalleled.
http://www.resna.org/conferences/index.html
Spina
Bifida Association of America 30th Annual Conference
June 22 - 25, 2003 | San Antonio, Texas
The Spina Bifida Association of American celebrates its 30th year
of presenting the premier conference serving the spina bifida
community. The Conference has earned its reputation as a gathering
place for those whose lives are affected by spina bifida - adults,
children, teens & families - who come together to learn how
they can help improve the quality of life for themselves &
their loved ones. In addition, leaders in medicine & research
share their expertise about most recent advances in the treatment
& prevention of spina bifida http://www.sbaa.org/html/sbaa_conference_2003.html
CTCNet
12th Annual Conference
June 26 - 29, 2003 | Washington D.C.
CTCNet National Conference has been the premier event in the community
technology field throughout the past decade - no other conference
draws representatives from so many of the most outstanding community
technology programs together with community leaders, non-profit
practitioners, funders and policymakers. http://www2.ctcnet.org/conf/2003/
The
42nd American Council Of The Blind National Convention
July 5 - 12, 2003 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
http://www.acb.org/convention/info2003.html
American
Association Of The Deaf - Blind 2003 Convention (AADB)
July 12 - 18, 2003 | San Jose, California
AADB is a national consumer advocacy organization which promotes
better opportunities and services for deaf-blind people.
http://www.tr.wou.edu/dblink/aadb.htm
The
Fourteenth Annual APSE Conference
July 20 - 23, 2003 | San Diego, California
The Association for Persons in Supported Employment is a membership
organization formed in 1988 to improve and expand integrated employment
opportunities, services, and outcomes for persons experiencing
disabilities
http://www.apse.org/
Disability
Studies: Theory, Policy and Practice
September 4 - 6, 2003 | Lancaster U.K.
Disability Studies Association 2003 Inaugural Conference Call
for Paper
This conference aims to bring together people involved in disability
studies throughout Europe to share their knowledge and experience
of studying disability issues, and to act as the launch pad for
a disability studies association in the UK.
http://www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/apsocsci/events/dsa.htm
Closing
The Gap 21st Annual Conference
October 16 - 18, 2003 | Minneapolis, Minnesota
The preconference workshop titles have been announced.
http://www.closingthegap.com/menulinks/confmenu.html
The
International Conference on Aging, Disability, and Independence
December 4 - 6, 2003 | Arlington, Virginia, USA
The International Conference on Aging, Disability, and Independence
will bring together researchers, practitioners, business leaders
and people involved in aging policy to focus on these issues.
The conference will include sessions related to research and development,
practice, products and services and policies. Commissioned papers
will be published following the conference. Conference proceedings
(abstracts of submitted papers) will be posted on the Rehabilitation
Engineering Research Center on Technology for Successful Aging
website.
http://www.asaging.org/icadi/03/index.cfm
Designing
for the 21st Century - An International Conference on Universal
Design March 3 - 7, 2004 | Havana, Cuba
Design is a tool for social equity. The developed economies know
a great deal about the design of places, things, and communication
that work for people with disabilities and older people and that
work better for everyone. There has been little effort to date
to share that knowledge with the developing nations where growth
will occur for the next century. 80% of people with disabilities
live in the developing economies and they are the poorest of the
poor. The only realistic stance toward inclusion for people with
disabilities is to identify a design framework that applies to
everyone. Special solutions are costly and potentially discriminatory.
Universal design anticipates diversity of ability and results
in sensible, efficient, and realistic solutions for housing and
streetscapes, buses and technology, and all of the other aspects
of development that inevitably get designed. If awareness and
information are shared now, we have an opportunity to avoid perpetuating
discrimination by design and to integrate solutions into development.
http://www.adaptiveenvironments.org/21century/index.php?f=1
April
19, 2003
Additions to the site:
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. Read
More http://canada.gc.ca/programs/guide/5_5e_surv.html
April 18, 2003
Take Action!
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. Read
More =>
April 17,
2003
Additions to the site:
Can
ICTs empower people?
The
reality of a digital divide between Northern and Southern countries,
but also within Southern countries, is widely recognized. Access
in developing countries is largely confined to urban areas, profitable
markets and to well-educated, upper income male users, thus widening
existing social inequalities. In a context of globalisation and
liberalisation, what regulations and policies are required to
ensure global and national access and guarantee effective use
of ICTs for all? What is needed to transform ICTs into a means
of empowerment for all people? Here
is a detailed discussion on transforming ICTs to benefit all the
people. http://www.ctrlaltesc.org/article.pl?sid=03/04/03/129227&mode=thread
Fifth World Conference on Women
& the 2005 CSW Review of the Beijing Platform for Action
Discussions by NGOs at the 47th Session of the
Commission on the Status of Women, 3-14, March 2003
The
Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL), the Conference of
NGOs (CONGO), the European Women's Lobby and the Women's Environment
and Development Organization (WEDO) convened several meetings
at the 47th session of the CSW at UN Headquarters in New York
from 3 to 14 March, to facilitate a discussion among women from
different parts of the world on the question of the ten year review
of implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for
Action and the fifth world conference on women. Read
More =>
April 16,
2003
Event Announcement
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.
And
-- mark your calendars! -- the My Body Politic event -- has been
rescheduled for May 12th, 6 - 8pm, at Gilda's Club. Details to
follow.
The Lesbians
& Breast Cancer Project is a partnership of:
- The
519 Church Street Community Centre
- DAWN Ontario: DisAbled Women's Network Ontario
- The Coalition for Lesbian & Gay Rights in Ontario
- Gilda's Club
- The Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto
- The Ontario Breast Cancer Community Research Initiative
- The Rainbow Health Network
- Sherbourne Health Centre
- Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre - Social
Work & Professional Advisory Committee
- Willow Breast Cancer Support & Resource Services
April 15,
2003
Additions to the site:
News
Release: Manitoba Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities
- dd April 14, 2003
Improvements to Exemptions for People with Disabilities Receiving
Employment & Income Assistance Announced
AFN
Notice: Call to Action - Caravan to Ottawa & Emergency Gathering
of Nations!
The
Assembly of First Nations, declare a "FIRST NATIONS CRISIS"
and an URGENT request for all First Nations to join the "Caravan
to Ottawa" for an "Emergency Gathering of Nations".
When: April 27- May-2, 2003 | Where: Ottawa
Why: To Defend our Sovereignty: Taking Charge of our Future
March 27,
2003
Additions to the site:
Shock
and owe - Ontario consumers get it in the ear
by Linda Leatherdale, Business Editor
This is it. Now it's all-out war. And
I'm not talking about Iraq. I'm talking about my outrageous electricity-water
bill, which has jumped 228.67% since 1992. Hell, Canada's cost
of living only rose 19.86% from 1992 to 2002, and I can tell you
my pay cheque didn't jump 228.67%. Read
More =>
Exploring
Sustainable Livelihoods – A Workshop
ACTEW - A Women's Training Community is pleased to present
a one-day best
practices workshop on "Exploring Sustainable Livelihoods"
When:
Wednesday, April 30, 2003 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Metro Hall, Room 308, 55 John Street (at King Street West)
Toronto
Early bird registrations will be accepted until April 11th (discount
for ACTEW members) You
can register online at: http://www.actew.org/about/workshops.html
Facilitators for the session are Janet Murray and Mary Ferguson
of Eko Nomos
Program Development Consultants. Eko Nomos has been refining the
sustainable livelihoods approach for Canadian application over
the last few years, and brings a community-based approach to all
of its initiatives.
For further
info: contact ACTEW at:
email: carol@actew.org
tel: 416-599-3590
March
26, 2003
Additions to the site:
TV
Ontario Budget Broadcast to London, North Bay, Thunder Bay and
Ottawa
Ontario NDP is organizing a Have
Your Say on Budget Day briefing and alternative view of the budget
2003
Report on Child Poverty in Ontario
Child
Poverty Persists: Time to invest in children and families Campaign
2000
The
persistence of child poverty in Ontario is a clear indication
that economic growth alone is not sufficient to ensure the well-being
of children and families. At a time of economic prosperity:
- 390,000
children remain in poverty in Ontario - an increase of 41% since
1989.
- The child
poverty rate of 14.4% for 2000 is now significantly higher than
the rate of 11.4% achieved during the peak of the last economic
boom in 1989.
- 40% of
low income children would need more than $10,000 to reach the
poverty line.
- Low-income
female lone parent families remain, on average, $8,600 below
the poverty line. Among low-income twoparent families, the average
gap between income and the poverty line actually widened by
nearly $900 since 1996 to almost $10,500 by 2000.
Public policy
must play a stronger and more deliberate role in ensuring that
all families can share in our province's prosperity. A comprehensive
social investment strategy is needed to ensure that no child lives
in conditions of disadvantage and poverty. Strategic investments
in the following five key areas are crucial to achieving substantial
progress in reducing child and family poverty... Read
More =>
March
25, 2003
Additions to the site:
Games
... or Bread? Take Action
Email members of the IOC to reject
the Vancouver-Whistler Olympic Bid in June - Say
NO to GAMES at the expense of BC People with disAbilities!
Email
members of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) to tell them about the human rights scandal that will unfold
in British Columbia if the BC Government wins the Vancouver Olympic
Bid and follows through on the $350 million provincial Olympic
commitment ... while it continues to cut
BC's Ministry of Human Resources budget by $254 million and undertakes
re-definitiions and reassessments of people with medical disabilities
in order to balance its budget. (And it has legislatively
required itself to balance its budget).
Read
More =>
March
23, 2003
Additions to the site:
Online Legal Workshops
for Women with disAbilities and Deaf Women
Family
Law Issues Workshop
Custody & Access and Child Protection
for Women
with DisAbilities and Deaf Women
Follow
this link
Disclosure
of Records Workshop
for Women with DisAbilities and
Deaf Women
Follow
this link
Other
documents:
Restraining
Orders, Peace Bonds & Terms of Release
Follow
this link
Finding a Lawyer
Follow
this link
Covering Your Tracks Online
Follow
this link
March
21, 2003
Special Feature
"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. In 1995, the Ontario government changed the
social assistance legislation so that a person was defined as
a “spouse” as soon as they started living with someone
of the opposite sex, removing the previous three-year cohabitation
period.
The
Falkiner case successfully challenged this new definition of “spouse”
in the Ontario courts, and in May 2002, the Ontario Court of Appeal
ruled that the definition of “spouse” was unconstitutional.
The Court of Appeal also held that social assistance recipients
are a protected class of persons under the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms, and ruled that governments cannot discriminate
against social assistance recipients. Following the decision,
the Ontario government amended the definition of “spouse”
to reimpose a cohabitation period, but reduced the cohabitation
period to three months.
The Ontario
government is asking the Supreme Court to overturn the Court of
Appeal ruling that social assistance recipients are protected
under the Charter.
For more information,
including links to the Court of Appeal decision, see the “Spouse
in the House” page from Canadian Social Research Links.
Follow this
link to to read LEAF's Factum
on the Falkner case.
March
14, 2003
Special Feature
Housing in Ontario
State of the Crisis, 2003: Ontario
housing policies are de-housing Ontarians
by Michael Shapcott; Ontario Alternative Budget 2003
Read
Highlights
of the Report
Read
Press Release: Give us shelter!
Ontario housing policies de-house 345,000 Ontarians
Read
the Report: State of the Crisis,
2003: Ontario housing policies are de-housing Ontarians
March
11, 2003
Announcement / Call for Participation
Women
in Public Policy Initiative (WIPP) - Projet Les femmes et les
politiques publiques -- Phase 3
WIPP is conducting
an evaluation of the Steps Toward a Credible and Inclusive
Public Policy Process
/ Les étapes d'un processus d'élaboration de politiques publiques
crédibles et inclusives; deadline for responses
March 21, 2003
Read More =>
CONNECTIONS
& DIRECTIONS : Sharing Visions for Clinic Law
2003 International Conference on Clinic Law Services
June 23-25, 2003 - Hamilton Ontario
CONNECTIONS & DIRECTIONS
will be an opportunity for representatives of clinic staff, boards,
LAO, community stakeholders, academics and others interested in
access to justice - from Ontario and other jurisdictions - to
meet to discuss the future of clinic law services in Ontario.
Program:
40+ sessions, panels, interactive workshops, innovation showcases,
celebrations of clinic achievements
Registration
Page:
includes conference fees; registration policies; on-line registration
form; hotels & accommodation; travel; and financial assistance
& reimbursement policies (please register early if you require
a subsidy) Register before April 30 for best rate
Statement
of Themes (PDF document requires Acrobat Reader)
For more information, contact Ian
Morrison, Conference Co-ordinator.
Sponsored by: Legal
Aid Ontario with the support of the Association of Community
Legal Clinics of Ontario
Social Safety News - the OSSN Newsletter
Issue
28 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 who support the Mission Statement of the
NetWork.
deadline
March 21, 2003
March
5, 2003
additions to the site
Statement
on International Women's Day
made by Jenny Kwan in the BC legislature on March 4th
& Spotlight on Joy and Jenny:
Joy MacPhail, Leader of the Opposition, MLA for Vancouver–Hastings
and Jenny Kwan, MLA for Vancouver–Mount
Pleasant
March
3, 2003
additions to the site
Ontario's
Housing Crisis - A Blueprint for Action (draft
version)
Housing and Homeless Network of Ontario (HHNO) dd Feb 23, 2003
In
the mid 1990s Ontario embarked on a radical experiment in housing
policy. The government said it would get "out of the housing
business" and placed its faith in the private market to meet
the housing needs of Ontarians. By any measure, this experiment
has been a failure. The promised results - more new rental housing
and better upkeep of existing properties - have not been realized.
The Housing and Homeless Network of Ontario (HHNO) is calling
for a new housing strategy for Ontario built on four pillars.
Read More =>
47th
Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
March
3 - 14, 2003 | New York, USA
The Commission focused on two thematic issues:
1. participation
and access of women to the media, and information and communication
technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for
the advancement and empowerment of women; and
2. women’s human rights and elimination of all forms of violence
against women and girls as defined in the Beijing Platform for
Action and the outcome document of the Special Session for the
General Assembly entitled “Women: gender equality, development
and peace for the twenty-first century.”
February
27, 2003
additions to the site
Federally
Sentenced Women Prisoners Begin Hunger Strike
Women inside Springhill Institution Protest
Unjust Conditions
Three Aboriginal
women imprisoned in a segregation unit at Springhill Institution,
a men’s prison in Nova Scotia, started a hunger strike last night
at midnight. The women began their non-violent action to protest
the prison administration’s refusal to address their long-standing
grievances. Read
More & Take Action =>
February
27, 2003
additions to the site
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.
Read more =>
February
24, 2003
additions to the site
Federal
Budget 2003 - Analysis & Reactions
source:
Canadian
Social Research Newsletter - issue dd February 23, 2003
Voluntary
Sector Evaluation Research Project - Canada
http://www.vserp.ca/index.html
"The
Voluntary
Sector Evaluation Research Project (VSERP) is a three-year
initiative to improve the capacity of voluntary organizations
to evaluate their work and communicate their effectiveness to
their funders, stakeholders and the public."
February
22, 2003
additions to the site
Anti-Unionism:
The Last Legal Hate Fix
by Humberto da Silva
VIETNAM
Revisited
by Kathleen
Williams
February 21, 2003
additions to the site & Event Announcement:
Announcing
...
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
Tickets on Sale: Monday, February 24, 2003
THE TORONTO WOMEN'S BOOKSTORE
416. 922.8744
March
27- 28, 2003 | Ottawa, Ontario
Social Inclusion Conference: What
Do We Know and Where Do We Go?Building A Social Inclusion Research
Agenda
The
Canadian Council on
Social Development (CCSD) and Human Resources Development
Canada (HRDC) will host a research conference on social inclusion
in Ottawa in March. The conference will focus on the latest policy
research being done on the social inclusion front and will provide
participants with an opportunity to identify the gaps in a national
social inclusion research agenda.
Who: Human Resources Development Canada and the
Canadian Council on Social Development will co-host the event
What: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go? Building
a social inclusion research agenda
When: Thursday, 27 March 2003 – Friday, 28
March 2003
Where: Sheraton Hotel, 150 Albert Street, Ottawa
ON
Details:
The conference will include a series of expert panels and seminars
on social inclusion research in such areas as health,
income and food security, visible minorities, children and youth,
and housing. Leading Canadian and international
researchers, policy analysts and community-based advocates will
share their latest findings and thoughts about where more investigation
and policy development is needed. Space will be limited to allow
for small seminars and full participation at the plenaries.
To receive further conference information, contact:
Sarah Zgraggen, The Willow Group,
Tel: (613) 722-8796; Fax: (613) 729-6206; e-mail: szgraggen@thewillowgroup.com
Please feel free to share this notice with colleagues.
February
12, 2003
additions to the site:
VDAY
- Until The Violence Stops
March 8, 2003
University of Toronto, St. George Campus Presents
"The Vagina Monologues"
3 production times: 2:30 pm; 7 pm; 10:30 pm
Strengthening
the Social Determinants of Health: The Toronto Charter for a Healthy
Canada
is now available at:
http://www.socialjustice.org/conference/english.htm
http://www.atkinson.yorku.ca/SHPM
Press Release:
Federal health spending must include housing and childcare, declare
450 health professionals
Toronto,
February 10, 2003 - Leading health policy experts, community
representatives and health researchers from across Canada have
ratified the
Toronto Charter for a Healthy Canada. Citing mounting evidence
that the root
sources of health and the causes of illness are social and economic,
they urge
funding for social housing and childcare and the creation of a
Task Force to
oversee Canadian progress on population health.
February
11, 2003
additions to the site:
Feb
14 National Day of Action - Campaign for Equal Marriage
On
Valentine's Day, the national LGBT equality rights organisation
Egale Canada
is inviting same-sex couples across the country, together with
their families, supporters and friends, to present themselves
at their local marriage registry office and ask for a marriage
licence. In
what has been dubbed a campaign of "civil obedience",
this day of action will draw country-wide attention to the fact
that same-sex couples cannot yet get legally married. In many
cases, the city/town would like to issue marriage licences to
same-sex couples, but the federal government prohibits this.
Read More =>
IWD
- International Women's Day - Week Events | North Bay
see http://dawn.thot.net/GEAN
The Program in Gender Equality and Social Justice, the Campus
Women's Centre, and the Gender Equality Alliance of Nipissing
are again hard at work to bring to the university and North Bay
communities a series of events to celebrate International Women's
Week (IWD) (February 26 - March 8, 2003). This
year our theme is the Criminalization of Poverty and the Pursuit
of Social Justice, and our events are aimed at raising awareness
about related local and global social justice issues.
Discussion
Panel & Presentations
February 26, 2003 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm - Weaver Auditorium
Women Rock
March 7, 2003, "Women Rock" celebration from 9 -12
pm in the main floor Cafeteria at the Nipissing University campus,
featuring a local band, The Spacial Fold. Donaton of cash or food
for food bank would be appreciated.
Film
Festival
Featuring three films, which will be open to the public, free
of charge, and shown during International Women's Week. Each
film will be followed by a panel of presenters, who will engage
the audience in a critical discussion of questions and issues
that arise from the films.
Film: Salaam
Bombay
Fri. February 28, 2003 at 7:00 pm, Weaver Auditorium
Film: Ladybird,
Ladybird
Wed. March 5, 2003 at 7:00 pm, Weaver Auditorium
Film: Erin
Brokovich
Fri. March 7, 2003 at 6:00 pm, Weaver Auditorium
February
10, 2003
additions
to the site:
In
honour and in memory of Kim
McConnell, DAWN Ontario has named our
Annual Inclusion Leadership Award (started
in 2001) as the
Kim McConnell Inclusion Leadership Award
Kim
McConnell lived her life as a champion of inclusion
in both her professional and avocational work advocating at every
opportunity for the full participation of people with disabilities
to become part of all that goes on in our communities.
Nominations will be accepted until
May 31 2003.
February 9, 2003
Special Announcement
Dear
Friends, it is with much sadness that we announce the death of
our beloved sister and friend, disability activist, Kim
McConnell. Kim died very suddenly, on Tues. Feb 4th in
her 38th year in Sudbury, Ontario.
Kim served for many years on the board and executive of DAWN Ontario.
A memorial site has been put together that includes the eulogy
to Kim delivered by her younger sister, Jodie, a copy of
Kim's obituary, a copy of the program from the memorial service,
Kim's photo, and also a guestbook where you may leave your thoughts
and condolences.
Here is the
web address of the Memorial site for Kim: http://dawn.thot.net/kim/
To make an
entry in the Guestbook, please follow
this link
January 29, 2003
additions to the site:
Special
Feature
DENIAL
BY DESIGN….
….THE ONTARIO DISABILITY
SUPPORT PROGRAM
John Fraser,
Cynthia Wilkey, JoAnne Frenschkowksi
Income
Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) Jan
2003
Full Report, posted Jan 29, 2003
January
28, 2003
additions to the site:
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
January
27, 2003
additions to the site:
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…
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 (converted from RTF document
from ISAC)
January
24, 2003
additions to the site:
CALL
FOR HELP National Action Committee (NAC) on the Status of Women
- An Important Message from Mariam Abou-Dib
of NAC's Executive Committee
Improve
the World: Help
Pull the Switch on TV Violence
by Sue Richards, Publisher,
Breast of Canada Calendar
January
22, 2003
additions to the site:
Thirty
Years of ROE V. WADE: And An Uncertain Future
In honor of Roe. v. Wade's 30th anniversary,
IWHC (International Women's Health Coalition) recalls how the
landmark 1973 decision galvanized a global movement that had been
gaining momentum throughout the 1960s--a movement that is now,
ironically, battling the US to stay strong. Read the IWHC's
analysis.
More
effective gun control legislation needed to protect women from
violence Press Release dd Jan 22, 2003
Bushoilography
- a pictorial
Bush expainifies the war against Irag using Texas terminologragy
January
21, 2003
additions to the site:
Call for Support re: Human
Rights for People with Transsexualism in Australia
Read the submission from the Australian W-O-M-A-N Network
Transsexualism and the
Case for Correction of Birth Records In Victoria, Australia
(Word doc. size: 92 kb)
Read
a copy of DAWN Ontario's letter of support
sent to the Hon. Rob Hulls, MP and copy to Louise Glanville
Read a copy of the letter from the Australian
W-O-M-A-N Network.
January
17, 2003
additions to the site:
Kimberly
Rogers tribunal results in common sense findings
Provide adequate benefits and never impose a lifetime ban,
jury recommends by Reuel S. Amdur
dateline: Jan 13, 2003 | Source: Straight
Goods
Gosselin
decision upholds Lévesque’s reforms reducing welfare
A
bad day for poor people in Canada. As for Chief Justice McLachlin,
history
will see her decision as a milestone on the road to yesterday
by Reuel S. Amdur | Dateline:
Monday, January 13, 2003
source: Straight
Goods - Canada's independent on-line source of
news you can use
January
13, 2003
additions to the site:
Ex-Squatters
Invite Premier to Discuss Alcohol & Substance Misuse dd
Jan 12, 2003
Media Coverage of
Premier Campbell's DUI Charge & Arrest
January
11, 2003
additions to the site:
BC
Premier, Gord Campbell Arrested for Drunk Driving
on Fri. Jan. 10th while vactioning in Hawaii
Statement
From Premier Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell's Mugshot
Kootenay Cuts has designed
goods sporting the Gordo mugshot
from t-shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys, teddy bear, mugs, coasters,
flying discs, mousepads, bbq aprons, baseball caps, greeting
cards, to tote bags.
Book him danno with
Hawaii Five-0's Jack Lord holding Gordo's mugshot
January
10, 2003
additions to the site:
O.D.S.P.
Action Coalition
Access to ODSP Campaign - Ontario Disability Support Program
SUMMARY OF FORUM REPORTS
Revised
draft document - January 9, 2003
January
8, 2003
additions to the site:
Don't
Ask, Tell or Respond: Silent Acceptance of Disability Hate Crimes
by Mark Sherry
Ed Roberts Post Doctoral Fellow in Disability Studies,
University of California, Berkeley
Martin
Launches Campaign For Change
Implement Kimberly Roger's Inquest Recommendations
January
6, 2003
additions to the site:
MCFCS'
new website, the duplicitous John Baird & the Tories' colossal
arrogance by Barbara Anello
January
3, 2003
additions to the site:
Canadian
Feminist Alliance for International Action's (FAFIA) Submission
to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
Against Women (CEDAW) on the Occasion of the Committee's
Review of Canada's 5th Report on January 23, 2003 is now on line:
Canada's
Failure To Act: Women's Inequality Deepens
* As a WORD
document (676 kb)
* As a PDF
file requires Acrobat Reader (355 kb)
B.C. CEDAW
Group's Submission: British Columbia Moves Backwards on Women's
Equality
* As a WORD
document (242 kb)
* As a PDF
file requires Acrobat Reader (174 kb)
About the
CEDAW 28th Session (13 to 31 January 2003) http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/28sess.htm
January
2, 2003
Event announcements added to Events Calendar
Alternatives to corporate-led globalization
(Re: World Social Forum)
when: Saturday,
11 January, 2003
where: Ryerson University, Jorgenson Hall (East
of Yonge, South of Gerrard) Toronto
what: * a one-day, open, interactive educational
space
* inspirational speakers and workshops
* a chance for information sharing, dialogue & discussion
across sectors, campaigns and issues
* link local issues to global themes
* explore exciting local initiatives and alternatives
* celebrate the energy of Toronto activism that night with drinks,
food, DJ and dancing!
Toronto
Learning Challenges Association
Aspergers Syndrome Partnership: AS Family
Life& AS Divorce Cases
Date: Sat. Jan. 11, 2003 | Time: 1:00 to
4:00 pm
Location: 184 Galloway Road, Scarborough
Cost: $25
Speakers:
Isabelle Hénault, M.A., Ph.D. candidate in psychology.
University of Quebec at Montreal. Isabelle is a sexologist and
consultant in readaptation centers. Her work deals primarily with
sex education, social skills and couples therapy for individuals
with Aspergers Syndrome. Isabelle is the author of a specialized
sex education curriculum for individuals with Aspergers Disorder.
Sheila Jennings Linehan:
family lawyer, family mediator
Beth Kingston: Professional autism advocate
Sandy McCulloch: President, Toronto Learning Challenges
Association
To
Register:
Call Sandy McCulloch at 416-269-8200 or email info@tlca.ca
to confirm
To be discussed:
- A Healthy Aspergers Syndrome Spousal Relationship
- Issues in Parenting with a Spouse with Aspergers Syndrome
- "Aspouse Syndrome"
- Dissolution of Marriage when one Spouse has Aspergers Syndrome
- Discussion Hour: tea and coffee, questions from the floor
Read excerpts of Easytraining Insights Digital at
http://www.easytraining.com/insights.htm
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