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