New Photo ID Card Now Available

News from the province:

Starting today, Ontarians can apply for Ontario's new photo identification card.

This new government-issued ID is now available at 21 ServiceOntario locations across the province, and will be available at all locations by 2012. (And yes, there is a location in London - at 1790 Dundas St. E)

This secure card will make it easier for people aged 16 years and over who do not have a driver's licence to open a bank account, make travel arrangements or perform other activities that require official ID.


Here's a sample of what the card will look like:

Quick facts:

To apply for a photo card you need to be an Ontario resident, and provide original identity documents with your legal name, date of birth and signature.

The photo card will cost $35 and is valid for five years.

Approximately 1.5 million Ontarians aged 16 years and over do not have a valid driver's licence.

Ontario joins eight other provinces that offer a government-issued photo ID card.

The Ontario photo card mirrors the same security features as the driver's licence to help prevent fraud and identity theft

Photo Card locations
Acceptable Identity Documents
Frequently Asked Questions

Study: Homelessness among Canadian Forces veterans & Broken Wing (am I the last person to know about this program?)

ABSTRACT:
Little is known about homelessness among Canadian Forces (CF) and Allied Forces (AF) Veterans. The purpose of this first national study was to understand the experience of homelessness among Veterans of the CF and AF, to discover the underlying causes of homelessness and to provide recommendations to improve services to Veterans. An interpretative phenomenological methodology guided the study to focus on understanding the experience of homelessness among the CF and AF population. A purposive sample of 54 homeless CF and AF veterans in three provinces and five cities (London, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria and Calgary) were interviewed who met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-four transcriptions were analyzed to identify common themes until an understanding of the experience of homeless Veterans was attained. Three themes were identified: A long journey from the military home to homelessness; the best and the worst of the system, and; two different worlds: like being on Mars and coming to Earth. Alcoholism was one of the major issues identified that lead ultimately to homelessness many years after their release from the military. Recommendations from participants for the Department of National Defence (DND) and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and implications for education, practice and research will be discussed.

To download the complete report:
http://www.homeless.samhsa.gov/ResourceFiles/VeteranHomelessnessReport.pdf

I heard a little piece on the radio this morning about "Broken Wing"
http://peacekeeperpark.com/Broken%20Wing.htm

Broken Wing is a multi-phased program developed by soldiers for soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which is now known as Operational Stress Injury (OSI). These terms carry a certain connotation behind them - strange and decadent self-absorption, drugs and alcohol, shame, or, to some - just the realization that this is the person that you used to love, used to know so intimately and who is not quite that person you knew such a short time ago. Broken Wing is a live-in program conducted at Peacekeepr Park with the pilot program being held in the summer of 2011. There is no cost to any veteran who wishes to apply.

Canada's Income Gap, the Richest 20% vs the Poorest 20%

You Oughta Know: Income Shares in Canada

View more presentations from Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

The income gap between the rich and the rest of us has worsened over the past generation. In 2009, during the dark days of Canada's recession, the richest 20% of Canadians took home a whopping 44.2% of total after-tax income -- in stark contrast to the poorest 20% whose after-tax income share was only 4.9%. What did the gap look like in your province? This You Oughta Know slideshow tells the story.

The national shame of aboriginal incarceration

The national shame of aboriginal incarceration

The Globe & Mail

July, 20, 2011

Highlights:

"Shawn Atleo, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, says first nations children are more likely to go to jail than to graduate from high school. Shocking indeed, but true. In its Throne Speech, the Harper government renewed its commitment to aboriginals. Yet, during the federal election campaign, there was hardly a mention by any party leader of the plight of first nations peoples and the destitute social and economic conditions in which they continue to live.

Federal correctional investigator Howard Sapers, in his 2009 report, says that the gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal offenders continues to grow and that the rate for aboriginal incarceration in 2008 was nine times the national average. This gap will widen and these numbers will increase with the Harper government's proposed crime bill. The ugly reality is that aboriginals will be especially hard hit by this legislation."

Divorce: New Rules Begin Today

Divorce: Curbing confrontation

London Free Press

July 18, 2011

Counselling before breakup: New Ontario divorce rules start Monday
The Toronto Star
July 18, 2011

The Highlights:

"Ontario's attorney general is bringing in new regulations for couples in the province hoping to get divorced.

Every couple hoping to get a divorce through the provincial court system will have to attend an information session about alternatives to going to court, and will also be given the option to attend a mediation session paid for by the attorney general's office.

Attorney general Chris Bentley says the program will save couples time, money on lawyers and much of the emotional toll that comes with the court system.

The expanded province-wide program will cost $8 million a year."

Ontario takes a backward step on mental health

Ontario takes a backward step on mental health
The Toronto Star
July 12, 2011

The Highlights:

"Shortly after the provincial Legislature adjourned for the summer, the Ministry of Health began negotiating the hand-off of Ontario's Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office, an independent provincial agency, to the Canadian Mental Health Association.

There was no public announcement. A memo was sent to "stakeholders" (employees of the agency and hospitals providing psychiatric care) from Assistant Deputy Minister Patricia Li. "I am writing to advise you of a change being planned that will improve the lives of people living with mental illness," she said. "Integrating the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office's rights advice and advocacy services with the Canadian Mental Health Association's community-based mental health services will result in a more coordinated, patient-centred continuum of care."

The reaction from mental health activists was swift and negative."

Rich Canadians Are Getting Richer

From a Conference Board of Canada news release:

The richest group of Canadians increased their share of total national income while poor and middle-income individuals lost ground since 1993, according to The Conference Board of Canada's How Canada Performs analysis of income inequality. Even though income levels for the poorest group of Canadians also rose, albeit minimally, the gap between the rich and poor in Canada widened.

"While the poor are minimally better off in an absolute sense, they are significantly worse off in a relative sense," said Anne Golden, President and CEO of the Conference Board. "High inequality raises two questions. First, what is the impact on the economic well-being of a country? The answer is that high inequality can diminish economic growth if it means that the country is not fully using the skills and capabilities of all its citizens or if it undermines social cohesion, leading to increased social tensions. Second, high inequality raises a moral question about fairness and social justice."

Peace Bonds & Restraining Orders

In question-and-answer format, this resource explains the criteria for getting a peace bond or a restraining order, the difference between them, how to apply for one, the conditions the court may impose on the other person, and the consequences of disobeying the order. Note: Although this booklet was published by a New Brunswick organization, the information in it applies across Canada.

http://www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca/en/peace_bonds_restraining_orders_criminal_law

A call for photographs, drawings and paintings depicting poverty in Canada

Canada Without Poverty seeks submissions of photographs, drawings and paintings depicting poverty in Canada -- from the east and west coasts to the far North and all points in between, from urban, suburban and rural perspectives, from those with the lived experience of poverty and from those who may not have experienced poverty directly but can see what it looks like and how it is impacting people. If you have one or more images you would be happy to share and allow us to use with credit, we would be grateful to receive and review your submission(s). Images submitted should be in JPG or GIF format.

http://www.povnet.org/node/4697

Facilitator’s Guide for a Workshop on the Social Assistance Review

Facilitator’s Guide for a Workshop on the Social Assistance Review

ISAC has produced some great materials, that I'm excited to use during the next "Community Conversations" I facilitate later this summer.

Interested in organizing in your community around Ontario’s Social Assistance Review this summer?

Not sure where to begin or want some support? You’re not alone!

That’s why the ODSP Action Coalition, with support from the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) and the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, has developed a Facilitator’s Guide for a workshop on the Social Assistance Review.

And we’re sharing it with YOU!

If you’re a community leader or working at a community-based organization – and you’re planning to organize a discussion about the Review – you may find our facilitator’s guide a very valuable tool.

Here’s the Facilitator’s Guide:

• SAR Workshop Facilitator’s Guide
• Le Guide d’animation sera disponible en français a compter du 18 juillet.

To facilitate the workshop, you will need to download the following documents:

• PowerPoint – Effective Advocacy Presentation
• Discussion Question – Social Assistance Rules
• Discussion Questions – Employment Supports
• Discussion Questions – Money
• Activity Sheet – One change
• Activity Sheet – Effective Advocacy
• Handout – Effective Advocacy Slides
• Commission’s Discussion Paper – this link will take you to the Commission’s website

These are documents that you can use and/or provide to workshop participants:

• Flyer – Workshop Flyer Template - just add your own details in the highlighted areas
• Membership Form – ODSP Action Coalition
• Info Sheet – Effective Advocacy Tips
• Info Sheet – Participating in the Social Assistance Review
• Info Sheet – Information about ODSPAC-ISAC-SSO

In preparing to facilitate the workshop and when writing your workshop report, you may find some of the following materials helpful:

• ODSP Action Coalition’s Submission to the Commission
• Backgrounder – Overview and Analysis for the Workshop
• ISAC Report on the IPPR’s “Welfare to Work” symposium
• ISAC: Principles Behind Poverty Reduction
• Additional materials from ISAC will be linked here as they are produced – watch this space for more!

Breaking The Cycle Of Violence

A London project will help address family violence in immigrant and refugee communities.

The province is supporting the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration which helps families that have re-located to London from international conflict zones.

The project will coordinate resources from a number of local service providers such as police, hospitals and child welfare services, in order to best respond to these victims' unique needs.

The tools and resources developed from the project will benefit additional social service agencies that are working to address family violence among immigrants and refugees in London and will help develop the provincewide strategy.

Find out what programs and services are available to victims of crime provincewide.

Read more about the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration.

http://news.ontario.ca/mag/en/2011/07/breaking-the-cycle-of-violence.html

Personal Finances

Personal Finances

The section on Personal Finances on the Ministry of Consumer Resources web site offers advice to consumers on how to protect their name and gives information about consumer rights and obligations. It looks at these topics and provides links:

• Protecting Your Debit Card
• Credit - Handle With Care
• Credit Repair
• Credit Reporting
• Credit Counselling
• Loan Brokers
• Payday Loans
• Collection Agencies
• Bailiffs

Ontario's Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy

June 22nd, the Minister of Health for Ontario, the Honourable Deb Mathews released the new Mental Health and Addictions Strategy for Ontario, ‘Open Minds, Healthy Minds’. This document has been long in the making and it appears the focus of the first 3 years is on children and youth, including in the schools. There also appears to be an increased focus on public education and mental health literacy.

Open Minds, Healthy Minds

Here's a summary from http://news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2011/06/ontarios-comprehensive-mental-health-and-addictions-strategy.html :

• Improve mental health and well-being for all Ontarians by:
  • Identifying mental health needs as early as possible and provide coordinated, high quality programs and services closer to home.
  • Improving mental health health literacy through targeted education and awareness programs to reach people most at risk.
  • Involving workplaces and encouraging them to develop and deliver education and awareness programs and services, while helping those with mental health and addictions issues to better cope in the workplace.
• Create healthy, resilient, and inclusive communities by:
  • Reducing stigma and discrimination through more mental health promotion practices for children and youth, educators, health providers, workplaces, seniors' service providers, municipal service providers, justice providers and the public.
  • Building on current programs to deliver services through community settings.
• Identify mental health and addiction problems early and lay down a foundation for good mental health early in life by focusing on kids first and:
  • Enhancing the capacity of our first responders to identify people with early signs and symptoms of mental health or addiction problems.
  • Building school based capacity and enhancing mental health resources at school.
  • Strengthening the capacity of family health care providers to offer mental health and addiction services.
• Provide timely, high quality, integrated, person-directed services. For example:
  • Creating a single-access directory with information on mental health and addictions services, self-care and peer support.
  • Delivering mental health and addictions services in schools, universities, colleges, community services, settlement services and long-term care homes.
  • Improving transitions between different services, including between youth and adult services, between adult and seniors services and between the justice and health systems.
  • Better coordination across the health system to reduce avoidable emergency room visits, hospitalization and wait times.

Poverty reduction does make a difference

Poverty reduction does make a difference
Toronto Star
June 26, 2011

Highlights:

The evidence is in. A lot of people in Canada took a real hit during the recent recession. Figures from Statistics Canada show that poverty became a reality for more Canadians between 2007 and 2009. No surprise there, really. It’s hard to imagine poverty falling in the worst global recession in recent history. But look a little closer and something more interesting appears. In Ontario, child poverty actually fell between
2008 and 2009, inching down from 15.2 per cent to 14.6 per cent. That means 19,000 Ontario children and their families were moved out of poverty, despite very tough times. Granted, the change is small, but it’s a stark contrast to other provinces that were also hit hard by the recession. In Alberta, for example, child poverty soared by 25 per cent in the same period.

What’s the difference? Ontario took concrete action to reduce child poverty. Provinces like Alberta didn’t.

Now is the time for all parties in Ontario to talk about their poverty reduction policies and plans. We need to know what action they plan to take to make sure all Ontarians, adults as well as children, will experience less poverty.

Let's Start a Conversation About Health . . . and Not Talk About Health Care at All

a video produced by the Sudbury and District Health Unit that invites us all to reframe more traditional discussions of health care by acknowledging that people's opportunities for health are largely influenced by broader social and economic conditions that have little to do with access to medical care.

Using this broader view, the video highlights how the actions of different, non-health sectors contribute to a community's prosperity and, in doing so, can positively impact people's overall health. Ultimately, this video's call to action is for everyone - teachers, builders, dads, nurses, business women, students and politicians - to start a conversation about health - and not talk about health care at all.

The Happiness Movement

From the Tamarack Institute's monthly e-magazine Engage!

There is a happiness movement that is starting to grow around the world. People are coming together to create a happier society for everyone. On the Action for Happiness website, you can download the Ten Keys to Happiness and a community-building Happiness Action Pack. This could be our summer to inject a little more happiness into our community or a little more community to increase our own happiness

Visit the Action for Happiness website

Download the Happiness Action Pack

Download The Happiness Catalyst e-book

Everyone's path to happiness is different. But our review of the latest research has found 10 Keys to Happier Living that consistently tend to make people's lives happier and more fulfilling. Together they spell "GREAT DREAM".

For each of the ten keys you'll find information, questions, resources and a range of suggested actions to help you apply them in your daily life.

New study calculates number of deaths caused by poverty

New study calculates number of deaths caused by poverty
The Globe and Mail
July 4, 2011

Hightlights:

In an article published online for the June 16 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, scientists calculated the number of deaths attributable to each of six social factors, including low income.

For 2000, the study attributed 176,000 deaths to racial segregation and 133,000 to individual poverty. The numbers are substantial. For example, looking at direct causes of death, 119,000 people in the United States die from accidents each year, and 156,000 from lung cancer.

Social factors are not the same as diseases or accidents, but Dr. Galea argues that they are equivalent to behaviours like smoking, and that, as with smoking, there is evidence of the mechanism involved. He said that the causal chain between, for example, poverty and death from heart disease has many well-established links.

Dr. Galea, who is the chairman of the department of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, also said that poverty results in poor access to health screening, poor access to quality care for those who actually have heart disease, greater vulnerability to stresses associated with heart disease and a greater likelihood of engaging in unhealthy behaviour.

Another article on the study:

Death by Poverty

Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health

June 16, 2011

Reasons for not voting in the May 2, 2011 federal election

Not that I'm bitter or anything...just sayin'...

7.5 million eligible voters did not vote in the recent federal election, in which "The Harper Government" stole won a majority in the House.  And here's why:

Reasons for not voting in the May 2, 2011 federal election
Statistics Canada

We invest in roads; why not people?

We invest in roads; why not people?
The Hamilton Spectator
July 5, 2011

Hightlights:

In sum, higher benefits, better training, accessible child care and affordable housing are all areas where making further investments would allow us to achieve the far greater and dynamic economic benefits made possible by our existing investments. Be it the Kubursi report or the story of the child-care system that pays for itself, it is clear that investing in people is like investing in roads. To treat it as money wasted is to ignore the evidence, and to forego our greater prosperity.

Inadequate social assistance costs us plenty

Inadequate social assistance costs us plenty
July 8th, 2011 issue
The Kitchener Record

Hightlights:

As of December 2010, the average single individual supported by Ontario Works was receiving $592 per month, the equivalent of working full-time for $3.70 per hour — and a full $6.55 less than minimum wage. Yet this amount is expected to cover food, housing, transportation and all incidental expenses while the recipient seeks employment.

In April 2011, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimated the average rent for a bachelor apartment in Waterloo Region at $603 per month—that’s $11 more than the average recipient of Ontario Works is allocated for all of their monthly expenses. This tells us that, even without eating, the average person on social assistance cannot afford the average cost of the smallest dwelling on the housing market.

Social Assistance Review: Report from the Field on London Consultation

http://www.povertyfreeontario.ca/2011/07/04/social-assistance-review-report-from-the-field-on-london-consultation-june-29-2011/

Guess I spoke too soon - a report regarding the London whistle stop of the Commission was posted on the Poverty Free Ontario blog today:

The Social Assistance Review Commissioners spent Tuesday, June 29 in London, Ontario.

A breakfast meeting with the commissioners and key sectoral leaders from the community was followed by two half-day facilitated “conversation cafes” with a tour of three agencies over the lunch – My Sisters Place, London Inter-Community Health Centre, and the Men’s Mission.

The conversation cafes were structured around the five issues plus a sixth table to surface “other issues.” Invitations were sent out broadly in the community with specific asks to advocates to see if individuals with lived experience in OW/ODSP worlds would attend and participate.

Sixty people attended the morning session including about 5 individuals with lived experience. In the afternoon, 115 people attended with perhaps a dozen or so people with lived experience. The emerging local Inter-Faith Social Action Coalition had representatives at both sessions. A number of OW caseworkers and front-line supervisors also participated.

A number of advocates took the Commissioners’ workbook and are going to work with their clients to complete and submit to the Commission. A summary of the comments is being prepared and will be distributed to all participants and to the Commissioners and will also be made available to Poverty Free Ontario for posting on this web site.

Thanks to Ross Fair, Chairperson of the Child & Youth Network Ending Poverty Committee of London, for this initial report on the London consultation.

Mi'kmaq Scalp Bounty -- it's waaaaaaaaaaay past time to repeal this outrage that is STILL on the books!

So, this isn't a local story, and it's not a story about poverty (per se), but I was completely astounded to hear this on CBC radio over my Sunday morning coffee, and because this blog is also about accessing justice, I hope you won't mind me writing this post.

According to the news story, the 250 year old bounty on Mi'kmaq scalps remains on the law books in Nova Scotia.

The bounty offered:

"And, we do hereby promise, by and with the advice and consent of His Majesty's Council, a reward of 30£ for every male Indian Prisoner, above the age of sixteen years, brought in alive; or for a scalp of such male Indian twenty-five pounds, and twenty-five pounds for every Indian woman or child brought in alive: Such rewards to be paid by the Officer commanding at any of His Majesty's Forts in this Province, immediately on receiving the Prisoners or Scalps above mentioned, according to the intent and meaning of this Proclamation."

This proclamation is still on the books and the Canadian government has steadfastly refused to rescind it.

From the Halifax Chronicle Herald: Like Scrooge, Halifax can control its future


From a 1999 (!?!?!?!?!?!) News Release from Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Chiefs : Canada must repeal scalping order against "Indians"

From a 2000 CBC News story: 200-year old scalp law still on Nova Scotia books

Here's some history: http://www.danielnpaul.com/BritishScalpProclamation-1756.html

And some more background: http://www.mediacoop.ca/blog/max-haiven/7577

800-rule welfare system assailed

The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario  visited London this past Wednesday.  Strangely, I have seen nothing in the press about this.  I attended the morning and afternoon sessions at the London Convention Centre and felt energized by the wisdom, common sense, and passion in the room. It was a fantastic experience for me--being 'brand new' to the social service world--and I felt privileged to bring the opinions and ideas of the "community conversation" participants I met with a week earlier.

The Commission will be visiting Hamilton tomorrow (the 4th of July).  You can read about it here: The Hamilton Spectator

From Mission Services Blog:

Government Commissions, royal or otherwise, can be a good thing. Cynics might suggest that the only time we have commissions is when things go so wrong the “powers that be” don’t really know what to do, or that it is a way for the “powers that be” to stall. It makes it look like something is being done when nothing is being done. A more favourable viewpoint is that commissions are actually an important part of democracy, that people can get their say, that somehow collective wisdom makes it to the corridors of power. And lastly, there is the view that if you choose not to participate, you have no right to complain.

The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario is coming to London on June 29, 2001 for two community consultations at the London Convention Centre.

There are bound to be many suggestions for the Commissioners. The caliber of leadership at the many social service agencies in London is impressive. I am convinced that there will be many useful suggestions and recommendations.

From a Windsor Star article:

As she begins consultations in the city with Canada's highest unemployment rate, the woman charged with reviewing the province's welfare system says a fundamental overhaul is needed to help lift families from poverty.

Frances Lankin, recently appointed commissioner of the province's new Social Assistance Review Commission, told the general meeting of the United Way for Windsor and Essex County Tuesday that the system may be too complicated and irrational.

"We've been asked to simplify the rules," said the former NDP provincial cabinet minister. "There are now 800 rules. How does anyone navigate through? It's not humanly possible for a caseworker to know all the (eligibility) rules without bogging down in administration .... There's no time left to help families."

In addition, she said, the benefit rates, which are supposed to guarantee a basic living for recipients, seem to be based on random numbers.

RDSP Ontario - excellent, plain language website

I have been learning quite a bit about RDSPs over the past few months -- completed a webinar, reading, discuss -- this has always seemed so complicated to me! Finally!  Clear, plain language, completely comprehensive information! If you have a disability, or you have a friend or family member with a disability, please take a look at this website.

This web site has information about the Registered Disability Savings Plan in Ontario and includes a step-by-step guide to becoming eligible, opening, and managing an RDSP.

http://www.rdspontario.ca/

Know Your Rights on CBC Radio is looking for stories

The Know Your Rights series on CBC Radio is currently looking for experiences, insight, and stories dealing with discrimination based on race, origin, or colour. Got something to say? Let them know. You could be on a future show.

http://www.cbc.ca/knowyourrights/

Your Rights When Dealing With Collection Agencies

There are many reasons people don't pay their debts — financial setback, poor repayment habits, overspending or sometimes they're just not happy with a product they bought.

Whatever the reason, it's important to communicate with the person who is owed money. When creditors understand the problem, chances are they will work out a reasonable, manageable way for the consumers to repay debts.

The Collection Agencies Act prohibits collection agencies from doing certain things.
A collection agency may not:

• Contact you until six days have passed from sending you written notice of the following:
  • The name of the creditor
  • The balance owing
  • The name of the agency and its authority to demand payment
• Continue to contact you if you did not receive the notice unless a second copy of the written notice is sent to an address provided by you, and then contact may only be made six days after sending notice.
• Contact you if you send a registered letter to the agency saying that you dispute the debt and suggest the matter be taken to court.
• Contact you if you and/or your lawyer notify the agency by registered mail to communicate only with your lawyer, and you provide the lawyer's name, address and telephone number.
• Contact you on Sunday, except between the hours of 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., and on a holiday.
• Contact you other than by ordinary mail more than three times in a seven-day period without your consent, once the agency has actually spoken with you.
• Use threatening, profane, intimidating or coercive language, or use undue, excessive or unreasonable pressure.
• Continue to contact you if you have told them that you are not the person they are looking for unless they take reasonable precautions to ensure you are that person.
• Give false or misleading information to any person.
• Recommend to a creditor that a legal action be commenced against you without first sending you notice.
• Contact your employer except on one occasion to obtain your employment information, unless your employer has guaranteed the debt, the call is in respect of a court order or wage assignment or if you have provided written authorization to contact your employer.
• Contact your spouse, a member of your family or household, or a relative, neighbour or acquaintance except to obtain your address and telephone number unless the person contacted has guaranteed the debt or you have given permission for the person to be contacted.

If a collection agency has engaged in any of these prohibited practices in dealing with you, file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Branch.

Read more about this topic on the Ministry of Consumer Services website.

Saturday's Free Press

Ah, what a beautiful weekend!  I could take a whole summer of weekends like this!  I spent yesterday morning in the bright sunshine, enjoying the company of my squirrel and bird companions reading the Saturday edition of the London Free Press.  I usually turn to the LFP with my coffee for my daily dose of hatred, injustice, and foolishness, but this day -- all the news that was fit to print seemed to jive well with just the kind of weekend this is.

First to the editorials:

Henry Eastabrook, an outreach worker at London InterCommunity Health Centre, and a gentleman I've had the pleasure of meeting on a number of occassions, had a fine letter: "Beg your pardon, but panhandling is legit"

Regarding the article Brakes hit on begging (June 8).

We are deeply concerned about the many local expressions of fear, anger, resentment and confusion that have surfaced regarding the ancient practice of begging or mendicancy in our community.

Mendicancy has been a legitimate form of employment globally for thousands of years, although it has risen significantly since the emergence in the 18th century of industrialization and its cousin, free market capitalism.

With this knowledge of history, we urge those who feel particularly distressed about being asked to give up a few coins to fellow community members who are mendicants to kindly consider the following points.

Given the worsening divide between the wealthiest and the most poverty-stricken in our times, we have no reason to believe bylaws restricting mendicancy will have a positive effect on either side. Joblessness rates in this region have continued to grow. Meanwhile, the social safety net has shrunk to near non-­existence. There is no evidence that cutting provincial welfare rates or eliminating programs that support vulnerable people creates employment opportunities.

The hue and cry for reduced taxes mean the probability of improvements to our social safety net are nil. As we grow increasingly under the influence, politically, economically, socially and culturally of global free markets there is less likelihood that mendicancy will disappear and greater likelihood that more of our fellow citizens will become disabled by chronic joblessness, homelessness and resultant stigma.

Understanding the facts leaves us with two options: support your fellow Londoners who are panhandling (very few of whom are either violent or aggressive and all of whom would prefer a more legitimate means of sustenance) or alter your voting patterns, shop locally and insist politicians and policy makers enhance our social safety net.

Henry Eastabrook

Outreach worker

Poverty, Homelessness and Options Team

London InterCommunity Health Centre

Next up, in response to the last Saturday's front page article by Patrick Maloney, "City hall has bigger issues to fry", and two letters of the 14th which were critical of Coun. Stephen Orser's focus on backyard chickens, there were three very well written arguments which are supportive of permitting urban coops.  Thanks Gina Barber, Roberta Cory, and Larissa Gerow.  I should mention another letter from Friday's issue from Vera van Diepen: "...is shouldn't be a huge surprise that more Londoners want to stay away from buying eggs full of antibiotics from chickens that live tortured lives."

Serena Moro hit the nail right on the head with "Sex editorial got it wrong", responding to John Chambers': Gov't should stay out of our bedrooms.

"This is not, as Chambers suggests, about “consenting adults.” Chambers fails to address — or chooses to ignore — the root causes of prostitution and the socio-economic conditions that force women (and men) into prostitution, often at a young age. Drugs and alcohol are likely involved, as are abuse and male dominance."

Right on Serena!  I invite anyone to look at the facts:

Prostitution - The Facts (The oldest profession - or the oldest oppression? The facts on prostitution speak for themselves)

Normalising prostitution normalises an extreme form of sexual subordination and objectification; it legitimises the existence of an underclass of women and it reinforces male dominance over women.

I also feel the need to give a nod to Sheryl Rooth, who took exception to Joseph Couture's comments in "The add smile wouldn't hurt drivers on LTC". While she agreed with nearly everything that he said, she did take exception to one statement: "Let me fill you in on something. Those of us who ride the bus do so because we are poor and, in case you haven't noticed, we are especially poor in these tough times." Her letter sought to destigmatize bus transit and encourage better treatment of passengers on LTC because it's the right thing to do!

And while we are on the subject of the LTC, isn't it nice to see Deal to make LTC 100% accessible by 2012?(okay, so who was taking a nap and left in the "10%" typo that appeared in the print edition?)  This project is ahead of shedule, and saved $630K!  All good news.

Joe Belanger wrote a kind and thoughtful editorial piece about the situation in his Old East Village neighbourhood: "City's downtrodden deserve help in a more discrete way".  I particularly admired how he appologetically began his column: "I'm about to piss off a lot of people I admire and respect."

I loved the photo of Ryan Craven, et al. illustrating "Exhaust-free fun good for your health".

(This is the second time I've seen his smiling face in the LFP in as many weeks.  I gotta meet this guy!)

Car Free Festival aims to promote the environmental and health benefits of walking, cycling and taking the bus. For more information, go to carfreefest.ca.

NEIGHBOURHOOD CAR FREE FESTIVALS
Kipps Lane community fair, Aug. 20
Old East Village block party, July 16
Wortley Village Car Free, Sept. 11
Summerside Sept. 4

DOWNTOWN CAR FREE FESTIVALS
Where: Dundas St. between Wellington and Ridout streets
When:
June 18-19: Teaming with the Fringe Festival to show snippets of different productions between musical acts.
July 1: Canada Day theme Aug. 6-7: Celebrating the city's diversity.
Sept. 17-18: Teaming with Doors Open London with a focus on Dundas St.

Even the HOMES section had good news!  Dulux Adding Colour to People's Lives program will infuse $1M (the equivalent of about 20,000 gallons of paint) in paint to beautify public structures as well as the buildings of community, charity and non-profit organizations.  www.addingcolour.ca

And finally, I spied a tiny bordered ad in Friday's edition:

AIM HEALTH GROUP WISHES TO

ANNOUNCE THAT

Dr. Emad Henein

Will be relocating his Family Practice to

320 Adelaide Street South, London, ON

as of June 28, 2011

CURRENT AND NEW PATIENTS

WELCOME

Phone: 519-668-3969

TAKE ACTION: Ask Canadian government to support G20 action on food prices to avoid increased hunger

From Make Poverty History:

One in seven people in the world now go to bed hungry every night. Recent food prices could make the crisis even worse.

There is a crucial meeting of Agricultural Ministers from the G20 countries later this month that could take steps to avoid a disaster.

Please join in supporting an online action sponsored by Oxfam Canada by sending an email to Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, calling on him to show leadership at these meetings, and to push for four key policies:

1. Support regional emergency food reserves as a way to build resilience to food price shocks

2. Insist on greater transparency regarding food stocks to curb food price speculation

3. Improve regulation of commodity futures markets to limit excessive speculation  

4. Phase out incentives to use food for fuel

Movement on these four issues could make a real difference to nearly a billion hungry people around the world.

Please click here and send Minister Ritz a message: Canadians want action on world hunger.

For more information on the global food crisis check out the new Oxfam International publication: Growing a Better Future.

Thank you so much for your time and participation.

Dennis Howlett
National Coordinator, Make Poverty History



To read more about this issue, here's a press release from Oxfam:
Rising food prices are changing what we eat

The meeting of G20 Agriculture Ministers is taking place in Paris, France on June 22nd & 23rd
French ag minister outlines plans for G20 meeting

Another news flash on the Commission for Review of Social Assistance in Ontario

Another news flash on the Commission for Review of Social Assistance in Ontario

 

I just got an email from ISARC with the list of 11 cities that will be included in the Commission review this summer: 

 

List of Cities and dates (where known)

 

Windsor (June 28)
Hamilton (July 4)
Niagara (July 5)
Toronto (being negotiated for early-mid July)
Peterborough (July 13)
Peel (July 25)
Kingston
London (which we know is June 29th)Ottawa
Thunder Bay
Timmins

 

Led by Frances Lankin and Munir A. Sheikh, the Commission is charged with examining social assistance in Ontario through engagement, research and analysis to provide the government with a concrete action plan to improve the system for the people who need it.

 

http://www.socialassistancereview.ca/home?language=en_CA

50 Actionable Ideas for Canadian Prosperity

From a recent newsletter from the Tamarack Institute:

Canadians imagine their society as one which allows anyone with drive and ambition to reach his or her potential, regardless of socio-economic, religious or cultural background. But good public policy - grounded in community input - is needed to make this vision a reality. Maytree, a foundation that promotes equity and prosperity through leadership, recently published a report entitled Charting Prosperity: Practical Ideas for a Stronger Canada which outlines more than 50 practical policy proposals developed by its partners and grantees for realizing this vision. The policy ideas it promotes include:

• Making refundable the caregiver and infirm dependant tax credits;
• Creating a $2 million learning fund (over five years) to promote cross-community exchange for poverty reduction;
• Adopting a national action plan to combat human trafficking;
• Ending the low-skilled temporary foreign worker program; and
• Eliminating processing fees for refugees

Using an approach that Alan Broadbent, Chairman of Maytree, calls the “essential I’s” of public policy: Ideas, Investments and Instruments, these practical proposals are ready to be implemented by policymakers. Each recommendation includes details about why it is important, what specific investments should be made and what needs to happen for the change to be implemented.

Related Links:

• Download and read Charting Prosperity: Practical Ideas for a Stronger Canada
• Watch the Charting Prosperity webinar with Alan Brodbent, Chairman, Maytree and Sherri Torjman, VP, Caledon Institute of Social Policy
• Visit the Maytree Foundation website
• Find more ideas for creating a civil society

Salvation Army Report Reveals Public Perceptions about the Nation’s Homeless

Salvation Army Report Reveals Public Perceptions about the Nation’s Homeless


Here's a link to the 12 page PDF file of the report

The Salvation Army is highlighting the issue of homelessness this month as part of its annual May Red Shield Campaign and the ongoing Dignity Project.

Key findings include:

• Approximately 40 percent of Canadians believe that most homeless people want to live on the street and in shelters.
• Almost 30 percent of Canadians believe that a good work ethic is all you need to escape homelessness.
• Nearly one-fifth of Canadians believe that individuals experiencing homelessness are always to blame for the situation they are in.
• 43 percent of Canadians never give money to a homeless person on the street.
• 40 percent believe that most homeless people are mentally ill.
• More than one-third of Canadians are scared of homeless people.

Also:

• Nearly all of the respondents believe that individuals experiencing homelessness deserve a sense of dignity.
• 93 percent agree that no one in Canada should be homeless.
• 86 percent of Canadians believe that housing is fundamental right for all Canadians.
• 75 percent acknowledge that once you become homeless it is exceptionally difficult to get into housing

“The people of Canada have spoken and revealed much about their attitudes and perceptions about the nation’s homeless,” said Commissioner William Francis, leader of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda. “We hope that through this report and the Dignity Project, we can continue to educate and inspire the public and work towards a Canada without homelessness.”

Social Assistance Review Commission invites feedback on first discussion paper

The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario has now released and invited feedback on its first Discussion Paper. The Discussion Paper: Issues and Ideas, and a short version, Summary and Workbook, are now available on the website: www.socialassistancereview.ca

The Commission will be travelling around Ontario through the summer to meet with groups in formal consultations. They have prepared the Workbook for people to use as a tool to provide input, and a Guide for hosting community conversations on the issues. The deadline for input in this first round of consultations is September 1.

The Commission will be visiting London on June 29th.  I'll share the details as they become available, but consider this your "Hold the Date" notice. 

Good jobs a lifeline for people with mental illness

Good jobs a lifeline for people with mental illness
Dr. Kwame McKenzie
Toronto Star
May 28, 2011

The hightlights:

"Living with the stigma and symptoms of a severe mental health problem is challenging enough. But they have to add to that the social isolation that comes with being jobless. Many people with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses do not work, and many have been told they cannot work. Yet an interesting thing happens when they do find employment — their health improves.

Study after study has confirmed that a good job is good for their health. Their quality of life goes way up. Their use of health services goes way down.

Almost half of provincial government resources are spent on health care. When we find a proven formula for improving health and reducing use of health-care services, we should be doing everything possible to implement it. But this is not what we are doing. We are not doing enough to find jobs for people with serious mental health problems and we penalize those who battle prejudice and actually succeed in finding jobs for themselves."

A related story:

 

Penalized for working? Disabled lose 50 cents on every dollar earned

Laurie Monsebraaten

Toronto Star

May 24th, 2011

 

The highlights:

 

"Like everyone who receives a monthly cheque from Ontario's disability support program, Sharon Burfind loses 50 cents on every dollar she earns in her part-time job.

The meagre amount of earnings she and other disabled people keep then triggers higher costs for other help they receive, such as subsidized rent, child care and student loan repayments.

"The rational person would say 'What’s the point of working?'" says Burfind, 60. "The majority of people work to get ahead, not to get behind."
Earning rules and administrative practices are one of the reasons why those who rely on Ontario's welfare system for the disabled are 11 times more likely to be unemployed than the average Ontarian, says a new report by advocates for the mentally ill."

June 20th is World Refugee Day

Approximately 2500 immigrants arrive in London each year, and of those, about 27% are refugees. I've personally been privileged and profoundly moved by learning about the first hand lived experiences directly from some of London's newest citizens, most recently through the "Linking Cultures" program at Fanshawe College.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

The Central Library is hosting a few events to mark this occassion.  On Friday June 17th, from 6-9:30pm Life as a Refugee: Resilience Awards in the Stevenson & Hunt room.

We will be joined by Special Guests, including our esteemed keynoted speakers, lawyer Barbara Jackman who’s work in the 1985 Singh Decision ensured fundamental rights for refugee claimants in Canada and Dr. Ayman Al-Yassini currently the Executive Director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.

Help us recognize London’s finest, with the presentation of the 1st Annual Resilience Awards, honouring London’s Refugees and Refugee Allies who have continually dedicated themselves to making London a welcoming home to all.

Please Join Us!
Light Refreshments available.
Child-minding is available, upon request. To request child-minding services, please email us directly at least 3 days before the event.
Event is Free to the Public.

And then on  Saturday June 18^th from 10:00am to 2:00pm Life as a Refugee: Family Day

The partner agencies of the REAL initiative have organized a public event which promises fun for the whole family! In the morning, enjoy arts and cultural performances by local multicultural groups. After a break for a variety of tasty treats representing foods from around the world, join workshops to learn more about “Life as a Refugee” in London, Ontario with panelists from all walks of life.

Children and youth can enjoy games and crafts run by Youth Workers from local agencies and with the support and guidance of local refugee youth. Take the whole family through interactive displays which highlight the various challenges that refugees who resettle in London encounter when trying to start a new life in Canada.

This event is free to the public. More information about the performers, artists and panelists to follow.

Life as a Refugee: Family Day!

Various Rooms, London Public Library’s Central Branch

251 Dundas Street, London, Ontario

Email Us at info@realhub.ca

Settlement Services at Public Libraries

Starting in July, settlement services will be expanded to Stoney Creek, East London, Cherryhill, Pond Mills, and Westmount branches of the public library for the summer, staffed by SWIS (Settlement Workers in Schools) workers.

Year round, Library Settlement Workers are at 4 libraries in London and speak a variety of languages to help newcomers find information and help in London. Call each location to find out their hours.
You can get information about:

• careers, employment and volunteer opportunities such as ERC, Job Connect, WIL, Goodwill Career Centre, Pillar, Access Centre
• language learning and assessment such as ESL classes, LINC classes, conversation circles, TOEFL preparation, ESL book clubs
• library materials in many languages
• basic computer classes
• public library computers
• income tax clinics
• housing
• schools and education, including government programs and continuing education
• health care, incl. doctors, walk-in medical clinics and dentists
• legal issues, incl. lawyers, legal aid, Neighbourhood Legal Services
• immigration issues, incl. family sponsorships, reunification, applying for permanent residency

Beacock Branch 519-451-8140
Central Branch 519-661-4600
Jalna Branch 519-685-6465
Sherwood Branch 519-473-9965



London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership (LMIP) is a one-stop website to help newcomers move to our community, gett settled and start a new life.  The website highlight life in London and Middlesex County and links to programs and services for employment, education, housing, health care, childcare, recreation and culture, and key provincial and federal resources.

Networking for an Inclusive Community (NIC) is a group of representatives and volunteers from organizations who provide service to newcomers in London and Middlesex. NIC was started about 8 years ago and has over 140 organizations in its membership. NIC provides education and networking opportunities through half day and full day workshops.

The London and Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership (LMLIP) is a collaborative community initiative which is designed to strengthen the role of local and regional communities in serving and integrating immigrants.

Mental Health & Addiction Services - An Overlooked Health Crisis

Ontario’s overlooked health crisis
Carol Goar
Toronto Star
June 7, 2011

Some hightlights:

"The best place in the province to get mental health and addiction services is Thunder Bay. Its regional health authority allocates 7.8 per cent of its spending to these services. It takes four days to be assigned a “case manager” who provides one-on-one support (compared with 66 days in Toronto). You can get into supportive housing in 90 days (377 days in Toronto).

The worst place to look for help is Hamilton. Its regional health unit spends just 2.3 per cent of its budget — $56 per capita — on services and support for people with psychiatric problems.

“Treatment for mental health and addiction issues right now is determined by your postal code,” says Mary Alberti, who heads the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario. She doesn’t think that’s right. She doesn’t think most Ontarians would tolerate this level of disparity, if they knew.

But they don’t. The public is unaware of the gaps and inequities in the province’s mental health system. The average citizen has no idea what services are available in his or her community, let alone others."



Ontario Mental Health and Addictions Alliance launches election campaign
CMHA Mental Health Notes
June 2, 2011

Briefly:

The new Ontario Mental Health and Addictions Alliance (the Alliance) launched its provincial election campaign this week with the release of four key recommendations for Ontario's political parties, which include:

1. Ensure a comprehensive core basket of mental health and addictions services, equally available to all Ontarians;
2. Focus on those at greatest risk, starting with children and youth;
3. Ensure individuals with serious mental illness and addictions have access to supportive housing to support their recovery;
4. Mobilize leadership to ensure Ontario's addictions and mental health strategy is effective.

To learn more about the Ontario Mental Health and Addictions Alliance, and their provincial election campaign, go to their website http://www.vote4mha.ca/

Download the Full Report

Joe Fontana: Pulling the plug on panhandling

An article in the June 9th London Metro: Pulling the plug on panhandling

Mayor pledges to crack down on street panhandlers

Debate stirs over usefulness of fining them

“These people need help, and you don’t do it by essentially being forced to give.”

mayor Joe Fontana

Blogger Aaron Robb recently posted about an act of compassion to a median man begging for help.

London Free Press June 8, 2011 Brakes hit on begging
SOLICITING: Charges are up against London street panhandlers, who - besides the threat of fines and even jail - risk traffic dangers.
I thought this article was interesting because the reporter went and talked to median man Brian Simpson.  The video is well worth a watch.

You know, I'm not sure about how I feel about this issue.  I listened to a news story on CBC radio, interviewing a London Police officer regarding ticketing panhandlers who beg from intersection medians.  My knee jerk reaction was to be angry that this is even a necessary part of anyone's life in a country as wealthy as Canada.  However, I felt the police officer carefully explained the risks to the both the panhandler and other drivers -- just as Aaron described in his blog, the man in the van sat through part of a green light.  If you have one or more drivers behind you anxious to get through the light, then I can see where it is an accident waiting to happen.  (I've witnessed quite a few impatient drivers in London -- heck, I married to one!).  Furthermore, I was impressed that the police officer was sensitive to the issues of poverty and homelessness, and suggested that if you wanted to help a person, then you should pull off the road safely first. 

Here's what OCAP has to say about Ontario's Safe Streets Act.

Free Chronic Pain Forum Tomorrow

I read about this is the June 9th issue of London Metro.

A free public chronic pain forum will be held in London on Monday night. 

The Canadian Pain Coalition is hosting the event.  Physiotherapist Gloria Gilbert of The Downtown Clinic will be the speaker. 

She will discuss the importance of exercise and provide suggestions on how to incorporate movement into daily life.

The forum will be held at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn Conference Centre at 591 Wellington Road from 6:45pm to 8:15pm.

For further information and to register, call 1-800-387-8781 ext 2857. Please leave your name, the number of guests who will attend the session and a call back number.

Download the flyer.