Vote To Make Poverty History Campaign Launch

A federal election is a great opportunity to advance our campaign to make poverty history. Please help to make this an election that will make a difference.

We can greatly improve the chances of governments taking serious actions to make poverty history at home and abroad if we make poverty a key election issue. If we can use the election to secure commitments from party leaders on anti-poverty policies, it will be much easier to get them to keep these promises after an election.  We need to show candidates that many voters care about poverty and want to know what candidates and parties will do to make poverty history.

That is why we have launched the Vote to Make Poverty History non-partisan, third party campaign with the following goals: 

1. Make poverty an issue during the election campaign; 
2. Get a significant number of candidates to endorse Make Poverty History’s campaign goals;
3. Secure a commitment from political parties on Make Poverty History goals in party platforms and leader’s statements;
4. Motivate voters to vote to make poverty history; and
5. Help to create favourable conditions for realizing Make Poverty History goals after the election.

EIGHT WAYS TO MAKE POVERTY AN ELECTION ISSUE

1. Ask Candidates Questions About Poverty

Ask candidates to support the Make Poverty History Call to Action and wear a white band to show their support. All candidates will be sent a white band with a request that they wear it during the campaign to show they support the Make Poverty History Call to Action. Follow up with candidates in your riding by asking them to wear the white band to show they support the Make Poverty History campaign and that they will work towards realizing its goals if elected. 

• When candidates or their canvassers knock on your door, ask them if they support Make Poverty History and pose some of the Questions to Ask Candidates.
• Attend all-candidates meetings and ask questions from the Questions to Ask Candidates.
• Stop by campaign offices, speak to candidates at community events, at the mall and on the street. Ask them if they support Make Poverty History and if they'll work to make poverty history if elected. Ask them to wear the white band if they support the Make Poverty History Call to Action.
• Check the Vote to Make Poverty History website one week before voting day to see which candidates in your riding have indicated their support for the Make Poverty History goals. Then vote for the candidate you feel is best able to help make poverty history.

2. Let the world know “I’m voting to Make Poverty History”

• Print out the “I’m voting to Make Poverty History” window sign and stick it in your front window. This will let candidates and canvassers know what they need to do to get your vote.
• Order “I’m voting to Make Poverty History” buttons and bumper stickers. They are available for $50 for 50 of each. You can sell them to friends for $1 each (or give them away) and help us to get the word out. We don’t have time to set up a web store but you can just donate $50 or more on our online $50 for 50 donations site and we will send you a package.
• Set the “I’m Voting to Make Poverty History” logo as your facebook or twitter photo.
• Take a photo of yourself or a group of friends wearing the I’m voting to Make Poverty History button or holding the sign and post it to our Flickr account at www.makepovertyhistory.ca/vote. We will post it to our web site and issue a news release to draw media attention to the many people who are supporting our campaign.

3. Advertize

• Organize an “I’m voting to Make Poverty History” gathering and photo shoot and place the photo in a local community newspaper as an ad. Invite friends on facebook or use a meeting where people are already gathered and ask people to hold up “I’m voting to Make Poverty History” signs and wear buttons. Even better, create a large banner! Take a photo. Collect donations of a few dollars each to pay for placing the photo in a local community newspaper as a paid advertisement. You can download ad templates from our website.
• Download and post the “Vote to Make Poverty History” banner to your website.

4. Donate

• Donate to the Vote to Make Poverty History Campaign so that we can reach even more voters! 

5. Organize an All-Candidates Meeting

• Make Poverty History has prepared a Guide for Organizing an All-Candidates Meeting. Get together with some friends or groups concerned about global and domestic poverty issues, book a hall, invite candidates, invite the public. Or ask questions on global and domestic poverty issues at candidate meetings organized by other groups. Use the Sample Questions Make Poverty History has prepared. 
• Make Poverty History has email addresses of hundreds or even thousands of supporters in your riding. We can send out notices to these supporters of an all-candidates meeting or photo shoot you organize. Simply send us an email with all the details and we can pass the word on. In your email, remember to include the date, time and complete location of the event. 

6. Get Visible with Party Leaders

• If party leaders come to your community, show up at their events, wave “I’m voting to make poverty history” signs, wear a Make Poverty History t-shirt, ask them what they would do to help make poverty history. Be polite and have fun.

7. Take Media Action

• Publicize your views. Tell your local media you care about poverty and urge reporters to ask candidates what they'll do to help end poverty.
• Write letters to the editor, send in opinion articles and call in to radio shows. See a Sample Letter to the Editor and Sample Opinion Article Make Poverty History has prepared and revise it to add your own local angle.
• Blog, tweet and facebook about the Vote to Make Poverty History campaign. 

8. Go online

• Make Poverty History will be doing a series of online actions during the election campaign. Sign on and take action. Encourage your friends to sign-on.

With your support we will be able to mount a Vote to Make Poverty History campaign that will make a difference.

Sincerely,

Dennis Howlett

National Coordinator, Make Poverty History

New campaign: A Woman Like Me

Read more about a new London based campaign called “A Woman Like Me,” that aims to raise women’s awareness of their risk of contracting HIV.  Read Fanshawe College’s interview with with staff from the Health Centre’s Options Clinic and the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection – coordinators of the campaign.

Legal Aid Ontario launches free online information program for Ontario families

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has launched a free online program that will help Ontarians deal with some of the problems that arise when a relationship breaks down.

The Family Law Information Program, (FLIP) available on LAO’s website, describes the practical and legal issues that former spouses might face. It uses both audio and text, in easy-to-understand language, to guide Ontarians through legal definitions, information on legal representation, dispute resolution, and the family court process. Given the often emotionally charged nature of family law disputes, the program also includes sections on the effects of relationship breakdowns, and information on parenting after separation.

FLIP provides legal and practical information such as:

• child custody
• support payments
• property settlements
• shared parenting

The program also addresses the emotional issues than can result from the breakdown of a relationship.

FLIP uses both audio and text in simple, clear language to guide Ontarians through:

• legal definitions
• information on legal representation
• dispute resolution
• the family court process
• and more.

Here's the link!

London Ridings' election candidates

From the LFP:

*MP in last Parliament

LONDON-FANSHAWE
Conservative: Jim Chahbar
Liberal: Roger Caranci
*New Democrat: Irene Mathyssen
Christian Heritage: Gilles Rancourt
Green: Matthew Pelozza

LONDON-NORTH-CENTRE
*Liberal: Glen Pearson
Conservative: Susan Truppe
New Democrat: German Gutierrez
Green: Mary Ann Hodge

LONDON WEST
*Conservative: Ed Holder
Liberal: Doug Ferguson
New Democrat: Peter Ferguson

ELGIN-MIDDLESEX-LONDON
*Conservative: Joe Preston
Liberal: Graham Warwick
New Democrat: Ryan Dolby
Christian Heritage: Carl Hiemstra

LAMBTON-KENT-MIDDLESEX
*Conservative: Bev Shipley
Liberal: Gail Stucke
New Democrat: Joe Hill
Christian Heritage: Micheal Janssens
Green: Jim Johnston

Raise the Rates 2011

Refugee Rights Day

http://www.ocasi.org/index.php?catid=176

Refugee Rights Day is celebrated each April 4th to bring attention to the advances made in the protection of refugee rights in Canada as a result of the Supreme Court Singh decision in 1985.

This year we also celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Canadian people receiving the Nansen Refugee Award. The Nansen Refugee Award was created in 1954 and is given annually to an individual or organization in recognition of extraordinary and dedicated services to refugees and is the most prestigious honour conferred by UNHCR. In 1986, the Nansen went to the people of Canada - the only country to have received the award as a nation.

Click here for more information from the Canadian Council for Refugees about Refugee Rights Day, events across Canada, and a virtual toolkit to help plan your own event.

Get Involved

• Write to your Member of Parliament about current issues affecting refugees in your community:
  • For resettled refugees repaying transportation loans, call on the Canadian government to absorb transportation loans for refugees.
  • For refugees facing long delays in reuniting with family members, demand that refugees in Canada be immediately reunited with family members who are overseas.
• Bust myths about refugees and immigrants in Canada
• Celebrate the contributions of refugees and newcomers in your community.

Vote Compass

Have you seen this yet? 

Vote Compass is an online tool that helps Canadians find out how their views and values align with the parties. Do you know where you stand?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/votecompass/

Read more about it here.

"Vote Compass asks you questions on some political issues. You'll also be asked about your impressions of the federal leaders. It's that easy!

When you're done, Vote Compass will produce a graph showing your electoral position. You'll see which party is closest to your views — and which is furthest away.

At that point, Vote Compass lets you filter out issues that are less important to you.

So if you care more about the economy and health care — but couldn't care less about immigration or the environment — it will recalculate your position on the chart, and the positions of the parties, too.

The CBC is the site's exclusive media partner, but Vote Compass operates independently. Its questions were developed and chosen by a team of leading academics, including some of Canada's top political scientists."

Tenant Tip Sheets

Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) has a very long list of tip sheets (about 30 of them?) on their website to assist and educate tenants. Topics range from Illegal Eviction to Your Hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board.

Health Care is an Election Priority

In the upcoming federal election issues pertaining to public health care are crucial. The Ontario Health Coalition has produced a checklist of measures needed to protect health care that voters should keep in mind when talking to candidates.

Election Check List

Protect Patients by Protecting and Improving Public Health Care Means:

Renew federal funding in the Health Accord The political party elected to form the next federal government will be responsible for negotiating the renewal of the Health Accord with the provinces and territories. This Accord contains the vital funding agreement for public health care across Canada. The Accord's renewal is coming up in 2014 and negotiations will begin in earnest next year. In 2004, the Paul Martin government negotiated the current 10‐year Accord to put health care back on sound financial footing and reaffirm commitment to the principles that underlie our single‐tier universal public health system after the damage caused by the draconian cuts of the mid‐1990s. But the principles and the funding arrangement are at risk. Already Harper's finance minister has been openly speculating about withdrawing federal cash funding to the provinces for health care, opting instead for transferring tax points ‐‐ a move that would weaken our national medicare laws. Protecting the funding agreement in the Health Accord is priority number one for all of us who want to safeguard public health care for Canadians.

Safeguard single‐tier health care and the principles of the Canada Health Act Patients have come under increasing risk of high costs for health care as private clinics are expanding across Canada. The Harper government has failed to protect patients from two‐tier health care, user fees and extra‐billing introduced by these for‐profit clinics and hospitals. Harper himself was the head of an organization opposed to public health care before he was elected. While encouraging provinces to "experiment" with privatization, his government has not acted even when we ‐ and others ‐ have provided evidence that the vast majority of private clinics are violating the Canada Health Act's prohibition against charging patients out‐of‐pocket for care that is supposed to be provided by public health care system. When governments have acted, they have shown that this type of for‐profit privatization can be successfully rolled back. We need to stem the tide of privatization and build capacity in public non‐profit hospitals and diagnostic and surgical clinics. Canadians need the federal government to act decisively to uphold the Canada Health Act and single‐tier Medicare.

Bring in a national public drug plan that will provide coverage for all Canadians and reduce the cost of drugs In the 2004 Accord our provincial, territorial and national governments agreed to move forward with a national Pharmacare (public drug coverage) plan. Using bulk buying and other cost‐control measures, this plan would reduce the cost of drugs and ensure Canadian patients' access to needed medications. The Harper government has stalled all progress on this issue. We need to put pressure on our local candidates to commit to this long overdue program.

Protect patients when they are moved out of hospital into long‐term care and home care As hospital beds are closed and patients are moved out of hospital, too many face user fees for needed care in home care and long‐term care homes. The 2004 Health Accord fell far short of the mark on this issue. Providing subsidies for family members to stay home and provide care is not enough. We need a national strategy to establish public and non‐profit home, long term, and palliative care for those with chronic illnesses and the elderly under the same principles as the Canada Health Act.

Protect public non‐profit health care in upcoming trade negotiations The federal government is currently negotiating an international trade agreement with Europe that could result in health care privatization. We need a clear promise that health care will be protected as a public non‐profit service from multinational for‐profit companies looking to cash in on public funding for health care in Canada.

Oh God, Not Another Election

Okay, so I stole the title from this Globe & Mail article.

Here's a paragraph I particularly enjoyed:

"For the NDP, this is the moment when Jack Layton must raise big issues, speak big truths and take the honourable gamble that Canadians are ready listen to the truth about our real problems: growing inequality, a declining middle class, the precariousness of daily life for millions of Canadians (including Mr. Harper's beloved immigrant communities), the need for vast infrastructure expenditures so that our kids have a viable country to grow up in, and of course climate change. This will admittedly take major new funding, but if the wealthy and their corporations actually paid the taxes they should much of that funding would be available. But not all. If we really want a better Canada, we will have to pay for it. Tell it the way it is, Jack. People need to know."

YourLaw YouTube videos

The Law Society of Upper Canada now has their own YouTube channel!
http://www.youtube.com/user/YourLawSeries

There are currently six videos designed to help the people of Ontario to understand how a lawyer can assist them with legal issues in their daily lives.

• YourLaw - Paralegals
• YourLaw - Personal Injury
• YourLaw - Custody & Child Support
• YourLaw - Real Estate
• YourLaw - Family Law: Spousal support & Property
• YourLaw - Wills & Estates

Action Alert! Help ensure that Ontario’s social housing system changes for the better!

From the Housing Network of Ontario:


The government is changing the social housing system in Ontario.


Let’s make sure it changes for the better!


The Government promised that the new Housing Services Act would make sure the affordable housing system ‘put people first’. The new law does not do nearly enough.


If the government is serious about a housing program that focuses on positive results for low-income Ontarians, the new Housing Services Act must be changed.  Take action by March 31st!



The Housing  Services Act must be changed to:

1. Prevent the privatization and sell-off of social housing:
Affordable housing strengthens the foundation of communities and is an important public asset. The Housing Services Act should make it illegal for municipalities to reduce the number of units of social housing.


2. Restrict punitive rent-geared-to-income rules:
Tenants on social assistance who live in social housing should not be worse off if they find a job. The Housing Services Act should protect tenants from rapid, unfair rent hikes if their income rises.

3. Improve fairness for tenants:
Tenants need an independent review process when disputing decisions made by housing providers, such as cancelling a rental subsidy. The people reviewing the decisions should not be the co-workers of the people who made them in the first place. The Housing Services Act should mandate the creation of an independent panel to consider these disputes.


4. Introduce Inclusionary housing:
One of the fastest and fairest ways to create stable, equitably accessible, affordable housing is to ensure that it is built into any new development. The government needs to amend the Planning Act to allow municipalities to introduce inclusionary housing policies.

5. Social Housing providers need a fair appeals process:
Under existing legislation, co-ops and non-profits have not had the ability to seek an independent review of Municipal Service Manager actions or decisions that did not involve costly court proceedings. The Housing Services Act must introduce an independent, fair and transparent appeals process for housing providers.

Tell the government that this opportunity to improve Ontario’s affordable housing system cannot be wasted.

Take Action NOW:

1. Copy this email and add your own reasons for the government to make these changes, then send it to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy , BEFORE MARCH 31, by emailing the clerk at: trevor_day@ontla.ola.org

2. Call/email your MPP and tell them that the new Housing Services Act, must be changed to better protect tenants and promote affordable housing.


Even with these changes, Ontario needs to improve the long-term affordable housing strategy by introducing targets and timelines and funding in order to meaningfully address the housing crisis. Ontarians need:
• New affordable housing units and repairs to rundown housing.
• A housing benefit and rent regulation to close the gap between low incomes and rising rents.
• Supports and services to help people access and maintain housing they can afford, and to ensure equitable, inclusive communities.

You can view the proposed legislation at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario web page: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=2440&detailPage=bills_detail_the_bill&Intranet

Running on Empty

A new report from the Ontario Association of Food Banks was published yesterday Running On Empty: A Decade of Hunger in Ontario




Here are the key facts:
402,000 Ontarians a month were forced to turn to food banks in 2010, up

• 28 percent, an unprecedented increase

Since the recession hit in 2008, food bank use in Ontario has grown by

• province of Ontario the third most intensive user of food bank services, after

Newfoundland and Labrador and Manitoba

In 2010, 3.1 percent of the Ontario population accessed food banks, making the

• In an effort to balance fixed incomes with rising costs of living, more Ontario

seniors are turning to food banks to make it through the month – 12 percent of

the adults served were over 65 in 2010, up from 4 percent in 2009.

You can send a message to all of Ontario's political parties by GOING TO THIS WEB PAGE, and tell them:

"As a proud citizen of the Province of Ontario who is committed to supporting my neighbours, I must make this call to action: ensure that your party delivers real solutions for individuals and families facing hunger in Ontario. This issue will impact how I vote in the upcoming provincial election.

More than 400,000 Ontarians--40 per cent of whom are children--are served each month by Ontario's food banks.  Solutions to assist individuals and families that turn to food banks would have a tremendous impact on their long term health and well-being.  It is hoped that you and your party will show leadership on this issue and deliver real results."

Bad policy creates the poverty trap
Globe & Mail

"So there it is folks. Bad public policy is marginalizing the generation we were counting on to keep the economy humming as baby boomers head into retirement. This is devastating news for Canada at a time when the priority is to accelerate productivity growth to meet global competition. The combination of low-paid work and rents that far surpass their purchasing power leaves too many low-income Canadians hungry and malnourished and undermines the longer term prospects for the Canadian economy."

• sharply from 374,000 in 2009

So....I heard a rumour about a spring election...

This news is so old, it's dusty.  But we should have word by Friday that the campaign buses are hitting the highways in time for May 2. 

Why the conservative government thought that the opposition would happily accept some crumbs in the federal budget is beyond me.  And the way Jim Flaherty was spouting off this morning about how wonderful this budget is, I'm surprised Stephen didn't call the election himself this morning, instead of waiting for the Liberals to bring down the government.  Get on with it!

Okay...so here are the budget highlights:

-Money for seniors living in poverty.  (An added $50 a month to the GIS.  This hardly addresses senior poverty. Seriously? $50 a month?)

-Elimination of the mandatory retirement age. (So old folks can keep on contributing to society, instead of bleeding the public coffers....especially that bonus $50!)

-Creating a program to help military veterans transition to jobs in the construction trades. (Low paying, limited security, seasonal, with huge injury rates?  Please.)

-$100 million to establish a Canada Brain Research Fund.  (they should begin the search for brains in the PMO)

Harper calls election 'unnecessary'
The Montreal Gazette

Why Jack Layton said 'no' to the federal budget
Toronto Star

Tories' stillborn budget set to become 2011 election platform
The Montreal Gazette

"Make no mistake, this was a classic pre-election budget, sprinkled with dozens of trinkets that will be promoted on the hustings by Harper in a campaign that could begin as early as Saturday.

The budget was carefully crafted to cover two scenarios: an election if necessary, but not necessarily an election."

March 21st ~ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

"Overcoming racism compels us to address public policies and private attitudes that perpetuate it. On this International Day, I call on Member States, international and non-governmental organizations, the media, civil society and all individuals to engage meaningfully in the promotion of the International Year for People of African descent – and to work together against racism whenever and wherever it occurs."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

I recognize the unearned priviledge that I am granted by Western society, simply by having been born in a white body (see the 'classic' White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack By Peggy McIntosh). And I know I'll never understand how racism feels, living in out society dominated by whiteness.  I'm reminded today--the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination--to take a look at what is happening in our community and country, in  both the effort to eliminate racial discrimination, and the things which serve to reinforce racism

To Canadians of European descent whiteness  is akin to normalness; yet, as Frankenberg (1996) points out, it is unacknowledged and unknown to most white people. Euro-Canadians do not define themselves as white - they merely construct themselves as NOT being people of colour. This invisibility  of whitenes is “historically, socially, politically and culturally produced and ... linked to ... relations of domination” (Weis et al., 1997, p.22). This domination manifests itself in the form of white privilege...These privileges are invisible  to most Euro-Canadians; yet, they exist. They are built into Canadian society. It is a “protective pillow of resources and/or benefits of the doubt” (Fine, 1997, p 57). ...from J. Cameron, Media, Stereotypes and the Perpetuation of Racism in Canada

From the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives:

Colour Code Keeps Workers Out of Good Jobs: Study

"[R]acialized Canadian workers earned only 81.4 cents for every dollar paid to non-racialized Canadian workers – reflecting barriers in Canada’s workplaces.

'The work racialized Canadians are able to attain is more likely to be insecure, temporary and low paying,' .... 'Despite an increasingly diverse population, a colour code is firmly in place.'"

From the Vancouver Sun:

Canada to Scrap One Avenue for Refugees - Critics Say Move Will Force Asylum-seekers to Use Human-smugglers

In its notice of the proposed change, the government says the groups most likely to be affected by the change are Colombians and Eritreans.

Currently, six countries are designated: Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Sudan, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. (hmm...where people of colour live! ~ N.S.)

However, Janet Dench, executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, said scrapping the class instead of reforming it will close the door to people who can't easily leave their home countries to apply for refugee status and force them into the arms of human-smugglers.

"They are proposing to close one of the few options Canada has which allows people who face persecution to avoid smugglers."

From the Ontario Human Rights Commission:

RACISM & RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: Your Rights and Responsibilities

Reframing the Sally Ann Report

I posted about last week about a Salvation Army report on Canadian attitudes about poverty.

Here's a Financial Post article from March 1st, about the report.

Trish Hennessy, from the Canadian Centre of Policy Alternatives, takes a different look at the numbers from this study in her blog post on March 4th.  Here's a brief quote:

"The story highlights a handful of statistics from an Angus Reid online poll conducted for the Salvation Army of Canada, which released a report attempting to educate Canadians about the true reality of being poor — a laudable goal.

Not to diminish the important warning within the findings – that some Canadians hold harsh judgments against the poor — I think it’s instructive to really pause on the numbers behind the headline in this news story, which reads: Survey finds many Canadians believe poor are ‘part of the problem’.

Actually, the vast majority of Canadians do not necessarily blame the poor for being poor. The news story about the poll notes that 28 per cent of Canadians say the poor have “lower moral values”.

Disappointing as that finding might be, 28 per cent is a very low number. Most polling numbers that rank this low in a poll never make it into a news story. In fact, when I see 28 per cent of Canadians hold this judgment against the poor, I think: 72 per cent do not. Isn’t that the story?"

I'm a big fan of Trish Hennessy's "A Number is Never Just a Number" fact sheets from the Canadian Centre of Policy Alternatives. 

Hennessy's Index: March 2011 Security/Insecurity

A short Hennessy bio: Trish Hennessy is former journalist who traded in the neutrality of news reporting for her real passion: Promoting social justice in Canada. She has advised some of Canada's leading progressive economists, researchers, activists and politicians. As director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' income inequality project, Trish specializes in the growing gap between the rich and the rest of us (learn more at www.growinggap.ca). Trish has a B.A. in Sociology from Queen's University, a B.S.W. from Carleton University [love those social workers!!!], and a Master's degree in Sociology from OISE/University of Toronto. (from rabble.ca)

Goar: Need help? Don't Look to Ottawa.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/954549

March 15: 2011 - Toronto Star columnist Carol Goar paints federal, provincial and municipal politicians with the same brush.

Highlights:

"Politicians at all levels are taking their cue from the public. Canadians either want them — or allow them — to overlook those tossed aside by market forces.

It is easy to condemn Finley. She is brazenly callous and self-righteous about it. But the heart of the problem lies closer to home."

Danny Williams’ Post-Secondary Education Legacy

We KNOW that there is a direct relationship between education and poverty. To put it in terms that the political right might understand:   Poor kids don't get educated, and this keeps them in poverty, so their kids grow up poor, and poor kids don't get educated.  Equality in access to education is precisely where McGuinty should be pointing his Poverty Reduction compass.

UNESCO agrees:

"Two consistent research findings in the social sciences relate to the relationship between economic and education variables, and therefore between education and poverty. Educational research has consistently found home background (socioeconomic status) to be an important determinant of educational outcomes, and economic research has shown that education strongly affects earnings."

"Better educated people have a greater

probability of being employed,

are economically more productive,

and therefore earn higher incomes."

Link to the Danny Williams article

Some highlights:

"Admittedly, by the time Danny Williams was swept into office in 2003, the momentum had shifted. Newfoundland and Labrador had begun to lead the way in terms of post-secondary accessibility, in large part by going against the national trend of annual tuition fee increases.

But Williams, who won almost every seat in the provincial legislature that year, could have easily put things on auto pilot. He didn’t.

In 2007, the Williams government had both continued the tuition fee freeze and implemented an up-front, non-repayable, needs-based grant system for all post-secondary students. The same year, the interest rate on the provincial portion of all outstanding and future student loans was reduced from prime plus 2.5 per cent to prime.

In 2009, the Williams government went even further, eliminating the interest rate charges on the provincial portion of student loans. Also in 2009, the needs-based grant system became even more generous.

Since 2003, the Williams government has increased funding for post-secondary education in Newfoundland and Labrador by about 82 per cent."

....

"As McGuinty tries to differentiate himself from other party leaders, he’d be well advised to look at Danny Williams’ record on post-secondary education. If making a post-secondary education affordable worked on the Rock, it can work in other provinces too."

Check up from the Neck Up

This simple, online, private, mental health check-up can identify some symptoms of common mood disorders so you can get help if you need it. You can also learn more about mood disorders on this site and find resources to help yourself, your family members, or friends.

Start the check up

There's lots of information about mood disorders on this website, fact sheets, and a search functions to find local resources.  Take a look at Check-up from the Neck Up.

The Mood Disorders Association of Ontario

Register today for CLEONet's webinar on Disability Tax Credit

Date April 13, 2011
Time 10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Where online

Disability Tax Credit

The Disability Tax Credit is an essential benefit for many people with disabilities. However, people often encounter difficulties with the forms and having them completed. This webinar, for service providers, is hosted by ARCH Disability Law Centre and presented by by Brendon Pooran, from Pooranlaw. Brendon discusses the benefits that flow from receipt of the Disability Tax Credit, and some of the issues around completion of the forms.

Space is limited so register today.

Please note: Registrations for this webinar will be taken on a first come first served basis. This webinar will also be recorded and made available as a resource on the CLEONet web site.

More Info on Federal Disability Tax Credit

Where to Get the Forms
I picked up a stack of T2201 "Medical and Disability-Related Information and Forms" at Canada Revenue Agency (SW corner of Queens and Talbot - 1st floor) this morning.  (What a gorgeous day for a stroll - WOW! Can spring be here???).  Since they couldn't spare as many as I would have liked to have on hand, I also ordered some from CRA @ 1-800-959-2221, and expect to have a stack of them delivered to the Food Bank as well.

You may also print off a copy of the T2201 HERE. It's 12 pages.

Your Member of Parliament's office may also have a supply.

Will my Doctor Charge Me to Fill out the Form?
Probably - this is an uninsured service, so not covered by OHIP. The College of Physicians & Surgeons has this to say:
"Physicians should refer to the Ontario Medical Association document, Physician’s Guide to Third-Party & Other Uninsured Services, for the recommended schedule of fees. Physicians are obligated to let patients know if they will be charging more than this guide."
According to the Ontario Medical Association's Physician’s Guide to Third-Party & Other Uninsured Services :$35.21 + tax is the recommended fee.
It's best to simply call ahead and ask.

I talked to a staff member at Irene Mathyssen's office this morning, and she told me that you can include a letter with this form and ask that previous years' tax returns be reassessed back to the date of onset of disability indicated by your doctor's certificate, up to 10 years.

More NEWS on the subject:

Disability tax credits under investigation

CBC News

February 9, 2011

Company using unqualified doctors to cash in on tax relief

Toronto Star

February 9, 2011

Is $6M well spent on shelter beds for the homeless population?

This was posted on The Real Issue Wiki

"Currently $6M a year goes to support emergency shelters throughout London for the homeless population. Each bed costs approximately $1500/month to operate. Some advocates suggest that the money would be better spent paying for improved support services, others have commented that the money could pay for rent and get more homeless people off the streets. In a city where the homelessness population is barely visible, homelessness does not get much attention. This week we ask:
Is $6M well spent on shelter beds for the homeless population? How would you spend the money?
Let us know what you think."

Okay...so unfortunately only spammers had something to add to the conversation.  But I recently read a very interesting 2006 essay from the New Yorker, Million Dollar Murray. So much food for thought... I particularly was intrigued by the "power-law theory" piece. If you read NOTHING else I link to on Out Of Poverty Now, read "Million Dollar Murray". 

Power-Law Theory and the Homeless may help clarify the complicated (at least for me!) theory behind "Million Dollar Murray". 

"It cost us one million dollars not to do something about Murray," O'Bryan said.

The Real Issue

About The Real Issue:

"It’s time to take action on the real issue. Poverty. Did you know that 1 in 5 children born in London, Ontario live in poverty? And that 17% of all Londoners live in poverty and struggle to make ends meet? These people are our neighbours, our employees, our work colleagues, our friends, our families. It’s time to take a stand to end poverty. To take action. This is the real issue. Get involved.

We need all Londoners to actively get involved in working to end poverty. Each action that is taken by an individual or workplace moves us one step closer to our goal of reducing the proportion of London families who are living in poverty by 25% in 5 years and by 50% in 10 years.

There are 3 ways that you can get involved. Through actions, advocacy or by changing the conversation."

Take a look at The Real Issue, and learn how you can get involved.

From Ontario Coalition Against Poverty: Raise the Rates Campaign

Join the Raise the Rates Campaign!

Dear Allies,

We are contacting you about the ‘Raise the Rates’ Campaign and a call for
community organizations, union locals, community health centres, social
agencies, drop-ins and beyond to join the campaign and be a part of
building a provincial movement to raise social assistance rates to where
people can live with health and dignity.

What you can do to join this campaign:

Endorse the Raise the Rates Campaign: Take this to your organization and
officially sign-on to the Raise the Rates Campaign! Contact us to add your
name as an endorsing organization: ocap@tao.ca / 416-925-6939.

**We are proud to announce a broad range of Raise the Rates
endorsements-growing by the day! (in alphabetical order):
• Aids Action Now
• Barrio Nuevo
• BASICS Community News Service
• Bread and Bricks Social Justice Group
• Campaign for Adequate Welfare and Disability Benefits (Hamilton)
• Community Solidarity Network
• Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – Ontario
• CUPE Toronto District Council
• Disability Action Movement Now (DAMN)
• Health Providers Against Poverty
• Jane-Finch Action Against Poverty
• New Socialist Group
• No One is Illegal – Toronto
• No One is Illegal – Ottawa
• Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses (OAITH)
• Ontario Nurses Association (ONA)
• Ontario Public Interest Research Group at U of T (OPIRG-Toronto)
• Ottawa District Labour Council
• South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO)
• Sudbury and District Labour Council
• Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicutural Women Against Rape
• Toronto Drug Users Union
• Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC)
• Under Pressure (Ottawa)

Join the Movement:

• Invite OCAP and the Raise the Rates Committee to come speak to your
organization, union local or centre

• Throughout the month of March, organizations will be hosting ‘Raise the
Rates Assemblies’ in different cities across Ontario to talk about
building this movement provincially. If you would like to be part of these
Assemblies – let us know and we will connect you with existing groups or
help you get something started in your area. In Toronto, this Assembly
will be taking place: Sat. March 19th

• Raise the Rates Days of Action, Friday, April 1st, 12noon @ Nathan
Phillips Square, Toronto: COME OUT as a contingent on April 1st in Toronto
or build an action in your community.

• Start a ‘Raise the Rates’ committee in your area: let’s build this work
beyond the next demonstration and in to a movement that is unstoppable.
**********
Raise the Rates Campaign DEMANDS:

1) Reverse the Cuts, Raise the Rates!

In 1995 the Tory government cut welfare rates by 21.6 % and froze
disability. Since the Liberals came to power in 2003, they have not only
failed to reverse the Harris cuts, but have actually perpetuated a further
decline in rates. As a result of that initial 21.6% cut coupled with
inflation for the last 16 years, welfare rates are approximately 55% below
where they should be. If benefit levels were restored to the same level of
spending power as we had in 1994, a single person on Ontario Works would
receive an immediate $904/month instead of the miserable $593 now being
issued. No one can survive on these poverty rates; $593 cannot afford
someone a place to live let alone food and basic needs.

The Liberal government has now announced that they are freezing the
minimum wage in 2011. Workers trying to survive on minimum wage are
already making poverty wages and will now see their incomes fall as a
result of inflation and a freeze on wages. Currently there are
approximately 1 in 6 workers or working at or close to minimum wage in
Ontario, and the gap between minimum wage and welfare is greater now than
it ever has been.

WE DEMAND an immediate increase in OW and ODSP rates to bring them back to
pre-Harris levels. 55% NOW– raise the rates to where people can live with
health and dignity!

WE DEMAND the minimum wage freeze be lifted immediately and that minimum
wage be increased to a living wage for everyone in Ontario.

2) Restore the Special Diet!

In the 2010 provincial budget last March, the Liberal government announced
that the special diet would be slashed completely. The special diet has
been a vital benefit that has put money in the pockets of communities
forced to live in poverty on social assistance rates that are entirely
inadequate. Due to community outrage and mobilization, the Liberal
government have now backtracked and said that they will keep part of the
Special Diet, however the program is being completely gutted. The new
system excludes numerous health conditions and reduces the benefits
received for many other conditions. In addition applicants will have to
release medical information and face other intrusive measures designed to
prevent access to the benefit. Within the Liberals’ own statement about
this measure, they refer to the fact that ‘many will not be eligible’. The
new Special Diet comes in to affect on April 1st and all those who are not
eligible under the new program will be cut off by July 31st.

The loss of the full Special Diet alongside declining social assistance
rates will drive communities deeper into poverty and poor health. It is
one of many social cuts to come as part of the government austerity
measures and we must mobilize and demand that it be restored.

WE DEMAND the full restoration of the Special Diet to a benefit of up to
$250 for food and complete reversal of all intrusive measures.

Hey! My letter to the editor was printed in the LFP today!

Letters: March 17

FAQ about London Transit

Get on Board: A handy reference that answers many common questions about using London Transit

If you are unfamiliar with the LTC routes serving the origin or destination of your trip, you can try using the London Transit Interactive CityMap. This program will permit you to find the bus routes that serve your trip origin and destination points.

Fares: An adult fare is $2.75 (with a 90 minute transfer), but 5 tickets can be purchased for $9.50 ($1.90 each) at at either of our offices and at hundreds of convenient locations throughout the city. 

Public Transit Tax Credit: On July 1, 2006, the Government of Canada launched its program to offer individual Canadians a non-refundable tax credit to help cover the cost of public transit. Because it is a non-refundable tax credit, anyone who applies does not receive the money in the form of a refund. Instead, the amount claimed is multiplied by the lowest personal income tax rate for the year and then is deducted from the amount of tax owed for that year.

May 3: Registered Disability Savings Plan Workshop

Date: May 3, 2011
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Where: Heritage East Resource Centre, 872 Dundas St. Rear (Ontario Street), London, ON

The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) helps Canadians with disabilities, and their families, save for the future. RDSP is available to Canadians who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. Those who are eligible, can open an RDSP at one of several financial organizations across the country.

This workshop will explain more about RDSP and how the Government of Canada is supporting RDSP's by matching contributions made. This is a great way to maximize any retro payments from ODSP or CPP.

This workshop is open to all, including clients and service workers. Registration is at the phone number below.

For more details visit:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180867238624029&index=1

For more information:
Phone (519) 438-8676

Registered Disability Savings Plan information

Coupons To Help You Save Money On Energy Costs

https://www.saveonenergy.ca/Consumer/Programs/Instant-Rebates/Downloadable-COUPONS.aspx

These downloadable and printable coupons can help maximize one's spending power if taking advantage of the ODSP Low-cost Energy Conservation Benefit.

According the Ontario Power Authority, there's a couple of other ways to get these coupons:

1. Look for your energy-saving coupon booklet from your local electric utility arriving in the mail in March 2011. I checked the London Hydro Website, and it doesn't state whether the booklets will be mailed out or not.

2. Twice a year we feature the coupons in-store at participating retailers. These coupons are available for a limited time on the following dates:

saveONenergy SPRING EVENT^OM:        
     Apr 1, 2011 - May 1, 2011
saveONenergy FALL EVENT^OM:            
     Sept 30, 2011 - Oct 30, 2011

Participating retailers include: Walmart, TSC Stores, Home Depot, Sears, RONA, Moffatt & Powell Lumber Store, Lowe’s, Home Hardware,  Costco, Canadian Tire.

While we're on the subject of energy conservation, and saving money on energy costs, we might as well talk about TOU Rates & Smart Meters

Calculate Your Energy Costs by Visiting 10 Smart Lane: This informative, interactive, online tool enables you to test your appliances during different times of the day, and visualize how power shifting will affect your energy costs.

Time of Use Rates from the Ontario Energy Board

Getting Smart about Smart Meters Q&A Book

NEWS:

Seems Tim Hudak has something to say about Smart Meters when he was in the neighbourhood today.

“A Progressive Conservative government would unplug the mandatory smart meters and give families a choice that works for them,”says Tim.

Really?  And what would that be, Tim?  Why not flesh that statement out a bit? Hm?