Poverty Awareness in York Region

Well my last blog sure woke some people up and got people thinking and that was the reason for writing it - to encourage people question everything - no matter how good intentions sometimes seem.

I just read an article in the National Post about Vancouver's sharing programs which are beginning to have urban dwellers sharing cars( more than 1000 in the city are shared), tools, gardens, clothing, kitchen supplies, offices, etc in groups set up to conduit this. Sounds wonderful all this sharing, but it's all because people are slowly being made unable to afford cars..and tools..and property.
Community Property

Sharing community property whether through food in community gardens, food distribution depots / banks or community dinners are also all Marxist ideas in origin, and a free society need allow one the dignity to access food in a way of their choosing and eat in privacy or with their family - not one thrust upon them so that if they don't use it communally they'll go hungry. That may not be where we are at quite yet but eventually it'll get weaved in as part of the solution. There is enough income produced in this country, it's just not trickling down to those in need. Sharing 101 we fail at miserably as a society so why buy into a communist-like model?

Once they can say - "Well they can join our garden program if they want to eat fresh food" or  "Well if they are hungry we have community dinners "- or the clothes depot will do for them" then the government can shirk its responsibility to take care of these people in need - not chosen one charities and corporate feel-good campaigns like Campbell's Soup type photo-op solutions that make people sicker long run both physically and mentally taxing the 'system' even more.

The solution is simple - give people enough to work with from the beginning - to feed themselves in dignity. People don't need "Do-gooders" dishing it out for them. Eliminate those excess "jobs".

So no fancy community grow programs that most can't get to regularly anyway - but their own back yards or balconies are fine if they choose to. No forced transit use or "apply for" transit passes programs - but provide enough money to purchase them if they need one or pay a car bill. No special charity run "training" programs that don't pay them a full wage since they are working for these "charities" doing catering, construction, food distribution, bagging, fundraising and more. No more unneeded shelters - women's or otherwise - just build what we actually need - more affordable housing. No more feel good corporate charities that pay out millions of dollars in administrative fees and claim to build things like affordable housing but hand pick certain people only, who must meet a certain "criteria", and who will agree to being public faces for them for the very few units they do build.

Speaking of sharing, I've been following Newmarket's many proposals of late from developers for developing Glenway, Slessor Square, Main St. etc and none include building more affordable housing - even though the official plan dictates a certain percentage of all new built housing need include some. I noticed the presenter conveniently avoided allowing me a question at the Lion's Hall town event recently...he claimed Main St.'s proposal displaces only 2 residents from housing but left out that they'd already stopped renting / rooming people out of there some time ago leaving only 2 now so when time comes they can say it affected no one. But where are those who've they slowly displaced up until now? Who knows...they'll be forgotten in the mix since they apparently don't exist - except 2. Okay so are they building 2 affordable units for them in their model then? Somehow I doubt it.

Just be wary my friends, be wary...Dig deeper into these wonderful charitable "solutions" that slowly erode at your freedom, privacy, and dignity.

I'll bet not many of you, or few, are aware of the United Nations Millennium Development goals.  You should, since York Region as well as Canada and 191 other countries have signed on to support it. I bet even the local councillors and individuals who vote or support things they think they thought of, are not even aware where the stuff they vote on is coming from. I'd bet most don't even know it exists - yet they are buying in without questions. Or how about Agenda 21 or sometimes known locally as ICLEI which are linked to it too? Did you know the town of Aurora signed on to the latter? Do they even know what it is? Did they take the time to look in depth to understand all their objectives and goals? I Doubt it.

For example in Markham, York Region, they recently declared a 'Food Charter" which talks about communal gardens and community kitchens  and school meal programs as a means to feed people. This is what they do in communist countries and we all know how that turns out! The ultimate goal - which most of council are unlikely aware since they don't know this global development plan exists or that our country signed on to it - is to control people's food access and force the common people eventually to acquire their food this way. Quotes like from YRMG newspapers on this "charter" such as,

“We believe a collaborative and integrated approach is essential to create a healthy and just food system for all,” are repeatedly used terminology taken right out of the Millennium Development goals.

If this Y.R. "collaborative" group thought of the idea through 2 years of discussions as claimed in news reports then why is it similar models in multiples of other communities across the world are looking at or doing similar actions towards food distribution? Why? Because there was no real discussion on it as the direction was predetermined, just as is spelled out in the M.D. goals. One of it's booster's The Y.R. Food Network (charity) recently was awarded nearly $250,000 to get in the food distribution game. At least thats what the papers said recently. I would hazard a guess the farmer(s)speaking at the charter launch are also benefitting, or going to be. Only a guess.

Just like the rapid transit plans which somehow hundreds of  communities are suddenly adopting. Eventually they plan to make everyone use transit except of course the elite. Remember Animal Farm? They crossed out all animals are equal and replaced it with but some are more equal than others - same deal here. Is that book even part of our schools curriculum anymore or was that phased out? My daughter says they have.

No one called for "rapid" transit in Newmarket so why build it when there is no demand? Because they plan to force people through pricing regular Joes and Jills out of affording cars and fuel that's why.


"Four legs Go-o-o-od...Two legs ba-a-a-ad!"


Don't take my word for it it's all spelled out in the Millenium's goals and not hidden. The data is being disbursed by The World Bank - does that not tell you something? Like they care about the world's poor.

Greenbelts.  Sounds wonderful right? Sounded wonderful to me too, but also part of the millennium plan /Agenda 21's sustainable development goals to have people live only in densely populated areas with little access to anything else in the "green" belts except for recreation and all in the name of "protection". Elites will own property and land while average persons will slowly lose access and be kept in a small densely populated areas to live, work, and play like they are trying to do to Newmarket right now and have already done to Markham by building up, thus forming concentrated areas.

So called prioritizing to take care of women and children, same deal - more  control - and tears at the family unit with a father model. The state more or less becomes the head of the household though make no mistake, not the mother, in their 'model".

The M.D. plan calls for bike paths and roads designed to keep people contained and out of these green areas and traveling on foot and bikes. Eventually people will be told they have no right to access them. So unfortunately groups fighting intensification of living area densities like The proposed oversized Glenway and the Slessor development projects don't realize it's not town council they are up against but actually the United Nations. And again, our local politicians are not even aware it's all part of this master plan which Canada signed onto in 2000 and which is now under the gun to have certain things in place by 2015. Again it's all there in black and white and not hidden but

no mainstream media ever mentions it. Why?




That's covered in the "plan" as well as it states that the media has to be part of the massive plan. Now before you yell conspiracy theorist I implore you to check it out for yourself! It's not hidden! In fact when those leaders met at the 2000 summit it was the largest gathering of world leaders in history yet where's the coverage? And why is it not pointed out
each time an idea is put forward connected to this agenda?

This excerpt from the UN General Assembly  from 2010..note the scare mongering element.

Downtown Newmarket Proposed

Hey, I was as naive as anyone else until I myself noticed in some action groups I participated in with PACC seemed to have pre-determined "solutions". We'd have great "discussions" which, on the surface took everyone's input, but which had predetermined ideas for action. I realized this as there were times I spoke up and others agreed with my position, yet it moved "forward" in these predetermined directions. Later I came to realize they were part of this "plan" so these discussions with these invited action groups, lead by one group, were designed to make you feel like you had input into direction however since they have a predetermined plan it was / is a farce.

Then someone intro'd me to the actual U.N.'s Millennium Development goals in depth and I was stunned.

The U.N. is supposed to be a body that helps the world end wars and uphold rights yet since they've formed we've still had war after war and poverty has not gotten any better except in China, which through everyone buying into their slave labour market, is the exception to reducing poverty. Does this mean we adopt what they do? Or keep rewarding them with business?.

This plan also speaks about International Water Day and all these other wonderful world saving devises that most people are not aware are part of it. Meantime private corporations sell bottled water and drain lakes dry in doing so whilst we drink reworked sewage water. They are preparing us for when they begin controlling water.

But they'll never sell or control our water you say..it's outlawed! Ha. Just like Canada beginning to give control of natural resources to a communist dictatorship that allows slave labour - China - for $15 billion, whereas prior foreign ownership was not allowed to anyone let alone a communist country. So governments can change things - and it matters not which party gets in as they are all in bed together here.

This of course was a tit for tat deal as my prediction is that Scotia Bank, which is trying to get a foothold in China, will be allowed to in a few short years as reward to Canada.

People wonder what's happened that capitalism seems to be failing? Look no further than governments' cozy relationships with charities and businesses of their choosing who become the "elite" - just like in communist countries! Government should not be in cahoots with the private sector and charities as it erodes the "free" system and creates what we have now - the chosen ones. They especially should not be pandering to communists. CIDA's former boss who also headed Petro-Canada and Ontario Hydro,  Maurice Strong, already lives in China and would be arrested if he came back (to the U.S.) for his actions that included making illegal profits on oil for food sales in Iraq. He, along with leaders / politicians like Brian Mulroney, Jean Chretien, Paul Martin, Bob Rae and brother John , Pierre Trudeau, Daniel Johnson, all worked for or came through (controlled / financed by) Power Corp headed by the Desmarais family who have been doing business with China since the 1950's.That for another day!



As our schools now teach our kids we're global citizens, not Canadians, and on, I implore you to read up in depth and you will begin to see that all these wonderful "programs" and charity solutions and communal style directions are part and parcel! 


Just...Food For Thought! Ha Tom Pearson

Wow! Talk about working a rough' hood! PACC had to work magic to convince youths to drop their weapons in lieu of hockey sticks for a day! Ha. Getting kids to participate in this day and age of computer games can prove tough as is but with a little assist you can do it! It was tough going to make an event this year but with a focus on fun participation and some faith it seems to be working out!

The "cache"

Hot dogs and hot chocolate..mmm..

 

Join TP Saturday Mar 16

Neighbourhood kids are seen here preparing for Sat March 16th's event being held off main St at the Newmarket Community Centre parking lot!  The Annual Friendly Neighbourhood youth tourney is open to all ages too! 

Skills challenge 10:30 AM Sat Mar 16

"Put the kids back on the streets" - an after school activity - through road hockey beyond this event and help end obesity!

A "toddler area" will be set up  in Riverwalk Commons as well & you can get warm inside the community centre Lions hall!

As well as main stage entertainment and including ELVIS PRIESTLY! 

Hot Dogs! Hot Chocolate..all free for players! How can you beat that!?

 







Car! 

Big thanks to Newmarket Mitsubishi for their sponsorship!

Sponsor Newmarket Mitsubishi Motors has electric cars too!

Some of the kids

RoadHockey Mom

Dad has no chance!

Challenge Someone! 

Tourney and pick up games

10:30 AM All Ages Skills Contest  prizes by CanadaT.com

All Ages Games until 5PM

Bring a stick & join in! 

Or enter a youth team..


email us @ tpeproductions@gmail.com

It looks like we may have to either postpone or - egads - cancel the annual free Friendly Neighbourhood Youth Road hockey Challenge for 2013 or at least post-pone it.
 
Why?

Well we had a little last minute expense to take care of namely some fencing that I know isn't in our budget.
Yea..$225 a foot worth..to cross over playing areas of roughly 100 feet.

Oops they just informed me it was a small overlook - it's actually $2.25 a sq foot. Big Diff!!

Frankly I'm tired of trying to have this event carried without any support from the town to help promote or fund it. Geez they had no problem dishing out to an unknown out of town outfit for an ice hockey event supposedly for the homeless. Us? We get fencing, insurance, and location woes starting from the time they developed the new Riverwalk Commons area where our costs suddenly almost doubled in a year.

I guess activities for kids don't mean enough to enough people anymore. Boy oh boy where did all our priorities go so wrong?

I'll keep you posted. But things look to be a go for Mar 16!

Happy New Year! A message from me.

Since the provincial government announced restructuring(downloading) and cuts to anti-homelessness programs - such as the Community Start-Up Program - an influx of concern has been raised on the ground level. These funds also helped keep families on the brink in their homes and with winter now upon us, along with closer to home announcements that funds to the areas winter shelters have been cut as well, it seems we're going backward and not forward.

Although locally we did make some noise regarding wheeltrans times for transit users which allowed guys like PACCer Danny Philion to not only go out for New Year's Eve 2012-13 but work that evening to make much needed cash as well as now ongoing trans for those times beyond that night! PACCers efforts helped grease their wheels and move him into a paying job for the night - so he was coat-check and not Djing this time!- and possibly beyond since he can now simply actually get home!

Watch for Kiddy Korner at RHockey Challenge.

From that evening he connected with someone who's going to perhaps assist him raising funds for MD of which he's afflicted and was invited to join a car club - even though he doesn't drive in his condition. Dan's a car buff though, and his new found connection seems to have breathed new life into him. All because he could get there and back - and through noise part of which was made by P.A.C.C..

But the fact that I got a national honour, with the awarding  of a Queens Diamond Jubilee medal, and no mention in the local papers, speaks volumes to me. Not that I care about the accolades, but it should matter to you too that my / our work / voice is muffled locally.

Although I believe I have been affective through online work, campaigns, and blogging to truly reach the masses you need also some mainstream press / support and to that point, their boycott of our message can likely be attributed to my outspokenness.

Yes, I've been critical of local media in the past and a number of organizations - but critical in order that true accountability and facts can be represented - and not just spoon-fed organizational boosting stories that some turn out to be. If I've felt a program(s) or statement or shelter need was a farce I've communicated it, but only after feedback from users and some research. Still with no "letters to the Editor" getting in, they are winning. Others need take up the struggle.

Dan and PACC fought for right to transportation on Rogers TV

Perhaps a new voice need be at the forefront in order to make more in-roads.  I do not know. All I do know is after the upcoming youth road hockey event I will reassess my position with PACC, and likely ask to continue on but in a more supportive role not as chair.

Maybe I'll concentrate on creating a division that offers real programs/training/hope and include those from experience at all levels. Even youth programs using our community building experience to work. We've dabbled in that and I've had interest but PACCers can decide.

At any rate, with your support, I look forward to trying to pull off a successful 2013 Friendly Neighbourhood Youth Road Hockey Challenge this March !!

Imagine having Christmas, wherein you have to rely on others to decide what your kids or even grand kids will get through charity because all of your income goes to keeping a phone for Xmas or the heat on, and when you look at what's left you find nothing but a lump of coal. Now imagine that's for a person considered lucky. Each year at this time I always get a number of calls or requests or pleas that are out of my range of actual influence - although by using different methods we can still keep the pressure on year round.

One of the recent concerns raised was the upcoming cancellation / shifting of distribution of Community Start Up funds which was available under the provincial government for those seeking 1st and last months rent and unable to afford it. The homeless used this fund to get into a place from the streets or a shelter. Another long time running fund up for review by regional council now was made available to home owners to upkeep their homes to liveable levels, and these funds literally help keep thousands off the streets.

One single woman I know of is being evicted, and aggressively so, by a group that is supposed to care for our disadvantaged - the ones with addictions or mental health issues - and seem to believe they can control these 'wards' or kick them out. These religious landlords/programs such as Cross Links - no matter how they try to hide it - should not be the only options for these people. "Landlords" as such become complacent when they are essentially the only game in town for people in this predicament and begin to feel they can impose rules as they please and muddy the rights of these tenants, who often are unaware, if they steer off their decided path. It seems the only help these charges get - the free legal clinics - are reluctant to tackle or challenge these groups to the degree they need to keep people in their homes without constant threat of removal should they not fit a particular mold being sought. They are assured programs are voluntary when they start out living in these places, but should people opt out the heat gets turned up it seems.


Another person lived in a Cross-links building infested with bedbugs - yet they billed him only for removal costs while the rest of the building's tenants weren't. When he balked they pounced. He moved out eventually frustrated by their persistence to oust him. These points of concern regarding the areas 'help" devises for the 'poor" came up during our in-depth social audit, Behind the Masks - testimonials from those marginalized by circumstance of a few years back, but as yet it seems the Region drafted it in name only as it seems to collect dust whilst they fund various forums to find out the same info, such as the United Way's recent series of 'community input" forums..Of course they too were criticized in the audit.


What we have done in regards to the Community Start-up funds is drafted some suggestions and forwarded them to the Region of York wherein we were invited into the discussion that regional council is now embarking on regarding these funds and the upcoming downloading of O.D.S.P. to the municipalities to distribute. I have no plans to attend but used the detailed draft letter complete with itemized suggestions to put them on notice. Prior these funds as well as O.D.S.P. - Ontario Disabilty Support Program - has been distributed by the Ontario government. Our main objection, in addition to wanting a guarantee the emergency funds will remain intact, is that municipalities are less educated to the root issues of poverty and more inclined to think in stereotypical terms - that these people are just lazy or can be dealt with through hand-out systems - like food-banks. The fact that a regional councilor also has a father with ties to many of the local homeless connected charities, often deemed part of the "solution" here, worries me frankly.

Some prefer the streets to these luxurious accomodations

For instance did you know everyone staying in the YR shelters pays to! That's right they are fast tracked into welfare but must sign off their rights to the cash to the shelters as a condition of staying - leaving what incentive to create housing as opposed to more temporary stay warehouses for people? Not that they're building any for the 90% street homeless which are men in York Region. Remember them? The ones who die on the streets?

The one's no one has written about but me.

Anyway low income women are not getting an easy run for Xmas either as one person who caught up to me reminded. They are trying to take her grand kids away from her because one of them is ' difficult' and has a number of ' diagnosis" apparently. I know the kid. He's not a bad kid at all and in fact very polite. He may have these so called diagnosis but this is no reason to remove a child from family. Once again a family unable to afford all the "help" they apparently "need" for their child will result in a REMOVAL?! Merry Xmas to you too!

The woman was at her end to hold back from crying as she was out shopping at the dollar store with them, for Xmas no doubt.This is becoming epidemic with kids being removed or parents - often single moms - controlled by being ordered by C.A.S. to participate in outrageous often unwarranted "programs" because they say so..or else...what if they can't afford the transportation or program cost? It's like living under glass jar! One person who attended a "mandatory" anger management "program" told me they watched movies every 'class".  
Someone's making a killing and its not the students! Another woman I know is going through the same thing with her daughter removed in front of the whole neighbourhood - based on statements made by a neighbour not in her household - and for 10 months has now fought for her child back! Still another had the baby taken at birth! All have one thing in common- low income.


Today I met a woman at a volunteers thanks lunch put on by the York Region Food Network. She manages to volunteer, where she is allowed to, even though she lives in her car! She grew up in an aboriginal household looking after her siblings having a severely alcoholic mother. It was her the taxi companies would deal with when a child had to go to the hospital from their rural location. "Which one is it this time?", they'd ask her, the mom too fall down to deal with anything. Recently she was stopped from volunteering based on new rules asking for "food handling certification". To wrap sandwiches? Give us a break! Wear gloves! People just want to be involved not controlled and needless "programs" waste resources and alienate. Christmas to her is a terrible memory - when the drinking would be at its worst. I Invited this lady to the Deli House Catering Xmas - Bread & Jam party and vowed to give her at least some fun this year!

People sometimes are born of circumstance as well. One person I know who's spent many a year in shelters, rooming houses, and even jail - often where the down end up when there's "no room at the inn".. He was sexually abused as a child, beaten by his father and brothers. He was ostracized at school for being unkempt and for what he wore and because they were poor. The father drank heavily. Recently, this same guy while drunk, was jumped and beaten when leaving a community dinner by some men coming out of the Habitat for Humanity store back warehouse area. So even eating is a danger now to him, let alone have to hit a shelter if it came to that. You get the picture..

Another I ran into, a family man with both parents working full time in factories and concerned they'll not have anything for presents for their kids after bills are paid out. You can read such stress in their faces like lines in a book, and that it breaks their hearts not to be able to despite apparently doing everything expected from society, yet still with minimal overhead comparatively, they struggle. Year round.



One guy had never had a friend. He never stayed in one place long enough to gain any, basically got wasted everywhere he went, and when things got too bad he packed up and left to the next town or city. Until one day he made a friend who believed in him, and encouraged him, and guess what? That was all he needed...along with some other supports, was another soul out there that gave enough of a fuck to say,

"Hey man how you doing?" and mean it. 

Can it all be so tough for people to do? Goodwill to men and women?

Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays!

PS there is a Xmas Party - FRI DEC 21 6 - 8:30pm The 1st Annual Bread & Jam Xmas party at Deli House Catering Hall 1220 Stellar lane Newmarket for those who might have it tough this year and also those who assist in that plight when they can. PACC will be on-hand and some presents for the kids and award(s) given out.

Entry is $1 for a gourmet buffet dinner or $10 if you can afford it. Entertainers for Open Stage welcome!

 I've noticed this "trend' of "training" opportunities" or 'employment opportunities" for people with disabilities or low income and, besides the fact the government is trying to mandatorize labour for those on disabilities regardless of education or skills, the use of 'charity" businesses that use free or cheaper labour (sometimes they pay them with food) is outrageous.

Do these programs really help or take away from paid work?

Under disguise of "helpful programs"programs' like the Inn from the Cold Catering "company" should be banned in its present model as it is not part of their mandate to begin with, let alone another way to make money from the poor via having them "learn" how to make sandwiches and the like under the disguise of teaching them a skilll from which I suppose they say they would now be able to get a job from. Meantime this business gets free labour? Hello!.

But wait you say they are doing a wonderful thing training people how to cater. Bull crap. Most jobs do that anyway at entry level, but at least you'd get PAID a wage then! One local struggling young man I know who works for a catering company was promised full time hours - something hard to get these days - but as yet the place hasn't been able to afford him enough to do so, and the kid walks to work - over 4 miles - ashamed to tell the boss he can't afford it.We don't need homeless shelters preparing food we need them for shelter emergencies only, which should be RARE, not the accepted status quo.

A friend of mine has a catering company and I'm sure he's not thrilled to lose anymore business to competition than he has to in an all ready tough market. Tough to say no to the poor shelter people, and great way to make your business appear "caring" by using such a catering "service". What a farce.

They likely got the idea from a visit I made to Montreal some years back that had a gourmet restaurant tucked in an old church in a poor part of town - Resto Pop - which uses high end discarded catered food as well as a CERTIFIED CHEF in house who teaches culinary skills. These meals are then sold for change to low income and shelter dwellers out of this converted church. And when I say change I mean 50 cents -$2 for a meal etc. and the workers were paid FULL WAGES. This was the model I spoke of when I raised the idea here at the square-table on Poverty in 2006 or so with Belinda Stronach et al, who are seemingly connected to shelters here now through the new "shrine" for single women to be filled by women from outside York Region when it opens in order to fill it, but learned long ago they are all about photo-ops and appearances than reality or caring, or if they are, are rather naive which I doubt.Unless of course the current course of governmental poverty reduction efforts continues and we will afford our aging low income single women to join their male counterparts on the streets - literally- and it will no longer be a manufactured notion as a pressing "need". A that point her Belinda House shrine is going to seem much needed!Yet by just giving people a little more to work with they could avoid being homeless most often - but they don't support that. Hmmm.Too dignified a solution I suppose.

I was speaking with another person at a business who had needed their yard cleaned up of refuse etc and was able to get a quote for about 1/4 of anyone else's. How can they do it? They use people with certain mental health disabilities on ODSP and don't pay the workers but they use it as an 'activity" or " program" for them or if they do get paid it's token. Often they have care and control of these "workers" who also live in residents. Make no mistake these "charities" are making money on them and / or saving it using them under the guise of " volunteers"when often these 'volunteers" are hungry as is and just happy to be warm and eat and if they get thrown a few bones it keeps them coming back enough that they can claim their "program" is a success. yea a success at keeping people attached to them instead of breaking free.I know men without who'da loved the job but how can he compete with almost free?

Free labour at local charities often pays them in food instead of money

As government steers a course toward forced labour on the disabled our local papers write that our social service 'professionals" think the review is going in the right direction
(I personally don't think it needs an overhaul whatsoever just a few tweaks like giving people more to work with to start with). Which professionals were these? The ones who's livelihoods depend on keeping people mired in poverty or come to their "programs" or rely on the free / cheap poor labour to conduct their "charity" business?

People who can already seek out work DO and don't need a hand or forced incentive pushing them to do it, but what will happen is " volunteering" will begin to cut into the paying jobs in hard more than it already has while working businesses who have to compete with real world overheads and don't have the sympathy card to play for funding from government bodies or the public so lest we get to cozy with this charities for all solution don't forget who the labour force will be made up of!

Tom Pearson