Poverty Awareness in York Region

YRMG's Era Banner needs to respect Grassroots Voices

Recently I had a call from The Newmarket Era Banner asking me to comment on the Ontario government's announcements regarding their latest poverty reduction methods. I'm reluctant sometimes to do interviews with the paper as at times they misquote me, and, for a number of years now, have not published any of my many letters to the Editor nor any pictures.

The pics one is odd, as another recent time they'd actually asked me to come for a pic, after being asked to comment about the fact that York Region Council had voted to raise transit costs again - they are already the countries highest for local transit. I came down, they did the pic and they didn't run it. No explanation, and the article went on to replace my statement of it being the among highest in the entire country  to "already high".

In the most recent article they quoted me fairly well, however in  the following issue in " Letters to the Editor", allowed to go unchecked a letter to by a writer claiming PACC was in lock- step with the government. One need only Google the terms ' Poverty York Region" to find that is far from the case. The letter writer had used it as a sedge-way to discuss their own pet peeve, non-related to the subject of homelessness agenda, and I / we were left without defense or rebuttal so I wrote a letter to the Editor. Again, no print.

Shelter behind schedule due to plans changes

My lock-step point had been they should simply raise O.D.S.P. - Ontario Disabilities Support Program and welfare rates as their 'anti-homelessness" strategy and they'd be able to eliminate most of the "need" for their 'programs and such a heavy reliance on food bank solutions. Hardly a "lock step" position, yet it made " Letter to the Editor" without question and left for all to surmise it true since the column it referred to with my quotes was not in the same issue which leaves the reader with a final false impression and notion about PACC. I wonder if any other groups get this kind of treatment, where no pics and no letters or no articles are ever written by the newspaper yet they still call you on occasion for controlled quotes because they must.
Funny PACC's work is recognized by the Region and by the community at large, as shown through the chair being nominated for and  receiving The Queens Jubilee Award for contributions to country and co-authoring the region's social audit.

PACC's expertise and experience gets us invited to consult with government and various departments in order to help steer the direction they take, not because of any lock-step arrangement. They recognize who we are. It's time YRMG did as well and allow our voices truly heard.

How about a feature on PACC and all they've managed to accomplish, without government funding, for over 10 years, despite the silo they've been given to work in at times.

This week on Ontario budget day I will be locked in prior to the announcement and able to see the budget before the public does and ask questions of the Ministers prior to the budget announcement. Prior to this budget being tabled, we were asked to participate in input sessions to examine the directions the government would / should take - often at odds with what we felt priorities should be.

We didn't attend to say how wonderful they were doing, we attended to try and influence the direction in a way that is fair, but we always come back to a simple deduction - raise the rates first to pre Harris-like levels, and then you'll eliminate most of your "at risk" population. Add real addictions services - including gambling and drug alcohol rehabs and you'll eliminate it even further.

Join Dan's Stroll & Roll to Freedom

Simple Math - A LOCAL ROOM FOR RENT AD - $525 is the only ad I see for shared accommodation in the the Era Banner I have now. Welfare rates top out at around $600. Food banks give 3 days rations per month.

We'll be locked-in for tomorrows provincial budget. Should anybody request a comment we won't be allowed until after the 4pm provincial budget announcement. I won't hold my breath.


You can show your support for a BETTER DEAL for those on disability support on the Stroll & Roll to Freedom.

TP out

Winter shelters closed now. Men in Y.R. use 26 beds in a pop of 1,000,000

Oct 17 is International Day for The Eradication of Poverty. Join us for York Region's representative 2014  event at Newmarket's Riverwalk Commons, 200 Doug Duncan Dr., outside The Lions Hall, simultaneously being held alongside  events around the world to draw attention to those in poverty at home and abroad.

The Newmarket Day will feature an
"Open Mic", offering opportunities to those with messages about poverty to share them. The first part of the 7-10pm running evening will include some personal stories from lived experience or those who have witnessed it, followed by a focus on world poverty.

Speakers to include PACC Chair Tom Pearson, Displaced Farmer Sam Orrico, Bill Kukulewich, long time tenant's and income rights advocate as well as Council

candidate who unveils his 7 point plan to END HOMELESSNESS!

Speakers and performance artists wishing to participate can contact us here and join the event on Facebook.

Fri Oct 17 support an end to poverty - Award winning one minute video

Booked in also is Poet, David Rogers, who will be available for signings / sales of his book of poems, "The Dark Road", which acts as a type of therapy for those fighting addictions / mental health issues, including depression. David's true to life experiences are replicated through his poetry, resonating and cutting through to many so afflicted. Signed Books are $15. 50% sales to PACC.

Mike Thornhill youth award winner Jason Baulch will also receive his recognition award and serves as an example of youth and positive action as well Jazzled Youth COO Wendy Marais will also make some information available about new youth initiatives and educational scholarship opportunities.


The plight of displaced Markham Farmer Sam Orrico will also be highlighted including words from Sam, also a victim of several house fires.

Reggae-country- rock sensations, The Yappers, are also slated in the mix thus far, as well as some Hip Hop and sounds by the amazing Just Flow and AJM Fam, as well a number of politicians and concerned residents will attend, making for an eclectic, stimulating, yet rockin' evening - with time in between for a mix and exchange of knowledge, information and ideas related to poverty issues.

For 2014, in memory of a special PACC member, community volunteer and community worker with C.M.H.A., Annette Brown, who passed unexpectedly recently, we will be handing out pumpkins at the event to keep her spirit / drive to make sure all kids get a pumpkin!
The following day on Oct 18 a celebration in Annette's honour is also planned.

The Int Day has been marked in Newmarket over 12 years now, and was originally designed 23 years ago, when launched in Paris France in front of the U.N. building, by a man of cloth who came from poverty and who wanted to make a difference, culminating with millions standing at once setting a world record for doing so in 2011! He has made a difference. You can too!

Come out and lend an ear or voice on Oct 17 2014!

Mcguinty Mannequin cross Ontario tour in Aurora

Recently I traveled to Toronto in anticipation of the screening of the Put Food in the Budget campaign's "Premier Mcguinty mannequin tour". The campaign, of which I'd been an attending and participating member of, is a cross Ontario group lead by educated and experienced leaders and involving those with lived low income experience. The thing I'd liked about the group, besides the fact the ideas we
came up with were usually well executed, was that they included those with experience and actually used their input - unlike other groups or forums or participation events I've been to where they go through the motions but never actually use participants' viewpoints or input, just the appearances of doing so. Something like the Ontario government did with its poverty reduction strategy hearings. I call it pandering. Then they use those who they are purported to be helping as their mouthpieces to attract attention and / or to show worthiness for continued funding from associated groups - like charities do to vulnerable people when they get them to do their bidding through 'testimonials' after which they get rewarded usually.

Eyes on Toronto

Programs and ideas are best generated from the community on out, and particularly when dealing with a community barely surviving. They will know barriers for people as they themselves have often experienced it or know someone who has. That's why their input is THE MOST critical part of any plan and is exactly why the Put Food in the Budget campaign completely missed the mark by producing a movie that excluded using excerpts from all the communiteis who submitted video footage. They used people to further their cause( and name) by doing the bidding in communities to promote the mannequin campaign and went around with "him" introducing him to community members and taping interactions with "him". In our case we gave video footage of everything from Mcguinty visiting a community dinner to seniors telling him off, to a kid with mental health issues speaking off camera with the mannequin "listening" to a community movie. We even had footgage of him helping at a foodbank as well as bike riding all of which could have been played with music layed underneath but nothing.

PFIB campaign fights for more social assistance from the Ontario budget

" Mike," I'd said to the movements director Balkwill, " This is embarrassing. You're supposed to be about inclusiveness, surely you could have and should have included at least 5 or 10 seconds from everyone!". I wasn't the only one, some had traveled from as far as Thunderbay to see no northern inclusion. Very disappointing. Mike was understanding and said he'd bring it to the "committee" and that some technical issues had been involved.

"Committee?" I thought I was going to be part of the editing process? Did this committee have anyone of experience on it? Because if they had, this never would have happened." In addition I have produced and hosted a number of shows for TV and some film work too, as well as went to school for tv and film production so figured my professional experience could be utilized too. Guess not. I left without watching it and disillusioned.Was I being bamboozled again by another pandering do-gooder outfit that really didn't care about the "cause"?

"Do The Math" one of the actions we helped PFIB campaign implement

For 4 years I chaired a program (and helped start) called Operation Sparrow  It is likely the most user friendly and dignified model of programs distribution out there having now distributed 10's of thousands of dollars worth of karate, theatre school, art and other activities alongside "regular" kids with no special labels or "programs".

It was so successfully set up BECAUSE it contained some members of the COMMITTEE with lived experience, and they had to be listened too as I was chair. It runs today with its constitution firmly in place and hundreds of kids take part annually. Recently access to skates became part of it, allowing kids to skate and maybe play hockey.


To the credit of the Put Food in The Budget Campaign - they are going to revise the advocacy video to include York Region and some other suggested changes.  Also a time factor had come into play and they needed to have something to show that day.  They've always been a good group in the past and we have open discussions where they actually seek out input from those coming from lived experience and seemingly use it.

Let this be a lesson learned - to err is human - once per.

Help spread the word on Oct 17, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

  Good morning Vietnaaaaam! This famous line was uttered of course from Robin Williams' character in the movie of the same name which was based on a real person's story, took place in war times, and was recognised by the soldiers and personnel as the signal that they were about to be put at ease through the power of laughter - via a radio show. This comedy formatted show acted to keep spirits raised during a time that was extremely distressing and stressful. I think that is what is needed right now, especially for those who have been handcuffed by the York Region Transit Strike - which is now Canada's 2nd longest in history. To that end, TP produced a short spoof called Depressing Country Hits a mock commercial for a record album that uses the recurring theme of the transit strike in it. It's design is to make you laugh.

P.A.C.C. and the C.B.C. reported on poverty and transit issues

  To date it seems nothing P.A.C.C. or anyone has done or said has had any influence on ending this strike. We've done our usual mix of addressing (and embarrassing) politicians, councils, approaching other groups and bus drivers / union reps as well as our own online media campaign to create awareness and attempted to solicit more attention from the mainstream news media - which we think is covering it far too little - therefore keeping minimal pressure on to resolve it.

  In addition my letters to the Editor of the local (York Region Media Group) papers including the Era Banner go unpublished - even though they quote or use me/us when it suits which works both ways but we are the established voice for those on low or no incomes in York Region and recent host group for the most in-depth look at the state of York Region's social services, programs and safety net systems in the area's history via a social audit. The resulting report was adopted for recommendations by the Regional Council as well, and this 6 months to produce audit was a significant achievement admired and widely respected across Ontario, but has gone relatively unnoticed and unused here.

  As no one seems to be stepping forward to help end this strike which has now expanded to become a crisis maker for many, we feel P.A.C.C.'s experience and ability to connect people from diverse backgrounds and positions gives us a unique ability to get parties communicating, and feel we could negotiate a fair end to this for all parties involved.Uniquely as well, PACC supports the drivers' rights to a living wage and reasonable working conditions but also the rights for those riders who've had no choice and whose extreme users are most affected.
 
  P.A.C.C.'s Letters to the Editor never get published!
I thought I'd print one of my recent letters to the Editor that they never publish, and if they do they change, as it's purpose was / is to bring more attention to the seriousness of this transit strike to more people.

Don't forget to vote once a day for our video contest 1 min adspot finalist One Paycheck Away here!

I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season. I know it's been especially tough for some I'm sure, including striking transit drivers and their families as well as transit users and theirs. Both are being affected by the lack of action to end this strike, and both are beginning to suffer the effects of having no or limited access to work.

In some cases the Y.R.T. drivers are part-timers, but even those working for supplemental income purposes are doing so often times to keep their houses afloat or simply maintain what they have but were once able to maintain without the extra income. That's what inflation does folks, and when the rising costs begin to outweigh the notsorising income levels then something has to give. Thus the Mexican stand-off which has become the York Region Transit strike.

The strike is taking a severe toll however on those that rely on it for work and every day life connections. A normally reserved young lady of 18 or so is heard screaming  at her lone parent who happens to also have a chronic illness, "You cash poor fuck!", when refusing to cover yet another taxi from their isolated community to her workplace and spoken in frustration about not being able to get to her job again. This recurring household tension is magnified in communities that may be otherwise isolated from most amenities, work or activity centres.

Imagine having your car suddenly not only taken away but your transit to work or food as well and on top you're isolated. Then your phone is disconnected because you've been unable to get to work and back with enough left over to pay it. What would you do? Would you stand for it? I doubt it. Yet they expect these riders to sit by and be used as pawns while their lives are put in turmoil, future school plans are scrapped with no income now able to be saved, kids unable get to high school or dropping out, homes lost and on...someone has to be held accountable for the lives it's destroying!! But who?

If you ask the Regional Council or its Chair, Bill Fisch, it has absolutely nothing to do with them. Nope, they are not in the mix they've arbitrarily decided. Now there's a funny word. Back to that later. At any rate, these fat cat councilors, a mixture of privileged mayors and Regional Councillors who are sworn to look out for all its residents and who are failing them badly, make no mistake, and who also very quickly turned down my proposed resolution to council a few weeks back to leave their cars at home during the strike.

Council's silence speaks volumes and mirrors their record in council of pandering to paying off debts and balancing books on the back of money earmarked or designated for social programs - such as the G.T.A. pooling dollars which they "redesignated" for their own purposes instead of using it for what it was successfully fought for to be returned to York Region from Toronto because we purportedly needed it for our own programs by dozens of honest citizens groups who believed they'd do the right thing. Well they didn't. They've given a pittance to where it was supposed to go while smuggly putting together a balanced budget largely on the back of it in 2011.

Here's an example of how out of touch this York Region council is with reality. Here we have transit riders, presumably many of whom are low income earners, increasingly who may now be facing eviction from their homes because of lost income, yet the rules of the anti-homelessness program that is distributed by the Church of the Salvation Army (lest we forget they are a religion) on behalf of the Region eliminate them from qualifying. That's right the anti-homelessness programs are not open to low income earners and these rules are set out by the Region of York, or so I was told by the local S.A. head Brian Bishop a year or so ago when I asked him to justify why they excluded the lowest income earners from qualifying. I told him they should refuse to distribute the funds under those conditions then. I had been there at the time at the invite of Mr Bishop to follow up on a complaint we'd received from someone who felt their family was treated disrespectfully through their qualification process.

I'll bet many people don't realize that 80% of all the Salvation Army funding for all their programs comes from government sources. Don't take my word for it, I read it on their website. They are like the perfect cross between corporation and charity (they are a church) that gets to walk through unchallenged, and with an American CEO who makes over 3.3 million dollars a year, a well paid servant of the Lord methinks..so be wary of the wonderfullness of charities as solutions for our social ails for they all have issues, and accountability for such is best served through government distribution, not charities that claim to offer dignity through feeding the poor.Give us a break, there is absolutely nothing dignified about how people have to open up their lives to complete strangers in order to simply to access food or extra groceries or toys at Christmas..enough of the government handouts to charities and give it right to the people..because right now they need taxis  to get food and to work and doctors and hospitals and pick up medications - not toys - thousands of which will now sit in warehouses.


With the transit strike on and snow falling, residents like Dan and Ashley who have to get by in wheel-chairs will feel the pinch too, living in a town with no grocery delivery and taxis that refuse to even if you can afford them, and having to rely on a system that asks them to book a week in advance that he and his girlfriend are unable to take together often, having different kinds of wheelchairs...and on and on..slowly they lose the will to go out..and then the zest for life wains...and did they ask for this life? Perhaps our social programs money could have been spent here so our disabled could lead normal lives. They even have to rely on hoping charities like Neighbourhood Network can fit them in to shovel their driveways. What about those who they can't get to? These councillors, unions, companies all owe a chance at life to these people and it's more than a freakin blip those I've met as the media would have you believe, but it's been a ship sinker.

This strike could have gone to arbitration which is a fancy way of saying someone who'll negotiate a compromise which is then binding, but Dictator, ah, I mean Chairman Fisch and his cohort band of merry councilmen and women) and mayors are holding steadfast and likely secretly drooling at all the extra money they think they'll have to spend at the end of this. My seeing this on the council's last meeting agenda about how to spend it, was a reminder that they are saving millions a month on the backs of the poor during this, and no wonder they are trying to distance themselves.

Sorry dudes and dudettes, you made the original deal, you fix it. If you want I'd be happy to step in and negotiate as I'm trained in group facilitation and experienced at bringing parties of differing views and opinions together with a positive result - such as our P.A.C.C. hosted and york Region approved social audit "Behind the Masks.. testimonials from those marginalized by income"of which it seems few, if any of the recommendations, have yet to be acted on.

Well I can tell you one thing..come election time each and everyone will be held accountable, so maybe this was the shake up we needed to show this council for what it truly is which is certainly not one that is doing all it can for its most vulnerable residents - true signs of any sick civilization used to privilege. Yup the beginning of the end for them methinks..and definitely the smug Dr Dolittle himself Chairman Fisch.

Curious to note The York Region Food Network, the one true ally in the fight against social injustice in York Region, even though their connection is food related, has been apparently evicted from the Inn From The Cold Building by the Inn From the Cold people..Hmmm..WONDER WHO PULLED THAT STRING! At any rate I hope this doesn't now jeopardize the fresh foodbox programs and the regular Thursday food and supplies distribution the PACC has been running for several years now...we'll see..looks like someone wants to be headmaster!

P.A.C.C. in cooperation with some community groups including from Bray and Mulock community associations along with P.A.C.C. distributed Y.R. Food Network's food boxes, and an anonymous toys/clothes donor, were successfully able to provide toys, food, fresh food, toiletries diapers, supplies etc for several communities for distribution and neighbourhood xmas parties which was very appreciated - especially by those mothers without vehicles to transport the supplies and who may of had to spend much more than usual of their xmas budgets in just getting around over the past months.

Y. R. Food Network's Yvonne Kelly & Director Joan Stonehoecker speak at Int Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The friends of the hungry have been squeezed out of  510 Penrose, the wannabe York Region "hub" for poverty issues. They were the only advocate for the 'poor" in that building, to the rest they are 'clients", "cases"and 'patrons"..too bad.

Special thanks to P.A.C.C.ers Linda and Kristine who were both instrumental in making sure people accessed the Christmas and holiday goodies and that a good time was had by all!

Tom out!

                        
P.A.C.C. generated report pictured above about the York Region Transit strike on C.B.C.

Occupy Newmarket at Yonge and Eagle St Sat Dec 10

Whew! Where to begin? Maybe with the guy on the street riding his bike, who explained to me that he couldn't get to work (Toronto/Bradford) or now afford presents for his kids for xmas and asked what is he to do? Some are thinking "we have toy drives" I bet. That's because we've been slowly brainwashed into believing that's an accepted solution. Charity is not the best way. Maybe he wants to be able to pick out his own presents that his kids actually asked for, and with his dignity fully intact, or you know, perhaps experience the joy of getting something for someone you picked out especially for them! Want to rob people of that feeling? Well, that's what charitable solutions do. Or how about the Mom I met who's kids and self haven't seen her husband for over 2 weeks because they have to stay at friends' homes in order to get the kids to school, as they live in Richmondhill and school 15 miles away in Aurora? And what about those arts school kids who the school board refuses to bus, even though they live in some cases 10's of miles away? What of them in all this?

The local mainstream media would have you believe that transit riders blame the drivers, with one penning "having searched the blogs it seems most are against the drivers", as Y.R.M.G. Writer, I believe David Fleischer put it, or something to that affect. Really? Because we've been blogging about it for months now, and we blame the Y.R. Council mostly as they made the deal that got us into this mess, then sit back on their hands? Remember us? P.A.C.C.? The voice for low income residents in York Region? The ones who attracted and Hosted (RE: Coordinated), Co-convened and Co-authored York Region's only ever social audit this past year called 'Behind The Masks testimonials from those marginalized by income" that the York Regional Council adopted recommendations from, and that the Ontario wide I.S.A.R.C. Social audit referenced extensively in its own report, Persistent Poverty, voices from the margins, citing the quality of the York Region collected data? That P.A.C.C.! He obviously didn't follow our blogs or videos or any P.A.C.C. video reports...Get with the program buddy! We don't care who ends it just do! Do it now! This council knew it to be a problem all the way back to 2008 when they also had a shorter transit strike and did nothing since. Am I the only one finding it ironic that the council meeting agenda included how to spend all the savings being made from the strike - on the backs of the lowest income earners who are getting shafted!

P.A.C.C. Chair Tom Pearson got an ovation from a packed Regional Council chambers including union members on Thursday after asking for a resolution that Council leave their cars at home for the duration of the strike as a means to speed up the process. It was declined.

They are doing a good (snow) job though because I had an opportunity to speak with the newest guy in charge of the poverty reduction plan today at the Ontario government's Poverty Reduction Strategy's Third Progress Report in Toronto. The usual yes-people were there like The Daily Bread Foodbank's Gail Nyberg and other hanger's on and of course new in-house converts the 25in5club, of which I was once a believer in myself. Too bad they chose selling out over truth.

Speaking of which, truth is the management of YRT / Viva has been terrible from the get go, with a big U.S. style city transit guy bringing in a goonsquadlike security force to a system that seemingly never needed one before - and this only after implementing the youth and homeless trapping 'honour system" that allows people to walk on without interaction with the drivers, thus eliminating the common greeting a driver & rider might have, like people in in towns do, which is what make up York Region, towns, and in them town-folk. Remember them? The robotlike Viva line is certainly not tailored for the rider experience and connects to a YRT system seemingly designed to takes someone up to 21/2 hours to travel a distance that takes 10 - 15 minutes by vehicle because they can't simply schedule connecting buses which is outrageous, and no wonder it doesn't grow, if not for the Yonge St. every 15 minutes, rush hour, VIVA cash cow.

The same day I met the new Minister in charge of the poverty reduction strategy I got his xmas card!

At any rate, I took the occasion to mention the transit strike to the Honourable Minister of Children and Youth Services, Dr. Eric Hoskins, who has been appointed charge now of the poverty reduction strategy for the Ontario government and that it was destroying some families literally, affecting kids who needed access to schools and jobs for not only xmas presents but for education costs as well. He responded that he was grateful to hear the passion in my voice because the Minister had been under the impression that the transit strike has been nothing more than an inconvenience to some! He also asked when it was that I'd made the deposition regarding the Y.R. transit strike to council and I told him of course last week. Really? An inconvenience? Reminds me of a movie title - The Inconvenient Truth - I made sure he knew it was more than that, but couldn't dwell on the point too long because A) he's not really the guy to target to make waves for that issue and B) We were there (5 strong) to represent the Put Food in The Budget campaign and I wanted to stay on track. I later found out the Minister's background is a medical one, he's a newcomer to politics and he has run charities in the past...so I guess you know which way our social programs are leaning - towards charities taking them on which should be a government responsibility. I hope I'm wrong on this one.

In fact a whole section in the pamphlet for the poverty reduction strategy called " Breaking The Cycle - the Third Progress Report - in which they boast to have lifted some 34,000 children out of "deep poverty" in 2009 etc - is about new "partnerships" but leaves out the stuff like the cost of living increases outstripping rate raises and single people still being hung out to dry by the system, and the fact that assistance rates have never returned to pre-Harris 22.5% cuts social assistance rates since the Ontario Liberal's stepped in.. still!

P.F.I.B.'s Mike Balkwill, one of whom we all strategized with about what to do at this soiree in terms of approaching the subject matter inside, had an excellent exchange with Minister Hoskins asking him to "Do The Math", a questionnaire budget type of exercise designed to educate politicians to real costs to people, to which I believe he got a form of commitment and went on to ask for support for the $100 Healthy Food Supplement - the exchange all of which I captured on camera! Unfortunately it's digital tape so you'll have to wait until I can transfer / post it! Ha..But it's textbook stuff ....Advocacy 101!

Watch our PACC Channel video and upcoming report on the growing trend of low income earners having their lives controlled by government interference including our seniors and residents with disabilities!

Now should I win the Canadian Labour Congress One Minute video contest with my entry ONE PAYCHECK AWAY which is one of only 5 FINALISTS from across Canada..because you keep voting for it up until January 20 2012
then I can buy new equipment and post the goods immediately with clarity! Vote for it every day up until Jan 20 and win a chance to win a trip!!! Okay I made that up..but we need the equipment as we get no government funds!!Ha! Hey it's one way to fund raise!

Tom out!

Giant Christmas Card For Dalton Mcguinty Courtesy of the P.A.C.C. backed Put Food In The Budget Campaign

As a result of an ongoing six week strike by the York Region Transit bus drivers, I started supporting Occupy Newmarket. Sounds crazy but halting public transportation affects alot of low-income people and those that can do something about it don't seems to care. Who do these people think they are? High school kids can't get to school, people depending on public transportation cannot go to work, elders running out of food ... It's ridiculous that neither the York Region Council nor the striking bus drivers will even entertain the thought of going to the bargaining table. SIX WEEKS!! That's enough now. Fred Joly

Occupy Newmarket Facebook Profile Picture

Please see the PACC News / Report - short news-like clips includes transit strike, "Occupy Newmarket", humourous corporate info!

Day 1 - http://youtu.be/vVeTWGY4vfQ

Day 2 - http://youtu.be/mj_3wIp6SAw

Enjoy!

PS Despite the transit strike some are still asking to meet regarding xmas drives/food /youth road hockey event etc so we'll look to do so soon..when is good for people!?

Occupy Newmarket on Facebook

Saturday November 19th 2011 at Fairy Lake.


Video produced by TP. It's absolutely hilarious. He plays about 20 different recognized characters in a 60 Minutes style presentation. Some tough opinions but funny nevertheless.


Occupy Newmarket Video

PACC's Vice-Chair (scooter) Kristine Carbis and Social Audit Co-Author Yvonne Kelly helped present and lead discussions This fellow is located a block from the social assistance reviewers' office

Mike Balkwell makes a point to Co- Commissioner Lankin via teleconference call

2 Bloor St W home to the Social Assistance Review Commissioners' office

Before I get to the meat and potatoes (for those who can afford them!) I'd like to mention that I had the unique opportunity to address a (Lutheran) church group called 'Slices of Justice" along with my Co-author Yvonne Kelly (York Region Food Network) of Behind The Masks testimonials from those marginalized by income - York Region's first ever social audit and a feather in our cap if you will...At any rate the social audit means nothing if it is not made available through these types of channels, especially since the audit was completed with direction from ISARC (Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition) which advised us on our hosting of it and how it was conducted. I won't go too far into it but suffice to say it took a good 6 months of my time to complete (with others) and includes input from over 24 people living on the margins, as well as participation from about 35 agencies and 20 politicians...The presentation, similar to another I attended at Trinity United a week previous, was well received with attendees staying right to the end eager to ask questions and engage in discussion......The point I do push home at these events however are the facts such as dignity means providing for one's own self not from hand outs...Oh and they served pie...home made rhubarb..Mmmmm in slices too! Symbolic of their "Slices of Justice" I'm sure..Ha.. Ironically a chronically homeless 50 something man whom we'd given some paid work to through our " House of Hope" program having him help paint a new affordable housing complex, dropped in at the end...he had pie too.

Next up a trip to Toronto for myself and other "Put Food in the Budget" campaign members to meet with Social Assistance Review Commissioners Frances Lankin and Munir Sheikh. Embarrassingly when I first announced I'd be attending a meeting with them I mistakenly called Frances Lankin Boris Laskin - a famous judge I believe..Ha..At any rate I got both the name and sex correct today even though Ms. Lankin unexpectedly joined us all by conference call while her co-commissioner and staff, as well as our four PFIB members which included Nadia Edwards, Susan Bender and Director Mike Balkwill attended in-house. Our strategy was simple as each of us was assigned a portion of the presentation to make, followed by scripted questions to the commissioners making specific requests. The fact that Frances Lankin, our main ally we'd thought was not in the room physically could not deter us from making an impact because let's face it - from my experience we were not likely to walk out with many promises.

We started well with introductions made around the table and then Nadia opened the presentation with a call for the $100 healthy food supplement with a grass roots entry that made for an easy sedge-way to my bit as my portion came up following Nadia's. I picked up from her theme of the dire straits / need people are in right now and that that sense of urgency seems to be missing from the puzzle and a $100 healthy food supplement added to social assistance and odsp recipients cheques was the fastest and most widely accepted ( and most humane option on any option tables I've heard) way to make change with an immediate impact. Municipalities, churches and all sorts had already endorsed this, and surely 9,000 " Do The Math" surveys the public has done with most finding it takes $1300 plus a month to survive - when some get $592 - means something? Surely Rocket Scientists were not needed for any government review to see rates must go up? However we respect the integrity of the commission and process, and did not have overly high expectations at any rate going in.

Frances Lankin opened by saying for the record and the integrity of their review they could not at present say whether they endorsed the Healthy Food Supplement or not however prior to becoming one of the commissioners for the revue is already on record as endorsing it!! Of course the fact they wouldn't publicly endorse it now was not unanticipated, however the Commissioner's previous endorsement was a twist for me. Go figure...but we can't use that or they'd appear biased so...I guess it's times like these that a rock and a hard place come to mind! Ha! At any rate the discussion went on and we made our asks - Namely - Will you do the math? Will you publicly endorse the $100 Healthy Food Supplement and would you consider trying the "Do The Math Diet"?

In the end we got commitments to do the math - and Frances Lankin again has already done it - but not to publish results - that they'd have to get back to us on. Why? That's my question..too late now.Ha. I did manage to ask them to commit to Eating the math diet and got no commitment from either although Commissioner Lankin mentioned having done previous "food-bank" types of diets through various trials means.

Commissioner Munir Sheikh was a little more reserved but very articulate, and when he did speak chose his words carefully. Likely a good choice for a commissioner, if not decidedly optimistic that they will be listened to in the end. Some will remember him as the man who quit the census over the ending of the mandatory long form. You have to respect a man who stands up for his principles that's for sure. He is that second commissioner, not so in tune as Lankin with these issues perhaps and somewhat absorbed I thought with a "working poor" link, and as well both Commissioners seemed semi-consumed by the prospect of a housing benefit...to which I replied that I knew people already getting social housing and they still couldn't afford to put food on their tables, so that alone( a housing benefit) doesn't cut it..I cited a senior who recently attended the provincial budget lock up with me who has social housing and is a war vet and unable still to feed himself a month. I told them I thought there was something inherently wrong with a system that already gave every benefit its going to yet he can't feed himself.....still they persisted down this line but we reiterated again the wide spread support for the benefit and saw no reason that it should interfere with a long term overhaul of the system, but that short term this would help all people most in need right NOW!

In the end and reading between the lines a bit over the past several months of my dealings with this, I'm thinking it's a sexier sell for the government to sell "working poor" benefits ( like a housing benefit) that may also include some welfare recipients than assisting those most in need, most of whom have not chosen this life of misery in poverty which our governing good brothers and sisters don't often seem to get. Just like selling poverty reduction to the public on helping children ( poverty reduction strategy) , now by helping those hard "working poor" they will be doing their "sexy"thing again...and this will of course (sub text here) put everyone in line ...Sure will - the soup line...and Minister Broten's and Campbell's soup will be supervising at this rate! More on this wacky statement later..

Or maybe Nadia had it right in referring to the rent subsidies that the SA reviewers seem to be being steered towards , " Maybe it should be called a landlord subsidy, they are the ones that will benefit". Hmmm..I wonder how many behind this 'strategy" angle are themselves landlords?
Sad to note that Jackie from 25 in 5 crossed the floor ...more $ perhaps?..NO!!
Sadder note..upon arriving back in Newmarket from my trip downtown I dropped my cell phone as I got to Newmarket and the bus ran over it destroying it..and my contacts...Ahhhh!

Here is an interesting video I took during an invite only prov gov announcement and some funny add ons! Enjoy!


Tom Pearson

Fred Joly points to the hearty grub available for attendees



Tom Pearson at the Neighbourhood Network Breakfast at the Aurora Cultural Centre


The impressive breakfast was served continental style - kind of like "Inn from The Cold" meets Spagos. Ha! After the usual coffee, tea, and juice choices the tables were littered with mini muffins of all flavours, fresh fruit, granola with plain yogurt, bagels, and a hot baked egg dish seemingly stuffed with healthy accompaniments..mmm? Out of etiquette, I was halfway through my granola yogurt when I realized no one else was eating. Oops..Faux-pas perhaps I thought, as I sheepishly looked up at Fred who too was devouring something deliciously edible. After all he was looking to me to show the ropes. Gulp. Sorry Fred.


Quite the gathering at the annual Neighbourhood Network breakfast


After munching and mingling, we all got to introduce ourselves and give a 2 minute blurb about who and what we were, which I wasted my entire timeslot talking about an event we already held - our annual Friendly Neighbourhood Youth Road Hockey Challenge - free to all kids and awarding one with an $ education award as I want to grow sponsorship. I never got to mention anything new we're up to such as the " House of Hope"work program including a new grow food initiative in it's infancy that rewards land lenders with $ for allowing food to be grown on their property. PACC was able to find 1/2 acre for such use with overflow going to those in need at no cost. We hope to add collaborative partners to expand including training at risk persons to become independent organic growers and farmers.

Others of note in attendance were Belinda Stronach's (Founder) N.N. crew including Linda Potter, Tim Jones, Steve Hinder, John Crowell - who celebrated a 30th birthday, and Tom Taylor among others. Belinda Stronach was also just honoured with an honourary doctorate I understand as well, so a positive buzz was in the room. It was an opportunity to mingle and make possible collaborative partners such as for our road hockey event or Oct 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty or to just plain engage folks with many being outside our usual circles, such as Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club members and great gents such as Aurora Senior's Centre's Charles Sequeira who shared with me he's noticed an increase in seniors affected by income, and as well it was nice to share with Inn from the Cold's Brenda Northey about our PACC pilot program the Talk 2-one messaging system which has allowed us to distributed phone numbers with voice-messaging 24/7, helping to place homeless and at risk men and women into homes and jobs! We will be reporting results to YR Commissioner Adelina Urbanski soon in hopes of having the service picked up York Region wide!

I also took the opportunity to refer to a program represented by the Salvation Army as dignified to point out that having to ask for handouts no matter how well intentioned - is not dignified - and programs perhaps should not be stated as such. Don't get me wrong the S.A. church do some good work. Luckily, with my wording, not many got the dig - after all - we're all friends here right! Ha!As a PACCer once said to me from her scooter, "Poverty doesn't need a middleman"


Fred chats up Rob Clark explaining his out-of-the-box two-sided business card

Fred Joly, pictured speaking with Snap Aurora and RC Design's Rob Clark, also attended with me as PACC's other representative. Fred, who comes from lived experience, is now an SEO website expert - meaning he can drive targeted traffic to websites by the droves from the search engine results pages - and as well he has helped us with our new "House of Hope" programs which includes training others in painting / drywall taping to professional standards which he used at the "House Of Hope" location at Green Lane and Leslie St's in Newmarket Ontario, to teach the homeless guys and others who got paid work on the project how to do so professionally to standard. Fred Joly is also a talented artist, songwriter and musician with plans to assist workshops and sales spots once the house is up and running among other great work he's done for Poverty Action for Change Coalition. When you'd like increased qualified web traffic to your website (get more donations especially) - Fred's willing to offer special rates for optimizing websites for York Region non-profits or charities.

Check out this Fun Video showcasing services by the Neighbourhood Network by TP Entertainment & Media via PACC!



Up next I visit Ontario Government Poverty Reduction co-chair Frances Lankin in Toronto