Poverty Awareness in York Region

I just got back from a stop in at Dan's - you might remember Dan Philion who is confined to a wheelchair by muscular dystrophy and whose simple request over Christmas to have someone put him to bed at night, as he cannot do it unassisted, has been ignored by the government appointed "caregivers" who claim they "don't have anyone available" to do this at night time. That confused me since most people go to bed at night, and if they are the community care access centre in charge of putting our disabled to bed, then you'd think they'd do that. Apparently not?

After personally assisting Mr Philion myself for the past month to bed, because his service providers apparently cannot and he has no immediate family able to,  I got fed up with the various excuses they've been feeding him. For one, if they don't have someone for that time I suggest they get someone, as obviously there is a need, and if it's happening to Dan - where people's dignity is being controlled by some company claiming they don't have the staff and "get what we give" you types of attitudes - then you can bet it's being done to others - and especially the most vulnerable who may not have anyone speaking up for them like Dan does.

YR's $4 transit rates highest in Canada

But I can tell you right now I will not let up on this issue - this I promise you! As I watch the way our seniors and vulnerable disabled are treated and expected to have a certain level of suspended rights and dignity because of their conditions is just wrong. PACC hosted both the Square Table on Poverty which included MPP Frank Klees and MP Belinda Stronach (although she usually sent a pair of stand ins) and Newmarket York Regional Councilor John Taylor among some including the now Mayor of East Gwillumbury, and as well hosted and prepared a social audit report outlining these issues which the region endorsed, but has since ignored. Questions of dignity and treatment of clients was a number one reported issue but little has changed to address it still. All I hear is fluff about how wonderful the same charities and care givers are doing, whilst people like Dan cry out to no one listening or face waiting lists too long to wait for. People need to go to bed every night.

He's spoken up before, as a participant in both the social audit, while in proces of having his child taken at birth based on his disability, and as well as part of that "Square Table on Poverty" so many years ago now it seems. His issue then was that he couldn't work because he deejayed and they had no transit service to get him there and back. That was 7 or 8 years ago - in 2014 they just finally began offering service to disabled after 10 pm after more PACC noise.

One idea that sprang from the Square Table was that they were also going to help start up a non-profit business that Dan was instrumental in seeing a need for, which was the trend toward people throwing out returnable bottles and a service that would pick them up. At the time, during the Square Table on Poverty which included someone from every level of government, MPP Frank Klees had a restauranteur that was interested to have the service he'd said and Stronach's person insisted they wanted to help make it so and would arrange a meeting there. Well it never happened that's all we know. I don't care who walked across what floor politically; all I know is nothing got done from ther on in so we folded the group. For years Dan asked me about that business that never was and the meeting that never happened. I guess a guy can dream. Meantime we complained about transit so he could DJ at least on occasion.

Virtually the same crew still runs the ships he's complained to, and PACC's efforts have been ignored or stifled, so he's been feeling helpless, even depressed. Imagine losing all control of things around you, and none would be so if not for your disability. You'd even have privacy for the most basic of needs like going to the bathroom.

HE STILL GET'S NO ASSISTANCE TO BED TODAY.  DEC - Jan 19 2014

THAT'S OKAY I'M KEEPING A TAB AND WILL BE BILLING THE COMPANY LATER FOR MY 'TEMP' SERVICES AND THEN DONATING THE MONEY TO DAN SO HE CAN MAYBE BUY SOME GROCERIES.

Dan relies on charity organizations just to get out his door. Well, guess what? They've shown up once all this desperate winter and he's now, in addition to that dilemma, had to deal with getting to bed, but today was a last straw for me - for this service provider company to now tell him they can't have anyone come and get him out of bed until 12:30 pm Sunday, when offering a to bed service time at 7pm, is outrageous and cruel. They don't give him a choice either, he is simply informed they don't have anyone today and that the end of it. Not today!

I referred Dan's dilemma once again to MPP Klees' office and as yet have heard nothing back. MP Lois Brown told Dan exactly what I told him she would whixch was that "it wasn't her department but she'd make some calls". Regional Councilotr John Taylor - the one with the most influence on the issue at hand and it's state - has thus far informed Dan about the new later service available for transit now and will get back to him regarding the CCAC / Caregivers issue and getting to bed. I hope he figures it out soon because I'm sure Dan is not the only one being forced into these vulnerable and inhumane conditions. This is Canada for Gosh sakes have we forgotten everything we stand for in our rush towards the " Canadian Dream?" And what pray tell is that dream anyway? To make excuses for everything wrong we do? Or to make results? I don't know anymore.

I plan to take action to raise a petition to have this company removed as care givers of our disabled. It is disgraceful, and when clients or patients tell these companies they are not being treated with respect - by repeat offenders - we also expect action not reward with new contracts because they are the cheapest. Shop around. You want to be in the human care BUSINESS you better be into it for the right reasons or get out!

Too much charity...not enough care.

Stay tuned!

Recently, there has been a spate of articles written in the YRMG on the subject of poverty, homelessness and housing by various writers. It never ceases to amaze me how they spin things at times and write stories - at least locally - that don't include much critical input and often pander to the "help" organizations and not the actual affected people - like many PACC members.

This street is owned on one side, rented on the other, tell which?

The article I was quoted in, however, was fairly accurate and surprisingly enough, mentioned some controversial subjects I didn't think they would frankly. Sometimes I just throw things out there to see what sticks and I guess this did - that being the fact that a neighbourhood park with nearby kids banned from using it because they are not technically from that neighborhood - yet some live on the same street!

The side by side neighbours have a unique set up with one side of the street owned houses and the other side rentals with mixed income and some low income units thereby creating a real diverse mix of residents - except only one side of that street can use the good kids park. I guess the association doesn't embrace diversity. Does this policy encourage friendship and camaraderie between the two side by side hoods that one has to look hard to distinguish between, despite what one person quoted as a "leader" in local poverty work ( I read the quote but couldn't find it so his name shall remain out for now) said about renters not having "ownership pride" in keeping their properties (in one of the recent columns)? Biased attitudes like this that feed the stereotype of low income or renting residents are likely part of the reason we have so little rentals in York Region - 12% of all our housing stock according to the article (actually 11.7%) which is the lowest ratio in CANADA - not highlighted in the article while availability sits around 1%.

Kids from Mulock Village live on this street but cannot play here

In one column the writer quotes a Y.R. Habitat for Humanity Director as a local expert on housing needs - having been in the job a few months - and they of course used the opportunity to promote themselves as a viable builder of affordable housing, yet the American based franchise boasts on their website of having more assets than

This empty space once housed a park for M.V. kids on same street

Starbucks and has built 0 houses in Newmarket in a number of years despite paying out millions in operational costs" last year for the Y.R. Habitat for Humanity Re-Store. To even be lucky enough to be chosen for one of their homes, you seemingly must often first be a visible minority or have come here from another country, as well you also must agree to become a face for them to the public to tell the world how wonderful they are. These are degrading and esteem killing conditions and you cannot sell your home either should you ever wish to move.

They also label the residents they place in homes as 'hardworking", as if anyone else caught in the trap of poverty may not be, which helps perpetuate the myth of some poor being more deserving than others. It also divides not unites people. A person with an illness for example that does not enable them to do labor does not mean they should be labelled as "not hard working" or lazy, nor someone unemployed. These private owned corporate charities should not be quoted within serious discussions of providing affordable housing as they only confuse the issue and do very little actual building anyway.
                     kids must play on the streets when no playground allowed as in above video

2nd suites being shopped as a "solution" also are not "affordable housing" either as they average over $1200 per month in York Region, whereas a single person on low income cannot afford this. The problem is the region 's official definition of' "affordable housing" does not comply with the reality for those on low income as they cannot afford this 'affordable" solution - not to mention they are unsafe - especially if operated by a "slumlord".

The Star actually reported that more private developers in Toronto are adding condos to the affordable housing mix via proposals, which P.A.C.C. has tried to do here as well for years having brought a group in on Oct 17, Int Day for the Eradication of Poverty to speak on the very subject. One politician, Newmarket Regional Councillor John Taylor showed up. Newmarket's Mayor Tony Van Bynen was no where to be found nor any other regional or town councilors or mayors who all seem to take their directional cues from the Region which in turn is getting its direction from the provincial and federal governments and not its residents. But this is what we get when buying into the Russia originated, relatively new to N.A.'s, regional government model - decisions about what we do made centrally, such as building up (people density), water, access to green areas(through "protectionism") and adding transit lines we don't need or didn't ask for while be assured we need it..

More and more decisions affecting our towns are made by  governing bodies not even living in the areas affected.

Mildred, 93, lost her housing and lives in limbo ever since

Speaking of the Toronto Star, the media outlet reported that seniors had been evicted at an alarming rate and that Toronto Community Housing Corp had not been using it as a last means as mandated, but rather as a way to open up some spots.

I know a fair bit about how they operated, through knowing a former TCHC contracted paralegal whose job was to evict delinquent and difficult tenants and set-up arrears collections and who was contracted there during the time in question examined by the Toronto Ombudsman. Although the person did not come out and say it to me, I got the feeling she was pressured to back off evicting gang members (mostly minorities), by encouraging the entry of incomplete paperwork knowing it could then result in the case being tossed and concentrate on others, for which the paralegal felt conflicted. This conflict lead to them eventually leaving. So in essence T.C.H.C. was asking them to illegally file - knowing the info was not complete.

Perhaps by OUTSOURCING paralegal work the city could make substantial inroads, save $ thousands in wasted court costs. and save lives.

A Newmarket Paralegal who has represented some of Canada's largest landlords including T.C.H.C., was quoted in the York Region Media Group article as saying, "Gang members must be housed somewhere", referring to the dilemma Housing Authorities have when dealing with them as residents, yet time and again innocent residents are corrupted by such practices and denied their right to live in peace. There are no easy solutions, but one thing is for sure, more youth and education opportunities need be entered into the mix because these kids - and I mean under 10 - exposed to guns and violent ways will come to think it's the "norm" which it is not. This all being said, York Region Housing's stock is not full of gangs or modeled like Toronto's although many, if not most of its residents, somehow come from Toronto or elsewhere and not from York Region - and again this is a regional system dilemma.

The Paralegal also suggested to me that there needs to be legislation put in place to protect seniors and others from housing authority evictions, because Housing Tribunals supersede Landlord and Tenant Board decisions and allow for the delivery of C-4 notices (eviction) to be served based on allegations only - whereas the L&T Board requires more tangible proof before evicting.
For example someone accused of having another person not on their lease living at their residence can currently be evicted based on just that - an allegation - which is exactly what happened to this senior.

When a senior wedged in our system tells me she wished she'd just hurry up and die, I'm pretty sure we're doing something wrong. She can't watch t.v. since her hearing device went missing shortly after being moved into the Newmarket long term care located centre, and her eyes are bad so reading is tough, and the food is lousy she says. She's dying of boredom perhaps although they suspect cancer now too.

" It's worse than being in the joint Tom" the once feisty 93 year old told me.

Until Next time.

Tom out

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!

Location for July 1st P.A.C.C. BBQ fundraiser

Hi people!...! On July 1st Myers Costumes on (237) Main S is holding an open stage for entertainment and youth Art Mural contest and have allowed P.A.C.C. to sell BBQ stuff and drinks from their MAIN ST location Canada Day. The elderly owner has been repeatedly tagged with Graffiti and the hope is a beautiful mural will end that as the town makes her remove it at her expense, and lets just say costumes are mostly seasonal.

Wall has been whited over most of the graffiti ready for youth Artists Canada Day!

Funds raised can go towards our International Day for the Eradication of Poverty which will hopefully be held this year at Newmarket new Riverwalk Commons location off Main St and cost us more.We hope to attract a number of related organizations this year to help defer the costs and we'll iron an invitation and letter out as such in the next meeting.

We're looking for volunteers to take 2 hour shifts - perhaps people planning to go to Canada Day celebrations already - to help pull this July 1st fundraiser off. Anyone who can supply anything needed also let us know!
A symposium hosted by Regional Councilor John Taylor was held last night that used the very nonprofit company (Options for Homes) as one of the presenters of affordable housing options (ownership) that we'd proposed as an option long ago, but were ignored. We got no invite from Taylor to this as I only heard about it when the Era banner called for an opinion. What's up with that? Didn't we produce Y.R.'s social audit and list that as an idea for more affordable housing? Just saying.

Last meeting we more or less got updated on the road hockey event and the like and discussed some of the various action oriented things we're involved in such as 2012 Quest for Youth with the YRDSB among others, and for which a luncheon is being held to discuss further a Nov event that this year focuses on youth and mental health issues.If you'd like to attend and participate let us know! Last year's Quest event included a stage production and ideas are at discussion stage so input is still essential!

Speaking of road hockey, we may have to add another age category! Recently I organized a neighbourhood clean up afterwards a road hockey game broke out! More and more our "barrel" of fun is catching on with an honour system that all kids are to return the equipment. Here's a sneak peek at what our road hockey program can do. The little girl in the video showed up one day and kind of stood between the play in the way. I asked if she wanted to play but she turned away. I learned she - nor her older brother - spoke English.
The next time she showed up she showed up with a branch from a tree, holding it like the hockey players were, well sort of, ha and I replaced it with a real one while showing her how to hold it properly! This program uses the tools available to keep kids safe and close-by and integrates kids from various backgrounds as equals and who have no other playground area to speak of after toddler age. Enjoy.

Unrelated directly - but perhaps indirectly for those interested to get out and meet someone, friends, or take a mental health break!.. ha I am hosting a live entertainment event called American Bandstand Night tomorrow night in Newmarket and singles or couples are welcome!

Tom Pearson
www.povertyacc.com

                                             Went to a BBQ and a hockey game broke out!

  Recently I began to notice a Dad and son playing road hockey in Newmarket's Mulock Village near the community hall as I was in and out one day and then the next time some more kids had joined in the fray I noticed. I remember thinking it was nice to see another "dad" out in the community getting real with the kids and, in this case, seemingly enjoying it too - but then again what red blooded Canadian boy of any age 4 or 40 doesn't enjoy some road hockey now and then? Especially when your kid had the talent and attitude of his from what I saw. You know I joined them! Ha!

  I thought not much more about it until P.A.C.C. sponsored a free movie night in the community and at the same time gave out some free stuff to those who came. I find this a dignified way to hand out free stuff in a way that doesn't stigmatize as it's presented as just extra stuff  we need to get rid of. I try to make people feel as if they are doing us a favour by taking the free items such as soaps, conditioners, cereal, bags, diapers, formula etc..but I know by the way it all goes that people really appreciate it.

  Movie night we showed The Muppets Movie and I happen to meet this Dad and we talked a bit and I mentioned I had some nets available to any kids in the community as well as sticks in a barrel all i ask is that things are put back. He seemed a good guy and as I say his son seemed to have a natural talent for hockey and likely all sports. I was like that too as a kid. Ask my mom, ha, as I had champion trophies from numerous sports including hockey, road hockey, tennis, soccer, track etc so I can spot it and this kid has it.

  It got me thinking about the award we give out, the Mike Thornhill Memorial award given out of the annual road hockey tourney to one 'worthy" youth, was originally an education award, but now morphed into a cheque  used at the parents' discretion and which coincidentally we will be awarding at Deli House Catering hall on June 22 at 5pm should anyone wish to attend. The thinking was that if a kid wanted to use the money to play ice hockey they should be able to... but back to the kid....as I told his dad, this kid has natural talent, but hockey is expensive and shift work dad isn't a C.E.O. quite yet so it's tough. It got me thinking about the younger kids playing and maybe another award so a younger kid could play ice hockey.

Volunteer Dan looks on as metal is hauled away separate from the other refuse on neighbourhood clean up Day. The method brings funds into a community chest while helping a local business and follows with a community building exercise by cooperative participants cleaning up in and around the area followed by a BBQ!

  The next time I saw them was at the neighbourhood BBQ and cleanup we organize and within that we had a penalty shots contest for the kids ( won by the wiz kid) and later it all continued as dad's kid and youths alike joined in on the fray. Through simple road hockey we were introducing these kids and families came out of the houses and talked adding to a great atmosphere. .By the end of the hockey game the kids were calling me Gretzky ( the kids only 6 how the heck does he know!) and hound me every time they see me now to play! What have I created!!?



  "You know you're kid has a natural talent for sports eh?" I said to him.

  " I know" he replied, " You're not the first to say it a lacrosse coach mentioned it as well"

  " He has a natural talent which you cannot teach. It's just too bad ice hockey is so expensive because he could actually go somewhere. I think as he's a natural."

  I mean for 6 years old and no coaching he was phenomenal and a great disposition and willingness to learn/listen. The kid impressed me that much.Too bad I thought. It really made me think about how much untapped talent goes wasted or undeveloped because of finances. Here was a kid with talent who if his parents were wealthy could likely play rep hockey. Instead.....
                                                           
  Then yesterday I hear my name being called from the familiar spot on the street. It's raining out but there's dad, who admittedly has little interest or talent in sports, out there in the rain die-harding it with his boy with the goal pads on.

  
"Have you ever heard of the Salvation Army Junior Hockey League?

  " No" I said.

  " Well remember you were saying we need to get him playing ice hockey? His teacher got him a 'sponsored" position to play in this Salvation Army Junior Hockey League."

  " That's great", I said " it could be good stepping stone. Although I have to be honest I'm a bit skeptical."

  Firstly I'm against charities replacing mainstream opportunities for kids to play alongside their everyday peers and of religions getting into the business of distributing programs and sports (and camps) as 80% of all the money for their programs(Salvation Army Church) actually comes from ...(Drum roll here) the government!!

  My experience hearing from people dealing with the Salvation Army has not always been good, with some coming away feeling as if they were not treated with dignity as they so like to advertise they are about, but still it sounded interesting, as in looking further, indeed it looks as if some kind of league does exist in Richmond Hill with about 250 players, complete with ice times, various age groups and the like so if that gets the kid an opportunity to play and it's a legit league (not just a token) that's great! I'm not too thrilled that they advertise on their website that its a "Christian coaching methods team and league" that follows "Christian teachings" etc, as some people are not happy with religion being used for distributing social programs like the anti-homelessness programs rather than government which provides them ALL the funds to distribute anyway for it( government provides S.A. the money to distribute 80% of all their programs) and I would imagine they back the hockey "programs" too.

  Why not let kids play mainstream ice hockey through a sponsorship system instead need be if that's the case is my thinking, against the best, not some specialized group or religious organization pushing its teachings however well intentioned. I don't think too many Muslim or Sikh kids will sign up there soon let alone atheists. Don't get me wrong I'm all for freedom of religion and even believe in god, but don't feel people should have to go through a church to access things our society and government should provide whether that be enough in a wage to afford your kid playing hockey or a dignified means to obtain a sponsorship - especially if your kid is talented, be that be sports or education, and that my friends is why we have to stop pushing charitable solutions.

  FUNNY COMING FROM ME IN A WAY SINCE I HELPED START AND CHAIRED OPERATION SPARROW FOR 3 YEARS which offers low income kids an opportunity to play activities at no cost. However in that case I had a say in how it was set up and ensured an application process that keeps applicants' dignity in place, and eliminated the need for embarrassing face to face meetings while allowing for kids to participate in programs alongside regular participants of the host activities such as karate, ball hockey, dance, art and theatre schools with no one the wiser and without the the forfeit of personal information beyond dignified need. I even insisted taxis be set up for those who need them so nio barrier could be used to stop kids from participating. But these were all negotiated with the private sector and cost no-one anything! Not a cent of government money spent in my 4 years there, yet we placed hundreds of kids into 10's of thousands of dollars worth of programs.
I also started and now with a committee run an annual road hockey tourney for youths which is free and uses the private sector via sponsors once again to pay its way - although we did take a small community grant one year to assist with costs.

  This all being said at least the kid'll get a chance to hone his skills a bit perhaps in this 'league" and they can't brainwash him in a year on their religion at that age...just maybe dad or mom! Ha!...and who knows maybe some scouts will visit the Sally Anne league and recruit him or some day he can play in his own local community league with his school peers against kids that'll challenge him to be the best sportsman instead of the best church follower. The kid can go to his own church should he choose someday and not by default.

Tom Out!

Former Golden Glove boxer John Fletcher lived here behind the 404 plaza in Newmarket. He died homeless. There is no transitional or assisted housing for single men in YR. The lone Men's shelter runs full most nights. Join us Ap 19 .

  In my previous blog I wrote about being locked in for the Ontario Budget and commented on it a bit and felt I shouldn't let the federal budget go without comment.

  Firstly the feds are planning to implement new rules to make it even tougher for everyone to collect employment insurance - including Ontarians who already get shafted on the eligibility requirements in comparison to most other provinces - rules that will include a provision that workers cannot say no to any 'local"job offer. That is worrisome, like firstly how will they define "local", and secondly that would require a guarantee of transportation to and from said 'local" job which the feds cannot guarantee such as through something like the recent York Region Transit strike which left riders in lurch for 4 months and still has essentially the same problematic deal between the region/transit company/and unions still in place, so there's certainly no guarantee there for them.What would happen then? The onus would be on the worker as the feds would say, " public transportation is a municipal matter" is what.

  Also quietly buried in the feds' budget was the fact that they have killed the National Council of Welfare which, since 1962, has been there with a government mandate to advice and warn policy makers about the consequences of neglecting poverty issues. Their 1.1 million dollar budget afforded them the ability to access expensive unpublished Stats Canada facts and data that anti-poverty advocates used to make their points and present their educated ideas from. Not any more, as another long standing social agency bites the dust. You couple this with the recent elimination of the long form census and what we will have here is a situation wherein the government will be able to fudge facts and figures and no-one will be able to counter with any certainty - a fact the shrewd working feds are banking on. Meantime Back in Ontario Dolton is licking his chops..quietly.

  Speaking of Premier MCgee..rumour has it he's making a "mannequin tour" this coming weeks as part of the "Put Food in the Budget" Campaign with the idea that people can speak their mind to the real - life sized-looking Mcguinty lookalike, a version of which will be hanging out with me in York Region from April 19 to 23d should anyone like to "interview" him...on camera of course! The tour gets kicked off at Toronto's Queen's Park April 19 at 1:30PM to draw attention to the freeze in social assistance and ODSP rates as contained in the Ontario budget, and removal of the "Start-up" fund which in essence eliminates York Region's lowest income recipients from any anti-homelessness programs completely.. Join us!

  Another topic I blogged and created video-blogs as far back as November about was the need to make the York Regional Chairperson a voted position and lo and behold it's now finally on the table for review!? This position carries far too much responsibility and power for it to not have someone held accountable as in times such as the recent transit strike wherein our Chairman, Bill Fisch, could essentially sell out low income York Regioners by sitting on his hands for 4 months whilst some peoples lives dissolved around them. He dismissed offhandedly my submission to council that they leave their cars at home for the duration of the strike. His laissez-faire attitude toward bringing an end to the dispute was a shining example of why that person needs to be held accountable - either through a performance review or voted out by the public. Other regions have adopted a voted in Regional Chairperson and certainly see no reason why York region shouldn't as well.


  Funny thing, at the same time as Newmarket council raised the issue of perhaps instilling new measures to ensure 'donations' and such for elections are controlled and transparent, so too did they in regards to charities and events the councilors support. They mentioned donations to " Belinda's Place", The Hoedown, Y.R. Habitat for Humanity - which recently paid out a whopping 6 $million dollars in "costs" fyi.

  Speaking of Belinda's Place, nice to read in the Newmarket Era that the to be 'single women's shelter" as well as the other 7 shelters in York Region that accept women (abused - includes immediate access to social housing - 3), family-1, single women to age 27- 1 (plus transitional housing), In / Out from the Cold's(2) are going to have apartments, transitional housing and "programs' to assist them all. This in addition of course I assume to whatever programs are offered out by the Y.R. Womens Centre.

  Y.R.'s men get no apartments or transitional housing and are kicked to the curb at 8am until evening for their "programs', then shipped to Toronto or Barrie to be rid of. I guess the region didn't get the memo that with the opening of the new family shelter the women's shelters use numbers are all down. But hey, we can't spoil a planned party now, especially if its going to deify Belinda for her wondrous foresight aided of course by the etchings of the local newspaper Editor Deb Kelly who is also on the Belinda's Place's (closed group) committee, and helped present it to the Regional Council to acquire funding / support. Funny they haven't printed one letter I've written about the shelter idea and the fact that affordable housing for singles including men is what's needed, not another expensive to run shelter, even though I co-authored York Region's social audit " Behind The Masks" and Chair it's only grassroots organization with a mandate to reduce poverty. I've said it before and I'll say it again this proposed new shelter will have to bring single women (over age 27 since we have youth shelters already for single women up to 26) in from outside York Region to fill it, but Joe and Jill Public will ever be the wiser since all they'll be told through our mainstream local media (via the same Editor) is that everything is wonderful there. The same spin that happens now.

Homeless man visits for the first time since his death, the "home" of former homeless person John Fletcher. John's saying was " It's 60-40 for the good guys". He left behind two children when he died in Newmarket.

  Two homeless men I know of have died homeless in Newmarket in the past few years such as John Fletcher, a former golden gloves boxing champion who lived behind the Metro grocery store at the 404 plaza, and not a word in the local newspapers was written about them, nor any new programs to save our men announced - although funding for some upstart group claiming to be helping young low income girls was announced..I guess Girls Incorporated and Big Sisters or free activities programs offered up by Operation Sparrow which PACC helped create, does not segregate and costs nothing for users wasn't enough? Why not just fund them so they can expand a model already set up and sensitive to those living on the margins.

  I know it's nice to save our women and children first, just like the Titanic, but like the Titanic the model is destined to sink because it overloads one area while neglecting another. At some point they/we must all co-exist. You don't skip over 90% of a problem area to focus most of our resources( grants, gov $, charitable donations, media) to another because it's "sexier".

  90% of our truly homeless are men, 90% of those killed on the streets are men, and 90% killed in wars for this country are / were men...It's ugly yea, but surely the ones in need who didn't ask for a life of street violence, crime, and hunger deserve some consideration, respect and hope...just saying...

Tom out

 I attended the lockup for the Ontario 2012 Budget called Strong Action for Ontario. For those not aware the lock up is an opportunity afforded invited guests of concerned organizations to view the budget before it is released publicly. During this time you are not allowed to carry communication devises or even leave the room without a security escort. Wow, is it ever weird not having a cell phone. What happened to me? Ha. It's like you've agreed to have your rights suspended for 3 hours.. like jail! The coffee was likely on par with the latest institutional blend and where were the sandwiches promised in the invite? Luckily I avoided any escorted bathroom breaks and went to task feverishly reading over the budget.

  I like to read the throne speech that accompanies it first so I know what issues to watch for and the ones most glossed over are often the ones you have to watch, such as the discovery that in addition to freezing social assistance rates - including disability support programs rates - they've cancelled the Community Start up and Maintenance Benefit which helped put the lowest income recipients in and enable them to keep  homes.

Having followed and read the direction the social services review is headed, there seems to be some preemptive assumptive measures put in place in the budget even though the review is not completed or approved which I find alarming. Was there ever going to be any serious input from anyone other than this review commission who from the outset seems fixated that people need "incentives" to work.These "incentives" include creating enough income instability it would seem as to 'scare' people into "wanting' to work. Do they really think access to work is the only problem? Or jobs that have a pay structure enough to keep a roof AND pay for daycare?

  People don't need incentives like forced labour on our disabled as the two ( social assistance review and budget) seem to suggest ("integrating ODSP with Ontario Employment") to want to work, they already want to contribute. This part you seemed to hear, that people want to contribute, but not by force by CHOICES. And many already are, but want recognition so their esteem and mental health can experience growth or life, not embarrassment or loss of dignity through being "categorized" and branded.

  The budget continues down the alley of shifting government responsibility for taking care of our citizens through partnerships with corporations and corporate charities/religions to be used as distributors and hosts for funding / programs - not grassroots solutions based on reality. They've created a $2 billion dollar " Jobs and Prosperity Fund" for them to play with, so they can make even more free branding as well as more money for their executives, advertising, staffing and corporations received a freeze in corporate taxes as well. The budget also kept an education program that pays 30% of University or College tuition for kids living at home in households making up to $160,000 yearly. Hello!! Like they need it! Yet they froze welfare recipients at $599 month! I guess the charitable meal programs will have to feed them...ALL...Oh Wait..that's all part of their strategy! And I wonder how many low income earners will be asked to join the new "Jobs and Prosperity Council"?

  About the only good news for low income recipients is they're reducing or elimination some pension contributions and like them MPP's incomes are being frozen at their current (allbeit 6 figure) rates. Poor them.

  Other planned cuts aside from pensions are done through amalgamations or merges of entities like schools which they plan to merge - which will affect low income kids without transportation - as well as Children's Aid Societies which at the best of times are stretched to the limit already with 6 of 10 in their care coming out of their "care" to live in poverty or be involved in crime. Great idea Duh-alton. Apprenticeship programs boast having gone up from 60,000 in 2003 to 120,000 now but has a 50% in-completion rate...so...doesn't that mean it has failed? Do the math - 50% of 120,000 is 60,000! Right back where they started from! even after we've gone through a recession? The program has too high an expectation on employers to work and make it worth their while as often times the programs requires an overkill of assorted tradesman on site to make it financially feasible for them. Fixing this would enable thousands of apprentices to get into meaningful job situations resulting in completions.

  As usual the politicians aren't listening. Although they invite me / us to all these gathering and input sessions and claim they want our input yet they seem to pick and choose what they (want to) hear from a preordained vantage point, and when you do speak with them as I have with the MPPs involved with Poverty Reduction Strategy as well as the Commissioners of the Social Assistance Review and others, you seem to get preconditioned and canned responses that don't allow for new ideas or flexibility.

Click Here for fun video on Ontario budget and low income cooking!

 We're all on the same team here and the sooner everyone understands that the better off we'll become. Yes it'll take "strong action" for Ontario to move forward but that doesn't mean categorizing and shifting responsibilities it means building bridges that work because they've had the proper input of materials to make them work. Not a patchwork of ideas that may work, but ideas with a history of working, which we've brought to their tables many a times.

Tom Pearson

   Don't forget about P.A.C.C.'s now longest running in Ontario Road hockey tourney! We need players and volunteers still! Meeting next Wed at 1220 Stellar Dr. Newmarket unit 205 Deli House Catering hall 6:30 PM - 8PM.
2012 Youth Road Hockey Challenge Newmarket

Youths can sign up here for the annual youth road hockey event!

Tom out!