Poverty Awareness in York Region

Are we living in a police state? Why are they building jails without call for any? I'm beginning to wonder.


Yesterday I set out in the AM by transit(some know I shed my vehicles shortly after accepting the PACC Chair) to pick up meds for my son - a new prescription that the doctor made clear needed to be taken as soon as he wakes up.

I got on the bus and was given a transfer. Transfers / fare info states the riders are entitled to 2 hours for transferring and when taking a system where connecting buses often run HOURLY every minute counts so when the driver tried to estimate my transfer forward 15 mins instead of back 15 it irked me and I asked for a transfer that gave me the full time advertised.

The driver then began a diatribe that she didn't have to, and if I didn't like it to call York Region transit, so I did while standing there. At the exact same time she began calling a supervisor I think. As my stop came up I stepped off and she said "my supervisors coming and you can speak with them" and I relayed that I didn't need her supervisor since I was now on hold to speak with their office.

I then spoke to someone and told them the same thing -" I don't care how you guys estimate your times but you cannot take time away from people because you advertise 2 hours transfer times and on a system running every hour , often late and costing more than the TTC which runs every few minutes, YRT riders need every minute and shouldn't have to go through a hassle to get it.

I left it at that, and went about my shopping, picked up my sons medication and some groceries and a Road hockey sign left roadside that I'd collected and made my way back to the stop for the return ride home but as I stepped on the same driver said you can't ride "my" bus. I hadn't said one word to her just showed the transfer and sat down.

"Really?" I asked incredulously, " Well I'm not getting off I need to get home".

"That's fine, my supervisor is coming." She seemed real determined throughout to have this "supervisor" get involved so now she'd get her chance I guess. She was also already running 10 minutes late on an hourly route. It would have been much easier I'd thought to give the full time like every other driver has done in the past, and this was two days in a row that she'd tried to short me and so of course I spoke up - for everyone's rights.

There is nothing quite like actually being a cog in the "system" to know how people on the ground level are being treated and it isn't pretty. First they change VIVA by adding a "goon squad" of security cops which were never needed / seen just a couple years ago. I wonder how much it costs to pay them? Why the goon squad? Mostly because people can't resist getting warm in winter at bus stations and now the VIVA allows people to just walk on to supposedly "improve service". Really? There was nothing wrong with the old system. Young kids are now becoming 'criminalized" for taking a chance getting on with no money and ruining their credit ratings for life and anyone who's ever been homeless will tell you it's awfully tough to say no to walking in / on somewhere warm in winter. It's like dangling a glass of cold water to someone in a desert when someone is freezing but this system that allows for no payment but a "trust" system policed by security goons and allows for no interaction with drivers anymore and I guess employs cops. Oh and the money from fines collected is what is used for the VICTIMS of CRIME fund. Hmmm..interesting isn't it, a system that relies on the poorest people (those who can't afford bus fare) to pay this fund - This is absolutely OUTRAGEOUS! Maybe tell the YRT boss and Regional governors this isn't the states (he was recruited from Boston transit)

Back to my story. So the supervisor comes and says she'll give me a ride home and I hop into her van. By this time its getting late, I'm worried my son is up, and happening on a Thursday I had food and supplies also that had to be distributed to some in need, so I was happy to get going...but wait..I get partway home and the supervisor receives another call and tells me her supervisors would like to also speak with me and could she bring me back to the stop again.At that point I told her look I don't have time to speak with anyone anymore and to just take me home, but no, she said she had to return there so we pull up and two transit police await.Ha. Unbelievable. The supervisor jumped out to have a word with them, likely informing them I had a valid point, but they still were bound by procedure I suppose.

So the goons asked me to step out of the van because the "needed" to speak with me.

I replied that that was nice but i don't "need" to speak with anyone and needed to get home right now with the medication for my son.

The goons - well the main goon - then informed me in a harsh tone that depending on my conversation with him will determine whether I leave on my own or with them.

"Really?" I said flabbergasted and raising my tone to match his, " I don't think so. I guarantee you I won't be going anywhere with you since I haven't done anything other than ask for what you guys advertise..and if I do speak with you which I don't plan to at this point it will be because I choose to. I never threatened anyone or even call anyone a name, all I asked for was a transfer that gave me the full time you advertise and instead I'm going through all this crap. You want to arrest me? "Well go ahead then", and I dropped my bags, removed my coat and put my hands behind my back. "Go ahead". I was very pissed by now but reserved considering.

They humbled out and backed off of their tough- guy stances after that, but what if...what if...just like the protests in Toronto where your rights were suspended for "the good of the country"..I suppose them arresting me would be for the good of the system.

Suddenly someone from our Food drive called as I stood there and I told him to come get me and then I left the goons to mull over their important jobs of hassling people for complaining about their rights (as far as I'm concerned). " Just out of curiosity why wouldn't you want to show ID" the less aggressive transit-copper said to me after I refused them. " because I don't have to", I replied, "I'm a rights guy and I've done nothing wrong, and I just want to go home because I'm sure by now my son is up and his doctor was very clear that it was to be taken immediately when he awakes and you guys are wasting my time as I've already phoned all this in".

Later on that NIGHT someone calls me again in regards to it and I told them I'd spent enough of my day on this issue and didn't plan to spend another minute, before saying goodbye.

Last month at Toronto Union station as I awaited a transfer to head out to assist an elderly person being neglected by our system I decide to video someone making a presentation about the history of the old station and was descended upon by transit police and aggressively asked to destroy it..." technically you can't video out the window of the train coming into town" they told me..Really!...that story for another day..

I will continue to speak out as long as I'm able because I've been through it all and if they want to arrest me and throw me in to solitary confinement go ahead because frankly its worth fighting for at this point.

Don't let ANYONE dictate your rights people and speak out about any small variance of your rights because we are slowly becoming a police state unless we all speak out!

Tom Pearson
http://www.povertyacc.com/

Dear MP Brown,


We are interested to organize a candidates debate that focuses on social issues and hope you are willing to participate.

We are looking into a location at the historic "Quaker House" in Newmarket as we feel it fits the theme and would in addition attract the media's creative thinkers - tying in social issues to the election locally with more prominence. Barring that, a suitable spot will be found.

We are also awaiting word from Liberal candidate Kyle Petterson and others on their willingness to participate and at that time we will ask for a list of 3-4 dates / times when candidates are available.

This is an opportunity to address critical issues like daycare, poverty, income (supports), the elderly / vets treatment, newcomers etc, and show the media and affected voters, including increasing numbers of low income seniors, that you care about their concerns too.

Please let us know.

Tom Pearson
Chairman, Poverty Action for Change Coalition
http://www.povertyacc.com/
289-221-0928 direct

We are calling for a PACC meeting next week Wed 12:30 pm at Mulock Village Community Hall (Needler Cres at Maciver in Newmarket Ontario).


Agenda will include - Poverty Free Ontario intro - possibly replace Put food in the budget campaign as action plan group for PACC.

Youth Road Hockey Tournament - PACC event follow up.

Elections plans of attack - including organize / assist possible debate on social issues - to this end Canadians for Democracy (?) - a local group is meeting on Thursday April 7 at the Chocolate Cafe at 7-8pm ( Newmarket Giant Tiger plaza ); perhaps solicit some supporters to organize a debate involving social issues if anyone wanted to attend.

House of Hope update!

Tom Pearson
http://www.povertyacc.com/

SPNO members and anti-poverty colleagues across Ontario


The Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO) asks that you hold the date of Thursday, May 5 for an all-day meeting in Toronto (venue to be determined) to discuss how to make poverty eradication an issue in the upcoming provincial election in Ontario in October of this year.

SPNO is conducting a series of community events across the province to present the Poverty Free Ontario initiative (summary attached) and to discuss what must be done now and in the term of the next provincial government to eliminate poverty in Ontario by 2020.

Marvyn Novick and Peter Clutterbuck bring this discussion to community groups on behalf of the SPNO. The first two sessions were held in Oakville on March 8, sponsored by Poverty Free Halton and Community Development Halton and in Cambridge on March 18 sponsored by the Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries.

The current Poverty Free Ontario community meeting schedule is attached. SPNO is open to receiving invitations from additional communities in the time slots available for April-May-June.

SPNO would like, however, to invite several leaders from communities across the province (including people with the lived experience of poverty) and provincial leaders from other sectors (e.g. health, education, faith, labour, civic, etc.) to our all-day meeting on Thursday, May 5 to discuss:

Perspectives on a poverty eradication policy agenda for Ontario;

Strategies for making poverty eradication a provincial election issue this year; and

Cross-community and cross-sectoral action in the upcoming provincial election campaign

The full agenda for the day on May 5 is now in preparation and will be sent to you soon. We wish, however, to get a sense of the interest in participating in this day. Please so indicate your community’s or sector’s interest by responding to Peter Clutterbuck at pclutterbuck@spno.ca and further details will be provided.

Peter C.
Social Planning Network of Ontario

Tel. (416) 653-7947 Cell (416) 738-3228
FAX (416) 653-4532

Canada has serious social issues facing her - with record number's of food-bank users and homeless - yet the federal government is taking virtually no action on these fronts. Of course with no official poverty line(one of the only countries in the world without one) and the recent elimination of the full census, they will soon be able to provide "stock" answers about all this without fear of accountability...sort of like the "unreported crimes" "stat" that decided $billions would be spent on new jails instead of perhaps assisting to house people - Oh sorry, I guess that is a form of housing though isn't it as they'll have to put people somewhere I suppose when some begin to steal in order to eat.

This Government has drained its own $ resources - previously they cut the GST by two percentage points for a revenue loss of $12 billion per annum and they also brought in another corporate tax cut from 22 percent to 15 percent by 2012. The US sits at around 35% in comparison. It made several additional tax cuts - pension income splitting, which most benefits wealthy senior couples and further severely deprives the treasury of needed revenues.

The Budget’s most significant social policy news took the form of an increase to the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) but the monthly amount of $50 is way too low to even dent poverty. Budget 2011 failed to deal with the holes in Canada’s retirement income system. The federal and provincial Finance Ministers have agreed to a new voluntary retirement savings plan called Pooled Registered Pension Plans (PRPPs) but Canada already has in place a voluntary supplementary system of pensions called Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs). These are used by taxpayers in mostly upper-income levels who have disposable income surpluses already, and receive a large tax break in return. It is modest and middle-income Canadians who remain in dire straits.

Budget 2011 also announced a Children’s Arts Tax Credit, which will be provide up to $500 of eligible fees per child in qualifying children’s programs. However whereas the income tax system does act as a highly effective vehicle for the distribution of income benefits, such as the Canada Child Tax Benefit., but the tax system is not effective for attacking social needs as the problem is that the current tax credits for lower- and modest-income households paying little or no income tax see nothing − including the one just announced in Budget 2011.

Budget 2011 introduces measures in support of caregivers. Most significant is the Family Caregiver Tax Credit that will provide an annual tax reduction of $300 for caregivers of all types of infirm dependent relatives including − for the first time − spouses, common-law partners and minor children. The new Family Caregiver Tax Credit enhances current tax assistance for those now eligible for various measures. This simply adds to a system that is already unfair. It will end up providing more to those who already receive some assistance while the rich get more tax savings and low and modest-income households get zip. It is single fixed income seniors who are most in need but nothing for them.

Budget 2011 brought in several noteworthy measures around Employment Insurance but once again Ontario will be given unfair treatment through a dated system that is inconsistent and needs a complete overhaul.

We need to develop a clear and immediate social policy agenda to help tackle Canada’s most pressing social needs - like affordable housing, income supports, and a living wage. We can accomplish this through building on what we have not deconstructing as the current government seems to be bent on doing.

This Federal Conservative government shows no respect to those seniors and others living day to day barely surviving - and I know because they call me for help and wondering where they can get food - including war vets!!! Shame on them.


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Federal Budget 2011 - PACC's - Reaction


Tom Pearson
http://www.povertyacc.com/

The new flyers are in for the 7th Annual Youth Road Hockey Challenge. This year's event will be held on Main Street in Newmarket.

Please view and share.(push resend) with your kids and friends!


For Immediate release: Tues Mar 1 2011 - Press call; 289-221-0928

Location: Main St, Newmarket, Ontario , Canada

HEY YOU(TH)! Are you between the ages of 12 and 18?

How would you like to gather community volunteer hours while playing road hockey AND qualify to win a $1,000 Education Award? Enter a team and you qualify for a chance!

The Poverty Action for Change Coalition in cooperation with community partners presents the Friendly Neighbourhood Youth Road Hockey Challenge ...Started as an event to engage youth, this now 7th Annual moves onto Main St for the 1st time in 2011!

No entry fees for this friendly rivalry stressed tourney - Particpants receive free hot chocolate, refreshments, & hot food. Team organizers are nominated for the Mike Thornhill Memorial Education Award in memory of a Newmarket Mulock Village (where the event originated) youth killed by violence.

Simply gather a minimum 6 players from your school, club, church, or neighbourhood willing and able to play the tourney on Saturday March 19 2011 on Main Street in Newmarket from 10:30 – 4pm, name your team and call ahead to reserve a spot!

Challenge another to play / form a team and earn bonus points. Run practices during March break and collect community hours too! How can you beat this? Reserve before it's too late..

Additional volunteer opportunities as well including sound set-up, entertainment / comedy play-by play assist, runners, ticket givers, refs, food ticket people.

All Ages Pick-up games, live cafe & street entertainment, skills challenges and other fun events as well for spectators

Funny 'comotional" video of event http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVEUHOchzFA

Call Kristine at 905-895-3126 to get in on the Game! Or visit

http://www.povertyacc.com/getinvolved

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Tom Pearson
http://www.povertyacc.com/