Sudbury Social Justice News - June 16, 2013

EVENTS & MEETINGS:

1) Monday, June 17: S-CAP Lobbying of Social Service Representatives
2) Monday, June 17: Rally for Junior Citizens Day Care Program
3) Monday, June 17: Meeting of Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty
4) Tuesday, June 18: Meeting of Justice and Freedom for John Moore
5) Tuesday, June 18: Public Input Session for 2014 City Budget
6) Wednesday, June 19: City Transportation Study Public Input Session
7) Thursday, June 20: Social Planning Council of Sudbury Presents Dr. Alex Himelfarb
8) Friday, June 21: N'Swakamok National Aboriginal Day
9) Wednesday, June 26: Viewing of The Documentary Film *Under the Red
Star*
10) Tuesday, July 2: Resistance Rewritten Tour with Deep Green Resistance

NEWS, ANALYSIS & CALLS TO ACTION:

1) "Important victory in struggle against city funding cuts to people on social assistance, but the struggle continues!" by Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty

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Monday, June 17: S-CAP Lobbying of Social Service Representatives

Time: 9:30am
Location: Steelworkers Hall (66 Brady Street, Sudbury)

At 9:30am, the Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty is asking everyone who can to come out to the Steelworkers Hall on Brady Street to lobby representatives from the social agencies in town as they arrive for the 10am City meeting to determine rates for the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) funding in Sudbury. We are calling for the former Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit rates and policies to be maintained with the CHPI program and will be handing out information and about this and talking to people. We will also be giving a presentation about this near the beginning of the meeting. For more information on this, see the statement in the "News, Analysis, & Calls to Action" section of Sudbury Social Justice News.

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Monday, June 17: Rally for Junior Citizens Day Care Program

Time: 4:15pm
Location: Tom Davies Square (200 Brady Street, Sudbury)

Our Mayor and Council are considering closing our Junior Day Care Program. This service has been available to Sudbury for forty years. It is one of a kind. We are having a rally on June 17th at the TD Square starting at 4:15 and then we will all be attending the Council meeting. I am asking all of you to please help us by attending this very important event. If we fail there will be at least 22 jobs lost.

This daycare is the only one in the city to stay open till midnight. It is also the least costly service that the city operates, since it mostly pays for itself, a measly 120G to serve our community, and to let those parents who have to work at jobs that require working an afternoon shift, or a split shift an ability to have good daycare for their children. With a mayor who is open to 24 hour shopping--who is going to be looking after the children of those workers? Please come out and show your support.

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/462671383822665/

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Monday, June 17: Meeting of Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty

Time: 6:30pm
Location: Offices of the Sudbury and District Labour Council (Suite 209 upstairs in 109 Elm Street, which is across the street from the Native Friendship Centre)

Matters to be discussed include where we are at in the struggle to get OW and the City to maintain CSUMB policies and rates for CHPI and associated discretionary funds. We will also be discussing our presentation on Tuesday night at the City Budget meeting; our consensus statement on where poverty comes from; our continuing direct action support work; the housing as a human rights issue workshop; a summer province-wide raise the rates meeting and our summer and fall plans.  The venue is wheelchair accessible. Children are welcome to attend, or childcare support is available upon request.

S-CAP is a direct-action anti-poverty organization based in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. We provide direct-action support work assisting individuals in their struggles with welfare and ODSP, housing, employers, and others who deny people what they are entitled to in order to meet their needs. In addition, we mount campaigns against and support educational work about regressive government policies as they effect working people and people living in poverty. We believe in the power of people to organize themselves. We believe in the power of resistance!

La coalition contre la pauvreté de Sudbury (S-CAP) est un organisme d’action directe luttant contre la pauvreté. Elle se trouve à Sudbury en Ontario.

Le travail de la coalition se base dans l’action directe et consiste à apporter de l’aide aux individus dans leurs luttes pour l’assistance sociale, l’invalidité, le logement, l’emploi et à les aider à faire face aux gens qui leur refusent ce à quoi ils ont droit pour rencontrer leurs besoins. De plus, la coalition fait des compagnes de sensibilisation et de dénonciation par rapport aux politiques gouvernementales régressives quant à leurs effets sur les travailleurs et travailleuses et les personnes vivant dans la pauvreté.

La coalition croit au pouvoir des personnes de s’organiser elles-mêmes; elle croit au pouvoir de la résistance!

S-CAP on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/257339454351403/

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Tuesday, June 18: Meeting of Justice and Freedom for John Moore

Time: 6:30pm
Location: Rainbow Centre food court

Agenda TBA.

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Tuesday, June 18: Public Input Session for 2014 City Budget

Time: 6pm to 9pm
Location: Tom Davies Square (200 Brady Street)

Let Council know what your priorities are when it comes to the City budget. Come out Tuesday, June 18 to Council Chambers, 6 – 9 p.m. Anyone can speak. You can also send in written comments to clerks@greatersudbury.ca.

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/391258144328641/

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Wednesday, June 19: City Transportation Study Public Input Session

Time: 4pm to 7pm
Location: Tom Davies Square (200 Brady Street)

Have a look at what is planned for roads and active transportation for the City. Come out Wednesday, June 19, anytime between 4 and 7 p.m., at Tom Davies for the Public Open House on the background transportation study of the Official Plan. If you want to improve walking, cycling, and transit in Greater Sudbury, plan to be there!

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/146869332171307/

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Thursday, June 20: Social Planning Council of Sudbury Presents Dr. Alex Himelfarb

Time: 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Location: Steelworkers Hall (66 Brady Street, Sudbury)

Dr. Himelfarb served as Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet under Prime Ministers Chretien, Martin, and Harper. He is writing and speaking broadly on the topics of democracy, austerity, inequality and taxes and is encouraging individuals and communities to rethink many of the ideas we take for granted.

Please contact Jody Tverdal at jtverdal@spcsudbury.ca for information. Donations to the SPC's Community Emergency Fund (CEF) accepted.

Dr. Alex Himelfarb is the Director of the Glendon school of Public and International Affairs, at York University. He also leads the Centre for Global Challenges which, stressing the interplay of domestic and global issues, brings together decision makers, researchers, practitioners, and students to explore challenges confronting Canada in a changing world.

He was a Professor of Sociology at the University of New Brunswick from 1972 to 1981 and joined the Public Service with the Federal government in 1981. Following an expansive career in teh public service Alex served as Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet from May 2002 until March 2006 serving under Prime Ministers Chretien, Martin and Harper. in 2006 he was nominated Ambassador of Canada to the Italian Republic.

Alex Himelfarb is a graduate of the University of Toronto where he obtained a PhD in Sociology. He also serves on a number of Boards including the Trudeau Foundation, the World Wildlife Fund, and Canada 2020.

For SPCS members and interested guests: Annual General Meeting of the SPCS will take place @ 6:30pm preceeding this presentation.

“We ought to be outraged. Just about every day our media provides a new account of the decline of our democracy; the inadequacies of our electoral system and allegations of electoral fraud; the high-handed treatment of our Parliament through inappropriate prorogations and overuse of omnibus legislation; a government ever more authoritarian and opaque, resistant to evidence and reason, and prepared to stifle dissent. Adding weight to the urgency of these issues is that they are being raised across the political spectrum, left, right and centre, and among critics whit very different models of democracy even gives these significant stirrings of outrage, why do so many still seem not to care? Has democracy lost some of its lustre?”

“As we enter 2013, how is Canada doing? How do we stack up against other rich countries? Emerging from the year of the 50th anniversary of medicare, the 30th anniversary of the Charter, are we making progress? Do we even have any shared notion of what progress would look like? How we measure our success as a country matters. It tells us a lot about what we value most. It shapes what we ask of our politicians and how we judge the performance of our governments. It shapes politics and policy.”

- Dr. Alex Himelfarb

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/550754644965607/

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Friday, June 21: N'Swakamok National Aboriginal Day

Time: Noon
Location: Bell Park Amphitheatre, Sudbury

June 21st, 2013
Aboriginals Got Talent- Celebrating National Aboriginal Day Bell Park Amphitheatre

A day to come out and celebrate the many achieves/talents of our Aboriginal people. Role Models for the next generations that we can thrive in many areas. So come out and enjoy and fun filled family event..... Free Admission

Master for Ceremonies: Chris Pheasant
Elder: Mary Elliott

Special Appearances by:

Jace Martin
2012 Aboriginal Idol Winner - Nathan Cheechoo
Lisa Marie Naponse (Singer)
J'sn Manitowabi (Band)
Melanie Smiits (Metis Fiddler)
Will Morin - Childrens Interactive Play
Patrick Peltier (Band)
Brandon Petahtegoose aka Bright Spirit (Hip Hop)
Shawn McClaren (comedian)
Cheyanne Saucier(band) sponsored by Winmar

Featuring: Shane Yellowbird

(performers will be added as we get confirmations)

12:00pm Opening Ceremonies
followed by a variety of Aboriginal talent throughout the day and evening.

3:00pm - Aboriginal Idol Contestants will be brought to the stage competing for the 1st place prize and title for 2013 Aboriginal Idol Deadline for idol entries is May 30th ...please submit your video to nswakidol@gmail.com
Rules and Procedures can been seen here on our facebook page or send us an email to get a copy.

Aboriginal Idol 1st place Winner will receive.......
Cash Money
Idol Trophy
Stage Performance at 2014 Aboriginals Got Talent
One-on-One with recording artist Jace Martin on how to start your music
career
Photo Shoot with Bruno Henry Photography
As well as Bragging right for a year :) .......more prizes to be added.

Aboriginal Idol is a special singing contest that brings people to the stage who have singing abilities. this helps build up self esteem, end stage fear and consider a career in music......it's all about boosting their dreams.

So singers deadline is fast approaching to submit a video of your self singing to nswakidol@gmail.com (p.s. this does not need to be a professional video)

Any Bands, singers, dancers etc...interested in performing please give us a call us.

Performers call 705-674-2128 ext 258 Teresa
Craft Booths, Food Booths and Information Booths welcome 705-674-2128
(Wanda)
Volunteers Needed 705-674-2128 (koreen)
Dancers needed for Opening Ceremonies please contact Teresa McGregor.

Come on out and Celebrate Aboriginal Day with us.

Sponsors:

KICX 91.7, The New Hot 93.5, University of Sudbury, RBC, OAC, Greater Sudbury- Toursim, Dreamcatcher Fund, Canadian Hertiage

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/132679040237301

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Wednesday, June 26: Viewing of The Documentary Film *Under the Red Star*

Time: 7pm
Location: Rainbow Cinemas (40 Elm Street, Sudbury)

This movie encore was originally screened at Cinefest 2012. It is presented by the Education Committee of the Sudbury District Labour Council in partnership with Finn Fun 2013. A docudrama, Under the Red Star follows the struggles of Finnish immigrants as they fight for fair wages and workers rights in the early 1900s. It is a Northern Ontario production made in Thunder Bay Ontario. Kelly Saxberg is the director/producer.

The movie poster:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=464840466918610&set=a.2330972800...

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/518299534895198

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Tuesday, July 2: Resistance Rewritten Tour with Deep Green Resistance

Time: 6pm
Location: Beneath the big tree just past the big gazebo, above the main beach at Bell Park, close to the stairs

It's often repeated that "history is written by the victors." The colonist and the slave owner, the warmonger and the CEO alike use their stolen power to control which stories are remembered, taught, and celebrated - and which are distorted, suppressed, and in some cases, forgotten altogether.

Spanish philosopher George Santayana put it rather more bluntly when he wrote that "history is a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren't there." But it is not enough to dismiss mainstream historical narratives as irrelevant. We must ask- what has been omitted, and why? When we look past the rosy fiction to the buried truth, we begin to uncover a true history of resistance that is still unfolding.

In the era of catastrophic biodiversity loss, toxification, and climate change, the world is facing challenges of unprecedented magnitude, and we are running out of time. The stakes could not be higher. Will we fall prey to the lies of the powerful and miss our chance at victory, or can we write a brighter future by learning from resistance movements of the past?

If you would like to contribute to the funding of this tour, please visit: www.gofundme.com/resistancerewritten.

For more information, please contact: Rachael Charbonneau 670-1982 or rachaelcharbonneau@vianet.ca.

NEWS, ANALYSIS & CALLS TO ACTION:

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"Important victory in struggle against city funding cuts to people on social assistance, but the struggle continues!"
by Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty

The decision by City to restore funding for exceptional circumstances to the levels that existed under the former Community Start-up is welcome. People on social assistance facing emergency circumstances will at least temporarily have access to a possible support of $800 for an individual and $1,500 for a family with children. This will make a very real difference in the lives of people who have lost everything or are fleeing violence and abuse. At least this level of support needs to be continued by the City to meet the basic needs of people.

SCAP is calling on social agencies in Sudbury to support maintaining exceptional circumstances funding and other forms of support at least at the former CSUMB levels to address the needs of people on social assistance. The City consultation meeting with social agencies, but not with people on social assistance, or people living in poverty, will take place on Monday, June 17th.   SCAP will present our demands but no other representatives of people on social assistance are being invited. You cannot have a real process of consultation without the direct participation of those who will be most affected by any decisions taken -- and this is people on social assistance themselves. This is not a real process of democratic consultation. We will continue to push for the City to meet the basic needs of people on social assistance and this requires that finding levels be maintained at least at the levels they were at under the CSUMB.

The CSUMB was the vital housing benefit that allowed people on social assistance to prevent themselves from becoming homeless, to move and start a household and to escape violent and abusive situations. Under the CSUMB people who had already received funding in the last 24 months were entitled to more funding under the “exceptional circumstances” clause if they encountered a flood, fire, bed-bug infestation, domestic violence or another housing or health-related emergency.

The province cut this mandatory benefit on Jan. 1st 2013 but, as a result of protests across the province last fall (including the arrest of the S-CAP 11), moved $42 million in extra funding into the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) to assist in addressing people’s housing and maintenance needs. While the province intended for these added funds to be used ``to address local needs with respect to housing and homelessness related supports`` Sudbury OW and the City had interpreted this very narrowly under CHPI to almost entirely focus on the prevention of homelessness to the neglect of other housing needs

Meanwhile, cities such as Toronto in their Housing Stabilization Fund (which is how they distribute CHPI funding), recognizing the needs of people in exceptional circumstances, have increased the amounts for exceptional circumstances funding. They recognize that even if people have received funding in the last 24 months if they encounter exceptional circumstances they can still receive up to the same amounts that were covered under the CSUMB – that is $800 for an individual or $1,500 for a family.

SCAP strongly encourages all social agencies in Sudbury to continue to pressure the City so that it maintains the full amounts of $800 and $1500 on a permanent basis and that it establishes housing start-up policies that meet the needs of people on social assistance and others living in poverty. This means that at a minimum the amounts of the former CSUMB are restored and maintained.

Please contact SCAP for more information at 249-878-7227 or at sudburycap@gmail.com