IT WORKS ! People got involved..you and me and\ all of us together; starting here at Carnegie with the Community Relations committee and the news that the City of Vancouver (specifically Gordon Campbell acting as the Mayor) was going to put a garbage transfer plant near Main & Terminal. Before anyone knew much about it the City Coubcil (specifically campbell's NPA cohorts) was all ready to swap some land slated for low-cost housing in exchange for a parcel about 600 feet
from Strathcona Community Garde On this land the NPA Councillors wanted to build a plant where all
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garbage picked up n o r t h of 1 6 t h Ave. would be t r u c k e d (up t o 35 t r u c k s a n hour), dumped on t h e f l o o r and gone over by workers t o skim whatever could be r e s o l d / r e c y c l e d . A t best, 20% of t h i s mountain would be f i t f o r s a l e and t h e rest - 80% of t h e smelly m e s s l e f t - would be t r u c k e d t o Burns Bog l a n d f i l l . A s a n i n t e g r a l p a r t of t h i s whole scam, t h e C i t y would pay c o r p o r a t i o n s t o p i c k up t h e garbage, t h e p r i v a t e company could s e l l a n y t h i n g i t g o t o u t of t h e mess and pocket t h e p r o f i t and then t h e C i t y would pay a g a i n t o have t h e rest hauled o u t t o t h e dump. Starting here, w e circulated info t o community groups i n t h e f o u r neighbourhoods s u r r o u n d i n g t h e s i t e , asked t h a t they t a k e a s t a n d and send d e l e g a t i o n s t o Council. L e a f l e t s were p r i n t e d and t a k e n door-to-door, t o c e n t r e s and campuses, c a l l i n g f o r stoppage of t h i s s t u p i d p l a n and source s e p a r a t i o n of t r a s h - t o a l l o w f o r maximum, p u b l i c p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n r e c y c l i n g - and demanded p u b l i c hearings a l l over t h e c i t y . The NPA, w i t h t h e n o t a b l e e x c e p t i o n of Alderman Johnathan Baker, r e f u s e d t o s t o p but d i d a g r e e t o one p u b l i c meeting " t o inform t h e p u b l i c . " Alds. Libby Davies, Bruce E r i c k s e n , and Harry Rankin spearheaded t h e condemnation of t h e p o l i t i c a l agenda of t h e NPA. A t t h e p u b l i c meeting EVERY SPEAKER was dead a g a i n s t t h i s i l l - t h o u g h t p l a n . On e v e r y a s p e c t , from l o c a t i o n t o r a t s t o p r a c t i c a l r e c y c l i n g t h e NPA was damned. Supp o r t had even come from t h e C i t y ' s Engineering Dept., which p o l i t e l y s a i d t h e t h i n g was dumb.
There were s o many s p e a k e r s who d i d n ' t g e t a chance, a f t e r 3 h o u r s , t o s a y t h e i r p i e c e t h a t w e demanded another meeting..this t i m e i n Strathcona. Lo and behold, almost h a l f of t h e a u d i e n c e was from t h e Chinese community and t h e NPA, c o n t i n u i n g i t s d i s p l a y of wisdom, had f a i l e d t o a r r a n g e f o r any k i n d of t r a n s l a t i o n . A member of t h e a u d i e n c e performed i n t h i s c a p a c i t y and a g a i n , EVERY SPEAKER was dead a g a i n s t t h i s s e l l o u t of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . Even though t h e Engineer was under o r d e r s t o end t h e whole " p u b l i c h e a r i n g " tedium t h e members of t h e a u d i e n c e f i n a l l y v o t e d unanimously t o end t h e meeting and demanded y e t a n o t h e r one - t h i s t i m e t o be i n t h e West End. Okay, you may wonder why a l l t h i s i s b e i n g rehashed? Well, Campbell h a s been f o r c e d t o r e c o g n i s e t h e p o l i t i c a l c o s t s of ramming t h i s p l a n t through a g a i n s t , t h e wishes of EVERYONE who knows even a l i t t l e a b o u t i t . On Sunday, March 2 5 t h , he came o u t and s a i d t h a t he w i l l "urge" o t h e r members of Counsil ( s p e c i f i c a l l y t h e ones w i t h t h e h a l f - w i t NPA l o g i c who t r i e d t o whitewash t h i s scam) t o s e e k a l t e r n a t e means of d e a l i n g w i t h t h e garbage i s s u e . Wanna b e t t h e y a l l of a sudden ' d i s c o v e r ' s o u r c e s e p a r a t i o n ? ! By PAULR
TAYLOR
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PS: I f "scam" s t i c k s i n your mind.. when seven e l e c t e d o f f i c i a l s a l l t r y t h e i r mouth on s e l l i n g something s o o b s o l e t e , s o o b v i o u s l y shown by example ( i n t h e U.S. t h i s kind of t h i n g was exposed i n a book c a l l e d D i r t y Business) a s having n o t h i n g t o do w i t h changing s o c i e t y ' s d i r e c t i o n . True l e a d e r s h i p makes t h e r i g h t decisions a t the r i g h t t i m e , not a f t e r being raked o v e r t h e c o a l s f o r b e i n g stupid.
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Who would w r i t e a b o u t w e l f a r e w o r k e r s ? Who would even c a r e Who would e x p r e s s t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e Compassion For t h e i r j o b s , t h e i r s t a r e s Who would t a k e t h e t i m e t o be c u r i o u s a b o u t t h e i r minds? Who would wonder how t h e y manage, how t h e y h a n d l e s o many c a s e l o a d s ? And when t h e y c o n s u l t t h e i r S u p e r v i s o r do t h e y do what t h e y a r e t o l d ?
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I wonder i f t h e y t a k e t h e t i m e t o c a r e about a c l i e n t ? o r do t h e y o r i d e t h e m s e l v e s on b e i n g s t r o n g and p l a y i n g t h e r o l e o f e v i l tyrant. I wonder do t h e y s m i l e and r e a l l y mean i t when t h e y g r e e t you o r is i t j u s t a fancy f r o n t t o f i n d o u t how t o t r e a t you.
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I wonder if they think? t o b i d you a f o n d e s t f a r e w e l l o r when t h e y t u r n t h e i r h e e l s s o f a s t and m u t t e r " ~ ' dwished y o u ' d go t o h e l l . "
There a r e t h e few and f a r between So-Keeq and s o i n t e n t Who s i n c e r e l y g i v e a damn a b o u t y o u r means, a b o u t your r e n t s .
They s i t a c r o s s t h e i r c l u t t e r e d d e s k and a s k u s t o h o l d o n , w i t h phones a - r i n g i n g and they're just grinning The o n e s t h a t are s i n c e r e the ones u n s e l f i s h too t o watch u s w a i t s o l o n g . are g e n u i n e l y c o n c e r n e d who Do you f e e l t h e y t r e a t u s a b o u t w e l l - b e i n g , a b o u t s t r i f e and You. w i t h e v e n a n ounce o f r e s p e c t ? o r a r e t h e i r r e a s o n s s o h i g h up I a d m i r e t h e o n e s who've worked s o h a r d , t h e y f o r g e t t h a t you e x i s t . t o g e t t h e m s e l v e s t o where t h e y a r e o l s a s ! y o u ' r e t h e o n e t o demand They need n o t e x p e c t t h e l i t t l e p e o p l e and t o p e r s i s t . t o t e l l them, remind them o f who t h e y a r e .
I 1
"oh pardon u s f o r b e i n g h e r e and r u i n i n g y o u r d a y , But we j u s t came t o g e t some h e l p i f you t h i n k t h a t ' s O.K.?"
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SO remember when you s e e ME and f i g u r e I ' m no good That I am t h e p e r s o n I am t h e human I am t h e One
Some s i t i n judgement a s i f t h e y ' r e Queen and o t h e r s a s King T u t who u n d e r s t o o d Then when you a s k them f o r some h e l p they s a y , "get y o u r s e l f o u t of t h a t r u t .I' How l i f e isn't a l w a y s as i t s h o u l d be HOW d i f f i c u l t t h i n g s a r e . "So l e t me t e l l you s o m e t h i n g Bub! T h a t , i f t h e t a b l e s had been t u r n e d While you s i t s o s e l f - i n d u l g e d You'd b e t h e One I saw. I f i t wasn't f o r people l i k e u s you w o u l d n ' t have t h i s job." a welfare recipient
How a r e You?
Editor, RE: I s s u e of March 15, 1930. Your c h o i c e of " c l i e n t " a s i n "expsychiatric c l i e n t t t is inaccurate. According t o l a w y e r B i l l T r o t t , P a t i e n t Advocate o n - s i t e a t Ri'verview - "More t h a n 80% of a d m i s s i o n s to Riverview a r e i n v o l u n t a r y half have no l e g a l b a s i s f o r det a i n m e n t under t h e C h a r t e r o f R i g h t s . " I n l i g h t of t h e above, i t would be more a c c u r a t e t o r e p l a c e t h e word " c l i e n t " w i t h "inmate" a s i n "exp s y c h i a t r i c inmate. "
... ...
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S h e i l a Carson
Do you t h i n k t h o s e words a r e n i c e t o u s e when m e e t i n g o r g r e e t i n g ? Suppose y o u r f r i e n d i s n o t f e e l i n g w e l l and you a s k him 'how a r e you' upon g r e e t i n g him. Maybe h e d o e s n ' t want o t h e r s t o know how he a c t u a l l y f e e l s and i f h e l i e s and s a y s h e i s f e e l i n g good he w i l l f e e l bad f o r lying. So why a s k ? Are you r e a d y t o h e l p him o r h e r i f t h e y need h e l p ? Are you r e a d y t o g i v e them what t h e y need t o feel better? The q u e s t i o n "How a r e you?" i s s i m i l a r t o p u s h i n g t h e T o t a l key on a c a s h r e g i s t e r . You a r e a s k i n g a person f o r t h e t o t a l o f t h e i r t h o u g h t s and f e e l i n g s . Don't b e a s k i n g s u c h o f one a n o t h e r anc! beware of o t h e r e u p h o n i c q u e r i e s . P a t r i c k G. Rochon LEARNERS ' CONFERENCE a t C a r n e g i e ; F r i d a y , A p r i l 6 . C a l l t h e Learning Centre f o r information. -__e-+
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I n Memory o f GEORGE CHIEF Monday I went t o t h e h o s p i t a l t o t u t o r George C h i e f , a C a r n e g i e member who was on d i a l y s i s ; h i s k i d n e y d i d not function. I was shocked when t h e y s a i d he had d i e d on S a t u r d a y . H e was a r e a l n i c e man. I really l i k e d him, he had s o many i n t e r e s t i n g s t o r i e s . We had planned t o w r i t e them. I was r e a l l y u p s e t when t h e n u r s e s a i d he c h o s e t o d i e . S h e i l a Baxter, Tutor Learning Centre.
. 0 CANADA!
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Canadians come home, l o o k down. .and t h e y s e e a doormat marked: Get L o s t ! \ Anyway, h e r e ' s more i n f o r m a t i o n : RE: That Quebec may s e p a r a t e , and t h a t Canada be " E n g l i s h Only !" "French Only !" RE: That c e r t a i n p e o p l e would like B.C. t o s e p a r a t e RE: That we s h o u l d t i g h t e n o u r b e l t s , even i f we c a n n o t a f f o r d o n e . RE: That we s h o u l d F r e e Canada & Trade Mulroney I n t h i s c a s e may we t i g h t e n o u r b e l t s , open o u r e y e s & o u r e a r s & open o u r h e a r t s even i f we c a n n o t a f f o r d one? e
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We Canadians w i l l always be Canadian The Big & t h e S m a l l ; t h e Rich & t h e Poor; The French & t h e E n g l i s h What .would we do w i t h o u t Canada? Whether we are e n g l i s h o r f r e n c h , I f w e ' r e n o t Canada, We'll a l w a y s b e Canadian.
Some of you w i l l remember J o n e s Lake, o u t n e a r M i s s i o n . I f you were around t h e r e up t o a b o u t 30 y e a r s ago you may even have s e e n t h i s sign - it a c t u a l l y stood t a l l a t t h e entrance t o a p r i v a t e logging road t h a t came down from t h e camp back i n t h e boonies. According t o T e r r y Terhune, t h e company was dead s e r i o u s on f r y i n g y o u r b u t t i f one o f t h e i r t r u c k s d i d n ' t cream you f i r s t !
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(Weep Not) Weep n o t f o r me when I ' m gone; do n o t f r i t t e r and c r y u n c a r i n g t e a r s on t h e mound t h a t I now c l a i m f o r mine own. T h i s world I t h o u g h t I l o v e d h a s t u r n e d i n t o a c a u l d r o n of l a v a whose t h i r s t c a n n o t be quenched. Only Human Compassion w i l l s n u f f o u t t h e Holocost. So c a r r y o n , and d o n ' t t a r r y a t my g r a v e . Save your t e a r s f o r a r a i n y day s o t h a t t h e y w i l l blend a s one.. C r o c o d i l e t e a r s of d e c e i t and d i s g u s t , go away..away.. f a r , f a r away and l e t me r e s t i n peace. Albert Milton
Vote
'NO'on April 7
Meech L a k e . . t h e d e f i c i t . . t h e budget . . $ 1 . 8 m i l l i o n f o r ONE p a i n t i n g as women's c e n t r e s l o s e $1.6 m i l l i o n i n f u n d i n g and c l o s e a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y . . N a t i v e f u n d i n g c u t . . . a n d , amongst a l l t h i s , there is a l i t t l e thing c a l l e d The Goods and S e r v i c e s Tax o r GST f o r s h o r t . Mulroney s o l d t h e "Free" Trade Agreement w i t h money, money and more money poured i n t o t h e most m a s s i v e a d v e r t i s i n g con-game i n r e c e n t memory. He's s a i d t h a t he p l a n s t o s e l l t h e GST t h e same way, b u t p e o p l e have had a y e a r t o s e e t h e e f f e c t s of "free" trade : ENERGY: U.S. g e t s v i r t u a l l y t o t a l cont r o l o f Canadian n a t u r a l g a s . WATER: F r e e t r a d e / t @ m i n g on t h e t a p ? SOCIAL PROGRAMS: Clawback o f p e n s i o n s , f a m i l y a l l o w a n c e s s i g n a l end o f u n i versality.
7 FISH: Canada s u r r e n d e r s p r o c e s s i n g rights; f i s h delivered d i r e c t l y to U.S. p l a n t s . Can. p l a n t s s h u t down. U .I.: Cuts t o U I i n c r e a s e poverty, d r i v e down wages. WHEAT: US f a r m e r s s a y Can. wheat unf a i r l y s u b s i d i z e d . CWB endangered. PORK: American p r o t e c t i o n i s m l o c k s o u t Can. p o r k , d e p r e s s i n g p r i c e s . D A I R Y : Supply management i n p e r i l . JOBS: Over 70,000 j o b s s h i p p e d t o US -and Mexico. MONEY: High d o l l a r h u r t s e x p o r t s , j o b s and i n v e s t m e n t . Canada's b a l a n c e o f payments h i t s r e c o r d d e f i c i t . R e g i o n a l development money c u t . SOVEREIGNTY: NATO and American p l a n e s p r a c t i c e o v e r Canadian s o i l . DEREGULATION: S e a t s s a 1 e s ; g i v c way t o i s i n g p r i c e s , monopolies. PRIVATIZATION: Government s e l l s o f f public property t o friends! FREE TRADE: Canadian s o c i a l programs, communities and s o v e r e i g n t y s a c r i f iced t o t h e c o n t i n e n t a l marketplace. TAXATION: GST makes consumers pay b u s i n e s s t o adapt t o Free Trade. Most o f u s d o n ' t have enough money t o pay income t a x e s ; we g e t a $100 IIrebate" and t h i n k ' n o t b a d ! ' Think again. I f t h e GST g o e s i n t o e f f e c t e v e r y buck we spend - on e v e r y t h i c g e x c e p t r e n t and food - w i l l go up by 7%. L a n d l o r d s and g r o c e r s w i l l i n c r e a s e p r i c e s t o cover t h e i r e x t r a taxes. C o r p o r a t i o n s and r i c h p e o p l e g e t o f f almost f r e e . On A p r i l 7 t h , S a t u r d a y , t h e r e w i l l be i n f o and a b a l l o t box on t h e 1st Take a m i n u t e and f l o o r of Carnegie. f i l l o u t a b a l l o t . Vote NO on t h e G ' r .
By PhULR
TAYLOR
CAMPAIGN FOR FAIR TAXES TARGETS B I G BUSINESS; CORPORATE TAX FIGURES SPARK ACTIONS ACROSS C A N B A .
CAMPAIGN FOR FAIR TAXES Canadian Labour Congress pro-Canada Network Cuolirion Quibecoise conhe la TPS *Public Social Respansability Unit of lican Church of Canada *Cana ian Centre for Policy Alternatives *Canadian Conference of Teamsters *Canadian Council of Churches (Justice and Peace Commission) *Canadian Day Care Advocacy hsociation *Canadian Federation of Students *Canadian Teachers Federation *Centmle de l'enseignment du Quebec *Coalition of Provincial Organizations for h e Handicapped Confbd6ration des syndicais nctionaux *Confederation of Canadian Unions *Cooperative Housing Foundation *Council of Canadians *Ecumenical Coalition for Economic Justice *iediration der Associations cwperatiws d'economie familiale *ftkkration des havai//eurs et truvailleuses du Quebec *hideration nationah des associations & consommaburs du Quibec *National Action Committee on the Status of Women *Notional Anti-Poverty Association *National Fanners Uniqn *National Federation d Nurses Unions *National Pensioners and Senior Ctizens Federation *Oxfam Canada *Rum1 Dignity of Canada *Solidanti papulaire Quebec
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The n a t i o n w i d e CAMPAIGN FOR FAIR TAXES w i l l t a k e on b i g b u s i n e s s i n t h e f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e GST i n t h e coming weeks. It w i l l e x p o s e some of t h e p r o f i t a b l e c o r p o r a t i o n s t h a t pay no income t a x w i t h t h e h e l p of f i g u r e s r e l e a s e d March 1 5 t h by t h e Pro-Canada Network. The Pro-Canada Network i n v i t e d economist Duncan Cameron t o a n a l y s e and i n t e r p r e t t a x i n f o r m a t i o n on p r o f i t a b l e Canadian c o r p o r a t i o n s . Cameron i s P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Canadian C e n t r e f o r Policy Alternatives. he GST d e b a t e i s l e a d i n g p e o p l e t o l o o k c r i t i c a l l y a t how r e v e n u e s a r e r a i s e d i n t h i s c o u n t r y . The government w i l l l i k e l y be s o r r y i t e v e r mentioned taxes o n c e C a n a d i a n s g e t a l o o k a t how b i g b u s i n e s s g e t s o u t o f p a y i n g them," he s a i d . The Pro-Canada Network r e l e a s e d a l i s t of f o u r t e e n well-known companies a l l w i t h p r o f i t s o v e r $10 m i l l i o n It a l s o r e l e a s e d t h a t pay no t a x e s . f i g u r e s f o r s e v e n companies t h a t r e c e i v e d m i l l i o n s of d o l l a r s w o r t h o f tax credits. The Pro-Canada Network i s making t h e c o r p o r a t e t a x f i g u r e s and Camero n ' s a n a l y s i s of them a v a i l a b l e t o t h e community-based c o a l i t i o n s o f s t u d e n t s , s e n i o r s , women, f a r m e r s , n u r s e s , c h u r c h g r o u p s and t r a d e unionists participating i n the CAMPAIGN FOR FAIR TAXES. 11 The government c a n ' t g e t away w i t h s a y i n g t h e r e a r e no a l t e r n a t i v e s t o t h e GST when b i g b u s i n e s s i s n o t p a y i n g i t s f a i r s h a r e , " s a i d Tony C l a r k e , C h a i r p e r s o n o f t h e Pro-Canad a Network. "Armed w i t h t h e s e l a t e s t c o r p o r a t e t a x f i g u r e s , community-based a c t i v i s t s a c r o s s Canada w i l l e x p o s e t h e u n f a i r n e s s o f t h e GST."
I n 1958 t h e c o r p o r a t e t a x r a t e was reduced from 36% t o 28%. More t h a n 60,000 c o r p o r a t i o n s p a i d no t a x e s a t a l l . They i n c l u d e : CORPORATION
PROFITS
TAX PAID
Algoma S t e e l $80 m i l l i o n Bramalea $33 m i l l i o n Brascade $64 m i l l i o n Brascan $263 m i l l i o n C o n f e d e r a t i o n L i f e I n s u r a n c e $62 m i l l i o n $52 m i l l i o n Edper E n t e r p r i s e s $24 m i l l i o n F l e t c h e r Challenge Finance $34 m i l l i o n Maritime Life $30 m i l l i o n North Canadian O i l s Ocelot I n d u s t r i e s $432 m i l l i o n $30 m i l l i o n PWA $13 m i l l i o n Standard Trustco $72 m i l l i o n Tridel Xerox Canada $74 m i l l i o n
DONATION TO TORIES
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8,750 12,625.08 n/a 50.362.92 11,186.52 4 n/a 30,000 n/a 5,000 n/a n/a 15,363.30 29,441.06 11,558.59
While c o n t r i b u t i n g n o t h i n g t o f e d e r a l t a x , 1988 t a x c r e d i t s went t o : PROFITS
TAX CREDIT
TAX P A I D
C e n t r a l Guaranty T r u s t c o $75 m i l l i o n $2.86 m i l l i o n Goodyear Canada $ 1 1 m i l l i o n $1.4 m i l l i o n Hemlo Gold Mines $43 m i l l i o n $2.73 m i l l i o n Magna I n t e r n a t i o n a l $ 1 9 m i l l i o n $8.2 m i l l i o n MICC I n v e s t m e n t s $72 m i l l i o n $29.97 m i l l i o n Power C o r p o r a t i o n $214 m i l l i o n $2.12 m i l l i o n Ranger O i l $15 m i l l i o n $4.07 m i l l i o n
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DONATION - TOR. 30,934.44 n/a n/a 2,983.40 n/a 72,143.40 36,000
The Goods and Services Tax
NOW
IS THE T\ME FOR
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE I
CAMPAIGN FOR FAIR TAXES WE NEED TO STOP THE GOODS AND SERVICES TAX WE NEED FAIR TAXES I N A PEOPLE-FIRST ECONOMY I n J a n u a r y 1991, t h e f e d e r a l government i n t e n d s t o remove t h e o l d 13.5% M a n u f a c t u r e r s S a l e s Tax (MST) t h a t a p p l i e d t o c e r t a i n m a n u f a c t u r e d goods and r e p l a c e i t w i t h a 7% t a x on v i r t u a l l y a l l goods - and f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e e v e r i n Canada on s e r v i c e s a s w e l l - e x c e p t b a s i c e s s e n t i a l s s u c h as g r o c e r i e s , m e d i c a l c a r e and r e n t . Almost e v e r y t h i n g from h a i r c u t s t o f u n e r a l s , from c h i l d r e n ' s c l o t h i n g t o home h e a t w i l l be t a x e d a t 7% i n a d d i t i o n t o whatever p r o v i n c i a l sales t a x a l r e a d y e x i s t s . The GST i s t h e l a t e s t s t e p i n C o n s e r v a t i v e F i n a n c e M i n i s t e r Michael ~ i l s o n ' s t a x r e f o r m package, which i n t h e l a s t t h r e e y e a r s h a s s e e n p e r s o n a l income t a x i n c r e a s e d t o 46.3' p e r c e n t o f government r e v e n u e , w h i l e c o r p o r a t e t a x e s now acc o u n t f o r a mere 11.2 p e r c e n t . The GST s h i f t s even more o f t h e t a x burden ont o t h e i n d i v i d u a l by t a x i n g consumer d o l l a r s s p e n t - d o l l a r s t h a t have a l r e a d y been t a x e d when t h e y w e r e e a r n e d . B u s i n e s s e s meanwhile e i t h e r do n b t pay t h i s t a x a t a l l o r i f t h e y do w i l l g e t t h e e n t i r e amount r e b a t e d from t h e government i n t h e form o f t a x c r e d i t s . I n d i v i d u a l consumers w i l l pay t h e e n t i r e GST. T h i s t a x i s i n e f f i c i e n t , i n f l a t i o n a r y , u n f a i r and r e g r e s s i v e . I t w i l l e r o d e s e r v i c e s , r a i s e p r i c e s and c o s t j o b s . It w i l l n o t h e l p t h e economy and i t w i l l harm working p e o p l e . WHAT THE GST WILL DO The GST w i l l immediately c a u s e a jump i n i n f l a t i o n . E s t i m a t e s v a r y from between 2.5% t o 5%, b u t i f t h e e x p e r i e n c e i n B r i t a i n i s a n example, i t w i l l r i s e a good d e a l more t h a n t h a t . I n one y e a r , f o r i n s t a n c e , i n f l a t i o n i n t h e United Kingdom jumped from 8% t o 20%. The i n f l a t i o n a r y s p i r a l w i l l d r i v e up i n t e r e s t r a t e s and i n c r e a s e t h e d e f i c i t , f o r c i n g t h e government t o i n c r e a s e o t h e r t a x e s o r t h e GST i t s e l f . J o b s w i l l be l o s t . E s t i m a t e s r u n between 72,000 t o 100,000, m o s t l y i n t h e service sector. Small b u s i n e s s e s w i l l go under b e c a u s e of d r a m a t i c a l l y i n c r e a s e d a c c o u n t i n g c o s t s , c a s h f l o w problems and l o s s of c u s t o m e r s . Working p e o p l e need a f a i r t a x s y s t e m where everybody - C o r p o r a t i o n s and Canadians - pay t h e i r s h a r e . We must oppose t h e GST and f i g h t f o r r e a l t a x r e f o r m where p e o p l e come f i r s t . W e must have a s y s t e m t h a t t a x e s on t h e a b i l i t y t o pay t h r o u g h a p r o g r e s s i v e income t a x s y s t e m , which a p p l i e s e q u i t a b l y t o c o r p o r a t i o n s a s w e l l a s o r d i n a r y Canadians.
I~0\JNr~O\JN EADTS I D E YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY
h85-4488 F r e e 1 ) o c t u r s on s i t e 2?3 U i n S t . (confidential)
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b ~ ~ p ~ DONATIONS SINCE -INCEPTION : Yanuru Spa,.11- $ Nancy W.-$300 N i l l i s S.-$110 George B.-$15 R i c h I>.-$41 R o b e r t S. -$60 J a n c i s i\.-$Lt!, NEWSLETTER L u i s P.-$20 Tom - y 4 . 0 2 b r g . S.-$20 L.B.T. - $100 IIIE NEUSLE'CYEII 1s A YUULICATIONOF IUE c A m E c l e connmir~CENTRE ASSOCIATION Ted B.-$5 S h e i l a U.-$2 L i l l i a n ti.-$20 James ~i.-$51) ~ r t l c l r u rrprrurnt the V ~ ~ Uo fU LnJlvldual c o n ~ r l b u t o r u .I,J nut of chr Auroclrrlon. I.NacLe0d-$150 K e l l y - $ 3 J . E a s t - $1 Nancy 5.-$50 Sue H.-$20 S t e v e I<.-$10 I'IIEE tlarlcbllor~su c c u p l u t l . Neil M.-$2 B. & B. - $8 C i t y i n f o s t a f f carr't a c c e p t I a n - $5 P e t e r E.-$3.32 donat i o n s f o r t h i s N e w s l e t t e r , s o CEEDS - $10 K e i t h C.-$10 i f you can h e l p , f i n d Paul Taylor L i n d a F.-$50 E t i e n n e S .-$20 and I r e ' l l g i v e you a r e c e i p t . Mendel R.-$15 W i l f r i d U.-$5 ~ ' l e mG.-$5 Anonymous $48.73 T e r r y t h e T e r r i b l e - $100 A r c h i e M.-$100 L i n d a K.-$100 Maureen R -$5
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NEED HELP ? DERA can help you with:
* * * * * *
any welfare problems U I C problems getting legal assistance unsafe living conditions in hotels or a p a r t m e n t s d i s p u t e s w i t h lalldlords income tax
D E R A i s l o c a t e d at 9 E a s t H a s t i n g s o r p h o n e 682-0931. D E R A H A S B E E N S E R V I N G T H E DOWNTOWN E A S T S I D E FOR 1 5 Y E A R S
I, ( h a v i n g j u s t a r r i v e d i n town, j o b l e s s , a l i t t l e worse f o r wear b u t n e v e r t h e l e s s d e t e r m i n e d t o make t h e b e s t of i t ) a s k e d a S o c i a l Worker where a good, a f f o r d a b l e p l a c e t o d i n e was. "Oh, t h e 44 Club p u t s o u t v e r y reasonable meals a t a n a f f o r d a b l e p r i c e , " she says matter-of-factly, "and I have i t on good a u t h o r i t y t h a t t h e food t h e r e i s second t o none," s h e q u i p s . "of c o u r s e i f you c a n s i n g . . " s h e a d d s and a t t h a t p o i n t I c o n g e n i a l l y i n t e r r u p t e d . "I have been known t o a good i m p e r s o n a t i o n o f 'Maimie' by A 1 J o l s o n when I ' m i n t h e P a r t y Way," I s a y , somewhat g l a d t o b e making s m a l l t a l k with a n e l e v a t e d Person of Authority. "What I meant, s i r , was your o n l y o t h e r o p t i o n a t t h i s t i m e is t h e Salv a t i o n Army!" s o u p i n g s a r c a s t i c a l l y . "Well I never!" I h u f f as I a c c e p t t h e meal voucher f o r t h e 44 Club and head o u t i n t o t h e s t r e e t . A f t e r g e t t i n g a round a b o u t , conf l i c t i n g r e p o r t on d i r e c t i o n s t o t h e 44 Club, by t h r e e c a p r i c i o u s o l d Chara c t e r s ( i l l u m i n a t e d i n d i v i d u a l s whose o n l y c l a i m t o f r e e e x p r e s s i o n seems t o be whose t u r n i t i s t o t a k e t h e n e x t p u l l on t h e b o t t l e ) , I f i n d t h e p l a c e . 'Wow!'I t h i n k , amid h o p e f u l E c s t a t i c Rumblings from my stomach, ' j u s t l o o k a t t h i s line-up!' The food h e r e must i n d e e d be SECOND-TO-NONE i n t h i s c i t y . Why, t h e r e must be 150 p e o p l e l i n e d up j u s t d y i n g f o r t h e chance t o p a r t a k e of t h e E x o t i c D e l i g h t s s e r v e d h e r e . The p a t r o n s seem an odd bunch though . . t h e way t h e y ' r e d r e s s e h and a c t . Oh w e l l , I t h i n k ( t h e o p t i m i s t i n me comes t o t h e r e s c u e a g a i n ) , t h e food is p r o b a b l y s o good and t h e p l a c e s o p o p u l a r ( j u d g i n g by t h e l i n e - u p ) t h a t i n o r d e r t o save time they a l l neglect e d t o go home, wash up and change a f t e r work s o t h a t t h e y w o u l d n ' t have t o wait t o o long.
A f t e r w a i t i n g i n t h e s l o w l y moving l i n e - u p f o r o n e s o l i d h o u r , I began t o be a l i t t l e s u s p i c i o u s of some o f t h e especially restaurant's patrons t h e c h a r a c t e r behind me who l o o k s and s m e l l s as i f h e j u s t g o t o f f one of t h e f i s h i n g b o a t s as h e coughs r i g h t down my neck f o r t h e s i x t h time s i n c e we've been i n t h e l i n e - u p . I slowly gaze around t h e f o y e r with a c r i t i c a l e y e . The guy two p e r s o n s up from me keeps b r e a k i n g o u t of l i n e and d o i n g back f l i p s , a d v e r s e l y annoying t h e guy i n t h e w h e e l c h a i r who i s t r y i n g t o s e l l what l o o k l i k e h i s o n l y p a i r of s h o e s . Maybe t h i s p l a c e i s n ' t r e a l l y a s a f f o r d a b l e a s my S o c i a l Worker t h i n k s . Oh w e l l , I seem t o be c o v e r e d anyway and t h i s i s no t i m e t o be t u r n i n g around now. ' c a f e t e r i a s t y l e , ' I muse as I d e f t l y p i c k up a t r a y and s t a r t l o a d i n g i t down. I t ' s a b o u t t i m e t o o , what w i t h a l l t h e People Saving P l a c e s i n t h e line for their friends. By t h e t i m e I g e t t o t h e C a s h i e r , 1've accumulated one p i e c e o f c a k e , a bowl of pudding, two d i n n e r buns, a s a l a d w i t h French d r e s s i n g , one p l a t e of two Cold Smokies ( t h a t had been s i t t i n g f o r some t i m e f o r want of someone t o p i c k i t u p ) , o n e p l a t e o f a s m a l l s l i c e o f meat l o a f , $ scoop of p o t a t o e s and a t a b l e s p o o n o f vegi e s , one j u i c e , one c o f f e e , one s e r v i e t t e and a bowl o f hang-over soup. The C a s h i e r t e l l s me t h a t I a m o n l y a l l o w e d one b e v e r a g e one d e s s e r t one d i n n e r bun and one meal and promptly t a k e s t h e E x t r a s o f f my p l a t e . "Here! Here!" I p r o t e s t u s i n g my b e s t a u t h o r a t i v e voice. "That's n o t t h e way t o t r e a t a P a t r o n who comes a l l t h e way from t h e I n t e r i o r j u s t t o t a s t e your good f a r e . 1 t ' s a wonder t h a t you have any P a t r o n s a t a l l t h e way y o u ' r e g o i n g on a b o u t i t ! T h i s i s indeed e m b a r r a s s i n g , madame, and I s t r o n g l y p r o t e s t !"
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A l l of a sudden I ' m met w i t h two v e r y l a r g e gentlemen who q u i c k l y conv i n c e me t h a t my b e s t r e c o u r s e a t t h e moment i s t o ''Shut t h e f u c k up" and f i n d myself a p l a c e t o s i t down; o t h e r w i s e I w i l l be unceremoniously t o s s e d o u t on my ' ~ i c k e n s ' "Imagine t h a t ! " I fume t o t h e i n t o x i c a t e d gentleman s e a t e d a c r o s s from me. "Business must be s o good t h a t t h e y can gang up on t h e i r p a t r o n s and r o b back t h e f o o d from o n e ' s p l a t e . " I n answer I am met w i t h a v e r y l o u d " b e l c h . " " ~ h e y ' r e n o t t h e o n l y succe s s f u l r e s t a u r a n t i n town," I mumble. 'I Next t i m e I ' m g o i n g t o t r y t h e one around t h e c o r n e r on P o w e l l S t r e e t where I saw a n o t h e r l i n e - u p . " S i n c e a p p e t i z e r s a r e n o t anywhere i n s i g h t i n t h i s p l a c e , I p a r t a k e of t h e half-bowl o f s l i g h t l y w i l t e d s a l a d . The P o r t i o n Pack o f French D r e s s i n g t o u c h e s i t o f f n i c e l y and I h u r r i e d l y g o b b l e i t down. . a s one i s wont t o do i n t h e s e t i m e s of hunger. The soup h a s a u n i q u e s u s p i c i o u s t a s t e of c u r r y and j u s t a h i n t of oregano. I mention t h i s t o t h e i l l u m i n a t e d p a t r o n a c r o s s from me and he c a c k l e s g l e e f u l l y . "Not s u r p r i s i n g , " h e s a y s between chews. "Yesterday t h e y had c u r r i e d beef and way l a s t week w e had spagetti." Although I s u s p e c t h e ' s j o k i n g , I forego t h e r e s t of t h e Experience. The meat l o a f i s swimming i n brown r i c h gravy; i t ' s s k i l l f u l l y brocheted by a s m a l l clump o f crawly-flower on one s i d e and a n i b b l e scoop o f r i c e w i t h g r a v y on t h e o t h e r ( v e r y c o s t I t ' s n o t t o o bad a t a l l efficient). but I s u s p e c t t h e gravy g i v e s i t t h e t a s t e . It seems t o be a m i x t u r e o f ground m e a t s r a t h e r t h a n ground beef b u t n o n e t h e l e s s food f o r a t h a n k f u l stomach.
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y
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I l o o k o v e r a t my Dinner Companion and f i n d i t h a r d t o t e l l j u s t what he ordered a s , due t o h i s illuminacy, h i s food i s s c a t t e r e d and mixed up a l l o v e r t h e t a b l e and t r a y . He s u r e seems t o be e n j o y i n g i t though, and I c h a l k up a n o t h e r P l u s f o r t h e p l a c e . My pudding, f o r want of a b e t t e r description, is surprisingly tasty. It l o o k s l i k e hunks of b r e a d w i t h r a i s i n s , cinnamon and p r o b a b l y an egg I don't and a l i t t l e m i l k t o b i n d . know what t h e y e l l o w s t u f f on t o p i s though, b u t t h e o l d c a p r i c i o u s Chara c t e r a c r o s s from me, whom I ' m beginn i n g t o e n j o y , t e l l s me lie saw some y e l l o w s t u f f l i k e t h a t once way back i n ' 4 3 a t a S a l l y Ann l i n e - u p . A t t h a t moment I c h o s e t o l e a v e . This C a f e t e r i a i s a very hard place t o rate, as t h e C i t y F a t h e r s c l a i m i t i s t h e o n l y one o f i t ' s k i n d i n town. So, s i n c e i t ' s recommended by b o t h our i l l u s t r i o u s Social Services ( I wonder i f t h e y e v e r eat h e r e ) and o u r Good C i t y F a t h e r s whom, I am t o l d , make t i m e l y P e r i o d i c a l I n s p e c t i o n s of t h e p l a c e a f t e r t h e y g i v e them t h r e e o r f o u r days n o t i c e . I w i l l assume t h a t t h e y know w h a t ' s b e s t f o r u s . . . and g i v e i t a F i v e - S t a r r a t i n g f o r 11 second-to- one" e s t a b l i s h m e n t s .
1 w i l l n o t mention t h e two l a r g e f e l l o w s who manage t o occupy t h e desk i n t h e f o y e r ; o r how t h e y ' r e s o busy e i t h e r r e a d i n g pocket books o r c h a t t i n g up t h e i r a c q u a i n t a n c e s t h a t t h e y d o n ' t seem t o s e e a l l t h e many people butting into l i n e o r t h e f a c t t h a t a clean table is hard t o f i n d here. I w i l l s a y though t h a t I s h a l l be g l a d t o r e t u r n and be obediently thankful f o r the three meals a day 1 ' m a l l o w e d .
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By W.G.
FERGUSON
A MONTH I S A MONTH I S A MONTH
Five weeks between W e l f a r e Wednesdays Ten more d a y s t o go: "Can you s p a r e s i x t y - f i v e c e n t s ? " No. P u t on t h e s h a b b i e s t c l o t h e s ; Make them know you are one of them. Nine more d a y s t o go: You c a n ' t t a k e a walk a t n i g h t now; T h e r e ' s t o o many d e s p e r a t e characters out there. E i g h t more days t o go: A n e r v o u s young man s e l l s a
gram of h a s h , which i s r e a l l y a s m a l l hunk of w o o d - f i l l e r , t o a n o l d e r man who hands o v e r $15 .OO a n d walks away. Seven more d a y s t o go: A young man was s t a b b e d i n t h e stomach l a s t n i g h t . S i x more d a y s t o go: baby s i t t e r s a r e promised money by s i n g l e moms w h o ' l l have p l e n t y o f c a s h by morning i f t h e y g e t t h r u t h e dangerous n i g h t .
F i v e more d a y s t o go: L y s o l , a f t e r s h a v e , bay rum; a n y t h i n g g o e s down h e r e . Four more t o go: the Coffee t i c k e t s ! C a r n e g i e - must go be w i t h p e o p l e . 1t's Saturday Night!
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Three more: The a d d i c t i o n s o f food and t o b a c c o do b a t t l e t o see who w i l l b e bought stolen, o r b ~ No! You c a n ' t t u r n i n t o a bum.
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Two : S a r d i n e s and d r y smoke - t h e p a u p e r s f e a s t . But w a i t !
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One day: t u e s d a y t h e Carnegie - f r e e Volunteer dinner! Oops: d i d I p u t i n 15 h o u r s ? Welfare Wednesday The m a i l boxThe u t t e r l e t down. G a r r y Gust
Conversation a t Carnegie One morning I h e a r d a man t e l l o f a f a n t a s t i c c e l e b r a t i o n on a n a r t i f i c i a l l a k e i n a n c i e n t Egypt. P e o p l e surrounded t h e l a k e and d r i f t e d i n t o t h e w a t e r on s m a l l b o a t s w i t h cand l e s . The g l a s s y w a t e r r e f l e c t e d the constellaitons. I s a i d , "Maybe Stonehenge was a n i c e r i n k . " Without d i s c i p l i n e minds can s e e I n u i t , C e l t s , D r u i d s on bone s k a t e s . Unmechanically minds c a n envision t h e p r a c t i c a l i t y of u s i n g a n i c e s u r f a c e f o r moving s u c h b i g b l o c k s o f s t o n e . S u r e l y smoothed
i c e is an a r t i f i c i a l lake; the l a k e i s s o l i d though i t may n o t r e f l e c t t h e h e a v e n l y l i g h t s as b r i l l i a n t l y b u t i t c a n , g i v e n c a r e , be a c c u r a t e . The d i f f e r e n c e between a l l c u l t u r e s o f t h e world i s o n l y s u p e r f i c ial. Discipline suppresses not only t h e s u r f a c e b u t t h e d e p t h o f mind i n t o d u l l conformity. A l l c u l t u r e s grow from mind. We a r e d e s t i n e d t o s l a v e r y , t o m e a n i n g l e s s m a l i c e and p r e j u d i c e u n l e s s we g e t o u t o f t h i s groove. H a b i t s and h a t r e d f l o u r i s h as mind s l e e p s . By JOHN HUSSY
THE THROW=AWAYSOCIETY
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P e o p l e d r i v e by. Walking q u i t e s l o w l y s o a s n o t t o go t o o q u i c k l y f o r him, we made o u r way a l o n g t h e s i d e w a l k . The s t i n k o f c a r e x h a u s t is o n l y a few f e e t away, t h e i r l i g h t s c l e a r as t h e y s p e e d by. "What ' s y o u r name?" "Mark," was h i s r e p l y ; a s h o r t , aged N a t i v e man, h i s walk v a r y i n g i n p i t c h i n t h e cold midnight a i r , h i s l e g apparently hindering h i s progress. Walking a t t i m e s a few f e e t ahead I would s t o p t o l e t him c a t c h up. We had walked f o r twenty m i n u t e s n o t g o i n g more t h a n s i x c i t y b l o c k s o r s o . It was o n e o f t h e t i m e s I ' d s t o p p e d t o w a i t f o r t h e man. I t u r n e d i n t i m e t o s e e t h e way he t u r n e d i n c i r c l e s on t h e s p o t - a s i f a l l o f a sudden h e w a s l o s t . He went round a b o u t t h r e e t i m e s , l o o k e d up a t t h e s k y , t h e n went o v e r on h i s f a c e o n t o t h e r o a f w a y . . h a l f on h a l f o f f t h e s i d e w a l k ! I p u t my b a g and knapsack down t r y i n g t o move him, h o p i n g h e wasn't h u r t too badly..perhaps he need n o t b e l i f t e d . I d i s c o v e r e d he was much h e a v i e r than h i s s i z e i n d i c a t e d . P e o p l e s t i l l d r i v i n g by. I got b o t h a r m s a r o u n d him; he was s t i f f a s a b o a r d w i t h some b l o o d on h i s I l i f t e d him s i d e w a y s o n t o face. t h e sidewalk. "Mark! Mark!." He lay there slight l y convulsing, s t i l l q u i t e s t i f f . For some r e a s o n , p e r h a p s t o h a l f g u a r d him, I l e a n e d o v e r him w i t h my l e f t l e g and f o o t s t i l l t o u c h i n g him and s t a r t e d waving b o t h arms, t r y i n g t o f l a g down p a s s i n g a u t o s f o r a s s i s t a n c e a s i t w a s t o o f a r t o any o t h e r a i d . No one would s t o p . They would d r i v e a r o u n d w i t h o u t h a r d l y slowing.
I t u r n e d my a t t e n t i o n t o Mark. He seemed t o b e aware enough t o s p e a k , t o my r e l i e f . I t r i e d t o f a l g c a r s i n more e a r n e s t , a c t u a l l y w a l k i n g o u t i n t h e l a n e and p o i n t i n g a t t h e p e r s o n and o b j e c t s on t h e s i d e w a l k . m e woman p a s s e n g e r seemed t o r e a c t q u i c k l y , t a l k i n g t o t h e d r i v e r who braked t h e c a r a b i t b u t t h e n drove away. I r e t u r n e d t o Mark. BY now, h e r e a l i z e d t h a t p e o p l e w e r e n ' t s t o p p i n g . I f e l t b a d l y , aski n g t h e i n j u r e d man i f he c o u l d w a l k , even t h i n k i n g o f l e a v i n g my bag and c a r r y i n g him. No, he c o u l d n ' t walk and s t i l l l a y i n h i s p l a c e on t h e c o l d c o n c r e t e . Somewhat a n g e r e d a t t h e p e o p l e who w o u l d n ' t s t o p , I walked o u t i n t o t h e l a n e w i t h my arms and hands o u t i n f r o n t a s i f t o I managed t o t r a p one i n stop cars. my l a n e . The v e h i c l e s t o p p e d a b o u t twenty f e e t b e f o r e i t g o t t o me. I could s e e t h e t u r n s i g n s 1 on, a s i f t o p u l l i n t o t h e o t h e r l a n e and d r i v e away, b u t I moved q u i c k l y up t o t h e c a r . I c o u l d s e e t h e l a d y was pert u r b e d , n o t s u r e what t o d o . By now I was b e s i d e h e r window w i t h t r a f f i c g o i n g by and a n o t h e r v e h i c l e behind her. She r o l l e d h e r window down a half-inch. I g o t a few words o u t , moving my body c l o s e r s o as t o be h e a r d c l e a r l y . She r o l l e d t h e window closed t i g h t . I gestured t o the sidewalk and mimicked s p e e c h . She r o l l e d h e r window a h a l f - i n c h . " W i l l you c a l l a n ambulance?" "Yes, okay." She d r o v e by l o o k i n g towards Mark. She w a s s t i l l i n s i g h t when a p o l i c e c r u i s e r happily jerked t o a stop at the curb. Ahh. A s s i s t a n c e , r a d i o & l i g h t s . Y o u ' l l have a n ambulance soon, Mark.
Zeltic Hospitality
We a t t e n d e d t o t h e N a t i v e , t h e o f f i c e r getting a plastic-coated pillow and b l a n k e t f o r t h e t r e a t m e n t and comf o r t of t h e p a t i e n t . Dabbing t h e b i t o f blood t h a t had p o o l e d i n t h e c o r n e r o f h i s e y e , I saw a bump t h e s i z e o f a q u a i l egg above t h e l e f t brow. We w a i t e d f o r t h e ambulance. The p e o p l e d r o v e by on March 11, ' 9 0 a t 12:20 a.m. I suppose they w i l l l o o k f o r i t i n t h e newspaper o r t h e news. Such a t h i n g a f t e r r e a d i n g o f p e o p l e d r i v i n g a r o u n d a n i n j u r e d and d y i n g woman on a busy Vancouver c r o s s walk made m e s h u d d e r . The 64 y e a r - o l d woman d i e d a b o u t 6 a . m . on March 6 . A f t e r c a l l i n g two h o s p i t a l s a b o u t Mark, I l e a r n e d t h a t h e , w a s r e l e a s e d t h e n e x t day. People d r i v e by.
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You c a p t u r e d my e y e , l i k e a l i t t l e b u t t e r f l y -- You s m i l e d , w i t h s i n c e r i t y . You t o o k a s n a p s h o t o f me, o f f g u a r d . You i n t r o d u c e d me t o s o m e t h i n g beautiful. With your camera You c a p t u r e d t h e g r e a t beauty of t h e s e a s h o r e , t h e p a r k s , t h e s t r e a m s and r i v e r s and t h e gardens. I enjoy t h e ocean, t h e r e a l aquarium, and I l o v e h i k i n g and canoeing. You a r e S p r i n g -- I ' v e a l w a y s looked 1t's nice forward t o b e i n g w i t h you. t o c a t c h a b u t t e r f l y ; S p r i n g , you have come t o g r e e t u s . I r e a l i z e that the b u t t e r f l y has t o be s e t f r e e , come f a l l and w i n t e r -I have come t o h o l d t h i s f r i e n d s h i p very s p e c i a l . Miki
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A t r u e s t o r y . I was t h e r e By MIKE BOHNERT -
l a y y e s e l f down have done n' long n i g h t s
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F e r I s e e and s a w y e had wenches and s l a v e s by t h e c o r d f u l l Och Mahorn l a i r s a f e y e a r e h e r e i n m e domain Mind y e r w i t t s a b o u t , f e r o n c e y e are begone s h a l l we e ' e r meet a ' a i n S u r e a s me name McFiannan y e ' l l s u r ' l y f e l l t h e k i s s o f m e sword
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inverse proportional s t r a t i g r a p h y a s o c i o l o g i s t ' s term t o o S o r o r i t y , Diamond and Gold A g i r l ' s b e s t f r i e n d , but a l l t h a t g l i t t e r s a i n t gold Shaved d i e , no d i c e t o a n e t e r n a l world of tomorrows P r o s t e n t a n t women s h a r i n g common views of c r i s e s and f e a r and food l i t t l e t r i a n g l e cheeses and bananas Writing s o q u i e t l y Love i n s p i r e s t h e music (Too l o u d ) it is the conservatives who a r e wrecking t h e c o u n t r y now (GST) i n j u r e d workers hobble a l o n g c r i p p l e d by s o c i e t y ' s i n d i f f e r e n c e pushed and shoved by h u r r i e d crowds shunted, r a i l r o a d e d l o t s of y e l l i n g going on shout drunken abuse hurl hurt curses and swear, b u l l i e d and b e a t e n We know why Poverty i s t h e crime Corruption i s t h e c l u b Jobs, jobs, jobs comic books and a b o t t l e of pop a p i n k and a g r e e n f o r t h e b l u e s James J e n n i n g s
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May I s u g g e s t M r . M i n i s t e r ; A. That we need a t t i t u d e c h a n g e s of b o t h a d m i n i s t r a t i v e and s o c i a l worker s t a f f ; B. That we g e t more and b e t t e r information of o u r r i g h t s i n a w e l f a r e system; C. That we s e e a d e c r e a s e o f d e f e n s i v e n e s s , growing o u t o f l i m i t e d a c c e s s t o o p p o r t u n i t i e s , and tokenismhelp. D. We c o u l d b e n e f i t by b e t t e r , meani n g f u l s p e c i a l r e s o u r c e s and back up s e r v i c e s . . s u c h a s a r e a l emergency program. May I a l s o s u g g e s t , s i r , t h a t y o u r good o f f i c e s a s s i g n u s s o c i a l workers who c a n s e e w i t h o u r e y e s , h e a r w i t h o u r e a r s and f e e l w i t h o u r feelings I t h a s been s a i d b e f o r e , s i r , t h a t t h e problems o f p o v e r t y c a n n o t b e r e s o l v e d a s i f t h e y were i s o l a t e d from t h e w i d e r economic, s o c i a l and p o l i t i c a l p a t t e r n s of t h e n a t i o n . I a l s o t h i n k t h a t b e c a u s e o f o u r pove r t y , a l o t of middle-class jobs I would l i k e t o s e e a majorexist. i t y of t h e s e p e o p l e s t a n d up and b e c o u n t e d on a c r i t i c a l i s s u e t h a t a f f e c t s t h e poor. I f they a r e n o t w i l l i n g t o p u t t h e i r j o b s on t h e l i n e f o r t h e impoverished then t h e r e w i l l a l w a y s be p o v e r t y . H i s t o r y w i l l t e l l you, s i r , t h a t when an impoverished p e o p l e l e a r n s how t o b r e a k t h r o u g h t h e i r own apat h y and l e a r n s t o s p e a k t h e words t h a t they must, t h e i r v o i c e w i l l n o t be g e n t l e . Can you blame u s f o r t h a t ? Would you have e x p e c t e d a n y t h i n g different?
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Kegards, W. G.
FERGUSON
Burn a Crop f o Now t h a t we have THE WORKERS u n d e r o u r thumb we can s t a r t w i t h t h e l a y - o f f s . F i r s t w e ' l l have rumours So t h a t t h e RATS Can do t h e i r own t h i n g . Exploiting the s i n s of t h e i r brothers and b u r n i n g t h e m s e l v e s . Then heavy c o m p e t i t i o n For t h e i r m i n d l e s s j o b s and e a c h w i n n e r g e t s a paycut They'll understand.
I wonder what happens to the losers We n e v e r s e e them l e a v e They would make u s f e e l out-numbered We d o n ' t need t h a t s t r e s s . ~ h e y ' r ea l l t o t a l l y a l o n e and t h e s y s t e m i s a g a i n s t them because ~ h e y ' r eunemployed. The s y s t e m i s u n f a i r We a l l know t h a t But sometimes, I c a n ' t help thinking t h a t maybe t h e r e i s a God. Greg
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THE ANATOMY OF A HIT AND MISS WELFARE RECIPIENT
( a two-sided s t o r y ) By W.G.
FERGUSON
The d i f f e r e n c e between b e i n g a welf a r e r e c i p i e n t and b e i n g i n j a C l i s t h e f a c t t h a t t h e Warden d o e s n ' t send me t r a i p s i n g a l l o v e r t h e c i t y on s e e m i n g l y e n d l e s s m i s s i o n s . The purposes f o r t h i s , I s t r o n g l y susp e c t , a r e j u s t as c o n f u s i n g t o t h e s o c i a l w o r k e r s a s t h e y a r e t o me. I h a v e a n "uneducated" hunch t h a t m i s l e a d i n g m i s s i o n s o f e n d y r a n c e and s a t m i n a a r e aimed more w i t h a v i e w t o p l e a s i n g t h e middle c l a s s than they a r e t o a i d i n g t h e r e c i p i e n t . ere's a n example: During y o u r f i r s t i n t e r v i e w you a r e c l a s s i f i e d , r e a d t h e R i o t Act and j u d g e d - seems t o happen t h e m i n u t e you w a l k t h r o u g h t h e d o o r . With o r w i t h o u t t h i s judgement i t seems t h a t t h e s o c i a l w o r k e r w a n t s t o see you " d a n c e - a - l i c k " , but t h i s b e i n g 1990 ( s h e o r h e must n o t o f f e n d y o u r r i g h t s ) you w o n ' t b e asked t o 'dance' a s such. I n s t e a d you a r e s i m p l y t o l d t o walk 12 l o n g c i t y b l o c k s down t h e s t r e e t t o t h e U . I . C . o f f i c e . This t a k e s some d o i n g b e c a u s e you a r e on c r u t c h e s and want t o be a b l e t o g e t a w e l f a r e c h e q u e i s s u e d and c a s h e d b e f o r e t h e banks c l o s e . You h a v e damn n e a r b u s t e d y o u r other leg getting t o the U.I. office waited while f i f t y o r s o people a r e p r o c e s s e d and t h e n a r e g i v e n t h e p r o o f i n w r i t i n g t h a t you c a n n o t c o l l e c t U . I . b e c a u s e you h a v e n o t worked s i n c e 1947 when t h e y t r i e d t o g e t you t o pay p r o p e r t y t a x . Then i t ' s b a c k down t o S o c i a l Ser1 v i c e s , a n o t h e r hour i n t h e line-up and t h e n t o t h e w a i t i n g a r e a f o r a n o t h e r ?5 h o u r o r s o . She c a l l s you
i n and j u d g e s you f i t f o r work, having p r e c a r i o u s l y capered t h e $ m i l e t w i c e i n a 3 hour time span. Now comes more q u e s t i o n s . . a n d t h i s t i m e s h e h a s h e r hand on tlle pllo~le a s i f s h e ' s s u s p i c i o u s as h e l l . Meanw h i l e t h e t i m e is t i c k i n g by and a f t e r a n o t h e r b a r r a g e o f what w i l l happen t o you i f you a r e c a u g h t clieat i n g s h e t e l l s you t o p i c k up a cheque a t 3 : 30 pm. You a l m o s t p a n i c ! "3:30 pm. why t h a t ' s way a f t e r l u n c h , " you h i n t . 1 1 Can you s i n g ? " s h e s n a p s r a t h e r loudly. F l a t t e r e d , you a n s w e r , "Why y e s ma'am, I c a n do a good impersona t i o n o f Ma'amee by A 1 J o l s o n when 1 g e t l o o s e n e d up some!?? Course I d o n ' t h a v e any b l a c k f a c e t o p u t o n , " I chortle but. "You have a d r i n k i n g problem!" s h e exclaims. 1 1 No ma'am," I s a r c a s t i c a l l y snap
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back. "I've never taken a d r i n k t h a t d i d n ' t d e s e r v e t o be d r u n k . And I might a d d , I h a v e no problem d r i n k i n g . " "Well, s i n c e you c a n s i n g , I ' m sendi n g you down t o t h e S a l l y Ann f o r l u n c h b u t I ' m g o i n g t o g i v e you a v o u c h e r i n s t e a d o f a cheque. T h i s way you m i g h t g e t more f o o d i n y o u r stoma c h t h a n a l c o h o l , and y o u r A 1 J o l s o n might end up s o u n d i n g more l i k e Don IIo. Good d a y , s i r . " T h a t ' s when I l o s t my c o o l . A f t e r a l l i t was F r i d a y and a l l t h e guys would b e a t t h e pub d o i n g what t h e y do b e s t w h i l e I . . w h i l e I . . . What t h e Dickens! ! ! ? "You o u g h t t o s e e your f a c e ! " I exp l o d e . " I t ' s enough t o p u t t h e run on t h e whole F i f t h F l e e t . You a i n t gonna t r e a t me l i k e no mug," I s a y ( u s i n g my b e s t ' C a g n e y l . . " I ' l l phone t h e Cops!" I s w i t c h t o Gleason: " ' d i s time i t ' s gonna be d a moon, A l i c e , ' d i s t i m e i t ' s gonna be d a moon. A l l 2 m i l l i o n s q u a r e m i l e s o f i t ! And y o u ' r e gonna ALLLLL o v e r t h e r e ! " be t h e r e Some t i m e l a t e r
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The d i f f e r e n c e between b e i n g i n j a i l and b e i n g a w e l f a r e r e c i p i e n t i s t h e f a c t t h a t a w e l f a r e r e c i p i e n t , who i s i n c l i n e d and d e t e r m i n e d , can s t i l l manage t o s e l l a food voucher s o t h a t h e can buy a b o t t l e now and t h e n . The s t u f f t h e y make i n j a i l i s s o a w f u l t h a t "Every time you t a k e a d r i n k , you can f e e l t h e D e v i l b i t e your a s s ! " Hey! You guys c a n ' t keep me i n h e r e ! I know my r i g h t s ! T h e r e ' s a law a g a i n s t what y o u ' r e d o i n g t o me! I g o t a S o c i a l Worker who can k i c k your a s s any day! Lemme out!!! By W.G. FERGUSON 0
P o e t s from t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e P o e t s from C a r n e g i e C e n t r e and t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e w i l l be r e a d i n g t h e i r work l i v e on Co-op Radio on a s p e c i a l program c a l l e d " P o e t r y i s My Bomb." T h i s program w i l l be broadc a s t Tuesday, A p r i l 3 r d from 1 p.m. t o 2 p.m. and i s p a r t o f t h e Co-op Radio S p r i n g Membership d r i v e . The Radio Access f o r L i t e r a c y Proj e c t c o n t i n u e s . T h i s month we w i l l be d o i n g v a r i o u s workshops on i n t e r v i e w i n g , sound o p e r a t i n g , announcing If you a r e i n t e r e s t e d and t u t o r i n g . i n f i n d i n g o u t more p l e a s e c o n t a c t Brenda o r Helene a t 684-8494.
Dance Without Music The e a r t h a l l a r o u n d u s l i k e a t h r e a d t h r o u g h a maze, we dance w i t h o u t music t i l l w e s t u m b l e on d e a t h . With t h e p a s t a l l a r o u n d u s l i k e the colours i n white, we add w h i t e t o w h i t e c a n v a s and c a l l i t Canadian. The sky a l l around u s . l i k e a c o n t e x t f o r meaning, we work, l u s t and p a r t y down t o a n e x a c t s c i e n c e . Our s e l v e s a l l a r o u n d u s l i k e shadows and e c h o e s , w e draw-up a s e l f - i m a g e t h a t c l i n g s l i k e a noose. And myself a l l a r o u n d me l i k e t h i s t e n - f o o t - s q u a r e room? I j u s t m i s s s e e i n g t h e poet w i t h t h e c h a n g e a b l e name... Stephen Belkin
A NOTE TO ALL CARNEGIE PATRONS
Dear f r i e n d s , It a p p e a r s t h a t r e n o v a t i o n s w i l l beg i n i n l a t e May Though w e ' r e d i s a p p o i n t e d w i t h t h e s l i g h t d e l a y , we a r e p l e a s e d w i t h t h e c a u s e (which was maintenance t o t h e e x i s t i n g v e n t i l a t i o n s y s t e m p r i o r t o a d d i n g on a d d i t i o n a l d u c t i n g and v e n t s and f a n s and motors). Here's t o f r e s h air i n the N e w Year. The r e m a i n i n g months o f 1990 w i l l be a c h a l l e n g e t o u s a l l . Some g r o u p s w i l l b e t e m p o r a r i l y d i s p l a c e d ; some s p a c e s w i l l d i s a p p e a r and new o n e s w i l l appear. Construction w i l l bring n o i s e and d u s t and i n c o n v e n i e n c e . We hope t h a t t h e b u i l d i n g w i l l a l w a y s b e open, though, o b v i o u s l y , p a r t s w i l l be c l o s e d f o r v a r i o u s l e n g t h s o f t i m e . I f we e v e r needed t o hang t o g e t h e r as a C a r n e g i e f a m i l y , 1990 i s t h e I t ' s g o i n g t o b e tough, b u t year. w e ' l l make i t and 1991 w i l l see u s e n j o y i n g o u r upgraded, r e n o v a t e d downtown e a s t s i d e l i v i n g r o o m . Thank you f o r y o u r p a t i e n c e and your c o - o p e r a t i o n i n t h e months t o come.
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The F r i d a y Night P o e t r y g r o u p on t h e 3 r d f l o o r h a s f u n . An a v e r a g e o f 1 0 p e o p l e come w i t h d i f f e r e n t s t y l e s and l o t s o f t a l e n t . Thanks t o t h o s e who came and c o n t r i b u t e d . S p r i n g i s h e r e and t h e o u t s i d e beckons, s o w e ' l l s t o p f o r awhile. Anyone i n t e r e s t e d i n h a v i n g some more workshops, p l e a s e l e a v e a message a t t h e Learning Centre. Sheila Baxter Are you homeless? Have you been homeless ? I a m c o l l e c t i n g s t o r i e s o f homel e s s n e s s f o r a n upcoming book. The f i r s t book w a s c a l l e d No Way To L i v e Poor Women S ~ e a kOut. Leave a message a t t h e L e a r n i n g Centre o r w i t h Paul Taylor a t t h e N e w s l e t t e r 665-2289. You can be assured of confidentiality. S h e i l a Baxter
Sincerely,
Muggs S i g u r g e i r s o n & Diane MacKenzie President Director C.C.C.A. Carnegie Centre
11
Onions''
I l o v e t o e a t Onions It t e n d s t o d o u s e my i n f l a m e d b u n i o n s . I l o v e t o snap g a r l i c I t ' s tangy z i p a c t s a s a t o n i c . I l o v e h o t s a u c e i n my soup Only t r o u b l e i s i t b u r n s my hoop. Oysters I dearly cherish, Not t o o much, n o t t o o l a v i s h , But I s t i l l l o v e o n i o n s . I t q u e l l s my Burning Bunions. A l b e r t Milton
March 21, 1990. Open Letter to Dr. Strangeway (President of U.B.C.) With the UES Engineering Department's long history of sexism, it is not surprising that they have now begun to dabble in racism. Sadly though, it is often those who ridicule native social problems who are, at the same time, fierce opponents of Native people's attempts to solve their own problems through land claim settlements and Native self-government. As a representative of the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, which is largely utilised by Native women I would like to know specifically what action your administration intends to take in response to the Engineering Newsletter's racist dontent. I would appreciate receiving a letter from you in this regard. Your letter will be printed in the Carnegie Centre Community Newsletter, a newspaper which serves a large native population. Maureen Rivington Social Action Cmtt.
THE
$3rinciplee of
(Ms. Rivington called UBC's administration office on Monday, Mar. 26, to ask again for a response from Dr. Strangeway. She was told that, because of the enormous amount of mail a meeting of the President and the Vice-Deans of various departments was planned to draft a letter to send to all people who had written. In the meantime, there has been no further action on the matter of suspending the students responsible. A radio interview with one of these had him stating he "wasn't too worried" about further action on being suspended from UBC. When telling Ms. Rivington of actions that the University had taken, nothing was mentioned about this either. Are we to assume that Strangeway is backing off..or worse, chuckling to himself?)
CARNEGIE NEWSLETTER REVIEW COMMITTEE NEEDS A REVIEW As a poet, I was delighted and honored to read some poems for International Women's Day at Carnegie. Many women told me that they really liked my work. After the reading, Paul Taylor asked me to submit 3 poems in particular to the newsletter. He asked for 3 in particular. He obviously tllou,t the poems were suitable for the newsletter. He is, after all, the editor. I unwittingly assumed that my poems would be printed verbatim; word for word how the poems were written, unless there were typos. When I read the newsletter, I found that the content of 2 of my poems had been intentionally changed. Not mere typos. Entire chunks were taken out and replaced by someone else's words. I was horrified. Editors of newsletters do not edit poetry. Do cura-
SUBJECTIVE ALLOYS
By G a r r g Gust
YOU MUST L E A V E A N D FIND A MORE
Y E A H , YOU'VE GOT TO ZERO
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t o r s of a r t shows add p a i n t t o paintings? O r resculpt sculptures? I t h i n k n o t . It i s n o t t h e i r j o b . Unless o t h e r w i s e r e q u e s t e d , e d i t o r s e i t h e r wholly a c c e p t o r reject poems v e r b a t i m . P o e t r y i s n o t negot i a b l e . The r a i s o n d ' e t r e of p o e t r y i s t h e uncensored v o i c e . Like a painting o r a sculpture, it I S the e x p r e s s i o n of t h e a r t i s t . So why d i d t h e Carnegie N e w s l e t t e r e d i t my work? I had t o a s k P a u l : What happened? Paul t o l d m e t h a t t h e n e w s l e t t e r has a review committee. All submiss i o n s t o t h e n e w s l e t t e r , even t h o s e
I D O N ' T BELIEVE IT! YOU TWO A C T U A L L Y
r e q u e s t e d by t h e e d i t o r must be approved by t h e committee. T h i s means t h a t t h e review committee h a s t h e power t o a c c e p t , r e j e c t , a l t e r , change, and m u t i l a t e p e o p l e s ' subm i s s i o n s . The committee seems t o have a vague r o l e and i t seems t o be t o p r e v e n t c o n t r o v e r s y . The committee t o l d t h e e d i t o r t h a t t h e poems had t o be changed. Why? Apparently, one poem was "denigrat o r y t o c h u r c h e s . " I had t o laugh. The t e x t t h a t t h e y f i n d " d e n i g r a t o r y " is, w i t h o u t q u e s t i o n , c r i t i c a l o f t h e Catholic church's hypocrisy a b o u t , and d e n i g r a t i o n o f , women. The
Catholic Church relies on the denigration of women for its very existence. According to the committee, the second poem "portrayed women as victims." As a feminist, with a fairly clear analysis, I was stunned. The poem compared the brutalisation of the earth, vis-a-vis clearcut practices, to the brutalisation of women. In a culture where "man has dominion over allthings," and woman is seen as nature and therefore part of that 11 dominion," my comparison is entirely accurate. The poem is quite clearly a plea to stop the brutlaisation of II nature." I was deeply offended by the changes to my work. I would rather that the poems were not printed at all. What can be done? 1) There should be an editorial box in every newsletter. It should explain that submissions will be reviewed by a review committee and the mandate of that committee. You owe this to your editor, as well as the readers and writers. Paul is left holding your dirty bag. People don't know that he is not solely responsible for decision making. 2) I am not disputing that there should be a review committee. But, the review committee must be accountable to the public and have a clear mzhdate. Censorship is not arbitrary; it is, by definition, very selective. However, 'censor' is also defined in the dictionary as "a person who tells others how they ought to behave" and "a person who likes to find fault." If the committee has no mandate, you better make one. Either that or call yourselves what you appear to be, i.e. "the woolly minded gee this might offend someone" committee, or "in defense of the status quo" or "arbitrary slash n' gash" committee. 3) Lay committees and journalistic
newsletter editors do not and cannot edit poetry. Just exactly where do they get their poetic license from? If you don't like the poem, don't print it. But have sound reasoning and a clear mandate as the premise for doing SO.
Who are you protecting by butchering poems? Surely the public can, and will let you know if they find it "offensive." Or is that what you're afraid of? At the very least, every effort must be made to notify the writer about such blatant changes before the works go to print. I would have pulled my poems without hesitation. The issue of censorship is neither particular to this newsletter nor my poetry. Surely the committee realises what a ball of fire they are playing with. Censorship must be dealt with ethically. For myself, I want an apology, to be printed in the newsletter, for the committee's unwarranted and unjustifiable censorship of my poems. I want my two poems reprinted in their original, and only, forms - the ones that they were submitted in. A reviewacornmittee should make itself accountable to the writer, not the other way around. I think the "review committee" will be surprised as to how little a response my poems will incur. You have created controversy where there was none. Isn't that what you are trying to avoid? This letter is written in good faith. I hope that it will prod an internal review of the review committee. Be public, accountable, and have a clear mandate. pj flaming
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