December 15, 1989, carnegie newsletter by Carnegie Newsletter

TO HAVE A V O I C E I S TQ HAVE POWER By PAULR There are f i v e fundamental necessi t i e s f o r human e x i s t e n c e : Food, Clot h i n g , S h e l t e r , Medical Aid and Educ a t i o n . S h e l t e r i s t h e major concern f o r t e n s of thousands of low-income Canadians and t h e l o s s of a f f o r d a b l e housing i s making t h e c u r r e n t s t a t e of p l a n n i n g a j o k e a t b e s t . I n every neighbourhood of Vancouver low-cost r e n t a l housing i s b e i n g sacr i f i c i e d t o make way f o r condos, townhouses, h i g h - r i s e l h i g h - p r i c e d boxes. People who have l i v e d i n be t h e y h o t e l t h e i r homes f o r y e a r s rooms, rooming houses o r p r i v a t e d w e l l i n g s - f i n d n o t i c e s of horrendous r e n t i n c r e a s e s a n d / o r e v i c t i o n ; t h e p l a t i t u d e o f f e r e d i s "progress ' P r o g r e s s i s a l i e ; t h e numbers of people who a r e homeless i s t h e blatant truth. Follow, i f you have t h e stomach f o r i t , the l o g i c a l progression: 1 ) Megapro j e c t - g i a n t mult i - n a t i o n a l corporations gain c o n t r o l of land and work p r i v a t e l y , w i t h t h e i r f r i e n d s w i t h p o l i t i c a l power, t o zone t h e a r e a f o r maximum d e n s i t y , t h e n u s e

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f o r p u b l i c meetings t o s t e a m r o l l t h e way t o a c c e p t a n c e . Approved a r e s c o r e s o f towers and 30-40 s t o r e y h i g h r i s e s , minimum r e n t s expected a t $800/mo. going up t o $2,00O/mo. f o r land only is s e t the luxury s u i t e s a s i d e f o r t h e r e q u i r e d 20% s o c i a l housing. The r e s p e c t i v e l e v e l s of government make no b i n d i n g l a w s / agreements t o have t h i s a f f o r d a b l e housing a c t u a l l y b u i l t . . j u s t t h e l a n d f o r i t , which w i l l be p a r k s f o r t h e r i c h people i n t h e h i g h r i s e s forevermore. 2) Surrounding l a n d v a l u e s skyrocket a s greed s p r e a d s o u t , w i t h s m a l l e r

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TAYLOR

d e v e l o p e r s buying up blocks and buildi n g s a s q u i c k l y as p o s s i b l e . 3) The q u i c k e s t way t o empty b u i l d i n g s of ' u n d e s i r a b l e ' t e n a n t s i s t o c i t e by-laws r e q u i r i n g s i m p l e upgrad i n g - s p r i n k l e r systems, t o i l e t s t h a t work, h e a t i n t h e w i n t e r - and whine about t h e "enormous c o s t of renovations". A f t e r changing t h e b u l b s o r f i x i n g t h i n g s t h a t ' v e been broken ( o r n o n - e x i s t e n t ) t h e r e n t s jump by 40-75% and t e n a n t s pay a l l c o s t s o r move o u t . 4) The domino e f f e c t r e s u l t s i n lowc o s t housing becoming s c a r c e r , vacancy r a t e s drop t o v i r t u a l l y z e r o . (At p r e s e n t t h e r e a r e 3 p l a c e s f o r every 100 people l o o k i n g - .03%.) 5) Homelessness r u n s rampant w i t h p o l i c e and s o c i a l s e r v i c e s l e f t t o d e a l w i t h t h e poor drowning i n a s e a of greed. 6) I n Vancouver, Mayor Gordon Campb e l l and o t h e r NPA aldermen g i v e t h e i r f r i e n d s c o n t r o l of p u b l i c l a n d f o r " a f f o r d a b l e housing" - "If we ' re lucky, t h e r e n t s should be as low a s $600/month FOR ONE-BEDROOM SUITES!" a u-

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The c o v e r of t h i s i s s u e t e l l s t h e s t o r y of w h a t ' s happening t o t e a r b l i n d e r s o f f t h e i r f a c e s and show them t h e r e a l i t y of l i f e - a s opposed t o t h e i r v i s i o n of a n e x e c u t i v e c i t y . On TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 9 t h a t 1:30 t h e r e i s going t o be a r a l l y of peop l e from a l l over Vancouver a t C i t y H a l l . The d i s p l a c e m e n t s & d e m o l i t i o n s a r e o u t of c o n t r o l now and t h e majori t y on Council i s t u r n i n g a b l i n d eye t o solutions, t o ensuring the availab i l i t y of low-cost housing i n t h e c i t y Everyone i s urged t o a t t e n d t h i s demonstration. A bus w i l l be l e a v i n g

Carnegie a t 1:30 on t h e 1 9 t h . I t w i l l be f r e e . I t ' l l r e t u r n a t 3:15. For more i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e r a l l y c a l l JOHN SHAYLER a t 255-3099. To g e t a p l a c e on t h e f r e e bus c a l l PAUL TAYLOR a t 665-2289 o r a t 665-2220 and l e a v e a message. EVERYBODY!!!

ENUMERATION OF THE HOMELESS I n 1991 t h e r e w i l l be a census t a k e n as t h e r e i s e v e r y f i v e y e a r s . I n a r e p o r t p r e p a r e d by P h i l i p G i l e s , Stat i s t i c s Canada Task Manager, a proj e c t t o count t h e homeless i n Canada i s d i s c u s s e d . It seems t h a t " t h e homeless p o p u l a t i o n i n Canada i s growing, and s i n c e t h e Census is a n enumeration of t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n of Canada, t h i s s u b p o p u l a t i o n must b e addressed. " Before c o n t i n u i n g , l e t me p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e r e p o r t d e a l s w i t h t h e subject of c o u n t i n g . S t a t i s t i c s Canada d o e s n ' t make s o c i a l p o l i c y . T h i s i s

t h e p r o v i n c e of t h e p o l i t i c i a n s . A census i s a n a t i o n a l u n d e r t a k i n g , but G i l e s proposes o n l y 10 c i t i e s a s s i t e s f o r c o u n t i n g t h e homeless. By t h e i r d e f i n i t i o n , a homeless person i s someone who d i d n o t s t a y i n a recognized t y p e of d w e l l i n g on Census Day. On t h i s s p e c i a l day o n l y , and i n 10 c i t i e s o n l y , a s p e c i a l s t a f f c o n t i n g e n t from S t a t s Canada w i l l do t h e c o u n t i n g - e i t h e r by a ' S t r e e t B l i t z ' o r by going t o Soup Kitchens. Early i n t h e r e p o r t , Giles p o i n t s o u t t h a t i t h a s n ' t been decided y e t i f t h e numbers w i l l be r e l e a s e d t o t h e p u b l i c because of t h e "questiona b l e q u a l i t y of t h e d a t a " ...p e o p l e n o t wanting t o be counted, people bei n g counted t w i c e , e t c . Developers would u s e t h i s e r r o r - f a c t o r t o make any count appear h i g h e r t h a n f a c t . The f a c t i s t h a t t h e housing c r i s i s i s now, t h e homeless a r e a f a c t now. The Census i s i n 1991. The numbers won't be o u t u n t i l 1992. Thousands of low-income c i t i z e n s a r e j o i n i n g t h e r a n k s of homeless people d a i l y and any numbers made p u b l i c i n 1992 w i l l , a t b e s t , prove a moot,point: T h e r e ' s no where t o go when t h e l e a s t expensive housing i s t o r n down. 1991 is alsc the year of the nev f e d e r a l t a x . A l l of u s w i l l pay t a x on o u r r e n t ! A t t h e same t i m e m u l t i nationals - big business - w i l l get t o w r i t e o f f t h e i r f a i r s h a r e of t a x o r j u s t d e f e r payment i n d e f i n i t e l y . I f t h e y were made t o pay l i k e people who work f o r a l i v i n g t h e i n t e r e s t on t h e d e f i c i t would be p a i d - $30 b i l l ion a year. ."DO you have a home?".

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By PAULR

TAYLOR

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG When h e was a young man, my p a t e r n a l g r e a t - g r a n d f a t h e r s p e n t a l o t of t i m e at the local public library. L a t e r , h e married, helped r a i s e a f i n e f a m i l y , and c o n t i n u e d t o go t o t h e l i b r a r y . A f t e r r e t u r n i n g home from t h e F i r s t World War, h e eventua l l y j o i n e d t h e Vancouver P o l i c e Department. C o i n c i d e n t a l l y , t h e department w a s l o c a t e d n e a r h i s f a v o u r i t e r e a d i n g p l a c e , and h e would o f t e n b r i n g books home f o r t h e r e s t of t h e family, e s p e c i a l l y f o r h i s daughter Hazel. When H a z e l was a young g i r l , s h e would walk m i l e s t o t h e l i b r a r y . I n t i m e , s h e t o o would p a s s on t o h e r c h i l d r e n , g r a n d c h i l d r e n and g r e a t g r a n d c h i l d r e n a l o v e of b o o k s , l e a r n i n g and walking. When my s i s t e r , b r o t h e r and I were young, o u r p a r e n t s t o o k u s t o t h e l i b r a r y a l m o s t e v e r y weekend. T h i s was n o t , however, t h e same l i b r a r y o u r g r e a t - g r a n d f a t h e r and o u r grandmother had gone t o . F o r t u n a t e l y f o r u s , o u r p e d i a t r i c i a n was l o c a t e d i n t h e Ford b u i l d i n g which was r i g h t a c r o s s t h e

BREED ILLITERACY

street from o u r b e l o v e d C a r n e g i e . A t t h a t t i m e i t was a museum and i t s exh i b i t s , s i g h t s and sounds n e v e r ceased t o i n t r i g u e us. U n t i l a few months a g o , I s p e n t most of my f r e e t i m e a t t h e C a r n e g i e L e a r n i n g C e n t r e a s a v o l u n t e e r and ESL t u t o r . Nowadays I work on t h e Carnegie Board, t h e N e w s l e t t e r and t h e L i b r a r y Committee. And s o a f i n e t r a d i t i o n and f r i e n d s h i p c o n t i n u e s t o grow. Barbara P.S. : T h i s s t o r y i s d e d i c a t e d t o my f a m i l y and f r i e n d s and e s p e c i a l l y t o my p a t e r n a l g r a n d - p a r e n t s , Mrs. H a z e l Morrison and t h e l a t e M r . Wm. Morrison.

ax ~ o o k sMagazines , & Newspapers No Portage Required

Here's the damage a 9% increase in the cost of books, magazines and newspapers can do: Bccaur they are highly price sensitive, salcs of Canadian publications could drop by 20%. This will mean less variety and r l w t i o n at bookshops, ncwsslands and libraries across the country. Thc very people on whom Ottawa is spcnding millions of dollan to make more lifbrate - poorer and less educated Canadians - will be hit hard. Since you don't pay federal tax on books,magazines and newspapers now, this will mean a 100%tax increase.

If it weren't so devastating, the irony would be laughable. But something can be done. The Goods k Services Tax is coming under attack. It won't take effect until 1991. So, there is time to convince the federal government it is making a terrible mistake in taxing the Lifeblood of our culture. You can help us, and right now isn't a moment loo soon. Just mail thc attached card to Prime Ministcr Mulroney today. Publishd by f k bon'f Tax Rending Coalifion, 260 King Sf. E, Toronto, Onf., MSA IW

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario KIA 0A2 Mr Mulroney, Let me add my voice to thousands of other Canadian readers. A tax on books, magazines and newspapers is bad policy and bad politics. Don't tax reading under the GST. Please keep me informed on how you plan to redress this wrong. Name Address City/Prov Code

Litany of s cr Marc Lepine , % ;

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turned sole:y into an of men's zbusr of worrxn. Thl? let5 too rnarfy pcoplt off t t~ hooi, To be sure, 1 h a w arked queqtlons of my 18-year-old daugLitcrI never have asked befort. Iids sht. ever felt physrcally threatened by males? Yes. Has she ever felt physically afraid of males? Yes. This is my precious daughter, in her normal, secure, mrddle-cldss world. "It w2s so close to us. He could have come inia~o w school, he could have come after us women. " Us Women is what she said. But what if Marc Lepine had pone after blacks, Asians, children as the cause of his woes, as other mass murderers have gone after blacks, Asians, children? And what if my daughter were black, Asian, a child? In the past two decades, mass murder has become a footprint of North America. Marc Lepine fit to a T the mass murderer's profile. The loner, pathologically alienated from the supports of close friends and family. The person imbued with

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his own life in a world of larger and larger impersonal institutions. The devotee of Rambo cultural imagery, seeing in it the solution to the individual's societal impotence. Will we go demonstrating in

Minister's unctpous hypocrisy? "Why such violence in a society that considers itself civilized and compasslonate?" Brian Mulroney asked. The answer, in part, is because his government reduces unemployment insurance benefits and expenditures on health, education and welfare while his Finance Minister shills $1,000 bottles of cognac in a Toronto magazine. Mr. Mulroney's government is a statement - such as we haven't heard in Canada in this century of our evaporating social compassion. In the five years of his administration, one million Canadians - 40 per cent of them children - have become dependent upon private charity foodbanks in order to eat. Can there be a woman - or man - in Canada who does not recognize the breeding grounds for Marc Lepines? The stone weights of poverty and powerlessness on families. The urban isolation. The depersonalized workplace. The ghastly cultural images of resolution . . . get your gun, get your military fatigues, be a man, take a man's way out. . . . Can someone - maybe Justice Minister Douglas Lewis explain why anyone needs to buy automatic of seml-automatic weapons? We've shot up just about all the animals within easy reach. What's left except Siacirs, nc!nns, ch~ld-ren,wom-

vigils, carrying candles, wearing white scarves - in protest against the depersonalization of humanity in a First World society greed-driven to constructing corporate and social structures that screw the poor and robotize the rest of us? Will we demand that our politicians take action against spiritbreaking housing costs, against the shattering humility of private charity food banks, against the untrammelled growth dehumanizing our cities and destm ing the soul-nurturing tranqu4t of the rural landscape, against t i e obscenity of $300 teddy bears in Christmas toyshops. Will we boycott the products of cn~m!irms ?ha! !?a_! !heir workers as iaceless cogs, mere human machinery to be dismantled at whim, tossed out, say, !f there i!: a c!lnnce for a fcw

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It is the social conditlons that produce Marc Lepine and more and more Marc Lepines that concern me. Not enough of us have been driven mad yet for us to be really interested in bui1d:ng a civiiized, c o ~ t ~ p a s t *

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(From The Globe and Mail, 11 December 1989.) ~ditor's note:

This article gives one opinion. The focus is narrowed to back up the writer's viewpoint. Many people have different opinions and some are diatremtrically opposed. What's yours? Please write; violence of all kinds is part of life, be it against women, children, men, animals,. )

"Violence against WO me n w 0 r 1dw id e

"Without aggression, without aoy noisy obtrusiveness, a few Canadianwomen by deep thought, by clear vision or by honest service have preparedthe wav for those who will follow, and have proved the right all as are National Councilof Women, 1900 1986Herstory

One in 10 Canadian women will be abused or battered by her husband (Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, 1982).

More than 80 million African women and girls are victims of female circumcision or other forms of genital mutilation (World Health Organization re~ortl. ,

50 per cent Of married bvomen are regularly battere by their partners in Bangkok, Thailand (Worldw tch Institute report).

An estimated 1,000 women are burned alive each year in dowry-related incidents in the state of ~ u j a r a t ,lndia-alone (Ahmedabad Women's Action Group report). 78,000 female fetuses were aborted after sex determination tests between 1978 and 1982 (a study of a Bombay clinic). Every 15 seconds a woman is beaten In the United States (U.S. Department of Justice). In Mexico, a woman is raped every nine minutes (Doble Jornada. Nov. 1987).

"The hand that rocks the cradle does not rule the world. If it did life would be held dearer and the world 1 would be a sweeter cleaner place than it is now." Nellie McCIung 1985Herstorv

...

"For too long we have believed it our duty to sil down and be resigned. Now we know it is our duty to rise up and be indignant." Nellie McClung 1980Herstory

(From a /act sheet produced by MATCH International Centre, an Ottawa-based organization committed to improving the status of women globally ~lhroughthe exchange of resources between Canadian and Third WorM women.)

"Many women f&l their position does not needto be improved, but this does not mean that all Canadianwomen are so fortunate. It is important that women show concern for oiiiers si iiieir sex...i am my sisier's i<eeper."Jean Mclllwrick I981 Herstory That seems to be the haunting fear of mankind-that the advancement of women will sometime, some way, someplace interfere with some man's comfort. Nellie McClung 1978Herstory

"Women have never yet lived in their own world. Man has assigned woman to his sphere. A woman's sphere is any thing a man does not want to do himself. This isa simple distribution of labour and easily understoodand is very satisfactory to half the population." Nellie McClung, 1916 I986Herstow

Women must band together to better conditions for this and future generations, to enable them to go into the world and meet the requirements nobly and honestly. Louise Lucas, 1932 Herstory 1983

"It is not so much a woman's duty to bring children into the world as to see what sort of the

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"Remember, the best revenge is writing well.' Audrey Thomas, 1979 1987Herstow

To t h e Carnegie Newsletter RE: C r i t i c i s m of DERA I f my w r i t i n g ("Catch-22", Nov.15) gave t h e impression t h a t I am a g a i n s t enforcing basic l i v i n g standards i n o l d h o t e l s , o r t h a t I support & " p a i n t as s a i n t s " t h e l a n d l o r d s , t h e n I missed t h e mark. A l l I r e a l l y want t o p o i n t o u t i s t h a t t h e s t a n d a r d s ' by-laws enforced by c i t y h a l l & supported by DERA a r e almost always c i t e d by l a n d l o r d s as t h e r e a s o n f o r r e n t i n c r e a s e s . Now.. I ' m n o t n a i v e . . . I know t h a t most l a n d l o r d s are pushing f o r maximum l e g a l p r o f i t s , & t h a t t h e business community s u p p o r t s such m o t i v a t i o n s . What my c r i t i c s w r i t e ( t h e informat i o n a l p a r t o f t h e i r response) i s no doubt t r u e , & f i l l s o u t t h e p i c t u r e . But as l o n g as t h e s t a n d a r d s bylaws a r e worded i n such a way t h a t t h e y c a n c o n t i n u e t o be used t o just i f y t h e k i n d of r e n t i n c r e a s e s w e see a t t h e Columbia, l a n d l o r d s w i l l n o t have t o d e a l w i t h t e n a n t s f $ i r l y . "Passing on t h e c o s t t o t h e conbumer" i s a f a i t accompli t y p e of catchp h r a s e t h a t i s used everywhere, & w i l l n o t b e s e r i o u s l y c h a l l e n g e d as long as we i g n o r e i t s e f f e c t s . Whzt L t h i n k is neczssary is an immediate f r e e z e on h o t e l r e n o v a t i o n s i n t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e , & a c a r e f u l r e s t r u c t u r i n g of t h e s t a n d a r d s of maintenance by-laws, s o they c a n ' t b e l e g a l l y used t o squeeze r e s i d e n t s o u t . I f t h i s Catch-22 s i t u a t i o n c o n t i n u e s t o be ignored, a l l t h e publ i c meetings & media s t a t e m e n t s i n t h e world won't s t o p l a n d l o r d s from u s i n g t h e bottom line...which a t t h i s p o i n t amounts t o t h e i r l e g a l r i g h t t o p a s s on c o s t s t h a t should have been regarded as p e r s o n a l busi n e s s expenses o r s t a n d a r d o p e r a t i n g c o s t s i n t h e f i r s t place.

I d o n ' t i n any way blame DERA f o r b u t I do blmae the rent increases them f o r a l l o w i n g t h e s t a n d a s of Maintenance by-laws t o e x i s t i n a form t h a t can be used a g a i n s t u s . I f t h e y a r e t h e "watchdogs of t h e community" they w i l l s u r e l y recogn i z e t h i s problem & make some e f f o r t to correct it. TORA

Y O U R POLICY STINKS

The world premiere of a video w i t h t h e above s t a t e m e n t a s i t s t i t l e was a major event on Sunday, Dec. 3 , i n t h e Carnegie Theatre. A group of people on w e l f a r e i n Carnegie g o t funding from t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e Human R i g h t s Dept. and Legal S e r v i c e s t o produce t h i s c a u s t i c view of what amounts t o d a i l y a c c u r r e n c e s i n t h e o f f i c e s of MSSH. The v i d e o i s about r i g h t s and how t o g e t them, about t h e d i g n i t y and m o r a l i t y s o s a d l y l a c k i n g i n t h e way i n d i v i d u a l s on a s s i s t a n c e iocomes a r e t feat ed

iG-5" i u v u l v e d in t h e pr~senrzcicn were t h e D i g n i t y P l a y e r s , performing t h e i r p l a y We Are Family Too, a h e a r t f e l t c r i t i q u e of t h e f o s t e r family Live music and a n i n program i n B.C. c r e d i b l e a r r a y of n o u r i s h i n g r e f r e s h ments rounded o f f t h e evening.

The video "Your P o l i c y S t i n k s " i s a v a i l a b l e f o r showing around t h e Lower Mainland and throughout BC. To book a showing, c a l l Carnegie a t 665-2220 and l e a v e a message f o r e i t h e r I r e n e Schmidt o r Joan M o r e l l i .

By JEAN SFJANSON

W e have w e l f a r e t o h e l p t h e poor, r i g h t ? Welfare keeps people from s t a r v i n g when t h e y c a n ' t work. It prov i d e s money f o r r e n t s o w e d o n ' t have s o many homeless people and i t f e e d s l i t t l e c h i l d r e n of s i n g l e p a r e n t s . L a t e l y t h e Socreds have been s a y i n g t h a t i t a l s o g i v e s people a n "incent i v e " t o f i n d work. But people who are on w e l f a r e o r who d e a l w i t h t h e system a l o t , have a hard t i m e f i g u r i n g something o u t . I f t h e w e l f a r e system i s supposed t o h e l p t h e poor, how come i t does such a lousy job at i t ? And i f t h e Socred government knows how t o change t h e system s o i t h e l p s u s , why i s n ' t i t making t h o s e changes? D r . Diana Ralph, who t e a c h e s a t t h e School of S o c i a l Work a t C a r l t o n Univ e r s i t y , gave an i n t e r e s t i n g explanat i o n of w e l f a r e p o l i c i e s . She s a y s t h e r e a r e r e a l l y two k i n d s . One k i n d i s designed t o h e l p b u s i n e s s , and i t u s e s poverty and poor people as a t o 0 1 t o h e l p h i i s i n e c s mnlr.n mnyn_ nrnrLkits.

Ralph s a y s t h e r e are s e v e r a l ways t h a t w e l f a r e p o l i c y can be d e s i g n e d t o h e l p b u s i n e s s . The system can t r y t o f o r c e people t o work by having v e r y low r a t e s , by r e q u i r i n g people t o look f o r j o b s even when t h e r e a r e n ' t enough of them and even i f t h e y a r e of no b e n e f i t t o t h e p e r s o n o r t h e f a m i l y , and by conveying t h e message t h a t people who d o n ' t work a r e l a z y and d i s h o n e s t . Welfare p o l i c y can a l s o h e l p b u s i n e s s by p r o v i d i n g d i r e c t wage s u b s i d i e s t o employers and d i r e c t r e n t subsidies t o landlords.

S o c i a l C r e d i t a c t i o n on w e l f a r e p o l i c i e s makes mo r e s e n s e when you lfir\lr i t Frnm t h i s p e r s p e c t i v e . Lvvn Q L I n S o c i a l C r e d i t B.C. t h e purpose of welfare i s t o help business. Welfare r a t e s r a n g e from about 45 t o 65 p e r c e n t of t h e p o v e r t y l i n e , s o t h e y a r e lower t h a n s u b s i s t e n c e l e v e l . This means t h a t v i r t u a l l y any lowwage j o b l o o k s b e t t e r t h a n w e l f a r e . People a r e t h r e a t e n e d w i t h b e i n g c u t off welfare i f they don't look f o r and a c c e p t any kind o f job. A r e c e n t news r e l e a s e from Claude Richmond ( t h e n M i n i s t e r of S o c i a l S e r v i c e s ) t o l d t h e media t h a t "everyone who i s c a p a b l e of working should be a b l e t o f i n d a job," d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t on t h a t v e r y day t h e o f f i c i a l unemployment rate was 9.2 p e r c e n t i n B.C. The i m p l i c a t i o n ? People on w e l f a r e are l a z y , This form of d i s c r i m i n a t i o n would be i l l e g a l i f i t were d i r e c t e d a t ana religio t h e r c a t e g o r y of p e o p l e ous o r r a c i a l group, f o r example. A w e l f a r e system t h a t i s designed t o h e l p b u s i n e s s w i l l a l s o h e l p emp l o y e r s w i t h wage s u b s i d i e s . Right now f o r example t h e Socreds have a n "Employment P l u s " program t h a t pays up t o $3.50 p e r hour t o employers i f t h e y h i r e a person on w e l f a r e . Ih-. t h e s c r f e c = t h i s SEE:^^ ~ k h y .zui remember t h a t we s t i l l have t e n s o f thousands of p e o p l e s e e k i n g work who a r e n ' t on w e l f a r e . How many employers w i l l f i r e a c u r r e n t employee, o r n o t h i r e a new one, s o t h e y can g e t t h e wage s u b s i d y ? Wouldn't i t be cheaper f o r t h e tax-payers i f government s i m p l y r a i s e d minimum t o $7.50 a n hour t o keep pace w i t h t h e v a l u e i t h a s l o s t s i n c e 1975? There a r e o t h e r ways t h a t t h e Socred w e l f a r e system h e l p s b u s i n e s s . People on s t r i k e o r locked o u t , f o r example, a r e not e l i g i b l e f o r welfare. This makes i t more l i k e l y t h a t t h e y a l l have t o ' g i v e up demands f o r wages and workn t

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ing condit$ons if their families have no resources to continue paying neeessary expenses. Often when the Socreds do raise welfare rates a meagre amount, they raise the shelter portion the most. This means that landlords get all the extra money, not poor people. A welfare system that was really designed to "help the poor" would provide adequate rates that would meet basic necessities for all. We'd have full employment. Wages and benefits would be enough to support families in dignity. we'd have pay equity so that women as well as men would have a chance of earning a family wage. And we'd have laws that make it possible for unions to organize more worksites and to bargain successfully for decent wages and working conditions. We'd have good quality childcare and arrofdable housing. Then ten of thousands of single mothers could afford to work outside the home if they wanted to. Who is welfare for? ~et's get behind a welfare system that would be part of a larger strategy to end poverty. That's what would really "help the poor".

CLAUDE'S DISAPPEARING ACTS (Nov.15 - FLAWPine) Are the socred cabinet shuffles just smokescreens for Ministers to get away with murder at the eleventh hour? With a wave of his wicked wand Claude Richmond made a lot of poor people's rights disappear. Let me count some of the ways: 1) The repeal of Sched.A.s.3(b)iiiV This was the section that gave the minister discretion to give "any &her allowance that.. .should be given due to need". In other words, advocates' escape hatch that helped get extra money for almost any reasonable need is gone. Poof! 2) By adding Sec.13 to Sched.A. he has managed to stop a lot of handicapped people from getting bus passes. Advocates (especially Gary Colley) were helping handicapped people, who were not getting money from GAIN, get the $36 bus pass. To be eligible now you have to be strictly on GAIN for the handicapped. Poof! 3) Claude is the same guy who tried to kick 49,000 people off welfare. He tried to stick people on welfare with a $50 cutback. He is making single parents look for jobs that don't exist. He entrenched the i n v o l u u i a r y famiiy maintenance program that takes away womens' rights to legal counsel and could put them in life-threatening situations with exspouses. Poof! Poof! Poof! The only good thing disappearing act he did is the one that disappeared him right out of MSSH. But, one has to ask: What kind of wreck job will Peter Dueck (the new minister and a car dealer) try to sell us? ~laude's act is a hard act to follow. IF YOU CAN'T LOOK UP, DON'T LOOK DOWN. TRY LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD. The Stoned Ranger

w Ministry of Social Services and Housing

Province of British Columbia OFFICE OF THE MINISTER

Parliament Buildings Victoria British Columbia VBV P X4 --

Ms. Jean Swanson and Co-Signers Epd Legislated Poverty 104-2005 East 43rd Vancouver, B.C. V5P 3W8

Dear Ms. Swanson and Co-signers: Thank you for your letter of September 22, 1989, addressed to my predecessor, the Honourable Claude Richmond, in which you indicated your concerns regarding the recent Ministry of Social Services and Housing's initiative concerning employable singles and couples. I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond. The Ministry wishes to give a clear, distinct message to employable recipients that income assisstance is not a way of life. The Guaranteed Available Income for Need (G.A.I.N.) Act indicates that persons must demonstrate that they are making reasonable efforts to secure empioynent ~ m ~ i o ~ i brecipients ie who do make strong effor;; to findc6m610yment and do not obtain work will not be penalized under the program. Employable persons who require additional help in improving their skills in finding and keeping a job may receive additional services under the Employment Initiatives Program. Services such as vocational counselling, assessment, training grants and subsidized job placement are available.. These programs are in keeping with the Government's major objective of breaking the cycle of income assistance dependency by providhg'the maximum incentivas

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Thank you for taking the time to write.

Peter i; Dueck Minister of Social Services and Housiw

Peter Dueck

15 December 1989

Minister of Social Services and Housing

Dear Mr. Dueck: Being in receipt of your letter addressed to Ms. Jean Swanson and co-signers of the September 22nd letter to Claude Richmond, it seems that you have chosento ignore the statement sent to you dated 11 November 1989. From your state- ments in reply to the 22 Sept. letter it also seems that you have chosen to ignore the community's request to meet with representatives of Front Line Advocacy Workers and End Legislated Poverty. Community groups have attempted to state their position in regards to actions of the Ministry, which have been essentially uniform in disregard for the individuality of recipients of income assistance. You make no reference to the specific concerns. When your letter was read aloud, the reader covered rhetorical parts with "blah glah blah". We are acutely aware of the regulations and of the lack of decentralized dialogue. The result of blanket treatment of all recipients is a continuous drain on the resources and energy of frontline advocacy workers.

Perhaps you have not seen the 11 November letter. Perhaps you only saw it as a reference to the 22 September letter. Perhaps you can't believe that anyone thinks in a way that results in different conclusions, different ways of seeing income recipients as people worthy of respect and dignified treatment. 'Perhaps' is a nice way of saying that your response is a sham in the light of you being the Minister of Social Services and Housing. We are the people whose lives are disturbed with frustration and anger over how actions of your Ministry affect us. Thousands of people on welfare have no way to improve their situation and are dependent on this safety net, many for the rest of their lives. With unemployment so high, with businesses closing and relocating in other provinces and countries, with all of the real, daily brick walls that thousands of individuals face in "improving their situation" it is especially distressing to read a letter from the Minister that fails to address any of bur concerns in a meaningful way. T,

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by advocacy workers has been ignored. The Province of British Columbia has spent tens of thousands of dollars in several actions that have only widened the rift between itself and the citizens. Our collective billing was originally for $5,364.40, a meagre amount when compared to what it would have cost if the Xinistry had acted ethically and morally. Your response is requested. Respectfully submitted, PaulR Taylor.

S\JORI)POINT SATORI "It is said that the man who has faced death At the point of a sword Has an elevated understanding." I'll just bet he does. Never had the pleasure myself nor want to, But I did get to look Down the wrong of a rifle once, Held by a very nervous soldier With his shaky finger On the trigger His mouth trembling And a red flush spreading High across his cheekbones As he stood pointing That ancient cannon Right at my navel Somewhere in northern Mexico. Elevated 1'11 tell you I was just about elevated Right out of my drawers! Understanding? Perfect lucidity there for a moment One false move & I've got two belly buttons! So I put my hands palm out And attempt to plaster a beaming smile On my terrified face. I turn round slow And the soldier pokes me encouragingly In the back with the rifle.

Festive appearance a festival devoted to merry-making Family reunion Especial rich plum pudding Red and green a Christmas tree Presents Santa Claus Presence said to fill children's stockings with presents on the Night before Christmas

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and my peart slowly settles Back on its perch. I'm here to tell you As a path to enlightenment It definitely- leaves something to be desired.

A butterfly kissed you today And it didn't know Should it stay or go? But a breeze came by and blew away All the promise of improbable love. And there you stood so unaware, you didn't know; or wouldn't show The inner depth of peerless want. Goodby again, Lady of the rain. Garry Gust

The S t r i k e A f t e r Shock P r i s o n i s n o t t h e most f r i e n d l y p l a c e t o b e t h e s e d a y s . I f you were i n t h e r e while t h e s t r i k e w a s on, you'd t h i n k you were i n h e l l . A t least d e a t h would be a c o m f o r t i n g thought. While t h e s t r i k e went on because of o b v i o u s l y o v e r p a i d g u a r d s demandi n g even more wages f o r a j o b t h e y d o n ' t know o r c a r e how t o do a l r e a d y , t h i n g s g o t l a x . P r i s o n e r s thought of e s c a p e o r s u i c i d e . P r i s o n e r s were d e n i e d a c c e s s t o t h e d a i l y r o u t i n e of l i f e : t h e gym w a s o f f l i m i t s , t h e computer room w a s o f f l i m i t s and t h e c h a p e l and a l l r e l i g i o u s m e e t i n g s were c a n c e l l e d . The men c o u l d go t o t h e i r work and r e t u r n t o t h e i r rooms a t n i g h t . They had n o t h i n g b u t h a r d t i m e on t h e i r hands. The Warden t h r e a t e n e d them, s a y i n g t h a t t h e Army would move i n because o f t h e s t r i k e . The men i n p r i s o n d i d n o t misbehave b u t k e p t t h e i r n o s e s c l e a n and minded t h e i r own b u s i n e s s . The warden f e l t t h i s w a s n ' t good enough and c a l l e d i n t h e army t o s u p p r e s s t h e i n m a t e s even f u r t h e r . No inmate c o u l d even go t o t h e washroom w i t h o u t a n armed MP a s k i n g q u e s t i o n s and f o l l o w i n g them everyTLr -C-C-D-L-C ~ i d i c u i e c i Li 111= A ~ L I ~ ~ L W s u p p r e s s e d t o t h e p o i n t of f e e l i n g t h a t t h e r e was no hope i n s i g h t . Meanwhile, t h e g u a r d s were o u t s i d e the gates drinking coffee, shooting t h e b r e e z e and h a v i n g f u n w h i l e p i c k e t i n g t h e f e n c e f o r wages t h e y c l a i m a r e needed. What a b o u t t h e inmates who work f o r $5.25 a day, ~ $ 4 . 0 0of which goes t o a fund t o be g i v e n t o them a f t e r t h e y a r e r e l e a s e d ? $1.25 i s f o r them t o l i v e on f o r a week. C i g a r e t t e s j u s t went up i n t h e r e and t h e y have a h a r d time t o e x i s t on what t h e y a r e allowed now without t h e s e v i s i o n s & d i s o r i e n t a t i o n s of warped minds added on.

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Who i s watching o u t f o r t h e inmates? Who c a r e s i f thqy l i v e o r d i e ? What i s t h e system coming t o which g i v e s men ( g u a r d s & warden) s u c h power? Who w i l l s e e t h a t just i c e i s done w i t h i n t h e system? These q u e s t i o n s must be answered.I g e t t h e run-around a l l t h e t i m e . No one wants t o g e t i n v o l v e d i n h e l p i n g t h e inmate. Who w i l l h e a r o r c a r e t h a t t h e inmates a r e c r y i n g o u t f o r h e l p & no one i s l i f t i n g a f i n g e r t o h e l p them? I will. I wish t o be numbered among t h o s e who c a r e and I want t o s e e changes made t o h e l p t h e p r i s o n ers. W i l l you s t a n d b e s i d e me i n t h i s endeavor? Charles

CONFESS LONS

IJhiLe maklng r r e q u e n t v i s i t s t o a prison, I encountered p r i s o n e r s w i l l i n g t o t a l k t o me. , T h e i r a n s w e r s a r e tile b a s i s f o r my two a r t i c l e s s o f a r . Here a r e t h e i r a n s w e r s . A f t e r t h e s t r i k e , two i n m a t e s s t o l e 2 v e h i c l e s , a c a r & a v a n , and made t h e i r a t t e m p t t o r u n down a f e n c e and e s c a p e . "Wow d i d t h e y g e t k e y s t o t h i s vehicle," I asked. "One o f t h e g u a r d s l e f t t h e c a b i n e t where t h e keys a r e a l w a y s l o c k e d up u n l o c k e d . When t h e i n m a t e n o t i c e d it he s t o l e t h e keys, g i v i n g a n o t h e r key t o a f e l l o w i n m a t e , " s a i d h e . Another s a i d t h a t t h e whole i n c i d e n t i s b e i n g hushed up and no o n e r e a l l y knows what happened. These men were c a u g h t and s e n t t o Kent, c h a r g e d w i t h f o u r f u r t h e r counts. "Now t h a t ' s s t u p i d i t y i n "No o n e a c tion, It s a i d another s h o u l d be s o s t u p i d as t o t r y a stunt l i k e that." "What's t h e p l a c e l o o k l i k e now," I asked. "I went and l o o k e d a t t h e p l a c e i t was t r i e d and t h e r e ' s a b i g h o l e where t h e v a n t r i e d t o ram t h r o u g h t h e f e n c e . The i n s t i t u t i o n h a s a n armed guard i n a c a r p o s t e d o u t s i d e i h e i e n c e 24 hours a day. A l l t h e towers around t h e i n s t i t u t i o n a r e inanned now f o r s e c u r i t y r e a s o n s . " 1 There were a l o t o f t h i n g s I wanted t o know a b o u t . L i k e s o many o t h e r s I h a v e n ' t done t i m e and h a v e o n l y s e e n i t on TV o r r e a d a b o u t i r i n a book. So I ask.ed q u e s t i o n s a b o u t 1.ife i n s i d e . "Was i t h a r d t o a d j u s t t o p r i s o n - when you were f i r s t b r o u g h t i n ? " "Yes i t was h a r d on me; a s h o c k t o my s y s t e m . I was s c a r e d , s h a k i n g i n I t was a n e x p e r i e n c e I ' l l my b o o t s . never f o r g e t . " "Was t h e r e a n y t h i n g you found shoc, king?

"Yeah, t h e w a r s . " W h a t do you mean, w a r s ? " "Everybody h e r e i s a l o n e , i t ' s a l most i m p o s s i b l e t o have f r i e n d s , b u t you h a v e t o f i n d a buddy t o watch y o u r b a c k . The g u a r d s seem t o p l a y people o f f a g a i n s t each o t h e r s o f i g h t s w i l l s t a r t . Any r e a s o n o r no r e a s o n . " - "What's t h e f o o d l i k e ? " " ~ o tbad. Because of t h e s t r e s s 6 d e p r e s s i o n I ' v e l o s t 90 l b s . si.nce I ' v e been h e r e . O t h e r i n m a t e s s a y t h a t ' s n o r m a l b u t I wonder." Another man, who i s a p r o f e s s i o n a l c h e f , s a i d t h a t he worked w i t h what t h e y gave him t o work w i t h t o prov i d e n u t r i t i o u s m e a l s . He a l s o s a i d t h a t h i s t a l e n t s a r e exploited a s he g e t s a mere $5.25 a day. He s a i d h e works o v e r t i m e f o r o t h e r i n m a t e s and 1 g e t s reimbursed w i t h tobacco. Questions about l e t t e r s and/or v i s i t s were answered r e l u c t a n t l y . One seemed t o answer f o r most: "I w a i t a r o u n d t o s e e i f anybody remembers I ! a m a l i v e o r even c a r e s . " We know t h a t when someone i s sent e n c e d , t h e y are " p a y i n g t h e i r d e b t t o society." What i s n ' t s e e n i s t h a t innocent people a r e a l s o s e n t i n t o p r i s o n , h a v i n g t o do t i m e f o r a c r i m e t h a t t h e y d i d n ' t d o . What i s t h e hope f o r them? Charles

ART JUNKIE STUDIOS is a recyclable, artist-warehouse, utility space. We have been in Gastown for 2 years now and have been able in that time to build a complete 4,000 sq.ft. space out of recycled material from dumpsters and alleys in our area. We are a community space interested in communicating with the people in our neighbourhood on a one-to-one basis sharing thoughts, ideas or concepts on change for our community and surrounding bio-regions. We are into I preserving our environment and minii malism, but we feel the best way to 'effect change in our immediate area is by example. We are looking at developing more energy-efficient housing as well as organic farming.

The Processional Artiste Exhibition This is an artistic visualization process to focus on the environmental problems, especially recycling, that exist in this eastend bio-region. Our goal is to show a contrast between what is and what could be. We would like to encourage ideas on more efficient means of combatting this problem as well as educating the vidual for a cleaner, safer, selfainable surrounding. r clothing store (Tribalbert) is almost entirely from recycled rial as are our jewelry and artist p studio space. We feel that self eness is the key to change and

t h l s step cen c n l y be t s k e n t h r z z g h

information gathering and problem solving. With the number of community members that pass through our clothing store or our workspace co-op, we feel that if the information was sufficient we could help shape our community before garbage and waste (energy also) shape us. The more people get a feel for their land and what they are doing, the more the attitudes could be positively redirected towards a more common goal of healing the planet. If the planet is happy, we'll be happy. The planet is 'user friendly', so let's be friendly users!

THE CARNEGIE CENTRE

PURPOSE: In 1980, in response to community pressure, the City of Vancouver transformed a vacant heritage building (the City's first library, built in 1904) into a downtown core community centre. PATRONS: The average Carnegie Centre patron (80% of whom are males) lives alone in a sleeping or housekeeping room in a hotel on a monthly income of $439. (From a 1987 Downtown Eastside ~esidents'Association survey.) In 1985, 1,500 patrons per day used the Centre. In 1989, there are approximately 2,000, with representation from several racial groups - white, Native, Chinese, Japanese & Latino. PROGRAMS: The Centre provides alibrary (with collections in 5 languages), gymnasium, pool room, weight room, learning centre (ESL, GED, literacy), pottery and art instruction, theatre (for music jams, dances, dinners, meetings & special events) and a kitchen and concession area for nutritious low cost food. There is a large volunteer program and an information and referral service to other agencies in the community. Most of all, however, Carnegie provides lounge space, a safe place for card and game playing and socializing - the living room component for the downtown east. PERCEPTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY: Inspector Ken Higgins of the Vancouver Police Department: "The Carnegie Centre is an island of tranquility in an ocean of turmoil." Susan Broadfoot, District Supervisor of MSSH: "The downtown eastside is a growing community, a needy community, a troubled community. There must be a safe place for women, the elderly, the handicapped, the poor. Carnegie is that place.' Jeff Sommers, Outreach Worker, Neighbourhood Helper's Project: "I'm worried about the isolation and loneliness of seniors living in rooming houses and hotels. Carnegie plugs the people down here into community stuff instead of into the bars PRESSURE FROM THE COMMUNITY: Census figures show a 10% population growth in the downtown eastside between 1981 and 1986. xecent deinstitutioila~izatlonpo:icies and do;;s;zmg . . sf Bficryiev S c s p z t a l have released large numbers of former mental patients into the cheap lodging of the downtown core, with an effect on all community services. (Fred Hitchcock, Attorney General's Department, Parole and Probabtion.) Displacement from other communities has also added residents to the downtown core. For example, the City of North ~ancouver's Social Planning Department tracked tenants of two demolished hotels, the Alice and the Olympic, directly to the hotels of the downtown eastside. PRESSURE INSIDE CARNEGIE: The growth and problems outside are reflected inside the Centre. The problem is overcrowding. The consequences are pressure on programming, security difficulties, incidents of violence, expressions of racism, the loss of the feeling of safety for people (both patrons and staff). For example, older white males play bridge in the same crowded area as the Chinese checkers players. Bridge is a quiet, thoughtful game; Chinese checkers is loud and boisterous, often with an appreciative audience. When the bridge players can't hear themselves bid, their complaints take a nasty racist turn.

The S e n i o r s and Native groups both want t o u s e t h e same program a r e a on Monday n i g h t s . Compromise i s d i f f i c u l t t o a c h i e v e when t h e S e n i o r s e x p r e s s resentment about t h e powerlessness of t h e o l d , and Natives s u s p e c t d i s c r i m i n a t i o n . The caseload of t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e Youth A c t i v i t i e s S o c i e t y has doubled, according t o s t r e e t worker Allan Roscoe. With more t r o u b l e d young people access i n g s e r v i c e s and space a t Carnegie, t h e r e i s now t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r c o n f l i c t between young and o l d . The Carnegie Review Panel i n s t r u c t e d t h e C i t y t o s e t a s i d e a s m a l l s e p a r a t e a r e a a t t h e Centre f o r women. There i s n ' t room t o do s o . The S e n i o r s ' Lounge i s overcrowded, w i t h s t a n d i n g room o n l y d u r i n g an e x c i t i n g hockey o r f o o t b a l l game. A t every Town H a l l mtg, t h e S e n i o r s a s k f o r more space. There i s i n c r e a s i n g v i o l e n c e i n t h e Centre, f i g h t s t o be broken up, b a r r i n g procedures t o be e n a c t e d , and a s s a u l t s a g a i n s t s t a f f . The C i t y Manager's o f f i c e has consequently j u s t funded an i n t e r n a l emergency buzzer system. THE SOLUTION: City Council, r e c o g n i z i n g t h e problem of overcrowding, has g r a n t e d $650,000 f o r renovat i o n s . I n t h i s h e r i t a g e b u i l d i n g , t h e r e i s o n l y one p l a c e t o go f o r a d d i t i o n a l f l o o r space -- i n t o t h e basement. A r c h i t e c t s ' drawings show t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r 1,700 a d d i t i o n a l s q u a r e f e e t of S e n i o r s lounge, c a r d and game p l a y i n g space, and a new program a r e a i n t h e basement. The S e n i o r s a r e d e l i g h t e d by t h i s p r o s p e c t , a s a r e t h e p l a y e r s . THE PROBLEM: The i n s i d e p a r k i n g w i l l have t o go. PARKING : NO Carnegie p a t r o n s u s e t h e p a r k i n g a r e a . It i s t h e domain of t h o s e few s t a f f who can squeeze i n . A l t e r n a t e s t a f f p a r k i n g h a s been o f f e r e d a t Pendera & Tymac. R e t a i n i n g t h e t h r e e r e q u i r e d p a r k i n g s p a c e s p r e v e n t s t h e development of t h e u r g e n t l y needed new lounge and program a r e a s . Parking is an acknowledged problem i n Gastown and Chinatown a r e a s , mostly f o r people from o u t s i d e t h e community. Parking i s n o t a c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r people who l i v e h e r e . The DERA Housing S o c i e t y has on hand 2,161 a p p l i c a t i o n s from downtown I

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SUMMARY : It i s t h e b e l i e f of t h e Renovations Committee and t h e community a g e n c i e s quoted above t h a t t h e s o c i a l s e r v i c e s ' needs of t h e downtown e a s t s i d e community outweigh t h e p a r k i n g needs. RECOMMENDATION: That t h e basement parking be e l i m i n a t e d i n favour of f u l f i l l i n g t h e Carnegie C e n t r e ' s mandate of p r o v i d i n g s e r v i c e s t o a r e a r e s i d e n t s . Diane MacKenzie, Carnegie D i r e c t o r On behalf of t h e Renovations Committee. The above was submitted t o t h e C i t y of Vancouver t o a s k f o r approval from t h e Department of Planning t o t r a n s f o r m t h e p a r k i n g a r e a i n t h e basement i n t o lounge and program space. A l l of t h e t h i n k i n g and p l a n s h e r e depended on t h i s d e c i s i o n . The D i r e c t o r of Planning gave summary approval. IT'S A GO! ! !

The GST - a Grief and Suffering Tax While big business is enjoying the benefits of a stronger economy, average British Columbians - particularly seniors and young families - are being hit with more and more taxes by the Socreds and Mulroney Tories.

Property taxes are soaringasprovincialeducation funding is cut, health care fees are climbing - we're even seeing the Socreds hike your B.C. Hydro rates by nine per cent in order that thejcan r r v w pup almost half a billion dollars in 'hidden tax'.

1 Estimated Tax Increases for Seniors Due to partial de-indexation by Mulroney government*

Even worse, both the Mulroney and Socred governments continue to increase income taxes by cutting credits for seniors.

The 39bfaclor Seniors will continue to lose ground because the tax credits they receive have been partially de-indexed. There is absolutely no protection for seniors' credits on the first 3% of each year's inflation rate. SO, fdr example, if the inflation rate is 5%. your credits will only go up by 2% - the lost 3% is a tax increase.

The impact on seniors Because of this 3% loss, seniors will be paying more and more taxes each year hundreds of dollars more, as the graph to the left indic n + n m

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For a aenior eligible for the bade pemnd credit, the married credit, and the age credit

& m e examples of how the GST will cost you :

Rent (indirectly) -- $40-$50/month Phoneflight bills -- $5.50/month Cablevision -- $1.35/month Stamps -- another 4 cents per stamp

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increasing number of seniors living below the poverty line will be forced to pay taxes.

The GST will attack B.C. seniors on every front - most every product you buy will be going up by 9%,as will the services you use on a regular basis.

Women and the GST The Mulroney government's new Goods and Servicing Tax (GST), which comes into effect in January 1991 unless stopped, will have an especially devastating impact on women.

Women to pay a greater proportion of tax:

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Women make. on average, 66% of what men do. With lower average incomes, women will pay a proportional greater amount of their income in tax. Many low-income earners don9 file income tax, and so will not receive the rebate. The rebate isn't enough to make up for all the sales tax you will pay in a year anyway.

A tax on mathers who vmk outside the home:

Prepared food for take-out will be taxed. Government is again punishing women who must work outside the home to make ends meet, and who don't have the time to cook meals from scratch every day. Not only is the Conservative government reneging on child care, which places an added burden on mothers working CL(!P!~$ !he hnme. b ~ ( !nnw wants to tax them to death. Literally to death. The new tax will even apply to coffins and funeral setyices.

Tax Reform? The top '1% of families ($1l7,OW)had an average tax saving of $3,570 in 1988 compared to what they would have paid under the 1984 system. The poorest 32% of families with incomes of less than $12,940 gained a grand total of $53.

A special tax for women: Sanitary napkins and tampons will be taxed. Apparently the Tory, government does not consider these a basic necessity.

Taxes on everythingwomen

buy:

The GST' will apply to hydro, heating oil, diaphragms, condoms, children's clothes, diapers, haircuts, telephone, stamps and postal services,

With the GST In 1991192, total consumption taxes will have increased by 171% since l984/85, when Mulroney wasekted. plumbing and home repairs, boots and shoes, books, movie tickets, kids' meals at McDonald's , and much, much more.

Exemptions are not really exempt: -. nl! dlrnct saias ?au on child care or rent, but taxes on everything the child care centre and landlord buys, i.e. heating costs, light, plumbing, !nere Ic

cleaning services, repairs, supplies. This means operational costs will increase, and so will your child care bill and rent.

Taxes on women and children, but not on corporations: The GST is a regressive tax, it taxes consumption rather than income. Everyone pays the same, no matter what their income. Brian Mulroney pays the same tax at the cash register as a single mother with three kids. Finance Minister Michael Wilson feels it is best to tax poor and middle-income Canadians than the thousands of large, profitable corporations in Canada that pay no taxes at all. Mike Wilson would rather tax diapers and children's c'lothes than corporate polluters that spill toxins into our rivers, lakes and oceans, that make our land unsafe for our children to play on, w d destroy the air we breathe.

Total taxes will gobble

up 52% o f f a m i l y income in 1989.

Direct Taxation Shares

Let the Tory government know that you won't stand for it. Organize or participate in rallies. Write to Finance Minister Michael Wilson postage-free at the House of Commons. Talk to your friends and family about the importance of defeating this

NEW AGE SANTA Santa says: I f a l l you g o t f o r Xmas Was a book on how t o park your BMW But no BMW - Not t o Worry! I t ' s because you w e r e n ' t focussed enough While c r e a t i n g your own r e a l i t y . But d o n ' t f e e l bad ~ o n ' te v e r f e e l bad! Why, m i l l i o n s of people around t h e world Didn't even g e t t o e a t on Xmas day. Boy, w e r e they e v e r unfocussed! ~ o n ' tworry - y o u ' r e n o t r e s p o n s i b l e . They c r e a t e d t h e i r own r e a l i t y . You j u s t c o n c e n t r a t e on yours. Take a few more c o u r s e s i n self-development And t u n e i n t o your innermost d e s i r e s . Santa s a y s t h a t BMW can s t i l l be yours! David Bouvier RADIO ACCESS FOR LITERACY PROJECT

A r e YOU i n t e r e s t e d i n making r a d i o f o r t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e ? Would you l i k e t o improve your r e a d i n g and wit i n g s k i l l s , o r h e l p o t h e r people improve t h e i r s ? I f s o , you might be i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e Radio Access f o r L i t e r a c y Proj ec t st a r t i n g i n January a t t h e Carnegie Learning Centre and Vancouver Co-op Radio. The p r o j e c t w i l l provide workshops i n r a d i o production, i o c a i i s s u e s and r e a d i n g and w r i t i n g . Y o u ' l l be a b l e t o make r a d i o programs which w i l l be b r o a d c a s t on Co-op Radio. I f you'd l i k e t o f i n d o u t more, t a l k t o Claude a t t h e Learning C e n t r e o r t o Helene a t Co-op Radio. Co-op i s j u s t down t h e s t r e e t from Carnegie a t 337 C a r r a l l S t r e e t . It b r o a d c a s t s a t 102.7 FM and you can g e t a program s c h e d u l e from Carnegie o r from t h e r a d i o s t a t i o n . (The Radio Access f o r L i t e r a c y P r o j e c t i s funded by g r a n t s from S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e and t h e B.C. Mini s t r y of Advanced Education.)

literacy problem I

canadian Press

TORONTO - About ,a third of Canadian companies have problems with new technology because some of their employees are functionally illiterate, a survey by the Conference Board of suggests. A similar ~ r o p o r t i o nof firms report these employees are causing problems in product quality or in nrc_~ri~lc.iiviiy And neariy 43 per reni iay employees with basic-skills shortages face difficulties taking - on new a&gnments or transfers. This rate is big enough to be a significant problem as Canada faces increased competition from Asia and Europe, Bob Des Lauriers, the :research associate who did the :; study, said Monday. -..I The profile of employees who iack .basic , literacy is mixed, the Confer? ence Board reports, but the 35 to 54 \ age group predominates. -. . Although companies are begin<?ning to develop training policies to J: deal with illiteracy, 76 per cent of \.? those surveyed had not yet done so, - Des Lauriers said.

Innocent Women Many t h i n g s have happened i n t h e p a s t few months. The worst i n c i d e n t was when a young man took i t upon himself t o t a k e t h e l i v e s of innocent women. Women who had f u t u r e s ahead of them, who were g e t t i n g ready f o r t h e most e n j o y a b l e time of y e a r . This young man n o t o n l y took t h e l i v e s of t h e s e women, but a l s o took them from t h e i r loved ones. H e put a b i g b l a c k mark on Canada and h e r people. This day - December 6 , 1989, w i l l never be f o r g o t t e n . I send my h e a r t and l o v e t o t h e s e f a m i l i e s . Margaret P r e v o s t Comment: For me, I f e e l t h a t t h e homeless should be counted; j u s t a s you o r I, they a r e people. People a r e s l e e p i n g under v i a d u c t s , i n alleyways, p a r k s , wherever they can f i n d a p l a c e where h o p e f u l l y no one w i l l b o t h e r them. Every n i g h t I say a p r a y e r f o r t h e homeless and t h e i r families. The most important t h i n g t o m e i s happiness, and t h e most important t h i n g t o t h e homeless i s t h e hope of f i n d i n g a home f o r t h e w i n t e r . Happ l n e s s i s maklng someone s m i l e and l e t t i n g them know t h a t someone c a r e s . Take c a r e ' c a u s e I c a r e . Merry Christmas t o you wherever you a r e . Your f r i e n d , Margaret P r e v o s t

I would l i k e t o thank my p a r e n t s - f o r c r e a t i n g m e , and God f o r g i v i n g me t h e s t r e n g t h f o r accomplishing a l l t h a t I have t h i s y e a r . I ' v e been f o r t u n a t e enough t o s e r v e on t h e Carnegie A s s o c i a t i o n Board of Direct o r s and a s c h a i r p e r s o n f o r Community Relations.

Through t h i s I have met many people i n c l u d i n g t h e Mayor and members of C i t y Council, p l u s Margaret M i t c h e l l . A l o t of headway was made f o r t h e d i s a b l e d , such a s c u r b s being convert e d i n t o ramps f o r people i n wheelc h a i r s and f o r S e n i o r s . S t i l l underway i s g e t t i n g a c c e s s t o Crab Park, a f t e r t h e "big s h o t s " a t CPR & P o r t s Canada b u i l t t h e s t u p i d overpass. Our main g o a l i s t o have a c r o s s i n g a t Columbia & Alexander, be i t a t - g r a d e o r a p e d e s t r i a n overpass. I a l s o want t o g i v e thanks f o r a good home and f a m i l y atmosphere a t Four S i s t e r s Co-op. Just recently I w a s e l e c t e d t o t h e Board t h e r e and am t h e c h a i r p e r s o n of Maintenance. I t ' s a b i g j o b b u t I enjoy c h a l l e n g e s . The people who I ' v e m e t through t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s have been kind, t h o u g h t f u l and h e l p f u l i n many ways. I would l i k e t o t a k e t h i s opportuni t y t o t h a n k you a l l f o r making t h i s y e a r a n e n j o y a b l e and u n f o r g e t t a b l e one. You a l l know who I ' m t a l k i n g t o .

Many people have low incomes; U.I. and pensions and welfare. The government increases taxes and prices go up. People living on these incoines can't keep up having to pay more for the same things. The government has to raise the amount of money that people on low, fixed incomes get so we can survive. ~t is unfair that rich people don't pay their share while the poor pay so much and end up with less all the time. It has to be changed so that all people can live with dignity and help each other, instead of always fighting with each other over scraps. The way it is now the poor can be little more than beggars. This isn't right.

Editor,

The group previously known as People On Welfare (P.O.W.) is now called Low Income People. We still meet on Tuesdays at 4 : 3 0 in the afternoon on the 3rd fioor. Joan Morelli

Dear Folks,

Thanks to gifts from Donalda, Lillian and George Harrison, and Johnny Whiteduck, the Open Stage of Dec. 2 was a great success. The audience ' really liked the participation of itself in the evening's entertainment and repeated this the next night at the World Premiere of Carnegie'a video "Your Policy Sticks".

Greatly appreciated, Henry Hebert

On Dec. 6, the Chinatown Beartification Project meeting took place at the Chinese Cultural. Centre. Plans were disclosed at that time to illuminate Chinatown with High Power Sodium lighting, the yellow hideous lighting that appears along freeways, in parking lots, etc. These would be installed all along Pender Street to replace the current incandescent lantern type system that has been in place for so long. Already, in the middle of the block, four lamps have been installed as a "sample" of what is to come, and one has only to stand in the midst of its warm glow to fully appreciate how devastating the overall effect of this "beautification" will be when fully implemented. Chinatown merchants claim that their business is suffering because "the streets are too dark and customers won't come here at night". In fact, the real menace to the merchants isn't darkness (which I fail to notice except from the darkened windows of their closed shops) but cost. Incandescent light, such as is currently in use, is more expensive to run than the "hockey arena" type proposed. Also, all other streets in the immediate area use the same overhead "cobra" style light as is seen on Xasiings, Main, Gore, Cordova, etc.; what's their excuse? Are they all going broke too? On January 25, this issue will come to City Hall for approval. If you care about the sensitivity of this unique "user friendly" area, and wish to keep it that way, I urge you to write City Council and register your disapproval. (Note: This process has had practically no public exposure to date. It's yet another scheme cooked and served up for the public benefit by city officials and merchant interests). By IAN MacRAE

Me a s a Volunteer tting h pills

I r e a l l y e n j o y being a Volunteer h e r e a t Carnegie. I have been a v o l u n t e e r f o r 4 y e a r s . I enjoyed i t becoming a v o l u n t e e r because I can l e a r n how t o do t h e job. So f a r I ' v e done t h e r e c e p t i o n and t h e concession and s t a r t e d h e l p i n g on the N e w s l e t t e r . I hand o u t t i c k e t s and b a l l s and answered phones; a l s o i n t h e pool room and i n t h e c o f f e e shop - which I really like. I was s u r p r i s e d when I f i r s t came t o Carnegie and was asked i f I wanted t o v o l u n t e e r . I really like i t when s t a f f come up t o m e and ask, i f I could v o l u n t e e r h e r e o r t h e r e . Even i f t h e y d o n ' t a s k , I a s k them i f I can i n p l a c e s t h a t r e a l l y need Volunteers. B i r d i e W.

and a r a z o r a t h e r s i d e . She was t h i n k i n g of s u i c i d e b u t She could n o t d e c i d e . . . She had a broken h e a r t o v e r a maia s h e had loved a t one t'me f e e l i n g r e j e c t e d and d e s p i s e d by men. P l e a s e oh P l e a s e d o n ' t do i t g i r l A s s u r e a s t h e r e ' s a n o t h e r day ahead I ' m s u r e t h e r e w i l l be a new l o v e come a l o n g your way. She was t h i n k i n g of good t i m e s t h e y had and t h e f e e l i n g s h e had when he was a t h e r s i d e . She thought of loved ones s h e had, w i t h a Momma and Papa who used t o be a t h e r s i d e her t e a r s did subside

...

P l e a s e oh P l e a s e d o n ' t do i t g i r l As s u r e a s t h e r e ' s a n o t h e r day ahead 1 -. - re t h e r e w i l l be a new l o v e Long your way. 7-

: came i n t o h e r e y e s : s t a r t e d t o a p p e a r , when s h e

l d s h e could P a r e n t ' s s i d e . She away t h e p i l l s and a t h e r s i d e , never suicide.

find love a t her laughed and threw r a z o r t h a t were t o t h i n k of

Peter Eantrnln

CYICC~++++~+++~++++++++++

EVERYONE'S HERE FOR THE HOLIDAY! Dec. 24 - lOpm t o 6am - 1 7 performers! Be h e r e t o s i g n up. Dec.25 J o Anne Hamen & D a n i e l Wilson B r e a k f a s t background music (2n Dec.25 - Evening e n t e r t a i n m e n t w i t h The Tom Lewis Band. Dec.26 - 4pm o u t s i d e John Karsrud Trumpet Q u a r t e t Dec.26 - Evening e n t e r t a i n m e n t w i t h Finn & t h e Sharks

Dedicated t o Cambie H o t e l ......................... One o f my p l e a s u r e s i s t o r e a c h s k y ~ By Climbing roof t o p s . People t h i n k y o u ' r e a goof, They should go poof. I f i n d myself, r e a c h i n g f o r t h e s t a r s , moon. r a i n . rainbow. n a t u r e i t s e l f . I ' m i i k e a r o i i i n g stone I l i v e dangerously Tighten your l i p s baby! 1'11 r e a c h t h e t o p I won't s t o p j u s t t o be w i t h animals .4nimals a r e my power, climb t h e tower.

In the rain To f e e l no p a i n Tor you. I l o v e you anyways d a r l i n g !

Bonnie E l i z a b e t h Stevens

FOR PRESERVATION OF INDIAN LEGENDS AND CULTURE

, o r t h e b e n e f i t of t h o s e who a r e a l l y concerned and s e r i o u s l y dedt e d t o t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n of t h e i r i v e legends and c u l t u r e , t h e lowing information i s of p r i c e l e s s ue a s c o n t a i n e d i n p a r t i a l ex_ _ - c t s from t h e Montreal S t a r under d a t e of March 4 t h , 1969 which I r e s p e c t f u l l y submit f o r p e r u s a l . W i l f r i d Barbeau CD qUOTE: A f t e r s e r v i n g a s e t h n o l o g i s t w i t h t h e N a t i o n a l Museum of Canada from 1911 t o r e t i r e m e n t i n 1948 Doctor Marius Barbeau deceased a t t h e age of 85. During 50 y e a r s of r e s e a r c h on long and arduous t r i p s he produced a w e a l t h of knowledge about A s i a t i c m i g r a t i o n s t o North America. Doctor Barbeau delved deeply i n t o t h e s t o r y of t h e I n d i a n p e o p l e s , t h e i r l e g e n d s and c u l t u r e s . He gave t h e Museum a c o l l e c t i o n of 195 Eskimo songs, a n o t h e r 3,000 Ind i a n f o l k songs. c l o s e t o 7.000 French-Canadian and some i , 5 u u o i d English songs, many of which a r e s t i l l on t h e o l d tube-like r e c o r d s t h a t came o f f h i s Edison r e c o r d e r .

He published more t h a n 50 books and over 700 a r t i c l e s , having a t terrded Oxford U n i v e r s i t y a s a Rhodes Gcholar. Doctor Barbeau was a l s o educated a t Lava1 U n i v e r s i t y and t h e Sorbonne. I n November 1967 h e was i n v e s t e d a s a Companion of t h e Order of Canada by Governor-General Michener. END OF QUOTE It i s up t o you now t o r e c l a i m your h e r i t a g e , volumes of which l i e g a t h e r i n g t h e d u s t of t h e a r c h i v e s i n Ottawa. P.S.

W. Barbeau

Dr. Marius Barbeau

WELFARE HOTEL

A c h i l d a t t h e beach w i t h s h i n i n g eyes builds h i s c a s t l e with c r e a t i v e care and dreams g r e a t dreams.

Standing back t o look a t h i s work.... A s m i l e of achievement on h i s happy f a c e I n a n i n s t a n t comes anr .her c h i l d Jumps and laughs w i t h g l e e as he d e s t r o y s t h e o t h e r ' s c a s t l e D e l i g h t i n g i n t h e p a i n he causes. So easy t o s p o i l a n o t h e r ' s dreams So e a s y t o d e s t r o y . As i n a l l l i f e ; From t h e beginning and probably ti1 t h e end. S h e i l a Baxter -YYYT The G i f t of Love

Home i s where your r e n t a l l o w s you t o l a y your bones a t t h e end of t h e day. I t ' s made o u t of m a t e r i a l s provided by Nature, i t ' s c o n s t r u c t e d by human e f f o r t and i s i n t h e custody of a deed h o l d e r . It may be one room w i t h a bed, tabl e and c h a i r b u t i t h o l d s t h e s m a l l t r e a s u r e s of your e x i s t e n c e : o l d l e t ters from your f a m i l y , a p i c t u r e you taped t o t h e w a l l , maybe a mouth organ o r g u i t a r , perhaps a s o u v e n i r from a happy day. You may be 25 o r 62 b u t t h e f e e l i n g i s t h e same when t h e e v i c t i o n o r r e n t i n c r e a s e n o t i c e s come. F i r s t you f e e l s i c k i n your stomach, then you g e t very depressed. You thought you were a l r e a d y a t t h e bottom of s o c i e t y ' s l a d d e r , b u t now "they" want you t o go deeper. Someone t e l l s you t o go t o DERA, because t h e y have homes i n t h e i r custody. The good people t h e r e t e l l you "yes, we have homes b u t they' r e f u l l r i g h t now and t h e r e ' s 2,000 people ahead of you on t h e list." y ang= Your d e p r e s s i o n i s r e p l a c e d l e r b u t you have no c h o i c e i n t h e m a t t e r ; no r i g h t s ! A l l you have i s t h e i n s t i n c t t o s u r v i v e under t h e

Here i t i s , t h a t time of y e a r When Mama's e y e s a r e f u l l of t e a r s She wants t o buy g i f t s g a l o r e Like o t h e r people, i n t h e s t o r e s . ~ u Mama t don't v r y o r make a sound, You've given t h e b e s t g i f t around. The very thought p u t s i t above, You've given your c a r e and l o v e . You've taken t h e t i m e t o do as such t o show you c a r e , s o v e r y much w i t h ynu always ai my side. But, y o u ' l l f i n d a n o t h e r "home". I can t a k e a n y t h i n g w i t h i n s t r i d e , It may be s m a l l e r t h a n y o u ' r e used t o I t ' s a l l t h e l o v e t h a t you i n v e s t and i t might have drunks puking i n which makes your g i f t t h e b e s t . I t ' s b e t t e r t h a n a n y t h i n g t h a t ' s bought the and someone next bangs On the *abut because i t ' s given w i t h s o much thought c a r e s ; y o u ' l l f i n d a n o t h e r home. Christmas i s t h e time t o thank God up above t o spread good cheer and By GARRY GUST neighbourly l o v e . But t h e g i f t of my mother, I have found. i s b e s t when s p r e a d t h e whole year round. I f every person l e t h i s l o v e be shown t, and throughout t h e world i t be known 3 not f o r t h e moments but f o r everyday " The world would be b e t t e r i n every way.; David Melvin

L i t t l e White House L i t t l e w h i t e house on t o p of a h i l l P r e t t y a s a p i c t u r e , I can s e e i t s t i l l . But they t o r e i t down t h e o t h e r day I guess t h e o l d l a d y ' d passed away. J u s t l a s t y e a r we chanced t o meet And i t w a s good t o s t o p and g r e e t Her s t i l l working i n h e r yard Tho' l a t e l y i t w a s g e t t i n g hard - she said. A p r e t t y house w i t h l o v e l y f l o w e r s She must have laboured h o u r s and hours To make them grow t h e way s h e d i d To shape t h a t garden as s h e d i d . II

I h a v e n ' t s e e n you b e f o r e " s h e s a i d . "Down there1' - I p o i n t e d p a s t h e r head "We l i v e . Nine y e a r s we've been h e r e f o r . " Hers was a more i m p r e s s i v e s c o r e . " I ' v e been h e r e sixty-seven" s h e smiled " ~ h i n g s ' v e changed s i n c e I w a s a c h i l d . That was an o r h c a r d down t h e h i l l Belonged t o a d o c t o r , I can see i t s t i l l . " Orchard, garden, house, a l l gone A s ' p r o g r e s s ' b l u n d e r s b l i n d l y on. L i t t l e w h i t e house on t o p of a h i l l P r e t t y as a p i c t u r e , I can see i t s t i l l . David Bouvier

Fred is dead God I f e e l s o bad d e a t h wisks him away when was t h e l a s t time a l i v e of c o u r s e and j o k i n g ' b o u t l i f e but no p e a r l s of wisdom now H i s words a r e s i l e n c e d o f r e v e r . The h e l p e r s h e l p w i t c h e s whisper I f cockroaches had wings they'd f l y o u t of h e r e God i s dead. Taum

What i s l o v e ? I d o n ' t r e a l l y know. I wish someone would t e l l me! Before I r u n o u r of Love. I d o n ' t r e a l l y know b u t I heard I f you l o v e someone s e t them f r e e I f t h e y come back t o you t h e y ' r e yours I f they don't t h e y never w e r e and never w i l l be. But i s i t t r u e o r n o t ? I f i t i s l e t me know b e f o r e i t ' s too l a t e .

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t w a s t h e beginning of December, $9, when S a n t a Claus was g e t t i n g ady f o r Christmas. While S a n t a s r e a d i n g l e t t e r s from c h i l d r e n Scrooge stomped i n , grabbed S a n t a by t h e c o l l a r and showed him t h e e b i c tion notice. Santa u s u a l l y p a i d h i s t a x e s i n t r a d e -- g i f t s . Scrooge t o l d S a n t a t h a t t h e r e would b e no more of t h a t . Santa had t o come up w i t h a compromise. I n o r d e r n o t t o be e v i c t e d , Santa Claus had something good i n s t o r e f o r Scrooge. It was a n o f f e r t h a t Scrooge c o u l d n o t r e f u s e . "There i s some Christmas S p i r i t t h a t would m e l t t h a t golden b r a i n of h i s , " thought S a n t a . "I w i l l i m m e r s e Scrooge i n music. T h a t ' s something h e t s n e v e r experienced. H e ' l l have something t o s i n g about!" Imnediately, Santa Claus went t o Carnegi.e C e n t r e i n Vancouver. There he g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r t h e b e s t musici a n s and t h e y set up a g i g f o r C h r i s t mas Eve. Scrooge walked i n t o t h e Carnegie T h e a t r e a n d - h e f e l l i n l o v e w i t h t h e music. " A l l k i n d s o f music," thought o l d Scrooge. "I want t o sing!" One musici a n sang, "Golden Years, yeah, yeah, %a bur E o p - . - '! I n s p i r e d by t h e b e a t and t h e rhythm Scrooge s t a r t e d s i n g i n g . He s a n g , "1've g o t t h e golden touch, Woo! Woo! It makes me glow s o much. It casts a s p e l l , It r i n g s my b e l l , That Golden Touch !" He sang t e r r i b l y , b u t he w a s t o l d t h a t h e was t h e man w i t h t h e golden voice. He sang m e r r i l y h a l f t h e n i g h t , having heard t h a t compliment. S a t i s f i e d , h e no l o n g e r wished t o e v i c t S a n t a Claus s i n c e he w a s i n t r o duced t o t h e Carnegie T h e a t r e .

Scrooge was encouraged t o s i n g i n p u b l i c and r e l e a s e d a r e c o r d a b o u t h i s l i f e and t i m e s a t Christmas. Scrooge and Santa Claus made a n agreement t h a t Santa had t o w r i t e songs f o r Scrooge t o s i n g e v e r y Xmas. Santa a s s u r e d Scrooge t h a t he should f l a u n t h i s golden v o i c e , and Scrooge knew t h a t h i s golden v o i c e w a s t h e b e s t gold he e v e r had. BY M I K I

hat's a h a r d a c t t o f o l l o w I s a i d t o myself T h a t ' s a hard a c t t o f o l l o w I must a l l o w myself Won't you come and s e t me f g e e O r must I s e t myself f r e e ? P ~ r h a ~perhaps s ~ it iz csrnzGce else's responsibility. I know t h e t r u t h I know i t b t r u e ~ o n ' ta s k me how I know But I ' v e been h e r e f o r s o l o n g I t ' s time t o be s e t f r e e One l i f e - two l i v e s - t h r e e How many w i l l i t t a k e ? ~ o n ' tkeep me i n suspense I ' m hanging by a t h r e a d How much l o n g e r t h i s ocean must I t r e a d 1 ' v e got s o many hang-ups and hung-up on m e you But I know I know I know I know t h a t you w i l l s e t ~:ief r e e . 1

...

E l i z a b e t h Thorpe --

going t o be brought - up ~ o s of t t h e p a r e n t s do d r i n k and b e a t t h e i r I know about p a r e n t s d r i n k kid up. ing and b e a t i n g t h e i r c h i l d r e n up because I was brought up t h a t way. 1 f m p r e t t y s u r e t h a t a l o t of c h i l d ren a r e brought up t h a t way, because it's very hard f o r t h e i r parents t o put t h e b o t t l e down. So a l l you parents p l e a s e p u t t h e b o t t l e down, o r p u r c h i l d r e n w i l l b e t a k e n away i k e mine was. I w a s d r i n k i n g and t h e n I ' d b e a t ah him, even though he was 5 months o l d . *"I Sure I ' m r e g r e t t i n g i t now and I a l ways w i l l . T h a t ' s why I p u t t h e bott l e down and w i l l never e v e r d r i n k as , much a s I used t o . I won't e v e r l a y a hand on my son u n l e s s i t ' s needed, l i k e when h e ' s bad. I r e a l l y h u r t him t h a t much t h a t I was almost p u t behind b a r s . I n s t e a d I was p u t on p r o b a t i o n and i n t o P r o j e c t Parents. I ' v e g o t t o do 100 hours of community work and s t i l l have 2 y e a r s on p r o b a t i o n . And I ' v e q u i t d r i n k i n g . So I ' m warning a l l you p a r e n t s who d r i n k t h a t you have t o s t o p o r \ your k i d s w i l l b e t a k e n away. \ The r e a s o n why t h e r e a l f a t h e r won't come and v i s i t h i s son i s because h e ' s i n j a i l . The r e a s o n why I l e f t him i s because he b e a t me s o much I c o u l d n ' t handle i t anymore. The guy I ' m w i t h now d o e s n ' t b e a t ' me o r l e a v e me, except when h e ' s ' mad..then h e ' l l l e a v e t o c o o l o f f s o he d o e s n ' t do a n y t h i n g s t u p i d l i k e that. we're t r y i n g again t o g e t our / Son back. We go t o s e e him a l o t every day i f we can. A t l e a s t w e ' r e 1 not d r i n k i n g l i k e most p a r e n t s i n our

Eion's

-2 + h n i ~ t ,,,,,v-drinking parents.

got o v e r i t without h e l p from anyone. So a l l you p a r e n t s can j u s t have f a i t h i n y o u r s e l v e s . Try n o t t o a r g u e i n f r o n t of your k i d s because t h e y t h i n k you',re a r g u i n g because of them. O r because of something t h e y d i d . Try s a y i n g n i c e t h i n g s t o each o t h e r ; go out together t o places y o u ' l l both enjoy. Make s u r e you g e t someone who i s r e s p o n s i b l e t o l o o k a f t e r your c h i l d r e n . I t ' s worth i t !

MAYBE THE REAL CHRISTMAS ALWAYS HAPPENS ....................... I f your name was J o e , & you were h i t c h i n g a r i d e i n a snowstorm a week b e f o r e Christmas somewhere i n t h e Kootenays and you r a n i n t o t h e young Native woman c a l l e d Marie, who was pregnant & t r a v e l l i n g n o r t h and s h e s a y s s h e ' s g o t t o g e t o u t of B.C. back t o t h e Yukon, where s h e can have h e r baby ' c a u s e w e l f a r e ' s a f t e r h e r & t h e y took t h e l a s t one away... Well, Marie would be r e a d y t o pop by t h e time you h i t P r i n c e George & somewhere n o r t h of t h e r e , have h e r baby on Christmas morning i n a garage n e x t t o t h e Lonely S t a r Motel where t h i n g s would g e t p r e t t y i n t e n s e . There would be UFO r e p o r t s i n t h e p a p e r s a few days l a t e r - Marie would c a l l h e r baby C h r i s & Marie & J o e & t h e baby would d i s a p p e a r , & w e l f a r e would n e v e r c a t c h them. They'd be a n i l l e g a l f a m i l y on t h e r u n & when t h e y got t o S p i r i t Lake t h e y ' d a l l l i v e on t r a d i t i o n a l t r i b a l land together with Marie's f a m i l y w h i l e C h r i s grew up. By the. y e a r 2004, C h r i s would b e s i x t e e n & ready t o s e t o u t on some you know? kind of a d v e n t u r e ,

...

I was plugged i n t o t h e s p l r l t world I w a s t a l k i n g t o a man who had

h i s f l a g unfurled He p l a n t e d i t on t h e moon i n s i d e my mind Then spoke t o me a g a i n , s a y i n g "don't e v e r be a f r a i d t o l o o k behind." I was born i n p o v e r t y and I went hungry many t i m e s But I ' v e had somebody g u i d i n g me The o r i g i n a l man of rhymes. He spoke t o m e a g a i n and h e bound my s h a t z a r e d mind. He s a i d , "You d o n ' t know i d ~ cyou a r e r i g h t now. b u t y o u ' l l f i n d o u t what you need t o know i n time." Now I l a y h e r e on my bed of autumn l e a v e s , Deathly a f r a i d I ' m dying ' I t ' s n o t always a m a t t e r of what you b e l i e v e ' I can h e a r my mother s i g h i n g . E l i z a b e t h Thorpe

MAINLY HASTPNGS, THE BARRIO The ambulance a r r i v e s a m i l l i o n d e a t h s below a one-way t i c k e t t o crime madness & d e s p a i r c h a s i n g a f l o c k of b u t t e r f l i e s Youth's t h e a s s a s s i n

Parallels the t r a v e l l e ~ i n p r i v a t e conveyance member of team, crew who does, o r can do NO e f f e c t i v e work (Passage)

...

Suffering action non-violent r e f u s a l t o co-operate r e s i s t a n c e . ..condenser t o s t o r e a c h a r g e of e l e c t r i c i t y

t h e Moon l o s t i t ' s memory I remember: Stop t h e Rip-off! it ends w i t h m e , i t ends w i t h you

a new day dawning Taum Dan Y Creag

To o u r F r i e n d s a t C,E.E.D.S., There's n o t h i n g l i k e Country Fresh A i r t o breathe. I t ' s q u i t e a break fi-om tile C i i ? a d i i ' s t r u l l u i i u r l noise, s m e l l s , refuse, etc. Chickens, ducks, h o r s e s , goats... a l l t h e farm animals and a li'l b i t o' g u i t a r and b a n j o , and good 01' music and s i n g i n g . S i t t i n g by t h e b o n f i r e , farm work t a k i n g c a r e of t h e animals and t h e l a n d , b e f o r e people. There's no l i f e l i k e i t . . , l e t ' s do i t gang! I t ' s n o t j u s t a j o b , i t ' s an adventure! We encourage Carnegarians and everyone t o come t o CEEDS' farms i n Spring 1990! We l o v e you,

Henry & Miki

ADVICE T 0 . A PETTY THIEF Tell me

mat's t h i s r i p - o f f

for? p e t t y s t e a l i n g from t h e poor? m e r e ' s your ambition TO improve your c o n d i t i o n ? To r e d i s t r i b u t e t h e w e a l t h , You must p r a c t i c e up your s t e a l t Move t o t h e westside! That i s t h e b e s t s i d e For your employment And f u t u r e enjoyment, ~ o n ' tyou s e e ? Nickel and Dime tough 1t's p e t t y crime s t u f f . They're bound t o n a i l you And t h e n t h e y ' l l j a i l you. I n t o t h e slammer Anvil and hammer, You w i l l go.

e Unknown Feelings they asked the child why he did ' And what he did,

a To which no reply came forth.

All he knew was that what was done ...was done. 6 Clocks can'be turned back, Time can%

lndi nant, they felt lost, So t ey took him b the hair Sub ected him to t elr discretions e An then turned him loose. They should have known They shouldn't h p e been so blind A child's heart can burst And the child never knows why Always pushed, Always pulled, Never to be told why.

S t e a l yourself a business s u i t . Find a r a c k e t of r e p u t e And go l e g i t . This a i n ' t no s h i t ! When t h e l a w i s on your s i d e , A l l t h e w a l l e t s open wide To your f i n g e r s Nothing l i n g e r s Out of r e a c h . Winter on a f o r e i g n beach, Didn ' t you know? &

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I swear i t ' s n o t t o o l a t e To make a k i l l i n g I f you are w i l l i n g . Just leverage the p r i c e Of suburban p a r a d i s e And t h e r e you have i t ! .

Life i s s h o r t but art is long L i s t e n t o my l i t t l e song Free e n t e r p r i s e i s f i n e What's yours w i l l soon be mine, And w h a t ' s mine i s s t a s h e d away S a f e l y , f o r t h a t r a i n y day I n Bermuda! David Bouvier

One day he lashed out He didn't mean to ... He never understood why It was such e simple misunderstanding But the dam of a lifetime broke So too did another mpther's child lav /

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g ... never to smile

... never to walk

never to awake

C So many hearts were hurt by unknown

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... And they asked again why he did what he did, TOwhich no reply came fotth. By Matthew Cross

SLEAZE 'N GREEDINGS! December is the time when everything, except the profits of war toy and barbie doll makers, grinds to a halt. If you are poor, this seasonal fa-la-la can ring kind of hollow. Kids are comparing themselves to their friends who have lots of money and now, more than the rest of the year, they want to come out at least even in the worldly goods department. Parents who are poor feel a hundred times more inadequate than poverty usually makes them feel. They want this Christmas to be good, but there isn't enough cashola to keep up with the spirit of Christmas. People with little or no family, people with no homes, all feel some sort of shame and self-guilt about their situation even if they "know better". It's no wonder people are forced to turn to charity for a bit of respite. We all know that Christmas causes 12s a ICE of n~t-s~-iidden anxiety. We also know that Christmas is a spectacle with the "spirit of giving" exploited. It's a spectacle tailored to appeal to our need for ritual & tradition. Ritual & tradition in themselves are not nasty things. It is just that today's Christmas spectacle is illusory and has no real basis in our own rituals & tradition. It is manufactured to make us believe that we are part of something that in reality we have no access to. Thus, there is this doublethink going on in us - "I-should-be-happyit's-Xmas-how-come-I'm-not-what'swrong-with-me?"

Well, just what does today's Eaton's catalogue Xmas image of 2-3 children and two white professional parents living in a house that has both heating AND a fireplace for pleasure have to do with most of US who live in the area of the Downtown Eastside? How are we supposed to feel part of that charade? (Who would seriously want to?) Christmas comes but once a year, but poor people are marginalised all year round. What makes us feel lousy the other 11 months is shoved down our throats at 10 times the volume in December. Christmas can have some reality in our lives if we stay clear on the "scene" being a scam. We can look at it and see just another part of the greater picture of how this society is not working for us. This doesn't buy toys for the kids but it gives them a break from feeling like they are completely to blame and that, with understanding, they and we can do something about it the rest of the year. But this is not a bah humbug story. We can rediscover our own traditions from whatever culture we're from. We can wait it out. Some of us can ignore it. We can use the "holiday" to do stuff we've wanted +n dn; KC can create our own alternate rituals. We can go along for the ride and pretend we're having fun. We can have genuine fun. You seeyethereare lots of Christmas games we can play. But Christmas anxiety, fear and violence won't go away until the conditions that create them all 12 months of the year do. Don't let Xmas grind us to a halt. (If your Christmases are usually merry keep your spirit clear.)

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both f o r L i t t l e Mountain, Alds. Johna t h a n Baker, Carole Taylor, Sandra Wilking and K i m Campbell MP t o meet w i t h a sub-committee composed of Harry Cobourn, Ron Stromberg, B e t t y Tangye, Russ Hunter, B e t t y Backman, Kay & Len Stovold, J a c k Chalmers and Denis Leoppke t o d i s c u s s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of a moratorium on demolid t i o n s . Of e q u a l p r i o r i t y would be r e n t c o n t r o l s , a Tenant's C h a r t e r , and a formal r e q u e s t t o t h e Provinc i a l & F e d e r a l governments f o r 2,000 s o c i a l housing u n i t s p e r y e a r . These a r e t h e t h i n g s we need f o r our a r e a and we a r e prepared t o do e v e r y t h i n g we can t o a c h i e v e t h e s e goals. By JACK CHALMERS

S E N I O R ' S ACTION COMMITTEE O N HOUSING

For want of a b e t t e r name I have c a l l e d t h e group S.A.C. because t h a t i s what i t h a s become. I n two s h o r t months and two v e r y good meetings t h e group h a s brought t o g e t h e r many f i n e i d e a s and i n i t i a t i v e s on housing i n a l l a r e a s of Van. On October 20th w e had t h e f i r s t meeting a t T e l l i e r Tower. P r e s e n t a t t h i s meeting w e r e Mayor Gordon Campb e l l , Ald. Libby Davies, Mike Young from CMHC, a r e s p r e s e n t a t i v e from BCHMC, r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s from S o c i a l Planning, Non-Revenue Housing, Emergency R e l o c a t i o n Dept. and H e a l t h Dept. C.O.V. Denis Leoppke, Afforda b l e Housing. I n a d d i t i o n w e had r e p s from CCAH K i t s i l a n o Tenants Assoc., DERA ShipShape, S p e c i a l Council Committee on S e n i o r s , Russ Hunter, P a t R a f f e r t y , D r s . J o s e p h i n e Mallek & h e r husband, Kay S t o v o l d , B e t t y Backman, A r t Remp e l , J a c k Chalmers..attending a s a d e l e g a t e from W.E.S.N. - Len Stovold. W e a l l had a chance t o g e t a l o a d o f f our minds. W e a l s o had a chance t o l e t Mayor Campbell know w e w e r e I

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t a c k s on some housing i n i t i a t i v e s . This f i r s t meeting was s o successf u l , a second meeting was c a l l e d f o r Nov. 23rd and h e l d a t t h e J i m Green Room a t Four S i s t e r s Co-op. D r . Tom P e r r y , NDP MLA West P o i n t Grey was our g u e s t . A p r o p o s a l f o r D r . P e r r y t o spons o r a p r i v a t e member's b i l l was p u t forward and D r . P e r r y suggested t h a t it should be done a l o n g w i t h Robin Blencoe, t h e NDP housing c r i t i c and Emery Barnes, MLA f o r our d i s t r i c t . A f t e r much d i s c u s s i o n i t was decided t h e c h a i r p e r s o n should c o n t a c t Grace McCarthy MLA and Doug Mowat MLA

Learning Centre Update The staff, students and volunteers welcome - Lex Baas t o the Mr. ~

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the new co-ordinator, and tentatively b e g i ~ g his job on December 27th. He brings a wealth of experiences t o his new position; he has worked with the Sisters of Charity and Mother Teresa, been a group home leader, and a teacher. Best of luck t o you, Lex, and welcome to Carnegie! And thanks to everyone on the Selection Committee.

MAYOR GORDON CAMPBELL CITY HALL VANCOUVER, B.C. VSY 1V4

FROM A VANCOUVERIT!: WH G... qHAD TO MOVE BECAUSE MY APARTMENT BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED. HAD TO MOVE BECAUSE MY APARTMENT BUILDING IS GOING TO BE DEMOLISHED. O H A D TO MOVE BECAUSE MY RENT WAS INCREASED BEYOND MY ABILITY TO PAY. qWILL HAVE TO MOVE IF YOUR SECONDARY sum POLICY IS IMPLEMENTED. HAVE CONSIDERED MOVING BECAUSE OF THE 'MONSTER HOUSE' BEING CONSTRUCTED NEXT TO ME. MAY HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY WHILE THEY CUT DOWN TREES TO ACCOMMODATE NEW HOUSES. Cj wOiuiD iiKE To WE i 0 VOW VLG SCHEME 8ui COULD NOT AFFORD THE PROJECTED FIENTS. qWAS U MUVED BY THE 1989 PROPERTV TAX INCREASE. qWOULD LIKE YOU TO MOVE FASTER ON DEMOLITION CONTROLS qTHINKS YOU SHOULDN'T MOVE SO FAR FROM M E R E K ISSUES IN THE NEIGHBOURHOODS. HOPES r OU WILL BE REMOVED IN M E NEXT ELECTION

Dear Folks, What appears on t h i s page i s a copy of a Greeting Card f o r Mayor Campbell. I f you would l i k e t o send one, come t o t h e Newsletter O f f i c e . There a r e about 100 e x t r a s r i g h t now b u t more can be made i f w e run o u t . each, s o The postage i s 4 8 ~ t h e i d e a i s t o g e t a few (maybe a few thousand) and t a k e them t o C i t y H a l l and g i v e them a l l t o H i s Worship personally!