NEWSLETTER 401 Main Street, Vancouver V6A 2T7 (604) 665-2289
FEBRUARY 15,2003 Email: cnrnnew\fa \cn.bc.ca
Do We Want The OLYMPIC$?
13 Good Reasons to Hate The Olympics The <;ames are a Iluge Waste of Puhlic Money 'l'his huge sum is being given to sports entrepreneurs, construction companies, advertising, director's fixs, arn~cdmen ill u~liti)rni,superstars ill I,ycra, and so on. We are paying thr it, even though we can't use any ofthe facilities. 'l'axes will be paying olt'the cost of'the (;amus for several years aAer they end. 'I'hcre is no "trickle down cfli'ct" from this waste o f money. I:or example Salt I.akc ('ity, host o f the 2002 Winter (ia~ncs,paid $1 0 m i l l i o ~Ibr i tlie Olyliipic 1,'l;tmc cauldroll and $400 million for security.
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IIcre's what we all know, the Olympics w i l l lose moncy at the box ollicc. Hut they allegedly make up tbr that with economic spin-otls, by stimulating local industry, with the money the Itxals, visitors and athletes spwd on hotels. ~ncrchandise.rcstaurants and drinks. Sorry, am I fhrgcttir~gdrugs? Imagine taking the $7 billion ear-marked fbr the Vancouver Olympics and using it to lower I w a l taxes, finance high-tech medical research or even build a tunnel to Vancouver Island? 'l'here are thousands of NON-Olympic projects whose long and short term income. jobs, or spin-otf's would be larger and more enduring than an Olympics. Money Wasted on the Olympics Should be Spent on Human Need I'he billions spent on Olynipics arc coming at the expense o f public education, health, welhre, sporting ticilities, and recreational space. 1 lealth services are being squeezed and the unemployed are being harassed in a plan to cut benefits, while politicos throw our tax money at these Games. 1,otter-y money w i l l be diverted from non-protit conlmunity organizations to train athletes and whatever else the IO(' wants. Is i t O K to close hospitals, but build an $800 million highway to b'histlcr for weekend getaways and a two-week party in 201 O? I f we can't atliord hospitals, care facilities, teachers, civil servants, schtwls, athrdable housing, and low tuition Sees, then we sure as hell can't a t b r d the Olympics.
Sexism In 1900 womcll were allowed to compete only in tennis and golS. Women couldn't enter swimming events until 19 12. 'l'rack-and-lield and gymnastic events were opened to women in 1928. l'herc was much criticism of this innovation by the I'ope. I n 1932 tlie tirst Olympic Village was built i n IA, with over 500 bungalows, a hospital, a library, a post ottice, and 40 kitchens. l'hc male athletes stayed i n the village, and the kmale athletes stayed at a cheap downtown hotel. l l n t i l 1960 there was no race longer than 200 metres h r women. I n 1968 drug and sex testing were conducted for the tirst time. The sex testing was not pertbrnied on any men, and never has been. 'I'here was no women's marathon ulltil 1984. IJntil 1996, women were excluded ti0111 pole-vaulting and tiom the triple jump until 2000. There are still a greater number o f male than female events. The Games are an Elitist Wank ('orporations are tintling jobs fi)r elite athletes. (Jniversities are providing admissiorls for elite athletes. 'lhe government is funding training for elite athletes. l'he games foster a culture ofcelebrity. The lower echelons of humanity (us) with 99% ofthe sporting population, get nothing. Ordinary athletes can get lost! Atid i f you arc interested only in noticompetitive physical rccreation, then piss otl! No money b r you! The Olympics are NOT ahout Sport
The Olympics Bring Repressive Laws and Increased Militarism So~iielimcsthe Olympic Games I w k like rehearsal fbr war, and at other times they look like rehearsal tor a niilitary coup. The 1 0 C IInternational Olympic ('o~nmittee]bosses need to know that "measures arc i n place" to guarantee security fix their games. The Ineasurcs include police. security guards. military personnel. international ~ntclllgenceand secur~ty Ibrccs. as well as so-called "coimter terrorism units". The Pentagon budgeted $60 nill lion fiw security at the 1,A (iames. I n most Olympics, the participating athletes are outnumbered about 4 to 1 by the surrounding M e n W i t h Guns. I'he security preparations fbr the (iarncs do not arise out o f a mon~entarycrisis. only to till1 away when the danger has passed. 'I'hey tit into the long-term trend here and i n tiurope towards increased domestic repression. A l l the western "dcrnc~racies" are beco~ningsubtly militarized. adopting new laws to suppress dissent and squelch the anti-inlperialist strugglc of'their popul;rfions. 'I'lic 1068 Olympics i n Mexico City were the scene o f a bloody massacre when somewhcrc between 500 and 2000 st~rdentsand leftists were machine-gunned to death i n T'laltelolco I'laza while demonstrating prior to the start o f t h e (ianies. W e ;iIso w i l l have nIe;rsures to deal 1%i t l i the hysteria around athletes using drugs. l'his w i l l a t k t not just them, but anybody that wants lieedom to control their o w n body. After the elite allilctcs leave, all the inspectors, detectors and testers w i l l remain behind.
The Games are a Circus of <'ommercial and Corporate Hype 3 It's no secret that right-uingers value Strength. ('ornpelitiveness and 1)iscipline. It's u h a t drive\ thc tiee rnarket. Skill i n bobsled racing or speed \kating is totally unrelated to h u ~ n a nwelfare. When uill u c start recognizing and celebrating the truly important character traits ofgencrusity. kindness, friendline\\. gentleness. huniilitj. ethical leadership. i ~ l n c he;rul\ r purity of niotivc. capacity to empathi/e. and a g o ( d sense ofhurnour? The I O C ' has sold the Olympic\ to Shell, C'c~a-Cola,Nike, banking institution5 and or her o r g a n i x d corporate criminals. which pay fitr multi-niillion dollar "endorscments". Shcll ow r l \ 50% ol'Nigerian oil. spills it o\,cr c r o p a r ~ dIIIIIII~\. and supports army rule. N i k e reti~sesto provide basic safeguards, employs 70,000 Australiar~children at $ I-?/hour, and Indonesian workers at 10- 19 cents an hour ti)r a 72 hour week. The sporting events w i l l be structured to emure ~ n a x i n i u madvertising exposure o l the b i g corporalc sponsors, and as many commercial breaks as possible for 'I'V. K w n e Arledge. fbrrner head (11 t l ~ American Broadcasting ('orporatiotl said the ( iarr~ci weren't really about "the heroic words that h e u\c 10 describe them. It's basicallq a cornrnercial enterprise that tries every tour years to make a \ much rnoney as i! possibly can."
The Games are a Festival of Nationalism and Xenophobia ('ompetition between athletes is turned into conlpetltion hetween countries. Victories by indiv~dual\arid teams are treated as national victories. synholi/ed by !lags and anthems. Media coverage is biased unrds the country's o w n atl~letcs.r c i n l i m i n p rlallorlalis~n.'['he politics o f t h e (ia111c.sare based on the miti-social idea that con~petitionis the highe41 human virtue; and "we" are superior being\ to all tliose horrible toreigners. Ofcourse. the IO( doesn't proniote the O l j m p i c s i ~ d u \ t r ythis u a j Katllcr than deal \\it11 tllc critic\. the lo(' 1aIk\ a 101 :~bou!international sport spreadi~iggcnd u ill. rrr~rt~ral understanding. and a u h o l c lotta love among thc world's populatior~.
'I'he Olympics Increase liomelessness 1,;xpo 86. Need I say no re? You live in the 1)'l'l:S. You already know this. The (;ames are Ihught with Ijrihery and Corruption 'l'ttc host-city bid process i s ntulti- nill lion dollar bribery of'IO(' delegates, in order l o buy their votes. A 101 of'this money gocs on consultants, lobbyists and agents. A lot ofthis mottey gocs on wining and dilling the I(I(', treating them to tropical holidays, old watches and nulncrous gilts.
The IOC are a Hunch of Parasites IOC delegates arc unclcctcd and uni~ccoun~ablc. cd which "prominent ' l ' h ~I()('is a ~ ~ l l l s c l c c t body, citizens" arc invited to,ioin by [Itc lnemhcrs tllcnlselves, corporatc crooks and spill (joctors, linked by i n t c r l t ~ k i n gdirectorshi ps and linlitlcss persolla1 greed. Why do they do it? I'or the prestige, the bribery, and tiec round-the-world travel and accomlnodat ion. In 1008 the I(I(' was comprised o f 1 14 mcmbus, which included liw African generals (one who served under Idi Amin), three princes and one princess, assorted b~rsinessnicnand lawyers, and a recruit lrom the South Korean ('cntral Intelligcrtce. Only 12 were wonten. I'rolnincnt sports oliicials havc been repeatedly caught with tltcir lingers in the till. acccpting bribes, ticc holidays and gills, while also paying thcmselvcs in a rnonth what most people don't make in a year. I:or the Salt I.ake C'ity Games, they were given 56,000 tree tickets liw the Opening and ('losing C'crelnonics, which lelt only 4000 tickets lbr the I t ~ a l s .I t ;ill sounds strange, until yo11rententbcr the principle behind it: privatize the profits, socialize the losses. W e Need a Treaty, Not ('~ames I,'irst Nations I'coplc deserve an apology, not an Olympic police state. l'licir demands fbr a Treaty and real land rights arc being shoved oft'the political agenda by Olyntpic flag waving.
W e Will Still Hc Paying When the Games Are over I'hc ()lytnpics industry has the same political econolnic struct~~re as professional sport stadium development: namely. public costs and private profits. A greedy few (owners, developers, vendors) pocket ~nillions,while the rest of us arc let1 holding the bag. Allcr the circus leaves town, they w i l l leave hehind a wastclatld of repressive laws, public debt, urhan displacement, privatization of' public space and an increasing division between wealthy and poor. What to do with the pieces? 0 t h government sell the remnants cheap, quickly to hide the squalor and squander. Vancouver gave away a quarter ol'tlie downtown cityscape to a lhreign investor to accelerate the cover-up of Expo 86. What a deal lbr a single investor. What a ripoft' for the rest ofus. What are we going to see happen to an unnecessary and expensive train system firom the airport to Whistler? You havc an opportunity to decide tbr yourself whether you want the Vancouver-Whistler (iames in 20 10. and vote on I:eb. 22. Olympic Hid ('orporation cl~airtitanJack I'oole did not want a rckrenduni on the (iantcs. Il c said he had no ot-+xtion to polling public opinion as long as i t was done in a scientific fashion. According to him. a poll conducted by a corporate-paid and corporatemana&d polling cornpany is ntorc "scicnti tic" than public r e k k n d u m . Does that mean corporate polls arc! $Isti tiitire "scientitic" than public cl'ytions? Or do you 1h1f1k"scicnti fic" litcans that tlley c;111 be engiriecred more elkctively to produce the outcomes that the filndcrs want'.' Before I sign my name to this piece, let Ine say: these aren't all my own words. I hove surfkd and ruthlessly " h r r o ~ c d "Iron1 the Wch:
helh-denna-~a)yahoo.com <Mtp://rnohkcyfist.com Vancouver indymedia
('oping W i t h Death Sooner or Ii~tcr\be ;III have to cope with death. it11 dc;ttt~n1;q hc 1iIb.s rnost difficult task. I Io\ccvcr. grief'c;rn bring strength and ni;~tirrity10 the si~rvivors.showing 115 hou very precious litk is. It's sonlet hing \vc call easily f i q e t when everytliing is going well. I.osing someone close ~nakesus 1wk at our own lives ill ;I new ligllt hecarrsc sllddenly we realize thiat \LC. too. could die at an\ ti~iic. Atter n de;rtIi tlie rccor~c.iIiationwith life is inlportant. After the gcndhyes h;lve been said. we l l l ~ s the prepared to Inugh and love again. N o person can ever he replaced; he or she will minds arid hearts ;~lways11;lvc a spcci;ll place i n of'fiicndsa ~ l dfil~llily.1 lo\cc.\cr. don't he afraid to seek otrt ne\v relati(lllships or to learn from nlistilkcs. We all know dciitll is inevitable and to have the cour;lgc to liicc orrr own death is to have had the k courage to I;lcc lifi.. 11: ;it tile en(]. we can l ~ hack ( 'opirig I+
Burnaby Now Editor 5 ('hildcare Minister I,ynn Stephens' claim that tlic I .iherals are improving child care options fiv parent\ ( I)ay care filnding is now more equitable. 1 122103 ) demonstrates once again how out of' toucli and uncaring the <'ampbell government i \ . The facts are clear: The I iberal\ arc cutting fi~r~ding for childcare by 40%. forcing the clo\rlre o f w r ~ o~f c 1K"S hest daycares. and reducing d i ~ \ c ; ~~r c h 4 toy the point where it's almost no help to nio\t hrnilie\ $tr~~ggling to rnakc ends meet. '1 ;iken together, thew cuts hove draninticnlly redwed cl~ildcarcoption\ i n Dritish C'olumbia. Minister Stephens i \ know11 li)r her capacit) to deflect blame. once having told wornen that they were responsible for the pay gap betweer1 me11ard women. l h t despite her childcare spin. the next time \(lung f i ~ ~ n iisl ydenied c1iildc;irc in IK' t h e \ \ i l l know \vhere to point the tjnger.
Comments? Concerns? Con tad Jenny H'ai C'hing tiwon, M1,A
W n T h e Corner''l'liis has been classified as a great ('a11i1tli;inI lit ancl the hest film the li~nder\have ekcr lurldeti I have been given permiwon to \how the L ~ d e oas a \ncah preview thi5 S p r ~ n gIn our own ('nrncg~eI heatre 1.11 let you know the date as won :I\ I can I hank\'
7b /ho I I J H ~of, "if lJou'rc htrpj))~ und you kt~orz* it"
If you cannot find ( ) \ a m , bo~iibIraq. If the market5 are a draina, bomb lraq I 1 the terrorist5 are Srishy, I'akistan i \ lookrng diitty, North Korea i \ too rishy, bomb Iraq. If we have no allie5 with us, bomb Iraq. If we lhinh so~neonchas disscd us, bomb Iraq. So to hell with the inspections. Let's look tough Ibr the elections. Close your mind and take directions, bomb Iraq. It's "prc-crnptive non-agression", bomb Iraq. I ,et's prevent this nlass destruction, bo~iibIraq. 'I'hey've got weapons we can't see, and that's gtxd enough fix me. '('0s it&#8217;s all the p r o d l need, bomb Iraq.
If you never were elected. bomb Iraq. If your mend is quite dejected, bomb Iraq. Ifyou think Saddam's gone ~nad, with the weapons that he had, (And he tried to hill your dad), bomb Iraq.
I f y o ~ corporate ~r fraud is grow in'. bomb Iraq. I f your ties to it arc showin', bomb Iraq. If your politics are sleazy, and hiding that airit &#8&!$ easy, And your manhood's get1ing queasy, bomb Iraq. Fall ill line and follow orders, bomb Iraq. For our might hnows not borders, bornb lraq Disagree? We'll call it treason. I.et's make war not love this season, Even ifwe have no reason, bomb Iraq.
- from a friend
NDI' IJEAI)EK .JACK LAYTON N A M E S VANCOIIVEK MI' AS PARTY'S FIRST FEMALE HOUSE LEADER OTTAWA - NIX' 1,eader Jack 1,ayton and the federal New 1)crncxrat caucils made history trxlay introducing Vancouver MI' Libby I h v i e s as the party's first female Ilouse Ixader. 1,ayton introduced his new llouse Ixader to the fir11 NDI' caucus this morning. lauding Davies' 3 0 years o f hard work fighting for public housing. the homeless and urban issircs. "I havc known 1.ibhy fhr over 20 years and worked with her on a variety o f causes and projects. she has heen an asset to her constituents i n Vancouver bhst and an asset to her New Ilemocrat caucus." said 1,ayton. "I can think o f no hetter p r s o n to lead us in the llouse during the exciting months ahead." I n Qirestion period ttday, Ilavies began tier tenure ;is the New 1)emocrat I louse Ixader by attacking the 1,iberals on their dismal track record on public housing and hornelessness. A cornmlrnity activist in Vancouver fhr 30 years, Davies was first elected to the tlouse o f Commons i n 1997. As the federal N D P spokesperson on social policy. housing, children and youth. postsecondary education and ni~rlticulturalisrn.I h v i e s has developed a strong passroots approach to working with people and with diverse communities.
WAIL-MART? What's the big deal ahout another employer that enslaves and degrades their workers'? Sweat \hop\ do it all the time. "Yes, Virginia. there are ?weat shops in Vancouver." Shitty tiall councillor Anne Roberts says she would not be "r-i.vingrip it? urtn.s " a bout a Wal-mart in the old Woodward's store or the International Village if it chtwrses to do so. (Cimcoutw Sun l l l / l X / 0 3 ) This doesn't imply that Wal-mart is Itnrking to invade us. The bottom line is Anne Roberts would not want the A m i y & Navy store to suflkr competition with a big store like Wal-mart. She silys the Army & Navy has "been a good store for t hat neighbotrrhwd." l'he t r i ~ t his that A & N is the o d j t .slorc, in the I).[,. tha: we have at this time. It i s also over priced. I can buy fixd and other staples at corner stores like Hill's Confectionary on ('arrall Street. When I walk into A & N. I feel uncomfi)rtable with ;ill the security guys following me through the store even though i don't steal. I still remcniber 3-4 year\ ago when they charged me tax on frozen French hie\. I went to I.ihhy Davies and she got that straightened out. I don't mean to imply Wal-marl .xhorild he in our neighbourhmd. I j ~ ~ feel s t we arc in need of'a lairpriced store that caters to the needs of' our area. Please let your feelings be known by ptionir~g. faxing. or emailing Shitty t lall
Papa I. Fact or fiction you never knew with him I'm a \ear I took care of'hini \Ion I> ~ a t c t ~ i n 11i1r1 p waste away .. I'd run his errand\ . . . firially he broke down and let Ine call an arnhul;ince o f l t o the hospital to do or die N o w he'\ got a \4holc tcnm of people to he a cranky old man to 1 ahes a teani of real pr0'4 to help I \ ~ r i i t d e like a fairy sunset I'he Year o f the t lorse wa4 cpcnt running errands up & doun 4 i1w1r\ to keep alive this \haclowy ligurc. 11(r one really ever knew.
Spirit of the Arts 5 km walk & fundraiser a townhall infimnation n i w t i n g to be held at
CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE 401 MAIN STREET P.M. SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23,l:OO --
Deep
Dark
Desirable
Dreams
lay llcss, awakcncd realms ol' ncvcrworlds, begone Not to hccornc rcal but sure to become swept away soflly, like in tlic splitting ol'thc atom I h r s t i n g to disappear ('reate your own fantasies and keep your peace as yu wish A tortured soul, the count is rnany to be tossed ah(:ut as they twist away Your beauty's so deep it's sl~allow,transparent in fhct slic glances in a mirror I lcr rcllcction is Ilawed, yet fine, rcal (hope?) or is the sun ticcciving.. . lying perhaps? Splitting tricks.. cuttirig c;~rdsin a sense.. pleasing no one li)r sure but the message, the glory, the creases in what is will stay as aftixed with the realization ofthc lbarcd lirct ofcndings. ('olnc up li)r some air. I3rcatlic strong. 'l'rip tlw charged wires and clip your slircdtlcd ~narioncttestrings Step up to the tightrope and crccp over the stars ('atch onto a b c i ~ nlrom l the moon to ensure sell' esteem; create a desire, pick an orb t o zero in o n - stare at i t long and so Iiard to touch i f you like you can wish i t to solve your dreams in the night In the 1,:tcrnal. Irnpossiblc, Inconceivable, I Jnbclicv;~blcdistance.
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As part o f ('arnegie's 100'" Anniversary cclcbration, individuals, comlnunity groups, and I w a l busincsscs in the I h w n t o w n Ihstside, Chinatown, Ciastown, and Strathcona neighbourhoods ore being invited to participate, host, voluntcwr, and celebrate i n this event. 'l'he 5 K walk w i l l follow the route o f the historical mosaic niarkers. ()ur goal is to raise nloncy to establish an arts and humanities trust fillid fi)r the c o ~ i i ~ i i u ~ i i t y .
We can't do it without you so please show up with your input and support! f'or more infi) contact (iillian Maxwell at ('arnegie:
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"Their Spirit Lives Within Us"
OIIK I'KAYI<KS REMAIN WI'I'II TIlE WOMEN WI10 ARE S'I'II,l, CJNAC'C'OIJNTID FOR
'S DNA FOUND I,S Last Seen. I. Andrea Joesbury (M) 1 1/5/78 I S 6/01 2. Angela K . Jardinc 6/23/71 I S 1 1120/08
4. Cindy Felilis (M) 12/12/54 LS 1/18/97 5. Diane R t x k (M) 9/2/67 I S 1011 910 1 6 . (ieorgina Papin (M) 311 1164 I S 3/2/00 lieather 130tton11c~ (M)
7176
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4'17101
8. Ileatller ChintxA ( Mt 1 1!10/70 I S 4115/01 0. Ilclen M Ilallliiarlr (M) 6/74/66 I S 8/07 10. lnga M Ilall (M) l/Z5/52 IS 2/26/98
15.. Patricia Johnson ( M) 12/2/75 1,s 717710I 16. Sarah Ikvries ( M ) 12/5/09 1.S 411 4/98 17. SerLvrla ( M ) 8/20/7 1 1,s4/14/~,X 8. Sherry (M) 3119173 1 2/')(, 19. Tanya Marlo Ilolylr ( M ) 12/8/75 I .S 1 o1701~rf,
Our Vision IS 1'0 ACCEPT ' T I E CREATOR'S GUIDANCE AND LIVE UPON MO'I'llEK EARTH IN f'f:ACE, I {ARMONY, BAIANCE AND UNITY Wf IERE ALL CREATION IS IIONOURED, RESPECTED AND LOVED.
REMEMBERING O U R W O M E N officially listed as "missing." LS=Last Seen 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. I I. 1 2. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 2 1. 22. 23. 24. 25.
Angela Arseneault 5120177 LS 1997 Andrea F Borhaven 1972 1,s 1997 Ann Wolsey 12/20/72 LS 1/1/97 Catherine L Gonzalez 9/27/68 LS 3/95 Catherine M Knight 5/5/66 1,s 4/95 Cindy L Beck 4117/65 IS 9/97 Dawn 1, Cooper 5/4/64 1,s 1996 Dawn M Grey 10/26/58 L S 1 1/1/00 Debra .Jones 1213 1/57 LS 1212 1/00 Diana Mclnick 8/26/75 LS 1212 1/00 Dorothy A Spence 8/6/62 LS 7130195 Elaine Allenbach 4/6/62 LS 7/30/95 Elaine P Dumba 3/l 2/55 1,s 1989 Elsie Sebastian 1/1/52 1,s 10116/92 Francis Young 1/7/60 LS 4/6/96 Ingrid Soet 7/ 13/59 LS 8/28/89 Jacqueline Murdock l/28/7 1 LS 8114/97 Janet Gail Henry 411016 1 LS 6/25/97 Julie L Young 7/17/67 LS 10198 Kerri Koski 8/14/59 LS 1/7/98 Kathleen Dale Wattley 10/20/59 LS 5/92 Laura Mah 3/23/43 1.S 8/1/85 Leigh Miner 3/24/58 IS 12112/93 ~ i n d Grant a 3118/53 LS 10184 Lillian Jean O'Dare 12/12/78 LS 1/8/94
26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 3 1. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 4 1. 42. 43. 44. 45.
Marcella H C'reison 6/2/78 LS 12/98 Maria Laliberte 1 1/7/49 LS 1/1/97 Michelle Gurney 211 1/69 LS 1211 1/98 Nancy Clark 2/29/66 LS 8/22/91 Olivia Gale Williams 1/19/75 1,s 12/6/96 Rebecca Guno 5/25/60 IS 612210 I Richard (Kellie) Little 3112/69 LS 4/23/97 Ruby A. Hardy 3/23/65 LS 1998 Shelia C Egan 8/4/78 LS 7/96 Sheryl Donahue 7/4/63 LS 5130185 Sherry Lynn Rail 9/8/56 LS 12/96 Stephanie Marie Lane 5/28/76 1,s 1/10/97 Tanya C Emery (M) 10/6/64 12/1/98 Teresa L. Triff 8/l 7/69 LS 411 5/88 Teressa A Williams 2/14/73 LS 7/1/88 Tiffiny A Drew 113 1/75 IS 1 213 1I99 Wendy LAllan 12/10/45 LS313099 Wendy Crawford 412 1/56 LS 1 1/99 Yvonne M Abigosis 1 1/23/57 LS 1/1/84 Yvonne Boen 1 l/3O/67 LS 3/ 16101 Amanda P Flea (Mandy) Annie Cedar Jr Berandine Standing Ready Cheryl Joyce Vicklund Connie Chartrand Diane Lancaster Florence Isaac Loran Carpenter Lorraine Arrance (Ray) Maureen Riding at the Door Melodie Newfeld Merarlda lsaac Lisa Marie Graveline Mary James Patricia Ann Wadhams (Trish) Peggy Snow Ranjitk Toor Rose Piapst Ruby Williams Sadie C hartrand Saltana Rafay Sandra Flamorid Sharon Arrance Tammy Lee Pipe Tracy Lyn Hope Tracy Olajide Vera Lyons Victoria Yonkers Wendy Poole
Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, Aunties, Grandmothers and friends - gone. I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Alice Hall Amy McCauley April Roech Barbara Charles Barbara Larocqui Barb Mills Barbara Paul Basma Rafay Bernadeth Campo Bernadette Grace Pierce I I. Betty Case 12. Beverley Whitney 13. Beverly Wilson 14. Beverley Ann Desjarlais 15. Bonnie Lincoln 16. Bonnie Pruden 17. Brenda George 18. Corrine Sherry Upton La Fleur 19. Carol Davis 20. Carol Ann Walden 2 1. Carrie Ann Starr 22. Chantal Gillade 23. Chantal Venne 24. Charlene Kerr 25. Christine (Chrissie) Billy 26 Christine Elizabeth McCrae 27 Christina I. Christison 28 Cindy Williams 29 Clorissa Mary Adolph 30 Connie Rider 3 I. Corrine Dagnault 32. Dana Draycott 33. Darlene M Johnson 34. Darlene Weismiller 35. Darlinda Ritchey 36. Dawn Ritchie 37. Debbie-Ann McMath 38. Debhie Kennedy 39. Debbie Neaslose 40. Debra Foley 4 1. Debra lucas 42. Deloris Kivet 43. Donna Rose Kiss 44. I h r a Joseph Patrick 45. Edna Shande 36 Elsie Tonima
47. Enola Evans 48. Fong M i n Wong and her 3 week old daughter 49. Geraldine W illiams 50. Gerry Ferguson 5 1. Gertrude Copegop 52. Gloria Duneull (Sam) 53. Harinder Knijar 54. Helena George 55. Helen Lessardo (Bowers) 56. Holly Cochran 57. Jacquilene Michelle 58. Janet Basil 59. Janet Pelletier 60. Janice Saul 6 1. Jeannie Wibe 62. Jennie Lea Waters 63. Jennifer Moerike 65. Josephine 64. Jennifer Pete Johson 66. Joyce Paquette 67. Julie Louise 68. Julie Mai Smith 69. June Hill 70. Kandice Mills 7 1. Kanwaljitk Gill 72. Karen Ann Baker 73. Katherine Phyllis August 74. Kelly Myers 75. I.ana Martin 76. Laurie Ann Rix 77. Laurie Schotz 78. Lavern Jack 79. Laverna Avivgan 80. Leanna Cupello 8 1. Leanne Scholtz 82 Linda Nelson 83. Lisa Leo 84. Lisa Moosomin 85. Lois Makie 86. Lorna Lam bert 87. Lori Newman 88. Loma George 89. Lorna Jones 90. IOU-Ann Stolarchuck 9 I. Margaret Vedan 92. Margorie Mach 93. Maria Fegeuson 94. Marina George 95. Marjorie Susan Prisnen
This list contains the names of most of the women who died violent deaths or who are still missing. You will not be forgotten by your family and friends."
96. Martha Gavin 97. Mary Johnson 98. Maryann Jackson 99. Mary Ann Charlie 100. Mary Anne Monrcu 10 1 Mathilda Charles 102. Mavis Hippolyte 103 Maxine Paul 104 Mertyl Roy 105 Michelle lafleshe 106 Michelle Wing 107. Monika Lillmeier 108. Naazish Khan 109. Nadine McMillan l I 0 Nancy Jane Bob I 1 I . Nya Rane Robalard 1 12 Patricia Andrew 1 13. Patricia Thomas 114. Pauline Johnson l 15. Peggy Favel 1 16. Rhonda Gaynor 1 17. Rita Holy White Marl 1 18. Ronda MacDonald 1 19. Rose Merasty 120. Rose Peters 12 1. Ruth Anderson 122. Ruth Oliver 123. Sally Abou 124. Sally Jackson 125. Sandra Amos (George) 126. Sheila Hunt 127. Sheila Catherine Egan 128. Shirley Nix 129. Sonia Mathews 130. Susan Ball 13 1. Susan Jones 132. Susan Presvich 133. Swaranjitk Thandi 134. Tanya Marlo 135.Tanya Wallace 136. Terry Lynn 137.Theresa Humchitt 1 38. Vema Parnell 1 39. Verna M issar 140. Veronica tarry 14 I.Vicky Buchard 142. Violet Delores tleman 143. Wendy Grace Lewis 144. Yvonne Stevens . Some names are not included. lfyou would like to have the name o f a woman included, call Marlene: 604-665-3005
[Space and budget limit adding 1000 copies of this petition to this Newsletter. If you can. use a photocopy ofthis page as a cover to sheets hr people to sign as indicated and gather signatures,] P e t i t i o n Sponsored
I
by B r e a k T h e Silence C o a l i t i o n (B.C.) 1
The llonorable 1,egislative Assen~blyo f the province o f British Columbia, in Legislature TO: Assembled Whereas violence is an expression o f abuse o f power and that such abuses may be based o n social status, gender, race, age, disability, homophobia, o r acceptance b y society; and Whereas it is within the mandate o f the B.C. M i n i s t r y o f Public Safety and the B.C. Solicitor General's office t o w o r k towards eliminating violence and protecting public safety; and Whereas under said mandates, the aforementioned Ministry and the Solicitor General's office are tasked w i t h working towards changing attitudes as well as developing laws, policies, procedures and a justice system that holds offenders accountable i n a reasonable and timely fashion; and Whereas there is strong and compelling evidence suggesting the cases o f women w h o went missing under suspicious circumstances f r o m Vancouver's Eastside raise serious issues that may include, but is not limited to, possible systemic deficicncies such as inadequate resources, as well as may fall within the definition o f breaches of Public T r u s t I k f a u l t b y members o f the Vancouver Police Department, and that further potentially fall under the B.C. Code o f Professional Conduct Regulation disciplinary defaults under section 4(b) Neglect o f Duty; and Whereas the result o f possible deficiencies andlor breaches o f Public T r u s t 1)efault and Neglect o f Duty, was that public safety was seemingly at r i s k and further that reasonable and timely justice was seemingly denicd t o women who continued t o vanish over a period o f more than 20 years while the perpetrator(s) o f crimes against them including murder waslwere seemingly not held accountable in a reasonable and timely fashion. Therefore, we the undersigned, citizens and peoples of British Columbia hereby petition the Honorable House to call a full public inquiry into the Vancouver Police Department's investigation o f all cases o f women who vanished under suspicious circumstances f r o m Vancouver's Eastside. Printed Name
Signature
Address
Postal C o d e
I
Downtown Eastside Residents' Association Advocacy Service During this past year. [)ERA advocates encountered 2 149 cases, o n behalf of 1479 client's. 'Hie changes to the newly named "Employment and Assistance Act" continue to challenge our residents and further bureaucratize the adversarial and archaic welhre system. The process in which we work to assist has become more complex and time consuming. Ixgal research and the preparations of legal summations take up a mqjor part ofadvwates' days. 'l'he repercussions of closing t he liesidential Tenancy Oflice on Melville Street early last spring have greatly atTected the poor. The cost of transportation to the 13urnaby oflice means a day of meals at the I<velyneSaller Centre Ihr most of our residents. For the advocates. the time that they have to spend out of the oflice for a residential arbitration has doubled. 'l'he overall tkct for many residents is to accept their h t e and not oppose an eviction or a security deposit retrieval. llowever, it is now paramount for them to be able to secure the return of their deposits. 'J'hey find themselves in a Catch-22 scenario where a landlord withholds the deposit witliout cause. the tenant can't afford to challenge it, arid the Ministry refuses to grant another one and/or reduces thc person's cheque to make them repay it. In total, [)13K,4 Advocacy Service assisted ~ i t h I I83 welhre problems. 598 landlord disputes. 368 requests for assistance with 1)isability applications and 263 issues concerning I lealth Services. In addition, to date I)['KA has completed 60 "f'ersons with [)isability Keviews." [)t:KA was able to assist 102 residents in obtaining crisis supplements. I)I:KA advocates attended 16 'l'ribunals and 27 Arbitrations. Of<RA Adv(x.acy Service continues to assist people with problems in many other areas which include, senior's income, income tax preparation. (apprO~imately 2000 income tax returns are completed between l : ~ . and b ~April). ~ ~ We ~ assist ~ ~ our residents by completing fi)rms and applications h r social housing and SA[:~:K (;rants. We read their mail tbr t h l , assist the111 with ~eleplionecalls lo their
doctors and families and above all ensure that they knot+ to M. hat they are entitled. The 1)f:KA Advocates continue to be involved i r r I'ublic Ixgal t,ducation (P1.t:) and otter workbhop\ in Wellare issues and Tenancy Rights. l'hc I)l.HA Advwatcs arc invited to many community lOrurn\ annually. Finally. the oppressive changes in~plcrnentcdhq the Ministry of tiurnan Resources and those change\ ro the Attorney General's department have cor~trihutcd to larger case loads with issues that take longer to resolve and many more hours to complete. I)I:RA i . alive and kicking. changing with the time\ I'his situation is almost normal!! C'ornc w e u\ at 13 IJast t lastings. ( We'll he 3 0 in August.) [)era has moved to it's new location - 12 f . f lastings. Now we are next to the 24 hour corrlcr store (a euphemism fi)r illegal drug store in thi\ NeighhourhocK1) and lo und hrhold what do u e \ec our lirst day at work: ('hurchill Security (like Brinks) pulls up. 4 armed rwrl get out go into t t ~ c Corner Store and come out with hags ot'monej Now personally I have witnessed Iwal legitimate businesses doing their own bank deposit from a small hag. 4 armed men to carry out the money What do you suppose they are doing? scene \+as h a p p i r ~ ghelbre the installation of'ar~A'l rM machine in there the owner's excusc wheu a&cd
i'm never giving up heaven is t t x ~far away no matter what it's the last time hare bleeding wounds only to deceive do or die screaming out a reply so close look at what i've done it's a fantasy gone straight d t m it make sense'? an experience unlike any other why walk away now'? what to do'? where to go'? a silent story il silent witness
charles fort in
Annual US Stella Awards 2002 It's time once again to consider the candidates fbr the annual Stella awards. The Stella's are named after 8 1 -year-old Stella I.iebeck who spilled c o l k e on herself and successfirlly sued McDonnlds. That case inspired the Stella Awards for the most uniquely successful lawsuits in the IJnited States Ihr last year. Acti~ally.joint awards should be given to the plninlift'attorneys and the flaming idiots on the juries who awarded anything at all to these rnorons-who deserved NO'I't IING!!!! The Tollowing are this year's candidates: Kathleen Robertson o f Austin. 'l'exas, was awarded $7H0.000 by a jury ol'her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a ttxidler who was rr~nninginside a t i ~ r n i t r wstore. The owners ofthe store were untier - ~ t i ~ n d i i hsurprised ly at the verdict, considering the niishehaving little ttddler was Ms. Robertson's son. <hrl'l'ruman o f 1.0s Angelcs won $74,000 and rnedical expenses when his neighbor ran over I ~ i s hand with a Ilonda Accord. M r . 'l'ruman apparently didn't notice there was somcone at the wheel o f the car when he was trying to steal his neighbor's hubcaps.
'IXr.rrencr1)ickson of'l~ristol.I'cnnsylvania. was leaving a house he had just finished robbing by way ofthc garage. IIc was not able to get the garage door t o go up since the automatic door opener was matfi~nctioning. Ile couldn't reenter the h w s e because the door connecting the house and garage locked when he pulled it shut. 'l'he filmily was on vacation. and M r . I>ickson li)und hirnsel 1. ltxked in the garage li)r eight days. IIe s~rhsistetion n case of I'cpsi he found, and a large hag ol'dry dog 1i)oti. IIc sucd the horneowncr's insurance claiming the situation caused hini undue tiictital anguish. The jury agreed to the tune o f $500.000. J e r r y Williams o f I A t l e Rtxk. Arkansas. was awarded $ 14,500 and ~ncdicalespcnscs alter being bitten on the buttocks by his nest door neighbor's beagle. 'l'he beagle wiis on a chain in its owner's Scnced yard. l ' h e award was less than sought because the jury felt the dog might have been just a little provoked at the time by Mr.Williams who was shooting it r ~ p ~ i 1 t e dwith l y 11 pellet gun. A m b e r Carson got $ 1 13.500 from a I'hiladelpl~ia restaurant after she slipped on a soft drink and broke her coccyx (tailbone). 'lhe beverage was on the floor because Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyti-iend 30 seconds earlier during an argument. K a r a W d t o n of('laymont, I>elaware, succcssfirlly sued the owner o f a night club in a neighboring city when she kll fi-om the balhrcnm window to the floor and knocked out her two liont teeth. This c ~ c u r r e d while Ms. Walton was trying to sneak through the window i n the ladies rcx)rn to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge. She was awarded $ 12.000 and dental expenses. 'Ihis yeiir's fiivorite could easily he Mr. Merv ( h 7 inski of'Oklahorna ('ity. Oklnho~na.Mr. (irazinski purchased il hrand new 32-li,ot Winnebago motor home. O n his first trip home. having driven onto the freeway, he set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the drivers seat lo go into the back and ~nake11inisclf;r cup ofcoll'cc. Not surprisingly, the I i V lelt the fireway, crashed and overturned. M r . (irazinski sucd Winnebago h r not advising him in the owner's manual that he couldn't actually do this. The jury iiwnrded hini $1,750,000 plus a new motor homc. 'l'hc conipi~nyactually changed their manuals o n the hrisis ofthis suit. just in case there were any other complete Inorons buying their vehicles.
DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE YOllTII ACTIVITIES SO<'l E1'Y
NEEDLE EXC'IIANGE - 221 Main: 8:30am - 8pm every day NEE1)l.E KX('flAN<;E VAN - 3 Routes: C'itv - 5:45pm - 1 1 :15pm Overnirlht - 12:3Oam - 8:30am Ihwntown Eastside - 5:30pm - 1 :30am
2003 1)ONA'TIONS
Libby 11.-$60 h r r y for Salll R.-$N Eve 1 -$I8 Nancy 11 $30 Margaret 1) -$25 tlulda K . 4 5 Val A $18 W m B-$20 M a r y ('-$SO I'aula K-$ I5 Rolf A -$55 Bruce J.-$50 BC'TF-$ I0 Wes K.-$15 Charley 13-$5 HayCam-$25 (;ram -$I00 I'addy -$50 Sarah E.-$10 C'harles F.-$5 Hoseniary Z.-$20 Joanna N.-$20 Jenny K . 4 1 8 Nancy (1.-$25 Glen B.-$75 Penny G.-$20 Liz S.$5 Ccleste W.$30 Sandy C.$20 Ellen W.-$ I SO Jim (;.-$I50 Anon),mous -$2
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~ Ld i m a ~ m rI L W P I I ~
101 M~~III \I V.IIILLIII\LI V I A ? 17 o(U ( h 5 ??KO
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Submission Deadline for next issue: Tuesday, February 25
Welfareproblems; Landlord disputes; Housing problems; Unsafe l ~ v i n gc o n d ~ t ~ o n s ; m e to the Dera office at 12 E. Hastings Street or
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(;ordon ('amphell, drunk-driving and democracy
I very adult ('anadian who i s not n hermit has had tlie rne\\age " l f y o r ~drink, don't drive" drilled into thern fbr at lea\[ l i k e n yciirs. In his emotional explanation on the Sunday following the incident. M r ('an~phcllkept \aying that he made a "terrible mi\take l3ul tliat isli't \+liat Iiappe~icdII lie had hcen unaware or ignorant oftlie po1enti;il conseclrlcnces ol being drunk on the road, that would he a mktake 13111 thi\ was a calculated deckion M r ('ampbell made to take a huge risk that he might cause a fatal i~ccidenthy driving when he absolutely knew he was drunk. l3ul equally disturbing was M r . ('amphell's subsequent news conference which was fill1 ofmisleading and selfserving slatelncnts designed by his spin doctors. f h t , Campbell never acknowledged that what lie did w a s a serious crime. Ile repeatedly said tliat ill Ilawnii wliat lie did is "a petty misdemeanor.." Whet1 asked it he had cver driven impaired before he said "not to my knowledge." 'l'his is public relations spin at its worst. Ordinary people answering such a question would siriiply never say this. In response to a direct question ahout Iiow inipaircd lie was ('amphell said lie didn't know. 13111the Maui police made i t clear tliat oflknders are always told their results verbally and then shown a print-out ofthe breathitlizer's results. ('ampbell told the news conference that the drive was just a "short distance" to his hotel. It was seventeen kilomctrcs. O f all C':tmpbcll's statements the worst is now universally seen as an outright lie. ('ampbell claimed he had three martinis and a k w glasses o f wine over 8 hours and drank nothing in the last ninety minutes, l3ut a numher ofexperts have said he had to have Iiad the equivalent of between thirteen and eighteen drinks of'hard liquor to register . I 4 9 - even more to hit ,161. Should C'aniphell Iiave resigned? Ile said it was personal - it had nothing to do with his role and responsibilities as premier. t3ut wliat if he had been caught using cocaine, engaging in some serious financial misdeed, or got caught with n prostiti~te'? IIc would Iiave resigned immediately - arid these crimes don't relate to his politicill oflice either. More importantly, they don't threaten other people's lives. And i f a prcmicr liorn any other party filced silnilar circwnstanccs'! M r ('amphell would he calling loudly fix their liead. "
1 liere i \ no handbook on how we deterrnirie whether ;Ipol~ticianis fit to be the head o f it government in (':inad;l. So trying to determine whether or not (iordo n (';imphell 4ozdd have resigned hecou\c o f his I Iilwaiian drunk driving and \peeding charge\ wa\ ~icvcrcut arid dried. Yet the qrlestion i\ an important one. especially thc\e d;~y\when cynicism about politicians is perhap\ at il\ Iiighc\t level in fifty years. ('anadian\ can be very to~tghon their polit~ciamand I am onc of tlio\c who think that this kind ofcynicism can he very de\trrrctive ofderntxracy. I am speaking Iierc o f tlie kiutl o f sweeping (and wrong ) generalimtion that "all politicians" are opportuni\t or corrupt or incompetent It has led to iin extraordinary decline in voter turn-out ill anti that'\ just bad for democracy Hut the actions o f (iordon ('ampbell fall into a category of their own and his appalling bchaviour i\ it potential source o f real cynicism. Ilk hehaviour \peak\ to the fact that there are and should be standi ~ r d of \ ethical hehaviour fhr our political leaders and tliat ifthey con\istently - or spect:~c~~larly - fiiil to meet thern, they should find some other work. (iordon ('amphell got into a vehicle t i l l i n g down drunk ( I Ic had with a road-side test reading of .161; ninety minuets later it was .149) and drove a dark, very windy road. Ile wils speeding (70 mph in a 45 /one) i ~ n tweaving l all over the higliwi~y.I'he iirrc\ling c o p say he staggered, slurred hic \pcech and reeked o f alcohol. 1 Ie's incredibly lucky he didn't k i l l \orneonc. I ct's be really clear about how serious this crime i\ In ('anada drunk-driving is the leading cause of cr iniitlal death - tlirec times as high a\ homicide; 4 0 percent of road deaths are caused by impaired driver\; 50,000 ('anadian families are directly affected by i~ccider~ts caused hy drunk drivers every year. At his level o f impairment (iordon <'ampbell was over 250 lime\ niore likely to have an accident than a sober tirivrr
The question has been asked: Do we expect too much o f o u r leaders'?Should they be held to higher standards, or just different standards'? Ideally we don't chtwsejust anyone to lead us politically. 'I'heir claim to leadership is implicitly a claim to moral substance and principled behaviour - in short. cxceptional character. 'l'hat's why we call them leaders. I t is assumed they exhibit honesty, integrity, and ernpathy with the governed. I t is also assumed they know they are expected to live up to these standards. M r Campbell certainly made much oftiis standards insoi:~r, at least. as others were obliged to live up to them. t i e has said ever since entering politics that any elected otticial facing even a hint ofscandal should resign. l i e helped drive fbrmer N D P premier Iiarcourt tiom ottice over a scandal t larcourt actually had nothing to do with. "I le has lost the moral authority to govern. t i e shoilld be hanging his head in shame," pronounced M r Campbell. As opposition leader he ejected Jeremy Ilalton, one o f his own MLAs, from his caucus for having written a letter on M I A letterhead to help a fiiend. I4e was relentless in helping drive NDP premier Glen Clark iron1 otlice for a "crime" he never committed. Yet he asks us to waive these onerous standards for him. Hut it is Campbell's policies, particularly towards the most vulnerable in HC'. that come to mind for many HC residents. t i e wants Ibrgivcness -- but if'a el tire niother living on $845 n month is caught lying in order to gain a few extra dollars fix fhcd or clothing for her child, she is barred fbr lik from ever receiving welfare again. In the unfbrgiving "New llra" IK', personal resp~nsibilityis the guiding principle of(iordon C'alnphell's social policy. But not. apparently. thr him. The outcome o f a single incident involving a single politician rnay seem, in the larger scheme ofthings. to be unimportant. It's precisely the larger scheme o f things that is at stake here. I f i t is all right tor a premier to collimit a serious crime. lie to citizens ahout it, and casually ignore his own declared high ethical standards, what does this do to our democracy? It seems to me that it lowers the bar fbr those who might choose to enter politics and makes cynics out ofcitiz.ens who rightfully expect more. I f w e let this politician go we can be stire there will be more like him - and h e r citireris who even care.
Okay. let's all do a little of'that heel and a t(c. ii tieel an' a toe. Arid now all you lucky busines\merr grah yourselfan eager politician, and turn 'em arourid. turn 'em 'round. 'nd let's all scratch. \cratch. xratcli his back. Scratch i t gtwd an' scratch it riglrt. All trade places now an' he'll scratch your\. an' he'll scratch yours. Take that tiiendly politician in your grasp, squeex 'em tight an' make 'ern ga\p. I \s irl an' spin 'em fast. an' turn all together out to thc right. to the right. A l l right now, that's enouglr of that! 1x1's try to keep i t nice. s o why don't we all go 'an dosido. dosido. and allemande right. 'Ihat'\ right I d ' s all come together now and join hands. MaLc a big circle and circle right. an' turn i t to the right. i t ' \ always, always to the right. Farther an' tart her to 111c right. I:verybtdy now! I x t ' s all stop. it's tilrre to give you all a break, you're so g(:(~d.we're givirp 4011all a big tax-break! So take a how an' clap alrd cheer. clap an' cheer. Take your partner and \tcp up to the trough, that stinkin' trougll. Arid 1-2-1all jump in and go completely hog-wild. A l l right no^. let's all jump out. and 2 by 2 let's rnarch to ttrc r ~ g l i t That's right, it's always tarther an' liirther to the right. 1.et.s find out how Sar we can take i t to the right. to the right. Kcn Morri\ori
'l'hcse women's humari rights have been violated tlie right under the Ontario Iluman Rights Code to equal treatment with respect to the occupancy ofacco~nniodationwithout discrimination because o f receipt o f public assistance," says Ruth Goha, Stalt'1,awyer with the Centre b r 1;quality Rights in Accommodation (('ERA). "An allowance that covers the real cost otient is crucial Ibr people on public assistance to survive and retain dignity. We are asking the Ontario 1 luman Rights Commission to find that the shelter allowance is inadequate and discrim inates against single mothers on social assistance." l'he story above is just the latest form o f what resisting entails. A coroner's inquiry into the death o f Kimberly Rogers was befbre a jury in Ontario in Ikcember. It found that her suicide was directly attributable to the zercrtolerance policy ofthat government towards welfare tiaud. Ms. Rogers, 40, had collected welfare while going to school and getting honours in Social Work t o get herselfott' welfare arid help others do the same. She was convicted and ordered to server 6 months house arrest. She overdosed on anti-depressants. 'l'lie jury made many recommendations but such were disniisscd inimediately by the Minister. l'he point ofrepeating this in the Newsletter is that the whole scenario is going to be repeated again and worse in I3ritisli Columbia as long as Campbell and cohorts are in charge here. -
Women lrom across Ontario tiled claims at the Iluman Rights C'oriimission on 1:ebruary I I, charging that the current maxirnum 'shelter allowance' discriminates against women and children. 'l'he legal chal lcnge is an unprecedented move for social assistance recipients in Ontario. ('arrie Steenburgli, one ol'several women filing a claim: "llvery single morilli I Iiope there isn't one small expense that would send me over the edge and inearl the di tt'erence hetween survival and eviction," 'l'he inadequacy o f the shelter allowance makes it impossible 1i)r social assistant recipients to find and maintain housing in the private rental market. "('urrcnt alltmtions don't even come close to covering basic human needs," says Kathy I,aird, Ilirector 01' I.egal Services at Ihe Advocacy ('cntre l i x 'l'enants Ontario (A<'l'O), a community-based I.ega1 A i d Ontario clinic."Swial assistance has been eflkctivcly cut by 30.6% since 1095. At the same time, rents have risen 32% in 'l'oronto. You do the math. Wornen with two childreti gct a maximum shcltcr allowance ot'$554, just about half ol'tlie $1,047 the average two-bedrtxm costs ill 'l'orolito." ( )ntario
Gospel singing and He-claiming you Voice workshops with Singer (iail 13owen. Ikginning on Tuesday February 18'", 1-4 at C'arnegic, I,txation 'I'I3A and continue fi)r 2 weeks with ~iicmhcrso f tlie workshops perlor~ningin the International Women's I h y ('oncert International Women's Day C'oncert- M a r c h 8Ih:
Nominate the inspiring women o f our community to receive recognition for their role in making a d i t k r ence, lighting up someone's day, and working to ~iiakeour community a better place tbr everyone. A l l women who are nominated w i l l be lionourcd in cercmony on the evening o f Saturday March 8"' I k i s e send your submissions to the ('arnegie Newsletter with a k w words about the woman you nominate. ('ontact Marlene ((I) 065-3005; Sharon id 005-32 13
The "legacy" so far
What fbllows Ilere is fionl a page put out b\ the IN' (iover~imenttimployees Ilnion:
H.C.'s new welfbre rules are creating fear and injustice: Welfare applicants must now wait three weeks, and complete an orientation session and a job search before they can meet with a worker. [{vcn when no jobs are available, most people will only be eligible to receive assistance for two out of every tive years. Applicants may be ineligible if they do not meet the two year tinaricial independence test. Single parents are forced to Itxk for work when their youngest child turns three years old (formerly seven). This atkcfs 4.500 parents and 15,000 children. The KC. Liberals have also cut child care funding fbr working parents!
~h;s
i n the drivers
Changes to the definition of"disabled", and tht. elimination ofthe 1-ifetirne 1)isibility 1)esignation means many people with serious disahilitics will hc Ibrced to seek work. People aged 60-65 must seek work and are subject to the rule oftwo years assistance in five. Owning a car worth more than $5.000 makes you ineligible tor income assistance. People who receive welfare are subjected to some of the most regressive regulations in Canada I f a family member does not meet conipliance standards. the whole family may be d~squalilicd.! , o r exarrlple, a teenager who quits sch(x)l could di\qualifi the rest o f t h e family. Mandatory referral to jobs, many ot'duhiou\ quality
Funds and services cut or eliminated, and new barriers set up All earnings exemptions eliminated (other than tor disability clients). Transition-to-work benefit eliminated Worktbrce entry benefit eliminated.
'I'he partial cxeniption li)r maintenance incornc is eliminated. Youth cniployment programs eliminated. 'l'raining programs reduced. Medical and dental services reduced or eliminated Ikbtor Assistance I'rogram eliminated. Automatic $20 per month reduction in benetits i f in rieed o f a security deposit. ('risis grants capped. .l'hough it's r~otexpected that landlords will reduce rental charges accordinglv shelter amounts have been reduced. i.e.: single parent & one child $520 -. single parent ct; two children $555 (down liom $6 10) single parent & three children $590(was $650) Support allowance tbr people ages 55-64 is cut to $185 per niontli (used to be $23 1.07 tbr ages 55-50: $282.92 fbr ages 60-64).
Staggering funding cuts hurt frontline services The C'ampkll government is closing 36 Ministry of lluman Resources oflices. eliminating hundreds o f positions, and increasing the workloads o f others. Workers are li.eling the pressure and stress o f not being able to help people in need. 'l'he 13.C'. 1.ikrals are not linished yet. They plan on replacing workers with electronic applications and "k iosks".
...undthe Olvmpics The problem - this is just one aspect of our scxiety. not being a 'bleeding heart' but just having a heart and the social programs to assist the many thousands who are poor, vulnerable and marginalized - the majority o f people fbr whom the hype ofsuccess in money or power terms is just a tigment o f someone else's imagination The Olympic bid is at the heart o f my problem. I t seems to be a no-brainer that if there are millions to spend on just the bid and then billions o n building the facilities for elite athletes and supporting circus, then there is money for social programs, hospitals, seniors, daycare, housing, women's dignity. families and victims and the disabled and more. But no. 'l'he amount o f money being spent right now on the hype o f how wonderful the Olympics are or will be - so that everywhere you go there are huge billboard and neon ads and pins and so on. It costs $10,000 fbr one billboard, and the sad thing is that those in i t for the business are going to make the money while we get the promises ofjobs (think back to ( i M Place, when the promise was o f a minimum o f 150 for residents and the result was a quarter ot'that number worked for 2 weeks and all but two were then laid oft) and non-displacement (Expo 86 and people getting kicked out fijr cosmetic changes and gouging by landlords. with six people dying while ' i t won't happen' rings i r i our ears). supposedly Woodwards got sold to Vancouver and even Four Corners Savings got saved trom the provincial axe to get support fi)r "the Olympics.. . " 1with the quotation to show that the support is for the private business interests1 nd how much "better" Vancouver w i l l be (.letinit~r('lark had her our^ billboards and campaigned on the sanie thing better than what'?) People are working inside to get as much 'iron-clad' stuff as possible but the legacy ofthe busirws side of Olympics all over the world is that the nun-elite end up paying t h r o ~ ~ gthe h IIOX u hilt a11 social arid Native and health and ecological matter4 get lipservice. In short, we're being ashed to TRllST Cordon Campbell and his masters to keep tticir prornlws. No. 13) PA1 il K 'I A Y I O K