Provincial Government

Belleville - Following on the heels of signing up over 900 low income people for the "special diet" benefit, the Tenant Action Group (TAG) has forced Ernie Parsons' Liberal MPP constituency office into permanent "lock down" mode. Last week's arrest of five TAG members at Parsons' office was the culmination of a relentless militant campaign to give the Liberals a taste of what is in store if his government follows through with their threat to force families into destitution.

Though-out the summer TAG, with the help of local doctors, held eight "Hunger Clinics" signing people on disability and welfare onto the $250 "special diet" benefit.

(from OCAP Press Advisory)

February 26, 2006

LIBERALS CONTINUE HARRIS’ ATTACK ON THE POOR

They defend indefensible and “offensive” Safe Streets Act

The Safe Streets Act, a social cleansing bill passed by Harris’ Tories, attacks poor people. It gives the police another tool to harass and arrest homeless people, panhandlers and squeegee workers. Poverty is not a crime and the poor should not be criminalized.

The real criminals are the Liberals for their deceitful, two-faced political antics which jeopardize the safety and security of people on the streets. Michael Bryant, the Attorney General of Ontario, said that the bill was “a joke” when it was under debate. He also called the bill “worse than the status quo”, said parts of it were “offensive” and that it was “an insult to the intelligence of Ontario voters.”* Now he is working to continue that insult by having his government defend the Act.

Last Friday, February 17th, a delegation from PCAP went to Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament Jeff Leal's office and put him on notice.

Minister Pupatello looking rather worried while audience members question her decision to cut the Special Diet Allowance and OCAP members jostle with security guards just outside the ballroom doors.

On Tuesday Nov 29th, an OCAP delegation of women including those about to be cut off the Special Diet and a representative of Healthcare Providers Against Poverty confronted the Minister of Community and Family Services, Sandra Pupatello, who is responsible for slashing the special diet supplement, over the inadequacy of welfare and ODSP rates.

The women arrived at the Hotel Marriott as Pupatello was speaking to a conference on the issue of domestic violence.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2005

On Saturday, November 26, some of the communities that the Liberals wish to return to poverty and hunger took to the streets. Saturday was a first look at the mobilization and resistance they will now face.

Some six hundred people, including many families with children, gathered at Toronto City Hall. Buses brought people in from various parts of the City and from other Ontario communities where the Ontario Common Front (OCF) is taking up the fight around the food supplement.