Recession Relief Coalition/actions

We will post notices on this page about Upcoming Events such as public forums, rallies, meetings of our committees and media release meetings. If your organization is planning a related event and would like it posted on this page, click here

Upcoming committee meetings for the Recession Relief Coalition 

Steering Committee:

Wed Feb 17

5:30pm

199 Bay St. 45th floor

Communications Committee:

Indicators Committee:

added Feb 3 

Media Advisory

TORONTO, Ontario – Feb 1, 2010 -  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 The Recession Relief Coalition (RRC) has invited all Federal Parties to a Town Hall meeting and surveyed these same parties with key questions. In addition community members and organizations affected by the recession have been invited. While Parliament sits idle, there is a call from the community for answers on how the Federal government will do better to support people and communities that are hurting by this ongoing recession.

The Federal Liberal, NDP and Green Parties have confirmed their attendance, along with a panel of Community organizations including:  National Housing and Homelessness Network, National Campaign 2000, Social Planning Network of Ontario and the Canadian Auto Workers.  The RRC will also be releasing new data on the recession and our recommendations for action.

CONTACT:   John Andras. Chair of Recession Relief Coalition -   416 860-7640

The Recession Relief Coalition is a broad-based group of organizations and individuals concerned about the impact of the recession on Canada’s most vulnerable and marginalized residents.  Over 260 organizations, and over 1,100 individuals across Canada endorsed the coalition’s call on the federal government to invest funding to prevent cuts to non profit agencies serving vulnerable communities, a and to increase funding to support vital social services including homelessness programs and settlement services.

added Jan 18

We’re all in this together

Federal Town Hall Forum and Homeless Memorial

DATE:                           Tuesday, February 9, 2010

TIME:                            12:00 pm – 3:00 pm.          

AGENDA:                     Homeless Memorial, Community Lunch &

                             Federal Party & Community Panel

PLACE:                        Church of the Holy Trinity (just west of the Eaton Centre between Dundas and Queen Street).

• The Conservative, Liberal, NDP, Green Parties of Canada and the Bloc Quebecois Party have been invited to answer questions on actions they will take to more effectively respond to the ongoing recession and the harsh impact on many vulnerable people and communities.  

• Also, representatives from several community coalitions will respond to positions taken by the parties and pose questions.  

• In addition, the Recession Relief Coalition will be releasing the responses to a Survey we sent to the five federal parties, and will also release our 3^rd Bulletin on the Impacts of the Recession.

While Parliament is prorogued until March 3, it is vital that individuals and community organizations come together to talk about the experiences and needs in neighbourhoods and communities, and to put forward the expectations we have of our Federal government and political parties to meet these needs.

The Recession Relief Coalition is a broad-based group of organizations and individuals concerned about the impact of the recession on Canada’s most vulnerable and marginalized residents.  Over 260 organizations, and over 1,100 individuals across Canada endorsed the coalition’s call on the federal government to invest funding to prevent cuts to public and private non profit agencies serving vulnerable communities, a and to increase funding to support vital social services including homelessness programs and settlement services.

To contact the Recession Relief Coalition.

www.recession-relief-coalition.org

Message line: 416-760-2197

email: ronzig@recession-relief-coalition.org

Let's make this event a resounding success.

Please download the pdf flyer and distribute it to ALL your contacts as well as post it on your bulletin boards. 

Map to the location 

added Feb 3 

A visitor here sent this important Feedback

Medicare Threatened by Canada Europe Trade Agreement

I know this goes a bit beyond recession relief, but for all those people on relief, their Medicare is now being threatened by the Canada Europe Trade Agreement (CETA)/ Google CUPE CETA for the details or the Council of Canadians. You may wish to query the government and opposition on this!

added Dec 14 

We Need Stories

of how the recession is affecting our people so that we can help to convince governments at all levels to take strong action NOW to shore up the social safety net. please download the pdf files and post where people can see them and send to anyone you think may have a story to tell. The Handout pdf is designed to print on a 4x6 card with a white border &the Flyer pdf is 8.5 x 11. Thanks for your assistance,

Recession Relief CoalitionOutreach
Are you suffering as a result of the recession?
Is it FAIR?
We can tell your story to the politicians
Help us make them listen
Tell your story NOW
ronzig@recession-relief-coalition.org 416 820-6036
http://www.recession-relief-coalition.org 

added Dec 12 

added Feb 2 

Open Planning Meeting for G8/20 Summit

Third Community Mobilization Network Open Planning Meeting for G8/20 Summit
February 21, 2010
11:00am (meeting expected to run 2 hours)
25 Cecil Street (Steelworkers Hall)
Community based organizers and activists from across Ontario and Quebec are invited to an open planning meeting focusing on Toronto's response to the G8/20 Summits on February 21, 2010.
The Community Mobilization Network is organizing the community based
outreach, independent media, convergence and days of action leading up to and during the G8/20 Summits in Ontario (June 25-27,2010)

To join the Facebook group visit:

Facebook

To join the announcements list, visit:
https://masses.tao.ca/lists/listinfo/community.mobilize

added Feg 2 

One of the most pressing economic issues requiring attention in our world today

G20 Transparency Petition sign here

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services…

--Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Research shows that developing countries are losing $1 trillion every year due to crime, government corruption, and tax evasion. These illicit monetary outflows are roughly ten times the amount of aid money going into developing countries for poverty alleviation and economic development.

The loss of money from poor economies that would otherwise go to provide health services, infrastructure, and other critical needs exacerbates poverty and leads to the deaths of millions of people. The annual loss of hundreds of billions of dollars from the world’s poorest and most vulnerable economies constitutes one of the most pressing human rights issues of the new decade.

The key to tackling this problem is transparency in the global financial system. After these stolen or otherwise ill-gotten gains exit their country of origin they vanish into an opaque financial system comprised of tax havens and secrecy jurisdictions. The most effective deterrent to criminals, corrupt officials, and tax evaders is to create a global financial system where illicit money cannot hide.

When the world’s 20 largest economies – the G20 – meet in Toronto on June 26-27, 2010 they will have an unprecedented opportunity to institute changes to create a transparent global financial system that is open, accountable, fair and beneficial for all.

Toward that end, we call on the G20 leaders to:

• • Recognize the link between illicit outflows of capital from developing countries, absorption of those resources by tax havens and secrecy jurisdictions, and the adverse impact those flows have on poverty alleviation and economic development.
• • Call on the Financial Action Task Force to amend its recommendations 33, 34, and VIII to provide that the beneficial ownership of all companies, trusts, foundations and charities be made a matter of public record.
• • Instruct the International Accounting Standards Board to recommend that all multinational corporations report their income and taxes paid on a country by country basis.”

Is being held in Huntsville, Ontario, from June 25-27, 2010. Below, you will find a pdf primer I created to give you much of the information you should know.

added Dec 2 

Support Bill C-304

Canada is the only G8 nation without a national strategy to ensure everyone has access to quality, affordable housing. The result? A growing homelessness crisis that the UN has described as a "national emergency".
Bill C-304, An Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians, would help put an end to this national shame. You can send a postcard to Minister Finley asking him to support Bill C-304 here.

The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO)

is suing the government of Canada and the government of Ontario. The case will be about The Right to Housing and will be a Charter of Rights challenge. See the 3 PDFs below for details and information on how you can join the suit or get involved.

Added Nov 15 

There is so much new information on the Canadian Social Research Nerwork website that I feel it should be noted here. Go to http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/new3.htm

subscribe to their exceptional news letter

1 in 6 people worldwide go hungry everyday.

With the recent financial crisis, poverty is skyrocketing, but our governments are failing to take significant action.

In a few days, leaders meet at the World Food Summit in Rome to tackle this growing crisis. The best solution is funding to boost sustainable agriculture in poorer countries, but France, Germany, UK, Italy and Japan are backing out on a $20 billion promise made earlier this year.

Millions of lives are on the line and this is our chance to hold them to their word. Sign the petition below and it will be delivered directly to world leaders and through a spectacular stunt at the Roman Colosseum on the eve of the Summit:

The economic crisis has poverty and hunger skyrocketing in poor countries. World leaders meeting in Rome next week are in danger of backing out on a $20 billion pledge to fund life-saving food production -- sign the petition calling on them to keep their promise:

See the whole story in the pdf

On Monday afternoon, we sent the email below to Fair Vote Canada supporters. We’re delighted that more than 1,000 people signed in just the first 24 hours. We hope you will sign too. Let’s make sure our voices are heard!

This is Not Democracy – Silence is Not an Option!

Sign the Declaration of Voters’ Rights

 Are you fed up with voting in federal elections where seven million of us cast ballots that elect no one? Are you tired of Parliaments that don’t represent the people of Canada? Are you angry that a party can win a majority of seats even when 60% of us vote against them?

You’re not alone.

Several weeks ago, Fair Vote Canada held a press conference at Parliament to launch the Declaration of Voters’ Rights (see the article, photos and video on our website).

This document is not a petition. It’s not a request. It’s a people’s declaration. Canadian voters have a fundamental right to equal votes, fair election results and legitimate majority rule.

Between now and the next election, we intend to circulate the Declaration as widely as possible.  

How many signers can we get? How loud will our voices be? That depends on you and other citizens.

If you sign today, and pass it along to just five friends, we can jumpstart this campaign and build real momentum.

At our press conference, the first three signers were Nathalie Des Rosiers, General Counsel, Canadian Civil Liberties Association; Ed Broadbent, former NDP leader; and Dr. John Trent, former secretary-general of the International Political Science Association.

Many others have since joined them. And now we need you.

Please sign the Declaration of Voters’ Rights today and forward it to your friends.

Yours for a democratic Canada,

Bronwen Bruch

President

Fair Vote Canada

Fair Vote Canada
26 Maryland Blvd.
Toronto, ON M4C 5C9
Canada

Toronto Media co-op

Media coverage for your events

Not controlled by elitist media corporations

I am writing to tell you about a new media project in Toronto.  Toronto Media Coop (toronto.mediacoop.ca) is a local of mediacoop.ca and has recently started up to write about under-reported issues in Toronto.

Unlike most media outlets, mediacoop.ca is funded and owned by members who set the mandate of coverage of the organization and also suggest content.  To ensure that we have the best access to stories which need to be told we are trying to put the word out about ourselves and the site.

On toronto.mediacoop.ca, you can sign up for free and post news, events for your organization, photos, audio, video and blogs.  Selected pieces are then chosen to go on the national site mediacoop.ca from Toronto and from the other mediacoop.ca locals in Vancouver and Halifax.  You can also e-mail toronto.mediacoop.ca and ask our small army of journalists, photographers, bloggers and media folks about stories which you think should be covered.

If you want to know more about mediacoop.ca, go here: www.mediacoop.ca/about

If you want to know more about the kinds of stories we cover, go here: toronto.mediacoop.ca

To sign up for a mediacoop.ca account or to become a member, go here: http://www.mediacoop.ca/join

Thanks!

The Toronto Media Coop Collective

Joseph Farrell, the chef at The Central has taken it upon himself to help reduce hunger in Toronto. He is instituting a  program at the Central called Soup Kitchen on Sundays. You can help by spreading the word and posting the flyer below where people in need can find it.

On Nov 11, John Andras spoke at a forum presented by the Social Planning Network 

Here's an excerpt from his speech. Full speech on pdf below.

What about stimulus spending? It was supposed to spur the economy right? The collapse of new car sales in the wake of the cash for clunkers program in the US could in fact be echoed in Canada when the Home Renovation Tax Credit Expires in February. Stimulus cannot last forever. When stimulus is withdrawn will there be another economic downturn and a resumption of recessionary conditions? Will Central banks around the world be able to do whatever it takes to stimulate economies if current growth is illusionary? Time will tell.

We have been through a sharp recession and there are concerns, some of which I have presented, that we may be in the first stage of a multi stage recession.

If so, God help us all!

You can see information about our previous events in our archives

Would you like to volunteer to help out, endorse our declaration, read our newsletter or make a donation?