On February 25th, 2012, GABRIELA-Ontario will mark its founding General Assembly under the theme “Forging the Unity and Power of Women to Create Better Social, Economic and Political Conditions”. GABRIELA Ontario is a mass organization that seeks to extend the Filipino women’s mass movement to Canada. Under its banner, we will address and campaign on issues that have great impact on Filipino women in Ontario, and hold ourselves committed to upholding women’s rights and welfare, and dedicated to asserting and championing the momentous, though often simplified and devalued, role of women in nation-building and social transformation.
Under the aegis of GABRIELA Philippines, our name stands for General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership and Action. The organization’s name and its very spirit draw inspiration from one of our many Philippine heroines, Gabriela Silang, who was one of the respected generals in the more than three centuries of resistance and uprisings against the Spanish colonizers. Without doubt, Gabriela has become a lasting symbol for justice and action in the minds of Filipino women.
GABRIELA-Ontario believes that any and all Filipino women in Canada – despite their status as migrant, immigrant, descendant, citizen, or person of mixed heritage – can be part of the organization. Over the last three years, we have been advocating for the rights and welfare of the women in our community awareness-raising campaigns on the oppression and struggles of Filipino women in the Philippines as well as for those of migrants/immigrants in Canada. We also have been addressing issues of oppression and have been improving women’s conditions through education and training programs aimed at skills building and self-empowerment. We are also part of the Migrante-Canada network, the Toronto-based Migrant Women’s Coordinating Body and the recently launched International Women’s Alliance.
The general assembly will take place at Wellesley Community Centre at 495 Sherbourne Street near Sherbourne and Wellesley from 1-5 pm. We will share with you the history of the formation of the group in the last three years and also publicly discuss our constitution and bylaws, and, as well, our program of action. We will then elect our officers. We envision the launch as one that will definitively formalize and solidify our unity as women in the community as we continue to move forward on our struggle in the social, economic and political sphere. Through the well-tested principles of GABRIELA – educating, organizing and mobilizing our members, family and friends – we will build firm foundations for better conditions among our women, alongside the rest of the Filipino people here in Canada and in the Philippines.
Women, our place is in the best of struggles!
by Errol Young – BASICS Issue #27 (Dec 2011 / Jan 2012
After predicting for years that school enrolments will drop drastically, TDSB staff are now saying that the opposite is true. This according to official TDSB reports projected enrolment numbers through to 2036 (see tables below). These new statistics pose a serious problem for the TDSB because it still stands by its ‘Big Plan’ for a massive sell-off of schools.
The Board (TDSB) has told and will tell many communities that their enrolment numbers are crashing so badly that their local school must close. But the anticipated closure of over 50 community schools and the sale of the land to developers – potentially bringing in several hundred million dollars – is primarily motivated by the need to start addressing a series capital deficit that was created by the province government. This deficit is estimated to be over $2 billion.
Oh, by the way, no one calls this the Board’s ‘Big Plan.’ But it’s clear enough to me – and anyone else who is watching closely – that that’s basically what’s going on. And it’s where the Board has been heading for years. Read more…
Indigenous leaders from the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (K.I.) First Nation community drew over one hundred attentive listeners on the evening of November 22 for a downtown community event as they presented their case for the defense and future of their lands and environment in the face of their newest adversary, a mining corporation that goes by the name God’s Lake Resources.
Located about 600 km north of Thunder Bay, K.I. is a fly-in community of pristine boreal forests, waters, and wetlands. Big Trout Lake (661 sq. km) is central to the life of these Oji-Cree people. The closest urban centre is Sioux Lookout, hundreds of kilometres to the south. Like so many northern Nations, the population is relatively impoverished, and the community infrastructure largely inadequate or sub-standard. Typical also of such communities, there is a substantial corporate interest exploiting their land-based resources.
K.I. Chief Danny Morris opened the community event and K.I. Spokesperon John Cutfeet filled in the history and details for the presentation at the Ryerson Student Centre as part of the program for Indigenous Sovereignty Week. Chief Morris along with five others (to become known as the K.I. Six) were imprisoned in 2008 for defending their territory from Platinex, a mining company with platinum prospects in the K.I. territory. They were subsequently released when in July of 2008 the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned their sentences.
Platinex was found to be in operation on K.I. territory in 2006 without any prior consultation with K.I. representatives. An interim injunction was obtained by the K.I. First Nation with the intention of working out some mutually viable arrangement, but after being worn out bureaucratically and fiscally by the demands of an oppressively lop-sided Ontario-Platinex agenda, K.I. decided it could no longer continue the process. Soon after withdrawing from the process, the courts awarded Platinex “immediate and free access to the territory” and the infamous stand-off ensued. Eventually, the Ontario government paid off Platinex to the tune of $5 million plus mediation and legal fees to pack up and end the ordeal.
Presumably as some lip-service to this debacle, the Government of Ontario promised a reform of the Mining Act (which is as yet unavailable) and they introduced the Far North Act, which spelled out the necessary consultation requirements with First Nations for any prospecting or developments on First Nations jurisdiction. One might assume, as Cutfeet suggested, that the Far North Act was developed precisely because the federal government knows that it has no legal jurisdiction on most First Nation territory. In response to the K.I. filing of a land claim, however, the Ontario government stated that the entitlement claim “was tenuous at best…and without merit”.
Much of the debate over land entitlement goes back to the James Bay Treaty of 1905, known as Treaty 9. The Crown likes to assert that this Treaty is clearly defined by a notion of “cede and surrender” while in actuality there is not even an equivalent word for “cede” in the Cree native language. As a simultaneous translator by profession, John Cutfeet should know. He said that even today, he is hard-pressed to translate such terminology as “cede and surrender” for there is really no equivalent terminology in their language, and he insists that the elders of the community, by their oral tradition and life experience, offer no recollection of ever giving up the land. They rather insist that all agreements in fact assumed a continued relationship and steward of their land, in co-existence with the colonial government.
By this time the K.I. had had enough of government and corporate agendas challenging their land rights and destabilizing their community. In an impressive surge of sovereignty they conducted a referendum for their nation on July 5, 2011 that overwhelmingly approved their Water Declaration and Consultation Protocol. The referendum was approved by 96% of ballots cast. Under the Water Declaration, thirteen thousand square miles of watershed were announced as being autonomously protected and declared untouchable by industry. The Consultation Protocol established a process by which outside interests must conduct themselves in negotiations with the K.I. for land-use. While groups like the Council of Canadians and Greenpeace signed on to their Declaration, it was virtually ignored by the Canadian Government.
And then along came God’s Lake Resources. In a surprisingly arrogant insult to the K.I. people they initiated exploration a short crow’s fly from Big Trout Lake in pristine watersheds and threatening the site of a sacred burial ground with at least 31 graves and more in the surrounding area.
On November 14, 2011 the K.I. broke talks with the Ontario government after it became clear that there was not a mutual and sincere dedication to a proposed resolution via a KI-Ontario joint panel, as the Ontario government was unwilling to impose an immediate halt to the mining comopany’s explorations while the panel ensued. K.I. issued a press release with the inclusion of the following statement:
“We need a reasonable process to protect our sacred areas. That process cannot take place without assurances that GLR will not access the land and where the sites are. We cannot talk with your government while GLR desecrates.”
During his introduction, Chief Donny Morris contemplated the scenario with the company: “We don’t know if it’s going down that same road, where it wants a pay-out from Ontario, …this is something that we have to try and prevent too – that’s a sure way for a company to get a quick pay-out, to use us that way…” And with an election on the horizon at the time, one has to wonder if there wasn’t some deliberate scheming for such a consolation prize.
Regardless of motive, the K.I. are faced now with a serious threat from a mining corporation that seems intent on desecrating their territory, clearly in defiance to prior Supreme Court jurisprudence which deemed essential some due “consultation, negotiation, accommodation and reconciliation” with the community (this from the July 2008 Ontario Court of Appeal decision overturning the prison sentences of the K.I. Six).
Chief Morris made no bones about his hope and intention of expanding the K.I. cause to activists and others in our region: “We are moving forward, we’re looking for support … we’re looking at all avenues, we’re not going to stop half-way now, we’re going to go all the way … and here in the GTA, that’s where our support is …”
For more information on how you can help: http://kilands.org
By M. Lau & Diamond Wisdom
Timing was everything when it came down to Ford’s rush decision to dismantle TCHC’s Board of Directors and replace it with a one-man-operation, Case Ootes. The provincial government is currently working to passBill 140: Strong Communities Through Affordable Housing Act 2011. Bill 140 will enact the Housing Services Act 2010, and repeal the Social Housing Reform Act 2000. If Bill 140 passes, it will have disastrous consequences for those reliant on social housing in Ontario.
With over 300,000 names on housing waiting lists across Ontario—a list that can take up to 21 years to wait through—there is no mention of new funding to address the backlog of repairs or any plans to create more truly affordable housing stock. One tenant told BASICS that she felt that the provincial plan for social housing was to let it crumble to the point where the city could use the excuse of “unmanageable deterioration” to justify privatizing management or selling off more of its housing stock. For instance, while just a few months ago, the backlog of TCHC repairs was reported to be standing at $300 million, mainstream press recently began reporting that the number currently stands at $600 million. It is unclear where these numbers come from as there has been no such transparent reporting / documentation of these numbers. In any case, City Hall is trying to steer the crisis of social housing into support for privatization, as if that were the only solution.
Under Bill 140, the supervisory manager – now Case Ootes – will be given new powers to essentially do what he wants. Under Section 95(16), “The housing provider is deemed to ratify and confirm what the supervisory manager does during the supervisory manager’s appointment, but this subsection applies only to things done in accordance with this Act.” During this time, Case Ootes will be able to “carry on the business of the housing provider,” “to improve the governance of the housing provider,” and “to stabilize or improve the financial situation of the housing provider”—legal-speak for taking the wrecking ball to TCHC.
As it stands, Bill 140 effectively removes (the currently existing) provincial oversight in the selling off of local housing corporation assets. Under Section 161(2), “A person may transfer, mortgage or develop the real property only with the written consent of the service manager in whose service area the real property is located.” Under Section 162(2), “The housing provider may transfer or mortgage the housing project or the land where it is located only with the written consent of the service manager in whose service area the housing project is located.” Since the service manager of the TCHC is the City of Toronto, Bill 140 would effectively allow the City of Toronto to privatize / sell off the current stock of housing.
While the passing of Bill 140 paves the way for privatization, it fails to address the real crisis of social housing. For TCHC tenants, the Bill fails to address the systemic problems caused by the structure of the Corporation in alleviating poverty and truly helping to improve the lives of poor people across the city in an era of instability.It also fails to address existing issues such as punitive Rent-Geared-Income rules (which removes protection and increases the instability and stress of tenants transitioning into the workforce through unfair rent increases); lack of protection and fairness for tenants (for instance, in rent subsidy disputes or unfair evictions) due to a lack of an independent review process; a lack of inclusionary housing policies; the list goes on.
For non-profit housing providers, such as the 550 housing cooperatives across Ontario, Bill 140 would effectively remove the protections of these co-ops that existed under the Social Housing Reform Act 2000. The new legislation would allow service managers to take control of and potentially sell off co-ops under “a triggering event,” including if the housing provider accumulates a deficit that is “substantial.”
With a provincial election approaching for October 2011, it is not at all surprising that Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty has aligned himself with Toronto’s right wing mayor Rob Ford for a combined Provincial-Municipal offensive against affordable housing in particular and against working-people and the poor in general.
Working people are coming under attack from all levels. There’s never been a more important time for residents and working people to organize themselves against the “austerity” offensive. The rich are getting richer because of the attacks being waged on working people and the programs they rely on. Tenants require a truly independent tenants’ organization to defend against privatization and advance the struggle, made up of and truly led by TCHC residents.
Contact tchc.residents@gmail.com to get involved in organizing.
By M. Cook
Workers from USW local 1005 continue to join the picket line everyday, and for good reason.
The Atlantic Erie. One of the two freighters that U.S. Steel has ordered to ship the coke from Hamilton
U.S. Steel has brought over two freighters to begin removing nearly $60 million dollars worth of raw materials – 44,000 tons of metallurgical coke – from Hamilton Works. On the evening of Sunday, March 29, the first ship left before anything could be done.
U.S. Steels actions of removing the coke by night highlight the company’s intentions of trying to crush the workers resolve. Workers have been locked out since Nov. 7, when U.S. Steel walked away from the bargaining table demanding that workers accept concessions to their pension plan.
While The Federal government has brought U.S. Steel to court, they have done nothing to prevent the removal of coke. In addition, the provincial government has done nothing to protect the workers pension rights.
On May Day, the workers are calling on both unionized and non-unionized workers to rally in Ottawa and defend the rights of all.
By Justicia 4 Migrant Workers
“No work, no pay, I fed up of the broken promises, and I don’t work for no one for free!!!”
Over a hundred migrant workers employed under the auspices of the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Workers program (CSAWP) were recently deported for demanding thousands of dollars in back wages.
The migrant workers had not been paid for several weeks. Meanwhile, the employer kept telling its workers that their pay was coming and that they should continue to work.
As the employer continued to break its promises, the solidarity between Mexican, Trinidadian, Barbadian, and Jamaican workers strengthened and they began a wildcat strike in November 2010. Read more…
By Sakura Saunders
Two large Canadian mining companies, Barrick Gold and Banro Corporation, are suing Écosociété, a small publishing house in Québec, and Montreal-based academics Alain Deneault, Delphine Abadie, and William Sacher.
The mining companies claim that Écosociété is deliberately publishing falsehoods about their operations.
These suits are criticized as being SLAPP suits, or Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, as the book in question, “Noir Canada,” merely analyses national and international documents already available to the public about Canadian companies operating in Africa.
The combined sum of the lawsuit is $11 million, amounting to 45 times Écosociété’s annual revenue.
In addition, the cases were filed in separate jurisdictions, Barrick filing their suit in Quebec and Banro filing in Ontario, a hurdle that could prove insurmountable for the small publishing house.
Last year Barrick issued a threat of legal action against Vancouver publisher Talonbooks before the book was even published.
The Talonbooks website nevertheless indicates that the book will still be published in May 2011.
So, while Peter Munk is branding the International Studies and Global Policy program at the University of Toronto, his company, Barrick Gold, is, amongst other unspeakable things, threatening free speech.
For more info on the cases, visit: www.freespeechatrisk.ca.
by Kabir Joshi-Vijayan – BASICS Issue #23 (Nov/Dec 2010)
The G20 debacle will be remembered, above all else, because for thousands of student organizers, social justice activists, journalists and onlookers, it was their first experience with savage, un-restrained police terror.
Even the most liberal observer could not simply dismiss what happened at the G20 Summit: The images of protestors being pepper sprayed and clubbed by fully armored thugs, grabbed off the street and thrown into unmarked vans; the testimony of people having their basic constitutional rights suspended; the largest mass arrests in Canadian history; the crude and illegal violence enacted against an entirely non-violent group of demonstrators.
It made clear for many the lengths to which the Canadian state would go to eliminate and repress a perceived threat. Read more…
by M. Cook – BASICS Issue #23 (Nov / Dec 2010)
From October 28 to November 4, the Toronto Star ran several articles criticizing the different standards of justice for police officers.
The Star reporters primarily criticized the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the provincial agency responsible for investigating serious injuries and deaths resulting from interactions between police and the public.
“In its 20-year history, the SIU has conducted at least 3,400 investigations and laid criminal charges after only 95 of them…only 16 officers have been convicted of a crime. Only three have seen the inside of a jail – as inmates,” wrote David Bruser and Michele Henry of the Toronto Star. Read more…
Noaman G. Ali – BASICS Issue #23 (Nov/Dec 2010)
Working-class youth from Esplanade Community Organization and progressive group Fightback have recently taken the leadership role in the Toronto Young New Democrats (TYND). Because their message is one of a proper working-class platform, the party brass is unhappy.
So the Ontario New Democratic Youth (ONDY) Executive de-chartered TYND from the provincial group in October. Read more…
