Referendum on First Nations The forum was to give voice to the concerns and questions of many, many people. Margaret Prevost introduced two elders who welcomed all, then both MLA Jenny Kwan and United Native Nations President Scott Clark spoke. The main idea is that people are asked to boycott this thing, to actively engage in making disgust and anger and intelligent analysis obvious. The referendum is so biased and full of doublespeak that the plan is to draw preordained conclusions no matter what people say. Spoiling the ballot is one way, but all Native organizations ask that such ballots be dropped off at gathering places. There will be public events and coordinated actions on how these ballots are dealt with. If you didn't get a blank ballot, call Elections BC at 1-800-66 1-8683. If you did: * Put an X across the ballot * Put it in the secret envelope * Put that envelope in the outer envelope (with the address on it) * Put in a statement opposing the referendum if you want * Put a sticker over the Elections BC address. You'll need to put a stamp on it if you're mailing it to one of the organizations collecting ballots. Or drop it off . I locally. Some of the groups collecting ballots are: United Native Nations (I 10-425 Carrall); Union of BC Indian Chiefs (500-342 Water St), Aboriginal Friendship Centre (I607 E.Hastings) 'n Community Directions (384 Main) in Vancouver. The underlying agenda behind the government's blatant attempt to eliminate Aboriginal rights was linked to the various trade deals and transnational corporations. Scott Clark gave a short but concise history of the legal decisions made that ratify both Native rights and the necessity of governments negotiating treaties. He began, as an answer to the comment about the corporate agenda, that BC is the only place in North America where treaties were never created. This really galls the power brokers. 1760 - British win on Plains of Abraham 1763 - Royal Proclamation recognizes Rights 1867 - British North America Act includes Royal Proclamation of 1763 in its establishment of Canada 1982 - Constitution is repatriated and BNA Act upheld
1991 - Supreme Court decision that rights exist and must be recognized 1997 - Supreme Court decision stipulates that governments "must negotiate" with Aboriginals. Scott reiterated the Native stand that "of course people have a say" but the process established over the last 200+ years is to elect representatives and have transparent commissions and negotiations. The attempt by Campbell and his cohorts is to let the will of whatever they decide is the "majority" dictate what the rights of the minority are. Bullshit. PG & PRT
Weytk In the early 1900s John St. John was a member of the "Bows and Arrows", Local 526 of the IWW on the Burrard Docks, made up of Squamish and Burrard natives and a diversity of migrant workers. John St. John was a migrant worker in solidarity with native workers against capitalist exploitation. Indians are workers. Native people have participated in almost every resource based industry in this country from fishing to mining and building the railroad. Native people were often forced to become workers under colonial rule for resources they had managed and nurtured for thousand of years. Native people took part in strikes and we fought for workers rights and yet our history in terms of the working class movement is silent. Often Natives who sided .. with strikers or unions were blacklisted and had go back to subsistence living or find other jobs.
to
Where was the union for those who sacrificed the most? Even today many Native people work in some of the most dangerous occupations including gas and oil pipeline work, often through unceded Native territory, pitting Native against Native, one side wanting to feed their families and the other wanting to exercise traditional rights. Native people are not considered part of Canadian labour history but it is time to reclaim our part in working class culture and to fight within it for recognition of Aboriginal self-determination and title. an end to racism and solidarity against colonial capitalism. Marching through the streets, leafleting, postering, occuwing. blockading and striking, we need to demonstrate our wigthrough action. It is not enough to say we support such and such a struggle, it's not enough to invite a Native speaker to open your event, a support letter is not enough, we need t work together not just to stop the cuts, but to stop capitalist exploitation of all people everywhere. Our fight is not with each other, our fight is not over a few fish or a few logs, our fight should be against corporations who profit while workers are exploited people live in poverty and our environment is destroyed. We know our common oppressor, but wc often don't understand each other's struggles. Solidarity means knowing and trusting each other, means recognizing our diversity and our common ,' goals. Today, there is potential or a unity we have not seen for a long time, workers, students, women. people of color, queer, immigrant and Native, working against globalization, capitalism, and here in BC. the Liberal eovernment. 1
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Resistance is our legacy, Native people have 3 resisted for 500 years here on Turtle Island. My ancestors fought for the preservation of our culture and our ways and in every Native territory in BC we have fought, been killed and fought again against the destruction of our culture, against colonization, globalization, against capitalism. We need to honor our place in these occupied lands; we are in lndigenous territory and it is here that we need to start. Recognizing lndigenous rights to traditional territories and practices ensure that together in honor and in trust we will build a new tomorrow. In Solidarity, Tania Willard Bio: Tania Willard is a member of the Secwepemc Nation and the current editor of Redwire magazine a publication of Redwire Native Youth Media. Tania is also an artist and her work on Native working
HOWTOVOTE AGAINST THE REFERENDUM Voters dissatisfied with the referendum on Treaty negotiations should send a message to the Campbell Government by mailing in a rejected ballot or sending them to Chief Sayers or other organizations [local drops noted in article]. A rejected ballot is the term used by Elections BC for a properly signed ballot package: retuin mvelope containing a whole ballot with signature. The ballot may be blank or have comments xttached, but should not be defaced. Rejected ballots will be counted and numbers reported. Each rejected ballot vote undermines the legitimacy of this referendum. Choosing not to vote will only allow the government to claim that the low voter response was due to apathy. Voters can only send a jignifieant message by returning a rejected ballot.
All you need do is leave the ballot blank, but complete and sign the certification envelope.
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REFERENDUMB ? 8 idiotic questions - 3 envelopes - $9 million!!!
How absurd ! How disgusting ! How dare they? This referendum is not only dumb; it's misleading, racist and opportunistic. Those carefully contrived questions are a deliberate attack by this fascist government to further divide and conquer its victims through appealing to greed and racism. The history of racism and colonialism in this country is speeding up. This is shameful. The growing support for the First Nations groups organizing to protest this propaganda is heartening. We are inspired by the huge 'Say NO to the Referendum' banner covering the veranda of the house just across from Oppenheimer Park, at Cordova and Jackson. My son and I want to hang a sparkled one from our windows, to catch the eyes of the commuters going by on the purple, yellow and white trains. We're trying to figure out a way to waterproof it. ~ o ~ e f upeople l l ~ will see this referendumb as the ugly sham it is. Thanks to all concerned for the informative forum, on this issue, held at Carnegie on April 23rd, 2002.
Leith Harris
To the Editor we've had & had Because he isn't bad He used to publish a few hundred Now it should be a few hundred thousand He also has his readers 1 am one (when I'm here) But very often I'm out of gear Or into the smoke & wine & beer In 70 years I know these parts And so I don't look my age Should I lie about it? Like my mother does? (but my Father didn't) He's gone now & so will I -die.
P
Don Hodgson [Don's great-great-uncle of Hodgson Marble designed and built the spiral marble stairs in Carnegie Centre.]
Keeping it Real In the torrid zone you see persons unknown to you so down, lying prone, on your knees or back on your heels..clear your mind..just keep it real and true ecstasy a pinch of glittering crystal is so tempting at first do you dare break the ice for better or worse? do you like chasing the dragon down alley's dead ends? and eyeing your fractured reflection in soiled tin foil -burnt out. I could tell you a thing or two about reality vs dream but you wouldn't quite get it in your expanded mind - the theme - so wretch your soft heart out before you come calling. I've walked that tight rope, we share those shoes, I know where your head's at, we all have the blues. pull yourself together and stay offthese mean streets the road you're traveling is rough and tumble it's be a beater or be beaten 1 so depressing, a world full of fear, that you can't face the future (or is it your past that's too near?) who'll be your savior, protector, or spirit you away? Is it always up to someone else to seize the day? You remind me of a person I once knew so be careful in your travels and I'll be beside you through thick and through thin whether real or imagined I'll be there for you.. and at the end we'll be on top, together, we'll be winners. Robyn L.
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BC Coalition of People with Disabilities April
isth 2002
Proposed New Act means thousands of British Columbians with Disabilities will lose their Benefits -Major changes to the legislation governing BC's disabled will mean that thousands of people with disabilities will no longer qualify for provincial disability bencfits. The disability conimunity worked for 10 years to put in place the Disability Benefits Program Act ( 1 996). Despite the support of over 400 disability groups from across BC calling for the retention of the current Act, the provincial government is pushing through a bill that does away with the current Act and definition of disability. The bill significantly restricts the eligibility criteria for new applicants. It mandates the Ministry of Human Resources to reevaluate all those people with permanent disabilities \+hocurrently receive provincial disability benefits. This means that 45,000 people with a permanent disability will be reassessed under a new definition of disability. Some of the changes are: - the disability designation will no longer be permanent -the age at which people with disabilities can qualify for benefits will go from 18 to 19 - money that people with disabilities need to spend to assist in the cost of managing their condition will no longer have any bearing on whether they qualify - "signi ticant assistance" replaces "extensive assistance" signifying a more restrictive eligibility process "The practical ramifications of these changes are devastating. They will set the disability comnlunity back 20 years," said BC Coalition of People with Disabilities spokesperson Tom McGregor. This legislation is going through with superficial consultation. We call on the provincial government to set aside these punitive measures and engage in full dialogue with the disability community about the real needs of people with disabilities in BC. For more information contact: Tom McCregor (604) 872-1278 Robin Loxton (604) 872-1278 Margaret Birrell (604) 875-0188
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for
AL JOHNSON
May 1, Wednesday, 3 prn 2595 Franklin (at Penticton)
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soup Line
When I came from Toronto to BC in 1984 my first job was in Oppenheimer Park. There was a women's centre and a soup line. I was staying at St.James' women's shelter; the soup was water and pig's fat. When 1 had a bowl of soup I asked for a job. She Z~ 9 said to come in the morning. That day I bought a chicken leg and some tomato soup to put in the soup:y\ 7 oi Before I knew it they opened the cabinets and put everything in the soup. All the guys said "We're ~3 having stew!" They were happy. 6-' 75 The next day 1 was measuring pants and sitting behind the desk with all the old men. The day after r, that I didn't come. c: Now it's 2002 and I'm working in a soup line by Oppenheimer Park for the Living Room. 1 am happy! Doris Leslie
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Carnegie Community Action Project Carnegie Centre, 401 main Street, 2" flr. Uancouuer, B.C. U6A 257 Ph.604-689-0397 Fax.604-606-2736 Vancouver Police Board
2 120 Cambie Street, Vancouver, B.C. "I am planning a very aggressive enfircement strately in the very near future that I am sure will cc~wsc them a good deal of grief [panhandlers]. I am disgzrsted that people cannot ~ n l kthe streets without running a gauntlet qfheggars. I am planning on removing the circle o f sharks that you cnc~irntered" Bob Chapman Sergeant, VPD, District One. ( Westender, April 1 1 - 1 7,2002.) Dear Board Members
Mr. Chapman's comments regarding panhandlers reinforce the stereotype that police officers eat donuts. live in the suburbs and have nothing more than a high school education. He has managed to demonstrate zero professionalism and has damaged the VPD's role in the matter of acting within the law regarding the enforcement of the City's panhandling by-law. In his letter to the Westender, Mr. Chapman failed to mention that while the courts have upheld the City's Panhandling By-Law, it is an amended version, which allows panhandling except when it is an obstruction of the street or within 10m of banks and ATMs *. Given Mr. Chapman's comments, how does the VPD plan on dealing with panhandlers? It would appear that Mr. Chapman plans on using both verbal and physical abuse when confronting them on the street. It would also appear that he plans on threatening panhandlers with arrest, even though there is no authority to do so under by-law. Sincerely, Tom Laviolette Coordinator. Carnegie Community Action Project
* A ticket for panhandling may also be issued when panhandling in a group of three or more persons or continuing to oanhandle fiom a oerson who has indicated or said "no."
What's The Background To The IsraeVPalestine Nightmare? Part 2
The British controlled Palestine after World War One, and part of its mandate included carrying out the terms ofthe Balfour Declaration of 1917 with its call for a "National Home for the Jewish people." Palestinian Arabs rejected the Balfour Declaration, and demanded a national government of their own as promised by the Anglo-French Declaration of 1918. Relations between Arabs and Jews were tense, and sometimes violent. In 193 1, the Arab population in Palestine was about 858,700, while the Jewish population was about 174,600. With the approach of the Second World War (19391945). the British wanted at least the passive support of the Palestinian Arabs. In May, 1939, a British White Paper called for limited Jewish immigration to Palestine, and an independent Palestine state within 10 years. (1) Arabs in Palestine remained quiet during the war, although it is hard to believe that they actually thought the British would keep their word. After the Second World War, the United States emerged as the West's most powerful nation, and the one that used the most oil. In 1946, an Anglo-American Commission on Palestine recommended the continuation of the British mandate, and the immediate admission of 100,000 Jews to Palestine.That was the end of the British White Paper of 1939. Arabs in the Middle East were outraged, and they strongly reaffirmed the Arab character of the country. The United States Congress pushed for unrestricted immigration of Jews to Palestine. The British, caught between American and Zionist pressure on one side, and Arab pressure on the other, pulled out of Palestine in 1947, and handed to the United Nations the problem the British Empire had helped to create. In August, 1947, a report ofthe UN Special Commission on Palestine recommended that Palestine be divided into Arab and Jewish states, and that Jerusalem and environs be international territory. These recommendations were adopted by the UN General Assembly in Resolution 18 1 on Nov 29, 1947. Both the llnited States and the Soviet Union voted in favour of this resolution; the US put great pressure on delegates to vote in favour. In 1947, the United Nations was much smaller in membership than it is now, and more than half the delegates were from the
western industrial countries. The new nations of Asia and Africa would never have approved so colonial an enterprise. (2) An Arab proposal to question the International Court of Justice on the competence of the UN General Assembly to partition a land against the wishes of the majority of its inhabitants was narrowly defeated. By 1946, there were about 1,303,800 Arabs living in Palestine, and about 608,200 Jews. The Zionists (aggressive Jewish nationalists) welcomed Resolution 1 8 1. It recognized a Jewish state, and gave this state 55 percent of Palestine. Palestinian Arabs were bitterly opposed to the partition of their land, and pointed out that the proposed Jewish state would include almost as many Arabs as Jews. As the British pulled out of Palestine, a full scale war broke out. The Zionists were well-organized and well-armed, as the British and Americans would have known. British and American forces could have stopped this war, but they didn't. Arab civilian morale crumbled in the face of terrorist violence.. such as the massacre of 250 inhabitants of the village of Deir Yasin by extreme Zionists on May 10, 1948. On May 14, 1948, the British mandate finally ended, and Zionists formally proclaimed the state of Israel. When the war ended in January, 1949, the Zionists had taken over most of Palestine. Only 2 1 percent of the land remained in Arab hands. So much for UN Resolution 18 1 and its allocation of 45 percent of Palestine for Palestinian Arabs. Over 750,000 Arabs moved out of Israel-held territory, fleeing the violence of war. They became refugees. They were never allowed to return to their homes. They were never compensated for the loss of their land and property. Their descendants live as refugees today. By SANDY CAMERON to be continued A History Of The Middle East, by Peter Mansfield. pub. by Viking, 1991, p.207. (2) Puhlish It Not - T h e Middle East Cover-up. by Michael Adams and Christopher Mayhew, puh. hy h g m a n , h n d o n , 1976, p. 147.
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Tradeworks I
Ray Yee sent an email. Seems that some people in the job shop part of Tradeworks were pretty enthusiastic about "spreading the word" - letting others in on what had helped them. Tradeworks itself is a "Training Society" that provides people participating with job related skills, training, knowledge and work opportunities.' That's lifted from their brochure, but it's a fairly highenergy place. -There's a 24-week program to learn Carpentry and Construction Trades (drywalling, benchwork, mill work, basic electrical, plumbing and blueprint reading skills); -There's a 24-week program in Computer Hardware and Network Support given in partnership with Vancouver Community College. -There's an Early Intervention program that gives up-to-date info on your rights and responsibilities if you're applying for welfare. This seems especially crucial right now with the 3-week gap between needing help and seeing a financial aid worker. The El program includes help with resumes, fadmessage service, phones and Internet access for job searches. -There's a 24-week Access To Trades program for Aboriginal men and women who wish to enter into the carpentry trade. People spend !4 time in class and !4 time in the shop to learn skills. You should be able to partner with experienced tradespeople and get the paper to prove your knowledge. A minimum Grade 10 education is needed to start here. It's easy to get ahead of myself, and the talk and intro from Ray was on just that point. Seems that a lot of people have had a lot of jobs.. or no job for years.. and can't hold one. This is the job shop's beginning. This is a 16-week program, but the first 4 weeks are likely the hardest. Each person comes in 5 days a week from 1-4 in the afternoon, and with others takes a good look at what's needed to make getting stable employment even possible. Employability Skills - two words - and stuff lumped under this includes a lot of things that people looking for a good job either take for granted or just never think about. Skills like communication, managing information, using numbers, think & solve problems; personal stuff like attitude, behaviour, being responsible and wanting to learn; and what can make or break a lot ofjobs - an ability to work with others.
1 talked to Mike Cronk a few hours after leaving 9 and he was amazed at what these tirst 4 weeks had done for him. Mike said, 'I had to see myself as others saw me in all the jobs I've had. I lost or quit so many and it was always someone else's fault. With this job shop I've had a good honest look." [or something close.. I don't scribble very well). Anyway, after the 4-week thing is complete, there is an "exit/entry" mystery with each person talking with the instructor and seeing what they got out of it This is crucial too - the next 12 weeks of job shop are full of part-time placements and assistance in job searching, and trainingheferrals to reach a goal of stable employment. Sonny, in the 12-week part, was altogether positive about where he'd been and where he was now. He also came by a few hours after the 'tour' and wanted to assure me it was not hype.. that he had gotten and was still getting a pretty good deal There is an on-site kitchen where all people in the various programs get a meal (prepared there by one person!) and the busyness in the class spaces and intake spoke a lot about potential. The best thing to do is go there and get information on what, where, when, who - why is up to you.
TRADEWORKS: 876 E.Cordova 604-253-9355 www.tradeworks.bc.ca email: thejobshop@tradeworks.bc.ca
Cordon Campbell, As for your new BC Employment and Assistance program to be introduced today, April 1,2002, this is a joke, eh? Yet it seems no laughing matter to be told that not only has my guaranteed monthly income been significantly decreased, but also that I am no longer entitled to keep any that I might earn to improve my situation. I would like to see you try to sustain yourself on S185 a month. The logic that would transfer the earnings exemption from the poorest and most vulnerable to subsidize those with enough disposable income to qualify for liberal tax reductions. is foolish indeed. The inevitable rise in crime and other desperate acts will be only the most obvious backlash. People are supported in achieving their potential by being given money, opportunity, choices, hope. You are effectively killing all hope by your policies of deprivation for people whose lives are dependent on income assistance, not because they are lazy, unmotivated, incapable, or bad, but because there are not enough jobs. This is no joke. Less money > less food >less health>less wellbeing>more depression >more violencemore suicide. Children who do not get enough to eat develop learning disorders which affect their whole lives. Adults who are stressed to the max and do not get enough to eat are cranky, lethargic, and apt to wild mood swings. Old people who do not get enough to eat often die. The punchline to this is that you are setting the stage for a social disaster that will continue to inflict harm long after you realize the error of your tactics. Rescind these draconian measures now. The old system was bad and difficult to work. This new proposal of yours is simply unworkable. What is needed now is an advisory board made up ofwelfare recipients and officials who are prepared to listen to them, to come up with a system that takes peoples needs into account. in addition to feeling personally threatened by your obvious contempt and malicious attack on my existence, 1 am dismayed on behalf of all of those who are already suffering your punitive cuts. We may be resourcelid, but we are not commodities to be exploited and clearcut. You seem determined to sell this province out from under its inhabitants, willfully trampling on our human rights while serving your corporate masters! Miriam Delayne Azrael 1.
Response
Thank you for your email regarding the restructuring of income assistance in British Columbia. I welcome the opportunity to review your comments and respond. The government of British Columbia is committed to assisting people to find that they can get off income assistance and that they have the ability to get a job. We are supporting recipients with a whole range of training programs to help them move off income assistance and into full-time employment so that they can start to build a future for themselves apart from income assistance. You reference earnings exemptions. The flat-rate exemption is being increased to $300 from $200 for people with disabilities. The earnings exemption for employable people on income assistance is being eliminated. Our hope is to have people find fdl-time work, rather than part-time work that is supplemented by an income exemption. We believe that a full-time job is the best social safety net that an individual or a family can have. You suggest that we establish an advisory board that would provide us with input that would help us to take recipients' needs into account. In the last ten months, we have gone around the province to consult with any social service stakeholders who wanted to meet with us. In these meetings, we have made note of what people said was succeeding in their programs, and what they said needed changing. We also answered their questions about the changes that we were making to income assistance. We have met with large numbers of people, and will continue to do so. We will monitor the progress of these new programs over the next two years. The legislation regarding these changes has the authority to create new categories of assistance if needed. We do have some very difficult challenges ahead, and have made some very difficult decisions. We have a major structural deficit to deal with and are responding sensitively and sensibly under very difficult circumstances. Again, thank you for sharing your views with me. Sincerely, Gordon Campbell Premier Sabrina Heiberg and I have puzzled together to understand your logic that would justifL taking from the poor
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to supplement the tax breaks of the rich. Somehow we fail to be reassured by your vague commitments to unspecified future training programs and safety nets. which should be in place before making changes as drastic as those you are i implementing. Social assistance IS the safety net for people who have been weeded out or never even had a chance in the competitive job market for whatever reason. We find it alarming that you seem to believe that you are acting sensitively and sensibly by ignoring the hardship that you are imposing. The suffering and the hard choices that already have resulted from your new policies will in the end be detrimental to the whole Province. The way to reduce the amount of people on social assistance is to encourage and reward creativity and initiative rather than limit choice and penalize all efforts. Welfare recipients already face multiple disadvantages in the work force. Part time work and the entitlement to keep one's earnings is not only an incentive to work, it provides structure, experience, training, and a measure of suitability. Part lime employment prepares people for full time work and puts them in a position where they arc more likely to be suitably rewarded for their diligence. The other part to this is that part time work is a boon to full-time employees who would prefer to work 4 or 5 instead of 5 or 6 days a week. There is also the fact that the more money people have, the more they spend,. which is the basis of the economy. You point out that you are increasing the earnings exemption for people with disabilities, which is all to the good, but I fail to see how you can deny that right to single employable people who are getting much less to begin with. You should be thinking of bonuses and ways to reward people who report extra earnings. . 1 am aware of the one meeting held in my neighbourhood with your minister. What I heard was people making the point that low welfare rates were making it difficult to keep up with the rising cost of living. and that it was high time the rates were increased. Perhaps you should refer to your notes again. The cheque 1 have received for the month of May is for $1 5 1.60. Please tell me just what kind of future I'm supposed to build on that? M. Delayne Azrael
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DISABILITY DEFINITION KEY CHANGES The disability desienation will no lonper be permanent The Minister will have the power to take away a person's disability status. Unusual and continuous costs will no longer be art of the definition. Under current definition, applicants can qualify ifthey can demonstrate that they have need of assistance or have disability related costs. The cost criteria has been removed. In other words, the amount of money a person may need to spend in the care and management of their disability has no bearing on their application. This will effeft, for example, people with soft tissue injuries, people who are HlV-positive, or people who may not need assistance but who have ongoing costs related to their disability The ape at which individuals can aualifv for disability benefits will be raised from 18 to 19 years. This means that children who have disabilities will have to wait longer to be recognized as adults with a disability. As well, because the new regular income assistance eligibility criteria (April 1,2002) prohibit people from receiving assistance for two years aRer leaving home, a.person may have to be 2 1 years old before they can apply for disability benefits. Dailv living activitv To qualify for inability benefits, applicants will have to be directly and significantly restricted in their ability to perform daily living activities. Daily living activities will be defined in the new regulations. This means that there will be specific activities that applicants will need to show that they need help with. Disability Tax Credit eligibility is restricted to such things as feeding, dressing, and grooming. Extensive assistance redaced bv sipnificant assistance We are concerned that this wording change introduces a more restrictive measure to the criteria. Significant help Applicants wit have to show that they require significant help to perform daily living activities. Significant help may be 'Virough the help or supervision ofandher person" (current definition), or through 'assistive devices." An assistive device is defined as a device that enables an individual to perform a daily living activity. If someone needs help from an assistive animal, for example, they will not qualify
performi in^ tasks within a reasnable w r i o d of time" has been removed This change means that applicants will not be assessed by the length of time that it takes them to perform tasks independently. Thus, people who struggle to remain independent, despite the difficulty and l e n ~ hof time it takes to perform daily tasks, will not qualifjl. O n e year and likely to recur duration test removed fiom the definition. This change will have a particular impact on individuals with neurological disabilities, as well as people with cyclical disabilities such as rapid cycling bipolar, depression, and anxiety disorders. OTHER RELATED ISSUES
P All disability benefits recipients will have their ability to work assessed ,and some will be required to look for work as a condition of receiving benefits. 9 Grandparenting of medical files for those who become self sufficient through employment will be
altered, and will now be a time and means tested benefit. 9 People who are disabled but not receiving a monthly allowance will no longer qualify for enhanced medical coverage.
Alison Meredith AIAssistant Deputy Minister Regional Services Division PO Box 9934 Stn Prov Govt Victoria, B.C. V8W 9R2 Dear Madam: Your office received a letter fiom me on February 15,2002. The lack of action prompts this letter, and its supporting signatures. What has taken place over a very long period of time definitely should not have happened. It is a responsibility of each worker to make sure that their clients are not being neglected or tieated without due care and respect. The policy for an "Unemployable" recipient's worker is generally dictated by what the recipient's physician or physicians recommend to the Ministry of Human Resources; the worker's discretion, of course, has to be based on the circumstances but not by ignoring what the doctor has written. If a physician advises MHR that their patient is suffering fiom one or more illnesses, the worker must accept that. Repeated letters should not be necessary to convince a financial aid worker that their client must have some serious medical problem. This is especially true if each letter the doctor has written to the worker suggested the client needed to see a specialist. For years, not months, doctors had repeatedly written to my worker(s) about the need of broader (MSP) coverage so I could get proper medical treatment. This care should have been arranged long ago. Why was this allowed to go on so long with out any intervention by my worker's supervisor until 1999 before 1 was accepted and recognized as a disability individual? In this case there is medical history to show the worker neglected their duties, but their personal feelings impaired their judgment. As a consequence it caused a very serious problem and severely impacted my life. This negligence/incompetencemustn't be ignored or go without challenge in a court of law. It does not take a Brain Surgeon or a Rocket Scientist to reach the simple conclusion that something is wrong with the client, that competent medical practitioners have repeatedly attested to the individual needing some sort of help. The employees of your Ministry failed to do so. The Ministry must be accountable, and if a court agrees, liable. On behalf of Stan Mah: Signature of Support: If you see yourself or a fiiend in the same situation that Stan is in, with a perception that a financial aid worker repeatedly ignored or failed to acknowledge and act on doctors' recommendations, then sign a copy of this letter and return it to the Newsletter. Such public support may be recognized as significant by a judge.]
6
Hatred Discrimination Prejudice
Young children, teenagers and young adults should all try to understand and be more intelligent- and not continually run on old hatreds. It's up to this generation to try and change old modes of thinking. We see bullying ni our schools, both male and female, and sometimes it ends up in suicide or murder. This generation is more subject to stereotyping and peer pressure - clothes, hairstyles, booze and drugs. You all hold prejudices inside; parents mold us to some degree, but it's up to each of us to follow the "in crowd" or our own values. Cannot any of you value your own self and learn to be understanding? We all hate what we cannot understand. When people view me as a freak of nature or a sick mind I can only respond that I did not ask to be born this way, with a male body but a female feeling mind and spirit and will. So next time you happen to learn that your friend may be Gay or Lesbian or bisexual or even transsexual, consider what I've said and don't harass or taunt. It's up to you. ave enough courage to ask 'would I want to suffer what he must?' We in the Queer community point fingers now and then at the straights - at you. It's up to the education system to teach a course on "Homophobia" and what it all means. Parents: do you want to pass on the wheel of hate or have your children pass on the ride. Tell your kids -you are your own captain, you rule your own ship, you dictate your own future, you write your own destiny. Sincerely, Sorrelle Lawrina Culshaw Jn~erestingly, the checked shirt wearing, guitar playing in Point Grey Gordon Campbell who tried to pass himself off as 'street' in 1996 is now cutting we1fare. Uh, let's see... doctors, nurses, trade unions, the PTA, single mothers, judges, lawyers, teachers, welfare groups, and the disabled are lining up to sue Pr. Campbell and the Liberals. The CBC doesn't like them. This Hour has 22 Minutes, and Air Furce have openly ridiculed Campbell. Not bad for their first year in ofice
"LISTEN TO MOTHER" ACTION MAY 11 Calling on all women across BC:* * take out your ironing boards, pots & pans & clothes lines
* take to the streets in your neighbourhood & workplace
We need to iron out the mess that Campbell has made of this province.
Valerie Pugh
Get a couple of friends and decide what would work for your neighbourhood. Use your ironing board for the table, the pots & pans to draw attention and the clothes line to put up the issues. Community by community we need to organize. Call or email us for a supply of information to hand out. Women Against Campbell's Cuts (WACC) c/o WE*ACT (Women Elder's in Action) at 604-684-81 71 #228 ssummit@4l I seniors.bc.ca or Hospital Employees Union -Women's Committee 456-701 7 ***Downtown Eastside: Two locations: Oppenheimer Park & Carnegie Centre BOTH in the morning, ?lam (There will be a planning meeting at Breaking the Silence office, 1:00 pm on Monday, May 6,501 E.Hastings)
Coming events Taking another look at class. An evening with Sandy Cameron. Sandy Cammn is an anti-povand writer. activist, poet, [n 1999, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Camegie =lentrepublisheda book of Sandy's zssays on class. His writings are bankand inspiring. And they're even more relevant today. Join us for an evening with Sandy to talk about class, the fiveletter word that definitely ain't dead. Tuesday May 14,7:30 PM, Caf6 Deux Soleils (Commercial Drive at 5th Avenue). Admission is fke. (Brought to you by the Cana5an Centre for Policy Alternatives, Zarnegie Community Centre Asso:iation, and End Legislated Poverty.)
OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE The mission church of my boyhood was razed in 1962. I have long forgotten most ofthe sermons but never old friends who hung around there - like Orville Fisher, who became one of Canada's great war artists and on D-Day among the first to land on the shores ofNormandy. Orville is part of the spirit that long ago flourished on the streets of down town east side Sam Roddan
bby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
peaker, Canadian families are still waiting to from the housing agreement that was signed e provinces and the territories last year. In tact, in B.C. the provincial Liberals are diverting desperately needed housing dollars into seniors' care and in Ontario they're trying to get away with group homes and care facilities while ruling out affordable housing by definition. It's a far cry from what was supposedly agreed to. Therefore, I would like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister, who has this important file, why is he not insisting on clear outcomes for affordable not-forprofit housing instead of letting the provinces off the hook while lining the pockets of developers. Why is this agreement not delivering the housing it promised'? Libby Davies' Update from the House (excerpts from Hansard, 22 April 2002) Hon. John Manley (Minister of lnfrastructure and Crown Corporations, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, first of all, the federal government is very proud to have committed an additional $680 million to public housing to provide an opportunity for low income Canadians in every part of Canada to have access to affordable quality housing. We continue to negotiate an agreement with the province of Ontario. The member should be assured of the fact that it is our intention to ensure as best we can that we have a significant increase in the number of units that are available in the province of Ontario. [This is here to shoh the Federal Liberals are either ignorant of BC as part of Canada (hardly) or just arrogant and allow silence to the sleaze of BC's Lib Party to give tacit consent to this. - Ed.]
Thefollowing emerged?orn a recent meeting qf the Vancouver Island Chapter ofthe British Columbia Associafion qf Social Workers. "There is urgent need for social workers in British Columbia to respond to the actions of Murray R. Coell, Minister of Human Resources. As a former social worker in B.C., Coell's actions are in direct violation of the B.C.Social Work Code of Ethics, a document he swore to uphold when he was a Registered Social Worker (R.S.W.). Upon election, Mr. Coell chose to not renew his registration with the BC Board of Registration for Social Workers, the body which sets professional practice standards and oversees public complaints about members who are registered in our profession. As a Minister of Human Resources who continues to refer to himself as a former social worker, Minister Coell is not only personally violating the Code of Ethics, he is putting the integrity of hundreds of other social workers in the province in jeopardy through their employment with various Ministries and contracted agencies. As a profession, we are obligated to respond to Minister Coell's actions against the most vulnerable citizen's in British Columbia. As stated in Section 9.3 of the Code of Ethics: "The social worker will take reasonable action against unethical conduct by any other member of the profession." Through his leadership as the Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Coell has violated several sections of the Code of Ethics, including: Section 1 of the Code declares I "will regard the well-being of the persons I serve as my primary professional obligation". 5.1 "The social worker will respect the intrinsic worth of clients and act to ensure through reasonable advocacy and other intervention activities that dignity, individuality and rights of persons are safeguarded." 10.2 "The social worker will make reasonable efforts to advocate for the equitable distribution of societal resources and act to ensure that all persons have reasonable access to the resources, services and opportunities which they require." 10.6 "The social worker will make reasonable efforts to advocate for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions and to promote social justice."
In January 2002 Minister Coell introduced Bill 26, the Employment and Assistance Act (which will repeal and replace the BC Benefits Income Assistance Act, BC Benefits Youth Works and the BC Benefits Appeal Act). In April 2002 he introduced Bill 27, the Employment and Assistance for People with Disabilities Act which will repeal and replace the Disabilities Benefits Program Act. These Legislations will increase the health risks to the clients of the Ministry as his policies reduce financial assistance, reduce eligibility for financial assistance and refuse financial assistance for others. 2.4 "If a conflict arises in professional practice, the standards declared in this Code take precedence.. In all cases, if the declarations of this Code would be compromised, the social worker must act in a manner consistent with the standard of practice set by this Code." Minister Coell and his government have tried to justifL these drastic changes to the Province's social safety net on the grounds that it faces a structural deficit and is obligated to make deep cuts to its budzet. These cuts cannot be justified, as they compro.nise the health and well being of those that Coell's Ministry is committed to assist. Minister C o d has in fact removed the Ministry's obligation "to preserve a social safety net that is responsive to changing social and economic circumstances" from the Assistance Act. 8.2 "At times the responsibilities to the employer and the client may be in conflict.. It may be required of the social worker to subordinate the employer's interests to the interests of the client. If these alternatives fail it may be necessary in extreme circumstances for the social worker to resign from that employment." According to this section of the Code of Ethics, it would be appropriate to request the resignation of Murray Coell as Minister of Human Resources. Minister Coell has not upheld the profession's expectations of a former social worker to society, to the profession, and to the people he was elected to serve, the citizens of British Columbia. As Minister of Human Resources Mr. Coell cannot in good conscience claim the title social worker and he should not be welcomed back into the profession. It should be noted that the 2000 Roster of Registered Social Workers lists Murray R. Coell as a Registered Social Worker residing in Saanichton, BC. The 2001
Roster does not include Mr. Coell. It appears that he voluntarily give up his registration as a socialworker in March 2001. upon the eve of the provincial electu rthe Liberal opposition since ion. As a I I I ~i ~ ~ lof 1996 and previously as Mayor of Saanich, Mr. Coell chose to remain registered as a social worker. We are gravely concerned that Coell would give up his registration just before the BC Liberals won last year's provincial election. Coell may have fully expected that he would be unable to uphold the Social Work Code of Ethics as a member of the BC Liberal Cabinet, and gave up registration so as not to be held accountable for his ctions. Regardless of the reason, the simple act of giving up one's egistration does not excuse an individual social worker from acting in n thical manner. closing, we ask that all social workers of the Province of British olumbia take action in response to the devastating actions of Murray Coell as the province's Minister of Human Resources. As a profession we have an obligation to respond. We similarly have an obligation to support social workers who have been asked to carry out the unethical policies legislated by Coell. Most importantly we have an obligation to those in need of assistance in the province."
Here We Stand lnternational Solidarity Concert to Commemorate Robeson 1952 Peace Arch Anniversary In 1952, at the height of the cold war, a British Columbia trade union organized a demonstration of peace, solidarity and dissidence. They did it not with a strike, a picket line, or any other common tool of the labour movement. They did it with a concert. Fifty years ago, Paul Robeson stood on the back of a flat bed truck at the Peace Arch border cross-ing and in his magnificent baritone voice sang songs of solidarity,justice and peace to a crowd of 40,000 people. Fifty years later, on Saturday, May 18,2002 we'll be commemorating that concert, in the same park. Four hours of inspiring music and other performances, featuring artists of internatinn-al
stature and artists fkom the Pacitic Nonhwest, will be offered to the public for free. When the Mine Mill and Smelters Union invited Robeson to their convention, they expected no trouble. No other native-born American had ever needed a passport to enter Canada. They were wrong. Robeson was refused entry. A telephone hook up to the convention hall broadcast Robes-on's words and songs to union members. Three months later, the Peace Arch concert was held in defiance of US State Department censorship of6'what the Canadian people shall hear and whom they should see" (Mine Mill Convention resol.) The US Government refused Robeson permission to leave America. Why would they stop this man from singing? Because he sang and spoke out against injustice wherever he went. Robeson "was a champion of working people and organized labour...the man who issued his Manifesto Against Fascism after visiting the Spanish Front, the man who refused to perform before segregated audiences, the man who raised money to assist Jews fleeing Europe." He sang in 25 languages, performed in concert halls, on picket lines, in churches, in Shakespearean plays, in musicals such as Showboat ("01' Man River" was written for Robeson). Paul Robeson stood for the same values we stand for today. At great personal risk he spoke and sang out for ti-eedom, justice and peace. Mark your calendar- Saturday, May 18,2002, Peace Arch Park We need your help too. Volunteer or make a donation by contacting Earle Peach at 604-874-1256 or at info@?herewestand.org_Visit our website at www.herewestand.org -THE SONG OF FREEDOM MUST PREVAIL"
Tedious Politics...
The other day I experienced a personal crisis situation that threatened my sobriety and was unable to reach any of my supportive friends to talk things out. It occurred to me that I could get help as an abstaining addict on shakey ground from the Health Contact Centre at 166 E.Hastings. TO my understanding, the health contact Centre rose primarily out of initiative from the Carnegie Community Centre Association's concern for the activeaddict scene on Carnegie's doorstep. There was harsh criticism from VANDU (Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users) for Carnegie's tough admitance
guidelines, and deep caring within the Association decrying the urgent need for immediate space for active addicts to spend some time indoors. A place was envisioned that the folks could call their own and feel comfortable in. On site would be health workers offering coun-seling and health services; individuals would be fiee to nod off, pick at the floor, or shuffle around without judgment. It all sounds beautifilly simple. The addict community themselves created and ran such a place in the mid-1990's that was well-suited to the need. It was called "The Back Alley" and was discreetly situated in a storefront on Pow-ell Street. It was comfortable and well-frequented but, as an 'underground' affair, did not provide a professional health care component. Tragically, the Back Alley was killed by tedious politics. Tedious politics seem destined to kill the contact centre at 166 E.Hastings too. Last week I heard Sue Bennett from the Gastown Group for Compassion and Benevolence tell City Council that the project isn't working, and indeed it seems it is not. Under the yoke of uptight bureaucrats in terror of the bigot clique, it has been regulated and restricted to be effectively uninviting and even hostile to the people it's meant to be for. With its cameras and buzzers, steel gate and stupid hours, it feels more like dropping into jail than anything else. It bears absolutely no resemblance to the Carnegie Association's dream, and is effectively a make-work project for entry level poverty pimps. Back to my own experience the other day. After explaining to the centre's desk-attendant what it was I was needing, I was told that no counselors work there. I looked around the place and it held about 15 people, none of them drug addicts. I asked to speak to a woman I recognized as former staff fiom the Vancouver Detox and, after requesting a private place, she had me standing in the middle of the floor with people all around. It was a joke! 1 left and bumped into a bro' on the street and poured out my hear; to him. I hope that the folks at VANDU and on the street can understand that the Carnegie Association is an ally and is as deeply frustrated with the plight of addicts stuck outside as can be. It seems that in the current political environment deliberate ignorance prevails but at least next time the power reacts against our autonomy, we'll have already tried it their way. By FLORENCE SPENSER
DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE YOUTII A("TI\'ITIES SOCIETY
STD C L I N I C - 219 Main; Monday to Friday, loam - 6pm NEEDLE EXCHANGE - 221 hlain; 8:JOam - Bpni every day NEEDLE EXCHANGE V A N - 3 Routes: - 5:45pm - 1l:45pm Overnipht - 12:30am - 8:30am Downtown Eastside - 5:30pm - 1:30am
2002 DONATIONS Libby D.-$8 1 Sam R -$20 Eve E.418 Nancy HS50 Margaret D.-$22 Sabitri (3.422 Pam C.-$9 Val A.$18 W m B-$27 Harold D.-$9 M a r y C-$ 1 8 Paula R-$35 Rolf A-$75 Bruce J.-$18 Peggy 4 2 5 Kettle -$I 8 Sonya S.-$100 BCTF-SIO Rill G.-$l00 Wes K.-$36 Charley B-$25 DEYAS-$125 RayCam-$25 LSS-$200 John S-$36 Paddy -$75 Sarah E.410 The Edge -$200 Celeste W.-$ l o JO'S M o m -$25 Charles F.-$4 Mennonite C C -560 Rosemary Z.-$40 Joanna N.-$40 Jenny K.-$18
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TIIE NEWSI.ETTER I S A P~IUI.ICA+ION OF 1-IIE CARNECIE COhlMUNIl'Y CENTRE ASSOCIATION.
Articles represent the views of individual contributon and not of the Association.
Submission Deadline for next issue:
Welfare problems; Landlord disputes; Housing problems; Unsafe living conditions; ome to the Dera office at 425 Carrall Street or hone us at 682 0931 ERA has been serving the Downtown Eastside
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In Search of a Project Coordinator... Partners for Economic And Community Help (PEACH) has received fimding from Status Canada to explore an "Economic/Enterprise Strategy for Women in the Downtown Eastsic of the Project are to enhance the participation of DTES Women in the economy of their COI to enhance equitable access to enterprise development resources. PEACH is looking to hire a Project Coordinator to carry out this work under the guidance Steering Committee. Our vision of the successfil applicant for this job is a woman who:
- is well-grounded in the issues that affect women in low income, marginalized communitit - has established or has the ability to establish a good rapport with women in the DTES - has base level knowledge andor experience with business development andor communit development - possesses strong communications skills and the ability to relate effectively to a wide rangc from diverse backgrounds. - has a comfort level in the production of 'draft' and 'final' reports, - has the ability to coordinate projects and meet deadlines. - has a proven track record in community organizing and group facilitation - is highly motivated and capable of working with a steering committee a n d or without din - possesses strong analytical skills - is computer literate in E-mail and Microsoft Word. Knowledge of other software program Excel or Access would be an asset but is not mandatory. The successfil applicant will be employed by PEACH for a one-year term. The salary is $38,000.00 plus benefits. Applications must be received on or before 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 8th, 2002. Late ap not be considered. Please mark your application "Confidential" and submit to: PEACH 125 Main St. Vancouver, B.C., V6A 285 Fax: (604) 602-9507 Attention: Deidre Hall Thank you to all respondents, however, only those applicants short-listed will be con
Pain
...and once a man has learned the joys of drugs it becomes very difficult for him to drop them. Drugs can be dropped only if better ways are found that can release your poetry. Meditation is a better way - less destructive, less harmful than any kind of chemical. In fact it is not harmful at all; it is beneficial. Meditation also does the same thing: it shifts your mind from th left hemisphere to the right hemisphere It releases your inner capacity of creativity.
In ~ancouver'spark a needle lays On the ground among the flowers "
Bob Roberts
An Event!! A Carnegie patron from the pas be reading excerpts from his Tr winning novel "The Jade Peon. Reading Room on Thursday, Mi All are welcome for tea and tal
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Comments? Concerns?
COME ON TO
KARAOKE
Contact jenny Wai Ching Kwon, MLA
with Gerald
1070-1641Commercial Dr., VSL 3Y3 Phone: ns-0790 Fax: n5-0881 Offke hours: Tuesday-Friday 9am-qpm
Social Justice Survival
T h e 14thAnnual Mayworks Festival runs from April 27 to May 19. Included are workshops, direct action, theatrefdance,visual arts, film and cabarets. Mayworks is a "festival" beginning with May Day celebrations and continuing into the month of May. It is different than any other festival in Vancouver. Mayworks is like an umbrella, with lots of events and projects produced by many different groups and individuals. Mayworks is envisioned as a banner under which our communities can organize cultural productions, education, mobilizations and empowering working class communities. Mayworks, through collaboration, provides opportunities to share in outreach, promotion, alliance-building, and fundraising. We're aiming to reclaim May Day as a day to recognize the ongoing struggle of workers for their rights, decemnt wages and working conditions - and for working class power. We see the historical red (socialist~communst)black (anarchist) and green (pagan/environmental)traditions of MayDay as an opportunity to unite left communities.
Festival Information: E-mail: Mayworks@tao.ca Fax: 604-254-9803 Voicemail: 682-3269 ext.6200 PO Box 2 1552, 1850 Commercial Dr, Vancouver www.tao.ca/-mayworks
II
Assuming to improve conditions, Gordon Campbell is, in fact, making conditions worse for a majority of British Columbians. When a Premier of a Province becomes a renegade against the majority and serves only the special interests of a few, then that Premier must be removed from office immediately. Therefore, it is the duty of every British Columbian with a social conscience to: Cease cooperation with the Government in every aspect until Gordon Campbell is removed as Premier ofBritish Columbia. Woodrow 0'loosjrrw