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Community AIR, the group opposing the expansion of the Toronto City Centre Airport (Island airport), won a small victory at the first Waterfront Reference Group meeting.  They came out in force to raise concerns about increased noise and air pollution if the expansion plans go ahead and managed to have the plans for the airport expansion
sent back to city staff for further consideration.   Community AIR wants to see the airport closed and turned into a 200 acre waterfront park.  Check out what they are doing next at www.communityair.org
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Toronto Smog Seven Acquitted! -  Tue, 22 Oct 2002
Toronto Action for Social Change   tasc@web.ca
Smog Seven Found Not Guilty!
Decsion Essentially Says Plice, Not Demonstrators, Caused Mischief by Blocking Roadway
        The seven smog protesters on trial for criminal mischief 14 months after they were arrested at the headquarters of Ontario Power Generation, Canada's largest polluter, were found not guilty by Justice Parry today (October 22) at Old City Hall. The seven--Shane Sarsfield, Angela Bischoff, Kirsten Romaine, Greg Bonser, Mary Hutchinson, Matthew Behrens, and Sue Breeze--defended themselves during the Sept. 12-13 trial which preceded the decision.
        In a brief decision, the judge noted that many of those charged were "veteran" protesters" who knew how to "pick up the gauntlet" when it comes to protesting social injustice and that, while the demonstration was a "valid and necessary exercise of rights," he did think the organizers could have used some introspection in terms of planning to disrupt traffic in an area with hospitals.
        Parry did note in his decision that one mitigating factor in the resisters' favour was the fact that ample notice of the demo had been provided to emergency officials long in advance as well as to the public, and that police on horseback, bicycles, cruisers, and video teams were more than prepared to handle the situation.
        Nevertheless, he found that the way in which police set up--blocking the curb lane of traffic on University Avenue with both officers and a van--was the cause of any traffic backup and delay any ambulance might have faced the day of the demonstration. Hence, the charge of interfering with the lawful use and enjoyment of property could not stick against the demonstrators.
        "While it's a relief to be declared not-guilty after having had criminal charges hang over our heads for the past 14 months, it's a concern that police continue to treat nonviolent protesters as criminals, laying serious charges that are often accompanied by strict bail conditions that seek to limit the right to protest," said Matthew Behrens, one of the seven.
        "We had hoped that the judge would have touched on the fact that in our five previous criminal acquittal precedents, all focused on the growing criminalization of dissent. People concerned about homelessness, the environment, and a host of other social ills should not have to wait 14 months or two years or however long it takes to be vindicated in the court process for showing up at a Charter-protected protest and being busted by the police.  It's clearly a strategy by the police to repress voices of dissent and intimidate people."
        Sue Breeze, another of those acquitted, sighed upon leaving the courthouse, declaring, "It's a victory for us, but the crime of air pollution that's killing over 2,000 people every year in this province continues, and the corporate criminals at OPG and in other positions of power have not been brought to account. Hopefully our acquittal today will
send a message to them."
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Port Authority releases biased poll - 10 Oct 2002
From:  "Community AIR \(Airport Impact Review\)" <nojets@rogers.com>
   Toronto - The Toronto Port Authority (TPA) continues its disinformation campaign around its planned expansion of the Island Airport, releasing results of a poll purchased from Pollara.
   The poll asked respondents if they favoured an expanded airport or whether they favoured the city buying the airport site to create a bird sanctuary and "eco-hotel" (whatever that is).
   Respondents were then led through eight leading and largely erroneous reasons that favoured expanding the airport. At the end of the interview, respondents were again asked which option they favoured and surprisingly, even better results were achieved.
   If the poll had been a legitimate desire to discover public opinion rather than roll out PR spin on a negative news day for the Port Authority, it would have accurately described Community AIR's alternative for the 200 acres of public land, which are zoned for public open space.
   Community AIR's park concept, was on display during the first week of October at Metro Hall. The park concept, created over a number of months by a team of volunteer architects and landscape architects, consists of five key elements to ensure a lively year-round recreation and cultural facility for all Torontonians and tourists. The five elements are: 1km of restored beach and related sand meadow; recycling airport buildings for active indoor recreational uses, culture and a market and entertainment complex similar to Granville Island, Vancouver's # 1 tourist destination; the development of a focal point building facing Toronto Bay that serves as a historical, cultural or environmental education and meeting centre; recreating the historically popular Hanlan's Point by reintroducing small hotels, bed & breakfasts and restaurants around a central square; and reintroducing soft-shore lagoons and wetlands to encourage wildlife and to help clean up Toronto Bay. This area would include a network of boardwalks to provide viewing areas like other major tourist attractions on Lake Ontario including Point Pelee and Presqu'ile.
   The park would be self-sustaining through concession fees and ferry revenues. Like San Francisco's Crissy Field airport/park conversion, the park would be developed through a public/private partnership with foundations and individual contributions and citywide community involvement.
   If the poll had made it clear that the park option would reduce pollution, as part of the city's plan for a clean, green waterfront, the results would have been different. This would have been particularly true if the respondents were made aware of the Medical Officer of Health's concern that an expanded airport is likely to increase the risk of respiratory disease and cancer.
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Bicycle Friendly Business Awards Polluted by OPG Win – Oct.9.2002
   The Toronto Cycling Committee grants yearly awards to businesses that support cycling as sustainable urban transportation. Categories are Best Bike Parking, Bicycle-Friendliest Suburban Business, Bicycle Commuter, Best Small Business, Best Large Business, Best Skills Development, Best Overall.
   This year the category of Bicycle-Friendliest Suburban Business got permanently dropped. It seems there isn’t a single business in Toronto’s vast suburbs worthy of an award. Perhaps a suburban super-sprawl highway award would be more suitable for that area. Instead of a trophy mounted with a cycle, one could be made with a mounted tangle of cars and highways.
   Ticketmaster and Grass Roots were a couple of the winners, but they got overshadowed by Ontario Power Generation (OPG). OPG won an award, yet here we think they should have won two awards. A second blackened lung award should have been presented to celebrate OPG’s successful plan to pollute Toronto with coal-fired generating plants.
   Some people think activism died in Ontario a while ago. Perhaps the sellout to OPG (a publicly owned company that uses donations to cycling to distract from its dirty policies) is a final stake through the heart.
Links:
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/bfba.htm
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Police Army Demolishes Tent City Toronto- Sept.24.2002
Report and Photos by Gary Morton

   The long hot summer at Tent City on Toronto’s waterfront ended today with a police raid. Home Depot, owner of the land, moved in aggressively and by surprise. A hired security firm came with dogs, bulldozers, banks of spotlights and an army of police (on cycles, horses, in cars and paddy wagons) for backing.

   By sunset the residents and supporters were protesting outside. Cops lined the fence, security people and a lot of cops roamed the property, and a huge goon was setting all the surrounding fencing with barbed wire toppings. Some evicted residents had puppies and dogs. Cats and kittens remained locked in some of the small houses while a huge bulldozer remains parked until tomorrow. A security chief told me that any remaining animals would be turned over to the humane society if found. Otherwise they will be bulldozed under with the tiny houses.

   Under a deal with the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, residents were allowed in to claim some belongings. Councillor Olivia Chow announced arrangements to move the people to shelters and hotels for the time being.

   Some of the squatters were weeping over the loss of their homes. And it really looks bad on the city, province and the feds, that people find tents on contaminated land preferable to the overcrowded city shelters. The message really is that people squat because they want housing. None is being created by the feds, rents are out of control and the province hasn’t come through with its promise to provide rent aid. All of it meaning that the issue is really only beginning, and not ending through this cruel eviction … they can’t bulldoze all of us under yet … though they would if they could.
 

Photos by Gary Morton
Before Raid:
 (Aug 2002 - Visitor Poses in Front of Tent City House
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/tent.jpg

During Raid:
At the Gate
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/tent1.jpg
Bulldozer and Cops Wait to begin Demolition
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/tent2.jpg
Security Guard Inside Tent City
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/tent3.jpg
Police Line and Spectators
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/tent4.jpg
Police Horses
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/tent5.jpg
Pope Squat Banner
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/tent6.jpg
Cops Behind Fence
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/tent7.jpg
Homeless Man and Dog
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/tent8.jpg
Homelessness is a National Disgrace Banner
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/tent9.jpg
Homeless Dog
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/tent10.jpg
Big Security Guy Setting the Fence for Barbed Wire
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/tent11.jpg
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$172 Million For Toronto's Bike Plan!!! Wed, 18 Sep 2002
From:    Gomberg and Greenspiration <greenspi@web.ca>

Hi Folks:
     Tonight, Weds. Sept. 18, there will be a public meeting and open house about spending $172 million to extend Front St. a few blocks from Bathurst to Dufferin. Just what we need. More expensive roads.
     Let's stop this project in its tracks, like we did with the Adams Mine proposal. And then let's get the $172 million directed into making this an incredible bicycling town!!!
    Join the fun tonight at:National Trade Centre,100 Princes' Boulevard,Hall D, Salon 110,6-9 pm
(5 pm review displays and discuss them with the project team. 7 pm there formal presentation and group discussion will take place.)
    Ride your bike there, or take TTC via the 509 or 511 Streetcar to Exhibition Stop
Come for part of the event, or take it all in. See you there!!
- tooker and friends
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Road Rage at Car Free Kensington – July.22.2002
   Folks blocking a Kensington Market Street for a Sunday Car Free celebration got a surprise taste of road rage when a muscular gorilla pulled in and tried to drive through. It turned into a case of road rage when he got blocked by the people and jumped out to storm about threatening certain individuals. A drum corp playing on the street up nearer to Presto suddenly turned and marched with the rest of the people to the car … leaving the angry motorist in rising anger as drums and chants drowned out his yelling. One woman jumped in his car, he ran around it and tried to pick a fight with another man … and it continued for some time till he finally gave up and backed out to leave.

Photo
Angry Motorist (in sleeveless T-shirt) threatens locals
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/kenc1.jpg
People gather for Car Free celebration
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/kenc2.jpg

   * In congested Toronto TTC fares have doubled, yet there are 10 percent less buses and 20 percent less streetcars.
http://www.carfreeday.ca

Report by Gary Morton

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Oppresto on Fire - Thursday July 18th 2002

   Nike is funding Presto, a club in Kensington Market as part of a marketing campaign for their new line of Presto sneakers. Teams of Nike-clad youth generate Presto hype on the streets, and participating artists and musicians sign agreements stating that they will not display competitors’ logos onstage or in their art.
   Countering Nike’s campaign to make Presto cool is an organizing group in Kensington that is staging counter concerts on Augusta Ave. This first one had speakers like Ian Thomson of the Maquila Solidarity Network and Dave Meslin of the Toronto Public Space Committee.
   This first concert filled the street with local residents as music blared from a third floor balcony. People mingled and danced and drummed on the asphalt and others in costume carried the party closer to Presto’s doorway.
   Things got a little ugly when folks began throwing stuff at the Presto building. Then a mob gathered at the front. I was inside with a friend of mine, a Vietnamese girl, touring Presto, when the crowd began to chant, Burn Nike Down, Burn Nike Down! Which sort of cut the tour short as we decided to exit quickly.
   Police moved in and took stations behind the Presto windows. Later I found that it wasn’t only folks on the left that oppose Presto, as a more right wing type of person fumed about Nike’s funding of a soup kitchen in the community center across the road.

Report by Gary Morton http://CitizensontheWeb.com

Contact Oppresto
info: Rod Caballero (onecaballero@futurerhetoric.com)
www.futurerhetoric.com
www.maquilasolidarity.org
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Notes on the Pope Squat
- from the July 16 Civil Liberties Panel

   John Clarke and Jaggi Singh spoke tonight at the 519 on issues of civil liberties.

   Clarke did a small outline on the upcoming OCAP housing action. The Pope Squat begins Thursday, July 25th at 7pm. People are to meet at Masaryk Cowan Park (Queen St. W. & Cowan Ave - east of Lansdowne, west of Dufferin - in Parkdale!)

   The initial post says OCAP is calling on all poor and working people, Catholics and social activists to open an abandoned building during the Pope's visit to Toronto. This is part of an effort to create genuine affordable housing.

    Another group called Challenge the Church notes that the City of Toronto is spending more than 19 million dollars to facilitate the Pope and Catholic youth. This is public money for the purpose of bringing tourist dollars to local businesses, but not social justice and housing to residents of Toronto.

   Four of OCAP’s key demands in the Pope Squat are:
- an end to economic evictions.
- the creation of effective rent controls.
- a supply of 2,000 units of social housing per year in Toronto.
- and for the squat building to open as a self managed housing project.

   A discussion on the Pope Squat takes place at a Community Meal in Parkdale Saturday July 20th. (2 pm in Masaryk Cowan Park).

   According to Clarke, the Squat action is not a challenge the police thing where activists want to prove they can hold a building in the face of police assaults. It is intended as a broader effort that will include many groups. Students and teachers and people from a large list of organizations endorsing the Squat will take part in it.

   The city will either have to open the building or continue to guard it as plans are to keep returning if forced out by police violence. Plans are to have a large body of supporters outside the building at all hours and to bring in donated repair and cleaning equipment to fix the building. People with skills and stuff to donate and who want to endorse the Squat should call OCAP and leave a message for John Clarke, 416-925-6939. You can also just donate your body as a squatter.

   Jaggi Singh spoke on police behaviour at a similar Squat that took place in Ottawa as part of the Take the Capital protests last month. Police liaison officers were at first friendly with the squatters, using the event and the attending media as vehicles for police propaganda. The public saw friendly police acting with a concern for social justice. Until a few days later when they suddenly swept in to cordon off the whole block, arresting even spectators as they used cherry pickers, battering rams and huge canisters of pepper spray to route the squatters.

    Their intention had never really been to be friendly, and in Toronto at the last OCAP housing action Police Chief Julian Fantino rushed in immediately to order an assault on the Squat with pepper spray guns and riot cops. Patrons at a nearby tavern shouted at Fantino, some of them comparing him to Mussolini. And that dictator comparison was a good one, considering that Julian Fantino did not even apply for the job of Toronto Police Chief. Norm Gardner, Jeffrey Lyons and two Tory appointees turned the selection process into a coup. Other candidates quit in anger as Fantino was suddenly rubber-stamped as chief on the basis that he would represent a certain power elite and their war on the poor policies.

   Carry Fantino’s arrogant style over to the Pope’s visit and the Pope Squat, and you can see that this man will probably go over the top and create an ugly scene of police violence.

   According the Jaggi the Feds and the Cops now like to divide and conquer by creating the idea of good and bad protesters. So it seems to me that OCAP is creating a diverse group, all of which will be doing something Fantino and some city politicians see as bad. And in so doing, refusing to allow the police and politicians to define what actions can be taken for social justice … for the poor and for the homeless.

   And just what vision do police have for social justice? Try asking Fantino at:

Chief Julian Fantino
Toronto Police Services
40 College Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2J3
OCAP is at http://www.ocap.ca
- These notes by Gary Morton, posted at http://CitizensontheWeb.com
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Protest Notes on Toronto NEO-NAZI CONCERT SHUT THEM DOWN Demo! Sat June 8
- read the full report with photos
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Postering update - 11 Jun 2002
From: anarchyisorder@canada.com
   For over two months now, the Toronto Public Space Committee has been working against the proposed by-law that would restrict postering on 99% of Toronto's hydro poles. The by-law was originally suggested by "staff" at City Hall. Soon after it was placed on the agenda, a glowing letter of recommendation came from Chief of Police Julian Fantino - leading some people to suspect that "staff" could in fact be a reference to the Toronto police.
   However, Fantino's recommendation leads one to wonder: What exactly would their motivation be for endorsing such a law? Would the police be particularly happy guarding hydro poles, waiting to ticket a child who has lost a dog, or an old woman trying to advertise a yard sale or church bazaar? Or would they rather direct their attention to the activists postering for the latest OCAP event or ARA rally?
   Neither the manpower nor financial resources nor political support exist to make this law enforceable in every case, so all other arguments aside, it can be pointed out that anyone who is advocating this change in legislation should know damn well that it is only enforceable SELECTIVELY - and those of us with experience in activism realize precisely who will be the selected targets.
   Of course, there are other arguments - about preserving freedom of speech, and refuting the ridiculous reasons city councillors such as John Filion (Willowdale) and Joanne Flint (Don Valley West) have been advocating this by-law. For example, one notion that has been entertained at previous meetings is that of posters being "a distraction to drivers." I find it hard to believe that those arguing this point have ever stepped onto the streets of this city - otherwise they would have noticed the flashing billboards, moving billboards, rolling billboards (on the side of bus shelters), and giant electronic screens at intersections, all of which are specifically designed to distract drivers. Another problem is that of cell phones or radios in cars - but proponents of this by-law ignore the logic of the situation and the proven facts, insisting that 8x11-inch pieces of paper on hydro poles must be an enormous cause of traffic fatalities.
   Aside from activists, another target of any possible enforcement of this law would be the postering companies that indiscriminately plaster poles with advertising. Yet, in this situation, which is better: For those promoting community events to compete with small-scale advertisers, or for individuals' posters to be illegal in nearly every part of the city while company ads dominate our street corners and the "litter" of corporate power permeates our daily lives?
   There are two fronts that exist here: That of preserving the freedom of individuals to publicize events on public property, and that of limiting the intrusive nature of big advertising. It is important for one to address both issues if our existing freedom of expression is to remain a characteristic of this society.

Links to other media coverage of this issue are posted at:
http://www.publicspace.ca/media.htm
In Solidarity,
Lisa
aio@linuxmail.org
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SMOG DAY? FREE TTC!
Humanize Toronto has launched a campaign calling upon the City of Toronto to make the TTC free every time a Smog Day is officially declared.
Sounds too expensive?  Here's their solution: "City Council covers the TTC's lost revenue for that day, and then sends the bill to Queen's Park and Ottawa, 50-50."  Sounds good to us.
For more info and to download and sign the petition check out:
http://www.web.net/hto
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At NowToronto - June.13.2002
- GARDEN PARTY - Guerrilla Planters Sow Seeds of Subversion in the Dark
- JUMPING JACK - Layton's NDP Bid Could be Ambushed at the Pass
- MURKIER AND MURKIER - Latest Twist in Mumia's Case has Disciples Wondering
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Guerilla Gardening in a Chemtrail Jungle– May.27.2002
* Notes on a Guerilla Gardening expedition by Gary Morton
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Toronto WATER WATCH ACTION ALERT – JUNE 6, 2002
   At the June 4 Water Consultation with Irene Jones, City Water Advocate, a standing room only crowd of 200 plus packed the committee room to hear about the City plan to give up control of our water system.
  City Councillors, citizens and representatives of citizen, environmental and labour groups detailed their concerns and overwhelmingly rejected the City’s plan.
   The City report recommended that the City abandon direct public control of our water system and adopt a new management system – one that is unpopular, expensive and less accountable.
   Worse still, the report did not give a clear picture of how the proposed Municipal Service Board system would work or how it might affect taxes, staffing, public health and other municipal services.
   On June 11 attend a special joint meeting of Policy & Finance and Works Committees.  Citizens and representatives of groups can make five-minute deputations.  You don’t need to be an expert – just speak from the heart and tell them what you think about the water plan.  It will make a difference.
Joint meeting of Policy & Finance and Works Committees, June 11th- 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Committee Room 1, City Hall
To make a deputation call Trudy Perrin at 416-392-8027
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At the Star - May.2002
- Secret video shows shelter overcrowding
- OPP to probe lobbyist's actions
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Police and demos - May 2002
  Toronto Police Accountability Coalition draft brief on police and demonstrations and other stuff is at
http://www.tpac.ca
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At Eye - May.16.2002
- A telling birth
- School board spying on student politics
- Ratepayers gather to fight development
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At NowToronto - May.16.2002
- CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF
ISLAND AIRPORT DEBATE GROUNDED WHILE LOBBYISTS WORK CITY HALL
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At Eye - May.2002
National Save Medicare Day
- Tie a ribbon for health care
- ID hassles for the homeless
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At the Star - May.12.2002
- A day to tidy Tent City
- Gay teen thanks supporters
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At the Star - May.5.2002
- Councillors upset by Lyon's suspect donations
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FINAL POSTERING VOTE – THURSDAY April 18 at 4-6PM
   Toronto City Council is about to pass a bylaw that will essentially ban postering in public space. If the bylaw passes, people will be charged $60 per poster for promoting cultural or political events.
   City Council will debate the anti-postering bylaw on Thursday  afternoon, April 18, from 4-6 pm.
   Please come down to City Hall and show your support for freedom ofexpression.
   This bylaw will have a devastating effect on Toronto's arts community as well as nonprofit organisations and individuals who cannot afford commercial advertising.
   For more information, visit our website at www.publicspace.ca
Toronto Public Space Committee
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Council Watch 1.7 - Tue, 16 Apr 2002
   This issue contains listings for the April council meeting, updates on the effort to ban pesticides, a mid-term report card on TTC Commissioners, info on the Island airport and more.
http://www.torontoenvironment.org/councilwatch/issue_seven_main.htm
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Puppy Mills and PJ’s Pets Protested - Sat. April 6, 2002
    People from around Ontario gathered under the Freedom for Animals banner today to support animal rights and
 protest puppy mills and animal neglect.
- Read the full report with photos
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Palestinians Protest in Toronto– Sat.March.30.2002
(On Easter Sunday World moves toward WWIII)
- Full report and photo by Gary Morton
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Ontario Common Front Opposes the Tory Convention(Toronto, March 22nd & 23rd 2002)
Page of Complete Reports Includes

Photos:

   During the holiday week at least two homeless deaths occurred in a three day period. These deaths could have been prevented as the TDRC and other groups have lobbied the Mayor's office for years with recommendations for more shelter beds, warming centres, health measures and harm reduction shelters.

    Tuberculosis is spreading at the crowded shelters as the city fails to heed health warnings. Though space is available at the empty Princess Margaret Hospital and the Armory the city is again playing a game of rationing shelter, acting on a questionable emergency basis and rules that leave people on the streets in freezing temperatures or in disease-ridden shelters.

   After a talk on the deaths at the Coroner’s building, angry protesters marched across downtown to the Princess Margaret Hospital to demand that it be opened for shelter space … and later found that it wasn’t completely empty as a gang of police officers emerged through the doors. Horseback police and a number of cruisers were also present to hinder the protest.

   We have a city that doesn’t want to pay for more shelter space yet has plenty of cash for unessential policing and heating an empty building … which seems to be part of a general trend toward a misguided form of security. Billions are being spent to prevent terrorism in a federal security budget, though there haven’t been any terrorist attacks in Canada … and likely won’t be.

   Believers in security should perhaps consider that genuine security arises from a person first having a home. Homelessness is realdy a form of economic terrorism where those that fall through the cracks of the rat race are left to the mercy of the streets, to be victimized by harsh conditions and ignorant social forces that thrive on using or bashing the poor.

   Housing really has to be part of social policy and programs. People are homeless and dying now when the economy is fairly strong, and the lack of affordable housing grows each year in so-called prosperous times.

   For many people insecurity is growing, and elected officials need to change their outlook. Working people lack stable housing solutions and the unemployed quickly hit the streets. The roots of our fears and suffering aren’t foreign terrorists. Stupid or stupefied city, provincial and national governments are the source.

Contact the TDRC
http://www.tao.ca/~tdrc
steve@v-r.net
cathy.crowe@sympatico.ca
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At the Toronto Star - Dec.20.2001
- Campaign against hydro deregulation launched
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Nyberg the Spoiler as Tziretas wins Beaches-East York in squeaker – Dec.4.2001
    Right wing candidate, Mike Tziretas, has captured the by-election with just 54 votes more than top rival Janet Davis. NDPer Davis was denied victory by spoiler Gail Nyberg and now Toronto residents are stuck with a pro Harris, lobbyist supported councillor.
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CRTC Orders Star Ray TV Off Air - Nov.2001
    Weary from the ongoing battle with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, Jan Pachul's fight to keep his Star Ray TV channel servicing the east end of Toronto has made him more determined than ever to expose the undemocratic practices of what is possibly, the most important regulatory agency in the country.
- read the full article
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Abdul the Dangerous – Nov.11.2001
   The Toronto Muslim community held a demo today against the war. This rally of mostly families from mosques drew an army of cops. There were rafts of motorcycle cops, red unmarked vans, paddy wagons, all sorts of uniforms and undercover men and the media was nearly all police media.
   Camera guys at the front of the rally were cops with 10-thousand-dollar zoom attachments. While I took photos of the banners with my 99-dollar digital camera, one cop gave a cameraman instructions. "That's Abdul there putting on the blue jacket. Make sure you get solid footage of him."
   Abdul appeared to be one of the organizers of the rally. I took his photo but deleted it. Now I wonder if he knows he's under constant police surveillance.
   So much for the claim that political organizers won't be harassed under anti terrorism legislation. They are already under heavy surveillance and the bill hasn't even gone through yet.
   Here are a couple photos of the rally
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/afghan1.jpg
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/afghan2.jpg
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WTO Protested - Human Need Not Corporate Greed
- notes and photos on the Toronto Nov 9th Protest Against the World Trade Organization
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Article about the Anti-Fascist Speakout/March in Parkdale on Friday,  November 9
- At Indy Media
from Anti-Racist Action - Toronto
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Police intelligence computer gets virus -Thu, 08 Nov 2001
From: Bob Olsen <bobolsen@interlog.com>
Here we have it!
<bobolsen@interlog.com> is on the Toronto Police Intelligence computer files!
I find this absolutely hilarious!
 "Intelligence" <intelligence@torontopolice.on.ca> was infected by the I-Worm/Sircam virus. On Nov 5, 2001 it sent out an email to every email address listed on the Toronto police intelligence computer, including <bobolsen@interlog.com>
     dated: Nov 5, 2001,
     subject: internet searching instructions,
     from:"Intelligence" <intelligence@torontopolice.on.ca>
If you did not get that message from  <intelligence@torontopolice.on.ca>, then I guess you just don't rate according to Toronto police  intelligence and Ann McLellan's new Canadian anti-terrorist bill. I have kept the file, named "internet searching instructions" It is 179 kb [183,808 bytes] I have not opened it as I do not want to get the virus.
Bob
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The Other Side of Policing - Oct.28.2001
   Relatives of police shooting victims and a number of citizen groups held forums, workshops and a march and rally as a Toronto Alternative to the International Police Convention at SkyDome.
- read the full news article with photos.
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Flag Burner gets beaten in Jail - Oct.2001
   After burning the American Flag I was jumped by under-cover cops who made sure to act in the most violent way possible.
- read the full article at Indy Media
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Terror vs. Terror and the Peace March in Toronto – Sat.Oct.20.2001
   War and bigotry are the first casualties of truth. Canada's police are worried about that and stationed a paddy wagon near the speakers' podium at Saturday's Queen's Park peace rally.
- read the full report with photos
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Media Democracy (Died) Day – Oct.20.2001
   A gang of Toronto alternative media people protested at outlets of media conglomerates Friday, and later held a panel discussion, film night and social at Bar Code.
- read the full report
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Autumn Fur Protests - Oct.20.2001
   Autumn colors are spinning in the gusts, inspiring Freedom for Animals and friends as they continue with a series of protests against the Halloween ghouls of the fur industry.
- Read full report with photos
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At Eye - Oct.2001
Toronto vs. terror - Local thinkers discuss how the city should respond to the Sept. 11 aftermath
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 Toronto Anti-War Rally Targets Racist Media –Sat.Oct.13.2001
   The Coalition Against War and Racism met near the U.S. Consulate today to oppose the war, Canada's involvement in it and the biased media coverage that has been prevalent since September 11th.
- Read the full report with photos by Gary Morton
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Bicycle Master Plan: Will it Pass Budget Review - Oct.15.2001
From Nancy Smith Lea <nsmithlea@kf.oise.utoronto.ca>
   The Toronto Bike Plan was adopted in principle in July but it still needs to get funded. This plan doesn't go nearly far enough to address conditions for cyclists downtown and the amount requested for cycling infrastructure is clearly inadequate. BUT if it's this plan or no plan--we want it! Below is ARC's letter in support. Why not send one too?
To:  Toronto City Council
Re:  Bicycle Master Plan
   In anticipation of the upcoming budget review, Toronto's Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC) wishes to voice its support for full funding for the Bicycle Master Plan.  Although we believe the plan misses some of the most highly used and perilous downtown bicycle routes, we recognize that it will improve the situation for thousands of cyclists in many areas of the city.  It is our hope that in addition to supporting the current plan, Council will instruct the Transportation Department to develop a plan for the safe passage of cyclists on Bloor, College, Dundas, Queen, and King Streets, where cycling collisions are most frequent[1].  Cyclists will feel particularly ignored and unrepresented if Council decides it can afford $170 million for a 2km Front Street extension to add another 2400 unwanted automobiles per hour to the downtown core, but not the $70 million required to add over 1000km of bicycle lanes all over the city.  If the Bicycle Master Plan succeeds in its goal of doubling the number of bicycle trips by 2010, it will be a truly significant benefit not just to Toronto cyclists but to everyone who appreciates clean air or more efficient transportation.
Please vote "YES" to full funding for the Bicycle Master Plan.
Sincerely,
Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists
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Ontario Action Alert: Harris to Make Hunting a Legal Right! – 16.Oct.2001
From: "Plourde, Denise" <DPlourde@contactpsc.com
   On October 5th 2001, the Government of Ontario announced its plan to make hunting and fishing a "legal right" under the proposed Heritage Hunting and Fishing Act. If allowed to pass, this legislation would elevate the recreational slaughter of wildlife to the same level as such fundamental liberties such as the freedom of speech and assembly.
   The government has also proposed to establish a Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission, to be made up of representatives from the hunting and fishing lobby. Under the proposed legislation, the Commission will gain almost exclusive control over wildlife management in Ontario.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS LAW TO PASS!!
   Ontario residents have only until NOVEMBER 4th to submit letters in opposition to the government's legislative proposal. Please print off and sign your name and address to the letter below (or better yet, write your own letter) and let the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources know that you object to the proposed Heritage Hunting and Fishing Act and the establishment of a Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission.
*** To be sure that your letter is received and counted, please send it directly to PETA at the address below, and we will take care of delivering the letters to the Ministry of Natural Resources. Please mail or fax letters no later than October 31st to:
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
c/o Animal Alliance of Canada
221 Broadview Avenue, Suite 101
Toronto, ON M4M 2G3
Fax: 416-462-9647
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Sierra Club Protests ClearCutting – Sat.Oct.13.2001
    Members of the Sierra Club and friends want Harris to Stop Clearcutting Ontario. Guidelines released by the Ministry of Natural Resources that allow damaging forest clearcuts will soon be adopted as policy, which is why protesters are on the street trying to rally public support against Harris.
Photo of protest: http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/ccut4.jpg
Contact:
Dave (dave_a_murray@hotmail.com)
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Police make list of 'suspected terrorist sympathizers' in Ontario - Oct.11.2001
    Civil liberties in Ontario are under siege and the Conservative government is part of the problem, NDP Leader Howard Hampton said today. Hampton called on the Conservatives to disavow a campaign by their appointee to the Toronto Police Services Board that targets citizens for police investigations "who may have said something that might lead to police raising their eyebrows." Norm Gardner told a radio station that Toronto police are compiling a list of hundreds of people to target for surveillance. People are ending up on the hit list based on hearsay, tips from informants, suspicious or disgruntled neighbours, he said.  "The Conservatives should put an end to this type of harassment," said Hampton.
   "This type of 'thought police' activity has no place in Ontario. The government should insist that people not be targeted because of the colour of their skin, the language they speak, the place they were born, or the thoughts they may have," said Hampton, who has also criticized the government's acceptance of "ethnic profiling" of citizens by police and security personnel.
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Starving Artist Festival
York University on November 30th.
   The event is happening from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM on November 30th, 2001 in the East Bear Pit in Central Square.
…an initiative to reach out to artists and a way to help the homeless in Toronto. Artists rent out table space for $7.00 (flat rate for the whole day) to display their artwork for sale.
   All proceeds from the artists' sales will go to the artists themselves. The rental fees we collect will go to support a local shelter.
   Visitors, artists, and organizers are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items as well as used clothing to help shelters prepare for the Christmas food and clothing drives.
contact trinity@zionmainframe.ca
Web site
http://www.zionmainframe.ca/create/
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Toronto's social priorities: Six October meetings
Social Development Strategy for Toronto --Community Consultation
Organization: Community Social Planning Council of Toronto
    The Social Development Strategy of the City of Toronto will outline the City's social priorities and guide its role in supporting communities and  providing services.
Two of the questions being addressed in the strategy are:
- What should the City of Toronto's social priorities be?
- What is the City's role in improving the quality of life?
   Six public meetings are being held in mid-October, across the city to discuss the directions proposed in the social development strategy.
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/sds is the City of Toronto website to obtain more information on the public meetings, and to obtain a copy
of the draft Social Development Strategy adopted by the Toronto City Council in July.
   For more information you can also call the City of Toronto's Social Development and Administration Division at 416- 392- 8613 or contribute
your comments by e-mail to socdev@city.toronto.on.ca
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At The Varsity - Oct.2001
-Professors rally around Dr. Healy’s lawsuit against the U of T
(Last few years have seen more threats to academic freedom than in past fifty years: National Teachers Assoc.)
-Falun Gong goes on 500 km S.O.S. walk
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Sex Scandal Muddies Beaches By-election Campaign – Sept.19.2001
By PJ the Cat

In this issue
- Sex Scandal in Beaches By-election
- Prue's Staff Groupies says Liberal
- PC Candidate under Hunter Guns
- Green Candidate the Nude Candidate

Sex Scandal in Beaches By-election
   It's voting day tomorrow in the provincial Beaches-East York by-election so it's not surprising that candidates have reached out to toss a little mud.
   Liberal candidate Bob Hunter was the first to get hit when opponents decided to get moral and attack him for a passage in a book he wrote years ago. Back then Hunter confessed his patronage to teenage Thai prostitutes.
   Today the issue of his moral character is being thrown back in his face and he regrets that confession.
   "Those were kids he had sex with," says NDP candidate Michael Prue. "The man is not of leadership caliber."
   "Michael Prue should get real," Bob Hunter replied in a phone conversation. "His people have got no business bringing that up. It was a long time ago and I was in Thailand. I was working to aid the environment and at the same time smoking dope and trying to make the right moral choices. These young Thai prostitutes aren't girls, they're boys undergoing sex changes. They're not adults. They're not kids and they can't have babies. So what I did was the right thing."
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Prue's Staff Groupies says Liberal
   Liberal Candidate Bob Hunter is fighting back against opponents that have dug up dirt on his past sex life and use of prostitutes … today on a walkout in East York he took direct aim at NDP candidate Michael Prue.
   Stopping out front of a Value grocery store, Hunter leaned against a rack of vegetables and made his point. "I was up in the Arctic battling ice floes and saving polar bears when Michael Prue was just a little boy. Check my resume and you'll see who the real green candidate is here in Beaches East York. I've earned every gray hair on my head. I don't dye it that color like Prue does. What does he know about sex and morality anyway. Sure the guy's a former mayor but he's always been more like a movie star than a politician. Ask anyone and they'll tell you. Prue's supporters are a bunch of groupies. The guy's a bum patter that surrounds himself with sexy women. He doesn't know what it's like to be an unsightly old environmentalist, but I think the voters in this riding do and they can identify with me and my talents."
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PC Candidate under Hunter Guns
   Beaches East York PC candidate Mac Penney is latest person in that neighbourhood to come under attack from Liberal Candidate Bob Hunter.
   Angered over dirt dug up on his sexual past, Hunter decided to get even by hiring a detective.
   At a lunch time scrum today at Starbucks, it was Mac Penney's turn to suffer as Hunter released an undercover report on him.
   "Just read this and then tell me what you think of this guy," Hunter said as he waved the folio at a reporters. "I sent out a detective to dig up dirt on this guy and he came back with nothing. No one out there even knows who Mac Penney is. For all we know right now he could be one of those sleeper terrorists that hide in local communities. I mean, this guy says he a TV star on his resume. He did Counterspin and he worked for Mike Harris … and in spite of that he's the biggest no name in this city. Let me tell you this – I was doing media and radio and TV when Mac Penney was just a little Tory squirt. When he was studying strip mining I was out in the woods saving forests. I'm not a person that looks like another one of the trees."
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Green Candidate the Nude Candidate
   Beaches-East York Green Party candidate Peter Elgie runs a higher profile than most greens. His father, Dr. Robert Elgie, was once an M.P.P. and Tory cabinet minister for East York.
   Running against green liberal Bob Hunter has also raised Elgie's profile and Hunter's ire.
   "I was flying with eagles when he was just a baby," Hunter said today at Bluffer's Park. "When the waves roll in off the lake they got my clean air stamp on them. Elgie is not a real green. The only thing he's done of note is pose nude in the rainforest for a fundraising calendar. Sure, I could do that, too. But I don't have to go to those lengths to get attention. I've always been a person with a moral and spiritual side that's bigger than nudity and sex."
   Replying by phone on Hunter's comments, a Peter Elgie staffer said," Bob Hunter is still green but only when it comes to politics. He must be if he thinks the liberals are going to do anything good. As far as the fundraising calendar goes. He ordered a copy of it, so I don't know why he's complaining. If he won't pose nude himself that's probably more because it would be cruelty to animals and not anything to do with his spiritual nature."
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At the Post - Sept.2001
-Municipalities take on Ottawa's trade agenda By  Murray Dobbin
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Threats of Violence Disrupt Toronto Vigil for Mourning – Sept.16.2001
By Gary Morton

Photos:
- Child with Flowers at US Consulate in Toronto
- Banner - We Mourn for all Victims of War and Terrorism

   A vigil for mourning at the US Consulate went a bit sour at the outset when police forced mourners across the road. Officers seized Laurel Smith of Toronto Action for Social Change and dragged her over to a traffic island on University Avenue.
   There have been people mourning at the consulate all weekend, placing flowers, candles and teddy bears on the grass and steps. Today some of them had little tolerance for people arriving with peace banners. They tried to pick fights and generally expressed their support for war not peace. These folks were of the patriotic sort that have been brainwashed by the mainstream media. One man was dressed in an American Flag.
   People like Laurel came to mourn all victims of terrorism and most believe that working for peace, economic justice and education can reduce terrorism.
   Bombing can create more victims of terror, and the child in the photo listed above was probably another victim … as it did not help her to see that adults wanted to fight rather than to mourn.
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Democracy Shut Down at US Consulate Sept. 16
From:   TASC <tasc@pop.web.ca>
It was supposed to be a day of mourning and a call for reconciliation and peace, but Toronto police would have none of it this afternoon in front of the United States consulate. A variety of Quakers, Unitarians, Anglicans, and members of groups such as Homes Not Bombs and the International Socialists came to mourn as well, and to call for nonviolence, peace, and social justice.
        RCMP had informed the group they could stand in the first lane of University Avenue, but while demonstrators awaited the 1 o'clock officialstart time, the police told a group of some 10-12 people holding incendiary signs such as "War is not the Way: Nonviolence Now" and "There is no way to peace, peace is the way" that they had to move across the street. While most cops gave no reason, some stated that our presence was "not a good mix" with those laying flowers at the consulate in remembrance of the victims of the Tuesday terror attacks in the U.S.
        Police, frustrated that citizens were exercising their democratic rights to stand silently on the sidewalk and plead for peace while their
government whips up the fervour for war, violently ripped the Homes not Bombs banner out of the hands of two individuals and took it across the street. Then, Laurel Smith, a member of Homes not Bombs who was holding a sign reading "Nonviolence Now," was bumped from behind by one police officer, so she sat down. When told to move, Laurel asked for one valid reason, which was not forthcoming. She was then roughly manhandled and dragged across the four lanes of traffic and thrown onto the concrete island dividing University Avenue. She is now nursing a large bruise on her right arm.
        After everyone gathered on the island and set up banners and began leafletting, police again moved to clear the area, stating we should stand way across the street near the University Ave. courthouse. Again, a small group refused to move, as there was clearly no legal or safety reason to do so. We wondered whether we would be moved if we instead had held signs calling for the bombing of Afghanis.
        Again, officers refused to provide a legitimate reason, and pushed people around. Smith, again holding her sign, had it violently ripped from her hands, at which point she again sat down.
        Ironically, the police appeared to be acting, in their usual heavy handed fashion, against the wishes of many who had simply shown up at the consulate to express condolences, many of whom supported our plea for no escalation of the violence, no retaliatory strikes.
        It is clear that the war atmosphere being whipped up by so-called political "leaders" is being reflected in a local level on the streets of our cities, as we saw in today's police actions and as we continue to see in the escalating racist attacks being carried out against Muslims, Hindus, anyone in this country who seems "suspect," just weeks after Canada proclaimed before the world that it was not a racist nation.
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Beaches By-Election Report from PJ the Cat – Sept.5.2001

In this issue
-NDP Candidate Michael Prue Stomped by Elephant
-Green Liberal Candidate Campaigns Door to Door by Car

1. NDP Candidate Michael Prue Stomped by Elephant
     Monday's Labour Day parade took on a strong Beaches by-election flavour with workers throughout the event sporting orange Michael Prue pocket stickers. Prue's supporters marched in the lead on a route lined by telephone polls pasted with OCAP Fight to Win Images … and to many people it must have looked like the Michael Prue Fight to Win march.
   A key part of Prue's worker strategy was to avoid marching in the parade with the scrubbies. He stood at the review stand inside the Exhibition gates with Howie, Jack, Olivia and Joe.
   Trouble began when air show jets began roaring over an Elephant ride across the road from the review stand. Worker chants and drums combined with the noise of the planes to spook the elephants. It got worse when a low flying formation caused one elephant to bolt. Knocking his trainer aside the beast crashed through the fence with three children on his back. He rushed through the crowd to the stand where Michael Prue was waving to the folks in local 313. Seizing Prue with his trunk the elephant slammed him down in front of horrified spectators, and stamped him with his right foot.
   "It stamped on him so hard his eyes nearly popped out," said Councillor Joe Mihevc.
   "We've given Prue a million dollars worth of free publicity," said a frustrated Howard Hampton. "Count on us having him back together and limping toward the finish line in this campaign."
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2. Green Liberal Candidate Campaigns Door to Door by Car
      Beaches-East York liberal candidate Bob Hunter has a strong environmental background as a green reporter for City TV and Eye Magazine … and in this campaign he's caught many people by surprise by campaigning door to door by auto.
   Led by a police escort Hunter is cruising neighbourhood streets in a refurbished '59 Corvette. Despite its powerful gasoline engine, the race car is also a mean green machine. Its development sponsored by the federal government, it features a hood ornament wind daisy that powers the onboard cigarette lighter.
   We questioned Hunter on the curb at Maple Street. "The race car is a peacemaker," said Hunter. "I want people to know that you can love cars and be green, too. I've said as much before in my Eye column."
    Asked about the police escort Hunter said, "The police have always done favours for City TV and that carries over to employees like me."
    But some neighbours disagreed. "Those officers are getting out of the car and staring down people with NDP lawn signs," said local resident Marvin Wilson. "It's intimidation is what it is. Hunter will having us living in a green police state where cops drive race cars."
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* Voting Day for a new Ontario MPP in Beaches-East York is September 20.
Related Web Site - Elect Michael Prue September 20
http://www.michaelprue.org/
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Where Cruelty is Cool - Art System's Showing of Aesthetic Evil
By PJ the Cat (Aug.25.2001)
* This new report is a true story of Art, Activists and Animal Torture in the Kensington Market Area of Toronto.
- read the whole story.
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Media Democracy Day Web site in now online
www.mediademocracyday.org/
Toronto's Car Free Day website is now online.
www.carfreeday.ca
Michael Prue is running for Ontario MPP in Beaches-East York
web site - Elect Michael Prue September 20
www.michaelprue.org/
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Eight Arrested at Toronto Clear the Air Demonstration – Aug.20.2001
- View Three reports and Photos– from Gary Morton, Tooker Gomberg and TASC
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Psyche Survivor Pride Week Begins – July 14.2001
   Psyche Survivor Pride Week kicked off today with A Rant In Trinity-Bellwoods Park! put on by The Committee To Stop Targeted Policing. This event took the form of a picnic with a skit under the banner and trees. Don Weitz wore a judge's robes while others dressed as police officers and the public laid charges … Anna Willats directed as the Toronto Police were put on trail by the crowd for such things as the deaths of Edmond Yu and Wayne Williams and the brutal treatment of people with and without psychiatric problems.
A couple small photos of the survivor judge and a survivor cop
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/psurviv1.jpg
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/psurviv2.jpg
Committee To Stop Targeted Policing (416)760-2133
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News on Genetically Modified Organisms and Loblaws Protests

http://www.queerbynature.org
Photo of solar powered stage.
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/qn1.jpg
Photo of solar panel
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/qn2.jpg

Digital Photos - June 23 Toronto Dyke March
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/dykem1.jpg
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/dykem2.jpg
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/dykem3.jpg
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/dykem4.jpg
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/dykem5.jpg
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/dykem6.jpg
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/dykem7.jpg
http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/dykem8.jpg
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Third Anniversary of the Tenant Rejection Act - June.1.2001
PEACEFUL RENT FREEZE RALLY QUEEN'S PARK
June 17th, 2001, 2 - 4 p.m.
Hosted by Greater Toronto Tenants' Association
   Three years after the Landlord Protection Act came into force, the housing crisis is much worse for tenants, and there is no end in sight to the rent increases, demolition, harassment, poor maintenance, and economic evictions. The only construction seems to be new condos, financed by the rent gouging. Even rent controls will not alleviate the problem; it is too severe. The only real solution is the provincial Rent Freeze Act, tabled by MPP Rosario Marchese.
   But the Tories and Liberals are prepared to vote against the Rent Freeze Act if a vote is called. The only change in law the Tories are willing to entertain was suggested to them by landlord lawyers Aird & Berlis: a part of Bill 57 amends the TPA to disallow tenants from seeking rent reductions for loss of enjoyment caused by capital repairs (such as balcony renovations). It has already passed first reading! Meanwhile hundreds of landlords have applied to increase 5 and 6 percent above the 2.9%guideline to pay for increased gas costs. The problem is that tenants' wages remain static! Many will be forced to move out, adding to homelessness.
   Last year GTTA hosted the Rent Freeze rally at Queen's Park, two days after the OCAP riot. About 100 people attended. It was a sit-down affair, with entertainers and speeches from different tenant groups. This year will be a similar affair. If you want to know more about Toronto's independent tenants movement, the Tenant Rejection Act or the Rent Freeze campaign, come to Queen's Park on Sunday, June 17th!
For more information call (416) 967-4882.
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Cycle Week and the VELORUTION! - May 29.2001
   Bicycle Bob Silverman from Montreal, Toronto's Tooker Gomberg and Oscar Edmundo Diaz from Bogota, Columbia held a discussion with citizens at Metro Hall tonight. The subject was how to bring about the Velorution  - a bicycle revolution where cyclists will be treated with respect and encouraged.
   Bob Silverman talked about the creative protest tactics he used to open Montreal to cycling - with an eye to using similar tactics here.
   Oscar Diaz told the story of Car-Free Day in Bogota, where a million people participate. Bogota has cycle corridors across the city and a population that has done a lot to abandon the auto. Change there was initiated by the mayor and supported by the citizens in referenda – a far cry from Toronto where we lack referenda and an imaginative mayor.
   Tooker talked of a plan of his called FEAT – a fund that would promote cycling infrastructure nationwide. And there was also talk of creating an alliance of cycling related shops and putting bulletin boards in them to advertise cycling initiatives and protests.
   A representative of the City of Toronto's Bike Week mentioned Toronto's plans, which include a citywide bikeway network, parking and a Car-Free Day in late September.
   Last year's Car-Free Day was an unofficial thing. Citizens took over the street and put down sod.
See - http://photos.citizensontheweb.com/carfree.htm
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Cycle info:
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/bikeweek_2001.htm
http://www.greenspiration.org

This report by Gary Morton
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Mike Harris Attacks Public Education– May.18.2001
(EMERGENCY SUMMIT on publicly funded private schools)
* I include a copy of the NDP report back listing upcoming actions in this report.
   The provincial New Democratic Party held an emergency summit Thursday to plan actions to block the Harris attack on public education. A number of groups will be battling Harris on this issue and they are forming a coalition that will be holding weekly meetings.
- Read the full report
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Results of the Humanize Toronto Survey on the Budget and City Democracy – 2001

* I don't know if many Torontonians know of this survey by Humanize Toronto. Its results are interesting.
   In the face of cuts citizens indicated that they most value TTC/public transit, Social Housing, Waste Disposal & Recycling and Social Assistance & Public Health.
   A large majority favoured dropping support for the Olympics due to the budget crisis.
   And nearly everyone felt Councillors should denounce the budget process demand a new relationship with the province.

Here is the full document
   As of April 10th, Humanize Toronto has officially completed our first "Experiment in Real Democracy". Our Neighbourhood Input to the Municipal Budget campaign was well received by the residents of the Annex as well as other activist groups around the City. Many see the need for this type of inclusion in the decision-making that takes place at the municipal level. To most, it seems clear that Toronto Council is moving further and further away from its constituents, never more so than with this budget process.
   Humanize Toronto feels that, especially during this budget crisis, input must be collected from the neighbourhood level. The proposed cuts to services and programs will create a new Toronto that we will all have to endure.
   The results of our own experiment in Real Democracy are below. Although our survey was not scientific by any means, we were able to gauge the neighbourhood’s feelings on some key issues that are part of the budget debate.
   Our responses total 330, collected over a three-week period. The majority of these were gathered door-to-door in the Annex area. Each was asked the following questions.

1. “It seems that with this year’s budget, City Council is being forced to make many budget cuts. What programs or services would you like to protect? Choose your top three.”
TTC/public transit 58% (194)
Social Housing 38% (126)
Waste Disposal & Recycling 37% (125)
Social Assistance & Public Health 36% (120)
Public Libraries 26% (86)
Child care 24% (80)
Arts programs 12% (41)
Programs to aid troubled Youth 12% (40)
Policing 11% (39)
Community centres 11% (39)
Dentistry programs for seniors/ poor children 10% (34)
Parks 10% (34)
Child nutrition programs 8% (28)
Recreation programs 7% (26)
Rent supplements 6% (20)
Tenant help 5% (18)
Subsidies to private business/ development projects 1% (5)
St. Lawrence forum 0.6% (2)
Travel subsidies for mayor & council 0.6% (2)
City staff & consultants 0.3% (1)

   Many respondents objected to having to choose only three programs, feeling that all the City's services and programs were essential and already operating with stretched resources. Others mentioned the importance of other programs such as Cycling and Community Grants.

   Respondents were asked:
2. “In the face of this shortfall, do you think the City should continue with financial commitments to the Olympic Bid?”
   Out of our 330 responses to the survey, 73% (242) are opposed to continuing the City Council's financial commitments to the 2008 Olympic bid. Many voiced strong objections to the Olympics coming to Toronto at all. 22% feel that the City should continue to support the bid financially, while 5% were undecided.

   When asked: “Do you want your councillor to make a public stand to denounce this budget process and demand a new relationship with the Province”, 93% of respondents agree that such action is in order. Only 6% feel that there is no point in opposing the Province and 1% answered "no" because they felt that the budget crisis is not the Province's fault.
   The majority of our people surveyed feel that the Province has a significant role in Toronto’s budget crisis. Those who did not think the Province was to blame for the crisis, still feel that a new relationship between the City and the Province is needed for Toronto to advance.

    While we of Humanize Toronto have welcomed the opportunity to talk to neighbours, friends and other organizations about what's happening in our city, we strongly feel that it is the City's obligation and duty to obtain this type of input from it's citizens. In a Real Democracy, this kind of door-to-door public input would be an official part of all major decisions made at City Hall. And this kind of door-to-door input would not be collected by volunteers like us, concerned about the City we live in, but rather by the City itself.
   In a Real Democracy, participatory budgeting would be the norm rather than the exception. Participatory budgeting has proven itself possible in cities around the world where municipal governments draw up their budgets with the input of thousands of people at the community level.
     In closing, we feel that our small "Experiment in Real Democracy" might at least be able to serve as an example of what could be done in the future by City Hall itself.
   For more information on Humanize Toronto, please visit www.web.net/hto or call 416.533-3507 or write to 197 Harbord St. Toronto ON, M5S 1H6.
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Tooker's Back from Quebec Jail and Jack Layton appears, claiming another small victory at Toronto City Hall – April.27.2001
* Notes and photos by Gary Morton

Photos
- Tooker Gomberg (on the right) and well up ahead of the main body of cyclists at today's critical mass. It's Graeme Bacque's birthday (he's on the left.)
- Photo of the Critical Mass bike ride Toronto.
- Photo of Councillor Jack Layton talking to us as we head over to celebrate a birthday.

Notes:
  Tooker and Angela came out to help take over the streets with tonight's critical mass bike ride … and I talked with him later about his arrest at the Quebec Summit. Tooker says people shouldn't fear arrest as it is really part of the whole experience. He is also looking forward to heading back to fight the case in a judge and jury trial.

   Though he didn't say it, the Canadian Government can't really come out of this looking good. Quebec papers say our government fired 5000 teargas rockets at us, yet we are expected to believe that Tooker and Angela are villains. Witnesses say they did nothing other than hang around on the bicycles.

   Police in Quebec stole Tooker's bike and he had to file a special request for recovery of a tape taken from his camera. Apparently police there do not like his determination in trying to investigate these matters.

   Tooker is also wrestling with a humungous video file that he is trying to get on the NowToronto web site. Looks like he may need technical help on this one.

   After the ride we ran into Jack Layton and Olivia Chow coming out of city hall to their bicycles. They say another victory has been won against the forces of evil that are trying to destroy city social programs. Today council restored community grants and arts grants.
Gary
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War Toys Protest at Kids Candy Store- April 14.2001
* a small photo of one of the protesters is at right

   Popular Toronto candy store Sugar Sugar (515 St. Clair Ave. West) has devoted a section of its business to the sale of war toys. This drew an anti-war Easter Bunny and a collection of Bunny helpers from Toronto Action for Social Change there today.

   Today's information picket involved talking to the public and handing out flyers while parents and very young children came and went from the store.

   At issue is the window display of Sugar Sugar which features Warhammer, with a medieval knight holding a sword threateningly above his head while at his feet dozens of toy soldiers prepare to engage in slaughter.

   Warhammer advertises itself as a game where "In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war! Forget the promise of progress and understanding, for there is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter and the laughter of thirsting gods."

   Facts from the anti-War Easter bunny are that 3,000 documented studies over the past forty years have confirmed a direct correlation between exposure to violent games and consequent violence and desensitization to violence among children and young adults. TASC believes Sugar Sugar could sell a variety of cooperative games which teach children the value of building community rather than creating
carnage.

   Many people believe that war toys and games don't lead to violence, but the growing movement right now is one that favours rooting concepts of non violence and peace at home and in the local community. Proper nurture can overcome violent human nature.

   Apparently Sugar Sugar also bills itself as a nutrient-free zone that sells only junk candy and ice cream.

   Toronto Action for Social Change and Homes not Bombs have also been protesting small arms sales by Diemaco in Canada. Small arms are creating terrible carnage world wide. In Africa hundreds of thousands of refugees are being driven between nations and slaughtered by various forces that use small arms. Another protest against Diemaco takes place Sunday, May 13. Meet at Fairview Mall at noon (in front of the Bay, at the bus stop near Wilson Ave. entrance) for a walk to weaponsmaker Diemaco. The protest includes a picnic there.

info from Toronto Action for Social Change
416) 651-5800; tasc@web.ca
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Sunday Rally Against the Toronto Cuts – April.8.2001
   About 200 citizens rallied on Bloor and Spadina this Sunday to protest the city cuts to services and people programs.
   A number of speakers addressed the crowd and people met later at the Transac Club.
   Anna Willats accused premier Mike Harris of imposing a Structural Adjustment Program on Toronto (The reference being to the SAPS the International Monetary Fund imposes on Nations …  programs that mainly enrich multinational corporations while leaving governments with massive debts and no public services.)
   Though the GTA area is wealthy, Willats says that City Council has been forced to cut services to the most vulnerable. Mothers and children, teens, the elderly … and many programs have just enough money taken out of them to kill them. Willats is angered at councilors who are trying to please Harris with these cuts.
   Olivia Chow had the crowd chanting "Compost Mike". And she said it is death by a thousand cuts. An example would be Friday when dental services for 32,000 low income children and seniors were cut.
   Also present were people from Housing Action Now, opposing cuts in the housing and homeless area and people participating in Waste Diversion Task Force 2010 who are angered that recycling programs have been cut.
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Shiner proposes 18% tax increase – April.7.2001
   Toronto homeowners must be ready for an 18% property tax increase this year, budget chief David Shiner said yesterday. The city is still $173-million in the hole -- even after proposed budget cuts and fee increases.
   Cuts include scrapping new recycling programs and reducing funding to the health board, which means dental programs for 30,000 low-income children and seniors will be scrapped.
   City residents will also face increased fees for such things as parking permits and use of recreational facilities.
   Shiner said the culprit behind Toronto's budget woes is the Harris government. Queen's Park refuses to acknowledge Toronto's budget shortfall is the result of inheriting welfare, social housing and other programs from the province, a responsibility Mr. Shiner says will cost Toronto $276-million this year alone.
   In addition to any tax increases, new property assessments were mailed to homeowners last December, giving 227,000 Toronto households an average tax increase of $317.
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Reducing Car Dependency - April.2001
   Toronto has produced a report enitled; REDUCING CAR DEPENDENCE: Transportation Options for the City of Toronto.  This is a must-read for all cyclists and pedestrians who are frustrated with the abundance of automobiles in
our city.
   A colouful summary of the document's highlights:
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/torontoplan/trans01.pdf
   The entire document is also available:
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/torontoplan/options.pdf
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Toronto Green Budget Update – Green Budget Potluck – April 1.2001
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Toronto -Budget Cuts listed at the Save our City Site.
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Metro Network for Social Justice's April newsletter is now available at their website
http://www.mnsj.org
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Anti-Fur Demo at the IT Nightclub – March.19.2001
   Freedom for Animals held a spirited demo tonight at the IT Nightclub on Church Street. You could call it a trendy event on all sides. Except for the darker side of fur, which is an incredibly cruel factory farming industry that tortures and chews up animals by the millions.
- read a full report by Gary Morton
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519 Church Street Rally Against the Toronto Budget Cuts – March 13, 2001
   Citizens met at the 519 Church Community Centre tonight to rally against cuts to communities being put through in the City of Toronto budget.
   This report lists important things we as a community may lose because of the unnecessary and sneaky cuts being put through at council. Plus a report on the meeting itself and upcoming actions.
- read the full report by Gary Morton
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Thoughts on Living Simply in the Big City – Sat. March 10.2001
   Living simply is a growing movement of people that want a lifestyle geared toward healthy human interaction and development.
- full report by Gary Morton
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City User Fees for Recreation a Disgrace - March.8.2001
   Mayor Lastman and City Council have made a reprehensible decision to charge user fees for recreation programs at the same time as they are pouring a fortune into Olympic and waterfront development.
   Some councillors say the decision to charge a $25 fee for swimming lessons and other recreation programs will turn the poor into beggars. And what sort of example is this for sports for the city to say that all programs cost money now, yet we are trying to promote athletes and the Olympics.
   The city expects user fees to raise $5-million, but that may not be the case as past experience shows that fees keep people away from city programs.
   This is a city council that has hundreds of millions for big corporate developers and nothing for citizens.
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Green Budget Notes - March.4.2001
By Gary Morton
   Tonight Tooker Gomberg and the Free University of Toronto sponsored a public vegetarian dinner and a discussion meeting on the City of Toronto Budget Crisis.
- read a full report with upcoming events and a background on the City of Toronto Budget
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Toronto Budget Process (Will Council Kill Us With Cuts to PEOPLE PROGRAMS?)

* The info below details how the city budget process will work. The council discussion of the budget in late April will be the last chance to block cuts to people programs.

* Budget committee members Joe Pantalone, Olivia Chow and David Miller-- unveiled a proposal to cover the city's $305-million shortfall without service cuts, layoffs or a TTC fare hike. They want to raise $84 million by mortgaging Metro Hall. They also want a 5% property tax hike on homeowners to take in $50 million and delaying the hiring of people for vacant positions and other "efficiencies" for another $53 million. Other measures, including raising tipping fees for garbage, would generate the remaining $118 million.

   The plan fails as it promotes tax increases on overtaxed Toronto tenants and homeowners. It also keeps limousine service for Council.

*  Here's my CitizensontheWeb.com Budget Plan - mortgage and sell Metro Hall. Eliminate policing that doesn't fight crime - Target Policing. Kill Council extras like limousine service.  And if that doesn't cover it, cancel the city's 500 million commitment to fund the Olympics, and all subway line expansion. Maintain a tax freeze. Issue an all-Council Unity statement, demanding better funding arrangements from the province and the feds. Refuse to cut people programs and social programs.

*   The Budget Advisory Committee meets Wed. Feb. 28, Thurs, March 1 and Fri. March 2 to make recommendations on budget submissions from agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs). There will not be any more deputations, but the public and media can sit in.

   In March the Budget Advisory Committee will make recommendations on City department funding (ABCs could come back, but probably not).
March 30 & April 2 - budget recommendations are finalized.
April 17, recommendations go before Policy and Finance Committee.
April 24, 25, 26: The budget goes to Council for discussion and adoption.
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Toronto Public Space Committee newsletter - Feb.28.2001
from mez <mez@dojo.tao.ca>
Contents
1) Don Valley TV - Successful campaign!
2) TV Board at OCAD
3) Students jailed for not watching TV
==========
1) DON VALLEY TV - Successful Campaign!
Just a few weeks ago, the Toronto Star wrote about a proposal to install television billboards in the Don Valley to help fund the suicide barrier project.   After years of regeneration projects in the Don, our City Council was actually going to install full-colour television in the middle of this public park visible to all cyclists, pedestrians, etc.

As a result of public pressure, the plan was amended and the billboards have been moved north of Eglinton visible only to car traffic, and not in the Don Valley itself.

Thanks to all the people who contacted their councillors.  This decision marks a shifting tide against outdoor advertising in Toronto and towards the protection of public space from private interest.
Unfortunately, other precedents were set as well.  By "bundling" the suicide barrier and the ads together in one proposal, and debating them as one item, we ended up with a complete mockery of our democratic system.  Staff reports were ignored, the illegal sale of public land was called "fundraising", and conditions that were written to protect public space were altered line by line to suit the needs of a private advertising company.

More on this to come...

2)  TV BOARD AT OCAD
A recent proposal to redesign the Ontario College of Art and Design includes a very large television billboard on the south side of the building.  We have already received complaints from tenants on McCaul Street and from students.  If you live in the area or are a student, please contact us immediately.

3) STUDENTS JAILED FOR NOT WATCHING TV

Here's a story from the US.  Is this the trend we want to embrace here?
Students locked up after refusing to watch Channel One

When Ohio teenagers DJ and Carlotta Maurer walked out of their classrooms in October to protest the compulsory viewing of Channel One, a television program with commercials which is shown in schools across America, school officials realized they had a couple of dangerous radicals on their hands. Principal Patrick Calvin invoked the truancy provision of the school's code of student conduct, and 13-year-old DJ and 14-year-old Carlotta were whisked away to the Wood County Juvenile Detention Center, where they had all day to consider their crime.
Since then, Commercial Alert and Obligation, Inc., two national anti-media groups, have taken up the Maurers' cause. The groups wrote to Ohio Governor Bob Taft, urging him to remove Channel One from all public schools.

"When the government sends children to a juvenile detention center because they don't want to watch advertising, that is both Orwellian and more than a little sick," reads the letter. "The public schools ought to be a sanctuary from the noxious aspects of commercial culture."

The governor has not responded to the letter. But the school is in negotiation with the Maurers, who have religious objections to television. It seems a day in the lockup didn't cool their heels enough to keep them from kicking.

Note: The Canadian version of Channel One is called Youth News Network.  Groups across the country are organising against this unwanted intrusion into our public school system.
For more info:  http://www.pacts.org
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Toronto - Anger Building against City Cuts - Feb.22.2001
   As three levels of government are making an announcement about spending billions of public money on the Toronto Olympics, other news is coming out on devastating cuts to people programs.
Just out
- Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC) is alarmed at the news that the entire budget of the Toronto Cycling Committee is to be cut.
- The St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts is facing funding cuts that will kill the citizens forum programme. The loss of the Forum would be another serious blow to our democracy in Toronto.
- Mayor Mel Lastman has asked city councillors to just rubber stamp all cuts put forward by city budget staff.
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Facing up to the Toronto Budget Crunch - Feb.19.2001
   A few city councillors showed at the meeting of the Committee on Fair City Taxes tonight to deliver the facts on Toronto's budget crisis.
  -  Read a capsule report
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Toronto Budget - The Humanist Perspective
(Lastman's New Deal a Dark Global Game)
- read the full report by Gary Morton - Feb 15.2001
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Report on the Memorial Rally for Otto Vass - Feb.9.2001
(Police killings and brutality in Toronto)
 - read the full report
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JOHN SEWELL AND HIS VIEWS, BUT WHAT ABOUT TENANTS?
by Bob Levitt, February 5, 2001 E-mail: bw201@torfree.net
- read the full report
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Taxation Vexation - Monday February 5.2001
(Report on the public meeting of citizens and the Committee for Fair City Taxes)
by Gary Morton
   This meeting on the Harris Government's tax rip-off of Toronto residents became an interesting event due to diversity of opinion and a bit of passion that came out later.
 - read the full report
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Compassion Absent in Proposed City Cuts - Feb.3.2001
(Tory downloading hits the bottom)
By Gary Morton
   Mike Harris' MPPs seem to be almost hysterical as they travel about Toronto like town criers, announcing that the city is responsible for its debt woes.
- read the full article
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Tooker Gomberg Announces Actions at C4LD-Jan.22.2001
Report by Gary Morton
   The wheels of citizen democracy and discussion continued to turn tonight in Toronto as activist Tooker Gomberg addressed Citizens for Local Democracy. The meeting, chaired by Dick Troy was mostly an open forum and strategy session.
   A number of local issues were dealt with then Tooker unveiled a new action plan, which was initially discussed at a public gathering at Fressen Restaurant and Juice Bar 478 Queen W. on Sunday.
Here is the info from Tooker's flyer and talk

Action One - Campout with the Homeless

   The public is invited to a solidarity campout with the homeless on Monday January 29th from about 9.30 p.m. onward. The camp will be at City Hall and on Tuesday morning the group will move inside for the council meeting.
   The action is to take place before each monthly council meeting to send a message that homelessness in our nation is not acceptable and that we need affordable housing for all.
   Dress warm, bring a tent or soup and good cheer. All antipoverty groups and active citizens are urged to attend.

Action Two - Send your Compost to City Hall

   Mayor Lastman declared on election night that recycling was the number one issue. Yet less than two months into his term the city scrapped the restaurant composting pilot program.
    Now is the time to act. If you don't have space to compost in your backyard, drop off you compostables at the mayor's office, your councillor's office or Barry Gutteridge's office, head of the works department, and encourage them to support composting. Or give us a call and we'll deliver them to your preferred politician or city worker.
   Let's remind these guys that shipping our garbage south to Michigan is not sustainable, especially when we can make use of a good resource in nearby Newmarket where they produce biogas from our discards.
   Composting is a simple and ecological solution, transforming waste into a resource. It can transform over 30% of what households (and way more of what restaurants) discard. We could be making biogas, a.k.a. methane, and rich fertilizer out of it. Let's get going with composting plans city-wide.

Action Three - The Green Princess Margaret Committee

   Imagine the block around Wellesley and Princess Margaret Hospital turned into a green co-op powered by biogas. From this block the street running down to Allen Gardens would be turned into a green corridor.
   Opening these buildings would create thousands of rooms for housing that would include people of various incomes. It would help the homeless and the city has the power to do it.
   The Green Princess Margaret Committee has already signed up members and you can join too.
Contact:
tooker@web.ca
416 532 3939
http://www.GombergForMayor.org

Action Four -  Flyer or Newsletter for Public Distribution
   Here Tooker with C4LD and other groups would put together an issues newsletter to hand out to the public on the subway, etc.
-----

   During the C4LD discussion one man asked Tooker about being followed about and harassed by police here in Toronto. Just after that I announced that the police action to block protests at the Free Trade Area of the Americas Summit in Quebec City on April 20 to 23rd will be the largest police effort in Canadian history. Tooker then announced that he would be in Quebec soon doing FTAA protest organizing, so no doubt he will continue to see the police.

   The FTAA is an anti local democracy agreement that would render cities powerless when it comes to running any sort of public program. Global corporations and other corporations would be able to sue and gain privatized control of city programs and services. All supporters of C4LD should be in Quebec in April to protest. And meeting chair Dick Troy urged C4Lders to get out and get active with other groups.
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Tooker Ticketed for Restaurant Protest- Fri.Jan.12.2001
By Gary Morton
   Toronto environmental activist Tooker Gomberg hastily arranged this protest after the city scrapped a food composting pilot plan that collected restaurant food scraps and converted them to biogas at Composting Inc. in Newmarket
- Read the full article
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At EYE Magazine - Jan.2001
- Province mugs city BY JOHN SEWELL
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Don Wanagas at the National Post - Jan.2001
- Mayor didn't save mine deal, but Mike Harris might
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Gene Action 2001- Report on the Jan.10th Toronto meeting
By Gary Morton
Background:
   The Gene Action group stages actions and has speakers & workshops on Genetic Engineering (GE) and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's). GE and GMO's are a big issue when it comes to food products in 2001. A timeline is involved when dealing with genetic issues. Futurists now say that the information age has passed its peak and we are in a new genetic age that could explode and get out of control quickly.
 - read the full report
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We won't run public housing, Toronto council tells Harris - December 8, 2000
   Mayor Mel Lastman and Toronto council have decided that the city will not obey a proposed law transferring the control of social housing from the province to the city.
    "I don't care what the law says in this particular instance," Mel Lastman  told council, as he urged it to pass his motion that the council not obey Bill 128, The Social Housing Reform Act 2000.
   The bill is scheduled to pass before Queen's Park breaks for Christmas and would transfer control of provincially owned social housing and housing programs to Ontario municipalities on Jan. 1.
   Lastman said that the city cannot even inspect the housing stock that it is going to acquire. "I find this insulting. I find this ridiculous. And I find the province completely obnoxious on this particular item."
    He also said that the city cannot afford the transfer as staff estimate that  the risk and potential liability from it to be $170-million over the next five years, a cost that he said could put the city into bankruptcy.
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Police board delegates on a leash - December, 2000
   Toronto Council now requires councillors who are members of the police services board to report to one of its committees every six months.
   Councillor Jack Layton proposed the accountability plan saying it will give council a chance to debate police issues thoroughly when the council's representatives on the board report in every six months.
   The report would be debated in committee, where the public could make representations, and the committee would send a report to council, where it could be discussed by all councillors.
    "Council can pass resolutions suggesting changes in direction or new ideas that emerge through the community," he said.
    The three council representatives on the police board are Mayor Mel Lastman, who is automatically a member, and councillors Bas Balkisson  and Gloria Lindsay-Luby, whom the council appointed to the board for  the first time.
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Unite to Fight Property Tax Problems - Tue, 05 Dec 2000    From:
From "gtta organizer" <gtta_2000@hotmail.com>
Dear Citizens - The property tax hikes will affect three groups - small business, homeowners, and tenants. All three groups need to unite in a common front to oppose the Ontario government. Homeowners and property owners have the right of appeal. For example one person's house has supposedly doubled in value in three years. That can't be correct, so that person is appealing. Small business commercial tenants and residential tenants will adversely affected by rent increases. There will likely be a cap and phase-in for multi-res tenants (over 6 units) as there was last time, but half the stock in Ontario is not multi-res - they are houses and small lowrises and basesment apartments, so 100% of increases in those cases can be passed onto tenants.
      Landlords are already applying in droves in the multi-res category for massive rent hikes above the already generous guideline of 2.9% for 2001 to pay for property tax hikes, extra utility costs and 'capital' repairs. Interestingly, if there is a decrease in property taxes tenants only get 20% of the savings through rent decreases, and only if they apply to the Tribunal and pay an administrative fee (if the decreases is between 0 and 2.49%). And if the utilility costs go down only the landlord sees savings, but if they go up the landlord is able to pass that onto tenants on top of the guideline increase.
   What all three groups need to do is protest in the streets. Last time this happened small business owners protested and blocked traffic. A cap was imposed as a result. This cap was extened to the multi-res category. This time tenants are already doing street protests through GTTA (ten already this year in support of the Rent Freeze). The Rent Freeze is linked to property taxes, so what Toronto needs is a mass protest of homeowners, small business and tenants against the new assessment. Already in Toronto the new OPAC figures reveal a $5.3 billion increase in property values for multi-res landlords due to increased rents, due to the Tenant Protection Act.
 Sincerely Paul York
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A Day Away from Targeted Policing- Nov 18.2000
Report on Equity, Awareness and Action - a daylong retreat over policing and community self regulation in Toronto.
By Gary Morton with assistance from Janice B.
- Read the full Report
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