December 15, 1989, carnegie newsletter

L 2

TO HAVE A V O I C E

There are f i v e fundamental necess- i t ies f o r human ex i s t ence : Food, Clo- t h ing , S h e l t e r , Medical Aid and Edu- ca t i on . S h e l t e r is t h e major concern f o r t e n s of thousands of low-income Canadians and t h e l o s s of a f f o r d a b l e housing is making t h e c u r r e n t s t a t e of planning a joke a t b e s t .

I n every neighbourhood of Vancouver low-cost r e n t a l housing is being sac- r i f i c i e d t o make way f o r condos, townhouses, high-r iselhigh-priced boxes. People who have l i v e d i n t h e i r homes f o r yea r s - be they h o t e l rooms, rooming houses o r p r i v a t e dwell ings - f i n d n o t i c e s of horren- dous r e n t i nc reases and/or e v i c t i o n ; t he p l a t i t u d e o f f e r e d is "progress ' . Progress i s a l i e ; t h e numbers of people who a r e homeless is t h e b l a t a n t t r u t h .

Follow, i f you have t h e stomach f o r i t , t h e l o g i c a l p rogress ion : 1 ) Megapro j e c t - g i a n t mult i - na t iona l corpora t ions ga in c o n t r o l of l and and work p r i v a t e l y , wi th t h e i r f r i e n d s wi th p o l i t i c a l power, t o zone t h e a r e a f o r maximum d e n s i t y , then use intnn-n c-nl l-nqmn-innc I L I L C - I I V - UC-lJ. - U L L L y U - & . L " 2.5 2 chzrlde f o r publ ic meetings t o s t eamro l l t h e way t o acceptance. Approved a r e s co re s of towers and 30-40 s t o r e y h i g h r i s e s , minimum r e n t s expected a t $800/mo. going up t o $2,00O/mo. f o r t he luxury s u i t e s ... land only is s e t a s i d e f o r t h e requi red 20% s o c i a l housing. The r e spec t ive l e v e l s of government make no binding l a w s / agreements t o have t h i s a f f o r d a b l e housing a c t u a l l y b u i l t . . j u s t t h e land f o r i t , which w i l l be parks f o r t h e r i c h people i n t h e h i g h r i s e s forevermore. 2) Surrounding land va lues skyrocket a s greed spreads o u t , wi th smal le r

I S TQ HAVE POWER

By PAULR TAYLOR

developers buying up blocks and buildings a s qu ick ly as poss ib l e . 3) The qu ickes t way t o empty bui ld- ings of 'undes i rab le ' t enan t s is t o c i t e by-laws r e q u i r i n g s imple upgra- ding - s p r i n k l e r systems, t o i l e t s t h a t work, hea t i n t h e w in t e r - and whine about t h e "enormous c o s t of renovations". Af t e r changing t h e bulbs o r f i x i n g th ings t h a t ' v e been broken (or non-exis tent) t h e r e n t s jump by 40-75% and t e n a n t s pay a l l c o s t s o r move ou t . 4) The domino e f f e c t r e s u l t s i n low- cos t housing becoming sca rce r , vac- ancy r a t e s drop t o v i r t u a l l y zero. (At presen t t h e r e a r e 3 p l aces f o r every 100 people looking - .03%.) 5) Homelessness runs rampant w i th p o l i c e and s o c i a l s e r v i c e s l e f t t o d e a l wi th t he poor drowning i n a s e a of greed. 6) I n Vancouver, Mayor Gordon Camp- b e l l and o t h e r NPA aldermen g ive t h e i r f r i e n d s c o n t r o l of pub l i c land f o r "a f fordable housing" - "If we ' re lucky, t h e r e n t s should be as low a s $600/month FOR ONE-BEDROOM SUITES!"

a u- ~ c r WllDun.rr or u E a D 0 nn-c I LL. .v-- v . ~ . ~ ~ "., ..------ The cover of t h i s i s s u e t e l l s t h e

s t o r y of what 's happening t o t e a r b l i nde r s o f f t h e i r f a c e s and show them t h e r e a l i t y of l i f e - a s opposed t o t h e i r v i s i o n of an execut ive c i t y .

On TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19th at 1:30 t h e r e i s going t o be a r a l l y of peo- p l e from a l l over Vancouver a t Ci ty H a l l . The displacements & demoli t ions a r e ou t of c o n t r o l now and t h e major- i t y on Council i s tu rn ing a b l i n d eye t o s o l u t i o n s , t o ensur ing t h e ava i l a - b i l i t y of low-cost housing i n t h e c i t y

Everyone i s urged t o a t t e n d t h i s demonstration. A bus w i l l be leav ing

Carnegie a t 1:30 on t h e 19th. It w i l l be f r e e . I t ' l l r e t u r n a t 3:15.

For more information on t h e r a l l y c a l l JOHN SHAYLER a t 255-3099.

To g e t a p l ace on t h e f r e e bus c a l l PAUL TAYLOR at 665-2289 o r a t 665-2220 and l e a v e a message. EVERYBODY!!!

ENUMERATION OF THE HOMELESS

I n 1991 t h e r e w i l l be a census taken as t h e r e is every f i v e years . I n a r e p o r t prepared by P h i l i p G i l e s , Sta- t ist ics Canada Task Manager, a pro- j e c t t o count t h e homeless i n Canada is d iscussed . It seems t h a t " the homeless popula t ion i n Canada is growing, and s i n c e t h e Census is an enumeration of t h e t o t a l popula t ion of Canada, t h i s subpopulat ion must be addressed. "

Before cont inu ing , l e t me p o i n t ou t t h a t t h e r e p o r t d e a l s wi th t h e sub- ject of count ing. S t a t i s t i c s Canada doesn ' t make s o c i a l po l icy . This is

the province of t h e p o l i t i c i a n s . A census i s a n a t i o n a l undertaking,

but G i l e s proposes on ly 10 c i t i e s a s sites f o r count ing t h e homeless. By t h e i r d e f i n i t i o n , a homeless person is someone who d i d n o t s t a y i n a recognized type of dwell ing on Census Day. On t h i s s p e c i a l day only, and - i n 10 c i t i e s only, a s p e c i a l s t a f f cont ingent from S t a t s Canada w i l l do t he count ing - e i t h e r by a ' S t r e e t B l i t z ' o r by going t o Soup Kitchens.

Early i n t h e r e p o r t , G i l e s p o i n t s ou t t h a t i t h a s n ' t been decided y e t i f t h e numbers w i l l be r e l ea sed t o t h e pub l i c because of t h e "question- a b l e q u a l i t y of t h e data" ...p eople no t wanting t o be counted, people being counted twice, e t c . Developers would use t h i s e r ro r - f ac to r t o make any count appear h igher than f a c t .

The f a c t i s t h a t t h e housing c r i s i s i s now, t h e homeless a r e a f a c t now.

The Census is i n 1991. The numbers won't be ou t u n t i l 1992. Thousands of low-income c i t i z e n s a r e j o in ing the ranks of homeless people d a i l y and any numbers made pub l i c i n 1992 w i l l , a t b e s t , prove a moot,point: There 's no where t o go when t h e l e a s t expensive housing i s t o r n down.

1991 is alsc the year of the nev f e d e r a l t ax . A l l of u s w i l l pay t a x on our r e n t ! A t t he same t i m e mult i - n a t i o n a l s - b ig bus iness - w i l l g e t t o w r i t e o f f t h e i r f a i r s h a r e of t a x o r j u s t de fe r payment i n d e f i n i t e l y . I f they were made t o pay l i k e people who work f o r a l i v i n g t h e i n t e r e s t on t h e d e f i c i t would be paid - $30 b i l l - ion a year .

. . . . ."DO you have a home?". . . . . By PAULR TAYLOR

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG

When h e was a young man, my p a t e r - n a l g r e a t - g r a n d f a t h e r s p e n t a l o t of t i m e a t t h e l o c a l p u b l i c l i b r a r y . L a t e r , h e mar r ied , he lped r a i s e a f i n e f a m i l y , and con t inued t o go t o t h e l i b r a r y . A f t e r r e t u r n i n g home from t h e F i r s t World War, h e eventu- a l l y j o i n e d t h e Vancouver P o l i c e De- par tment . C o i n c i d e n t a l l y , t h e depar t - ment w a s l o c a t e d n e a r h i s f a v o u r i t e read ing p l a c e , and h e would o f t e n b r i n g books home f o r t h e r e s t of t h e f a m i l y , e s p e c i a l l y f o r h i s daughte r Hazel.

When Hazel was a young g i r l , s h e would walk m i l e s t o t h e l i b r a r y . I n t i m e , s h e t o o would p a s s on t o h e r c h i l d r e n , g r a n d c h i l d r e n and g r e a t - g r a n d c h i l d r e n a l o v e of books , l e a r n - i n g and walking.

When my s i s t e r , b r o t h e r and I were young, o u r p a r e n t s took u s t o t h e l i b r a r y a lmost every weekend. T h i s was n o t , however, t h e same l i b r a r y o u r g r e a t - g r a n d f a t h e r and o u r grandmother had gone t o . F o r t u n a t e l y f o r u s , our p e d i a t r i c i a n was l o c a t e d i n t h e Ford b u i l d i n g which was r i g h t a c r o s s t h e

street from o u r be loved Carnegie . A t t h a t t i m e i t was a museum and i ts ex- h i b i t s , s i g h t s and sounds n e v e r ceased t o i n t r i g u e u s .

U n t i l a few months ago, I s p e n t most of my f r e e t i m e a t t h e Carneg ie Learn ing Cent re a s a v o l u n t e e r and ESL t u t o r . Nowadays I work on t h e Carnegie Board, t h e N e w s l e t t e r and t h e L i b r a r y Committee. And s o a f i n e t r a d i t i o n and f r i e n d s h i p c o n t i n u e s t o grow. Barbara

P.S. : T h i s s t o r y is d e d i c a t e d t o my f a m i l y and f r i e n d s and e s p e c i -

a l l y t o my p a t e r n a l g rand-paren t s , Mrs. Hazel Morrison and t h e l a t e M r . Wm. Morrison.

BREED ILLITERACY ax ~ o o k s , Magazines & Newspapers

Here's the damage a 9% increase in the cost of books, magazines and newspapers can do:

Bccaur they are highly price sensitive, salcs of Canadian publications could drop by 20%. This will mean less variety and r lwt ion at bookshops, ncwsslands and libraries across the country. Thc very people on whom Ottawa is spcnding millions of dollan to make more lifbrate - poorer and less educated Canadians - will be hit hard. Since you don't pay federal tax on books, magazines and newspapers now, this will mean a 100% tax increase.

If it weren't so devastating, the irony would be laughable. But something can be done. The Goods k Services Tax is coming under attack. It won't take effect until 1991. So, there is time to convince the federal government it is making a terrible mistake in taxing the Lifeblood of our culture.

You can help us, and right now isn't a moment loo soon. Just mail thc attached card to Prime Ministcr Mulroney today.

Publishd by f k bon'f Tax Rending Coalifion, 260 King Sf. E , Toronto, Onf., MSA IW

No Portage Required

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario KIA 0A2 Mr Mulroney,

Let me add my voice to thousands of other Canadian readers. A tax on books, magazines and newspapers is bad policy and bad politics. Don't tax reading under the GST.

Please keep me informed on how you plan to redress this wrong.

Name Address City/Prov Code

Litany of s cr Marc Lepine

, A R C Lr:P:riI-15 !>ll:,:lg ;% I - % "f 14 uomen 1s b t , q

& turned sole:y into an ISSW of men's zbusr of

worrxn. Thl? let5 too rnarfy pco- plt off t t~ hooi,

To be sure, 1 h a w arked queqtlons of my 18-year-old daugLitcr I never have asked be- fort. Iids sht. ever felt physrcally threatened by males? Yes. Has she ever felt physically afraid of males? Yes. This is my precious daughter, in her normal, secure, mrddle-cldss world.

" I t w2s so close to us. He could have come inia~ o w school, he could have come after us women. " Us Women is what she said.

But what if Marc Lepine had pone after blacks, Asians, children as the cause of his woes, as other mass murderers have gone after blacks, Asians, children? And what if my daughter were black, Asian, a child?

In the past two decades, mass murder has become a footprint of North America.

Marc Lepine fit to a T the mass murderer's profile. The loner, pathologically alienated from the supports of close friends and family. The person imbued with +hn nn-n* rrC r,.... .,,I,--....,.- , -.-- +'..a Y I . . U ~ W . p V W C . L . G D U I l G J J U V G I

his own life in a world of larger and larger impersonal institu- tions. The devotee of Rambo cultural imagery, seeing in it the solution to the individual's societal impotence.

Will we go demonstrating in

vigils, carrying candles, wearing white scarves - in protest against the depersonalization of humanity in a First World society greed-driven to constructing corporate and social structures that screw the poor and robotize the rest of us?

Will we demand that our poli- ticians take action against spirit- breaking housing costs, against the shattering humility of private charity food banks, against the untrammelled growth dehu- manizing our cities and destm - ing the soul-nurturing tranqu4- t of the rural landscape, against t i e obscenity of $300 teddy bears in Christmas toyshops.

Will we boycott the products of cn~m!irms ?ha! !?a_! !heir workers as iaceless cogs, mere human machinery to be dis- mantled at whim, tossed out, say, !f there i!: a c!lnnce for a fcw ,~hl ,-& i-.,,+: ,:rrtf,v 3v -rT< ..-:* tl-0

factory sou?t: of t ! ; ~ bordcl!-? W ~ l l we dcnr:!nc.e t ! ~ Prir-e

Minister's unctpous hypocrisy? "Why such violence in a society that considers itself civilized and compasslonate?" Brian Mulro- ney asked.

The answer, in part, is because his government reduces unemployment insurance benefits and expenditures on health, education and welfare while his Finance Minister shills $1,000 bottles of cognac in a Toronto magazine.

Mr. Mulroney's government is a statement - such as we have- n't heard in Canada in this cen- tury - of our evaporating social compassion. In the five years of his administration, one million Canadians - 40 per cent of them children - have become dependent upon private charity food- banks in order to eat.

Can there be a woman - or man - in Canada who does not recognize the breeding grounds for Marc Lepines? The stone weights of poverty and powerlessness on families. The urban isolation. The depersonalized workplace. The ghastly cultural images of resolution . . . get your gun, get your military fa- tigues, be a man, take a man's way out. . . .

Can someone - maybe Justice Minister Douglas Lewis - explain why anyone needs to buy automatic of seml-automatic weapons? We've shot up just about all the animals within easy reach. What's left . . . except Siacirs, nc!nns, ch~ld-ren, women?

It is the social conditlons that produce Marc Lepine - and more and more Marc Lepines - that concern me. Not enough of us have been driven mad yet for us to be really interested in bui1d:ng a civiiized, c o ~ t ~ p a s t ~ n - * *.. . ., ot,,

(From The Globe and Mail, 11 December 1989.)

~ditor's note: This article gives one opinion. The focus is narrowed to back up the writer's viewpoint. Many people have different opinions

and some are diatremtrically opposed. What's yours? Please write; violence of all kinds is part of life, be it against women, children, men, animals,. . ) .

"Violence against F

"Without aggression, without aoy noisy obtrusive- ness, a few Canadian women by deep thought, by

WO m e n w 0 r 1 d w i d e clear vision or by honest service have prepared the wav for those who will follow, and have proved the

One in 10 Canadian women will be abused or right all as are battered by her husband (Canadian Advisory National Council of Women, 1900 Council on the Status of Women, 1982). 1986 Herstory - More than 80 million African women and girls are victims of female circumcision or other forms of genital mutilation (World Health Organization re~ort l . "The hand that rocks the cradle does not rule the . ,

world. If it did life would be held dearer and the world 1 50 per cent Of married bvomen are regularly would be a sweeter cleaner place than it is now." battere by their partners in Bangkok, Thailand (Worldw 1 tch Institute report). Nellie McCIung

1985 Herstorv An estimated 1,000 women are burned alive each L year in dowry-related incidents in the state of ~u jara t , lndia-alone (Ahmedabad Women's Action Group report).

78,000 female fetuses were aborted after sex determination tests between 1978 and 1982 (a study of a Bombay clinic).

Every 15 seconds a woman is beaten In the United States (U.S. Department of Justice).

In Mexico, a woman is raped every nine minutes (Doble Jornada. Nov. 1987).

(From a /act sheet produced by MATCH International Centre, an Ottawa-based organization committed to improving the status of women globally ~lhrough the exchange of resources between Canadian and Third WorM women.)

"For too long we have believed it our duty to sil down and be resigned. Now we know it is our duty to rise up and be indignant."

Nellie McClung 1980 Herstory

"Many women f&l their position does not need to be improved, but this does not mean that all Canadian women are so fortunate. It is important that women show concern for

Jean Mclllwrick I98 1 Herstory

I oiiiers si iiieir sex...i am my sisier's i<eeper."-

I That seems to be the haunting fear of mankind - that the advancement of women will sometime, some way, someplace interfere with some man's comfort.


"Women have never yet lived in their own world. Man has assigned woman to his sphere. A woman's sphere is any thing a man does not want to do himself. This isa simple distribution of labour and easily understood and is very satisfactory to half the population."

Nellie McClung, 19 16 I986 Herstow

... Women must band together to better conditions for this and future generations, to enable them to go into the world and meet the requirements nobly and honestly.

Louise Lucas, 1932 Herstory 1983

"It is not so much a woman's duty to bring children into the world as to see what sort of the m m r l r l -).A :m kr:rr:.-r b L - - :-a- **


I r r r . ." Y S S V mu U I ~ I I ~ I 1 1 ~ . l I I C I I S I I IWJ. I

I

"Remember, the best revenge is writing well.' Audrey Thomas, 1979 1987 Herstow

To t h e Carnegie Newsletter RE: C r i t i c i s m of DERA

I f my w r i t i n g ("Catch-22", Nov.15) gave t h e impression t h a t I am a g a i n s t enforc ing bas i c l i v i n g s tandards i n o ld h o t e l s , o r t h a t I support & "paint as s a i n t s " t h e landlords , then I missed t h e mark.

A l l I r e a l l y want t o po in t ou t is t h a t t h e s tandards ' by-laws enforced by c i t y h a l l & supported by DERA a r e almost always c i t e d by l and lo rds as t h e reason f o r r e n t increases . Now.. I ' m no t naive. . . I know t h a t most l and lo rds are pushing f o r maximum l e g a l p r o f i t s , & t h a t t h e bus iness community suppor ts such motivat ions. What my c r i t i c s w r i t e ( t he informa- t i o n a l p a r t o f t h e i r response) is no doubt t r u e , & f i l l s ou t t h e p i c t u r e .

But as long as t h e s tandards by- laws a r e worded i n such a way t h a t they can cont inue t o be used t o jus- t i f y t h e kind of r e n t i nc reases w e see a t t h e Columbia, l and lo rds w i l l not have t o d e a l wi th t e n a n t s f$ i r ly . "Passing on t h e c o s t t o t h e conbumer" is a f a i t accompli type of catch- phrase t h a t i s used everywhere, & w i l l no t be s e r i o u s l y chal lenged as long as we ignore i t s e f f e c t s .

Whzt L t h ink is neczssary is an immediate f r e e z e on h o t e l renovat ions i n t h e Downtown Eas ts ide , & a c a r e f u l r e s t r u c t u r i n g of t h e s t anda rds of maintenance by-laws, so they c a n ' t be l e g a l l y used t o squeeze r e s i d e n t s ou t . I f t h i s Catch-22 s i t u a t i o n cont inues t o be ignored, a l l t h e pub- l i c meetings & media s ta tements i n t h e world won't s t o p l and lo rds from us ing t h e bottom line.. .which a t t h i s po in t amounts t o t h e i r l e g a l r i g h t t o pass on c o s t s t h a t should have been regarded as personal bus- i n e s s expenses o r s tandard ope ra t ing c o s t s i n t h e f i r s t p lace .

I don' t i n any way blame DERA f o r t h e r e n t i nc reases - but I do blmae them f o r a l lowing t h e s t a n d a s of Maintenance by-laws t o e x i s t i n a form t h a t can be used a g a i n s t us .

I f they a r e t h e "watchdogs of t h e community" they w i l l s u re ly recog- n i z e t h i s problem & make some e f f o r t t o c o r r e c t i t .

TORA

Y O U R POLICY STINKS

The world premiere of a video wi th t h e above s tatement a s i t s t i t l e was a major event on Sunday, Dec. 3, i n t he Carnegie Theatre. A group of people on wel fare i n Carnegie got funding from t h e Secre ta ry of S t a t e Human Rights Dept. and Legal Serv ices t o produce t h i s c a u s t i c view of what amounts t o d a i l y accurrences i n t h e o f f i c e s of MSSH.

The video is about r i g h t s and how t o g e t them, about t h e d i g n i t y and mora l i ty so sad ly lacking i n t h e way ind iv idua l s on a s s i s t a n c e iocomes a r e t feat ed .

iG-5" i u v u l v e d in t h e pr~senrzcicn were t h e Digni ty P layers , performing t h e i r play We Are Family Too, a hear t - f e l t c r i t i q u e of t he f o s t e r family program i n B.C. Live music and an in- c r ed ib l e a r r a y of nourishing re f resh- ments rounded o f f t h e evening. . .

The video "Your Pol icy St inks" is a v a i l a b l e f o r showing around t h e Lower Mainland and throughout BC. To book a showing, c a l l Carnegie a t 665-2220 and l eave a message f o r e i t h e r I r ene Schmidt o r Joan More l l i .

Soc ia l Credi t f a p o l i c i e s makes m . l f ir\ lr n t i t Frnm

By JEAN SFJANSON - We have wel fa re t o he lp t h e poor,

r i g h t ? Welfare keeps people from s t a r v i n g when they c a n ' t work. It pro- v ides money f o r r e n t so w e don ' t have so many homeless people and it feeds l i t t l e c h i l d r e n of s i n g l e pa ren t s . La te ly t h e Socreds have been say ing t h a t i t a l s o g ives people an "incen- t i v e " t o f i n d work.

But people who are on we l f a r e o r who d e a l wi th t h e system a l o t , have a hard t i m e f i g u r i n g something o u t . I f t h e wel fa re system i s supposed t o he lp t he poor, how come i t does such a lousy job a t i t ?

And i f t h e Socred government knows how t o change t h e system s o i t h e l p s us , why i s n ' t i t making those changes?

D r . Diana Ralph, who teaches a t t h e School of Soc i a l Work a t Car l ton Uni- v e r s i t y , gave an i n t e r e s t i n g explana- t i o n of wel fa re p o l i c i e s . She s ays t h e r e a r e r e a l l y two k inds . One kind is designed t o he lp bus iness , and i t uses poverty and poor people as a to01 t o h e l p hi is inecs mnlr.n mnyn_ nrn- rL- k i t s .

Ralph says t h e r e are s e v e r a l ways t h a t we l f a r e po l i cy can be designed t o help bus iness . The system can t r y t o fo rce people t o work by having very low r a t e s , by r e q u i r i n g people t o look f o r jobs even when t h e r e a r e n ' t enough of them and even i f they a r e of no bene f i t t o t h e person o r t h e family, and by conveying t h e message t h a t people who don ' t work a r e l a z y and d ishones t .

Welfare po l i cy can a l s o he lp business by providing d i r e c t wage subs i - d i e s t o employers and d i r e c t r e n t s u b s i d i e s t o l and lo rds .

-

a c t i o n on we l f a r e o r e sense when you

Lvvn QL IL t h i s pe r spec t ive . I n Soc i a l Credi t B.C. t h e purpose of wel fa re i s t o he lp bus ines s .

Welfare r a t e s range from about 45 t o 65 percent of t h e poverty l i n e , so they a r e lower than subs i s t ence level . This means t h a t v i r t u a l l y any low- wage job looks b e t t e r than we l f a r e . People a r e t h r ea t ened wi th being c u t o f f wel fa re i f they don ' t look f o r and accept any kind of job.

A r e c e n t news r e l e a s e from Claude Richmond ( then Min i s t e r of S o c i a l Services) t o l d t h e media t h a t "everyone who is capable of working should be a b l e t o f i n d a job," d e s p i t e t h e I f a c t t h a t on t h a t ve ry day t h e o f f i c - '

i a l unemployment rate was 9.2 percent i n B.C. The imp l i ca t i on? People on wel fa re are l a z y ,

This form of d i s c r imina t ion would

I I

be i l l e g a l i f i t were d i r e c t e d a t an- o t h e r ca tegory of people - a r e l i g i - ous o r r a c i a l group, f o r example.

A we l f a r e system t h a t i s designed t o he lp bus iness w i l l a l s o he lp em- p loyers w i th wage s u b s i d i e s . Right now f o r example t h e Socreds have an "Em- ployment Plus" program t h a t pays up t o $3.50 pe r hour t o employers i f they h i r e a person on we l f a r e .

Ih-. t h e scr fec= t h i s SEE:^^ ~ k h y . zui remember t h a t we s t i l l have t e n s of thousands of people seek ing work who a r e n ' t on wel fa re . How many employers w i l l f i r e a c u r r e n t employee, o r no t h i r e a new one, s o they can g e t t h e wage subsidy? Wouldn't i t be cheaper f o r t h e tax-payers i f government s i m - p l y r a i s e d minimum t o $7.50 an hour t o keep pace w i th t h e va lue i t has l o s t s i n c e 1975?

There a r e o t h e r ways t h a t t h e Socred wel fa re system he lps bus iness . People on s t r i k e o r locked o u t , f o r example, a r e no t e l i g i b l e f o r wel fa re . This makes i t more l i k e l y t h a t t h e y a l l have t o ' g i v e up demands f o r wages and work-

ing condit$ons if their families have no resources to continue paying neees- sary expenses. Often when the Socreds do raise wel-

fare rates a meagre amount, they raise the shelter portion the most. This means that landlords get all the extra money, not poor people. A welfare system that was really de-

signed to "help the poor" would provide adequate rates that would meet basic necessities for all. We'd have full employment. Wages and benefits would be enough to support families in dignity. we'd have pay equity so that women as well as men would have a chance of earning a family wage. And we'd have laws that make it possible for unions to organize more worksites and to bargain successfully for decent wages and working conditions. We'd have good quality childcare

and arrofdable housing. Then ten of thousands of single mothers could afford to work outside the home if they wanted to. Who is welfare for? ~et's get be-

hind a welfare system that would be part of a larger strategy to end poverty. That's what would really "help the poor".

CLAUDE'S DISAPPEARING ACTS (Nov.15 - FLAWPine)

Are the socred cabinet shuffles just smokescreens for Ministers to get away with murder at the eleventh hour? With a wave of his wicked wand Claude Richmond made a lot of poor people's rights disappear. Let me count some of the ways: 1) The repeal of Sched.A.s.3(b)iiiV

This was the section that gave the minister discretion to give "any &her allowance that.. .should be given due to need". In other words, advocates' escape hatch that helped get extra money for almost any reasonable need is gone. Poof! 2) By adding Sec.13 to Sched.A. he has managed to stop a lot of handicapped people from getting bus passes. Advocates (especially Gary Colley) were helping handicapped people, who were not getting money from GAIN, get the $36 bus pass. To be eligible now you have to be strictly on GAIN for the handicapped. Poof! 3) Claude is the same guy who tried to kick 49,000 people off welfare. He tried to stick people on welfare with a $50 cutback. He is making single parents look for jobs that don't exist. He entrenched the i n - v o l u u i a r y famiiy maintenance program that takes away womens' rights to legal counsel and could put them in life-threatening situations with ex- spouses. Poof! Poof! Poof! The only good thing disappearing

act he did is the one that disappear- ed him right out of MSSH. But, one has to ask: What kind of wreck job will Peter Dueck (the new minister and a car dealer) try to sell us? ~laude's act is a hard act to follow.

IF YOU CAN'T LOOK UP, DON'T LOOK DOWN. TRY LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD.

The Stoned Ranger

r-

w Province of Ministry of Parliament Buildings

British Columbia Social Services Victoria

and Housing British Columbia VBV P X4

OFFICE OF THE MINISTER -- -- .-

Ms. Jean Swanson and Co-Signers Epd Legislated Poverty 104-2005 East 43rd Vancouver, B.C. V5P 3W8

Dear Ms. Swanson and Co-signers:

Thank you for your letter of September 22, 1989, addressed to my predecessor, the Honourable Claude Richmond, in which you indicated your concerns regard- ing the recent Ministry of Social Services and Housing's initiative concern- ing employable singles and couples. I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond.

The Ministry wishes to give a clear, distinct message to employable recipients that income assisstance is not a way of life.

The Guaranteed Available Income for Need (G.A.I.N.) Act indicates that persons must demonstrate that they are making reasonable efforts to secure - empioynent . ~m~io~ibie recipients who do make strong ef for;; to f indc6m610y- ment and do not obtain work will not be penalized under the program. Employable persons who require additional help in improving their skills in finding and keeping a job may receive additional services under the Employ- ment Initiatives Program. Services such as vocational counselling, assess- ment, training grants and subsidized job placement are available.. These programs are in keeping with the Government's major objective of breaking the cycle of income assistance dependency by providhg' the maximum incentivas t,. ;...d----J--- - - -1 L- . L . ~ ~ G V = L L U C L L C . C . I H ~ S i s a p ~ ~ i f i ~ e zpprn?rct: which ill T;e ongofiig.

Thank you for taking the time to write.

Peter i; Dueck Minister of Social Services and Housiw

M-Scan3

blank

Peter Dueck Minister of Social Services and Housing 15 December 1989

Dear Mr. Dueck:

Being in receipt of your letter addressed to Ms. Jean Swanson and co-signers of the September 22nd letter to Claude Richmond, it seems that you have chosen- to ignore the statement sent to you dated 11 November 1989. From your state- - ments in reply to the 22 Sept. letter it also seems that you have chosen to ignore the community's request to meet with representatives of Front Line Advocacy Workers and End Legislated Poverty.

Community groups have attempted to state their position in regards to actions of the Ministry, which have been essentially uniform in disregard for the individu- ality of recipients of income assistance. You make no reference to the specific concerns. When your letter was read aloud, the reader covered rhetorical parts with "blah glah blah". We are acutely aware of the regulations and of the lack of decentralized dialogue. The result of blanket treatment of all recipients is a continuous drain on the resources and energy of frontline advocacy workers.

Perhaps you have not seen the 11 November letter. Perhaps you only saw it as a reference to the 22 September letter. Perhaps you can't believe that anyone

. thinks in a way that results in different conclusions, different ways of seeing income recipients as people worthy of respect and dignified treatment. 'Perhaps' is a nice way of saying that your response is a sham in the light of you being the Minister of Social Services and Housing.

We are the people whose lives are disturbed with frustration and anger over how actions of your Ministry affect us. Thousands of people on welfare have no way to improve their situation and are dependent on this safety net, many for the rest of their lives. With unemployment so high, with businesses closing and re- locating in other provinces and countries, with all of the real, daily brick walls that thousands of individuals face in "improving their situation" it is especially distressing to read a letter from the Minister that fails to address any of bur concerns in a meaningful way. T, ,l,,i,, tLm - n t ~ , - -C 4-L- L 4 1 1 in- F m r nm-rr.r\-,-..r knl nn, - .+ -m m n v . 7 4 - - 0 v n n A n v n A A L L blVoll&g) L l l r UlULLLL VI L L L C V l l l l L 1 6 LVL C L I L C L 6 L L I b J YULLLIILLII~ YLL Y ILLY L L I L U L L LU

by advocacy workers has been ignored. The Province of British Columbia has spent tens of thousands of dollars in several actions that have only widened the rift between itself and the citizens. Our collective billing was originally for $5,364.40, a meagre amount when compared to what it would have cost if the Xini- stry had acted ethically and morally. Your response is requested.

Respectfully submitted,

PaulR Taylor.

12 S\JORI)POINT SATORI

"It is said that the man who has faced death At the point of a sword Has an elevated understanding."

I'll just bet he does. Never had the pleasure myself nor want to, But I did get to look Down the wrong of a rifle once, Held by a very nervous soldier With his shaky finger On the trigger His mouth trembling And a red flush spreading High across his cheekbones As he stood pointing That ancient cannon Right at my navel Somewhere in northern Mexico. Elevated 1'11 tell you I was just about elevated Right out of my drawers! Understanding? Perfect lucidity there for a moment - One false move & I've got two belly buttons! So I put my hands palm out And attempt to plaster a beaming smile On my terrified face. I turn round slow And the soldier pokes me encouragingly In the back with the rifle. I regs52 xy sez: and my peart slowly settles Back on its perch. I'm here to tell you As a path to enlightenment It definitely - leaves something to be desired.

Festive appearance a festival devoted to merry-making Family reunion Especial rich plum pudding Red and green a Christmas tree Presents Santa Claus Presence said to fill children's stockings with presents on the Night before Christmas . . . . Taum DanYCreag

A butterfly kissed you today And it didn't know - Should it stay or go? But a breeze came by and blew away All the promise of improbable love. And there you stood so unaware, you didn't know; or wouldn't show The inner depth of peerless want. Goodby again, Lady of the rain.

Garry Gust

The S t r i k e A f t e r Shock -

P r i s o n i s n o t t h e most f r i e n d l y p l a c e t o be t h e s e days . I f you were i n t h e r e w h i l e t h e s t r i k e w a s on, you'd t h i n k you were i n h e l l . A t least d e a t h would be a comfor t ing thought .

While t h e s t r i k e went on because of obv ious ly overpa id guards demand- i n g even more wages f o r a j o b they d o n ' t know o r c a r e how t o do a l r e a d y , t h i n g s g o t l a x . P r i s o n e r s thought of escape o r s u i c i d e .

P r i s o n e r s were denied a c c e s s t o t h e d a i l y r o u t i n e of l i f e : t h e gym w a s o f f l i m i t s , t h e computer room w a s o f f l i m i t s and t h e c h a p e l and a l l r e l i g i o u s meet ings were c a n c e l l e d . The men could go t o t h e i r work and r e t u r n t o t h e i r rooms a t n i g h t . They had n o t h i n g b u t hard t i m e on t h e i r hands. The Warden t h r e a t e n e d them, s a y i n g t h a t t h e Army would move i n because o f t h e s t r i k e .

The men i n p r i s o n d i d n o t misbehave bu t k e p t t h e i r noses c l e a n and minded t h e i r own b u s i n e s s . The warden f e l t t h i s wasn ' t good enough and c a l l e d i n t h e army t o suppress t h e inmates even f u r t h e r .

No inmate could even go t o t h e washroom wi thou t a n armed MP a s k i n g q u e s t i o n s and fo l lowing them every- . TLr < - - - L - - - - - - -

111= A ~ L I ~ ~ L C D W C L C ~ i d i c u i e c i Li suppressed t o t h e p o i n t of f e e l i n g t h a t t h e r e was no hope i n s i g h t .

Meanwhile, t h e guards were o u t s i d e t h e g a t e s d r i n k i n g c o f f e e , s h o o t i n g t h e b r e e z e and having fun whi le p ic - k e t i n g t h e f e n c e f o r wages t h e y . c l a i m a r e needed. What about t h e inmates who work f o r $5.25 a day,

~ $ 4 . 0 0 of which goes t o a fund t o be given t o them a f t e r they a r e r e l e a s e d ? $1.25 i s f o r them t o l i v e on f o r a week. C i g a r e t t e s j u s t went up i n t h e r e and t h e y have a hard t ime t o e x i s t on what they a r e al lowed now without t h e s e v i s i o n s & d i s o r i e n t a - t i o n s of warped minds added on.

--

Who i s watching o u t f o r t h e inmates? Who c a r e s i f thqy l ive o r d i e ? What i s t h e system coming t o which g i v e s men (guards & warden) such power? Who w i l l s e e t h a t jus- t i c e is done w i t h i n t h e system?

These q u e s t i o n s must be answered.- I g e t t h e run-around a l l t h e t ime.

No one wants t o g e t involved i n he lp ing t h e inmate. Who w i l l h e a r o r c a r e t h a t t h e inmates a r e c r y i n g o u t f o r h e l p & no one is l i f t i n g a f i n g e r t o h e l p them?

I w i l l . I wish t o be numbered among t h o s e who c a r e and I want t o s e e changes made t o h e l p t h e p r i son- ers. W i l l you s t a n d b e s i d e me i n t h i s endeavor?

Char les

CONFESS LONS "Yeah, t h e wars." W h a t do you mean, wars?"

IJhiLe maklng r r e q u e n t v i s i t s t o a "Everybody h e r e is a l o n e , i t ' s a l - p r i s o n , I encountered p r i s o n e r s w i l l - most imposs ib le t o have f r i e n d s , but i n g t o t a l k t o me. , Thei r answers you have t o f i n d a buddy t o watch a r e tile b a s i s f o r my two a r t i c l e s s o your back. The guards seem t o p l a y f a r . Here a r e t h e i r answers . people o f f a g a i n s t each o t h e r s o f i g h t s

A f t e r t h e s t r i k e , two inmates s t o l e w i l l s t a r t . Any reason o r no reason." 2 v e h i c l e s , a c a r & a van, and made - "What's t h e food l i k e ? " t h e i r a t t empt t o run down a fence " ~ o t bad. Because of t h e s t r e s s 6 and escape. d e p r e s s i o n I ' v e l o s t 90 l b s . si.nce

"Wow d i d they g e t keys t o t h i s I ' v e been h e r e . Other inmates s a y v e h i c l e , " I asked . t h a t ' s normal b u t I wonder."

"One of t h e guards l e f t t h e c a b i n e t Another man, who i s a p r o f e s s i o n a l where t h e keys a r e a lways locked up c h e f , s a i d t h a t he worked w i t h what unlocked. When t h e inmate n o t i c e d they gave him t o work w i t h t o pro- it he s t o l e t h e keys , g i v i n g a n o t h e r

v i d e n u t r i t i o u s meals . He a l s o s a i d key t o a f e l l o w inmate," s a i d he. t h a t h i s t a l e n t s a r e e x p l o i t e d a s he Another s a i d t h a t t h e whole i n c i d e n t g e t s a mere $5.25 a day. He s a i d h e i s be ing hushed up and no one r e a l l y works over t ime f o r o t h e r inmates and 1 knows what happened.

g e t s re imbursed w i t h tobacco. These men were caught and s e n t t o

Quest ions abou t l e t t e r s a n d / o r Kent, charged w i t h f o u r f u r t h e r v i s i t s were answered r e l u c t a n t l y . One coun t s . "Now t h a t ' s s t u p i d i t y i n seemed t o answer f o r most: "I w a i t a c t i o n , I t s a i d a n o t h e r . "No one around t o s e e i f anybody remembers I should be s o s t u p i d as t o t r y a a m a l i v e o r even c a r e s . " ! s t u n t l i k e t h a t . " We know t h a t when someone is sen-

"What's t h e p l a c e l o o k l i k e now," I t enced , t h e y are "paying t h e i r d e b t asked. t o s o c i e t y . " What i s n ' t s e e n is "I went and looked a t t h e p l a c e i t

was t r i e d and t h e r e ' s a b i g h o l e t h a t innocen t peop le a r e a l s o s e n t where t h e van t r i e d t o ram through i n t o p r i s o n , having t o do t ime f o r t h e fence . The i n s t i t u t i o n h a s a n a cr ime t h a t t h e y d i d n ' t do. What armed guard i n a c a r p o s t e d o u t s i d e is t h e hope f o r them?

i h e i e n c e 24 hours a day. A l l t h e Char les towers around t h e i n s t i t u t i o n a r e inanned now f o r s e c u r i t y r easons . "

1 There were a l o t o f t h i n g s I wanted t o know a b o u t . L ike s o many oth- e r s I h a v e n ' t done t ime and have o n l y seen i t on TV o r r e a d about i r i n a book. So I ask.ed q u e s t i o n s about 1.if e i n s i d e . "Was i t ha rd t o a d j u s t t o p r i s o n

- when you were f i r s t brought i n ? " "Yes i t was hard on me; a shock t o

my system. I was s c a r e d , shak ing i n my b o o t s . I t was a n e x p e r i e n c e I ' l l never f o r g e t . "

, "Was t h e r e a n y t h i n g you found shoc- k ing?

ART JUNKIE STUDIOS is a recyclable, artist-warehouse, utility space. We have been in Gastown for 2 years now and have been able in that time to build a complete 4,000 sq.ft. space out of recycled material from dump- sters and alleys in our area. We are a community space interested in com- municating with the people in our neighbourhood on a one-to-one basis - sharing thoughts, ideas or concepts on change for our community and surrounding bio-regions. We are into

I preserving our environment and mini- i malism, but we feel the best way to 'effect change in our immediate area is by example. We are looking at developing more energy-efficient housing as well as organic farming.

The Processional Artiste Exhibition

This is an artistic visualization process to focus on the environmental problems, especially recycling, that exist in this eastend bio-region. Our goal is to show a contrast between what is and what could be. We would like to encourage ideas on

more efficient means of combatting this problem as well as educating the

vidual for a cleaner, safer, self- ainable surrounding. r clothing store (Tribalbert) is almost entirely from recycled rial as are our jewelry and artist p studio space. We feel that self eness is the key to change and

t h l s step cen cn ly be tsken thrzzgh information gathering and problem solving. With the number of community members

that pass through our clothing store or our workspace co-op, we feel that if the information was sufficient we could help shape our community before garbage and waste (energy also) shape us. The more people get a feel for their land and what they are doing, the more the attitudes could be posi- tively redirected towards a more com- mon goal of healing the planet. If the planet is happy, we'll be happy. The planet is 'user friendly', so

let's be friendly users!

-- l6 THE CARNEGIE CENTRE

PURPOSE : In 1980, in response to community pressure, the City of Vancouver transformed a vacant heritage building (the City's first library, built in 1904) into a downtown core community centre. PATRONS : The average Carnegie Centre patron (80% of whom are males) lives alone in a sleeping or housekeeping room in a hotel on a monthly income of $439. (From a 1987 Downtown Eastside ~esidents' Association survey.) In 1985, 1,500 patrons per day used the Centre. In 1989, there are approximately 2,000, with repres- entation from several racial groups - white, Native, Chinese, Japanese & Latino. PROGRAMS : The Centre provides alibrary (with collections in 5 languages), gymnasium, pool room, weight room, learning centre (ESL, GED, literacy), pottery and art in- struction, theatre (for music jams, dances, dinners, meetings & special events) and a kitchen and concession area for nutritious low cost food. There is a large volunteer program and an information and referral service to other agencies in the community. Most of all, however, Carnegie provides lounge space, a safe place for card and game playing and socializing - the living room component for the downtown east. PERCEPTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY: Inspector Ken Higgins of the Vancouver Police Department: "The Carnegie Centre is an island of tranquility in an ocean of turmoil." Susan Broadfoot, District Supervisor of MSSH: "The downtown eastside is a growing community, a needy community, a troubled community. There must be a safe place for women, the elderly, the handicapped, the poor. Carnegie is that place.' Jeff Sommers, Outreach Worker, Neighbourhood Helper's Project: "I'm worried about the isolation and loneliness of seniors living in rooming houses and hotels. Carnegie plugs the people down here into community stuff instead of into the bars ." PRESSURE FROM THE COMMUNITY: Census figures show a 10% population growth in the downtown eastside between 1981 and 1986. . . xecent deinstitutioila~izatlon po:icies and do;;;;s;zmg sf Bficryiev Scspz ta l

have released large numbers of former mental patients into the cheap lodging of the downtown core, with an effect on all community services. (Fred Hitchcock, Attorney General's Department, Parole and Probabtion.) Displacement from other communities has also added residents to the downtown core. For example, the City of North ~ancouver's Social Planning Department tracked tenants of two demolished hotels, the Alice and the Olympic, directly to the hotels of the downtown eastside. PRESSURE INSIDE CARNEGIE: The growth and problems outside are reflected inside the Centre. The problem is overcrowding. The consequences are pressure on programming, security difficulties, incidents of violence, expressions of racism, the loss of the feeling of safety for people (both patrons and staff). For example, older white males play bridge in the same crowded area as the Chinese checkers players. Bridge is a quiet, thoughtful game; Chinese checkers is loud and boisterous, often with an appreciative audience. When the bridge players can't hear themselves bid, their complaints take a nasty racist turn.

The Seniors and Native groups both want t o use the same program a r e a on Monday n ights . Compromise is d i f f i c u l t t o achieve when the Seniors express resentment about the powerlessness of t he o ld , and Natives suspect d i scr imina t ion . The caseload of t h e Downtown Eas ts ide Youth A c t i v i t i e s Society has doubled, according t o s t r e e t worker Allan Roscoe. With more t roubled young people acces- s i n g s e r v i c e s and space a t Carnegie, t h e r e i s now t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r c o n f l i c t between young and o ld .

I

The Carnegie Review Panel i n s t r u c t e d the Ci ty t o s e t a s i d e a small s epa ra t e a r e a a t t he Centre f o r women. There i s n ' t room t o do so . The Seniors ' Lounge is overcrowded, wi th s tanding room only during an e x c i t i n g hockey o r f o o t b a l l game. A t every Town Ha l l mtg, t he Seniors a sk f o r more space. There is inc reas ing v io lence i n t h e Centre, f i g h t s t o be broken up, ba r r ing procedures t o be enacted, and a s s a u l t s aga ins t s t a f f . The City Manager's o f f i c e has consequently j u s t funded an i n t e r n a l emergency buzzer system. THE SOLUTION: City Council, recognizing t h e problem of overcrowding, has granted $650,000 f o r

/ renovat ions . I In t h i s h e r i t a g e bui ld ing , t h e r e i s only one p l ace t o go f o r a d d i t i o n a l f l o o r

I space -- i n t o t h e basement. Arch i t ec t s ' drawings show the p o t e n t i a l f o r 1,700 a d d i t i o n a l square f e e t of

; Seniors lounge, card and game p lay ing space, and a new program a r e a i n t he base- ' ment. The Seniors a r e de l igh ted by t h i s prospec t , a s a r e t h e p l aye r s . 1 THE PROBLEM: / The i n s i d e parking w i l l have t o go.

PARKING : NO Carnegie pa t rons use t h e parking a rea . It i s t h e domain of those few s t a f f who can squeeze i n . A l t e rna t e s t a f f parking has been o f f e red a t Pendera & Tymac. Retaining t h e t h r e e requi red parking spaces prevents t h e development of t h e urgent ly needed new lounge and program a r e a s . Parking is an acknowledged problem i n Gastown and Chinatown a r e a s , mostly f o r people from ou t s ide t h e community. Parking is not a cons idera t ion f o r people who l i v e here. The DERA Housing Socie ty has on hand 2,161 a p p l i c a t i o n s from downtown t A + n~ +I---,. ..-1-- 1 1 +uun-ulub *C-UIWLI.ICU. VI L I I S ~ C . V L L L Y 1- G i G & C&H.

SUMMARY : It is t h e b e l i e f of t he Renovations Committee and t h e community agencies quoted above t h a t t h e s o c i a l s e r v i c e s ' needs of t h e downtown e a s t s i d e community out- weigh t h e parking needs. RECOMMENDATION: That t h e basement parking be e l imina ted i n favour of f u l f i l l i n g t h e Carnegie Centre 's mandate of providing s e r v i c e s t o a r e a r e s i d e n t s .

Diane MacKenzie, Carnegie Direc tor On behalf of t h e Renovations Committee.

The above was submitted t o t h e City of Vancouver t o ask f o r approval from the Department of Planning t o t ransform t h e parking a r e a i n t h e basement i n t o lounge and program space. A l l of t h e th inking and p lans he re depended on t h i s dec is ion . The Direc tor of Planning gave summary approval. IT'S A GO! ! !

The GST - a Grief and Suffering Tax -

While big business is enjoying the benefits of a stronger economy, average British Colum- bians - particularly seniors and young families - are being hit with more and more taxes by the Socreds and Mulroney Tories.

hike your B.C. Hydro rates by nine per cent in order I The 39bfaclor

Property taxes are soar- ingasprovincialeducation funding is cut, health care fees are climbing - we're even seeing the Socreds

that thejcan r r v w p up almost half a billion dollars in 'hidden tax'.

Even worse, both the Mulroney and Socred governments continue to increase income taxes by cutting credits for seniors.

1 Estimated Tax Increases for Seniors Due to partial de-indexation by Mulroney government*

r -

For a aenior eligible for the bade pemnd credit, the married credit, and the age credit

&me examples of how the GST will cost you :

Rent (indirectly) -- $40-$50/month Phoneflight bills -- $5.50/month

Cablevision -- $1.35/month Stamps -- another 4 cents per stamp

Seniors will continue to lose ground because the tax credits they receive have been partially de-indexed. There is absolutely no protection for seniors' credits on the first 3% of each year's inflation rate. SO, fdr example, if the inflation rate is 5%. your credits will only go up by 2% - the lost 3% is a tax increase.

The impact on seniors

Because of this 3% loss, seniors will be paying more and more taxes each year - hundreds of dollars more, as the graph to the left indi- c n + n m It n l r n -nnn that n n kULU.,. I L (U*" IIIULU.0 "".I -1

increasing number of seniors living below the poverty line will be forced to pay taxes.

The GST will attack B.C. seniors on every front - most every product you buy will be going up by 9%, as will the services you use on a regular basis.

Women and the GST The Mulroney govern-

ment's new Goods and Servicing Tax (GST), which comes into effect in January 1991 unless stopped, will have an especially devastating impact on women.

Women to pay a greater proportion of tax: Women make. on average,

66% of what men do. With lower average incomes, women will pay a proportional greater amount of their income in tax. Many low-income earners don9 file income tax, and so will not receive the rebate. The rebate isn't enough to make up for all the sales tax you will pay in a

'2 year anyway.

A tax on mathers who vmk 1 outside the home:

Prepared food for take-out will be taxed. Government is again punishing women who must work outside the home to make ends meet, and who don't have the time to cook meals from scratch every day. Not only is the Conservative government reneging on child care, which places an added burden on mothers working CL(!P!~$ !he hnme. b~(! nnw wants to tax them to death. Literally to death. The new tax will even apply to coffins and funeral setyices.

Tax Reform?

The top '1% of families ($1 l7,OW) had an average tax saving of $3,570 in 1988 compared to what they would have paid under the 1984 system. The poorest 32% of families with incomes of less than $12,940 gained a grand total of $53.

A special tax for women: Sanitary napkins and tampons will be taxed. Apparently the Tory, government does not consider these a basic necessity.

Taxes on everything women buy:

The GST' will apply to hydro, heating oil, diaphragms, condoms, children's clothes, diapers, haircuts, telephone, stamps and postal services,

With the GST

In 1991192, total consumption taxes will have increased by 171% since l984/85, when Mulroney wasekted.

-

plumbing and home repairs, boots and shoes, books, movie tickets, kids' meals at McDonald's , and much, much more.

Exemptions are not really exempt: -.

! nere Ic nl! dlrnct saias ?au on child care or rent, but taxes on everything the child care centre and landlord buys, i.e. heating costs, light, plumbing,

Direct Taxation Shares

cleaning services, repairs, supplies. This means operational costs will increase, and so will your child care bill - and rent.

Taxes on women and children, but not on corporations:

The GST is a regressive tax, it taxes consumption rather than income. Everyone pays the same, no matter what their income. Brian Mulroney pays the same tax at the cash register as a single mother with three kids. Finance Minister Michael Wilson feels it is best to tax poor and middle-income Canadians than the thousands of large, profitable corporations in Canada that pay no taxes at all. Mike Wilson would rather tax diapers and children's c'lothes than corporate polluters that spill toxins into our rivers, lakes and oceans, that make our land unsafe for our children to play on, w d destroy the air we breathe.

Total taxes will gobble up 52% o f family income in 1989.

Let the Tory government know that you won't stand for it. Organize or participate in rallies. Write to Finance Minister Michael Wilson postage-free at the House of Commons. Talk to your friends and family about the importance of defeating this

NEW AGE SANTA

Santa says : I f a l l you got f o r Xmas Was a book on how t o park your BMW But no BMW - Not t o Worry! It 's because you weren ' t focussed enough - While c r e a t i n g your own r e a l i t y . But don ' t f e e l bad ~ o n ' t eve r f e e l bad! Why, m i l l i o n s of people around the world Didn't even g e t t o e a t on Xmas day. Boy, w e r e they ever unfocussed! ~ o n ' t worry - you're no t respons ib le . They c r ea t ed t h e i r own r e a l i t y . You j u s t concent ra te on yours. Take a few more courses i n self-development And tune i n t o your innermost d e s i r e s . Santa says t h a t BMW can s t i l l be yours!

David Bouvier

. A r e YOU i n t e r e s t e d i n making r a d i o literacy problem I f o r t h e Downtown Eas ts ide? Would you canadian Press l i k e t o improve your read ing and TORONTO - About ,a third of wit ing s k i l l s , o r he lp o t h e r people Canadian companies have problems improve t h e i r s ? I f so , you might be with new technology because some ,

i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e Radio Access f o r of their employees are functionally illiterate, a survey by the Confer-

Li teracy Pro j ec t s t a r t i ng i n January ence Board of suggests. a t t h e Carnegie Learning Centre and A similar ~ropor t ion of firms Vancouver Co-op Radio. report these employees are causing

The p r o j e c t w i l l provide workshops problems in product quality or in nrc_~ri~lc.iiviiy And neariy 43 per reni

i n r a d i o product ion, i o c a i i s s u e s iay employees with basic-skills and reading and wr i t i ng . You ' l l be shortages face difficulties taking on

RADIO ACCESS FOR LITERACY PROJECT

ab le t o make r a d i o programs which w i l l be broadcast on Co-op Radio.

I f you'd l i k e t o f i n d ou t more, t a l k t o Claude a t t h e Learning Centre o r t o Helene a t Co-op Radio.

Co-op i s j u s t down t h e s t r e e t from Carnegie a t 337 C a r r a l l S t r e e t . It broadcasts a t 102.7 FM and you can get a program schedule from Carnegie o r from t h e r ad io s t a t i o n .

(The Radio Access f o r L i t e r acy Pro jec t is funded by g r a n t s from Secretary of S t a t e and t h e B.C . Min- i s t r y of Advanced Education.)

- new a&gnments or transfers.

This rate is big enough to be a sig- nificant problem as Canada faces increased competition from Asia and Europe, Bob Des Lauriers, the

:research associate who did the :; study, said Monday. -..I The profile of employees who iack .-, basic literacy is mixed, the Confer- ? ence Board reports, but the 35 to 54 \

age group predominates. -. . Although companies are begin- <? ning to develop training policies to :J deal with illiteracy, 76 per cent of \.? those surveyed had not yet done so, & - Des Lauriers said.

Innocent Women

Many th ings have happened i n t h e pas t few months. The worst i nc iden t was when a young man took i t upon himself t o t ake t h e l i v e s of innocent women. Women who had f u t u r e s ahead of them, who were g e t t i n g ready f o r t he most enjoyable time of year .

This young man not only took t h e l i v e s of these women, but a l s o took them from t h e i r loved ones. H e put a b ig black mark on Canada and her people.

This day - December 6 , 1989, w i l l never be fo rgo t t en . I send my h e a r t and love t o t he se f a m i l i e s .

Margaret Prevost

Comment: For me, I f e e l t h a t t h e homeless should be counted; j u s t a s you o r I, they a r e people. People a r e s l eep ing under v i aduc t s , i n alleyways, parks , wherever they can f i nd a p l ace where hopefu l ly no one w i l l bother them. Every n i g h t I say a prayer f o r t h e homeless and t h e i r f ami l i e s .

The most important t h ing t o m e i s happiness, and t h e most important th ing t o t h e homeless i s t h e hope of f ind ing a home f o r t h e win te r . Hap- plness is maklng someone s m i l e and l e t t i n g them know t h a t someone ca re s .

Through t h i s I have met many people inc lud ing t h e Mayor and members of Ci ty Council , p l u s Margaret Mi tche l l . A l o t of headway was made f o r t he d i sab led , such a s curbs being conver- t ed i n t o ramps f o r people i n wheel- c h a i r s and f o r Seniors .

S t i l l underway is g e t t i n g access t o Crab Park, a f t e r t h e "big shots" a t CPR & P o r t s Canada b u i l t t h e s t u p i d overpass. Our main goa l is t o have a c ross ing a t Columbia & Alexander, be i t at-grade o r a pedes t r i an overpass.

I a l s o want t o g ive thanks f o r a good home and family atmosphere a t Four S i s t e r s Co-op. J u s t r e c e n t l y I w a s e l e c t e d t o t h e Board t h e r e and am t h e cha i rperson of Maintenance. It 's a b i g job but I enjoy cha l lenges .

The people who I ' v e m e t through these o rgan iza t ions have been kind, thought fu l and h e l p f u l i n many ways.

I would l i k e t o t ake t h i s opportun- i t y t o thank you a l l f o r making t h i s year an enjoyable and un fo rge t t ab l e one. You a l l know who I ' m t a l k i n g to .

Take ca re 'cause I care . Merry Christmas t o you wherever

you a r e . Your f r i e n d ,

Margaret Prevost

I would l i k e t o thank my pa ren t s - f o r c r e a t i n g m e , and God f o r g iv ing

me the s t r e n g t h f o r accomplishing a l l t h a t I have t h i s year . I ' v e been fo r tuna t e enough t o s e rve on t h e Carnegie Associat ion Board of Direc- t o r s and a s cha i rperson f o r Community Relat ions.

Many people have low incomes; U.I. and pensions and welfare. The government increases taxes and prices go up. People living on these incoines can't keep up having to pay more for the same things. The government has to raise the

amount of money that people on low, fixed incomes get so we can survive. ~t is unfair that rich people don't pay their share while the poor pay so much and end up with less all the time. It has to be changed so that all people can live with dignity and help each other, instead of always fighting with each other over scraps. The way it is now the poor

, can be little more than beggars. This isn't right.

Editor,

The group previously known as People On Welfare (P.O.W.) is now called Low Income People. We still meet on Tuesdays at 4 : 3 0

in the afternoon on the 3rd fioor.

Joan Morelli

'~ - Dear Folks,

Thanks to gifts from Donalda, Lill- ian and George Harrison, and Johnny ' Whiteduck, the Open Stage of Dec. 2 was a great success. The audience ' really liked the participation of itself in the evening's entertainment and repeated this the next night at the World Premiere of Carnegie'a video "Your Policy Sticks".

Greatly appreciated, Henry Hebert

On Dec. 6, the Chinatown Beartifi- cation Project meeting took place at the Chinese Cultural. Centre. Plans were disclosed at that time to illu- minate Chinatown with High Power So- dium lighting, the yellow hideous lighting that appears along freeways, in parking lots, etc. These would be installed all along Pender Street to replace the current incandescent lan- tern type system that has been in place for so long. Already, in the middle of the block, four lamps have been installed as a "sample" of what is to come, and one has only to stand in the midst of its warm glow to fully appreciate how devastating the overall effect of this "beautification" will be when fully implemented. Chinatown merchants claim that their

business is suffering because "the streets are too dark and customers won't come here at night". In fact, the real menace to the merchants isn't darkness (which I fail to notice except from the darkened windows of their closed shops) but cost. Incan- descent light, such as is currently in use, is more expensive to run than the "hockey arena" type proposed. Also, all other streets in the immediate area use the same overhead "cobra" style light as is seen on Xasiings, Main, Gore, Cordova, etc.; what's their excuse? Are they all going broke too? On January 25, this issue will come

to City Hall for approval. If you care about the sensitivity of this unique "user friendly" area, and wish to keep it that way, I urge you to write City Council and register your disapproval. (Note: This process has had practi- cally no public exposure to date. It's yet another scheme cooked and served up for the public benefit by - city officials and merchant interests).

By IAN MacRAE

- Me a s a Volunteer

t t ing h p i l l s

and a r azo r a t her s i d e . She was t h ink ing of s u i c i d e but She could n o t decide. . .

She had a broken h e a r t over a maia she had loved a t one t'me f e e l i n g r e j e c t e d and despised by men.

P lease oh P l ea se don ' t do i t g i r l A s s u r e a s t h e r e ' s another day ahead I ' m s u r e t h e r e w i l l be a new love come along your way.

She was t h ink ing of good t i m e s they had and t h e f e e l i n g she had when he was a t h e r s i d e . She thought of loved ones she had, wi th a Momma and Papa who used t o be a t he r s i d e ... he r t e a r s d i d subs ide

P lease oh P lease don ' t do i t g i r l As s u r e a s t h e r e ' s another day ahead 7- 1 -.

- re t h e r e w i l l be a new love Long your way.

: came i n t o h e r eyes : s t a r t e d t o appear , when she l d she could f i n d l ove a t he r

Pa ren t ' s s i d e . She laughed and threw away t h e p i l l s and r azo r t h a t were a t h e r s i d e , never t o t h i n k of su i c ide .

Peter Eantrnln

I r e a l l y enjoy being a Volunteer here a t Carnegie. I have been a vo lunteer f o r 4 years . I enjoyed it becoming a vo lun tee r because I can l e a r n how t o do t h e job. So f a r I ' v e done t h e r ecep t ion and t h e concession and s t a r t e d helping on the N e w s l e t t e r .

I hand out t i c k e t s and b a l l s and answered phones; a l s o i n t h e pool room and i n t h e co f f ee shop - which I r e a l l y l i k e .

I was su rp r i s ed when I f i r s t came t o Carnegie and was asked i f I wanted t o vo lunteer . I r e a l l y l i k e it when s t a f f come up t o m e and ask, i f I could vo lun tee r here o r t he re . Even i f they don ' t ask , I a sk them i f I can i n p l aces t h a t r e a l l y need Volunteers.

B i rd i e W.

Dedicated t o Cambie Hotel ......................... One of my p l ea su re s i s t o reach s k y ~ By Climbing roof t ops . People t h i n k you ' re a goof, They should go poof. I f ind myself, reaching f o r t h e s t a r s , moon. r a i n . rainbow. n a t u r e i t s e l f . I ' m i i k e a r o i i i n g s tone I l i v e dangerously

CYICC~++++~+++~++++++++++ Tighten your l i p s baby! 1'11 reach t h e top

EVERYONE'S HERE FOR THE HOLIDAY! I won't s t o p Dec. 24 -

Dec.25 - Dec.25 -

Dec.26 -

Dec.26 -

lOpm t o 6am - 17 performers! j u s t t o be wi th animals Be he re t o s i g n up. .4nimals a r e my power, Jo Anne Hamen & Daniel Wilson climb t h e tower. Breakfast background music (2n Evening en te r ta inment wi th I n t h e r a i n The Tom Lewis Band. To f e e l no pa in 4pm o u t s i d e - Tor you. . . John Karsrud Trumpet Quartet I love you anyways da r l i ng ! Evening enter ta inment wi th Finn & t h e Sharks f Bonnie El izabe th Stevens

FOR PRESERVATION OF INDIAN LEGENDS AND CULTURE

,

o r t he b e n e f i t of those who a r e a l l y concerned and s e r i o u s l y ded- t e d t o t h e preserva t ion of t h e i r i v e legends and c u l t u r e , t h e lowing information i s of p r i c e l e s s ue a s contained i n p a r t i a l ex-

_ _ - c t s from t h e Montreal S t a r under da t e of March 4th, 1969 which I res - p e c t f u l l y submit f o r pe rusa l .

Wi l f r id Barbeau CD

qUOTE: Af te r se rv ing a s e thno log i s t wi th t h e National Museum of

Canada from 1911 t o re t i rement i n 1948 Doctor Marius Barbeau deceased a t t h e age of 85. During 50 yea r s of research on long and arduous t r i p s he produced a weal th of knowledge about A s i a t i c migrat ions t o North America.

Doctor Barbeau delved deeply i n t o the s t o r y of t h e Indian peoples , t h e i r legends and c u l t u r e s .

He gave t h e Museum a c o l l e c t i o n of 195 Eskimo songs, another 3,000 In- d ian f o l k songs. c l o s e t o 7.000 French-Canadian and some i ,5uu o id English songs, many of which a r e s t i l l on t h e o ld tube-like records t h a t came o f f h i s Edison recorder .

He published more than 50 books and over 700 a r t i c l e s , having a t terr- ded Oxford Universi ty a s a Rhodes Gcholar. Doctor Barbeau was a l s o educated a t Lava1 Univers i ty and t h e Sorbonne.

In November 1967 he was inves ted a s a Companion of t h e Order of Can- ada by Governor-General Michener.

END OF QUOTE

P.S. It is up t o you now t o reclaim your he r i t age , volumes of

which l i e ga ther ing t h e dus t of t he a rch ives i n Ottawa.

W. Barbeau

Dr. Marius Barbeau

A c h i l d a t t h e beach with sh in ing eyes bu i ld s h i s c a s t l e with c r e a t i v e ca re and dreams g r e a t dreams.

Standing back t o look a t h i s work....

A smile of achievement on h i s happy f a c e

In an i n s t a n t comes anr .her c h i l d Jumps and laughs wi th g l e e as he des t roys the o t h e r ' s c a s t l e Del ight ing i n t h e pa in he causes.

So easy t o s p o i l ano the r ' s dreams So easy t o destroy. As i n a l l l i f e ; From t h e beginning

7

WELFARE HOTEL - Home is where your r e n t a l lows you

t o l a y your bones a t the end of t he day. I t 's made out of ma te r i a l s pro- vided by Nature, i t ' s cons t ruc ted by human e f f o r t and is i n t h e custody of a deed holder .

It may be one room wi th a bed, tab- l e and c h a i r bu t i t holds t h e small t r e a s u r e s of your ex is tence : o ld l e t - ters from your family, a p i c t u r e you taped t o t h e wal l , maybe a mouth or- gan o r g u i t a r , perhaps a souvenir from a happy day.

You may be 25 o r 62 but t h e f e e l i n g is t h e same when t h e e v i c t i o n o r r en t i nc rease n o t i c e s come. F i r s t you f e e l s i c k i n your stomach, then you g e t very depressed. You thought you were a l r eady a t t h e bottom of socie- t y ' s l adde r , but now "they" want you

and probably ti1 t h e end.

-YYYT She i l a Baxter

The G i f t of Love ' t o go deeper.

Here i t is , t h a t time of year I Someone tells you t o go t o DERA,

When Mama 's eyes a r e f u l l of t e a r s because they have homes i n t h e i r cus- She wants t o buy g i f t s ga lo re tody. The good people t h e r e t e l l Like o the r people, i n t h e s t o r e s . you "yes, we have homes but they' r e ~ u t Mama don't v ry o r make a sound, f u l l r i g h t now and t h e r e ' s 2,000 You've given t h e b e s t g i f t around. people ahead of you on the list." The very thought p u t s i t above, Your depression is replaced ly ang= You've given your c a r e and love . e r but you have no choice i n t h e

You've taken t h e t i m e t o do as such mat te r ; no r i g h t s ! A l l you have is t o show you care , so very much wi th t h e i n s t i n c t t o surv ive under t h e ynu always ai my side. I can take anything wi th in s t r i d e ,

I But, y o u ' l l f i n d another "home".

I t ' s a l l t h e love t h a t you i n v e s t It may be smal le r than you're used t o

which makes your g i f t t h e b e s t . and i t might have drunks puking i n

I t ' s b e t t e r than anything t h a t ' s bought the and someone next because i t ' s given wi th so much thought bangs On the *abut Christmas is t h e time t o thank God ca re s ; y o u ' l l f i n d another home.

up above t o spread good cheer and By GARRY GUST neighbourly love. But t h e g i f t of my mother, I have found. is b e s t when spread t h e whole year round. I f every person l e t h i s love be shown t, and throughout t h e world i t be known not f o r t he moments but f o r everyday 3

" - The world would be b e t t e r i n every way.;

David Melvin

L i t t l e White House

L i t t l e whi te house on top of a h i l l P r e t t y a s a p i c t u r e , I can s e e i t s t i l l . But they t o r e i t down t h e o t h e r day I guess t h e o l d lady 'd passed away.

J u s t l a s t year we chanced t o meet And it w a s good t o s t o p and g r e e t Her s t i l l working i n h e r yard Tho' l a t e l y i t w a s g e t t i n g hard

- she s a i d . A p r e t t y house wi th love ly f lowers She must have laboured hours and hours To make them grow t h e way she d i d To shape t h a t garden as she d id . I I I haven ' t seen you before" she s a i d . "Down there1' - I poin ted p a s t he r head "We l ive. Nine years we've been he re for . " Hers was a more impressive score .

"I 've been here sixty-seven" she smiled " ~ h i n g s ' v e changed s i n c e I w a s a c h i l d . That was an orhcard down t h e h i l l Belonged t o a doctor , I can see i t st i l l ."

Orchard, garden, house, a l l gone A s 'progress ' blunders b l i n d l y on. L i t t l e whi te house on top of a h i l l P r e t t y as a p i c t u r e , I can see i t sti l l .

David Bouvier .

Fred is dead What i s love? I don' t r e a l l y know. God I wish someone would t e l l me! I f e e l so bad Before I run our of Love. dea th wisks him away I don ' t r e a l l y know bu t I heard - when was t h e last time I f you love someone a l i v e of course and joking 'bout l i f e s e t them f r e e but no p e a r l s of wisdom now I f they come back t o you H i s words a r e s i l e n c e d o f r eve r . t hey ' r e yours The he lpe r s he lp I f they don ' t witches whisper they never w e r e I f cockroaches had wings and never w i l l be. they'd f l y out of he re But i s it t r u e o r n o t ? God is dead. I f i t is le t me know before i t ' s

Taum too l a t e .

t w a s t h e beginning of December, $9, when Santa Claus was g e t t i n g ady f o r Christmas. While Santa s reading letters from c h i l d r e n

Scrooge stomped i n , grabbed Santa by the c o l l a r and showed him t h e ebic- t i o n n o t i c e .

Santa u sua l ly pa id h i s t axes i n t r ade -- g i f t s . Scrooge t o l d Santa t h a t t h e r e would be no more of t h a t .

Santa had t o come up wi th a compromise. I n o rde r not t o be ev i c t ed , Santa Claus had something good i n s t o r e f o r Scrooge. It was a n o f f e r

\ t h a t Scrooge could not r e fuse . "There is some Christmas S p i r i t %1 t h a t would m e l t t h a t golden b r a i n of

his ," thought Santa . "I w i l l i m m e r s e Scrooge i n music. That ' s something h e t s never experienced. H e ' l l have something t o s i n g about!"

Imnediately, Santa Claus went t o r Carnegi.e Centre i n Vancouver. There

he gathered toge the r t h e b e s t music- i ans and they set up a g i g f o r Chr is t - mas Eve. Scrooge walked i n t o t h e Carnegie Theatre and-he f e l l i n l ove with t h e music.

" A l l k inds of music," thought o l d Scrooge. "I want t o sing!" One music- i an sang, "Golden Years, yeah, yeah, %a bur Eop-. - '!

In sp i r ed by t h e bea t and t h e rhythm Scrooge s t a r t e d s inging . He sang, "1've got t h e golden touch, Woo! Woo! It makes me glow so much. It casts a s p e l l , It r i n g s my b e l l , That Golden Touch ! "

He sang t e r r i b l y , but he w a s t o l d t h a t he was t h e man wi th t h e golden voice. He sang mer r i l y h a l f t h e n ight , having heard t h a t compliment.

S a t i s f i e d , he no longer wished t o e v i c t Santa Claus s i n c e he w a s i n t r o - duced t o t h e Carnegie Theatre .

Scrooge was encouraged t o s i n g i n pub l i c and r e l eased a record about h i s l i f e and t imes a t Christmas.

Scrooge and Santa Claus made an agreement t h a t Santa had t o w r i t e songs f o r Scrooge t o s i n g every Xmas.

Santa assured Scrooge t h a t he should f l a u n t h i s golden voice , and Scrooge knew t h a t h i s golden voice w a s t h e b e s t gold he ever had.

BY M I K I

hat's a hard a c t t o fo l low I s a i d t o myself That ' s a hard a c t t o fo l low I must a l low myself 1

Won't you come and s e t me fgee O r must I s e t myself f r e e ? P ~ r h a ~ s ~ perhaps it iz csrnzGce e l s e ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . I know t h e t r u t h I know i t b t r u e ~ o n ' t a s k me how I know But I ' v e been he re f o r so long It 's time t o be s e t f r e e One l i f e - two l i v e s - t h r e e How many w i l l i t take? ~ o n ' t keep me i n suspense I ' m hanging by a th read How much longer t h i s ocean

must I t r e a d 1 ' ve got so many hang-ups and you ... hung-up on m e But I know I know I know I know t h a t you w i l l s e t ~:ie f r e e .

E l izabe th -- Thorpe

our E -2 +hni~t

ion's going t o be brought up - ,,,,,v-- dr inking pa ren t s . ~ o s t of the pa ren t s do d r i n k and bea t t h e i r kid up. I know about pa ren t s dr inking and bea t ing t h e i r ch i ld ren up because I was brought up t h a t way. 1 f m p r e t t y s u r e t h a t a l o t of ch i ld- ren a r e brought up t h a t way, because i t 's very hard f o r t h e i r pa ren t s t o put t h e b o t t l e down. So a l l you parents p l ease pu t t h e b o t t l e down, o r 1 p u r c h i l d r e n w i l l be taken away ike mine was.

1s I w a s d r ink ing and then I ' d bea t ah him, even though he was 5 months o ld . *"I Sure I ' m r e g r e t t i n g i t now and I a l -

ways w i l l . Tha t ' s why I put t h e bot- h t l e down and w i l l never ever d r i n k as , much a s I used t o .

I won't ever l a y a hand on my son unless i t ' s needed, l i k e when h e ' s bad. I r e a l l y h u r t him t h a t much t h a t I was almost pu t behind ba r s . In s t ead I was pu t on probat ion and i n t o P r o j e c t Parents. I ' v e go t t o do 100 hours of community work and s t i l l have 2 years on probat ion. And I ' v e q u i t d r inking .

So I ' m warning a l l you pa ren t s who d r i n k t h a t you have t o s t o p o r

\ your k i d s w i l l b e taken away. \ The reason why t h e r e a l f a t h e r

won't come and v i s i t h i s son is because h e ' s i n ja i l . The reason why I l e f t him is because he bea t me so much I cou ldn ' t handle i t anymore. The guy I ' m wi th now doesn ' t bea t

' me o r l eave me, except when h e ' s ' mad..then h e ' l l l e ave t o coo l o f f so

he doesn ' t do anything s t u p i d l i k e

/ tha t . we ' re t r y i n g aga in t o g e t our Son back. We go t o s e e him a l o t - every day i f we can. A t l e a s t we 're not dr inking l i k e most pa ren t s in- 1

got over i t without he lp from anyone. So a l l you pa ren t s can j u s t have

f a i t h i n yourselves. Try no t t o argue i n f r o n t of your k ids because they th ink you',re arguing because of them. O r because of something they d i d . Try saying n i c e th ings t o each o t h e r ; go out t oge the r t o p l aces y o u ' l l both enjoy. Make s u r e you g e t someone who is respons ib le t o look a f t e r your ch i ld ren . I t ' s worth it!

MAYBE THE REAL CHRISTMAS ALWAYS HAPPENS .......................

I f your name was Joe , & you were h i t ch ing a r i d e i n a snowstorm a week before Christmas somewhere i n t h e Kootenays and you r a n i n t o t h e young Native woman c a l l e d Marie, who was pregnant & t r a v e l l i n g n o r t h and she says s h e ' s got t o g e t out of B.C. back t o t h e Yukon, where she can have he r baby 'cause we l f a re ' s a f t e r her & they took t h e l a s t one away...

Well, Marie would be ready t o pop by t h e time you h i t Pr ince George & somewhere n o r t h of t h e r e , have he r baby on Christmas morning i n a garage next t o t h e Lonely S t a r Motel where th ings would g e t p r e t t y i n t e n s e . ... There would be UFO r e p o r t s i n t h e papers a few days l a t e r - Marie would c a l l h e r baby Chris & Marie & Joe & t h e baby would d isappear , & wel fa re would never ca t ch them. They'd be an i l l e g a l family on t h e run & when they got t o S p i r i t Lake they 'd a l l l i v e on t r a d i t i o n a l t r i b a l land toge the r wi th Marie 's family while Chris grew up.

By the. year 2004, Chris would be s i x t e e n & ready t o s e t ou t on some kind of adventure, ... you know?

I was plugged i n t o t h e s p l r l t world I w a s t a l k i n g t o a man who had

h i s f l a g unfurled He p lan ted i t on t h e moon i n s i d e my mind Then spoke t o me aga in , say ing "don't eve r be a f r a i d t o look behind." I was born i n poverty and I went hungry many t imes But I ' v e had somebody guiding me The o r i g i n a l man of rhymes. He spoke t o m e aga in and he

bound my sha tzared mind. He s a i d , "You don ' t know i d ~ c you a r e r i g h t now. but y o u ' l l f i n d ou t what you need t o know i n time." Now I l a y he re on my bed of autumn leaves , Deathly a f r a i d I ' m dying

' I t ' s not always a mat te r of what you be l ieve '

I can hear my mother s igh ing .

El izabe th Thorpe

- MAINLY HASTPNGS, THE BARRIO - The ambulance a r r i v e s a m i l l i o n dea ths below a one-way t i c k e t t o crime - madness & despa i r - chasing a f l o c k of b u t t e r f l i e s Youth's t h e a s s a s s i n

P a r a l l e l s t h e t r a v e l l e ~ i n p r i v a t e conveyance member of team, crew who does, o r can do NO e f f e c t i v e work (Passage)

Su f fe r ing ... a c t i o n non-violent r e f u s a l t o co-operate r e s i s t a n c e . ..condenser - t o s t o r e a charge of e l e c t r i c i t y

t h e Moon l o s t i t ' s memory I remember: Stop t h e Rip-off! it ends wi th m e , i t ends wi th you

a new day dawning

Taum Dan Y Creag

To our Fr iends a t C,E.E.D.S.,

There's no th ing l i k e Country Fresh A i r t o brea the . It 's q u i t e a break f i -om tile C i i ? a d i i ' s trul lui iurl - no i se , s m e l l s , r e fuse , e t c .

Chickens, ducks, horses , goats. . . a l l t h e farm animals and a li'l b i t o ' g u i t a r and banjo, and good 01' music and s inging . S i t t i n g by t h e bonf i r e , farm work t ak ing c a r e of t h e animals and t h e land , before people.

There's no l i f e l i k e it.. , l e t ' s do it gang! It 's no t j u s t a job, i t ' s an adventure!

We encourage Carnegarians and everyone t o come t o CEEDS' farms i n Spring 1990! We love you,

Henry & Miki

- ADVICE T 0 . A PETTY THIEF

T e l l m e mat's t h i s r ip-off f o r ? p e t t y s t e a l i n g from t h e poor? m e r e ' s your ambition TO improve your condi t ion? To r e d i s t r i b u t e t h e weal th , You must p r a c t i c e up your s t e a l t Move t o t h e westside! That is t h e b e s t s i d e For your employment And f u t u r e enjoyment, ~ o n ' t you s e e ? - Nickel and Dime tough 1t's p e t t y crime s t u f f . They're bound t o n a i l you And then t h e y ' l l j a i l you. I n t o t h e slammer Anvil and hammer, You w i l l go.

S t e a l yourse l f a bus iness s u i t . Find a r acke t of r epu te And go l e g i t . This a i n ' t no s h i t ! When t h e l a w i s on your s i d e , A l l t h e w a l l e t s open wide To your f i n g e r s Nothing l i n g e r s Out of reach. Winter on a fo re ign beach, Didn ' t you know? & - - - - - - - - n L ~ L C C L h ~ 2 6 1 e5tEite:

I swear i t ' s no t too l a t e To make a k i l l i n g I f you are w i l l i n g . J u s t l everage t h e p r i c e Of suburban pa rad i se And t h e r e you have it! .

Li fe i s s h o r t bu t ar t is long Lis ten t o my l i t t l e song - Free e n t e r p r i s e i s f i n e What's yours w i l l soon be mine, And what 's mine is s tashed away Safely, f o r t h a t r a iny day - In Bermuda!

e Unknown Feelings

And they asked the child why he did ' what he did,

a To which no reply came forth. All he knew was that what was done ... was done.

6 Clocks can'be turned back, Time can%

lndi nant, they felt lost, So t a ey took him b the hair

d K Sub ected him to t elr discretions e An then turned him loose.

They should have known They shouldn't hpe been so blind A child's heart can burst And the child never knows why Always pushed, Always pulled, Never to be told why.

One day he lashed out He didn't mean to ... He never understood why /

It was such e simple misunderstanding But the dam of a lifetime broke So too did another mpther's child lav [~roirpn

g . .. never to smile ... never to walk

never to awake

C So many hearts were hurt by unknown

c feelings ... ... And they asked again why he did what he did, ' TO which no reply came fotth.

By Matthew Cross

David Bouvier

SLEAZE 'N GREEDINGS!

December is the time when everything, except the profits of war toy and barbie doll makers, grinds to a halt. If you are poor, this seasonal fa-la-la can ring kind of hollow. Kids are comparing themselves to

their friends who have lots of money and now, more than the rest of the year, they want to come out at least even in the worldly goods department. Parents who are poor feel a hundred times more inadequate than poverty usually makes them feel. They want this Christmas to be good, but there - isn't enough cashola to keep up with the spirit of Christmas. People with little or no family, people with no homes, all feel some sort of shame and self-guilt about their situation even if they "know better". It's no wonder people are forced to turn to charity for a bit of respite. We all know that Christmas causes

12s a ICE of n~t-s~-iidden anxiety. We also know that Christmas is a spectacle with the "spirit of giving" exploited. It's a spectacle tailored to appeal to our need for ritual & tradition. Ritual & tradition in themselves are not nasty things. It is just that today's Christmas spectacle is illusory and has no real basis in our own rituals & tradition. It is manufactured to make us be-

lieve that we are part of something that in reality we have no access to. Thus, there is this doublethink going on in us - "I-should-be-happy- it's-Xmas-how-come-I'm-not-what's- wrong-with-me?"

1

Well, just what does today's Ea- ton's catalogue Xmas image of 2-3 children and two white professional parents living in a house that has both heating AND a fireplace for pleasure have to do with most of US who live in the area of the Down- town Eastside? How are we supposed to feel part of that charade? (Who would seriously want to?) Christmas comes but once a year,

but poor people are marginalised all year round. What makes us feel lousy the other 11 months is shoved down our throats at 10 times the volume in December. Christmas can have some reality in our lives if we stay clear on the "scene" being a scam. We can look at it and see just another part of the greater picture of how this society is not working for us. This doesn't buy toys for the kids but it gives them a break from feeling like they are complete- ly to blame and that, with understanding, they and we can do something about it the rest of the year. But this is not a bah humbug story.

We can rediscover our own traditions from whatever culture we're from. We can wait it out. Some of us can ignore it. We can use the "holiday" to do stuff we've wanted +n dn; KC can create our own alternate rituals.

We can go along for the ride and pretend we're having fun. We can have genuine fun. You seeyethere are lots of Christmas games we can play. But Christmas anxiety, fear and vio-

lence won't go away until the conditions that create them all 12 months of the year do. Don't let Xmas grind us to a halt. (If your Christmases are usually

merry keep your spirit clear.)

p. j . crusading

S E N I O R ' S ACTION COMMITTEE O N HOUSING

- -- -

For want of a b e t t e r name I have c a l l e d t h e group S.A.C. because t h a t is what it has become. I

I n two s h o r t months and two very good meetings t h e group has brought toge ther many f i n e i deas and i n i t i a - t i v e s on housing i n a l l a r e a s of Van.

On October 20th w e had t h e f i r s t meeting a t T e l l i e r Tower. Presen t a t t h i s meeting w e r e Mayor Gordon Camp- b e l l , Ald. Libby Davies, Mike Young from CMHC, a r e s p r e s e n t a t i v e from BCHMC, r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s from S o c i a l Planning, Non-Revenue Housing, Emer- gency Relocat ion Dept. and Heal th Dept. C.O.V. Denis Leoppke, Afford- a b l e Housing.

I n a d d i t i o n w e had r eps from CCAH K i t s i l a n o Tenants Assoc., DERA Ship- Shape, Spec i a l Council Committee on Seniors , Russ Hunter, Pat Raf fe r ty , D r s . Josephine Mallek & he r husband, Kay Stovold, Bet ty Backman, A r t Rem- p e l , Jack Chalmers. .attending a s a de l ega t e from W.E.S.N. - Len Stovold.

W e a l l had a chance t o g e t a load o f f our minds. W e a l s o had a chance t o l e t Mayor Campbell know w e w e r e d<- . . l - . . - -d ..-a 4-,. .---4- &,. L--..- uraprsaaru a r r u L V ~ C . L UVWII LV Y L ~ U ~

t acks on some housing i n i t i a t i v e s . This f i r s t meeting was so success-

f u l , a second meeting was c a l l e d f o r Nov. 23rd and he ld at t h e J i m Green Room a t Four S i s t e r s Co-op. D r . Tom Perry, NDP MLA West Poin t Grey was our gues t .

A proposal f o r D r . Per ry t o spon- s o r a p r i v a t e member's b i l l was put forward and D r . Perry suggested t h a t it should be done along wi th Robin Blencoe, t h e NDP housing c r i t i c and Emery Barnes, MLA f o r our d i s t r i c t .

Af t e r much d i scus s ion i t was decided t h e cha i rperson should contac t Grace McCarthy MLA and Doug Mowat MLA

both f o r L i t t l e Mountain, Alds. John- a than Baker, Carole Taylor, Sandra Wilking and K i m Campbell MP t o meet with a sub-committee composed of Harry Cobourn, Ron Stromberg, Bet ty Tangye, Russ Hunter, Bet ty Backman, - Kay & Len Stovold, Jack Chalmers and Denis Leoppke t o d i s cus s t h e possi- b i l i t y of a moratorium on demolid t i ons . Of equal p r i o r i t y would be r e n t c o n t r o l s , a Tenant 's Charter , and a formal reques t t o t h e Provin- c i a l & Federal governments f o r 2,000 s o c i a l housing u n i t s per year .

These a r e t h e t h ings we need f o r our a r e a and we a r e prepared t o do everything we can t o achieve t he se goa ls .

By JACK CHALMERS

Learning Centre Update

The staff, students and volunteers welcome Mr. - Lex Baas to the

C . _ . - L _ _ _ T - - . :- I PCJ r II LILY L C I L L L C . UGA A D -

the new co-ordinator, and tentatively b e g i ~ g his job on December 27th. He brings a wealth of experiences to his new position; he has worked with the Sisters of Char- ity and Mother Teresa, been a group home leader, and a teacher.

Best of luck to you, Lex, and welcome to Carnegie!

And thanks to everyone on the Selection Committee.

MAYOR GORDON CAMPBELL CITY HALL VANCOUVER, B.C. VSY 1V4

FROM A VANCOUVERIT!: WH G...

q HAD TO MOVE BECAUSE MY APARTMENT BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED. HAD TO MOVE BECAUSE MY APARTMENT BUILDING IS GOING TO BE DEMOLISHED.

O H A D TO MOVE BECAUSE MY RENT WAS INCREASED BEYOND MY ABILITY TO PAY.

q WILL HAVE TO MOVE IF YOUR SECONDARY sum POLICY IS IMPLEMENTED. HAVE CONSIDERED MOVING BECAUSE OF THE 'MONSTER HOUSE' BEING CONSTRUCTED NEXT TO ME. MAY HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY WHILE THEY CUT DOWN TREES TO ACCOMMODATE NEW HOUSES.

Cj wOiuiD iiKE To WE i0 VOW VLG SCHEME 8ui COULD NOT AFFORD THE PROJECTED FIENTS.

q WAS U MUVED BY THE 1989 PROPERTV TAX INCREASE. q WOULD LIKE YOU TO MOVE FASTER ON DEMOLITION

CONTROLS q THINKS YOU SHOULDN'T MOVE SO FAR FROM M E R E K

ISSUES IN THE NEIGHBOURHOODS. HOPES r OU WILL BE REMOVED IN M E NEXT ELECTION

Dear Folks,

What appears on t h i s page is a copy of a Greeting Card f o r Mayor Campbell.

I f you would l i k e t o send one, come t o t h e Newsletter Off ice. There a r e about 100 e x t r a s r i g h t now but more can be made i f w e run ou t .

The postage is 4 8 ~ each, so the idea is t o g e t a few (maybe a few thousand) and take them t o Ci ty H a l l and give them a l l t o H i s Worship personal ly!

December 15, 1989, carnegie newsletter

Documents

Transcript of December 15, 1989, carnegie newsletter