G8/20: The Issues Pt.2

Gwalgen Dent — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 04:23:37 +0000

Economics Measures Planned to Save Banks From Themselves

Toronto - With a heavy focus on G8/20 security, protesters, weapons and summit costs, Mainstream Media have been accused of failing to cover another important aspect of the G8/20: the issues. The Toronto Media Co-op takes aim at the Toronto G8/20 agenda and the grassroots response in this second part of a week-long series.

Cooperative Banking Fights Back

Gwalgen Dent — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:41:17 +0000

Ontario Credit Unions Weather the Economic Crisis

Toronto – Last month, members of Hamilton-based Nasco Employees' Credit Union stopped being members of the Nasco Employees' CU.

On January 6th, Nasco Employees' CU was purchased by another Hamilton-based Credit Union: Prime Financial Savings.

Anti-Poverty Protestors Disrupt Financial District

Gwalgen Dent — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:07:44 +0000

Activists Target 'People Pulling The Strings'

Under a blanket of hail, rain and cold weather, 200-300 protesters marched in the financial centre of Toronto on November 5th. The march, organized by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) , took aim at government policy during the recession. The Canadian Federation of Students – Ontario held a separate march on the same day which went through Queen’s Park, home of the Ontario Legislature.

“We’re demanding real income, real housing, real justice…Let’s Go!,” said a speaker at the event before protesters started walking towards King St. and Bay St. in Downtown Toronto, home to such financial heavyweights as Toronto-Dominion Bank, the Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank of Canada and the Bank of Nova Scotia.

Before marching a series of OCAP speakers at St. James Park in Toronto took aim at Provincial and Federal policy.

“We wanted to participate that day and march into the financial district to point out who is benefiting within this crisis,” says Lisa Schofield, an organizer with OCAP. Criticizing the C$75 billion Canadian Chartered bank bailout program in October last year, Schofield argues that money has not flowed similarly to social housing and social assistance. “Our specific demands are around income. We're demanding a raise to assistance rates of 40%, less hours to qualify for the EI system, a raise in minimum wage…justice for non status people and justice for first nations communities.”

Other speeches were made against the Federal Foreign Temporary Worker Program, First-Nations drinking water health, fare increases for the Toronto Transit Commission and recent labour practices by Cadillac-Fairview.