News > UK > Crime
Hacking may well have taken place at Mirror, says editor
James Cusick
Tuesday 17 January 2012

One of Piers Morgan's key associates during his editorship of the Daily Mirror
told the Leveson Inquiry yesterday it was possible that one of the paper's
award-winning scoops – its 2002 revelation of the affair between the then
England football manager Sven-Gφran Eriksson and the TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson
– could have been obtained by phone hacking.

Richard Wallace, who was showbiz editor at the Mirror under Mr Morgan and now
edits Trinity Mirror's flagship title, also admitted that hacking among the
paper's showbiz team – described as commonplace during previous inquiry evidence
– may have been "hidden" from him.

The Sunday Mirror's editor, Tina Weaver, also told the inquiry that she could
not guarantee phone hacking had not taken place at her paper.

It is the first time the two executives have admitted that the practice of
illegally accessing telephone voicemails could have been happening at their
titles.

The Metropolitan Police are currently engaged in a criminal investigation into
the extent of phone hacking at News International, the UK print subsidiary of
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.

Last November, the former Mirror reporter James Hipwell told Lord Justice
Leveson's inquiry into press culture and ethics that phone hacking during the
Morgan years was regarded as a "perfectly acceptable way of getting stories" and
"a bog-standard journalistic tool".

Mr Wallace was appointed as the Mirror's showbiz editor in 1999 and became its
head of news a year later. David Barr, the junior counsel to the inquiry, asked
him whether he had been aware of phone hacking on the showbiz desk. Mr Wallace
replied: "Not to my knowledge."

Mr Barr responded: "Can I take it therefore that it's possible that [phone
hacking] was going on but hidden from you?"

Mr Wallace replied that it "might well have been".

Of the Eriksson-Jonsson exposι, detailed in Mr Morgan's book, The Insider, Mr
Wallace is described as going into the editor's office and saying: "I think you
may need to sit down for this one."

When Mr Wallace was asked about the source of his tip about the affair, he said
he could not recall the details. Again, Mr Barr asked if it was "possible" that
it was phone hacking? Mr Wallace replied: "It's possible, yes."

Ms Weaver was asked whether, at one point during 2004, phone hacking was
regarded as a way of getting scoops, and if there was gossip among the paper's
staff about the practice.

Asked if this was true and if she could help on the matter, Ms Weaver told the
inquiry: "No, I can't."

She added that she was not in a position to offer guarantees that phone hacking
had not taken place at the Sunday title.

Last July, the BBC reported allegations that one reporter on the Sunday Mirror
was called the "master of the dark arts". Ms Weaver told the inquiry she
believed the claims were untrue.

Lloyd Embley, editor of The People, which is also part of the Trinity Mirror
newspaper stable, was a Mirror journalist at the same time as Mr Hipwell. He
told the inquiry that he had "never seen any phone hacking" and said allegations
that it was commonplace were "incorrect and unsubstantiated".

* Before the formal start of yesterday's proceedings, a letter from the legal
team of the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown was read out.

It disputed evidence given to the inquiry by the former Sun editor, Kelvin
MacKenzie, who claimed Rupert Murdoch had told him that Mr Brown had "roared" at
him for 20 minutes after being told his papers were switching their allegiance
to the Conservatives. "The story is completely untrue," the letter said. Lord
Justice Leveson said he might summon Mr Brown to give his side of the story
later in the inquiry.

Newspapers may be forced to join regulator

Simon Carr: Thankfully, media hackers, thieves and blackmailers can always rely
on Ken Clarke


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/hacking-may-well-have-taken-place-at-\
mirror-says-editor-6290681.html

======================================================================



The Guardian -
News - Local

Mailing a letter in Canada or to the U.S. costs 2 cents more today Published on
January 16, 2012

The cost of mailing a first-class letter within Canada is now 61 cents and
letters to the United States now cost $1.05.

Letters to overseas destinations jump a nickel to $1.80.

Canada Post says the increases are part of a five-year pricing strategy
initially announced in 2009.

The rate hikes come as more Canadians rely on email, texting, Facebook, Twitter
and other electronic communications.

During last June's rotating strikes by postal workers followed by a 10-day
lockout, Canada Post said letter volumes had dropped 17 per cent over the past
five years.


http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2012-01-16/article-2865388/Mailing-a-let\
ter-in-Canada-or-to-the-U.S.-costs-2-cents-more-today/1

======================================================================

News Canada Politics

Stephen Harper's old-age pension cuts unnecessary
Published On Fri Jan 27 2012

A puzzled audience of tycoons meeting in Davos, Switzerland, found themselves
privy to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's gratuitous plan to lop chunks from
Canada's Old Age Security system, writes Tom Walkom.
Jean-christophe Bott/AP

By Thomas Walkom
  National Affairs Columnist

Typically, Prime Minister Stephen Harper chose somewhere far away to reveal the
next stage of his not-exactly-hidden agenda.

Four years ago, he used an international summit in Peru to signal his brief
flirtation with Keynesian economic stimulus. This week, a puzzled audience of
tycoons meeting in Davos, Switzerland, found themselves privy to Harper's
gratuitous plan to lop chunks from Canada's Old Age Security system.

Along with the Canada Pension Plan (which Harper says he will not cut), Old Age
Security is the major source of income for most Canadians 65 and over. These
days, the average OAS pension payout is a little over $500 a month.

Along with a sister program for the ultra-poor, it is credited with lifting
thousands of seniors from lives of execrable poverty.

Old-age pensions have always presented a conundrum to rock-ribbed right-wingers.
Like many who grew up in the era when Britain's cost-cutting Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher served as a conservative icon, Harper has little patience for
social programs.

His view, expressed over the years in various writings, is that Ottawa should
focus on crime and defence ("prisons and armed men" as Friedrich Engels once put
it), leaving charity, family, the free market and perhaps the provinces to take
care of all else.

However, old-age pensions are popular among older people, many of whom vote
Conservative. Former prime minister Brian Mulroney found that out when he tried
to gut Old Age Security in the 1980s. In the end, he was forced to compromise.

Tellingly, Harper didn't mention old-age pension cuts at all during last year's
election campaign.

In Davos, the Prime Minister said his cuts won't affect current pensioners.
Exactly what else he has in mind is unclear.

There is some suggestion he will raise the minimum age, now 65, at which people
become eligible for full Old Age Security payments. But he also could de-link
these payments from inflation, or lower the family income threshold (now about
$69,000) at which they begin to be clawed back.

What is clear from his speech in Davos is that he doesn't need to do anything.

As the Prime Minister correctly pointed out, Canada is no Greece. Government
debt levels, as a percentage of gross domestic product, are low; the federal
deficit is being whittled back.

There is no fiscal crisis in this country.

True, the government predicts that the cost of pensions for the elderly, now
about $35.6 billion, will triple by 2030. That sounds dire. In fact it means
that the pension bill will grow by about 5.6 per cent a year during the period

And when baby boomers start to die off, as they will from about 2020, spending
on the elderly will start to decelerate on its own.

What the times do present, however, is political opportunity. The standard
conservative critique of Europe, which Harper echoed in Davos, is that social
programs have bankrupted the continent. The case of the apocryphal Greek
hairdresser able to retire on state pension at 53 is invariably raised.

In fact, the European debt crisis is far more complex. Spain and Ireland, which
do not offer generous social programs, are in trouble. Germany, which does, is
not.

Arguably, the real root cause of the crisis was the decision by countries with
vastly different economies to use a common currency, the euro — a decision that
encouraged too much public and private borrowing during the good times and makes
repayment now near impossible.

Nonetheless, the myth of pensioner excess provides an easy talking point for
those anxious to cut social spending in Canada. The euro may be the true villain
of the piece. But the story of the slothful Greek hairdresser is easier to
understand.

Thomas Walkom's column appears Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1122622--walkom-stephen-harp\
er-s-old-age-pension-cuts-unnecessary

----------------------------------------------------------------------


News Canada Politics
Inside thestar.com Subway car takes final journey  Afghan interpreter wrongly
accused  Legonaut takes tour of Toronto  Gingrich heads for crash-landing  3
possible outcomes in Shafia case Prime Minister Stephen Harper vow to reform
retirement benefits may upset some Canadians
Published On Fri Jan 27 2012Email Print(30) Rss ArticleComments (30)
After Brian Mulroney partially de-indexed old age pensions in his 1985 budget,
he was confronted on Parliament Hill by Solange Denis, who shouted, "You lied to
us." "I was made to vote for you and then it's good-bye, Charlie Brown," Denis
told Mulroney, who soon backed down on the move.

The Canadian Press file photo
  Bruce Campion-Smith and Les Whittington
  Ottawa Bureau

OTTAWA—Is this Stephen Harper's "Charlie Brown" moment, or a defining change in
crafting a conservative legacy?

In just a few short weeks, the Prime Minister has signalled that he intends to
make the most of his majority mandate with moves to cap health-care funding and
streamline approvals for energy projects. Then, in a speech in Davos,
Switzerland Thursday, he put Canadians on notice to expect major reforms in
immigration and research and development funding.

But it was his vow to change retirement income benefits — an area where previous
governments have tried and failed — that has stirred the most reaction.

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney learned the hard way that politicians
tinker with the issue at their peril. After he partially de-indexed old age
pensions in his 1985 budget, he was confronted on Parliament Hill by Solange
Denis, who shouted, "You lied to us."

"I was made to vote for you and then it's good-bye, Charlie Brown," Denis told
Mulroney, who soon backed down on the move.

Paul Martin, too, tried to reform old-age benefits in 1995 when he was finance
minister, worried about the impact of aging baby boomers on Ottawa's bottom
line. But he couldn't win over prime minister Jean Chrιtien, who was wary of
incurring the wrath of angry pensioners.

Now Harper is taking a turn and he's hoping that some stern warnings about the
financial risks of Canada's aging population will get Canadians onside.

"Our demographics also constitute a threat to the social programs and services
that Canadians cherish," he told his Swiss audience.

Officials are staying mum on the details but it appears Canadians may have to
wait longer to collect Old Age Security — worth about $6,096 a year — by
boosting the eligibility age to 67 from 65.

In a bulletin distributed Friday, the government stressed there will be no
changes to the benefits that seniors currently receive.

"We will ensure any changes are done with substantial notice and adjustment
period and in a way that does not affect current retirees or those close to
retirement, and gives others plenty of time to adjust and plan for their
retirement," the bulletin says.

But it also warns that without changes, the Old Age Security program is
"unsustainable" and will become "too expensive."

Conservative strategist Tim Powers thinks most Canadians will be sympathetic to
Harper's warnings about the impact of the country's aging population.

"You can't run away from the reality. I think every Canadian has a reasonable
understanding of the demographic challenges that we have," he said in an
interview Friday.

"It's just good communication strategy to pre-condition your audience to what
you're going to do and put it in the frame of the day. The global debate is
about making choices."

And now is the time to make changes, he said, whether it's to retirement
benefits or the broader cuts to government spending expected in the spring
budget.

"If there was ever a climate to make change, it is now, both in the first year
of his majority and also in the broader climate of the world," he said.

But pollster John Wright cautioned that Harper's moves on retirement benefits
will upset some Canadians. He also said the agenda laid out by Harper in Davos
is largely a summation of what the Conservatives have been trying to do
incrementally.

If the Conservative minority government had clearly laid out this agenda before,
"it may have become a bigger target before the election campaign because it
would have spoken to a lot of changes all in one place," added Wright, a senior
vice-president at Ipsos Public Affairs.

"It's a very interesting dismantling of the kind of Trudeauesque version of
national vision," Wright said, referring to a period where Ottawa's key role in
setting Canada-wide programs and objectives on social and economic issues was
taken for granted.

Harper's political opponents question why Harper didn't raise the proposed
changes during last May's election.

"What I don't understand is how the Prime Minister could spring this new agenda
on Canadians when he chose not to discuss any of this in the last election,"
Liberal interim leader Bob Rae said in an interview.

"In the election campaign, he could have talked about changing retirement dates
or changing the pensions of Canadians."

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1122814

=======================================================================

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 1999, the United Nations condemned Ontario for publicly funding the education
system of one faith and no other.

http://www.educationfairness.ca/ads/PrintAd1.pdf


ULC Charter
http://blog.documents.angelfire.com/ULCharter.pdf

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Indecency Rules & Profanity News
http://www.congoo.com/news/related?channel_id=1&story_id=38929965

Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council
Statement of Principles and Practices
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/corp/CTVShows/20031023/corp-StatePP


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~ new age spiritual multifaith & non-denominational

http://www.omc.ca

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Bookmark:
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Exercising Our First Amendment Rights!
Any attempts to intercept this message violate Title 18 U.S.C. 2511(1) of
Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). All violators subject to fines,
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ie. LEGAL NOTICE TO ALL CANADIANS/FOREIGNERS
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{obstruction of incoming legal mail/monthly list reminder file}



========================================================================

Cuts to OHIP services could include some planned C-section births

Published On Wed Jan 25 2012

NA-HOMES18 Minister of Health and Long-Term Care for Ontario Deb Matthews,
speaks at Queen's Park following the Star's article on abuse and neglect in
Ontario nursing homes. November 18, 2011. BERNARD WEIL/TORONTO STAR

BERNARD WEIL/TORONTO STAR
  Rob Ferguson
  Queen's Park Bureau

Taxpayers will soon find they have to pay for more health services now covered
by OHIP as Ontario sheds its $16 billion deficit — with possible limits on
planned caesarean sections, Health Minister Deb Matthews says.

There must be evidence that medical tests and procedures improve health outcomes
for patients or they will be gone, as was the case with widespread vitamin D
testing, Matthews told reporters Wednesday.

"If there isn't evidence to support a procedure or test, we don't want to pay
for it," she said on the way into a cabinet meeting. "Sometimes that will mean
delisting."

The vitamin D tests are now covered for patients only in rare circumstances and
the province has saved $66 million.

Matthews cited "pretty interesting research" that more caesarean sections are
performed in certain urban areas of Ontario than others.

"What that tells me is that we've got work to do to make sure that everyone is
practicing the highest-quality medicine," she said, before being asked if
Ontario would no longer cover planned C-sections.

"We leave that to the experts. I get advice from people who are much, much more
knowledgeable about this than I am.

"We'll be taking a hard look at a number of issues."

Later Wednesday evening, the government scrambled to clear up the ambiguity left
by Matthews.

"There are no plans to de-list OHIP coverage of C-sections," said spokeswoman
Zita Astravas. "If the procedure is deemed medically necessary by a medical
professional, OHIP will cover it."

But it remains unclear what will happen with the C-sections Matthews was
suggesting may not be necessary.

There are no statistics on planned caesarean operations — sometimes derided as
"too posh to push" procedures — as opposed to emergency C-sections, when a baby
is unable to be safely delivered naturally.

But former TD Bank chief economist Don Drummond, who is leading a high-profile
commission on the restructuring of government services, told the Star last
weekend that C-section births are "off the charts."

According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Ontario has higher
primary C-section rates than Canada as a whole. Most recent statistics from the
Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences indicate more than 28 per cent of
hospital births in the province are C-sections.

Women who give birth by C-section spend more time in hospital, often a few days,
adding to costs in the health-care system. Some women opt to give birth at home
with midwives, which further saves the system money and reduces the risk of
mothers and babies contracting hospital-based infections.

"Giving birth is the main reason Ontario women are hospitalized, yet there is no
medical reason to be hospitalized for a healthy labour or delivery," said
Katrina Kilroy, president of the Ontario Association of Midwives, which has been
lobbying the government to fund birthing centres.

The group said cutting the number of C-sections in Ontario by 15 per cent would
save $50 million a year.

Opposition parties said the government seems poised for its biggest delisting of
services from OHIP since Premier Dalton McGuinty's first budget in 2004.

That's when the Liberals, facing an unexpected $5.6 billion deficit from the
previous government, scrapped chiropractic care, optometrist visits and most
physiotherapy from the list of taxpayer-covered services. The delisting led to a
political furor because it came as the cash-strapped government introduced the
Ontario Health Premium of up to $900 per person — sending a mixed message of
citizens paying more for health care but getting less.

New Democrat MPP and finance critic Michael Prue said his party is worried about
potential cuts from Matthews, who will make a major speech Monday on the future
of health care as the government tries to get on a more sustainable financial
footing.

"We all need to be concerned if they do make the cuts again that they made eight
years ago — that's going to be really be terrible for the health-care system,"
Prue (Beaches-East York) told reporters.

While it's "pretty obvious" Ontario needs to find efficiencies in health care,
which now eats up almost half the provincial budget, Progressive Conservative
MPP Peter Shurman said the government has to be careful.

"Efficiencies is not code for cuts . . . it's how do we provide the best bang
for the buck," said Shurman, his party's finance critic.

The Ontario Medical Association said it has been working with the government to
find $240 million in savings, and is looking for more. Doctors are in contract
talks with the government this year.

The Liberal government was elected in 2003 with Dalton McGuinty saying he had no
plan to raise taxes. In his first budget, he implemented a health premium of up
to $900 per person

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1121399

----------------------------------------------------------------------


bell canada vs. the future, 2012

the telecom giant is asking permission to charge a whole loonie for a payphone
call, instead of the current 50 cents.  Bell says the money will pay for
upgrades to the GTA's 22,000 payphones. consumer advocates say low-income people
could be negatively affected. we say, the gta still has 22,000 payphones? where?


----------------------------------------------------------------------




News
Harper turning off seniors with OAS talk
Mark Dunn
Wednesday, February 01, 2012, 1:26 PM

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is pictured in the PM's office in Ottawa on
January 11, 2012. (ANDRE FORGET/QMI Agency)
The over-50 crowd takes a dim view of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's plan to
change Old Age Security.

An internal survey of members of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons
(CARP) suggests support for the Conservatives is slipping among a group that
typically votes for them.

Many of those surveyed already collect OAS and have nothing to fear if the
government jacks up the age to 67 from 65 to collect the benefit.

"Both members and non-members are calling...I think the response is visceral,"
said Susan Eng, CARP's vice-president of advocacy.

"Our members are mostly retired. They themselves already get their OAS. Their
reaction is about the principle (of touching pensions)."

CARP asked its members their opinion of Harper's announcement in Switzerland to
fundamentally change the pension system, including raising the age to collect
the OAS. More than 60% of 3,000 respondents strongly disagreed or disagreed.

CARP also routinely asks its members how they would vote if an election were
held tomorrow. Two weeks ago, 44.4% of 2,126 respondents said Conservative.

The day after Harper's speech to the World Economic Forum, 35% of 3,134
respondents said Conservative.

"We are dealing with a group of people who are exactly their (Conservative)
base," Eng said.

The government says the cost of OAS will balloon to $108 billion in 2030 from
about $40 billion this year because the number of recipients is expected to
nearly double to 9.3 million over the same period. The issue dominated question
period in the Commons again on Wednesday with both the NDP and Liberals arguing
any changes would harm the most vulnerable of Canadians.

CARP says it's considering orchestrating a phone-in campaign to let MPs know of
its opposition to OAS changes, but will wait until the government spells out its
intentions.

Mark.Dunn@...

Twitter:MarkDunnSun

http://m.torontosun.com/2012/02/01/harper-turning-off-seniors-with-oas-talk

----------------------------------------------------------------------


Don't mess with our OAS
Published On Sat Feb 4 2012

Many readers were upset Prime Minister Stephen Harper chose to drop a pension
bombshell while in Davos.

Adrian Wyld/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Re: Delaying old age security a needless pain for poor, Feb. 1

As a lifelong supporter of the Conservative party and an individual who
anticipates being adversely impacted by such changes I regret that must to add
my voice of displeasure to the growing masses. Frankly, it is just wrong to
change the goal line for those of us at the 75-yard marker.

Having paid into the system for the better part of 30 years I'm sorry but, yes,
I am entitled. Let's face it, at this late stage in the game for many of us it
would be mathematically impossible for us to fill the gap with our time left in
the workforce.

I do understand the need for financial austerity and would therefore propose
that we all share the pain. So let's start with the MPs. Today our MPs'
retirement "entitlement" is $40,000 per year at age 55 for a mere six years of
service, this number jumps to $75,000 per year at 15 years of service and
$150,000 a year for a cabinet minister. This works out to an unbelievable $23 in
taxpayer contribution for every $1 of MP contribution.

MPs should be mandated to contribute 4 per cent of their salary into a defined
contribution plan and be entitled to a 4 per cent government (employer) match —
the same program that much of the private sector enjoys. Average Canadians will
cut the politicians some slack if they demonstrate that they are willing to bite
the bullet along with the rest of us.

Lastly, in the event that the proposed changes are I'm fact imposed on
Canadians, the government needs to dramatically raise or eliminate the RRSP caps
so that we can save freely for our old age, clearly we cannot rely on government
to live up to its commitments.

Jeff Mcdermott, Alliston

The Conservative Party's policy of delaying the eligibility of OAS benefits is
anti-women, unjust from a class perspective, wrong headed economics and
anti-immigrant in nature. I urge the government to leave the OAS program as it
is and cover the increased expense of this program due to demographic effects
from other sources.

Paul Sullivan, Toronto

Surely the PM has lost all sight of what proper government is all about. Even
contemplating fooling with the nation's security program is totally foolhardy.
To even consider penalizing these so-called baby boomers who are now coming up
for retirement after working and paying into the system for many years, is truly
unconscionable.

The rest of us are unlike parliamentarians, who get large pensions after serving
two terms in office, and then maybe get a soft, but well-paid seat in the
Senate. I'm sure at the next election these older citizens will show Mr. Harper
the door. We can only hope.

Bill Langham, Bethany

I am wondering how Stephen Harper believes that forcing seniors to work longer
will save money. Won't the cost of unemployed younger workers forced on to
welfare offset any savings from denying seniors their well earned retirement
benefits?

Elaine French, Whitby

Stephen Harper chooses his words carefully, "There will be no cuts to the OAS."
But extending the age to receive that same pension amounts to exactly the same
thing. Companies routinely fire and won't hire anyone in their 50s; so how can
someone that's 65 get a decent job to last them until they hit 67 or 69?

David Scott Barclay, Georgetown

Ralph Goodale is correct that in 2030 (20 years hence) that the OAS will cost
only 2 per cent of GDP more than today due to the fact the Canadian economy will
have grown 60 per cent greater by then. So why is Harper wasting oxygen on this
topic?

Why are his zealots taking to the airwaves in defence of this dubious plan to
delay OAS? It seems the Prime Minister has noted that Canadians are not dropping
dead at age 66 anymore, and, by God, Harper won't be paying for this OAS
socialism, especially when the military needs the money.

The sad part is he was given this majority by people who wanted to "stick it" to
others but got it stuck to themselves instead.

Bryan Charlebois, Toronto

I'm thoroughly disheartened. There's always money for mega-prisons and for new
jets, and we dare not touch the MPs' platinum pensions. But the steamroller of a
government decides it needs to make cuts to OAS?

There has always been a clawback as a result of graduated income tax, so I guess
we're also headed toward a flat-tax too. He's reaming healthcare funding in
Canada as well and yet there are still some who don't believe he's out to
destroy the fabric of Canadian society.

The Conservatives have a technical majority in the House, but they certainly
don't have the hearts, minds or votes of the majority of Canadians. I'm all for
fiscal responsibility — this isn't it.

Jean Gibbens, Guelph

The Prime Minister has taken his disrespect and disregard for Parliament and the
Canadian people to new levels. He is now announcing government policy
initiatives to the international community rather than to Parliament. Announcing
pension reform initiatives at the Davos Conference highlights the fact that he
doesn't give a damn about Parliament or Canadians.

If he wanted to implement major pension reforms, why did he not announce these
as policy initiatives during the recent election? Canadians have to get rid of
this dictator and his party of neocons.

Bill Longworth, Oshawa

I am extremely upset with Stephen Harper's plans to change the OAS from age 65
to age 67. I am 27 months away from age 65, and can be classified as one of the
people suffering from the new economy. In 27 months I will require these funds
to exist, even then giving me a below poverty income.

I have worked my whole life contributing taxes, and feel I am entitled at age 65
to receive these funds. I would suggest to Mr. Harper that there are many areas
he can find to cut spending, and that planned seniors incomes is definitely not
feasible.

Neil McGaghey, Cambridge

With reference to old-age security and pensions, Thomas Walkom writes that Prime
Minister Stephen Harper "has little patience for social programs." This is
slightly inaccurate. Mr. Harper indeed has little patience for social programs
that benefit people, especially vulnerable people (e.g., the poor, the elderly),
but clearly works very hard to implement social programs that benefit corporate
profits.

Purchase of fighter jets, building of prisons (and the high-tech surveillance
and cheap labour that goes with it), and corporate tax cuts (for example) are
all social programs that channel public money into corporate profits.

Dr. Raj Singh, Carleton University, Institute of Cognitive Science, Ottawa

So the Harper government wants to impose a regressive tax to reduce his
self-imposed deficit. The regressive tax is the delaying of OAS. Regressive
because it will impact lower income Canadians more then the rich. The tax is
also arbitrary in that it only targets those unfortunate persons that are about
to qualify — many of whom may have planned on having OAS to supplement their
retirement income.

The Harper government has once again placed an unfair burden on the poor and
Canadians with lower incomes. Did Harper mention he was delaying MPs' pensions;
or did I miss it?

Don Haines, Markdale

Since the OAS is already clawed back on the basis of high income, it is quite
clear that Harper wants to fund his corporate tax cuts on the backs of seniors
who can least afford it. The lowering of corporate tax rates by 7 percentage
points between 2007 and 2012 alone will cost the public treasury $13.7 billion
annually in lower returns. Is it fair to ask our poorest pensioners to pay for
these corporate entitlements?

Larry Kazdan, Vancouver

So Stephen Harper waits till he is in Davos before announcing pension reform. He
never mentioned anything on his runup to the election, because of the grey-power
group of pensioners. If any pension reform is needed it should be on MP
pensions.

Gordon Robinson, Pickering

During last year's election campaign, Mr. Harper repeatedly denied he had any
"secret agenda." Did anyone hear him talk about capping health care costs?
Downloading health care standards to the provinces? How about pension reform?

Well, I guess that proves it. Mr. Harper lied about his intentions. Obviously he
lacked the courage and integrity to reveal his "secret agenda" and let the
voters decide if he should have a majority. Instead, like a weasel in the night,
he sneaked in and — surprise.

J. Richard Wright, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Hearing the Prime Minister's plans to change retirement income benefits for
Canadians in a speech delivered in a foreign country in front of an audience of
billionaires is somewhat chilling.

Bill Wensley, Cobourg

Is Mr. Harper tired of being Canada's Prime Minister? Cutbacks of any kind to
pensions will certainly cause the demise of his Conservative majority. Many
seniors exist on the edge of poverty, trying to remain in their own homes.
Monthly utility bills, taxes and insurance, plus the bare necessities of life,
leave zero dollars for any luxuries.

If Mr. Harper insists on pension roll-backs, start at the top with all the
politicians crowding the gravy trough and see how popular that would be. What a
wonderful opportunity for opposition parties to woo the senior vote, especially
with the number of baby boomers set to join our senior ranks.

S.E. Morrow, Huntsville

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters/article/1125585--don-t-mess-with-our-oas

----------------------------------------------------------------------



News International 'admits covering up evidence and lying to investigators' as
it makes massive payouts to hacking victims
Settlements could cost the Murdoch empire up to £10m

Lawyers claim that senior executives knew staff were hacking phones and evidence
was later destroyed
Sadie Frost given £50k damages and Gavin Henson accepts £40k
Jude Law receives £130k while his assistant gets £40k

Thirty-six claims have been settled... with more still to come

By Rick Dewsbury

Last updated at 6:10 PM on 19th January 2012

Dozens of celebrities and politicians including Gavin Henson and Sadie Frost
have settled damages claims over the News of the World phone-hacking scandal,
the High Court heard today.
Actress and designer Sadie Frost has received £50,000 in damages while Gavin
Henson has been paid £40,000. Footballer Ashley Cole has also received damages
but the figure was not disclosed.
Shaun Russell, whose wife and daughter were killed in Kent in 1996, and Sara
Payne, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah, are also among 36 claimants who
have reached settlements. The payments are expected to take the total bill for
Rupert Murdoch's News International up to £10m.

Revelations about the payments came as lawyers said that the company had
admitted covering up the scale of illegal activity.
Lawyers for the victims said in a statement outside the High Court: 'News Group
has agreed to compensation being assessed on the basis that senior employees and
directors of NGN knew about the wrongdoing and sought to conceal it by
deliberately deceiving investigators and destroying evidence.'

   The model Sadie Frost, left, accepted £50,000 damages while Gavin Henson, the
former partner of Charlotte Church, received £40,000

  Actor Jude Law, left, accepted £130,000 damages plus legal costs while his
former partner Sienna Miller, right, is understood to have already reached a
settlement
The group of lawyers made the claim before they told the court who had received
settlements and for how much.
They claim to have obtained documents from News International that revealed its
attempts to destroy evidence, partly thanks to the fact that the 12 solicitors'
firms involved had joined forces to work together.
  More...Private Eye editor Ian Hislop defends the freedom of the press saying
current laws are sufficient if properly enforced
'Overwhelmed' Pippa Middleton in legal bid over harrassment by paparazzi

'As a result, documents relating to the nature and scale of the conspiracy, a
cover up and the destruction of evidence/email archives by News Group have now
been disclosed to the claimants,' their statement said.

'In the face of this overwhelming evidence, the `rogue reporter' position has
disintegrated and the range, scale and extent of phone-hacking has become
clear.'
News International, the British newspaper arm of News Corp, said it would not
comment on the statement.

   Sara Payne, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne, right, is among 36
claimants who have had damages claims against News International settled

Thirty-six claimants have so far been awarded settlements and 18 of these were
revealed in court today.

They include Jude Law, who has accepted a settlement of £130,000 plus legal
costs from News International while his personal assistant Ben Jackson received
£40,000. Ciara Parkes, his former PR advisor, has received £35,000.

After the hearing today, Mr Law condemned the 'appalling' behaviour of News of
the World and said he brought legal proceedings 'to try to find out the truth'.
His phone was hacked repeatedly, including at JFK Airport in New York.

He said: 'For several years leading up to 2006, I was suspicious about how
information concerning my private life was coming out in the press. I changed my
phones, I had my house swept for bugs but still the information kept being
published. I started to become distrustful of people close to me.

'I was truly appalled by what I was shown by the police and by what my lawyers
have discovered. It is clear that I, along with many others, was kept under
constant surveillance for a number of years.
'No aspect of my private life was safe from intrusion by News Group Newspapers,
including the lives of my children and the people who work for me. It was not
just that my phone messages were listened to. News Group also paid people to
watch me and my house for days at a time and to follow me and those close to me,
both in this country and abroad.
  Australian singer Dannii Minogue, right, sister of Kylie Minogue, left,
received a settlement though the figure was not disclosed

   Ashley Cole, left, and Noel Gallagher's ex-wife Meg Matthews, right, were paid
off after being targeted but the sums were not revealed

MPs who have received settlements include Labour MP Chris Bryant who was awarded
£30,000, Lord Prescott who receives £40,000 in damages and Joan Hammell, his
former chief of staff, also received £40,000. Labour MP Denis MacShane received
£32,500 while MP Claire Ward received substantial damages but these were not
disclosed to the court.

Speaking to the Hull Daily Mail, Lord Prescott said: 'Today's court decision at
long last brings clarity, apology and compensation for the years of hacking into
my telephone messages by Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers.
'It follows years of aggressive denials and a cavalier approach to private
information and the law. These denials were supported by the Press Complaints
Commission (PCC) and the inaction of senior officers of the Metropolitan Police.
'However, I do not wish to make further comment on this whole matter until the
result of my judicial review against the Metropolitan Police has been
concluded.'
Anonymous claim 'HSK' who was hacked following a relationship with somebody
famous was awarded £60,000. While Lisa Gower, who had a phone hacked after being
linked to Steve Coogan, was given £30,000.
Prince Harry's friend Guy Pelly received £40,000, the court heard. Other public
figures whose settlements were revealed today include the writer Joan Smith,
football lawyer Graham Shear, journalist Tom Rowland and Harold Shipman's son
Christopher.

Former cavalry officer James Hewitt, who had an affair with Diana, Princess of
Wales, is among those who have received a payout, as is former MP George
Galloway, singer Dannii Minogue, Calum Best, the son of George Best, and Meg
Matthews, the ex-wife of former Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher.

PHONE HACKING SETTLEMENTS
Revealed today:

Jude Law - £130,000
Ben Jackson (Law's assistant) £40,000
Sadie Frost - £50,000
Gavin Henson - £40,000
'HSK' (anonymous) - £60,000
Guy Pelly - £40,000

Lord Prescott - £40,000
Joan Hammell, former chief of staff to Mr Prescott - £40,000
Labour MP Chris Bryant - £30,000
Labour MP Denis MacShane - £32,500
Ciara Parkes (former PR advisor to Jude Law and Sienna Miller) £35,000

Lisa Gower (linked to Steve Coogan) £30,000
Joan Smith (journalist) - £27,500
Graham Shear (football lawyer) - £25,000

Tom Rowland (journalist ) - £25,000
Ashley Cole - Undisclosed
Labour MP Claire Ward - undisclosed
Christopher Shipman, the son of serial killer GP Harold Shipman - undisclosed
News International has already paid out a £2m settlement to the family of Milly
Dowler. Gordon Taylor of the Football Association was given a reported £700,000
to settle a claim while Max Clifford received a £1m settlement.
It was alleged today that  senior employees and directors at News Group
Newspapers (NGN), the News International subsidiary that published the News of
the World, knew journalists were hacking phones.
Lawyers acting on behalf of the victims claim that the group deliberately
deceived police investigators and destroyed potentially incriminating evidence.
NGN has not commented on the suggestion that senior employees knew what has
happening, according to the Guardian.

Other claims that have been settled included those from Gavin Henson, the former
partner of Charlotte Church.
The deals mean that 36 damages claims being brought against News International
subsidiary News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of the now-defunct News of the
World, have been settled.
But Mark Thomson, of law firm Atkins Thomson, who represents some of the
claimants, said others would press ahead with a trial scheduled for next month.
Mr Thomson said: 'All of the claimants have been extremely brave to take on and
succeed against a massive and influential multinational media organisation.
'They can take the credit for triggering the new police investigation, the
parliamentary inquiries and the Leveson Inquiry. They should be very pleased
with what they have achieved.
'A number of claimants are still pursuing the matter to trial and, as a result,
NGN will continue to disclose further information and evidence.'
Today's hearing before Mr Justice Vos follows the settlement of a number of
other claims against News International subsidiary News Group Newspapers,
publisher of the now defunct News of the World.
When the case was last before the judge, in December, it emerged that seven
cases had been resolved with a number of others likely to be so.
It was said in other High Court proceedings in December, involving private
investigator Glenn Mulcaire and NGN, that, as of then, more than 60 claimants
had commenced proceedings against NGN and Mulcaire for breach of confidence and
misuse of private information, with the majority outstanding.
Mark Lewis, a lawyer for many of the phone hacking victims, said in an email
that the fight against Murdoch's empire was not over.
'While congratulations are due to those (lawyers) and clients who have settled
their cases, it is important that we don't get carried away into thinking that
the war is over,' Lewis said.

'Fewer than 1 percent of the people who were hacked have settled their cases.
There are many more cases in the pipeline. ... This is too early to celebrate,
we're not even at the end of the beginning.'
Tamsin Allen, of law firm Bindmans, said: 'The claimants now have some clarity
about what happened to them in the years between 2000 and 2005 and satisfaction
that justice has finally been done.
'Many of them have wondered for years how tabloid newspapers were able to obtain
secret personal information about them, even suspecting their closest friends
and relatives.
'Lives have been severely affected by this cavalier approach to private
information and the law. News Group's misguided decision to defend claims
aggressively made matters worse.'
The phone-hacking saga began with the conviction in 2007 of private investigator
Glenn Mulcaire and the News of the World's royal editor Clive Goodman.
At the time NGN said the hacking, involving the voicemails of royal aides, was
an isolated incident.
But the settlement of legal action by Professional Footballers' Association boss
Gordon Taylor and PR man Max Clifford led to speculation that phone hacking was
more widespread.
As more details of the scandal emerged last summer, the scandal forced the
resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman, a former News of the
World editor. British police were accused of failing to properly investigate the
affair and top police officials resigned.
In July, after it emerged that the voicemail of missing schoolgirl Milly Dowler,
later found dead, had been hacked by the News of the World, News Corp took the
drastic step of shutting down the 168-year-old tabloid. Mr  Cameron set up the
Leveson Inquiry to examine the behaviour of the press.

News International set up a compensation scheme in November to deal with
phone-hacking claims, moving to contain the consequences of a scandal that has
rocked the company, the British press, police and the political establishment.It
has already received more than 60 claims and police say there are almost 6,000
potential victims.

Criminal probes are now under way into the phone hacking and allegations of
payoffs to police.  News Corp was forced to scrap plans to take full control of
Britain's highly profitable satellite broadcaster BSkyB.
Hearings in the first cases of victims who have not settled are set to begin on
February 13.



Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2088808/Phone-hacking-victim-Jude-Law-ge\
ts-130k-payout-News-International-admits-lying.html#ixzz1lSQcxWfF

--------------------------------------------------------------------


Tyler Urging Legislators To Regulate TV
January 10, 2012 | 8:50pm EST

Rocker Steven Tyler is urging Supreme Court officials to step up their
legislation against indecency and the use of profanity on broadcast TV before
programs start becoming too "crass".

In 2010, a New York federal appeals court stripped the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) of its authority to ban the use of a single curse word on live
television and fine broadcasters for airing segments of nudity.

FCC officials have since appealed the ruling and Supreme Court legislators are
set to begin a hearing on the future of decency in broadcasting on Tuesday – and
it has sparked the interest of one unlikely supporter.

Aerosmith frontman Tyler is no stranger to profanity and indecency – he was
censored for using an expletive during an appearance on American Idol – but he
admits there's a fine line between an occasional mishap and a steady stream of
swear words.

And Tyler insists TV shows should be regulated and bosses held accountable for
their programming.

http://www.wenn.com/all-news/tyler-urging-legislators-to-regulate-tv/




======================================================================

News» Technology» Tech News

Supreme Court rules ISPs not subject to broadcast regulations
STEVE LADURANTAYE — MEDIA REPORTER
From Friday's Globe and Mail
Published Thursday, Feb. 09, 2012 10:48AM EST

Canada's Internet service providers aren't bound by the country's broadcast
regulations, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled Thursday.

Cultural groups argued that companies such as Bell and Rogers that provide
Internet connections to their customers should be considered broadcasters,
because they distribute content.

"An ISP does not engage with these policy objectives when it is merely providing
the mode of transmission," the court ruled as it dismissed the challenge.

"ISPs provide Internet access to end-users. When providing access to the
Internet, which is the only function of ISPs placed in issue by the reference
question, they take no part in the selection, origination, or packaging of
content."

If the court had decided the Internet providers were broadcasting, they could
have been subject to levies in the same way video distributors, such as cable
and satellite companies, are charged.

The case was raised by the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio
Artists, Canadian Media Production Association and the Directors Guild of Canada
and Writers Guild of Canada.

The respondents were Bell Aliant (BA-T26.95-0.19-0.70%), BCE Inc.
(BCE-T39.38-0.24-0.61%), Cogeco Cable Inc. (CCA-T46.80-1.13-2.36%), MTS
Allstream Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI.B-T37.47-0.78-2.04%), TELUS
Communications Company (T-T56.30-0.91-1.59%), Videotron Ltd. and Shaw
Communications Inc. (SJR.B-T19.55-0.20-1.01%)


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/tech-news/supreme-court-rules-isp\
s-not-subject-to-broadcast-regulations/article2332233/?utm_medium=Feeds%3A%20RSS\
%2FAtom&utm_source=Home&utm_content=2332233

----------------------------------------------------------------------


Olive: OAS not in crisis, no need to soak the seniors plan
Published On Fri Feb 10 2012

By David Olive
Business Columnist

Say what you will of Stephen Harper's success in scaring Canadian seniors with
his recent musings about cutting seniors' benefits. It does not warrant the
public debate that the most charitable of the PM's critics on this issue have
tepidly welcomed.

The affordability of a higher-quality health care system does merit debate. Also
affordable housing, the cornerstone of poverty reduction. Also education reform
that better matches students with a workplace that, as a business think tank
complained last week, is suffering a "desperate shortage" of skilled workers
despite 1.42 million Canadians out of work.

The PM is wrong about the sustainability of Old Age Security and the Guaranteed
Income Supplement, paid to the poorest Canadians. And Canadians have let him
know it.

In the short space of a week, an overtly partisan actor – a Liberal Party
distracted by a leadership campaign – was able to collect 12,000 signatures in
an online petition opposing cuts to seniors' benefits.

On his return from swanning with the swells in Davos, the improbable venue where
Harper first floated his soak-the-seniors idea, the PM was given an earful from
his own caucus. They have been inundated with complaints from constituents
fearful and angry about the prospect of either themselves or someone they love
being deprived of some portion of their average modest $500 a month in OAS
payments. (That's $6,000 a year, considerably below the poverty line. Hence the
Guaranteed Income Supplement paid to the poorest seniors.)

Neither Harper or his more excitable ministers have explained why OAS and GIS
suddenly are a "crisis."

Nor have they offered a scintilla of convincing evidence for their case. Which
is not surprising, perhaps, given the weight of contrary evidence in the many
reports on this topic. But you'd think the PM would at least have read those
reports before needlessly frightening a large part of the population.

Nor have the Tories advanced any solutions to their "crisis." Indeed, the PM and
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty have wilted under public pressure and back-pedaled
on the issue.

Here are some relevant facts.

  • Diane Finley, the federal human resources minister, is correct in noting
that, due largely to a baby boom entering retirement years, the number of
Canadians 65 and over will roughly double by 2030 to 9.3 million people. And in
tandem, OAS and GIS spending by government will triple by that time, to $108
billion.

Experts agree on those figures but dispute their impact. While the OAS and GIS
expenditures are growing, so too will the economy and government revenues, to
say nothing of inflation.

That prompts Kevin Page, the independent Parliamentary Budget Officer, to make
the common-sense observation that "By 2030, the size of the economy is going to
be more than double, and budgetary revenues will double. You cannot argue the
government has a fiscal sustainability problem."

The cost of elderly benefits is forecast to rise to almost 21 per cent of
government spending by 2030. But thereafter that burden is expected to decline
back to current levels, due to economic growth and demographics. The burden "is
going to go up, and then it's going to go down, so where's the crisis?" Page
asks.

  • Finley's "scarems" include the fiscal crisis in Europe, whose more generous
public pensions could migrate to Canada, she says.

Fat chance of that. In Canada, seniors' benefits account for nearly 15 per cent
of government program spending. ("Program spending" excludes huge costs like
servicing the national debt, which means the actual percentage is even smaller.)

For the average of rich-nation members of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD), that figure is 17 per cent. For Italy, the
figure is 30 per cent.

Yes, that comparative generosity does contribute to Europe's current debt
crisis. But what European actually suffers is aftershocks from the collapse of
the U.S. housing bubble, in the form of stagnating growth that has made debt
payments suddenly onerous. Besides, Italy has just raised its age eligibility
from age 60 to 67, matching similar efforts elsewhere in Europe.

  • Yet another, perhaps defining, difference between Canada and other countries
besides the U.S. is immigration. The population of the Japanese monoculture,
which like much of Europe is hostile to newcomers, already is in decline. So is
Russia's. Continental Europe will soon follow. That does put a big burden on a
dwindling number of people still in the workforce.

By contrast, Canada will continue its open-door immigration policy, with all the
entrepreneurial and technological wealth that comes with it. And the U.S.
population is forecast to increase about 40 per cent by mid-century, an
incredible feat for a "mature" economy. So yes, we North Americans are aging.
But the ranks of our young will soon be growing at a rapid pace.

  • There are about half a dozen recent reports on our seniors' benefits. They
all find that OAS and GIS "burdens" are affordable basically forever.

Kevin Page made a big splash Feb. 8 exposing the nonsense of Harper's
crisis-mongering. But Page was only echoing a 2007 report commissioned by Ottawa
as part of a larger study overseen by Jack Mintz, a fiscal hardliner.

A 2010 Parliamentary committee recommended no change in OAS and GIS eligibility
years. Same with a 2010 report by York University political science professor
Thomas Klassen. A 2009 paper by Richard Shillington also commissioned by Ottawa
agreed and reminded us that women are especially reliant on seniors' benefits
given their greater longevity.

In 2010 Parliamentary testimony, OECD demographics expert Edward Whitehouse
highlighted a fundamental difference between Canada and "Europe and among the
East Asian countries, Japan and Korea, whose populations are aging most
rapidly."

Kevin Page is among those experts and media commentators who've said a debate on
elderly benefits might be useful. Page, like Mintz a fiscal hardliner, would
like Ottawa to have more cash for other priorities.

Debates we need, as noted above. But not about seniors benefits, which Page, for
one, believes Ottawa can easily afford to increase.

One thing we have long known is that getting and holding a job becomes more
difficult with age. Which should give anyone pause about raising eligibility
ages for seniors' benefits.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. last month did away with its "greeters," a hallmark of the
firm for decades. It was also one of the rare bastions for North American
seniors for whom government assistance programs are comparatively skinflint.

Bottom line: We can't consider ourselves a caring society if we consign those
who built the country to anything remotely approaching penury.


http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1129312--olive-oas-not-in-crisis-no-need\
-for-soak-the-seniors-plan

----------------------------------------------------------------------



News» Politics

Tories play down Flaherty's time frame for OAS changes
BILL CURRY
OTTAWA— From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Published Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 2:15PM EST

For a brief moment, the fog of confusion hanging over Ottawa's plans for Old Age
Security lifted.

It didn't last long.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty appeared to put a
time frame on yet-to-be-announced changes to OAS.

"This is not for tomorrow morning," said the 62-year-old minister, who was
joined at an announcement in Oshawa by 52-year-old Conservative MP Colin Carrie.
"This is for 2020, 2025 so that people who are middle-age and younger today,
like Colin – not me – can be assured that they will have these social programs
properly funded, fiscally responsible, that they'll be there for them in the
future."

The comments appeared to go much further than anything the government had said
to date. If changes are delayed until at least 2020, that would mean Canadians
who are 57 or older would not be affected.

But a government spokesman quickly discouraged that kind of math. The official
stressed that the comment was simply an effort by Mr. Flaherty to signal that no
changes are imminent. In other words, exactly what the government has been
saying since Prime Minister Stephen Harper started talking last month about
addressing problems in Canada's retirement income system.

Mr. Harper and Human Resources Minister Diane Finley have since confirmed that
one option would be to raise the age of eligibility gradually to 67 from the
current 65.

Alexandre Laurin, a researcher at the C.D. Howe Institute, points out Mr.
Flaherty's time frame raises further questions. Would Ottawa start phasing in a
higher retirement age in 2020 or 2025? Or would that be when the changes are
fully implemented?

If it's the former, Mr. Laurin said, that would take too long to deal with the
government's stated concern: having enough money to cover the cost of the
retiring baby boom generation.

"Why are we waiting that long?" he asked.

The government says changes are needed because as the number of seniors
increases, relatively fewer working-age Canadians will be paying taxes to
support the higher cost of Canada's social programs.

Opposition MPs insisted on Friday no reforms are needed, pointing to this week's
report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer that argues OAS is affordable
because Ottawa has acted to curb the rising costs of provincial health care
transfers over the long term.

New Democrat MP Wayne Marston is planning to travel the country in an effort to
gather reaction from Canadians on the issue. He says MPs are already hearing
strong objections.

"We're getting e-mails and phone calls every day," he said.

Liberal finance critic Scott Brison accused the government of "manufacturing a
crisis" over OAS, and warned that raising the age of eligibility will hurt poor
seniors the most.

"They have not yet provided any credible reason for this," he said.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/changes-to-oas-wont-take-effect-bef\
ore-2020-flaherty-says/article2334314/

----------------------------------------------------------------------


NEWS CANADA
Mentally disabled fit to testify, court rules 7

BY KRISTY KIRKUP ,PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU
FIRST POSTED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012 10:53 AM EST |

OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada says mentally disabled adults can testify
if they promise to tell the truth, but they don't have to articulate what that
means.

The ruling stems from a case from the Ontario Court of Appeal involving a
mentally disabled adult who testified that her mother's boyfriend touched her
inappropriately on a number of occasions.

The lower court deemed the woman's testimony inadmissible because she could
communicate evidence and promised to tell the truth, but she was unable to
answer questions about what telling the truth means.

Without the woman's testimony, the Crown's case collapsed and the accused was
acquitted. The Supreme Court has now ordered a new trial.

In a 6-3 ruling Friday, the Supreme Court said people with mental disabilities
are "easy prey" for sexual abusers.

"To set the bar too high for the testimonial competence of adults with mental
disabilities is to permit violators to sexually abuse them with near impunity,"
said Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin in the ruling. "Without a realistic
prospect of prosecution, they become fair game for those inclined to abuse."

The legal question in this case involved the interpretation of section 16 of the
Canada Evidence Act, which permits witnesses who can communicate the evidence,
but are unable to understand an oath, to testify.

Queen's University professor Lisa Dufraimont said the new ruling will allow
witnesses with intellectual disabilities to tell stories in court more freely.

"We can imagine that there are many circumstances in which witnesses with
intellectual disabilities may have trouble answering those abstract questions,
but may be perfectly capable of conveying useful information to the court about
concrete matters, like if they have been sexually assaulted," Dufraimont said.

National and international studies indicate women with disabilities are abused
at a much higher rate than women without disabilities.

Kristy.Kirkup@...

On Twitter: @kkirkup

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/02/10/mentally-disabled-fit-to-testify-court-rule\
s

---------------------------------------------------------------------


Heather Mills: Paul McCartney phone messages were hacked

By Jenna Busch
February 9, 2012 1:54 PM ET
Follow @jennabusch on Twitter

Heather Mills, the former model who was once married to Beatle Paul McCartney
testified Thursday (Feb. 9) that her phone had been hacked by a U.K. journalist.
Mills said dozens of messages between her and McCartney were intercepted by a
journalist working for the Trinity Mirror.

She claims this happened back in 2001, when they were still dating. After a
fight, she says that McCartney called her repeatedly. "There were about 25
messages, all asking for forgiveness, (asking:) 'Would I come back?'" Mills
says. "One of them said: 'Please forgive me,' and he sang a little ditty of one
of his songs into the voicemail."

She says she thought it was strange that the messages were listed as having been
listened to before she heard them, but says she didn't think much about it until
the journalist called her up with details of the fight. "I said: 'There's no way
that you could know that unless you have been listening to my messages,'" she
testifies. "And he laughed." Oh, that is seriously creepy.
The whole thing is part of the Piers Morgan News of the World scandal. The
unnamed reporter was a former employee from the Trinity Mirror Group though not
from the Daily Mirror, one of the group's papers, which Morgan edited from 1995
to 2004.

Morgan reportedly implied that Mills had played the recording for him. Asked if
she had ever made a recording of McCartney's call or had played it to Morgan
herself, Mills said: "Never."


http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2012/02/heather-mills-paul-mccartney-phone-message\
s-were-hacked.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------


Carrey's daughter axed from 'Idol'
By WENN.com

Jim Carrey's daughter Jane's singing dreams have been dashed after she was axed
from American Idol.

Jane sang Something to Talk About in front of judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer
Lopez and Randy Jackson at the San Diego, California audition, and was
unanimously voted through to the next round of the current competition.

She appeared on the U.S. show again on Wednesday in a pre-taped audition for
Hollywood Week - but she failed to make the cut.

She says, "I freaked out when I was there so I was really, really shaky and I
know I can do way better than that and so I'm really disappointed with myself.

"I talked to my dad and he was kinda comforting. He said, 'I've been said no to
a bunch of times' and it worked out well for him in the end so hopefully I have
a shot (at stardom)."

In a statement to ETOnline.com, Jim Carrey declares, "I'm very proud of Jane. I
believe in her talent as a singer and songwriter. Difficult moments are a
necessary step along the path to success."

http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/2012/02/09/19357956-wenn-story.html

======================================================================

World : Australian man fined for mooning Queen Elizabeth
Australian man fined for mooning Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth II, bottom left, walks through the crowd at the Great Aussie
Barbecue in Perth, Australia, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. (AP / Rob Griffith)

The Associated Press
Date: Monday Feb. 13, 2012 9:39 PM ET

BRISBANE, Australia — A Sydney man has been fined 750 Australian dollars ($800)
for mooning Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, during a royal
visit to Australia.

Barman Liam Lloyd Warriner was sentenced Tuesday in a Brisbane court on a charge
of creating a public nuisance for baring his buttocks to the 85-year-old British
monarch and her 90-year-old husband in October. Prosecutors had asked for a
AU$1,000 fine.

Warriner admitted holding an Australian flag clenched between his bare buttocks
and running as the royal couple's motorcade drove past well-wishers. It is not
clear whether the royal couple saw Warriner.

Warriner said outside court Tuesday that he'd do the same thing to "any
self-important, self-propagating elitist."


Read more:
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/World/20120213/Australian-man-fined-for-mooning-Queen-\
Elizabeth-120213/#ixzz1mUUl5JgY

======================================================================

Feds to close legal loophole threatening same-sex marriages
Published On Fri Feb 17 2012
The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — The federal government is moving to close a legal loophole that could
have undermined thousands of gay marriages around the world.

The governing Conservatives have introduced amendments to the Civil Marriage Act
to ensure the marriages are recognized.

The changes are prompted by a divorce case in Ontario involving a gay couple.

Legal documents filed by the federal government in the case had argued that even
though the couple married in Canada, they couldn't be considered legally married
because it wasn't recognized in their U.S. and United Kingdom homes.

Therefore, they couldn't get a divorce.

Gay-rights activists and opposition politicians had accused the Tories of trying
to rewrite the rules on same-sex marriage to suit their own agenda.

But the government says its opinion is that the marriages were valid and it
doesn't want to reopen the debate on the definition of marriage.

"Recently it came to light that there was an anomaly in our civil marriage
laws," said Justice Minister Rob Nicholson.

"We are fixing the anomaly in the law."

The government said the amendments will make all marriages of non-resident
couples that were performed in Canada valid under Canadian law, and will also
allow these couples to end their marriages if they cannot get a divorce where
they live.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1133008--feds-move-to-close-\
legal-loophole-threatening-same-sex-marriages

---------------------------------------------------------------------



Meet Leora Shemesh: the police force's enemy No. 1 in court
Published On Fri Feb 17 2012

Leora Shemesh, flanked by a mugshot of Frank Sinatra in her College St. office,
is a tough-as-nails defence lawyer whose hardball tactics in the courtroom have
made her many enemies among Crowns and the police.
COLIN MCCONNELL/TORONTO STAR

Betsy Powell
Courts Bureau

For some police officers and Crown attorneys in the Greater Toronto Region,
defence lawyer Leora Shemesh is public enemy No. 1.

She has built a reputation alleging officers lie in court to support the charges
they have laid.

Ninety per cent of her caseload is drug prosecutions, heavily dependent on
police witnesses, search warrants and wiretaps. She is relentless when
cross-examining police, especially when she suspects the police have
side-stepped the law.

"I find certain police officers find it comical that I get so angry in court,"
Shemesh says. "They smile and seem to get a kick out of it."

Outside court, there are no smiles from her targets or adversaries.

One Crown called Shemesh a "lying piece of s---." In another case, a police
officer called her a "bitch" during a break in proceedings.

"Some say if you're pissing people off you should wear it like a badge of
honour," Shemesh says. "I'm not sure what to make of that."

Last week, her full-frontal attack on the conduct of Peel Region police officers
against her cocaine-dealing client led a judge to deliver a scathing rebuke to
the force's drug squad. Superior Court Justice Deena Baltman found the officers
beat Tan-Hung Dinh, searched his home illegally, then lied about it all in
court.

Police officers, Shemesh claims, believe the law "essentially handcuffs them and
is designed to preclude them from catching the bad guys."

Her zeal to challenge authority took root in a suburban Thornhill household. "A
very principled man," Shemesh says of her father, Joe, who left Israel for
Canada, where he prospered in oil and real estate despite lacking a formal
education. An "advocate of the underdog," he would write letters over things
some might consider trifling, such as an unexplained three-cent bank fee. There
were lively debates at the dinner table.

Shemesh was a competitive figure skater before giving up her Olympic dream and
hunkering down in school, eventually landing at Osgoode Hall law school in
Professor Alan Young's first-year criminal law class.

"She stood out in the first week because she challenged me on some issue," says
Young, co-founder of the school's Innocence Project, which investigates wrongful
convictions. "It's rare that early on in law school, but cooling her jets is not
Leora's nature."

Shemesh says she embraced criminal law the moment the Young walked into class.
"I was sold with his fake vomit and Chinese slippers." (The vomit was a prop
used to illustrate the subjective nature of what a disgusting object is; the
slippers his signature footwear.)

Young said Shemesh has "enormous energy and enthusiasm and became a
well-seasoned veteran early on. She will not concede unless she has to. That has
earned her a reputation as a fighter — and you start to get enemies. It's not a
popularity contest, and when people talk behind your back then you're having an
impact."

Called to the bar in 2001, Shemesh, 36, runs defences that push the envelope.
She once argued that York Region police violated a drunk driving suspect's
Charter rights by forcing her to remove her underwire bra at the station because
it could be used as a weapon.

It was a humiliating experience, Shemesh argued, challenging a constable on the
witness stand "to find one occurrence involving someone attempting to hang
themselves with an underwire bra."

The judge didn't buy Shemesh's argument and convicted the woman. She's
appealing.

Standing up to police officers — the ultimate male bastion — comes at a price,
Shemesh says.

Last week, at the College Park courts, Shemesh told a judge a number of off-duty
Toronto police officers had come to court "to intimidate me."

The Crown attorney laughed it off with the comment: "Shemesh, you eat nails for
breakfast."

(Most days, in fact, her breakfast consists of an English muffin in the car
after getting her two daughters dressed for school. "That is a bigger
negotiation process then a plea on a gun," she says.)

Shemesh insists she found the police presence "really freaky," adding, "they
wouldn't do that to a male defence lawyer."

A senior police officer, told of Shemesh's concern, accused her of
grandstanding. "Oh please. Leora Shemesh isn't intimidated by anybody,
especially police officers."

Shemesh, however, says the fact she is "hated" by cops, crowns and, she's
certain, some judges, isn't something she shrugs off.

"My husband (boutique owner Ariel Benaich) always asks, `Why do you care what
people think?' I just do."

She once "bawled her eyes out" after a Court of Appeal justice peppered her with
questions, she rendering her mute despite the fact she'd "lived and breathed
that file." She remembers her colleague leaning over afterward, saying: "Not as
easy as it looks, eh?"

Tough as she has become, Shemesh credits her husband for keeping her fighting
spirit intact. "He is a wonderful man, who lets me have and be in the spotlight
without any reservations or insecurities. He is my number one fan — next to my
dad and mom of course — and he cheers me on always."

When she believes an injustice has occurred, she channels her outrage by writing
letters to the Prime Minister, the attorney general or public prosecution
services "just to get someone to do the right thing."

She's disappointed, but not surprised, when she receives no response and is
chagrined about the lack of support or empathy she encounters in non-legal
circles.

"If I hear one more person say to me at a party, `How do you sleep at night?' I
am going to scream."

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1133259--meet-leora-shemesh-the-police-force\
-s-enemy-no-1-in-court?bn=1

=====================================================================

17 Feb 2012
24 Hours Toronto
LIZ BRAUN
QMI Agency

Goofy spy vs. spy bromance

  This Means War is a goofy comedy about two CIA agents who fall in love with the
same woman and compete for her attention. Absurd? Completely — but the charm of
this one is that it doesn't even pretend to take itself seriously.

The three corners of the love triangle are played by Chris Pine and Tom Hardy,
best friends and secret agents, and Reese Witherspoon, a newcomer to Los Angeles
with whom both men are smitten. Witherspoon's comic talent is a known commodity.
Pine has done his fair share of romantic comedy in the past. The real surprise
here is Tom Hardy, often seen busting heads ( Bronson; Warrior) on the big
screen; he's quietly hilarious.
This Means War opens in Hong Kong with a big espionage take-down that
establishes a villain (Til Schweiger) and shows how debonair Hardy and Pine are
as spies. As the bromance unfolds, we learn that Pine is the lady-killer with
the awesome bachelor pad and Hardy is the sweet-natured one hurting from a
failed marriage. These two men are the very best of friends.
Then Hardy and Witherspoon meet on a blind date. Right after that, Pine and
Witherspoon meet by accident. Once the two men know that they're pursuing the
same woman, the idiotic fun begins. Will their friendship survive?
They surveil each other on dates. They sabotage each other's romantic
possibilities. They use all the spy technology at their fingertips to thwart the
competition — each other — and to court Witherspoon's character by finding out
all her likes and dislikes.
"We may have some Constitutional issues," worries one of Pine's staff, as he
helps eavesdrop on Witherspoon's life.
"Patriot Act," responds Pine. Well, then.
Witherspoon, meanwhile, is confused. She is attracted to both men, and discusses
her options with a best friend played by Chelsea Handler. Witherspoon's sunny
innocence and Handler's unfiltered (and vaguely obscene) observations are the
source of much of the film's humour.
A terrific soundtrack and director Mcg's energy add a lot to This Means War, but
the film works because the chemistry among the three leads is unforced. You
never really believe any of the romance, but that's okay, because the emphasis
in this romantic comedy is on the comedy. Of course, there are car chases and
ferocious hand-to-hand combat scenes, but this one is fuelled by a genial sort
of silliness that even lets you wink at the movie's rather pat ending. This
Means War is a film that probably appeals more to female viewers than male;
we probably didn't have to spell that out for you.


http://www.google.ca/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&cp=27&gs_id=2w&xhr=t&q=g+oofy+spy+vs.+spy+br\
omance&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&pbx=1&oq=g+oofy+spy+vs.+spy+bromance&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&g\
s_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=8cd03b04ed71cad5&biw=1024&bi\
h=475
http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx

----------------------------------------------------------------------




interview

Reese Witherspoon goes to War

REUTERS

IN her new romantic comedy This Means War Reese Witherspoon portrays a woman who
returns to dating after a failed relationship only to find herself torn between
two men, who happen to be friends and CIA operatives.

The film tucks some dating drama in between a lot of action as the two men,
played by Chris Pine and Tom Hardy, find their friendship put to the test when
competing for the attention of Witherspoon's character, Lauren.

Witherspoon's real life is more stable and less dramatic than Lauren's. The
35-year-old actress is nearing her one-year wedding anniversary to Jim Toth. She
spoke to Reuters about the film, her hunky co-stars, her commitment to
representing her southern heritage and helping female filmmakers.

Q: You won an Oscar for Walk the Line, and Legally Blonde. This movie is all out
action. Would you say it is a departure for you? A: "It was a great opportunity
to try something new, yet I felt like it had enough comedy that it felt fresh.
Combining it with this very viable spy story made it feel new. But I had a few
stunt doubles because there were things like driving cars, jumping off
buildings, cars tumbling towards me, things on fire...(laughs)." So you didn't
get to partake in all the action? "I did do the trapeze work on this movie
because I had been in circus training for Water For Elephants and the shooting
was very close between the two movies." Tell us about your two co-stars. What is
Tom Hardy like? "He's a very intense, focused actor. His mind races with
thoughts and ideas. He was writing his own lines and helping us construct a
narrative.

He's smart - always adding to the process." And Chris Pine? "Chris is very
thoughtful and earnest. What I didn't expect was this wonderful charismatic
charm. He has a composure that's lovely to be around. He's really grateful for
everything he has in his life." In a fictional world, how does one choose
between them? "Women on the set were going crazy about both the actors. It
actually was very interesting because it was 50/50. They couldn't decide. It was
a constant, `Who would you choose?' We were trying to decide if we should have
done alternate endings." This is not the first film where you played a character
in a love triangle.

Your last two films before this - Water For Elephants, How Do You Know - had
those elements. Coincidence? "It seems to be happenstance. I'm making movies
that I would want to see. There is a part of it that's a female fantasy of
having two men fight over you, but at no point do I think these guys are really
interested in fighting over me. I know all of their girlfriends and wives and
we're all very close - those women approved of me! That's how I managed to pull
it off." Next you'll be working with filmmaker Atom Egoyan on The Devil's Knot,
based on the true story about the West Memphis Three, who were convicted of
murdering three 8-year-old boys. What made you take on such a serious project?
"It happened in an area very close to where I grew up so I understand the
cultural idea of who these people are. I want to always represent that area with
dignity.

It's part of the privilege that I have being southern. One of the things that
really touched me is that there are three little boys who are gone and they're
not coming home and we don't know who did it. I would want people to have as
much awareness of the case and keep looking. I have an 8-year-old son at home
and the emotional connection I have to the story is profound.

It's a horror you cannot imagine as a parent." You have an Oscar and are a
viable commodity at the box office. What else do you want to accomplish in your
career? "I'm starting a new company with (producer) Bruna Papandrea, and we will
be producing some films with a very clear female voice. I've been acting since I
was 14, and I know every aspect of filmmaking at this point. I think it's
important for women who have attained a certain amount of success in this
business to give back to other female writers and filmmakers and try and help
facilitate their dreams." Your daughter is 12–two years shy of when you first
began working as an actress. Does she hold any of that same interest in acting
that you did at that age? "No. She's a different person with her own
personality. I didn't expect when I had a child to have a clone (laughs). She's
an individual and that's all you can hope for in life – that you encourage their
individuality."

http://wwww.qatar-tribune.com/data/20120218/content.asp?section=chillout5_1

======================================================================

'i believe in romance'
rachel mcadams
why her vow to keep an open heart paid off

from hello magazine canada
february 20, 2012 issue
page 55

report: terry malloy and veronica parker

q. does thefact that you live in toronto put a strain on your relationship?

a. no, because he also loves the time he spends in toronto. and he understands
that i like staying close to my family. michael lives in LA but we always find
ways to meet. i couldn't stand living there because i would miss my famiy too
much. when i'm working far from home, i have this need to come back.

q. what do you love about toronto?

a. i find it much more relaxing to live here. after all, i'm canadian. i'm
really attached to my habits and i don't want to change them. i like living very
simply. i believe in using public transportation. living in toronto gives me a
chance to have a life outside of the film business..

http://www.hellomagazine.ca

----------------------------------------------------------------------


same issue - page 36

Stacy Keibler chats about George Clooney and getting ready for her biggest date
night ever (Oscar Awards - February 26th)

...mentions her upcoming role in movie Dysfunctional Friends as a not so
successful model turned golddigger...

http://www.hellomagazine.ca

---------------------------------------------------------------------



[new books]

joan collins [hardcover february 2012]
the world according to joan
http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/1780333862/internatio088-20

frank langella [hardcover march 2012]
Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women as I Knew Them
http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/0062094475/internatio088-20


=====================================================================

Be careful what you text if you're heading for divorce

By Patricia Reaney
NEW YORK | Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:02am EST

(Reuters) - Couples who may be heading for a nasty break-up should be careful
about texting because it could end up as evidence against them in divorce court.

More than 90 percent of America's top divorce attorneys said they have seen a
spike in the number of cases using evidence from iPhones and other smartphones
in the past three years, according to the American Academy of Matrimonial
Lawyers (AAML).

The rise in texting evidence follows a similar trend two years ago when the
AAML, a professional group of 1,600 members who handle prenuptial agreements,
legal separations, annulments, custody battles, property divisions and the
rights of unmarried couples, noticed a surge in evidence from Facebook pages.

"With emails you can think about and rewrite them. There is a window of
opportunity to rethink what you are saying but text messaging is immediate,"
said Ken Altshuler, the president of the AAML. "We get a lot of text messages
that people send out without thinking."

He described texts as "spontaneous venting" that can come back to haunt people
because they are written records of someone's thoughts, actions and intentions.

Even a text message on a phone overlooked by someone over their shoulder, if the
person is credible, can cause problems in divorce hearings.

"I have used text messaging for cross examination," said Altshuler, who has also
submitted texts as evidence. "I would say in the last six months there have been
a lot of text messages involved in litigation. For whatever reason, people are
texting more and not thinking about what they are texting."

Text messaging was the most common form of divorce evidence taken from
smartphones, according to the AAML poll, followed by emails, phone numbers, call
histories, GPS and Internet search histories.

Altshuler believes at least part of the reason for the surge in text evidence is
because people think text messaging is safe, because it isn't easy to print out.

"Not everybody can print out a text message. You have to know how to do it," he
explained.

Altshuler advises his clients not to use Facebook, which was the main source of
divorce evidence from social media in a previous poll, but added that only about
half follow his advice.

He is equally cautious about other emailing.

"Anything that is in writing, you have to assume that someday a judge is going
to see it. So, if it is not something that you don't want a judge to see, don't
write it down."

He added it applies particularly to text messages.

"You can erase yours but it doesn't mean they erase theirs."

(Reporting by Patricia Reaney, editing by Paul Casciato)


http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/20/us-divorce-texting-idUSTRE81J0V0201202\
20

======================================================================

Finley defends pension reform but does not address poverty concerns
Heather Scoffield,
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 7:11 PM


OTTAWA - The federal government is stepping up its rhetoric to justify plans to
cut public pension benefits, but remains silent on how it will address seniors'
poverty.

In a speech in Toronto on Tuesday, Human Resources Minister Diane Finley
delivered the government's most nuanced discussion to date of its plans to
reform old age security or OAS.

She confirmed that a detailed plan would be presented in the budget, expected
next month.

And she targeted her pitch at younger Canadians, saying they will face higher
taxes, fewer social programs or larger deficits unless major reforms are started
right now.

"We cannot allow ourselves to be pegged into a situation where we are faced with
a choice between the country's financial security, and our commitment to aging
Canadians who have worked long and hard to build this great nation," she told a
Canadian Club luncheon.

But Finley did not say anything about how the changes would affect low-income
seniors who depend heavily on federal pension benefits to stay above water.

"A lot of Canadian seniors rely on this money," said Susan Eng, director of
advocacy for CARP, an advocacy group for people over age 50.

She attended the speech in the hope of learning more about the government's
plans, but said she left annoyed and concerned about the future for impoverished
seniors.

OAS is tightly entwined with the guaranteed income supplement or GIS, a top-up
for low-income seniors. The two-part system is widely credited for dramatically
reducing poverty among seniors over the last 30 years.

Now that Ottawa is poised to lay out a plan in the next budget that could raise
the age of eligibility to 67 from today's 65, opposition members and a wide
spectrum of experts have pointed to the need to consider vulnerable people over
60.

Government officials have made it clear that when cabinet ministers talk about
reforming old age security, they are lumping in the guaranteed income supplement
with the basic benefit that delivers about $500 a month to 98 per cent of
Canadians over 65.

Unless Ottawa takes steps to separate the top-up from the basic old age security
benefit, poor seniors would stay on provincial welfare rolls for an extra two
years.

Government sources say Ottawa is currently in discussions with provincial
governments on this topic.

And since low-income seniors die earlier than high-income seniors, the federal
government would be cutting disproportionately into their lifelong retirement
benefits, analysts note.

In 2006, the government's chief actuary found that the average life expectancy
at age 65 of people receiving the guaranteed income supplement was much shorter
than the life expectancy of those too rich to receive OAS.

He found that for men, poorer seniors were dying 4.5 years earlier than the
rich. For women, the difference was 3.4 years.

So chopping two years off their benefits would be far more punishing for the
poor than the rich, says Michael Wolfson, a former senior official at Statistics
Canada now at the University of Ottawa.

"Cutting back on OAS, and more so GIS, hits those who not only are poorer, but
also live fewer years to collect these benefits," he said in a note.

"This would really hit those with low incomes, and (like the crime bills) could
shift hundreds of millions in costs to provincial governments, since many in
this age bracket might have to go on social assistance."

There are ways the government could raise the age of entitlement for old age
security but still deliver an income supplement to low-income people under 67,
experts say.

But so far, the government has focused the discussion on the need for the
government to save money over the long run.

"We will need to ensure that our government has the fiscal room to meet the
various needs of an aging population … without putting an undue tax burden on
younger generations," Finley said Tuesday.

While other countries have acted to increase the age of eligibility to keep in
line with aging populations, Canada has stood still, she said.

"It's ticking along as if things haven't changed demographically in 50 years.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced in Davos, Switzerland, last month that
he would soon undertake major reforms to Canada's retirement system. Current
arrangements are "unsustainable," he said, as more and more people retire and
fewer and fewer people pay income tax.

The leading option is to gradually raise the age of eligibility to 67 from
today's 65, beginning in a few years' time.

Other options could include changes to the clawback rules, which require
individuals earning more than $69,000 a year to start paying back their OAS
benefits.

The reform plan has been met with much skepticism, however, and is still in
flux.

Opposition parties have pounded the government for backtracking on promises not
to touch transfers to individuals in order to eliminate the deficit.

"Pushing seniors into poverty is not leadership," New Democrat MP Matthew
Kellway said after Finley's speech. "Providing jobs for Canadians, providing
jobs for Canadian youths — that would be leadership."

Many experts say a discussion about the age of pension-benefit entitlement is
worth having, given changing demographics. But they want a broader discussion on
how changes would affect the retirement system as a whole.

"The one area that the minister didn't mention, but I think is really important,
is that there also is the guaranteed income supplement," said Toronto-Dominion
Bank's chief economist, Craig Alexander, after the speech.

But he said that for most people, raising the age of eligibility would only mean
marginal changes in the long run — working an extra year or two than originally
planned.

"I don't think that's a negative because one of the biggest changes of an aging
population is skill shortages," he said.

Still, parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page has questioned the government's
claim that today's system is unsustainable. He says that with recent changes to
the rate of escalation in health transfers to the provinces, the federal
government now has fiscal room to continue with old age security as it is now if
they choose.

And, more significantly for Harper, Tory caucus members are worried about a
backlash from their constituents and are pressing him to be cautious.

With files from Romina Maurino in Toronto

© The Canadian Press, 2012


http://www.globalnews.ca/finley+defends+pension+reform+but+does+not+address+pove\
rty+concerns/6442585670/story.html

=====================================================================
======================================================================

Where can I park with an accessible parking permit?
Published On Tue Feb 21 2012
Special to the Star

Eric Lai answers readers' auto questions every week for Wheels.


Q: Where can I park with an accessible parking permit in Toronto?

A: Accessible parking permits display the "wheelchair" symbol and allow those
with recognized disabilities special parking privileges.

According to the City of Toronto, accessible parking permit holders, or their
drivers when actually picking up or dropping off the permit holder, are exempt
from the following when displaying a valid permit on their dash or sun visor:

  • Signed prohibited parking areas; this includes time restricted no parking
areas, i.e.: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and general no parking anytime areas that display
the regulatory "no parking" sign. This does not apply to signed rush hour routes
(i.e. — 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday).

  • Signed on-street permit parking areas. Vehicles displaying a valid APP are
permitted to park without a designated on-street parking permit

  • Signed parking limits such as one hour and two hour maximums; APP holders are
allowed to exceed the signed maximum parking limit

  • The unsigned maximum three-hour parking limit in effect on all city streets.

Holders may park at on-street parking meters or pay-and-display machines without
putting a coin in the meter/machine during the hours of legal operation. This
exemption does not apply on private property.

Note that in all situations above, parking is permitted for 24 hours maximum.
Additionally, in the former city of North York, you may not park overnight
between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. from Dec. 1 through March 31.

Also, despite any other provisions, you may not park in such a manner as to
interfere with the movement of traffic or at any location where it would create
an impediment or obvious hazard. Some examples include: blocking another parked
auto, in a designated emergency or snow route, fire route, public lane,
T-intersection, turning basin, taxi stand, on a bridge, loading zone, no
standing or stopping zone, within 3 m of a fire hydrant, within 9 m of an
intersection (unsigned) or 15 m if signed, within 30.5 m of a traffic light
controlled intersection, in front of a building entrance or exit where large
numbers of people may be expected to congregate, within 7.5 m of a fire hall
(same side) or 30.5 m (other side of highway), within 15 m of a crosswalk (same
side) or 30.5 m (opposite side), within 15 m of termination of dead end street.

Vehicles parking in these areas (and possibly others not listed above) may be
tagged or towed.

Note that regulations may differ by region and could change over time. For the
most current and complete information on where you may and may not park in your
area, check with your local municipality.

Information above was correct at time of publication but, in any eventuality,
The Star does not assume any responsibility whatsoever for any ticket-related
issue that might arise.


http://www.thestar.com/wheels/article/1134460--where-can-i-park-with-an-accessib\
le-parking-permit

=====================================================================




[letters to editor - saturday star]

Bill C-30: Online spy bill chilling
Published On Sat Feb 25 2012

Canada's Public Safety Minister Vic Toews in the House of Commons last week.
CHRIS WATTIE/REUTERS

Re: Top cops back online spying bill after backlash, Feb. 21

My fear is not child pornographers; they will always exist, and the police have
tools to address these crimes. My fear is Bill C-30. This proposed legislation
requires Internet service providers and cellphone companies to provide customer
information to authorities without a warrant.

Had Bill C-30 been in existence in Egypt, Tunisia and other Middle Eastern
countries, would there have been an Arab Spring, or would it have been quashed
by “the authorities,” with tools like Bill C-30?

And if it is allowed to exist here, does it mean that everyone who publicly
disagrees with the government is potentially at risk of having legal, private
information compromised by a zealous enforcement community or a government that
is increasingly opposed to dissent (such as “radical environmentalists”).

The police are a paramilitary organization. Their job is law enforcement. It is
not their responsibility to assess either the law or the proposed targets of the
law. That is, and should properly continue to be, the role of the judiciary, the
judges who approve or deny search warrants.

Brigitte Nowak, Toronto

------------------------

Vic Toews — another in a long line of unending hypocrites that appear to fester
in the arena of politics. Why does it always seem that it is those who are least
capable of upholding a moral standard that most profess to enforce that standard
for others?

You’ve cast the first stone Mr. Toews. Now it’s our turn to cast that stone
through the glass walls of your home.

Louis MacPherson, Oshawa

--------------------------

Vic Toews is the minister of Public Safety for the Government of Canada. Holy
smokes. I wouldn’t have this buffoon as the Minister of My Pet Rock collection.

Tim Shields, Scarborough


http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters/article/1135958--bill-c-30-online-spy-bil\
\
l-chilling

=====================================================================

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 1999, the United Nations condemned Ontario for publicly funding the education
system of one faith and no other.

http://www.educationfairness.ca/ads/PrintAd1.pdf


ULC Charter
http://blog.documents.angelfire.com/ULCharter.pdf

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Indecency Rules & Profanity News
http://www.congoo.com/news/related?channel_id=1&story_id=38929965

Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council
Statement of Principles and Practices
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/corp/CTVShows/20031023/corp-StatePP


<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>


~ new age spiritual multifaith & non-denominational

http://www.omc.ca

»§«:*΄`³€³΄`*:»«:*΄`³€³΄`*:»§«:*΄`³€³΄`*:»«:*΄`³€³΄`*:»§«


Bookmark:
AngelGoddess Newsmuse
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/angelgoddess-newsmuse
ProBono/PSA Newsgroups -
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/aicap-aifap
                                 /activist-newsmuse
                                 /itech-cyberlaw
                                 /celebrity-busts
                                 /cfs-melatonin
                                 /psych-meds-ingredient-concerns
                                 /yogaandmeditation

   ^..^  ^..^  ^..^  ^..^ ^..^ ^..^

                            \0/
                            /|\




Friends are quiet angels, who lift us to our feet, when our wings have trouble
remembering how to FLY....

(\( )/)

<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>

"we have to do the best we can. this is our sacred human responsibility" -
albert einstein

<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>


"Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.
--Theodore Roosevelt".

<>--<>--<>--<>-<>--<>--<>--<>--<>-<>--<>--<><>--<>--<>-


Exercising Our First Amendment Rights!
Any attempts to intercept this message violate Title 18 U.S.C. 2511(1) of
Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). All violators subject to fines,
imprisonment or civil damages, or both!

ie. LEGAL NOTICE TO ALL CANADIANS/FOREIGNERS
INCARCERATED IN AMERICAN PRISONS
http://www.angelfire.com/mi2/aicap/aicapnotice.html

{obstruction of incoming legal mail/monthly list reminder file}



========================================================================

From:   "Canadian Club of Toronto"

Subject: Partner Event with Power of Women- Oprah's Lifeclass The Tour

Date:   Fri 03/02/12 01:03 PM


Oprah's Lifeclass The Tour
Advance Registration Invitation *100 Tickets Available


Date: April 16, 2012
Time: 8:00AM to 2:00PM
Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre (South Building)
Registration by Phone Only: 1-866-883-6568 (Reference Canadian Club of Toronto)


Dear Members & Guests,

On behalf of The Canadian Club of Toronto we are pleased to present you and your
guests with an incredible opportunity.  For the first time ever, Oprah Winfrey
will be broadcasting live in Canada! For a limited time, members and guests of
the Canadian Club of Toronto are able to register tickets for Oprah's Lifeclass
The Tour scheduled in Toronto on Monday April 16th, 2012 at the Metro Toronto
Convention Centre! Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.

Guest Speakers Include:

• Oprah Winfrey, Philanthropist, Film Actress, Producer and Talk Show Host

• Anthony Robbins, Entrepreneur, Best Selling Author and Peak Performance
Strategist

• Iyanla Vanzant, Best Selling Author and Empowerment Specialist

• Dr. Deepak Chopra, Best Selling Author and Co-Founder of The Chopra Centre for
Wellbeing

• Bishop T.D. Jakes, Best Selling Author, Founder and Senior Pastor of The
Potter's House

Ticket Options:

For a limited time, members and guests of the Canadian Club of Toronto can
register General seating tickets at a rate of $169. Executive tickets are
available at $229. Emerald tickets are available at $395. Prices subject to HST
and $7.50 service charge per transaction.

All sales are final. Speakers and date subject to change. Please note ending
time may vary because this is a live event.

Register by phone only: Call Toll Free 1-866-883-6568 to purchase your tickets.

** The Canadian Club of Toronto is a proud communications partner of this event.
Please call 1-866-883-6568 for more information. **


Canadian Club of Toronto  Phone: 416-364-5590 Fax: 416-364-5676

======================================================================




From:   "Amnesty International USA"

Subject: Don't Miss: Jon Stewart, Kristen Wiig, Coldplay, and more this Sunday!

Date:   Fri 03/02/12 05:51 PM


A Bad Night for Dictators. A Good Night for Free Speech. March 4th.

Psst. The secret's out!

Jon Stewart, Kristen Wiig and Coldplay are just around the corner warming up for
this Sunday's Secret Policeman's Ball in New York City. For just one night at
Radio City Music Hall, a star-studded lineup of musicians and comedy favorites
will pay hilarious tribute to free speech and Amnesty International's human
rights work.

Don't worry about not having tickets because you can laugh along with us in the
comfort of your own home. Watch the Ball live online on EpixHD.com on March 4th,
7PM ET/4PM PT! You'll even be able to chat with other viewers on Twitter during
the show.

So maybe it's not a secret that we at Amnesty International are not the funniest
people around. But thankfully, we've got people like Eddie Izzard, Sarah
Silverman and Russell Brand to be in charge of the funny department this Sunday.

Who else will be around to ruffle some dictator feathers? Seth Meyers, Fred
Armisen, David Cross,and even The Muppets, that's who. And that's just a
fraction of the stars that will be there to crack us up for a good cause.

The only thing serious about The Secret Policeman's Ball is that there is going
to be some serious belly-clutching laughter. You really don't want to miss out.
So tune in Sunday evening for some crazy hilarity in support of our fight for
human rights worldwide!

And don't forget to watch it live on EpixHD.com with your free Epix trial!

The Amnesty Team

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org

======================================================================

Provincial News:
Ontario Developing 'First-ever' Immigration Strategy
Published on Mar 02, 2012 - 03:42 PM

Footnote: Written by: Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration

McGuinty Government Establishing An Expert Roundtable On Immigration
To help build a stronger economy, Ontario will develop its first-ever
immigration strategy.

A new expert roundtable, led by Julia Deans, will help develop the strategy and
examine ways that immigration can best support Ontario's economic development
and help new Ontarians find jobs.

Ontario remains the number one destination for newcomers to Canada yet it is the
only province currently without an immigration agreement with the federal
government. The new provincial immigration strategy will help to inform and
shape discussions with the federal government towards an agreement.

Skilled new Ontarians are fundamental to our economic future. That's why the
McGuinty government is calling on the federal government to share responsibility
for immigration so that Ontario and Canada can continue to grow stronger
together.

QUICK FACTS
Ontario receives more immigrants than all the Western provinces, all the
Atlantic provinces and the three territories combined.
Newcomers make up 30 per cent of Ontario's labour force.

In 2001, the Federal Skilled Workers Program accounted for 77 per cent of
economic landings to Canada. By 2010, that number had fallen to 46 per cent.
More than 60 per cent of these newcomers have historically landed in Ontario.

The Federal Skilled Workers Program has a current backlog of over 300,000
applicants - many of whom want to come to Ontario.
The roundtable will consist of business people, employers, academics and other
experts within the field of immigration and labour market needs.

The roundtable will provide its recommendations to the government in summer
2012.

QUOTES

"Both Ontario and Canada have a shared responsibility when it comes to
immigration and helping new Canadians find jobs. When Ontario grows and prospers
so does Canada. That's why the new expert roundtable will help us develop the
first-ever Ontario Immigration Strategy to support our case for an immigration
agreement with the federal government and build a stronger economy."

– Charles Sousa
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration


"As Chair of the expert roundtable, I look forward to exploring ways to maximize
the economic benefits of immigration to Ontario and improve the social and
economic integration of our newcomers."

– Julia Deans
Chair, Expert Roundtable on Immigration


http://www.northumberlandview.ca/index.php?module=news&func=display&sid=13481

---------------------------------------------------------------------



Ontario's poor need to make some noise
Published On Fri Mar 02 2012

Anti-poverty protesters hold a banner inside the Chateau Laurier Hotel while
Premier Dalton McGuinty makes a speech at the Canadian Club of Ottawa last
month. (Feb. 9, 2012)
PATRICK DOYLE/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Simon Black

During the last two weeks in Ontario politics, we have seen a tale of two
reports. The Drummond report has received a great deal of attention and rightly
so: as the Star's own Martin Regg Cohn put it, "Cutbacks are back and bigger
than ever. And this time, they're here to stay." Millions of Ontarians, but
especially the poor and middle class, stand to be impacted should the government
act on Drummond's recommendations.

Yet another report, that of the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance,
slipped under the media's radar and was greeted with little fanfare by the
government and general public alike. This report discusses different approaches
to improving some of the key areas of the province's welfare system and is an
important step in the broader review process headed by ex-StatsCan chief Munir
Sheik and former United Way of Greater Toronto CEO Frances Lankin.

The review of social assistance plays a key role in the provincial government's
poverty reduction strategy, announced by the premier and welcomed by
anti-poverty advocates back in 2008. Sheik and Lankin have embarked on an
extensive consultation process, speaking with social workers, policy experts,
business leaders, people with lived experience of poverty, and anti-poverty
advocates. Their final report, which will make recommendations that will enable
government to "remove barriers and increase opportunities for people to work,"
is to be released this summer.

While the Drummond report takes a largely hands-off approach to social
assistance, deferring to the work of the commission, much in it runs counter to
the spirit and stated goals of both the review of social assistance and the
broader strategy of poverty reduction. For one, Drummond recommends rolling back
the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB), a subsidy that helps low-income families
provide for their children. The OCB has been partially credited with the small
but nevertheless important reduction in child poverty Ontario has seen over the
past few years.

But more generally the report is silent on the concerns of the poor, from
much-needed increases in child-care funding to the construction of more
affordable housing. Drummond was, after all, primarily tasked with discerning
where to make cuts, not how to expand social programs.

If acted upon, Drummond's austerity package could well push Ontario's
unemployment rate into double-digits. With the federal government's continued
reticence to expand eligibility for employment insurance, thousands more
Ontarians could turn to a welfare system that currently does more to punish than
help the poor, who have yet to recover from the 22 per cent cut to welfare
imposed by the Harris Tories back in 1995. McGuinty has raised rates slightly,
but these increases have not kept up with inflation. If welfare was to be
returned to pre-Harris levels, the government would have to raise rates by close
to 60 per cent. You can be sure that such an increase is not in the cards in the
current political climate.

So the next few years, likely the next decade, look tough for low-income
Ontarians. Lower child-care subsidies, larger waiting lists for social housing,
persistent unemployment and more people caught in the dire dilemma of whether to
feed the kids or pay the rent. Changes to employment standards and labour law,
which could create the conditions to lift people out of poverty, will be derided
as "unfriendly to business."

How then do the poor make gains in a climate of austerity? Before we mine
history for answers we must first ask: "Who are the poor?" The obvious answer
is, "those living at or below the poverty line," but many of us live one
paycheque away from poverty. What happens to social assistance and other social
supports should be a concern for us all.

And as a recent Metcalf Foundation report concluded, between 2000 and 2005 the
number of working poor increased by 42 per cent, numbering 113,000 people in the
Toronto region alone. Those numbers have certainly risen since the Great
Recession began in 2008. And an even larger number of people are near-poor. The
poor are not only those living on social assistance.

Before the great labour struggles of the 1930s and '40s, the poor were, like
today, both working people and those out of work. Those struggles led to the
legitimization of unions, the construction of the welfare state, and a greater
share of society's wealth going to labour.

In the 1960s, unions and anti-poverty organizations pushed for the expansion of
social programs and lessened inequality. They marched, they protested, they made
noise.

In the mid-1980s, anti-poverty, labour and women's groups mobilized to influence
the direction of the provincial Liberal-NDP coalition's social assistance
review. Poor people's marches snaked through three of Ontario's largest cities.
The end result was a 25 per cent increase in welfare rates and the humanization
of many aspects of a stigmatizing and punitive system.

History shows us that poor people's silence will be met with government
inaction. As American academics Frances Fox Piven and Richard Cloward put it in
their classic book Regulating the Poor, "A placid poor get nothing, but a
turbulent poor sometimes get something." The Drummond report tells poor people
they must wait. Now it is up to the poor to reply: "We will not."

Simon Black is a researcher in urban social policy at the City Institute at York
University and a member of Peel Poverty Action Group.


http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1140339--ontario-s-poor-\
need-to-make-some-noise

----------------------------------------------------------------------



Income tax changes eliminate refunds for many Ontario residents
Published On Fri Mar 02 2012

By Ellen Roseman
Personal Finance Columnist

Ontario residents with low to moderate incomes may get a nasty surprise when
filing their 2011 tax returns.

Their refunds are disappearing, thanks to a low-key provincial decision to stop
giving lump sum tax credit payments once a year.

Instead, it has combined several tax credits into the Ontario Trillium Benefit.
This will be paid monthly, starting in July, to those who receive relief for
energy costs, rent, sales tax and property tax.

The government made the move after consulting welfare experts, who said a
monthly benefit would provide a steady income flow to pay bills.

But that's no consolation to people who expected to get a lump sum refund.
They're furious to get a promise of monthly payments later this year instead of
a windfall at tax time.

Bill Worden, a senior, just did his tax return and found he owed $123.

"I was counting on the provincial tax credits to pay some bills," he said.
"We're told nothing. Why do I have to pay when I should be getting a refund?"

Janice Meighan wrote a letter to the editor, saying she resented seeing the
government tell her how to budget her finances.

"Taxpayers need to be outraged at this intrusion by the Conservatives," she
wrote, assuming (mistakenly) the Harper government made the change.

I also heard from a self-employed dog walker, who earned $14,500 in 2011, and
can't use her Ontario tax credits to offset what she owes in federal tax.

"She'll have to send $350 to the federal government to get a $400 tax rebate (in
the end) from the Ontario government," her mother said. "But how is she supposed
to get that $350 to send in the first place?"

It's ironic to see a government plan aimed at helping people to budget creating
new cash flow problems for some taxpayers

"Seniors, in particular, aren't crazy about it," Finance Minister Dwight Duncan
said in an interview. "They like getting the money once a year."

"We're looking at ways of allowing people to choose. There are some
administrative issues, but it seems perfectly reasonable to me."

Under the current system, the province holds onto people's money until the end
of the year, he said. And under the new system, payments flow to them on a
monthly basis.

Some low-income people file their taxes early in November or December, going to
tax preparation firms that pay them advances on their refunds (for a 15 per cent
fee).

They use the refunds to buy Christmas gifts or pay for holiday expenses, said
Cleo Hamel, a senior tax analyst with H&R Block Canada.

"Low income people are accustomed to receiving these benefits at tax time. This
is a huge change. Many are very confused and ask us, `How come you're not giving
me this money?'

"They may be facing a tax bill and a long wait until they get the benefit from
the Ontario government in July."

In the budget handed down last March, the Ontario government said the change was
designed to "better align the timing of the assistance with the expenses that
people face."

To smooth the transition, it would pay 2011 tax credits to qualified taxpayers
in two instalments last year (July and December) and two more instalments in
March and June of this year.

As a result, low-income people would receive their tax credit payments earlier
than they would have if the schedule had not been changed.

The advance payments seem to have made little impact. Many taxpayers and tax
preparers were caught unaware of the change, judging from the feedback I've
received.

The government should have run a mass media publicity campaign to let people
know what was coming. Instead, it's dodging an outcry from those who feel let
down.

Ellen Roseman writes about personal finance and consumer issues. You can reach
her at eroseman@....


http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1140158--income-tax-changes-eliminate-re\
funds-for-many-ontario-residents?bn=1

----------------------------------------------------------------------


Thirteen Downtown Eastside SROs to get $116-million renovation
BY JOHN COLEBOURN, THE PROVINCE
MARCH 3, 2012

The Dominion Hotel, located at 210 Abbott St. in Vancouver, is one of the 13
historic structures targeted under the Single Room Occupancy initiative (SRi).
Photograph by: Submitted , BC Housing

The provincial and federal governments have announced a partnership that will
see 13 single-room occupancy hotels in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside renovated
and restored.

The federal government will contribute $29.1 million through the P3 Canada Fund
and the province will contribute $87.3 million toward the project.

Rich Coleman, the Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for
Housing, told The Province on Saturday he expects the major renovation to be
complete in about three years time.

"We bought 24 buildings in Vancouver and this is work on 13 of those 24," he
said, noting this is the first phase.

All of the rooms are SROs, and there are about 900 units in the project.

Coleman notes some of the buildings purchased were in rough shape.

"They were not all terrific buildings when we bought them," he said.

Many of the buildings are 100 years old and Coleman said they plan on restoring
the buildings, keeping the heritage features intact.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said cleaning up some of the rundown units will
help in fighting the homeless problem facing the city.

"The challenge of tackling homelessness continues to be a top priority for
Vancouver, and we are pleased to have the province of B.C. and the government of
Canada coming together to improve living conditions for many of our most
marginalized and vulnerable citizens," Robertson said in a release issued
Friday.

"The renewal and renovation of these 13 SROs is another important step toward
our goal of ending street homelessness by 2015 ..."

jcolebourn@...

© Copyright (c) The Province


Read more:
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Thirteen+Downtown+Eastside+SROs+million+renovati\
on/6247383/story.html#ixzz1oBbEx3pR

---------------------------------------------------------------------



Sears to close 3 stores in Canada, 670 jobs at risk

A woman carries a shopping bag while leaving the Sears store in downtown
Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, March 2, 2012. (Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The Sears logo is seen on a television for sale, in Springfield, Ill., on Nov.
15, 2011. (AP / Seth Perlman)

Jane Armstrong, CTVNews.ca

Struggling retailer Sears Canada Inc. will close three stores in Vancouver,
Calgary and Ottawa after striking a deal with landlord Cadillac Fairview
Corporation, which will take back the leases for $170 million.

The move comes as the department store retailer attempts to revamp operations
amid declining sales. Sears has already chopped 470 jobs across Canada.

There are 670 employees at the three stores slated to close. Sears Canada
spokesman Vincent Power said the retailer will attempt to find jobs for those
workers at nearby Sears outlets. Most employees are part time workers so "it's
doable" that many affected workers will find jobs, he said.

However, there is no guarantee all workers will find replacement jobs.

In a statement, the retailer said Cadillac Fairview made Sears an offer it
couldn't refuse.

Sears Canada Chief Executive Officer Calvin McDonald, who took over the helm
last year, put a positive spin on the store closings, saying the deal gives the
retailer the cash needed to upgrades other stores.

"Overall, this is a very advantageous agreement for Sears Canada," McDonald said
in a statement.

"While we had no plans to close stores, the transaction for these three specific
locations provides an attractive financial benefit for the Company which
strategically allows us to drive growth in areas which can be most beneficial."

Retail analysts said they're not surprised Sears moved to offload three big-city
department stores.

It's no secret Sears has struggled over the past year as it faces competition
from discount retailers Wal-Mart and Winners. Next year, U.S. discount retailer
Target Corp. will open a string of outlets across Canada.

Sears Canada may be following the example of its U.S. parent company, Sears
Holdings, which has closed stores south of the border.

"From Sears' point of view, it was perhaps a matter of the right opportunity
coming along at the right time," Ed Strapagiel told CTV.ca.

"This may be serendipity. Cadillac Fairview put this offer on the table probably
knowing that Sears was struggling and would be receptive to this deal.

"And Sears gets $170 million, which is not chicken feed."

Strapagiel said Sears has talked a lot about rebranding, but the look of the
stores hasn't changed much in years.

"Sears hasn't put a dime into their stores in many years," Strapagiel said.

"They've been kind of at sea in terms of what they stand for in the Canadian
marketplace and what they mean for Canadian consumers. They haven't done a good
job of . . . cutting out their piece of the market."

Last year, McDonald attempted to streamline Sears' operations by focusing on
house wares and furniture. And last month, he slashed prices on thousands of
store items.

It's still not known who will take over the leases in Vancouver, Calgary and
Ottawa, though Strapagiel said he's certain Cadillac Fairview has retailers on
standby.

"You don't get rid of a tenant unless you have whoever's moving in right behind
you."

In the past, U.S. department store chain Nordstrom has said it wants into the
Canadian retail market.


http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120302/sears-canada-retail-stor\
es-120302/20120302/?hub=CalgaryHome

======================================================================

From:   "Canadian Club of Toronto" events

Subject:   New Event - 7th Annual Women in Public Life Luncheon

Date:   Tue 03/06/12 01:15 PM

Andrea Horwath
Leader, Ontario's New Democrats

7th Annual Women in Public Life Luncheon

DATE - Wednesday, April 25, 2012
TIME - 11:30AM (Registration/Doors Open) to 1:50PM
LOCATION - Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Canadian Room
TICKETS - $75/$65 Members; Premium Tables of 10 $1500; Regular Tables of 10 $750

-In partnership with-

Equal Voice
On April 25th, The Canadian Club of Toronto and Equal Voice will, once again,
join forces to spotlight women in politics at the Seventh Annual Women in Public
Life Luncheon.  For more than ten years Equal Voice has been promoting the
election of more women in all levels of government.  This year we are pleased to
announce Andrea Horwath, Leader of Ontario's New Democrats, as our keynote
speaker and Equal Voice's EVE award recipient.

Andrea Horwath is the Leader of Ontario's New Democrats. Elected Leader in 2009,
Andrea brings energy, honesty and compassion to a party that offers sensible
solutions to the challenges facing people in Ontario...MORE

Canadian Club of Toronto  Phone: 416-364-5590 Fax: 416-364-5676


http://www.canadianclub.org

======================================================================

Study: OAS key to keeping seniors out of poverty


This article was published by iPolitics.ca  on February 1st 2012.  To see this
article and other related articles on the iPolitics website, please click here.

Research prepared for the federal government shows that the old-age benefits
cited by Stephen Harper as perhaps unsustainable are a key factor keeping
seniors out of poverty.

The technical, 80-page paper shows that without Old Age Security or the
Guaranteed Income Supplement, more than a third of women and more than a quarter
of men in their 60s would fall below the poverty line.

"The OAS programs have a significant influence on the incidence of low income,"
the report's author, Richard Shillington, wrote.

By region, the benefits are most important in the Maritimes and the North, while
seniors in Alberta are not as dependent on public pension benefits to make ends
meet.

Women are generally far more dependent on OAS and GIS than men. Single seniors
are also vulnerable.

The paper, titled Evaluation of the Old Age Security Program, was written by
social policy researcher Shillington in 2009, on a contract with the
Ottawa-based econometrics firm Informetrica Ltd. It was prepared for the Human
Resources Department.

The research was obtained by the Canadian Labour Congress through an
access-to-information request and provided to The Canadian Press.

"The OAS/GIS makes a huge contribution to the reduction of poverty in old age,"
said Andrew Jackson, chief economic for the labour congress.

Prime Minister Harper announced last week that the public pension system is on
an unsustainable fiscal track and needs a serious overhaul.

He has not released specifics, but officials and cabinet ministers have let it
be known they are eyeing the OAS, since its costs — when combined with the GIS —
are expected to rise to $108 billion in 2030 from $41 billion this year.

There are several ways to cut costs, but the likely leading option is to
gradually raise the age when seniors can begin collecting the benefits to 67
from today's 65.

"We will implement any changes fairly, allowing lots of notice and time to
adjust," Alyson Queen, a spokeswoman for Human Resources Minister Diane Finley,
said Wednesday.

The presumption, said Jackson, is that people will simply work for an extra two
years. But he says that's not an option for many vulnerable people.

"Raising the age of eligibility for OAS/GIS from 65 to 67 would likely result in
a very significant increase in poverty for persons aged 65 to 67, unless they
were able to find an alternative source of income," he said.

"That is possible for some, but many older workers in their 60s are in ill
health or are engaged in providing care for others."

OAS and its cousin, GIS, are intricately entwined. About 98 per cent of
Canadians are eligible to receive OAS when they turn 65. In order to get the GIS
top-up for low-income seniors, they first need to qualify for OAS.

So raising the eligibility age of OAS would imply a corresponding increase in
the age to receive GIS, unless legislation were passed to change the rules.

The research paper shows that OAS and GIS improve the average senior's standard
of living by about $7,000 a year.

The benefits are central to the average person's well-being. Generally, OAS
makes up 26 per cent of seniors' incomes. For people who receive GIS as well,
that percentage rises to 36 per cent, the research shows.

And for seniors of "modest" incomes, OAS and GIS provide about 70 per cent of
their incomes, the paper said.

The benefits become more and more important as seniors age, especially women.

But even for those in their 60s, the benefits are often the difference between
making ends meet or not, the paper says.

The data shows that for women between 65 and 69 years old, 35.4 per cent would
fall below the low-income measure — one of the main ways Statistics Canada
measures poverty. But with the benefits from OAS and its related top-ups, the
incidence of low income is 14 per cent.

For men between 65 and 69 years old, 26.8 per cent would fall below the
low-income measure without OAS and GIS benefits. But with the benefits, their
poverty rate is 11.4 per cent, the paper shows.

While Shillington wrote the paper three years ago, he said in an interview that
the conclusions remain relevant. Numbers may change slightly, but the study
looks at large quantities of income tax data over many years and major shifts
are slow to happen.

"The differences would not be relevant for policy decisions," he said.

The study underlines why the government needs to review the public pension
system now, Queen said on behalf of Finley.

"By taking prudent measures today, we are ensuring OAS remains sustainable for
future generations."

Both Shillington and Jackson says they're concerned that if the government says
seniors can't collect OAS and GIS until they are 67, many people won't be able
to keep working.

Their needs may drive up provincial welfare costs, or they may simply be left
without a social safety net, since welfare is often denied to people who own
homes, said Shillington.

"Certainly the provinces would have to expand welfare," he said.

Despite the Conservatives' insistence that OAS and GIS are not sustainable in
the long run, government documents and many economists say that even though
costs are rising, the government can afford them if it wants to.

But if the government chooses to cut OAS costs, it doesn't have to raise the
eligibility age, Shillington said. It could claw back more of the money from
high-income individuals, or apply the claw-back to family income instead of
individual income.

© iPolitics.ca

http://www.carp.ca/2012/02/09/study-oas-key-to-keeping-seniors-out-of-poverty/

----------------------------------------------------------------------



Is CARP's "Hands off OAS" campaign starting to take root?


This article was published on the Financial Post website on February 21st 2012. 
To see this article and other related articles on the Financial Post website,
please click here.

Judging by the muted remarks about Old Age Security made by Minister of Human
Resources Diane Finley Tuesday, the Conservative government is starting to tread
very carefully about phasing in changes to the OAS program.

As colleague Scott Stinson reported here this afternoon, Finley said little that
hasn't been said before but emphasized that "today's seniors will not be
affected."

The thrust of the talk to the Canadian Club in Toronto was that long-documented
demographic pressures (falling fertility and aging population) are putting
pressure on the retirement system. But now we have the minister's personal
assurance there will be no changes for seniors already collecting OAS (and thus
the GIS). She added there won't be any impacts for anyone "close to retirement,"
although it's not yet clear how close "close" is.

Is 57 "close" to retirement?

I was out of the country last week when the latest round of OAS blowback
occurred but was informed by a concerned friend that "close" to retirement means
being older than 57, based on various media reports. As Morneau Shepell chief
actuary Fred Vettese wrote in our Saturday paper — here — with respect to
raising OAS eligibility to 67,  "We have already been assured it won't happen at
least until 2020, so it will not affect Canadians over 57."

We won't know for sure until next month's federal budget but odds are anyone
still in their 50s will at worst experience only a slight impact if OAS is 
gradually hiked from age 65 to age 67. Given the huge number of votes already
retired seniors command, not to mention million of baby boomers on the cusp of
retirement, I can't imagine the Tories would dare to radically change the rules
in mid-stream for either cohort. Younger people 45 and below are a different
story but they still have plenty of time to prepare for what will be likely a
phased-in rise in OAS eligibility.

As Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page said before CTV's Question Period on
February 12th, the government has known about the old age demographic for
decades. The week before his office released a report that suggested Ottawa can
afford to enhance senior benefits, despite the Prime Minister's contention that
the current model is unsustainable. Page said it was a "bit disingenuous" to put
the blame for a looming fiscal crisis on the rise in OAS recipients.

Of course, the Conservatives are free to float such a proposal in the hope it
will be greeted with shrugs of indifference. But that was never going to happen.
Predictably, CARP (which represents both seniors and boomers 45 plus) has
responded with its "Hands off OAS" campaign, which you can find here.

CARP vice president of advocacy Susan Eng says OAS is responsible for only 2% of
the nation's GDP and the government could find bigger savings in health care.
Besides, "If they get pension reform right, people don't have to even care about
OAS." That said, CARP's members are "raging mad" because such a basic attack on
the social safety net was never mentioned in last spring's federal election
campaign.  70% of CARP's members are already retired and presumably not directly
impacted by the planned OAS changes.

Eng says CARP was disappointed by the lack of substance in Finley's luncheon
speech Tuesday:

We poll our members regularly and in this case, their opinion is that making
this change unilaterally will affect their votes. Over 4,000
members voiced their opinion on the poll that we issued last Friday … If the
government is bound and determined to make this change, then there should be a
full public review of all the facts and evidence with all the stakeholders at
the table.

Echoes of "Hands off our RRSPs" campaigns past

This campaign reminds me of a long-ago trial balloon to tax RRSPs, which
resulted in a similarly named "Hands off our RRSPs" campaign. The RRSP tax never
happened, although RRSPs are ultimately taxed anyway when they become Registered
Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs). And of course if RRSPs and RRIFs become big
enough, they will result in a clawback of OAS benefits. I still wouldn't rule
out a sneakier adjustment of clawback rules for the semi-affluent rather than an
across-the-board hike in the OAS eligibility age.

CARP vice president of advocacy Susan Eng says OAS is responsible for only 2% of
the nation's GDP and the government could find bigger savings in health care.
Besides, "If they get pension reform right, people don't have to even care about
OAS." That said, CARP's members are "raging mad" because such a basic attack on
the social safety net was never mentioned in last spring's federal election
campaign.  70% of CARP's members are already retired and presumably not directly
impacted by the planned OAS changes.

Eng says CARP was disappointed by the lack of substance in Finley's luncheon
speech Tuesday:

We poll our members regularly and in this case, their opinion is that making
this change unilaterally will affect their votes. Over 4,000
members voiced their opinion on the poll that we issued last Friday … If the
government is bound and determined to make this change, then there should be a
full public review of all the facts and evidence with all the stakeholders at
the table.

Echoes of "Hands off our RRSPs" campaigns past

This campaign reminds me of a long-ago trial balloon to tax RRSPs, which
resulted in a similarly named "Hands off our RRSPs" campaign. The RRSP tax never
happened, although RRSPs are ultimately taxed anyway when they become Registered
Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs). And of course if RRSPs and RRIFs become big
enough, they will result in a clawback of OAS benefits. I still wouldn't rule
out a sneakier adjustment of clawback rules for the semi-affluent rather than an
across-the-board hike in the OAS eligibility age.

© The National Post


http://www.carp.ca/2012/02/22/is-carp%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Chands-off-oas%E2%80%9D-\
campaign-starting-to-take-root/

----------------------------------------------------------------------



Canada's poor seniors targeted by Tory OAS cutbacks, CARP says

This article was originally published in the Vancouver Observer.  To view this
article and other ones like it on the Vancouver Observer website, please click
here.

Canada's advocacy group for seniors is crying foul after another Conservative
government announcement on old age pensions yesterday revealed… nothing new at
all.

During a highly anticipated pensions speech yesterday, Human Resources Minister
Diane Finley added her weight to an increasingly cloudy debate on changes to
Canada's Old Age Security (OAS) system, the latest since Prime Minister Stephen
Harper boasted of coming reforms to stave off costs in Davos, Switzerland
several weeks ago.

"They are manufacturing a crisis," said Susan Eng, advocacy vice president of
CARP: A New Vision of Aging, in an extensive interview with the Vancouver
Observer. "I am disappointed they would treat an important issue like this.

"There's absolutely no need for them to do it this way… reciting the same basic
talking points which have not been accepted by people. Because the government
has not given any real details, everybody is guessing. Our members and others
like them are fearing the worst."

CARP (formerly the Canadian Association of Retired Persons) has launched a
"Hands Off OAS" campaign, and said that cuts to pensions – speculated to include
extending the retirement age from 65 to 67 – will hurt the poorest Canadians,
many of whom are seniors. According to CARP, 250,000 seniors fall into the
low-income rate.

The latest salvo in the pensions controversy came after Finley defended her
government's as-yet undefined pension reform – namely, a coming wave of retiring
Baby Boomers, demographic shifts, and escalating costs to the system – at a
major speech Tuesday before the Canadian Club in Toronto.

Seniors outraged over erosion of safety net

Implicitly addressing critics like CARP and the New Democratic Party (NDP),
Finley insisted that pension reform "is not a crisis we invented" – but the bulk
of her speech seemed aimed at younger Canadians, not current retirees who the
government said will be unaffected.

The government has asserted that OAS costs will skyrocket from today's $36
billion to $108 billion by 2030.

"People who are middle age and younger today … can be assured that they will
have these social programs properly funded, fiscally responsible, that they'll
be there for them in the future," she told the Canada Club audience, which
included Eng. "It's the next generations of Canadians who will have to shoulder
the burden," she said. "The next generations who will have their own families to
raise, their own mortgages to pay, their own student and household debt to
manage.

"Inaction is simply not an option. Something must be done."

In earlier comments by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, he suggested that pension
changes would not kick in until at least 2020, but Flaherty's staffers
subsequently clarified the record that earlier pension reforms may be in the
works. By contrast, Finley said the upcoming budget will begin the reforms.

"Although policy hasn't yet been announced, I can tell you that the upcoming
budget will ensure steps to protect retirement income," she said. "I personally
assure that there will be no changes for seniors currently collecting benefits.
Nor will there be any impacts for anyone close to retirement."

But CARP members – who are primarily but not exclusively retired – are on the
whole outraged, according to internal polls cited by Eng.

"For lower-income people, this is going to have a massive impact," she said.
"(The Conservatives) say nothing about protecting them, even though they've had
ample opportunity; it's been three weeks since they dropped the bombshell (in
Davos).

"The ones hurt most by this change are low-income people who are just hanging
on. (Seniors) know how much it takes to make ends meet – they don't want this
effected for their children and grandchildren. This is the population that grew
up in the '60s and '70s – they care about Canada's social safety net."

© The Vancouver Observer

http://www.carp.ca/2012/02/24/canada%E2%80%99s-poor-seniors-targeted-by-tory-oap\
-cutbacks-carp-says/

======================================================================


Sign up for updates -
http://www.carp.ca/category/advocacy/campaigns/hands-off-oas/

=====================================================================

======================================================================

Clinics cancelling surgeries over drug shortage
Published On Fri Mar 9 2012

Video: Colonoscopy doctor faces drug shortage

Dr. Michael Smith says he'll have to shut down his Mississauga Colonoscopy
Centre due to a national shortage of some drugs will force him to stop offering
colonoscopies.

By Megan Ogilvie
  Health Reporter

The nationwide shortage of critical medication is starting to hit patients in
the Toronto area, with some being notified that elective surgeries and
procedures have been delayed or cancelled.

The first wave of disruption in patient care is being seen at a privately run
hospital specializing in hernia repair and at colonoscopy clinics that operate
outside hospitals.

Related: Drug shortages loom over Canadian hospitals

Related: Drug shortage forces Ontario hospitals to share medication



Hospices in the GTA are also concerned about their supplies of injectable
painkillers used to ease the final days of life.
As news broke this week of production problems at Sandoz Canada Inc., much of
the focus centred on hospitals, some of which rely on more than 100 different
generic drugs produced at the company's Boucherville, Que., facility.

But some smaller health-care institutions say they are not receiving appropriate
guidance from the provincial Ministry of Health on how to deal with the drug
shortage and worry their patients will be left waiting too long for care.

Sandoz, a Swiss generic pharmaceutical giant that makes chemotherapy drugs and
other intravenous medicine key for surgical and hospital care, was given a
warning letter by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration in November, 2011
regarding quality concerns. A March 4 fire that broke out in the company's
Quebec facility has caused production to be suspended until March 12, further
exacerbating the problem.

The Shouldice Hospital on Friday confirmed to the Star that some elective
surgeries have been postponed due to the drug shortage. The privately run
institution, which takes OHIP cards for payment, is a surgical hospital with 89
beds that specializes in hernia repair.

Daryl Urquhart, Shouldice's director of business development, said the hospital
has temporarily postponed some surgeries for patients who would require higher
doses of anesthetics — a group of drugs affected by the Sandoz shortage — to
stretch supplies and ensure the institution remains open for the remainder of
its patients.

He said the "precautionary, preemptive step" will help the hospital serve the
"vast majority — 95 per cent or more — of our patients."

"We are postponing surgeries that are low-priority, elective cases until such
time we are confident those cases are better served in a safe manner without
jeopardizing healthcare to other patients," Urquhart said. Shouldice conducts
about 7,500 surgical procedures every year.

On Friday, the Mississauga Colonoscopy Clinic started cancelling all patient
procedures scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday of next week.

Dr. Michael Smith, the clinic's owner, said he will run out of a key medicine —
the widely used sedative Midaxolam — by the end of day Monday.

Though privately owned, the Mississauga Colonoscopy Clinic — considered an
ambulatory clinic by the ministry — bills OHIP for performing colonoscopies on
patients, many of whom are being screened for colorectal cancer. Smith said
there are approximately 50 such clinics in Ontario and that his performs about
3,400 colonoscopies each year.

After becoming aware of the drug shortage Thursday morning, Smith said he
quickly contacted the ministry for advice.

"They said they were allocating some medications to hospitals, but didn't seem
aware of the needs of ambulatory clinics," he said, adding that his clinic is
also in very short supply of painkillers, including Demerol. "This shortage is
affecting the whole province and country, but it seems that we (ambulatory
clinics) have been overlooked in the big equation."

If he is unable to secure supplies of the needed drugs, Smith said that he will
shutter his clinic and layoff his eight-member staff until the shortage problem
is solved.

Martin Gillen, administrative director the Rudd Clinic/Provis Group — the
largest endoscopy group in Ontario performing about 50,000 procedures each year
— said the group's four stand-alone clinics have no more than a two-weeks supply
of critical drugs.

"Our present supplies on hand will allow us to continue engaging in our
procedures comfortably for another one to two weeks and then we run out of
medication supplied by Sandoz," Gillen said. If the clinic is unable to secure
another supplier, Gillen said some procedures will have to be delayed or
patients will have to decide whether they want to undergo procedures without
pain medication.

The drug shortage is also starting to affect patient care at hospices in the
GTA, said Karina Wulf, manager for palliative services at the Etobicoke-based
Dorothy Ley Hospice and who called the situation "very concerning."

The main concern for physicians treating patients at the end of life is a
scarcity of injectable painkillers, including morphine, which Wulf said is
critical to help a patient manage pain in the final days.

On Friday, four hospices, including the Dorothy Ley Hospice, held a conference
call to discuss best practices in the face of the protracted drug shortage. One
strategy that will be implemented immediately is to treat patients with oral
medications for as long as possible to stretch supplies of the injectable
painkillers.

But, Wulf said, that can only be an interim strategy since swallowing often
becomes difficult at the end of life.

"We are trying to be as preemptive as possible and at same time making sure we
do have some injectable medications for each individual in case we really do
need them," Wulf said.

So far, she said, the health ministry has not yet contacted the Dorothy Ley
Hospice about whether it will be allocated additional drugs if needed.

It was not clear Friday whether the ministry has started to prioritize access to
critical medication in the province.

According to a ministry spokesperson, the government has not received reports of
drug shortages in any health-care facilities.

"At this point in time, the ministry is focused on ensuring the continuity of
services in acute care, long-term care, home care, and palliative care
settings."

A technical advisory group, assembled by the province, will help support this
work, the spokesperson said, which includes the "prioritization of existing
supply should that be necessary."


http://www.thestar.com/living/article/1144125--clinics-cancelling-surgeries-over\
-drug-shortage?bn=1

----------------------------------------------------------------------


Northern Ontario deaths probed for links to discontinuing OxyContin
Published On Fri Mar 9 2012
By Tanya Talaga
  Queen's Park Bureau

As Ontario weans itself off the powerful pain reliever OxyContin, the provincial
coroner's office is investigating three deaths in the north.

OxyContin was removed from the list of drugs paid for by the Ontario government
at the end of February. It is being replaced with OxyNEO, a new formulation of
the drug that is reportedly harder to crush and abuse.

The death of one unidentified man in the Thunder Bay area is a caution for
physicians as they switch patients from OxyContin to other opioids.

"There is certainly a basis for concern," said Dr. Michael Wilson, regional
supervising corner in northwestern Ontario.

Two other deaths that could involve OxyContin are being investigated by Wilson's
office. "I'd just say there are other cases that there may be similar
circumstances."

Alarm bells have sounded for months on the consequences of discontinuing
OxyContin use and the drug's addictive powers. First Nations chiefs have called
at least two states of emergencies, requesting police and health services help,
on reserves due to crime waves fuelled by addiction. Pills can cost up to $400
for one — and addicts will stop at nothing to get their fix.

"Times have changed and are challenging for people sometimes living from one hit
to the next," Wilson said.

It is estimated nearly 10,000 First Nations people are addicted to the drug in
northern Ontario, Mike Metatawabin, deputy grand chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation
recently told the Star. NAN is a political organization representing 49 First
Nations.

"We have been working for three years, largely on our own, to deal with these
problems," said Metatawabin.

"The scale of our drug abuse problem is of a magnitude not seen elsewhere in
Ontario. This scale is compounded by our lack of health services and lack of
professional expertise to provide local treatment."

The Thunder Bay area man who died last month was receiving OxyContin through the
federal Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, which provides drug coverage for
more than 800,000 registered First Nations and Inuit people. The drug was taken
off that formulary on Feb. 15.

His doctor took him off OxyContin and switched the patient to another opioid.
"Really, it doesn't matter what long-acting opioid a patient is being switched
to," said Wilson. "They all have varying levels of cross-tolerance and obviously
the potencies vary."

It is uncertain if the deceased man, whose identity cannot be released for
privacy reasons, suffered from an error in how the medication was prescribed or
if he was not taking his substitute medication properly, Wilson added.

Current prescriptions for OxyContin are directly transferred to the new
incarnation of the drug, OxyNEO. New prescriptions for OxyNEO are being given
out under exceptional access only.

British Columbia, Ontario, the Atlantic provinces and Saskatchewan have all
switched to OxyNEO use but under tighter controls.

Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews said she is keenly aware of the problems
surrounded by OxyContin addiction and has assembled a working group of experts
tasked with developing immediate and medium-term solutions.

She urged physicians to follow national guidelines of appropriate prescribing of
narcotics. "It is very important physicians take this responsibility very
seriously," she said.

Pharmacists also need to be "ever vigilant" when they see prescriptions that
raise flags with them – that they circle back and make sure patients are getting
the right dosage of the drugs used now as substitutes, she added.

"OxyContin or OxyNEO should never be the first line when it comes to pain. There
are series of steps that physicians should take their patients through before
they arrive of what should be a last resort — Oxy," she said.

Ada Giudice-Thompson, vice-president of Advocates for the Reform of Prescription
Opioids, doubts the new form of OxyNEO will help stop abuse. "The majority of
people do not crush, do not snort or inject opioids — they take them as
prescribed by their doctor," she said.

"People become addicted. These are dangerous drugs. Do we talk about heroin as
the abuse of heroin or misuse of it? No."

Giudice-Thompson lost her 29-year-old son Michael in 2004 after he battled an
opioid addiction.

"We are dealing with dangerous addictive substances," she said. "They should
never be the first thing prescribed."

The retired teacher is urging greater training for the medical community
regarding the dangers of prescription opioid narcotics and addiction.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1144039--northern-ontario-deaths-prob\
ed-for-links-to-discontinuing-oxycontin

----------------------------------------------------------------------


see April 2012 issue of Zoomer Magazine
for articles

Seniors With Benefits

stating that delaying oas hits hardest where it's needed most.
almost 300,000 canadians over 65 still live in poverty, and many more straddle
the low-income threshold and struggle with old-age financial insecurity. between
2006 and 2009, nearly 128,000 more seniors became low income. of that amount, an
overwhelming 70 percent were women.
the hardest hit group of canadians are single, unattached women over 65, almost
20 percent of whom live under the after-tax low-income cut-off of approximately
$20,000 per year. more than 30 percent of single women between 45 and 65 are low
income.


--------------------------


expert q&a - breast self-exams

in general, for average-risk women, the task force feels that the evidence
suggests that there may be more harm from breast self-examination and clinical
breast examination by a physician than benefit in saving lives.  as noted, the
harm comes in the form of unnecessary anxiety and testing.

http://www.zoomermag.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------

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======================================================================

Date:   Mon 03/12/12 01:12 PM

From: Income Security Advocacy Centre <isac@...>

Subject: Choice in Tax Credit Payment Coming
Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 19:36:09 +0000

Choice in Tax Credit Payments Coming

The Minister of Finance has recently stated that low- to moderate-income people
receiving provincial tax credits are going to be given a choice in how they
receive these credits – either in monthly cheques or in a lump sum.

A Star article from last Friday

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1140158--income-tax-changes-eliminate-re\
funds-for-many-ontario-residents

quotes the Minister as saying: "We're looking at ways of allowing people to
choose. There are some administrative issues, but it seems perfectly reasonable
to me."

And in a CTV "consumer watchdog" interview

http://toronto.ctv.ca/consumer/#TopVideoAn

conducted with the Minister earlier this week, he says the government
acknowledges that they "dropped the ball" on this issue by not properly
communicating the change to quarterly and monthly payments. He confirms that
they are going to let people choose whether to receive their tax credits in one
lump sum cheque or in monthly instalments.

However, the Minister is very clear that the change to a system that lets people
choose "won't happen this year".

We have been in touch with contacts in the Ministry of Finance asking that they
provide clear information on the administrative details of this policy change,
so that we can help people understand how best to proceed. As soon as we have
further information, we will share it with you.

In the meantime, previous ISAC materials on this issue may be of help to you and
people you work with. Two information sheets – one on the change to monthly
delivery and another on the related issue of the negative implications of using
tax preparation companies to file tax returns – are available on our website.

http://www.incomesecurity.org/documents/TaxCreditsPaymentandRefunds.htm

Please distribute this information to community contacts – both low-income folks
that you work with and other community-based organizations.

Jennefer Laidley
Policy & Research Analyst
Income Security Advocacy Centre

----

ISAC website: http://www.incomesecurity.org
Social Assistance Review website: http://www.sareview.ca


Social Assistance Review
The Social Assistance Review now underway is part of Ontario's strategy to
reduce poverty. Find out how you can get involved.

Resources for the Review
Visit the Resources page of our Social Assistance Review website to get tools
that will help you respond to the Review.

ISAC Public Legal Education Resources
Check out ISAC's public legal education materials on topics such as social
assistance rates, special diet supplement, Ontario Child Benefit, and more.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the ISAC E-list
originally through the CLEONet.ca website or the ISAC website at
http://www.incomesecurity.org .

Our mailing address is:
Income Security Advocacy Centre
425 Adelaide Street West, 5th Floor
Toronto, ON M5V 3C1

Copyright (C) 2012 Income Security Advocacy Centre All rights reserved.

----------------------------------------------------------------------



[isac website]


Tax Credit Payments and Refunds

The way that some tax credits are being paid to low income people in Ontario is
changing.

ISAC has prepared two information bulletins related to these changes that we
hope will be helpful to you.

The first information bulletin describes the changes. It says:

how payments for three tax credits have been changing since 2009
how these payments are changing again in 2012
why these changes are being made
some of the implications of these changes
who is eligible for these tax credits
how to get help with filing your tax return, which you must do in order to get
the tax credits
action you can take to get government to provide more help for people with
filing their income tax return.
La version francaise est disponible ici.

The second information bulletin talks about a problem that some low income
people have had with getting their taxes done this year, in hopes of getting a
lump-sum tax refund. It says:

some companies that do people's taxes are asking people to enter into a contract
in order to get their taxes done
the contract means people have to sign up for a bank account and a debit card
they also have to change their direct deposit so that all tax-delivered benefits
go into this new bank account
both the bank account and the debit card charge high fees
the companies get paid first, when benefits get deposited into the bank account
there are other ways to get your taxes done that don't require you to enter into
these contracts
these other ways to get your taxes done are free.


----------------------------------------------------------------------



INFORMATION BULLETIN

The province of Ontario is changing the way that three refundable tax credits
are paid. This means that the amount of money you will get from the Ontario
government each month will change, which will affect your budgeting. It will
also have an impact on the tax refund you get when you file your taxes at the
end of the year.

The provincial government gives a number of tax credits to people in Ontario.
Three of these are refundable tax credits that people with low incomes can be
eligible for.

• The Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit
• The Ontario Sales Tax Credit
• The Northern Ontario Energy Credit

Eligibility for these tax credits is explained on page 3.

In the past, you got the money for these tax credits once every year in a
lump-sum refund after you filed your tax return. The lump-sum may have also
included money for other tax credits, like credits from the federal government.
And it may also have included a refund of income taxes you paid if you worked
sometime during the year.

Starting in July 2010, the money for two of these tax credits started to be paid
to you in cheques issued throughout the year. As of July 2011, the third of
these tax credits also started to be paid in regular cheques. See the table
below for more information.

	 2009 2010 2011

Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit paid as refund after taxes filed paid as
refund after taxes filed paid in July & Dec
Ontario Sales Tax Credit paid as refund after taxes filed paid in Aug & Nov paid
in Feb, May, Aug, & Nov
Northern Ontario Energy Credit did not exist paid in Nov paid in Feb, July, &
Dec

Because you have been getting this money throughout the year, as of this year
you will no longer get these tax credits in a lump-sum refund. You may still get
a refund for other tax credits or for income taxes you paid if you worked during
the year. But these three provincial tax credits will not be part of that
amount. This may mean that you will not get a refund at all – but this will
depend on your individual situation.

In 2012, you'll get paid the money for these three tax credits separately for
the first half of the year. But starting in July 2012, the money for all three
of these tax credits will be bundled together and called the "Ontario Trillium
Benefit". The total amount of the tax credits for which you qualify will be paid
to you spread out over the entire year. So every month you will get an Ontario
Trillium Benefit cheque, or it will be direct deposited into your bank account.

	 Jan to June 2012

July 2012 forward

Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit paid in Mar and June Ontario Trillium
Benefit
paid every month

Ontario Sales Tax Credit paid in Feb and May
Northern Ontario Energy Credit paid in Mar and June

Remember, the Ontario Trillium Benefit is not new money. It is the Ontario
Energy and Property Tax Credit, the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, and the Northern
Ontario Energy Credit bundled together and paid to you every month. It replaces
the money that used to be paid as a lump-sum tax refund after you filed your
taxes, or that you got in regular payments in 2010 and 2011.

What is a "refundable tax credit"?

A "tax credit" is an amount of money that the government lets you deduct from
any income tax that you might owe. Tax credits can come from the provincial
government or the federal government.
A "refundable tax credit" is paid to you directly, even if you don't pay any
income tax. Usually, refundable tax credits are paid in a lump-sum refund after
you file your taxes.     A refundable credit is different from a "non-refundable
tax credit", which is an amount of money that you can claim on your income tax
return to help lower the taxes you owe.

Why is the government changing the way these tax credits are paid?
The goal of this change is to give people with low incomes a more stable and
steady source of income throughout the year. People who have low incomes – like
people on Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) –
will benefit from having more money every month.

This year, however, many people didn't know about this change. Many people with
low incomes, like people on OW and ODSP, were counting on getting the money in a
lump-sum tax refund to pay for things like Christmas presents or bigger items
that cost more, like furniture or winter coats and boots.

Next year, people will have to save up throughout the year – which is hard when
OW and ODSP incomes are so low. Often, any extra money that people get is spent
on regular costs of daily living, like rent and food.

How do I qualify for these tax credits? Am I eligible?

To get these credits between now and the end of June 2012, you have to meet
certain eligibility criteria:

• To qualify for the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit: you must be 18
years or older, live in Ontario, and pay rent or property taxes for the place
you live in.
You could get up to $917 for 2011 from this tax credit. If you are a senior, you
could get up to $1,044 for 2011. The actual amount that you get depends on your
income and the amount of rent or property tax you paid in 2010.

If you live on reserve, are over 18, and pay home energy costs, you could
qualify for the energy portion of this credit. If you live in a public long-term
care home, you could also qualify for the energy portion of this credit.

• To qualify for the Ontario Sales Tax Credit: you must live in Ontario and be
19 years or older. If you are under 19, you might qualify if you have or had a
spouse or common-law partner, or if you are or were a parent and live or lived
with your child.
You could get up to $265 for 2011 for each adult and child in your family. The
actual amount that you will get depends on your income and the size of your
family.

• To qualify for the Northern Ontario Energy Credit: you must live in the north
(in the regions of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound,
Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, or Timiskaming) and pay property taxes or
rent for the place that you live in.

If you live on reserve, you have to pay energy costs, like electricity or
heating fuel, for the place you are living in order to be eligible. If you live
in a public long-term care home in the north, you have to pay accommodation
costs to be eligible.

Families can get up to $204. Single people can get up to $132.

Eligibility for these three credits that will become part of the Ontario
Trillium Benefit (when it starts in July 2012) will remain the same. The
difference is that you will get the money monthly.
How much money will I get?

Use the government's online tax credit calculator to determine how much your tax
credits will be:

http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/taxcredits/CalculatorQuestions.asp

Do I have to apply for these credits?

You don't have to apply, but you do have to file your taxes – even if you don't
have any income to report. Remember to check the boxes on the part of the
provincial tax credit form that asks if you want the income tax credits.

If you don't file your tax return every year, you won't be able to get the money
for these tax credits or the Ontario Trillium Benefit.

How do I file my taxes?

Many people rely on tax preparation companies. They charge a fee and may want
you to sign up for a bank account and debit card that charges a lot of extra
fees when you use it.

See ISAC's Information Bulletin called "Tax Filing, Tax Credits, and Tax
Refunds" at http://www.incomesecurity.org/documents/TaxRefunds2011.doc for more
information.

There are ways to get your taxes done that won't cost you anything:

• Contact your provincial MPP or a local community agency, or ask your OW or
ODSP caseworker where you can get your taxes done for free.

• Contact your federal MP to find out about the Canada Revenue Agency's
Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.

• Check this website for the location of a free tax clinic near you:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/vlntr/nd-eng.html. Tax clinics run from
February to April.

• You have to file your taxes by April 30 of every year to get your taxes done
for the previous year and get your money without delay.

How do I contact my provincial MPP?

• To find out who your MPP is and get their contact information:

o Type in your postal code at this website
http://fyed.elections.on.ca/fyed/en/form_page_en.jsp.

o When it takes you to a new page, look for the name of your Electoral District.
It might be hard to see – you might have to click on the map to see the name.

o On that page, click on "Information on your Member of Provincial Parliament".

o You will be sent to a long list of all the MPPs in the Ontario Legislature.
Look down the list for the name of the person beside the name of your Electoral
District – that's your MPP. Click on their name to get their contact
information.

How do I contact my federal MP?

• Find your federal MP at this website:

http://canada.gc.ca/directories-repertoires/direct-eng.html#mp.
While you're talking to your MPP or MP, push for more free tax clinics:

• Tell them you want more free tax clinics for people on low incomes, and that
you want government to announce funding for them in 2012's provincial / federal
budgets.

• Tell them the government should take more responsibility for helping people
get their taxes done. The more government distributes money to people through
the tax system, the more important it will be that people file their taxes – and
get help to do so.
For more information about Ontario tax credits, visit the Ministry of Finance
website at:

http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/credit/

======================================================================

[note from an ODSP recipient to govt - thanks for the notice, guys!
The tax clinic prepared my tax return last week and did not advise me of any
choices. Now, with no lump sum return in April, how do we pay for our annual
union dues, park permit, clean drive test, oil change, and license plate
renewals, to name a few bills. Not to mention, academy membership, CAA becomes
due next, etc. etc. Don't know how this can be stretched out to July this year,
but will definitely put me on a diet! (and am not overweight!) On top of this,
have Small Claims Court expenses vs. Ontario Ministry for past due
transportation expenses that keep adding up due to Court Clerk losing notarized
affidavits!]

======================================================================

http://www.ChangeDetection.com
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/angelgoddess-newsmuse

Rogers' Twitter tactic backfires as customers use hashtag to vent about lousy
service
Published On Fri Mar 16 2012

Rogers got on the wrong side of Twitter users Friday, as people used a Rogers
promotional hashtag to vent their frustration instead of wearing it on their
shirt, like this man in Vancouver, protesting Roger's rates with Apple iPhones.
RICHARD LAM/CANADIAN PRESS
Ashante Infantry Business Reporter

Rogers got up on the wrong side of Twitter Friday morning.

The hashtag #Rogers1Number, which the communications giant paid to have atop
Twitter's list of trending topics for 24 hours, saw hundreds of customers, past
and present, venting about unrelated issues, rather than celebrating the
company's new service, as its social media team likely intended.

The promotion — with the tagline "1 is the only number you'll need" — was meant
to highlight Rogers One Number which was launched last month as a free vehicle
to extend an individual's Rogers wireless number to their computer.

But respondents seemed to be talking about anything but.

"There was a period of 6 months where @Rogers overbilled me every month. Still
haven't heard a "sorry" #Rogers1Number #NotsoMuch," tweeted Kevin Richardson
under the handle @KoRichardson.

"@Rogers_Canada My internet connection is cutting out every 10 minutes. So
frustrated with your service. At my wits end here," wrote Hugh Fairplay under
the handle @SmlStakesGrind.

"STOP OVERBILLING, FIRE ALL YOUR RUDE SUPPORT PEOPLE, AND WORK ON UR PUBLIC
IMAGE...then consider using Twitter to promote #Rogers1Number," tweeted Ingrid
under the handle @cashmereclutch.

Social media engagement is worthy, despite the perils, maintained Keith
McArthur, Social Media VP at the company which was utilizing the sponsored
hashtag option for the first time.

"There's a risk, but the benefit is also that we do get feedback that we can
action, that we can pass on to different parts of the business and make our
products and services better," he said. "Some people are choosing to use this as
an opportunity to talk about things they like or don't like about the brand.
That's not new to us: we've been listening and responding to that kind of thing
before most other brands, so, we're okay with it."

Ironically, the campaign came about after noticing that the One Number service
was "by far the most positively received thing in social media" since the
company established such a presence in 2009, McArthur said.

@Aileen_Song, a rare positive commenter dealing with the hashtag's initial
intent, declared "#Rogers1Number is actually not that bad. Especially if you're
out of the country and you wanna call your friends for free."


http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1147462--rogers-twitter-tactic-backfires\
-as-customers-use-hashtag-to-vent-about-lousy-service?bn=1

----------------------------------------------------------------------



George Clooney released after arrest at Sudanese embassy protest in Washington
National Post Wire Services  Mar 16, 2012 – 2:33 PM ET |
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2012 7:41 PM ET


MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
George Clooney steps out of the Metropolitan Police station on March 16, 2012 in
Washington with his father Nick Clooney second district. The star and his
father, who works as a TV journalist, were released after their arrest earlier
in the day while protesting at the Sudanese embassy.

George Clooney tells reporters the arrest was his first and `let's hope it's my
last' after being released from police custody


George Clooney has been released by police after being arrested for "disorderly
crossing of a police line" during a protest at Sudan's embassy in Washington
against the country's blockade of humanitarian aid.

Surrounded by flashing cameras and TV crews, Clooney and his journalist father
Nick led more than a dozen prominent campaigners to the steps of Sudan's mission
in Washington's Embassy Row, ignoring several warnings by police to leave the
premises.

As officers escorted Clooney and the other campaigners in plastic handcuffs to
police vans, hundreds of supporters chanted slogans against Sudan's President
Omar al-Bashir and waved banners reading, "Sudan: Stop Using Food as a Weapon."

The Descendants star, a longtime activist for human rights in Sudan, met
Thursday with U.S. President Barack Obama after paying a clandestine eight-day
visit to South Kordofan in eastern Sudan, where aid groups say 250,000 people
are at risk of imminent food shortages.

"You never know if you are accomplishing anything…. We hope it helps," Clooney
told reporters after his release, adding that the arrest was his first and
"let's hope it's my last."

Activists have drawn parallels between the current crisis in Sudan's Southern
Kordofan and Blue Nile provinces and the violence almost a decade ago in the
western region of Darfur, where Khartoum sparked international condemnation by
violently suppressing a rebellion in a conflict that the United Nations
estimates killed some 300,000 people.


PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images
Clooney walks from the booking desk after being released from Washington
Metropolitan Police custody.

PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images
Clooney (C foreground) and his father journalist Nick (C in front of his son)
are arrested for tresspassing.

Clooney said he saw hundreds of people fleeing in terror to the hills and into
caves in South Kordofan due to the constant buzzing of planes dropping bombs
meant for insurgents but which frequently kill and maim civilians.

The conflict has severely impeded agriculture in the mountainous region, leading
to fears of hunger. The U.S. has demanded that Sudan let in outside food
shipments, but Khartoum is deeply suspicious of U.S. intentions in the volatile
border region where its army is fighting rebels aligned with South Sudan.

The protest was orderly, with some campaigners waiting patiently for police to
bring another van. Inside Sudan's embassy, one woman could be seen snapping a
photo from the window before Clooney was taken away. He had been widely expected
to provoke police into arresting him.


http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/03/16/george-clooney-released-arrest-sudan-emb\
assy/

======================================================================


[books]


All That is Bitter and Sweet: A Memoir
by Ashley Judd
http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/034552361X/internatio088-20


======================================================================

From:   "Amnesty International USA" <alerts@...>

To:   "ag news"

Subject:   Why was George Clooney willing to get arrested?

Date:   Mon 03/19/12 03:28 PM

What was actor George Clooney doing in jail, while Sudan's president and
indicted war crimes suspect Omar al-Bashir runs free?


Dear ag news,

The Internet was abuzz on Friday with the news. Actor George Clooney was
arrested, along with members of Congress and other civil society leaders, while
protesting human rights violations in Sudan at a Washington, DC, rally attended
by Amnesty International and other NGOs.

But they got the wrong man.

The real suspect? Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who remains at large
despite being indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of
war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur.

As Sudanese civilians suffer from starvation and indiscriminate bombing attacks,
al-Bashir continues on as Sudan's head of state, leaving war crimes in his wake
and travelling the globe with impunity.

No more hiding in plain sight, President al-Bashir.

It's time to arrest Omar al-Bashir and the three other Sudanese wanted by the
International Criminal Court and surrender them to the ICC for trial. Tell the
United Nations that as long as war crimes suspects are on the loose, civilians
will continue to be at grave risk.

The longer it takes to bring fugitives like al-Bashir to justice, the longer
civilians suffer. In Sudan, civilians are under fire as Sudanese Armed Forces --
under the leadership of yes, Omar al-Bashir -- conduct devastating and
indiscriminate bombing raids.

And the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is escalating. Livelihoods have been ruined
after years of Sudan's war-torn chaos, and al-Bashir's self-imposed blockade on
humanitarian aid to the Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile regions puts countless
people at risk of hunger or starvation.

Friday's rally in response to the dire human rights situation in Sudan was
inspiring. More than a hundred activists joined George Clooney, congressional
human rights champions, and Amnesty's NGO partners to shine a light on Sudan's
ongoing human rights crisis.

Our message was clear -- fugitives from international justice like al-Bashir can
no longer be allowed to commit the worst crimes under international law with
impunity. They must be brought to justice.

Inaction has proven deadly in a suffering Sudan. But with your help, the next
high-profile arrest will be of a criminal fugitive from the ICC, not a Hollywood
celebrity.

Join us in calling on the United Nations to step up its efforts to advance peace
and justice by providing the necessary support to make the arrest of Omar
al-Bashir -- and his fellow ICC fugitives -- a long-awaited reality.

For justice,

Scott Edwards
Advocacy, Policy and Research
Amnesty International USA

http://www.amnestyusa.org

=====================================================================

From:   <Elizabeth.May@...>

Subject: RE: Keep Canada connected: stop severe cuts to the CBC

Date:   Tue 03/20/12 05:40 AM


Thank you for your letter of concern regarding CBC's budget cuts.

  The Government of Canada is determined to cut funding to the CBC due to their
existence as a public broadcaster in Canada despite their promise to maintain or
increase funding to the CBC. Furthermore, recent years have shown that Canadian
media has become more and more concentrated in ownership. Taking these factors
into consideration, the CBC is under intense scrutiny and an uncertain future.

The Green Party of Canada is a strong supporter of the CBC and free media due to
their valued role as information providers. The Green Party would like to see
the diversification of media ownership in Canada and strengthen the depth and
breadth of news reporting, especially in local news. In addition, the Green
Party would provide increased base funding to the CBC to further support
television and radio programming in both French and English. A further
description of our position on media in Canada and our support for the CBC can
be found at www.greenparty.ca/vision-green. In addition to this position, I will
continue to show my support for the CBC in the House of Commons.

You can also print, sign and return – postage free – a petition in support of
the CBC that I will table in the House of Commons:


http://elizabethmaymp.ca/get-involved/defend-the-cbc

Thank you for your letter and I encourage you to continue advocating this issue
to inform others of this important topic.

Sincerely,


Elizabeth May O.C., M.P.
Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands
Leader of the Green Party of Canada

  ==================================================================

From:   <bob.rae@...>

Subject: Re: Keep Canada connected: stop severe cuts to the CBC

Date:   Wed 03/21/12 11:43 AM

On behalf of Liberal Leader Bob Rae, I would like to thank you for your e-mail
in support of the CBC and its funding.

Please be assured that the Liberal Party of Canada recognizes the indispensible
role played by CBC/Radio Canada in providing national, regional and local
programming, including news coverage and services to linguistic minorities
throughout Canada.  The CBC/Radio Canada plays a vital role in preserving and
promoting Canadian culture.

Our national broadcaster must be able to carry out its important work without
uncertainty about where its funding will come from.  Any cuts in funding would
jeopardize the CBC's long-term viability and continued tradition of Canadian
programming. Liberals have always been strong supporters of the CBC and public
broadcasting. This contrasts with many Conservatives who have long argued that
the CBC is a waste of taxpayers' dollars, is a "bloated crown corporation."
Given their loathing of this vital Canadian institution, it comes as a shock to
no one that this government is planning to cut the CBC's budget by 5% next year
in order to battle a massive deficit of their own making. Rest assured that we
will fight any attempt by Stephen Harper to gut the CBC's budget.

We would invite you to add your name to our petition and send a strong message
to the Harper Conservatives to keep their hands off our CBC. 
http://lpc.ca/handsoffourcbc

Please be assured of continued strong Liberal support for CBC/Radio Canada.

Yours sincerely,


Colin McKone
Office of the Liberal Leader

====================================================================

Fwd: Posting to DAWN list-serve
Posted by: "Barbara Anello" barb.anello@...   barbara.anello
Sun Mar 25, 2012 10:25 pm (PDT)

[Attachment(s) from Barbara Anello included below]

Please contact Alisa Grigorovich, (PhD Candidate, York University) at
email: alisag@... tel: 416-629-1035
if interested in participating

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: a g <househippo13@...>
Date: Sun, Mar 25, 2012 at 10:58 PM

Hi,

I was wondering if you could please post that attached study flyer to the
DAWN list-serve?

I am a PhD student at York University and I am doing a thesis research
project
on older gay,lesbian,and bisexual womens experiences of accessing and
receiving home care services in Ontario.

The goal of my research is to see whether in-home care services in our
community adequately support older gay, lesbian and bisexual women and
explore
what changes need to be made to home care services to ensure that they are
supportive of and relevant to older gay, lesbian and bisexual womens needs.

This research has been approved by the York University Research Ethics
Board and
is supervised by Drs. Pat Armstrong, Marc Stein and Tamara Daly.

I am looking for women from Ontario who are:
-55 years or older
-identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual
-are currently receiving in-home care services or have received home care
services sometime in the last 5 years.
-Would agree to participate in an interview answering questions about
their experiences accessing and receiving home care services.

** All participants will receive a $20 gift card**

I was wondering if you may be able to pass the attached information about my
home care study to anyone who may be be interested in participating.

Thank you for your help,
Alisa Grigorovich
PhD Candidate, York University
Toronto, ON, Canada
alisag@...
416-629-1035
Attachment(s) from Barbara Anello


<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>
DAWN Ontario Women with disAbilities e-list
* List norms & F.A.Q. Page:  http://dawn.thot.net/list.html

Ontario Appeal Court strikes down ban on brothels
Two sex-trade laws ruled unconstitutional
By Geoff Nixon, CBC News
Posted: Mar 26, 2012 6:37 AM ET

Terri-Jean Bedford, left, and Valerie Scott, right, react to the Ontario Court
of Appeal decision that struck down a ban on brothels. The court also ruled that
sex workers should be able to pay others to help protect them. (Patrick
Morrell/CBC)

Lawyer for sex-workers 13:11
Reaction to prostitution ruling 6:03

Ontario's Court of Appeal has ruled that sex workers should be able to legally
take their trade indoors and pay staff to support them.

The court released a decision Monday on an appeal of Superior Court Judge Susan
G. Himel's high-profile ruling that three provisions of the Criminal Code
pertaining to prostitution should be struck down on the grounds that they are
unconstitutional.

The Ontario appeal court agreed with two-thirds of Himel's ruling, namely that
the provisions prohibiting common bawdy-houses and living off the avails of
prostitution, are both unconstitutional in their current form.

Ontario's Court of Appeal agrees that sex workers should be permitted to work in
safer locations and pay others to help protect them, but not that they should be
able to communicate with their clients in public places. (Patrick Morrell/CBC)
But the court disagreed that the communicating provision must be struck down,
meaning that it "remains in full force" and the existing ban on soliciting will
continue.

Both Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and Ontario Attorney General John Gerretsen
indicated that their respective departments would review the decision before
deciding how to proceed.

"As the Prime Minister has said, prostitution is bad for society and harmful to
communities, women and vulnerable persons," Nicholson said in a statement
released by his office.

"We are reviewing the decision and our legal options."

The Ontario court said it will strike the word "prostitution" from the
definition of "common bawdy-house," as it applies to Section 210 of the Criminal
Code, which otherwise prevents prostitutes from offering services out of fixed
indoor locations such as brothels or their homes.

However, the court said the bawdy-house provisions would not be declared invalid
for 12 months, so that Parliament can have a chance to draft Charter-compliant
provisions to replace them, if it chooses to do so.

Concern for sex workers still on the street
Valerie Scott of Sex Professionals of Canada said most sex workers in the
industry today are already operating indoors.

While Scott said she welcomed the court's ruling, she expressed concern for sex
workers who are still out on the street.

"I do worry about my street colleagues. What are they going to do?" Scott said
Monday at a news conference in Toronto.

"We have to figure out something to make these women and men safe."

Terri-Jean Bedford, a dominatrix and former prostitute, said sex workers are
much better off working indoors where they do not face the same risks.

"When you are out on the street, the laws are horrible … and they move people
into the shadows," Bedford told CBC News Network Monday.

Ability to hire help
The court also said that the prohibition of living off the avails of
prostitution – as spelled out in Section 212(1)(j) of the Criminal Code – should
pertain only to those who do so "in circumstances of exploitation," and will be
amended to reflect that.

The changes to the "living-off-the-avails" provision will not come into effect
for 30 days.

Scott said that allowing women to work with others and hire staff is another way
of making sex work safer.

"When you have people around, generally, you don't see as much violence."

In the preamble to its judgment, the court said prostitution is legal in Canada,
with "no law that prohibits a person from selling sex, and no law that prohibits
another from buying it."

While the court acknowledged that "prostitution is a controversial topic, one
that provokes heated and heartfelt debate about morality, equality, personal
autonomy and public safety," it said the questions before it were about whether
the laws being challenged were unconstitutional or not.

Looking forward
Lawyer Alan Young, who represented three women who brought forward the
application to have the provisions declared unconstitutional, said the appeal
court's decision had ushered in a "new era" for sex workers.

Lawyer Alan Young says the appeal court's decision has ushered in a new era for
sex workers. (Patrick Morrell/CBC)
"I am thrilled that the Court of Appeal has done the right thing," Young told
reporters after the court released its judgment Monday.

"They may not have gone as far as the Superior Court judge, but when you
actually look at the result, they've done the right thing in terms of modifying
the law so that sex workers will not face the same risks they face on a daily
basis."

Nikki Thomas, the executive director of Sex Professionals of Canada, said sex
workers have long been living in a legal limbo in which prostitution is legal
but many particular modes of operation are not.

Thomas said now is the time for sex workers to make their voices heard, while
their issues are on the agenda.

"We cannot wait for the Supreme Court [of Canada] to rule before we all of a
sudden decide that this is something that needs to be addressed," Thomas said.

"The public overwhelmingly supports legal reform. Nobody thinks that the laws on
the books are good laws and the absence of good laws is not an excuse to keep
those bad laws on the books."


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/03/26/ontario-appeal-court-sex-trade-la\
ws-monday.html

======================================================================

From:   Income Security Advocacy Centre <isac@...>

Subject:   McGuinty Government Seeks Balance on the Backs of the Poor

Date:   Mon 03/26/12 12:28 PM


Income Security Advocacy Centre - ISAC

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT SEEKS BALANCE ON THE BACKS OF THE POOR

For Immediate Release


TORONTO (26 March 2012) – Two days before the 2012-13 Ontario Budget,
Premier Dalton McGuinty has chosen to break faith with the poorest in
Ontario.

The Premier has been quoted in all Ontario's major newspapers as saying
that social assistance rates will be frozen this year, and that the
scheduled increase in the Ontario Child Benefit will be slowed.

"Freezing people's incomes when the cost of everything keeps rising is
not a `balanced approach'," said Jennefer Laidley, Research and Policy
Analyst at the Income Security Advocacy Centre. "The Premier seems to
think that people on assistance should be grateful that rates aren't
being cut. They're not grateful. They're despairing that once again,
this government doesn't recognize the depth of the poverty they're
living in."

A single person on Ontario Works currently receives $599 per month.
Single people make up the largest category of OW recipients, at 58% of
the caseload. The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) has an even
higher proportion – single people make up 77% of the caseload. Singles
on ODSP receive only $1,064 per month.

"Statistics Canada just released the latest Consumer Price Index, which
shows that prices have increased in Ontario by 2.9% over the last year,"
said Laidley. "A 0% increase to social assistance rates is effectively a
cut in the ability of people on assistance to afford even the basics."

Freezing social assistance rates will save government at least $60
million this year. Delaying the increase in the Ontario Child Benefit,
which has been a significant help to people living in poverty, will save
$90 million. $150 million is less than 1% of the government's $16
billion deficit, but would make a big difference to the incomes of
people living in poverty in Ontario.

"Despite saying he doesn't want to balance the budget on the backs of
poor families and children, it seems that's just what the Premier is
doing," said Laidley. "We'll be watching to see just how the Premier
defines `a balanced approach' when the entire budget is released on
Tuesday."
   __________________________________________________________________

Read the Premier's comments in these newspapers:
The Ottawa Citizen:
http://incomesecurity.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=095b12c98935ecaadd327bf\
90&id=dc6db7ae6d&e=fae5b0f927
The Toronto Star:
http://incomesecurity.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=095b12c98935ecaadd327bf\
90&id=2ed62ff58b&e=fae5b0f927
The Globe and Mail:
http://incomesecurity.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=095b12c98935ecaadd327bf9\
0&id=2134b08eeb&e=fae5b0f927
The Toronto Sun:
http://incomesecurity.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=095b12c98935ecaadd327bf\
90&id=17df7da3fa&e=fae5b0f927


Social Assistance Review
The Social Assistance Review now underway is part of Ontario's
strategy to reduce poverty. Find out how you can get involved.
   Links:
http://incomesecurity.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=095b12c98935ecaadd327bf9\
0&id=d2e8e70fac&e=fae5b0f927

Resources for the Review
Visit the Resources page of our Social Assistance Review website to
get tools that will help you respond to the Review.
   Links:
http://incomesecurity.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=095b12c98935ecaadd327bf\
90&id=9e2381e76e&e=fae5b0f927

ISAC Public Legal Education Resources
Check out ISAC's public legal education materials on topics such as
social assistance rates, special diet supplement, Ontario Child
Benefit, and more.
   Links:
http://incomesecurity.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=095b12c98935ecaadd327bf9\
0&id=09cf2f858c&e=fae5b0f927

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From:   Maureen O'Reilly [OurPublicLibrary.to] <action@...>

Subject:   Update on negotiations with the City

Date:   Thu 03/22/12 10:07 AM

Dear Torontonians,

As someone who loves our public library, I want you to have my first-hand and
personal account of why negotiations between library workers and the City have
stalled, and libraries temporarily closed as a result.

It is not for a lack of trying. We worked around the clock last weekend,
extending the deadline several times trying to find a solution. At the end, the
City's negotiators would not budge from their demand for the right to fire
librarians and staff anytime they want, for whatever reason they want.

This is the stumbling block.

In all good conscience, it is a demand that we cannot accept. Especially after
you and thousands of others defended our public library with such passion and
conviction. For if we did, the door would be wide open for Mayor Ford and his
allies on Council to fire the staff that run your neighbourhood branch, then
close it. Or, to fire staff to make it easy to privatize entire library
services.

The key for Mayor Ford is to have the unfettered right to fire library staff.
That would allow him to close branches, cut programs and privatize services at
will.

When the 2012 Library budget was passed, we escaped deeper cuts by just one
vote. Luckily for library lovers, one of Mayor Ford's allies on Council was
absent that day. So we will have the same struggle to protect our public library
during next year's budget process. In the meantime, Mayor Ford is preparing by
trying to win the right to chop over half the entire staff of the Toronto Public
Library.

Don't forget, since 2011 Toronto Public Library service for the Hospital for
Sick Children has been cut, service to Bridgepoint Hospital has been cut, the
Urban Affairs Library closed, and the service desk for the Centre for People
with Disabilities at Toronto Reference Library has been closed.

The Library Board refuses to say why they are so keen to have these new powers
to fire staff. But it must be so important that they are willing to shutter our
public library to win this right.

After Mayor Ford campaigned on a promise to cut gravy but not services, I will
leave it to others to draw their own conclusions.

Many people have asked me what they can do to help.

Please send a message to your Councillor right away. Ask that they do everything
in their power to get the Library Board back to the bargaining table and to drop
their demands for the right to fire at will so we can get back to work serving
you. Our online action system will send a copy of your message to the chair of
the Library Board and members, so please send your message even if your
Councillor supports our public library.

I pledge to you that I will do everything I can to protect the library that we
all love while making sure it is re-opened as soon as possible.



Yours sincerely,


Maureen O'Reilly
President
Toronto Public Library Workers Union
OurPublicLibrary.to

OurPublicLibrary.to is a network of people dedicated to preserving the integrity
of one of the world's greatest public library systems, the Toronto Public
Library and is sponsored by the Toronto Public Library Workers Union.


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ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY NIGHT 2 7 . 0 3 . 2 0 1 2 P. 06
By ILIANA KAKOURIS
Carly Heffernan is dedicated to
making Toronto laugh, one show at
a time.
She is well known for her role in
the all-female sketch show, She Said
What, and is one of the comedians
in Second City's Live Wrong and
Prosper.
Heffernan talked to t.o.night about
her part in the show and working at
Second City.
Q. What is it like working at
Second City?
A. It is the best job in the world!
You get to go out every night and
make people laugh, which is good for
the mind, body and soul.
Q. Can you explain a bit about
the Second City education
program?
A. They have a great program set
up, and has really expanded recently.
They've really gone above and
beyond to make it family-friendly,
such as taking out the swear words
and inappropriate content, and they
have tailored shows for specific
issues. I know that they did an antibullying show, which was received
really well. That has been such a
prevalent issue in schools. They have
also expanded into having a program
called Puppet Co., which puts on
shows for kids and families with
these fantastic puppets and great
actors! It is so visually appealing for
the kids that they are on the edge of
their seats the whole time.
Q.  What is Live Wrong and
Prosper?
A.  It is a collection of individual
scenes that stand on their own and
come together in some instances.
The show explores the overall scene
of our wants over our needs, and how
we strive to satisfy them in 2012.
Q. What is it like working with
director Chris Earle?
A.  He's great! He is a veteran
director, so there was a lot of
expectation and he has absolutely
surpassed all expectations. He
directs with a really keen eye and he
is always pushing us to work to the
height of our intelligence. And that
is always really challenging, but also
really fulfilling.
Q. Who else do you work with on
the show?
A. The cast is Ashley Comeau, Jason
DeRosse, Nigel Downer, Alastair
Forbes and Inessa Frantowski. Our
musical director is Matthew Reid.
Q. Do you have a favourite
comedian you look up to?
A.  It would probably have to be
Catherine O'Hara, she's great. Also
Steve Martin, because of his ability
to play so real, and the humour that
comes from that.
Live Wrong and Prosper runs tonight to Thursday
at 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and 10:30
p.m.; and Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Second City
Theatre (51 Mercer St.). Tickets are $24-$29 and
can be purchased by visiting http://www.secondcity.com
or calling 416-343-0011

http://www.tonightnewspaper.com/pdf/3-134.pdf

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The Sister Accord
http://www.thesisteraccord.com/

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