March 5, 2008
PhotoTO: OCAP's City Hall Intervention
A demonstration at City Hall yesterday by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty forced the Speaker to halt proceedings after the protest spilled onto the chamber floor.
The action by OCAP was called after the discovery of a homeless man frozen to death in a downtown stairwell February 27. A statement by OCAP called the death a "preventable tragedy." Members of the activist group handed out statements to councilors as others rebuked them for their lack of action after being warned, just days earlier, that people could die because of a lack of beds for the homeless. The majority of councilors left the chamber but some stayed to hear what the protesters had to say.
Organizer Gaetan Heroux told councilors that "People are dying on the streets. Your shelters are full," and demanded that no further deaths be allowed to occur, as cries of "shame" echoed around the hall. After a few minutes police moved in and ushered the protesters out.
More photos after the jump.
OCAP members gather outside City Hall.
Inside City Hall the morning session was in progress.
Gaetan Heroux speaks to the media.
Protesters enter City Hall
Some protesters were forcibly removed for handing out statements on the chamber floor.
Some councilors stayed to listen to protesters.
Protesters harangue councilors.
Police moved protesters out of the chamber after a short time and there were no arrests.
All photos by Miles Storey.
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At the risk of sounding callous, I'd like to see the city focus more on those about to become homeless, such as seniors living on a fixed income, where a slight increase in phone service or rent can push them out of their home or apartment.
I'm more than a little tired of the constant pissing and moaning from the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty. And who the hell is John Clarke, anyway? Another non-Canadian coming here to "fix" our problems. How about staying in England next time, Mr. Clarke, or were you not wanted there, either?
I wonder if members of OCAP are opening their homes to the homeless?
The photos are great, as always. Congrats, Miles.
Too bad it is OCAP with another one of their protests. I agree with the previous 2 comments.
Re: "I wonder if members of OCAP are opening their homes to the homeless?"
Great point, Vincent. I'd love to see someone do a proper background check on John Clarke.
I think that there are enough people in Toronto who complain about protesters that an anti-protest protest should be planned. Then you can come back and complain about yourselves on Torontoist.
@5: Ha!
Out of interest what is it about OCAP that sets people on edge?
Are they harming the issues of poverty and housing, are other people doing more with less fanfare? Is anyone here more likely to be opening their homes to the homeless? I guess I don't get the criticism. I'll admit to not being that familiar with the history of the group but I can't see that they're doing more harm than good.
Though I'm wondering if it's ok to even ask as I'm originally from England and I don't want to be told I should go back and take my photographs there instead of prying into Toronto's issues.
Moscoe's expression is priceless.
Wtf, Doggiez? What would this city be if we sent everyone back to where they came from?
OCAP is the voice of desperation that brings us all back to reality we who sleep in a warm bed at night get too comfortable. Without them there would be no conversation about poverty on this day.
And this notion that OCAP should be responsible for housing the homeless is ludacris. Why should a small activist group whose membership is comprised of lower income people take on a role that should rightfully be taken on by government?
Give me a break, Ken C! Why has Toronto become the official dumping ground for imported shit-disturbers like John Clarke (alleged poverty spokesman, England), Dudley Laws (alleged spokesman for the Black community, Jamaica, then England), etc., etc.? Do we not have enough home-grown shit-disturbers?
Have you ever seen the UNEDITED video of John Clarke and his so-called impoverished peacenicks at the Queen's Park riot of 2000? I have, and while the media wants to portray the image that these homeless people were victims, several of these arseholes almost killed a cop and a few horses when they pulled-up paving stones, and threw them at Toronto Police. Ask nicely at 40 College Street, and they might show you the crushed-in helmet the officer was wearing to protect his brain from being scrambled by a "peaceful" homeless person.
Robert,
Sit up straight! How many times to I have to tell you? It makes you look like a lazy slob. You weren't raised in a barn, you know.
Also, you're looking more flushed than usual. Remember what Renata told you about your blood pressure!
Love,
Mom Ford
Here, here, Ken C.
OCAP is trying to get the various levels of government to do what every government is supposed to do, at a very basic level: provide the public with the basic necessities of life, where means are lacking.
What's there to criticize about a group that stands up for an extremely important cause (HOUSING and POVERTY!)? The only disturbance caused by OCAP was forcing councillors to take their lunch break a half hour early. Many other groups have protested in the exact same way. What's with the OCAP hate-in?
Is it me, or does Robbie look like the blonde haired dude from "Life According to Jim" in the picture?
Mark0: You want more housing? Get the Province to eliminate rent control. Get the City to stop taxing rental apartments at rates much higher than condominium apartments. Get the City out of the housing property business and into rental subsidies based on income and family size.
No, you and your socialist buddies just want government to throw more and more and more money at a problem that already has had millions of dollars thrown at with little to show.
Right, Doggiez. We'll just take the immigrants' tax dollars and ask them to sit quietly in the corner. We wouldn't want to hear enlightened ideas like housing the homeless. We're much better than that.
Vincent: I agree on the way the city treats apartment buildings. But the Tories tried to get rid of rent controls and that failed miserably. Montreal isn't perfect but when I was a student there less than 5 years ago I had a clean, decent two bedroom place (with a roommate) for less than $650. That is unheard of in this city, thanks to the way you free-market-at-all-costs types handled the province.
Ken C, your conclusion is a non-sequitur.
Montreal rents were cheap because of a high vacancy rate, around 1%. That rate has come down somewhat and rents have correspondingly increased.
Ironically, the cheap rent you remember so fondly was a result of the free market forces you malign.
Vincent: The housing still needs to be built. Where is it going to come from? As for claim of governments throwing millions of dollars at the problem, isn't subsidizing rent throwing more money at the problem?
I like how you assume I'm a socialist because I think affordable housing is important. I don't always agree with OCAP's tactics (ex. Queen's Park 2000, though there are different claims as to who was to blame), but I agree that the issues of housing and poverty are important and haven't been effectively addressed.
I also never said that I wanted governments to simply throw money at the problem, that was your assumption because apparently I'm a socialist and that's all that socialists want. I do feel that Canada needs to develop a national housing strategy and then kick in money to fund BOTH housing developments and rental assistance programs of some sort.
Ken C: Toronto will likely always be more expensive than Montreal, with or without rent control.
Mark0: Let the private sector build the housing. Instead of spending money on assets that the government would have to maintain, it could spend that money on rent subsidies.
And no, it wouldn't be throwing more money at the problem. In fact, more people could receive a rental subsidy with the same amount of money. People would be able to choose where they want to live, not be told where to live and be put on waiting lists.
On one hand you say that you never said the government should throw more money at the problem. On the other hand you say that Canada should develop a national housing strategy and, I quote, "kick in money". Hmm, that sounds like throwing more money at the problem.
I'll apologize for calling you a socialist. How does socialist-light sound ;)
Vincent: So are we going to see poor families moving into One Bloor? The private sector won't build housing for people who can't afford rent and if we've learned anything from experience, the government won't put enough money into rent subsidies. The private sector doesn't build affordable housing unless the government pays for it. The problem with having the private sector build affordable housing is that they are working for a profit. And what incentive do they have to maintain the affordable housing that they build? Clearly none, as evidenced by the poor condition of privately owned, low-rent buildings across the city. The ones that are falling apart aren't all owned by the TCHC.
"How does socialist-light sound."
Sounds like it would be great on the Chef Leftie Salad down at Vegan Hippie Restaurant.
We could spell it socialist "lite," just to be trendy. And perhaps add some probiotic yogurt-dressing and Omega 3 to add to the leftist diet?
I work in the non-profit sector and we mostly deal with people on social assistance.
If things like welfare were PROPERLY managed, the gov't would have enough money to build affordable housing.
Instead you have x generations sitting on assistance, when the money could go to people who actually need it.
I hate the tories and their stance on this issue, but I must admit the whole 'hand-up, not a hand-out' always resonated with me as someone who has and still sees first hand this problem.
seems to me that some of the protesters with ocap seen in the pictures are actually employed by 'street health'...which is an agency of the city, anyone sees the irony in that??
also, i think the majority of the homeless need FREE housing, just because they could not "afford" the so called affordable housing...some of them have mental issues and they are not in the market for ANY type of housing...they need to be in an institution...haven't they done a whole study about that at the city??? which ended up costing a fortune, by the way
Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the Toronto Star criticize Clarke before his self-created riot for harrassing other Toronto personalities in the 'anti-poverty' struggle. Publishing their home addresses and phone numbers and encouraging people to flood their email with complaints were among his tactics for dealing with anyone who disagreed with him. He was down here in Windsor during a summit to do his apparently usual agent-provocatuer incitement to riot shit and another Lymie ex-pat I know challenged him on the inaccuracies of his statements. Were it not for members of the Windsor labor community there would have been an unfortunate incident such as has happens wherever he appears.
As someone who has worked in non-profits locally for over twenty-five years, I have little use for vermin like Clarke. I thought he had disappeared after his hung jury trial when I did a google search two years ago. I had merely mispelled his name. So Toronto's finest haven't dropped him off the Cherry Street bridge after all as I'd hoped. Whatever the feelings are of inadequacy that drive him to over-compensate by representing himself as the champion of those who are too limited intellectually to recognize him for what he is, he actions of such a provocatuer lead me to think he may be in the secret employ of the enemies of change or social justice or whatever the self-righteous claim they represent. In the end, these people seldom accomplish anything with there grocery store robbing theatrics. They only confuse issues instead of informing and have no interest in practical solutions which would not include them since they're incapable of managing anything.