CERB highlights the need for social safety net — advocates say a basic income program is the solution.
By Vicky Qiao — The woman in the photograph stares straight into the camera, her eyes calm yet exhausted. She is holding a sign with words written in purple marker. “I’m being dragged alone throughout broken family court system seeking disclosure for child support getting poorer.” In another photograph, theContinue Reading
Trinity Bellwoods Flea encourages Torontonians to shop local
By Monika Sidhu and Vicky Qiao — One of the city’s most attended local markets, the Trinity Bellwoods Flea returned to Toronto with its first summer event this Sunday—after being held put on pause for a few months because of the pandemic. The monthly curated shopping event celebrates and supportsContinue Reading
Ford to introduce $4 million in funding to helping seniors
By: Monika Sidhu – Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced $4 million in funding towards organizations aimed at helping seniors during his daily COVID-19 address Friday. “This funding will allow grassroots organizations to develop programs for seniors that focus on combating social isolation, promoting senior safety and well-being, improving financial security,Continue Reading
COVID-19: Health Minister urges caution as B.C. enters Phase 3
By Eva Zhu — VANCOUVER — As B.C. officially entered Phase 3 Thursday, Health Minister Adrian Dix urged people planning to ramp up their outdoor activities to keep following COVID-19 safety protocols. Speaking at the daily COVID-19 briefing, Dix said it’s important people remain vigilant and conscious about social distancing,Continue Reading
‘I don’t feel safe’: calls for Ottawa police union head to resign and to defund the police
By Mira Williamson –– A long-time anti-racism activist is joining the call for the president of the Ottawa Police Association (OPA) to step down, saying the service’s response to his alleged misogynistic statement about a grieving Black woman has been inadequate. “I personally think it’s reflective of police culture,” saidContinue Reading
Ontario Teachers experience challenges of distance learning on last day of school
By: Adriana Vicic – The last days of June mark the end of the school in Ontario—normally a bittersweet time for teachers to say goodbye to the students they’ve seen all year while looking forward to the summer ahead. But after months of uncertainty and online-learning hurdles since the COVID-19Continue Reading
Virtual teach-in introduces abolition and police-free schools in Peel
Monika Sidhu — A Peel Region group focused on social justice held an online workshop this week to help people understand what abolition means when it comes to policing. Acknowledging that while there have been calls to “abolish” and “defund” the police, many people have difficulty wrapping their heads aroundContinue Reading
Ford says city park camps are not the answer to homelessness
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said people who are homeless can’t sleep in tents in the city because “it looks terrible.” The comment was made during Ford’s Wednesday COVID-19 briefing, after a reporter asked about the recent discovery of a body in an encampment underneath Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway. Ford acknowledged thatContinue Reading
Ottawa to increase COVID-19 domestic production, focus on Indigenous-led businesses
By Vicky Qiao — To prepare for a potential second-wave of COVID-19, Ottawa is committed to diversifying supply chains and increasing domestic production, said Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand. The federal government has ordered 13.5 million non-medical masks with a focus on supporting Indigenous-led businesses, she said atContinue Reading
Ford excludes Windsor-Essex from the rest of Ontario’s Phase 2 reopening
By Adriana Vicic — Peel Region and Toronto will move into Phase 2 of reopening as of June 24, while Windsor-Essex remains in Phase 1, said Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Monday. The news makes Windsor-Essex the only region of Ontario to be excluded from Phase 2 allowances due to aContinue Reading