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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the June 29, 2000
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------TORONTO
Unions back homeless fight against cutbacks
By G. Dunkel
Some 1,500 protesters--mainly homeless people and union members--brought their demands to the Ontario Parliament in Toronto June 15. They wanted to explain to Parliament that its policies of cutting welfare, making evictions easier, allowing landlords to jack up rents on vacant apartments and failing to build public housing had caused 20 homeless people to die during the past winter in Toronto.
These policies have been adopted without hearings, witnesses or even debate under rules decided by the Conservative Party government of Ontario Premier Mike Harris.
On June 15 the cops decided to enforce the rule that only foreign dignitaries can talk to the Ontario Parliament. They blocked the protesters' way.
During the battle that ensued, police arrested 18 protesters. According to the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, which spearheaded the demonstration, some protesters who suffered broken limbs were treated by sympathetic doctors outside hospitals. Police reported that eight horses and 28 cops went to the hospital for treatment.
OCAP says the demonstration "will mark the beginning of a summer of resistance.''
The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which provides 10 percent of OCAP's funding, condemned the "violence" and told the local newspaper, the Ottawa Citizen, that it will stop this funding.
But Canadian Union of Postal Workers President Dale Clark offered unqualified support to the coalition and said he's seen nothing to suggest the union should stop funding the group.
"We're supporting a group that's been fighting against poverty,'' he said. "From the reports that I've seen, it appears that the protesters were the ones that were injured.''
George Kuehnbaum, another spokes person for CUPW, said that many members were at the protest and the postal union supports both the aims of the protest and its organizers.
"Mike Harris has consistently refused to meet with [OCAP]. He refused again this week,'' said Kuehnbaum.
"That's what started the confrontation. Toronto is becoming the homeless capital of North America.''
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