Right now, candidates are duking it out for Conservative party leadership. They’ve been urged by the party to stay silent about whether or not they support abortion rights. [4] But the public deserves to know where our major political parties stand on an issue as important as reproductive health care. Lives depend on it. [5] So with your help, we’re going to pressure them to take a stance. If thousands of us sign a petition to interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen, and party president Robert Batherson, while the Roe v. Wade scandal is in the spotlight, we could force them to publicly affirm the party’s support for access to abortion and reproductive services. If you agree that the right to an abortion shouldn’t be political, because access to safe, legal abortion is access to vital health care — add your name now. Sources [1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ussc-dobbs-abortion-ruling-1.6495637 [2] https://pressprogress.ca/anti-abortion-groups-quietly-installed-activists-into-top-positions-inside-the-conservative-party-of-canada/ [3] https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/05/canada-conservatives-abortion-00029908 [4] https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2022/05/03/conservatives-mps-told-to-stay-silent-about-draft-suggesting-roe-vs-wade-could-be-overturned.html [5] https://reproductiverights.org/un-human-rights-committee-asserts-that-access-to-abortion-and-prevention-of-maternal-mortality-are-human-rights/

The ongoing pandemic and skyrocketing cost of living — coupled with high inflation rates — all mean that more people than ever are relying on support from the government to help us pay rent and keep food on the table. Many single Disabled ODSP (disability benefits) clients only receive $497 a month for rent and $672 a month for their basic needs, and single OW clients currently only receive $390 a month for their rent and $343 a month for their basic needs. This is important so that homeless ODSP and OW clients have a shot at renting somewhere to live at average market rent since affordable, subsidized, rent geared to income housing is unavailable at this time and may be unavailable for the next 10 to 20 years due to a huge waiting list and zero vacancies. Clients need to eat as well as pay rent and since clients would still have to dip into their Basic Needs Allowances to cover rent because even doubling the Shelter Allowance still won't cover all of the rent at today's prices. Much needed medication and other things not covered by the MSN forms have to be paid for out of Basic Needs and some of these items are very expensive. Along with needing healthy food a huge increase in support is called for here as well.

History shows that most systematic sexual violence in war goes unpunished. It’s the women and children who must suffer this violence, without justice or support in the after math of war. If we allocate money to support these victims it will show that Canadians abhor these atrocities and won’t stand silent while yet more women and children become rape victims as part of political war games.

Legal professionals need clearly and easily accessible (edited and error free) bylaws, regulations and acts. They need to communicate with their governing body (CICC) easily and clearly, being able to contact anyone during hours for questions. Immigration law in particular is a specialty, and it’s personal and difficult and a process that we train in to help people. To our clients it is their attempt at starting a new life, that is courageous, the should have educated people to help them, and they should be told this in a positive way while the CICC uses its government budget to stop illegal ghost consultants. People should be told they must when they hire a representative to check and must be on the CICC registry by Registration number of the representative and see if it matches the name search can search but the R number protected. This allows legal consultants to avoid being copied or linked unknowingly, helping the CICC and the client and the case refusal rate. People who can benefit Canadian economy, contribute to job shortages and birth rates should be given a fair chance. We as professional need timely action from who governs us, who governs our clients and the Immigration Minister Sean Frazer yo ensure the system supports the plan and the plan supports the professional who are trained to know it. And know how to do it by following the appropriate Regulations, Acts and Bylaws o do so, as well as working and accessible government online platforms we can rely on and how to iron out the kinks like no in application received asking client to choose payment option automatically linking to the platform. As of now the client pays and needs to upload another document. Which causes problems if the system didn’t flag it for review. The list goes on and we hope you will want to listen to more of how we can help and work together.

Police violence changes the lives of every parent who loses a child, child who loses a parent, family who loses kin, and community members who lose friends and comrades. They all deserve justice. Every level of government must assume responsibility for making changes, in recognition of the Indigenous and Black people whose lives have been lost due to police murder or whose lives are permanently changed due to police violence. We honour the names of those we have lost, and fight to end this violence. We call for a future where no one has to worry about their child being lost or harmed by police violence. Ending police violence protects Black & Indigenous youth and creates a future where they don’t fear for their lives. Endorse these demands and support all families grieving their loved ones, all of those killed by police! ABOUT CHANTEL MOORE On June 4, 2020, Chantel Moore a Nuu-chah-nulth woman and member of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation was killed during a police wellness check. Chantel was living in Edmunston, New Brunswick, where she had moved to be closer to her daughter, Gracie, and mother, Martha Martin. Shortly after making this move, Chantel lost her life during a police wellness check. The officer who shot and killed Chantel, Jeremy Son of the Edmundston Police Force, was not charged. In response to this injustice, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council condemned this failure: "This reality is reflective of Canada’s persisting colonization and genocidal practices. No one deserves to be gunned down on a wellness check. We demand Canada to do more to end the violence and killing of our people, particularly our women and girls, who are grossly overrepresented as victims of violence. Canada states time and time again that reconciliation with First Nations and Indigenous peoples is a top priority and mandate yet when one of our own is gunned down and killed on a 'wellness check,' there is no accountability and Justice." ABOUT JARED LOWNDES On July 8, 2021 Jared Lowndes, Laksilyu of the Wit’suwit’en Nation, was shot & killed by the Campbell River RCMP. His family continues to fight for justice. In March 2022, Laura Holland, Laksilyu of the Wit’suwit’en Nation, mother to Jared Lowndes, organized the art show Honour Their Names, commemorating the lives of over 80 Indigenous people shot and killed by the police. Each month, more names are added, more beloved kin are killed.

We are in a crisis moment. Doctors, teachers, and opposition MPPs are urging the province to reinstate essential COVID safety measures to keep us and our loved ones safe. [1-3] But just a few weeks ago, Doug Ford backtracked on scrapping free rapid COVID testing after public blowback. While doctors and scientists are speaking out, a flood of public pressure calling out Ford’s inaction could force Ford to backtrack again and reinstate safety measures before more of us get sick. If we can get to 15,000 signatures by next week, we’ll deliver this petition right to Doug Ford. Sign the petition now calling for Premier Ford to reinstate COVID safety measures. [1] https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/04/06/toronto-covid19-symptoms-hospital-admissions/ [2] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-masks-parents-1.6383229 [3] https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-opposition-calls-for-masking-testing-access-to-be-reinstated-amid-sixth-wave-1.5852279

This is an affront to the beliefs of many who work to prevent the unnecessary suicide deaths of those suffering from such conditions as PTSD. I myself am recovering from PTSD and would not have the life I have now with my family if I had allowed myself to succumb to the temptation of suicide as a resolution. I understand that MAID will make it that those considering suicide may be more open to speaking with their doctor about these issues but without the proper tools and resources to refer patients to affordable mental health care ... suicide will look like the only option beyond more and more medications.

The cost of groceries, bills, and rent is skyrocketing. For the millions of Canadians with disabilities who are forced to rely on an inadequate fixed income, it means that making ends meet is a struggle. Putting more money in the pockets of people with disabilities is a crucial first step to ensuring everyone can meet their basic needs, put food on the table, and keep a roof over their heads. And in 2020, the federal government promised a new Canadian Disability Benefit [1] — but so far it’s failed to materialize. Here’s where you come in: On April 7, the federal government will release its budget: a crucial roadmap that determines where to spend money over the next year. [2] It’s the exact place where the government could turn their promise of the Canadian Disability Benefit into action, but so far they haven’t indicated whether there’ll be money in the budget for the new benefit or not. As the Finance Minister is getting ready to release the budget, a flood of emails from thousands of us could send a loud and clear message that Ontarians expect funding for the Canadian Disability Benefit in the budget. It could force her to think twice about releasing a budget without support for people with disabilities — but only if enough of us speak out. Send a message now. Sources [1] https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/2022/03/07/disability-should-not-equal-poverty.html [2] https://financialpost.com/news/economy/federal-budget-to-be-delivered-on-april-7

The poisoned drug supply has affected people and communities across Canada. No region or demographic group remains untouched. Many young people are being taken from us too early, but our legislators have the power to stop this! After Portugal decriminalized possession, deaths due to drug use dropped by 80%. We have the information, the expertise and the resources to stop these deaths. We just need our politicians to recognize the value of every life and change the policies that are killing people.

Improving children's and teenagers mental health in Ontario: Mental health has been around for century's and has continued to affect children and teenagers physical and mental well-being. Research conducted by Garcia & Elliott states that the closures of schools are impacting the learning and retention of previously taught material for children and teenagers. The closures of schools are impacting children’s and teenager’s mental health as they are feeling less confident in their work and feeling a lack of motivation which then creates children and teenagers wanting to give up on life. Perhaps enforcing schools to be open and finding different support systems within the schools, will help improve children’s and teenager’s mental health during covid-19. With schools being closed for a long period of time and now reopening has caused many children and teens feeling depressed and an increase of their anxiety as they don't know what to expect next. There needs to be better support systems for children and teenagers in our Ontario community today, if not it will continue to become worse and nothing will change but the lives of our future children and teens. Lets be the change in our community and use our voices to help support children and teenagers who are suffering in silence with mental health damage inside.

Over six years ago when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action were put forth, several of them (71 through 77) related to missing children and unplotted cemeteries at residential school sites. TRC call to action #73: “We call upon the federal government to work with churches, Aboriginal communities, and former residential school students to establish and maintain an online registry of residential school cemeteries, including, where possible, plot maps showing the location of deceased residential school children.” Indigenous communities have always known about these unmarked graves. After waiting for six years for the government of Canada to do anything at all about this, it was decided to go ahead and uncover the mass graves themselves, with minimal resources. And now after dragging their feet to map out and uncover these mass graves of children, the governments of Canada and the RCMP are dragging their feet on beginning any criminal investigations into these deaths. And even if the RCMP and the governments of Canada were to start criminal investigations into the mass grave sites of Indigenous children, how could it be a legitimate investigation when these organizations are all currently engaged in ongoing human rights violations against Indigenous Peoples, such as the illegal invasion of Wet’suwet’en territory by the RCMP, the illegal harassment of Mik’maq fishers by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and the ongoing denial of reparations to the survivors of St. Anne’s residential school by the Canadian Federal government, just to name a few of the outrageous violations continuing to this day? In countries where the governments, military and police cannot be trusted to do a proper investigation into crimes against humanity, the International Criminal Court can come in to oversee the process. That is what we need in Canada today. Join us in calling on the ICC to come to Canada and bring objectivity to the investigation of these crime scenes. Send your letter to the ICC and the Prime Minister of Canada to let them know where you stand.

On Monday, after weeks of uncertainty amidst the rise of the Omicron variant, BC students finally returned to school. [1] But less than two days later, two schools shut down when students and staff fell sick. [2] Omicron has changed the game, but BC’s school reopening plan doesn’t reflect that. Many teachers have not received their COVID-19 booster shots, critical equipment like HEPA filters and N95 masks are in short supply, and from now on parents won’t even be notified if their child is exposed to the virus. [3-4] BC’s current plan takes for granted that huge numbers of teachers and students will contract the virus—but that’s not a sacrifice we’re willing to accept. [5] To make sure our schools are safe for our kids, we need the government to deliver: Safer Classrooms: N95 masks should be available, and better ventilation and HEPA filters installed in shared spaces. Protections for Staff: teachers should be prioritized for access to the COVID-19 booster, and plans should be in place so they can stay home if they get sick. Better reporting: rapid antigen tests should be widely available, and cases closely monitored and reported in schools. Options for online learning: online learning needs to be available to students who are sick or who can’t risk getting infected. These calls are coming from educators, unions, students and parents [6-8]. They have been on the frontlines of this pandemic for the past two years—and they know what they need to be safe. Will you sign the petition calling on Minister Whiteside to deliver a real plan that prioritizes the health and safety of students and staff? Sources [1] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-parents-in-bc-alberta-anxious-as-schools-set-to-reopen-amid-covid-19/ [2] see [1] [3] https://globalnews.ca/news/8495596/covid-bc-back-to-school-plan-friday-omicron/ [4] see [1][2] [5] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-dr-bonnie-henry-says-bc-schools-must-plan-for-the-likelihood-of/ [6] https://globalnews.ca/news/8501219/bc-medically-vulnerable-parents-teachers-school-covid/ [7] https://globalnews.ca/news/8499505/covid-omicron-back-to-school-worries/ [8] https://globalnews.ca/news/8480530/covid-b-c-teachers-delayed-back-to-school-plan-omicron/