| PM’s comments spark protests in Calgary
A protest rally is being held outside of city hall on Friday, July 21 in response to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s support of the Israeli offensive in Gaza and Lebanon.
CANDIL (Canada, Democracy, International Law), which organized Calgary’s protests against the war in Iraq, is working with the Muslim Association of Calgary to organize the protest.
"(We want) Canada to play a role in ending the bombing of Lebanon and Gaza," says Julie Hrdlicka, an organizer for CANDIL "Mr. Harper’s response to the crisis is just absolutely unacceptable — the one-sidedness of his stance supporting Israel."
The PM received criticism after calling Israel’s response to the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers "measured."
"It’s an opportunity to give people a voice, to hear about the situation, and hopefully take action by putting pressure on government officials to bring this to an end."
This is actually the second protest against the bombings. The first was held at First Street and Seventh Avenue S.W., on Monday, July 17, in protest of America’s support of Israel as well as Mr. Harper’s attitude toward the crisis. The Monday rally was organized by Canpalnet, a Canadian group against Israeli occupation.
Smoking decision postponed
A group of pub and bar owners will have to hold their breath because city council has postponed a decision on the smoking ban amendment until next Monday.
The amendment would make Calgary bars smoke free as of January 1, 2007 as opposed to the previously agreed-upon date of January 1, 2008. Council is split down the middle on the decision. Still undecided, Alderman Helene Larocque holds the deciding vote.
The Calgary Pub and Bar Association (CPBA), a fledgling organization made up largely of the Penny Lane Entertainment Company, has stated that a change to the current agreement would be unfair to bar owners.
"This is beyond smoking. How can you run a business when you sit down with city councilors, you make a business plan, you spend money only to have the plan changed?" says Charlie Mendelman, spokesperson for the CPBA. "We are very upset at city council for bringing this back up. As stakeholders, why didn’t they meet with us?"
Local anti-smoking activist Robyn Hefferton has gathered a petition of 12,000 signatures in support of the pre-emptive ban, which she presented to councilor Diane Colley-Urquhart.
"I'm tired of people saying this is about choice. If 50 per cent of the bars in Calgary were smoke free — I wouldn’t be here," says Hefferton. "I think people are coming around. The publics consciousness has changed on this issue over the last few years."
Homeless count reveals soaring numbers
Calgary’s homeless population has dramatically increased to 3,436 people, and the city is calling on the provincial government to develop an action plan to deal with the growing problem.
The city has been conducting a homeless count every two years since 1992. The 2006 homeless count reveals that the number of homeless increased by 32 per cent from 2004 to 2006.
Ald. Bob Hawkesworth, chair of the city’s affordable housing team, said at a July 19 press conference that the main problem is a lack of affordable housing. He pointed out that the city estimates there are 58,000 households in Calgary "that area having a great difficulty putting a roof over their head."
Hawkesworth says he’d like to see a premier’s task force established to develop a plan to address homelessness in the province.
"This is an extraordinary situation and it needs an extraordinary response," says Hawkesworth. "The province has to take ownership of this issue. In terms of building a cure for homelessness we need their help."
Hawkesworth says he’d also like to see homelessness become an issue that’s debated during the leadership race to replace Premier Ralph Klein.
Hawkesworth says some homeless agencies have started advising people who call them not to come to Calgary due to the lack of affordable housing, which he finds unfortunate.
"That message from some of our homeless serving agencies is going out across the country for valid reasons. They’re asking people not to come here because it will only add to our homeless problem if they come without a place. That’s going to harm and impact our long-term economic prosperity in the city. We need to find ways so people of low-income and modest means can find decent shelter for the sake of our economy and our quality of life in Calgary," he says.
Meanwhile, the United Way of Calgary is also calling on the three levels of government, the private sector and social service agencies to come together and create an action plan to create more affordable housing in Calgary. The United Way says it’s willing to take a leadership role in organizing a homelessness summit.
"Homelessness has worsened as a direct result of Calgary’s rapid and unexpected economic expansion and current plans don’t address the size and scope of the issue," says Ruth Ramsden-Wood, president and CEO of the United Way of Calgary, in a press release.
The homeless count includes not only people sleeping on the street, but also people who stay at emergency homeless shelters and in transitional housing for the homeless.
Program for prostitutes temporarily saved by United Way
The United Way of Calgary has come forward with funding that will ensure that a program for adult female prostitutes can continue to operate until March 31, 2007.
The program, called Stepping Out, offers prostitutes counselling, help with housing, employment, education, health issues, and, if necessary, legal assistance for women who have been criminally charged. The goal is to not only help women leave the sex trade but also to reduce harmful behavior for women who have chosen not to leave the business.
The program is run by the YWCA, but the organization had announced it would stop funding the program as of July, 2006 and was looking for another organization to take over responsibility for it.
Ann Georg, media relations officer at the United Way of Calgary, says on top of providing bridge funding to ensure Stepping Out continues, the United Way is also taking a lead role in community consultations "on the wider issue of sexual violence and the sex trade" and assessing the need for programs in Calgary.
Georg says the United Way will make a decision on whether to continue to fund Stepping Out past March 31, 2007 after conducting the community consulta |
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