The following forwarded messages are some highlights:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 30 Sep 1995 17:18:27 +0000 (GMT)
From: The Anarchives <tao@presence.lglobal.com>
Subject: Re: Toronto battle with cops over slashes to welfare etc.
On Thu, 28 Sep 1995, Lesley Wood wrote:
> Just to keep you up to date..
>
> The province of Ontario has recently (stupidly) elected a far right premier
> called Mike Harris on the platform of "cost cutting efficiency".
Let's not blame the province for what was accomplished by effective
television advertising enacted by an elite.
Public Relations runs politics, and Harris had the $$ for big PR.
>
> He said that he'd get people back to work by cutting welfare and social services. He
> has proceeded to cut back peoples monthly cheques by 22% making it
> impossible to pay rent in a high priced city like Toronto. He then has
> cut subsidized childcare, has made legal aid extremely difficult to get
> for "non emergency cases" like rape, has cut transit for people with
> disabilities, has got rid of employment equity legislation and has made
> it legal for companies to hire scabs.
well, he's going to try and do all this...
>
> He does it to "cut taxes", a tactic which will result in less for the
> poor in services, money and more for the rich all around.
>
> This asshole talks about families tightening the belt all the
> way round while he sips a cocktail protected by the riot squad. Ha.
he's blatantly for business and the rich. he doesn't even front by
pretending to care about the people.
>
> Well yesterday a very un-Canadian event occurred. 7,000 people -- a
ah, come on, let's give us canadians some credit ;)
> very mixed crowd, demonstrated on the steps of the provincial
> parliament. About 1,000 people attempted to rush the doors to get into
> the building (public property) where the opening of provincial parliament
> was taking place with the Throne speech announcing more cuts.
i arrived at about 1pm, bit late, and real stoned ;)-
walked around for a bit, until peter (who i hope will post his story
'cause it's much more interesting) came at around 20 after and grabbed my
arm and said let's go where the action is.
it took us about 2 minutes to get right up to where the riot cops were.
crazy scene up front.
some of the older ara guys were against a window preparing to smash it
in to get through. the crowd itself was interspersed with many militants.
most noteably were the large native men equaly spaced out among the front
200 people. (note: this perhaps explains the presence of opp and rcmp cops).
there were about a dozen mounted cops, and scores of riot cops
protecting the entrance to the government.
>
> Riot cops were brought in to fight the crowd. Pepper spray and billy
> clubs were used and a number of protesters were injured. The building
> was closed off to everyone, even those invited to the exclusive reception
> inside.
some of the people up front who got "sprayed" were from a group of
"Peterborough feminists" who were trying to argue with the cops about the
cuts. the cops only understand the politics of the gun. hence in return
the debatees got sprayed and clubbed.
>
> Mike Harris says when asked about the cuts to the poor "You ain't seen
> nothing yet!"
>
> The protesters respond in kind.
jay made a comment afterwards to the extent of: "Why weren't the people
prepared?"
it's going to be some strange times in Ontario.
government announced yesterday the closing of 6 hospitals in toronto, and
something like over twenty all across the province.
> love Lesley
we're going to need lots of love...