My son is a disabled person who is currently residing in a Homes for Special Care residence. The Ontario government has been gradually eliminating funding to support programs, as well as income security for people with disabilities in Ontario. There are also significant economic impacts to the province that must be considered as the long term consequences of such funding cuts to disadvantaged people with disabilities inevitably results in simply shifting the real social costs onto other areas of Ontario's social network. There is a serious need to take into consideration the disruption to care and the real economics of imposing changes in the funding to support programs, as well as income security for people with disabilities in Ontario. It is understandable that improvements are inevitably necessary, however this should be thoughtfully considered and applied in incremental steps that will definitely not cause unnecessary wholesale social and economic turmoil. The low costs of supporting inclusion results in a better quality of life, prevents illnesses and keeps people from falling further behind. In contrast the removal of funding for support programs and income security for people with disabilities results in increased and less predictable financial costs to Ontario's economy. Ignoring social support obligations only exacerbates the need for the services that people with disabilities deserve and ultimately need. This neglect simply compounds the misfortunes of the disabled and increases the economic impact on our social network in Ontario. Ontarian's are very cognizant of the simple fact that this is being done so the current provincial government will be able to point to short term budget improvements to support their political agenda. The long-term costs to Ontario's social support network will be realized in much greater social and economic burdens to Ontarian's.

The CPSO made a decision of no neglect without the Operative Report, also the Dr. that did this to me was on the Board. Only to find out we have to hire a Lawyer just to find out what happened, fact is our tax $$ pay for the Dr.'s Medical Malpractice Insurance yet the numbers do not add up. Especially when you see a Patient dying every 17 minutes from a PREVENTABLE MEDICAL ERROR . At Least offer to pay for their funeral or transportation costs to send their dead bodies home. Perhaps a , I'M sorry would be nice. But it continues to happen, our Government "turns a blind eye". Let's start with accountability, make it Dr.s and nurses can be honest , open when an error happens, no recourse or discipline for those who come forward. It helps them and would make those who keep making these errors think twice. So they treat us as a person not a pay check, not an acceptable loss. Imagine the amount of money here in Canada at least, could save. Maybe put back into programs that have been cut. Just a thought.

This is so very important because inaction shows MP Arnold Viersen's and his cronies that sexism and the objectification of women is acceptable and will be tolerated by the CPC. The disrespect he holds for these two women (and by extension, all woman) demands a swift and clear response of removal from office.

It is important because climate change is a human crisis and we need humanity to combat this third world war of the climate on this earth for a safe and better environment for the next generation.Climate change will alter the Earth. But it could destroy humanity 'What we’re doing to the Earth has no parallel in 66 million years, scientists say'

Canada is known around the world for our commitment to peace. Now, we have a chance to lead the world towards peace again - by making it impossible for Trump to pursue a war of aggression with Iran. The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 is now widely regarded as a disastrous mistake. Warhawks like John Bolton lied to the world in order to pursue a war of aggression in the Middle East. And they made no secret of their desire to invade Iran as well. Today, many of the very same people are back in power in the United States - and it looks as though they may get their wish. But we can help slam the brakes on another disastrous conflict. A strong statement from the Prime Minister committing Canada to de-escalation and assuring that not a single Canadian soldier will be deployed to support an invasion of Iran will send a clear message to President Trump that even the United States' closest ally will not support him in his military adventures. Doing so will set an example for other traditional American allies in Europe and around the world. Left without partners for his ill-fated scheme, Trump could well be forced to abandon plans for an invasion. Somebody will have to be first - and Canada, long a leader in peace-keeping, can be the leader here too. Together, we can make it happen. If thousands of Canadians sign this petition, Trudeau will see that the Canadian public is against a war in Iran and know that we'll have his back when he stands up to Trump. We have the power to stop a war. Sign now and spread the word.

On December 4th, the AGM for the Nelson & District Women’s Centre will be held at the Adventure Hotel at 5:30pm. Many know the Centre to be a place of support and service to the community. What some members may not be aware of is that over the past several months, the staff have been working to the point of exhaustion -many to the point of resignation- due to a lawsuit filed by a group of so-called feminists who appropriated the name the Bread and Roses Collective. Over these months, effort and emotional energy have been diverted from supporting the community in full capacity to responding to a Supreme Court lawsuit filed by women who question if other marginalized genders should be allowed to be voting members of, employed at, engage with or utilize the support and services of the organization. This bullying tactic was used to execute a hostile takeover of the board and force others out through mental and emotional exhaustion. The pressure of this lawsuit on the volunteer board and part time staff led to periods of time where drop in services were closed, impacting some of the most marginalized members of our community. History shows us that that dividing and excluding the marginalized is in itself an act of violence. With the Trans Day of Remembrance passing on Wednesday November 19, we speak the names of transgender people, (particularly TPOC) who are killed each year (at least 311 this year) in acts of transphobic violence. It is also a time to reflect on other acts of violence against trans people, including emotional violence, micro-aggressions and the systematic exclusion of trans bodies in community spaces. If you care about the inclusion and the support of all marginalized genders, come to the Nelson District Women's Centre AGM on Wednesday, December 4th or send a proxy vote to elect board members who aim to build a longer table, not a higher wall. For more background info, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9staXcyOYKs

The Chilliwack city council rejected a proposal to support the LGBTQ community by painting a rainbow crosswalk in downtown Chilliwack. In response, a group of community members worked with community organizations and local First Nations to paint 16 rainbow crosswalks throughout the city in private property and on First Nations land! The whole world needs to know that even though the city council refuses to make the city a safe place for LGBTQ people, the local community is organizing to fight back.

We are deeply concerned about the lack of front-line supports and resources for our most vulnerable students. Teachers are expected to deliver various levels of the curriculum and assist children with behavioral challenges on their own. These children need proper assessments/diagnosis - they need more EA's, access to child and youth workers, social workers, school support counselors and psychologists. We have seen a significant increase in violence in our classrooms/schools. Teachers are injured to the point that requires medical intervention and often sick time. As a result of the lack in funding and cuts, teachers are faced with unsafe situations for them and their students. Research has shown that smaller class sizes support increased student performance yet this government wants to increase class size. Smaller class size improves student behaviour and relationships. Caps on class size are effective...averages are not! Public education is the foundation of a strong country and strong citizenship. Our entire future depends on the education of our children and any cuts to education hurts kids. Large class sizes hurt all students, but particularly those with special needs or behavioural issues. Teachers cannot teach without the supports that they need, and students can't learn without the supports that they need to be successful.

This is important because once he’s deported I will be a single mother of 4. I won’t be able to support my family as my common law partner works two jobs to help support our family. My children are suffering because they have never been a part from their father.

The Vancouver Sun has always been a right wing voice, but lately it's been ordered to "be more right wing". We've seen them pushing the boundaries of how far you can go making a case for anti-immigration and racism in polite conversation. If they continue this way, the Vancouver Sun will complete it's transformation into a mini-National Post unless we show them locals won't tolerate this kind of garbage.

The streets of Hong Kong are unrecognizable. Tear gas, police batons, pepper spray, intimidation and torture -- these are only some of the brutalities faced by Hong Kong citizens marching in defiance of one of the world’s most powerful dictatorships. In the past few months, I have watched this beautiful city in which I was born and raised, once free and vibrant, -- suffer under the iron grip of China’s continued and increasing encroachment onto Hong Kong’s autonomy. Since the 80s, the Chinese Communist Party has continued to steadily chip away at Hongkongers’ rights and freedoms, and Hong Kong citizens were pushed over the edge when an extradition amendment bill was proposed that would allow the extradition of anyone who is in Hong Kong to China, to be tried under the Chinese judiciary system instead. Their ‘judiciary system’ has a 99% conviction rate, and is infamous for torture, trumped up charges and forced confessions. If passed, this law would effectively end Hong Kong as we know it. And it’s why 2 million people took to the streets in protest. Hong Kong citizens are fighting for the same democratic freedoms that we have here in Canada. They are fighting to protect their civil liberties that we currently hold: the rights to vote, to gather in protest, and to speak out against injustice. But we’re not set apart from the fight on the front lines in Hong Kong. Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are two Canadians currently being tortured, and detained with bogus charges in China. The protestors in Hong Kong facing police brutality are directly opposing the expansion of tyranny - not just for themselves, but for Kovrig and Spavor too. Their fight should be our fight. Their cause should be our cause. As Canadians, we have the power to speak up - not just for democracy or in defence of human rights - but for the 300,000 Canadians living in Hong Kong, the many Canadians who have business or family ties to Hong Kong, and the millions of Hong Kong-born Canadians living across this country we call true, north, strong and free. Let us uphold those values and not turn a blind eye. Sign the petition now to urge Minister Chrystia Freeland to impose sanctions on HK and Beijing government officials who have severely violated our human rights laws. --- more info below--- This encroachment on Hong Kong is a direct violation of the “one country, two systems” agreement established in the 80s -- when the Chinese Communist Party agreed to a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong. They promised Hong Kong citizens their own legal, social and financial systems until 2047, including universal suffrage for all citizens. I knew this promise was hollow even back then, so I left Hong Kong to ensure my own safety and freedom. And to my dismay, I was right: in 1989, the brutal massacre in Tiananmen Square saw the murder of thousands of peaceful protesters. This terrible blight on our history spurred a massive wave of immigration of horrified and disillusioned Hongkongers to Canada. Today, while I fear for Hong Kong citizens’ safety -- I feel incredibly proud as I stand in spirit with the millions of Hongkongers who are undeterred as they march for democracy and freedom. And there is something we can do: the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) allows Canada to sanction, impose travel bans and hold accountable foreign nationals who are responsible for gross human rights violations and significant corruption. This law exists specifically for situations such as these - to hold rogue foreign government officials to account. Please join me in calling on our government to apply sanctions to those government officials and entrepreneurs, in both Hong Kong and China, who have participated in or are complicit in violating Hong Kong citizens’ human rights with our Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act. *** UPDATE *** On Sept. 4th, after months of protests and increasing international pressure, HK’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced that she would withdraw the Extradition Amendment Bill - but refused to establish an independent public inquiry to investigate police brutality. This is not enough. We must sanction the government officials who condoned gross human rights violations in Hong Kong. Hong Kong and Beijing government officials have allowed the police brutality on the streets of Hong Kong: There is horrific video evidence of officers entering train cabins at busy subway stations and attacking passengers with tear gas and batons. There are rumours of torture and sexual assaults of protesters in Hong Kong’s detention centres. Sign the petition to sanction the government officials implicit in these horrors.

The Amazon Rainforest stands to make "a significant contribution to pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Coe [Earth Systems Scientist] likens it not to a pair of lungs, but to a giant air conditioner that cools the planet—one of our most powerful in mitigating climate change, alongside other tropical forests in central Africa and Asia—some of which are also currently burning" (for a more accurate look at the role of the Amazon: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/08/why-amazon-doesnt-produce-20-percent-worlds-oxygen/). Its loss, together with our lack of political will to stop carbon emissions and the absence of means to capture carbon effectively are posing a severe threat to people worldwide. Importantly, about one million Indigenous people live in the Amazon. It is also home to three million species of plants and animals (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-49433437). These fires are material and deadly. And their frequency is spurred by Bolsonaro's policies, which have accelerated deforestation, up 88% (https://globalnews.ca/news/5794191/amazon-rainforest-fire-explained/), due to farming, logging, and drilling. "The National Institute for Space Research (INPE) has recorded more than 74,000 fires so far this year [in the Amazon] – an 84 per cent increase on the same period in 2018. It’s the highest number since records began in 2013." (https://globalnews.ca/news/5794191/amazon-rainforest-fire-explained/). Take a deep breath and imagine smoke filling your lungs on a darkened afternoon, just as residents of São Paulo did at 3 p.m. Monday, August 19.