OCAP Members Storm Council Meeting
Tuesday March 4, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff
Members of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) briefly took over Tuesday's city council meeting.
The demonstration was sparked by last week's death of a homeless man in a frigid downtown stairwell. OCAP says city officials are lying when they maintain there are enough shelter beds.
"So why are they sleeping in the common area, on the floor, no blankets, no pillows, lights on, and the explanation we were given, is that some of those people didn't want a bed and they like it with the lights on. That's how they want it to be. This is absurd," remarked OCAP's Gaetan Heroux.
None of the protestors was arrested, but they were escorted out of City Hall by police.
Tuesday March 4, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff
Members of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) briefly took over Tuesday's city council meeting.
The demonstration was sparked by last week's death of a homeless man in a frigid downtown stairwell. OCAP says city officials are lying when they maintain there are enough shelter beds.
"So why are they sleeping in the common area, on the floor, no blankets, no pillows, lights on, and the explanation we were given, is that some of those people didn't want a bed and they like it with the lights on. That's how they want it to be. This is absurd," remarked OCAP's Gaetan Heroux.
None of the protestors was arrested, but they were escorted out of City Hall by police.
A new issue of OCAP's occasionally publication, "They Call It Struggle for a Reason" is now available for download. Taking a look at the current shelter crisis in Toronto, this issue includes writing on the $4 million cuts to the shelter system, the new police cameras at Dundas and Sherbourne, the illusion of the City's "Streets to Homes" policy and crumbling public housing.