[OPIRG-EVENTS] reminder tonight- THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY IN ONTARIO

["Sherrie Tingley" <stingley@cnwl.igs.net>]

Please distribute
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THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY IN ONTARIO

A Public Forum

TUESDAY, May 14th  @ 7:00 PM

St. Luke's Anglican Church Hall
760 Somerset St. West
(Corner of Somerset & Bell - Use the Somerset Door)
OTTAWA

Speakers will include:

Candice Beale, Ottawa Anti-poverty Activist
Kim Pate, Executive Director, Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry
Societies (CAEFS)
Martha Jackman, Professor, University of Ottawa, Law School
Molly Hancock, Member, Committee to Remember Kimberly Rogers


BACKGROUND
There was considerable outrage last August when Canadians read in their
Globe and Mail that Kimberly Rogers died pregnant and alone while under
house arrest in Sudbury, Ontario for a charge of welfare fraud. Her crime?
Obtaining a student loan while continuing to receive social assistance,
something no longer permitted in Ontario.

What many do not realize, however, is that the conditions are in place for
a similar tragedy to happen again.

Ms. Rogers was the first person in Ontario, and the only person to date, to
challenge the constitutional validity of the Ontario Works Regulations that
resulted in the cancellation of her benefits.  May 14th marks the one year
anniversary of her precedent-setting challenge under the Charter of Rights.

This forum is sponsored by The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation,
Somerset West Action Network, Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa

For more info, please call:
Sherrie Tingley
789-2228




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