Social Issues Archives — Lindsay Advocate

‘Peoples’ Economy’ summit plans new economic normal in Kawartha Lakes

Published on June 29, 2020 in Business/Community/Social Issues by Lindsay Advocate

Some residents of Kawartha Lakes are seizing the moment of economic upheaval to chart a path forward for a new “economic normal” in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initial group – which has started out as half a dozen local leaders including Mike Perry, Laraine Hale, Dennis Geelan, Helen Scott and Ameila Valenti – is working to build a peoples’ movement to implement economic measures that serve people and the environment better than the free market, according to a press release.

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New home for Kawartha Lakes Food Source

Published on June 22, 2020 in Community/Social Issues by Lindsay Advocate

Kawartha Lakes Food Source will soon have a new home at 164 Needham Street in Lindsay as of July 10.

The new place is accessible for its member agencies, volunteers, and donors. More importantly, according to a press release, “it is dry, clean, bright, maintained, and has more space for our current operations.”

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Class action: Court to decide if there’s ‘legitimate claim’ for basic income suit

Published on June 22, 2020 in Provincial/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

Court to decide if there’s ‘legitimate claim’ for class action over cancelled basic income project

A class action lawsuit initiated by four people from Lindsay who were once on the Ontario Basic Income Pilot moves one step further along this week. The court will decide over June 24-25 in Lindsay if there is “legitimate claim” for such a lawsuit to proceed.

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City administering $1.8M social services relief fund from province

Published on April 16, 2020 in Municipal/Social Issues by Lindsay Advocate

To help provide relief for pressing challenges faced by many during the COVID-19 pandemic, the province has announced a new $200 million Social Services Relief Fund., according to a media release.

The municipality will receive $1.8 million to support the provision of emergency housing and shelter services and food security in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County. City of Kawartha Lakes is also the designated service manager for Human Services in Haliburton County.

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A Place Called Home: 25 years of fighting for justice for people who are homeless

Published on March 16, 2020 in Community/Social Issues by Zita Devan

It was a chance meeting on a Monday in 1985 that would alter my life path for good. The meeting was with a young man with curly blond hair who, in many ways, looked very much like one of my own teenage sons. I was working at Fleming College at the time, coordinating a government program to help youth who had left high school and lacked job experience.

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Local businesses concerned for those less fortunate in wake of COVID-19

Published on March 13, 2020 in Community/Health/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

As the province shutters schools for three weeks because of COVID-19 and people are urged to stock up on essentials, Jamie Bergin, one of the owners of Boiling Over’s Coffee Vault, is worried about Kawartha Lakes Food Source.

More specifically, he’s worried about the increased number of people who will most likely be accessing food banks in our area.

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Basic income: Senator Kim Pate urges Senate to take action

Published on February 26, 2020 in Social Issues by Roderick Benns

Senator Kim Pate urges Senate to take action on basic income

Senator Kim Pate is urging senators to take action on supporting the implementation of a basic income in Canada.

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Green Dishes program eliminates need for disposable dishes: Kawartha Lakes Food Source

Published on February 21, 2020 in Community/Social Issues by Lindsay Advocate

Kawartha Lakes Food Source announced the kick-off of a new program designed to eliminate the need for disposable dishes at community events, while also supporting food banks across the Kawartha Lakes.

“We were inspired by our recent work with FoodRescue.ca to expand our efforts to reduce waste related to food and its consumption,” says Jessica Topfer, FoodRescue.ca coordinator at Kawartha Lakes Food Source.

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Benns’ Belief: Conservatives and basic income

Published on January 20, 2020 in Opinion/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

For many years I have argued for the need for a well-planned basic income guarantee. For ought not the citizens of a country have a fair claim to a small dividend of the society we have all helped to create?

I have spoken with politicians of all political stripes on this matter over the past few years, including three high-profile federal Conservatives. These three Tories — all of whom were connected to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s governments — were at least open to trying basic income pilots.

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Tough to stomach? Cost of healthy eating remains out of reach for many in CKL

Published on January 9, 2020 in Health/Social Issues by Lindsay Advocate

New year, same result. That, in a nutshell, describes the ongoing challenges many families in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County face to pay for healthy food.

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