Tag Archives: Occupy Toronto

Author Linda McQuaig and Economist Hugh Mackenzie confirmed for OHC Action Assembly.

The Ontario Health Coalition has confirmed that author Linda McQuaig and economist Hugh Mackenzie will be among featured speakers at their two day Action Assembly and Conference in Toronto November 19-20.

The Action Assembly sets the agenda for the work of the coalition for the coming year. Each year an associated one-day conference provides for more in-depth discussion on key health care issues.

McQuaig is author of eight books on politics and economics – all national bestsellers – including Shooting the Hippo (short-listed for the Governor General’s Award for Non-Fiction), The Cult of Impotence, All You Can Eat, It’s the Crude, Dude: War, Big Oil and the Fight for the Planet, and Holding the Bully’s Coat: Canada and the U.S. Empire. Her most recent book, co-authored with Neil Brooks, is The Trouble With Billionaires.

Mackenzie has worked for 35 years in a variety of public policy roles at all three levels of government. He is the Chair fo the Atkinson Charitable Foundation and a research associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. He is a frequent contributor to opinion pages on issues related to public finance.

On Sunday speakers include Taylor Chelsea (Occupy Toronto), Hugh Armstrong (Council on Aging), Winnie Ng (Sam Gindin Chair at Ryerson University), Diane Dowling (National Farmer’s Union) and Maureen O’Reilly (Toronto Public Library).

OPSEU members who are active in their local health coalition do qualify for assistance to attend this event. Please contact rjanson@opseu.org for more information.

Video: After the Storm – Occupy Toronto Day 6

OPSEU President Warren “Smokey” Thomas arrives at Occupy Toronto with Indian take-out for 400. The day after a violent thunderstorm and heavy rains, the tent city continues to expand despite the mud and damp. Solar generators have arrived with the promise of making the camp even more self-sufficient. Christmas lights are found in the logistics tent, suggesting this is going to be a long stay.

Video: The Camp – Occupy Toronto Day 4

Four days into the protest, Occupy Toronto is growing stronger and more organized. The park has been transformed by a tent city which includes a kitchen, a media centre, a library, a sign shop, and even a first aid station.  Torontonians have shown incredible generosity in their donations to the camp. If you can help, please do. Watch our video shot this morning:

Video: Occupy Toronto Day 1

What took us so long? Time to occupy Bay Street

It took weeks before the mainstream media paid attention, now the Occupy Wall Street movement is rapidly taking up root in cities across the world, including plans for an occupation of Toronto’s Bay Street beginning October 15.

Author and activist Naomi Klein recently visited the New York occupation. In copies of her speech handed out to protestors, she notes that while the TV pundits are baffled about why citizens are protesting, people around the world are asking ‘what took you so long?’

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