[van-announce] 2 year Anit-Time Limited Coalition

[resist at resist.ca]

From: Everywomyninbc <coalition9-1-1 at resist.ca>

Media Release
                                           January 14th, 2004



Active Community Presence -  Anti Two-year Time Limit Coalition - (Lower
Mainland)



The Active Community Presence invites you to a Day of Action on January
19th, 2004
to Fight the Welfare Two-Year Time Limit and the Closure of Welfare Offices


Vancouver, BC - The Active Community Presence Committee of the will have a
day of
action addressing the upcoming Two Year Time Limit cut-offs / reductions
and the
imminent closure of welfare offices in BC.  The BC Provincial government
will be
closing 26 Ministry of Human Resources offices across the province by
March 21,
2004.  On January 19th, 2004, organizations and individuals across the Lower
Mainland will be rallying at welfare offices designated for closure.  We
invite you
to adopt a welfare office listed on the next page and show your resistance
by coming
out at that office at 12:30 to 2:30 pm.  We encourage you to coordinate as
many
groups to join this action.  Your solidarity can be demonstrated at the
office by
leafleting, rallying, protesting, and distributing resources.



We invite you to attend and support the press conference on January 19th,
2004, 11
am at the Vancouver Coastal Regional Office, #650-1185 W. Georgia.



Background


On April 1, 2002, the B.C. Liberals passed the two-year time limits
legislation on
welfare.  People on income assistance who are considered 'employable' are
limited to
24 months of assistance out of every 5 years.  Thousands of people will
get their
final cheque or have their benefits reduced starting February 25, 2004.  In
particular, this poor-bashing and anti-women legislation will
significantly impact
single mothers, seniors, and radicalized groups.



The Active Community Presence mobilizes all communities to fight the
welfare cuts.
We as a coalition of diverse organizations in the Lower Mainland, work 
in our
communities to educate one another about the impact of the welfare cuts and
poor-bashing.  We organize on the streets, in our communities, and in 
welfare
offices to create a movement of people who self-determine and fight for 
their
rights.  We are participating in direct-action casework with welfare
recipients and
distributing public education resources locally and provincially.



The Two-Year Time Limit Coalition is made up of Lower Mainland poverty,
church,
labour, women, social justice, and advocacy groups, as well as
individuals. Listed
below are some of the groups: End Legislated Poverty, SPARC, Vancouver
Status of
Women, Housing Action Committee, First United Church, TRAC, Anti-Poverty
Committee,
National Action Committee of the Status of Women -BC, Aboriginal Women's
Collective,
BC Teacher's Federation, Lower Mainland Coalition of Social Justice, BC
Government
and Service Employees' Union, Hospital Employee's Union, DERA, Anglican
Church,
VANDU, Prepare the General Strike Committee, and Seniors Network BC, and BC
Association of Social Workers.



Contacts: Megan Oleson  604-561-5724, mirth at resist.ca
                  Benita Bunjun   604-255-6554, femantipov at vsw.ca



******************************************************************************************************************************************



ACTIVE COMMUNITY PRESENCE

January 19th, 2004

12:30-2:30 pm

Please choose an office to rally and leaflet at and coordinate other
groups to join
you.  Email your information to Megan at mirth at resist.ca or Benita at
femantipov at vsw.ca by January 17, 2004.  Attached are Two-year Time Limit
handouts
for you to reproduce and  distribute and a Word version of this Release.



       Location
      Address
      Who

       Van. Coastal



       Yaletown
      1002 Seymour Street




       Mt. Pleasant
      465 East Broadway


      Vancouver Status of Women, North Shore Women Centre, Aboriginal
Women's Collective

       Kensington
      2280 Kingsway


      No One is Illegal

       Waterfront
      205 Powell Street,


      Housing Action Committee, Anti-Poverty Committee

       Howe / Vancouver Coastal
      1440-625 Howe Street




       North Shore
      110-255 West 1st Street

       North Vancouver






       Fraser



       Coquitlam
      305-2963 Glen Drive,




       Pitt Meadows
      12240 Harris Road,




       Abbotsford
      101-2865 Cruickshank,




       Surrey (1) ***
      10040 King George Highway,




       Surrey (2)
      14672 - 108A Avenue,




       Surrey (3)
      17672 - 58 A Avenue,




       Burnaby
      4647 East Hastings Street







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