PARTY WITH THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY AT THE WESTIN! : IMC Maritimes

On February 9th, HCAP (the Halifax Coalition Against Poverty) will be organizing to confront and disrupt the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party’s AGM. We will be holding a feast and rally at the church, then we will march to the Westin Hotel where Premier Rodney McDonald will be delivering a key-note address to conference delegates at 8 pm that night.

* When: Friday, February 9th at 7:00pm
* Where: Starts at St. Matthew’s Church, 1479 Barrington St. Halifax, NS.
* What: Feast and march against the Conservative Party of NS

The provincial Conservative Party is holding its Annual General Meeting in Halifax from February 9 to 11; a meeting at which members of the party along with Tory politicians get together to pat each other on the back and make policy decisions. The theme of this year’s meeting is “/The Path to a New Nova Scotia/”, and we are sure that “a new Nova Scotia” means more money for the rich, increased security culture, violations of our basic human rights, and cutbacks to social programs and services.

While the Tories talk about “building happy and stable families” what they have actually done is:

* Cancelled the Keep the Heat campaign.
* Spent millions of dollars on the Halifax bid for the Commonwealth Games.
* Sentenced everyone on welfare to live in poverty with rates that are far below the poverty line (between 40 and 70% lower). Then, they raised the rates by an insulting $50 in 2005 – a fraction of what is needed to make the rates livable. Since the Tories took power in 1999 ALL welfare rates have decreased (up to $1500), and the cost of living is skyrocketing.
* Committed to build up to 1500 new units of temporary affordable housing – while there are approximately 31, 000 people in need of affordable housing in HRM alone.
* Increased bonuses for government bureaucrats

We are living in a time when the gap between the rich and poor is widening, the quality of life for the majority of Nova Scotians is decreasing, and social systems that people fought hard for are being eroded by a government that puts profit before people. This government knows the current social situation in the province and they choose to do nothing about it; asking them is not enough – we need to directly challenge them and demand change.

We will be marching to the Westin Hotel to tell the Conservatives what kind of “New Nova Scotia” we want – one with justice, dignity, and freedom for ALL people!

HCAP is calling on all people and groups in Nova Scotia who are looking for real change in this province to join us in confronting the Conservatives on their poverty-imposing policies. We can come together and recognize that our struggles are connected; as a united front we can truly challenge this government, and tell them that they do not represent us and we want them OUT!

We are organizing around the following demands:

* A doubling of current social assistance rates. The rate must be linked to the Consumer Price Index to deal with inflation. Social assistance recipients do not deserve condemnation to poverty.
* That the minimum wage be raised to $9, hourly (roughly $18 000 per year for a fulltime person, while the official poverty line is $16, 521).
* Immediate implementation of the 1% solution (whereby 1% of provincial revenues are allocated to the construction of affordable housing).
* Affordable housing now.
* Immediate implementation of rent controls.
* Tough labor laws restricting the displacing growth of temporary employment agencies; when these agencies are allowed to operate, they must pay at least 1.5 times the minimum wage and provide benefits.
* Free Post-Secondary education for all students in recognition that post-secondary education is a basic need in this day and age.

To get involved come to the organizing meetings on Thursdays at 7 pm. at the HCAP office (2420 Agricola St.), get your group to endorse this action, and come on the 9th!

* When: Friday, February 9th at 7:00pm
* Where: Starts at St. Matthew’s Church, 1479 Barrington St. Halifax, NS.
* What: Feast and march against the Conservative Party of NS

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