Anti-poverty march to expose corporate-led "austerity" agenda

Critics slam "Austerity for people, tax breaks and record profits for business", demand provincial budget that works for everyone

TORONTO, March 15, 2012 /CNW/ - Anti-poverty activists will expose the big business source of the provincial government's "austerity" agenda and call for a provincial budget that works for everyone with a family-friendly rally and march this Friday, March 16.

Demonstrators will rally outside the provincial Ministry of Housing at the corner of Bay and College. They will demand the upcoming provincial budget respond to pressing social needs and not continue with tax breaks for business.

From there, demonstrators will march towards the financial district where Canada's biggest banks are raking in record profits while their agents urge governments to force austerity on people and cut services to communities.

WHAT:	Rally and march against austerity
WHERE:	College & Bay, Toronto
WHEN:	Friday, March 16, 12:00 PM
WHO:	Speakers include representatives from the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario, Tenants for Social Housing, Ontario Nurses Association, Disability Action Movement Now, Workers Action Centre, Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty and the Under Pressure Collective.

Members of the Ontario Nurses Association will provide a free meal for participants. The closest accessible transit station is Queen's Park at College and University.

Friday's action has a long and growing list of supporters and endorsing organizations, including:

Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, Aids Action Now, Barrio Nuevo, BASICS Community News, Bread & Bricks Davenport West Social Justice Group, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario, CUPE Local 1281, CUPE 4308, CUPE 4600, CUPE Toronto District Council, Disability Action Movement Now, Educators for Peace and Justice, Greater Toronto Worker's Assembly, Health Providers Against Poverty, Health for All, Jane-Finch Action Against Poverty, Kingston Coalition Against Poverty, Law Union of Ontario, Medical Reform Group, No One Is Illegal Toronto, Ontario Association of Interval and Transitional Houses, OCCUPY Toronto, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, Ontario Network of Injured Workers, Ontario Nurses Association, Ontario University Workers Coordinating Committee (CUPE Ontario), OPSEU Local 525, Poverty Makes Us Sick (KW), Rhythms of Resistance, Sistering, Students for Medicare, Toronto Stop the Cuts, Under Pressure Ottawa, Workers Action Centre

 

OCAP media spokesperson, 416.826.4796