Media Advisory - Students and community allies host media conference to
launch Day of Action for a Poverty-Free Ontario

TORONTO , Nov. 4 /CNW/ - Students and allied organisations will host a media conference to launch a Day of Action for a Poverty-Free Ontario. Coordinated by the Canadian Federation of Students and a broad coalition of allied organisations, the action will call on Premier Dalton McGuinty to make a concrete commitment to eliminate poverty in Ontario by investing in social services and equity measures.

In the wake of high job-loss and other effects caused by the recession, Ontarians are calling on the McGuinty government to recognise the important role that social services play in mitigating hardship and equalising opportunity. Record-high student unemployment coupled with record-high tuition fees have placed students in a particularly precarious position.

In response, students are adding their voices to broad-based demands for Employment Insurance and social assistance reform, a liveable minimum wage, affordable childcare and housing, good jobs for all and reduced tuition fees. Events are being held in thirteen communities across the province: Toronto , Ottawa , Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Mississauga, Guelph, London , Sault Ste. Marie, Peterborough, Scarborough, St. Catherines, Kingston and Windsor. Details for each action can be found at www.dropfees.ca.

    
    Media Conference to launch Day of Action for a Poverty-Free Ontario
        DATE:   Thursday, November 5, 2009
        TIME:   12:30 p.m.
        PLACE:  Queen's Park Media Studio
        WHO:    Shelley Melanson, Ontario Chairperson
                Ken Coran, Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation
                Avvy Go, Colour of Poverty
                Sid Ryan, Canadian Union of Public Employees
    

A march and mass rally will follow the media conference starting at 2:00 p.m. at Convocation Hall, University of Toronto , and arrive at Queen's Park at 4:00 p.m. The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario unites more than 300,000 college and university students across the province.

For further information: Shelley Melanson, Chairperson, [phone] (cell); Joel Duff, Ontario Organiser, [phone] (cell); Nadine Tkatchevskaia, Toronto French Media Contact, [phone] (cell)