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CUPE Ontario and the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) are fighting back to Raise the Rates and Restore the Special Diet for those on welfare and disability benefits. People receiving the Special Diet Allowance will now have to re-apply under a much tougher system. It is expected that countless vulnerable people living in poverty will lose this vital benefit or have it reduced significantly.

In response, CUPE Ontario is partnering with labour and community allies to organize a series of Solidarity BBQs, to gain support and momentum leading up to the Ontario provincial election October 6th 2011. We must have a 55% increase to welfare and disability rates just to put them back to where they were before Mike Harris cut them. Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals have made only minimal improvements to the system that was destroyed.

CUPE Ontario sponsored the Solidarity Barbecue in Toronto on July 23 and will sponsor three more this August.

SOLIDARITY BARBECUES

Ottawa: Saturday, August 13th
McNabb Park, 435 Bronson Avenue
12:00 noon – 3 p.m.

St. Catharines: Sunday, August 21st
Montebello Park (64 Ontario Street)
12:00 noon – 3 p.m.

Hamilton: Saturday, August 27th
Location to be confirmed.
12:00 noon – 5 p.m.

These family friendly events are an opportunity to share food, socialize and deepen labour/community links while bringing much-needed public awareness to growing and visible levels of poverty, hunger and disparity affecting our communities.