Stand up for a cause

'More and better aid, trade justice, cancel debt, and end child poverty in Canada was a slogan seen on the back of a t-shirt sitting in Council Chambers at City Hall Monday night. The ideas are the four goals of the Make Poverty History program headed by Reverend Terry O'Connor.

O'Conner presented the 'Stand up and take action' campaign set for October 17th. He said that the Rally will begin at 4pm with a march from Anthony Rota's office, over to Monique Smith's office, then onto City Hall for the stand up and pledge. One of O'Connor's volunteers for the 'Make Poverty History' program, Dave Stevenson, was behind O'Connor to show his support in summoning everyone to stand up in the fight to make poverty history.

"Well, I lived in poverty. I was a single parent, no transportation, and eating at the soup kitchen," Stevenson said. "It's stressful. Living on a limited budget," he added.

North Bay citizens receive $540 dollars monthly if in need and Stevenson said that it's not enough especially when he has to support a child. Stevenson added that approximately 720 people per month use the food bank - and that's only from the food banks that are registered.

"I can't imagine living in a bigger city. In North Bay we hardly get over $500," Stevenson said.

Welfare is something that Stevenson said he didn't find 'well or fair'. He added that political powers either miss or re-interpret the right of security in the Canadian Charter by forgetting about the basics.

"It's discrimination. It's based on economic status and that's wrong, "Stevenson said.

Reverend O'Connor said that while all other parties have addressed the poverty issue for the federal election, Conservative candidate Stephen Harper has said nothing in regards to poverty. Though Harpers lips are sealed on this issue, local Conservative Joe Sinicrope has said that the ongoing poverty epidemic will be made an issue, which begs the question how can he promise this when the party leader has said nothing.

"Hopefully it's not another broken promise," Stevenson said.

This rally is only two years young and in its debut last year over 100 people came out to support the stand up and take action campaign.

"Canada needs to rise to the challenge to respect the dignity of everyone," Stevenson said