The economic recession has been tough for retailers all over, and the few independent bookstores left were taking a real beating even before that from large stores like Chapters Indigo, Walmart and Amazon.

Usually, I'd just shrug and say "that's capitalism" but in the case of the Toronto Women's Bookstore, it really is more than just a bookstore. It really is an important fixture of the left and feminist movement in Toronto.

As Kristin Schwartz wrote in the recent issue of Canadian Dimension, independents matter.

The Toronto Women's Bookstore has always stocked a good amount of anarchist books and magazines and have helped sponsor and promote many progressive events in the city.

So when I read the letter they sent to the community I had to blog about it and encourage our readers to support them.

By Mick Sweetman

TORONTO — At a streetcar stop at Queen and Bay streets Saturday about 50 anti-poverty activists boarded a westbound streetcar after showing the driver protest “transfers” made by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) in what they called a “pilot program” for fighting the fare hike.

Driver and passengers seemed in good spirits as protesters chanted “Hey, Hey, TTC! Public transit should be free!” Protestors distributed OCAP “transfers” to passengers and hung a banner out the window reading “Fair rates not fare hikes” as the streetcar headed toward Spadina Avenue.

The rolling protest was against the TTC increasing fares to $3 starting on Jan. 3. The price hike is 25 cents a trip and an increase of over 10% for a monthly pass. Advocates of poor and working people say transit costs are already too high. The fare hike comes at a time of economic recession and job losses, growing poverty, and dangerously low social assistance rates.

by Geordie Gwalgen Dent
Toronto Media Coop

TORONTO — Under a blanket of hail, rain and cold weather, 250 anti-poverty protesters marched on the financial centre of Toronto on Nov. 5, The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) organized march took aim at government policy during the recession. The Canadian Federation of Students – Ontario held a separate march on the same day to the Ontario legislature.

“We wanted to participate [on] that day and march into the financial district to point out who is benefiting within this crisis,” says Lisa Schofield, an organizer with OCAP.

On Tuesday July 14 Deputy Premier, or according to him “Citizen”, George Smitherman launched “One Toronto” a website networking volunteer scabs to pick up garbage in Toronto in the midst of a 4 week long strike by the civic workers unions CUPE 416 and 79.

Posing for media photos with a broom in hand, Smitherman had the bald faced audacity to claim that he wasn't taking sides in the strike but rather ““We’re taking one side and one side only — the side of clean streets in our city,”

Smitherman knows he can't come out and say he's organizing brigades of volunteer scabs to further his political career but that's exactly what he's doing.

http://ocap.ca/node/739

Man severely beaten and dumped on sidewalk over dispute about a sandwich.

Press Conference
Dare: Thursday, July 9
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Seaton House, 339 George Street
(east of Jarvis Street, south of Gerrard Street)

OCAP to hold press conference; please come and support OCAP and condemn the assault of homeless man by City management at Seaton House.

Man severely beaten and dumped on sidewalk over dispute about a sandwich.

On June 24TH, 2009, Brian DuBourdieu went to The Seaton House men's shelter in downtown Toronto, to get something to eat and a night's sleep. Instead, he ended up spending the night in the emergency room of St. Mike's hospital.

By Sue Goldstein,
6 July 2009, Toronto
Queers Against Israeli Apartheid

This year’s Pride march was marked by intense pressure from pro-Zionist forces to keep Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) from participating.

Activists speak out against the Israel's branding of itself as an oasis for queer subjects.

CALL TO ACTION: UofT PRESSES CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST 14 FOR MOBILIZING AGAINST FEE HIKES

***URGENT CALL FOR SUPPORT – PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY***

SIGN THE PETITION: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fightfees/index.html

University’s level of hostility and repression against students unprecedented in the last decade

Community Release: Toronto; April 25 2008

WHAT: Allies for Just Education - Community Support Meeting
WHEN: Monday April 28, 6pm
WHERE: Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St (http://tinyurl.com/4sn49c)

Dear Allies,

Over the past several weeks, a wide coalition of students, alumni and workers at University of Toronto have come together to protest and organize against proposed fee hikes and to demand accessible education. This coalition has organized public meetings, a sit-in and demonstrations which have received wide community support (see www.fightfees.ca).

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/310088

"Mayor David Miller sharply criticized Councillor Rob Ford today for “outrageous and absolutely unacceptable” comments about Asians during a council debate.

Speaking last night during a debate over expanding business openings on holidays, Ford said, “Oriental people are slowly taking over.”

Ford went on to describe people from the Far East as workaholics. “Those Oriental people work like dogs … they sleep beside their machines.” he said. “They’re hard, hard workers.” "