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By laura k, on February 27, 2012, at 8:00 am I’m posting this for Googleability.
If you’ve received an excessive water bill, there may be an error in your reading, even if the water meter is working correctly. My partner and I recently filed a small claims lawsuit against the Region of Peel to recover excessive water charges we were forced to pay. The judge awarded us a full refund, plus court fees, plus money for our time and effort, plus interest.
If you have received a water bill that is 10 times (or more) your normal rate, and there are no leaks or plumbing issues in your home, and
. . . → Read More: wmtc: you can fight your excessive water bill
By laura k, on February 24, 2012, at 6:00 pm Win? That doesn’t even begin to describe it. This was a rout. When the smoke cleared, we were celebrating and they were gasping for air.
$429 and change that we should never have been charged? Check.
$175 in court costs? Check.
But wait, there’s more…
$100 for our preparation time,
plus
$400 for our inconvenience, for a grand total of $1104.47 plus interest. Not credits on our account, either. Cold cash, baby!
The judge said, “Frankly, I’m surprised that Peel’s legal department would have let this go this far. You could have offered a settlement just to expedite this.
. . . → Read More: wmtc: in which we kick peel’s butt!
By laura k, on February 23, 2012, at 10:00 pm Remember our crazy water bill? And how tried to fight it?
In the end, we had no choice. We had to pay the bill or Peel would have disconnected our water. After that, our only recourse was to file in small claims court to try to recover the excess payment. We did so, and we had a mandatory (and useless) settlement conference. The trial is tomorrow.
Allan has been working on our case for a long time and is beyond sick of it. Being a classic pessimist, he is convinced we will lose and just wants to get it over
. . . → Read More: wmtc: our day in court
By laura k, on February 22, 2012, at 8:00 am Tell Mayor Ford you want a free, public Toronto Public Library. Go here.
By laura k, on February 16, 2012, at 9:30 am From Maureen O’Reilly, library workers’ union, Toronto Public Library (emphasis mine):
+ + + + +
It hasn’t taken Ford and company long before launching a new attack on our public library.
Frustrated that we stopped him last month from wreaking massive reductions to open hours and slashing programs and services, such as the children’s literacy program and the Bookmobile, Ford and his allies have a new strategy to achieve their goal of off-loading our public library to private interests.
Today, they are targeting the librarians and other people who serve you at your neighbourhood branch, and the attack is
. . . → Read More: wmtc: rob ford’s latest strategy in the war on toronto public library: slash, downsize, then try to privatize
By laura k, on January 26, 2012, at 9:30 pm Community meetings, rallies, emergency mobilizations, and a five-hour Council meeting ended with the Peel Regional Council voting not to close 12 publicly-funded daycare centres – yet. The Council voted unanimously to stop the rush to closure and instead set up a task force to explore the options.
According to this story in the Star, the current daycare arrangement serves 800 children. Fewer than half of those are subsidized, and 4,000 children on the waiting list to get in.
The answer is simple. Don’t cut public services: expand them.
Roll back the corporate tax cuts, require everyone to pay their
By laura k, on January 25, 2012, at 12:00 pm Tomorrow, Peel Region Councillors will vote on whether to end publicly financed, union-staffed daycare services in Mississauga and Brampton.
A report from an audit by KPMG – released only days ago – recommended closing five daycare centres in Brampton and seven in Mississauga. In less than a week, Councillors are putting this to a vote. What’s the rush? Why are the Councillors avoiding input from the people whose lives would be affected by the closures?
Closing these 12 daycare centres would eliminate around 800 child care spaces and almost 300 jobs. The goal is supposedly saving the Region money, but
. . . → Read More: wmtc: save peel region public day care
By laura k, on January 24, 2012, at 3:00 pm A few weeks ago, I learned that my new Conservative MP, Wladyslaw Lizon, brought to the attention of Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney the shock and horror of a woman wearing a veil during a citizenship ceremony.
Mr. Kenney, equally horrified (and similarly Islamophobic), issued a directive that forces women to choose between their personal comfort and becoming Canadian citizens. (My response is here; scroll down.)
Now the Member of Parliament for Mississauga-East Cooksville again displays how much he understands and respects the people in his culturally diverse riding. He sent out a survey asking,
. . . → Read More: wmtc: is m.p. lizon a bigot or just plain ignorant? you make the call
By laura k, on January 19, 2012, at 4:30 pm I needed to get a job as a library page in order to be “in the system” at the Mississauga Library. Job openings rarely, if ever, go external. Since after I earn my degree, I want to work as a librarian in Mississauga, and I was advised by several people that a page job is the way in. So this was a career move, a necessity. I never imagined I would love the job – but I do!
As I’ve mentioned, I work in the Children’s Department of the Central Library, a large, vibrant room with programs, games, computers, reference
. . . → Read More: wmtc: ten reasons i like being a library page
By laura k, on January 18, 2012, at 4:00 pm If Rob Ford and Stephen Harper are both unhappy, this must be a good day!
Yesterday the voices of reason on the Toronto City Council united to defeat Rob Ford‘s most dangerous budget cuts. There will still be cutbacks, and layoffs, and there is still a fight. But note this: Public sentiment was key to moving some councillors behind Colle’s motion. Thousands of emails clogged their inboxes, almost 13,000 Torontonians filled out surveys on which services they cherish and hundreds of people made deputations to various committee meanings, including two that went all night.
And today President Obama has
. . . → Read More: wmtc: sweet victories! ford budget defeated, tarsands pipeline dead for now
By laura k, on January 17, 2012, at 7:00 am Rob Ford might be losing weight, but Toronto is losing vital public services and good jobs – if the mayor and his friends on City Council have their way.
If you live, work, or go to school in Toronto, come out to defend your city.
WHEN: Tuesday, January 17, 5:30 pm
WHERE: Toronto City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square
WHY: Toronto is a vibrant, liveable city and we want it to stay that way
By laura k, on November 22, 2011, at 5:15 pm It’s finally happened: I’ve been placed as a page! I begin my training this Thursday at the Central Library in Mississauga. This is a huge, beautiful library, a five-minute drive from our house, and right next door to YMCA that Allan and I belong to.
I’ve been waiting for this job to open up for two years, as several branch libraries in the Mississauga system were closed for renovation. You may recall, over the summer I was practicing for a shelving test, which I then passed. That was in July, and since then I’ve continued to wait.
This
. . . → Read More: wmtc: in which i begin my first library job
By laura k, on November 21, 2011, at 12:00 pm Message from Occupy Toronto:
OCCUPY TORONTO IS BEING EVICTED. Mayor Rob Ford has angrily taken to television, even gritting his teeth, to say he wants protesters “gone NOW”. City Manager says by midnight force will be used, but mayor is pressing for even faster.
Ford and the judge point to upset neighbors as the ultimate cause of the eviction, but only eleven people in the neighborhood came out to a meeting to discuss plans to get rid of us, numerous neighbors and local businesses are in support (some because we brought them business, and some because they support our message).
. . . → Read More: wmtc: emergency rally to defend occupy toronto: 5:00 today
By laura k, on November 17, 2011, at 3:30 pm EVICT FORD. OCCUPY TORONTO!
Rally and marchSaturday, November 19 at 2:00 p.m.Assemble at St. James Park, King Street east between Church and Jarvis
In just a few weeks, the Occupy movement has become a global phenomenon, with over 1,400 protests worldwide. In Toronto, a peaceful occupation has been underway at St. James Park, raising demands for economic and social justice for everyone. Polls in Canada show that a clear majority of people support the protests.
But now Mayor Rob Ford is trying to evict the protesters. We think it’s time to evict Rob Ford instead. Ford’s attacks
. . . → Read More: wmtc: saturday, november 19: evict ford: occupy toronto
By laura k, on November 15, 2011, at 3:00 pm This is a message from Sid Ryan, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour.Dear Sisters and Brothers,We have just learned that the Toronto Police have served eviction notices to Occupy Toronto protesters at St. James Park (Jarvis St. and King St.),… . . . → Read More: wmtc: message from ofl president sid ryan: occupy toronto tonight!
By laura k, on November 4, 2011, at 4:30 pm My own government labeled me a terrorist and attempted to murder me. My story is strongly relevant for activists today in this climate of an unending ‘war on terror.’S. Brian Willson, Vietnam War veteran and peace activistS. Brian Willson, a Vietnam Wa… . . . → Read More: wmtc: monday in toronto: "my own government labeled me a terrorist and attempted to murder me"
By laura k, on November 1, 2011, at 2:30 pm Read and sign the petition!From Our Public Library::* * * *The first order of business of Mayor Ford’s handpicked Toronto Library Board was to cut 100 librarians and other staff.Even though there is not a single children’s librarian in the entire s… . . . → Read More: wmtc: urgent! new threat to toronto public library: make your voice heard
By laura k, on October 28, 2011, at 10:30 am This would be so much funnier if people’s lives and a great city weren’t being damaged in the bargain. . . . → Read More: wmtc: rob ford’s next campaign?
By laura k, on October 21, 2011, at 8:00 am Join Occupy Toronto: All Out Against The Corporate AgendaJoin Occupy TO for a family friendly march to Nathan Phillips Square.* Meet: 2:00 p.m. at the Occupation site (St James Park, Adelaide & Jarvis)* Rally: 2:45 p.m. at Nathan Phillips Square (City … . . . → Read More: wmtc: tomorrow: occupy toronto: all out against the corporate agenda
By laura k, on October 19, 2011, at 1:00 pm I’m writing this from the IS encampment at Occupy Toronto, in St. James Park. It’s chilly and wet out today, but people here are warm and energized. There are at least 75 tents set up, and I’ve heard that number is growing every day. There are tents fo… . . . → Read More: wmtc: greetings from occupy toronto
By laura k, on September 25, 2011, at 9:30 am Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has been forced to back away from some of his more egregious – and completely unnecessary – threatened budget cuts, claiming that library branches will not be closed. But let’s not forget, in his mayoral campaign, Ford said he’d … . . . → Read More: wmtc: tomorrow in toronto: demand a toronto for everyone
By laura k, on September 20, 2011, at 2:00 pm For those of you following…First, and most importantly, Tala. She is doing really well! After our last trip to Guelph, we added on a second medication, one designed to specifically target nerve pain. We had to give that several weeks to kick in, with… . . . → Read More: wmtc: green tomatoes, red socks, and a white dog, plus libraries of many hues
By laura k, on September 18, 2011, at 8:15 am If you’re interested in the issue of war resistance and the history of war resisters in both Canada and the US, you’ll want to be at the Steelworkers Hall in Toronto next weekend, September 23 and 24. A major conference is taking place, organized by Hi… . . . → Read More: wmtc: next weekend in toronto: conference on war resisters in north america
By laura k, on September 15, 2011, at 12:00 pm The winners of the My Library Matters to Me contest – offering a walking tour and lunch with the likes of Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje and other prominent Toronto authors – have been posted: You can read them here.The organizers received more than… . . . → Read More: wmtc: toronto public library update with great videos
By laura k, on September 8, 2011, at 8:00 am Things you can to do save public services in Toronto:1. Watch this amazing video!* 2. Share the video with everyone you know.3. If you live in the GTA, come to City Hall on Monday, September 26, 2011 for the Rally to Save Toronto. Rally begins at 5:30,… . . . → Read More: wmtc: it’s not about the money money money: all out september 26 at toronto city hall
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