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TDRC Media Releases |
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May 17, 2002 Public
Release of Shocking Video! “If a picture says a thousand words, this video
says many thousands, and it clearly says open the armouries. After all,
the land the Fort York Armoury sits on was leased by the City of Toronto
to the federal government for only $1 for 100 years.
We need its use now more than ever before.”--
Cathy Crowe, Street Nurse and co-founder of Toronto Disaster Relief
Committee
Media
Conference: Tuesday May 21, 2002, 10am, City Hall, Committee Room #3.
There will be a media conference and a public showing of a shocking secret video taken in a homeless shelter. The minute long footage shows clear human rights violations. It exhibits how people are at risk of communicable diseases such as TB and infestations like scabies and lice and stress leading to mental health breakdown. Copies of the video will be available to television stations, and stills will be available for newspapers. Community leaders will speak at the public showing and press conference. The event will precede a City Council resolution regarding the opening of the armouries. Responses to the Video: Dr. Stephen Hwang, Population Health Epidemiologist, St. Michael's
Hospital: “clearly a risk to the health of
the individuals forced to live in this situation, and creates conditions
that pose a public health risk through the spread of TB and other
infectious diseases.” Dennis Raphael, PhD, Associate Professor of Health Policy and
Management, York University: “this
situation is an affront to the dignity of those who are forced to live in
these situations but also to all Torontonians who value human rights and
well-being.” The Most Rev TE Finlay, Archbishop of Toronto:
“Canada needs a national housing strategy. And, until that is in place,
shelters must be more available, safer, cleaner and more respecting of
those who need them.” Dominic Agostino, MPP, Liberal Housing Critic: “The conditions depicted on the video looked more like a refugee camp than what should be found in the City of Toronto in the year 2002.” Michael Prue, MPP, NDP Housing Critic: “this film portrays a wake-up call to everyone in our society”. Sara Boyles, Rector, Church of the Holy Trinity: “To know similar things happen in our city - on our streets and in our shelters is one thing. To see them in a video is appalling.” John Andras, Vice President, The Rotary Club of Toronto and Vice President, Research Capital. “I was reminded of pictures showing the lower decks of slave ships.” For more information, contact TDRC at tdrc@tdrc.net -30- |