Challenging targeted policing: my experiences in the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty

andrew
Thu, 04 Jul 2013 15:01:04 +0000
Canada, Policing, The Left, Library, Interview, Garda Research Institute

Mike Harris came to power as Premier of Ontario in 1995. Harris could easily be characterised as ruthless, callous and even authoritarian. One of his first acts as Premier was to slash welfare payments by a whopping 21.6%. Under his “Common Sense Revolution” Harris cancelled funding for affordable housing and curtailed services to the homeless, introduced workfare, repealed pro-labour legislation, brought in tighter eligibility criteria for disability allowance, and introduced legislation in relation to renting and tenants rights that resulted in many more becoming homeless in the process. Poor people were demonised and cast as scroungers and cheats, with welfare fraud hotlines established to report them.