Now that the Fiberals are in power, the Star is not as keen on the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty as they were when the Conservatives were in.
Go figure...


Oct. 6, 2004. 01:00 AM

OCAP setting a poor example

JOE FIORITO

Let them eat steak.

Trouble is, the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty did not steal any steak last week. Instead, they stole — or rather they claim to have stolen — chicken, diapers and razor blades; two tins of salmon; a jar of peanut butter; also some cheese.

In total, they say they swiped $3,500 worth of groceries from Loblaws, and they gave the food to the poor, and that's their story and they're sticking to it.

OCAP leaders say they just walked into an upscale downtown Loblaws — they will not say which one — and loaded up some shopping baskets and walked out without paying, and nobody stopped them from doing so.

Geoff Wilson, a spokesman for the grocery giant, said, "We are not aware of any significant theft at our downtown stores, and we're pretty good with security."

If OCAP stole any food — and I'm skeptical — they say they did so as a way of protesting the recent and admittedly piddling 3 per cent increase in welfare and disability benefits.

And although they claim to have given the food to the poor, no one would say which poor living in what part of town, or what criteria might have been used to dole out the illegal largesse.

But OCAP did dish up a little chili yesterday at noon in Allan Gardens, by way of celebration. I was there.

Let me tell you, there is no such thing as chili with big fat chunks of carrot. See, that's the other trouble with anarchists — on top of everything else, they can't cook. Nor would they come clean. Nobody at lunch would actually admit to swiping so much as a pound of butter, or to redistributing a single jar of baby food. Oh, hell. I say we give them the benefit of the doubt.

They're just a buncha thieves.

I had a few words with John Clarke, OCAP's chief theoretician. I asked why he was picking on Loblaws. He said, "I won't say we were hung up on Loblaws, but Galen Weston is one of the wealthiest men in the world, and it seemed appropriate from our point of view." Hmm. I see.

And perhaps OCAP has plans to swarm Holt Renfrew in order that the poor might parade around town in pilfered Prada.

Note to Galen: warn Hilary.

I digress.

I pointed out to Clarke that Loblaws donates an estimated 50,000 pounds of food a month to Second Harvest, all of which is redistributed to the poor. This did not concern him in the least.

"It's fairly standard in the corporate world to engage in some sort of philanthropy and write off the cost." Now there's a non sequitur if I ever heard one.

He added, "It was partially an arbitrary target; (the store) had expensive food, the kind that people on disability would never have been able to buy. It was surprising how easy it was." And it says here that Galen Weston feeds more poor people in a month than OCAP will feed in John Clarke's lifetime.

Permit me a modest observation: Profit margins in the supermarket industry tend to be small, in the range of 3 per cent. Grocers make their money on volume. It's not as if Loblaws is gouging its customers any more than anybody else.

But — and this is the key point — losses due to shoplifting are always passed on to the customer in the form of higher prices.

So you could argue, without so much as raising your voice, that by stealing from a supermarket, OCAP is actually screwing the poor by driving up the cost of food. Oh well, one does not look to OCAP for logic.

And while the raggle-taggle revolutionaries ate their carroty chili, nine smiling cops on bicycles watched from a distance. Eventually one of the cops sauntered over and asked if OCAP had obtained a permit for their lunch. Nope, no permit.

The cop said, rather sweetly, "In the future, make sure you guys get a permit." Someone replied, "We're not going to get a permit to serve food in the park." "Actually, you have to," said the cop. But he did not stick around to debate. He merely smiled and walked away.

"Wasn't for us, they wouldn't have a job," muttered a young fellow on the subject of cops. I could not tell if he was referring to the use of his taxes, or if he was making reference to his own, perhaps illegal, activities.

Let it pass.

When the chili was gone, 50 people went on a mini-march to the Legislature, where they tried to hand a bill for the stolen groceries to the Premier.

Alas, they could not get into the Legislature, nor did they have the wit to leave their so-called grocery bill with the person staffing the courier drop-off.

Instead, they tried to tape the bill to a statue. Alas, the tape didn't stick, and then they all went home, promising more of this so-called theft as Christmas approaches. Oh, dear. Perhaps they plan to slaughter Santa's reindeer in order to feed the poor.

OCAP is right about one thing. A 3 per cent increase in disability and welfare benefits is nowhere near sufficient. The poor actually do need saving.

Alas, they need saving from OCAP.

Joe Fiorito usually appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail: jfiorito@thestar.ca

Additional articles by Joe Fiorito

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"Now that the fiberals are in power"

You mean like they have been for over a year now? Why do they start with that? Yes, they lie alot. We know. Pointing it out proves how unprofessional they [the Star] are. Kudos to OCAP. Who cares what the Star thinks? they're a sh*t faced tabloid anyway.

Kudos to OCAP

How can you say that? 5 or 10 years ago OCAP has a hint of respectibility, but now they are just a band of thieves cliaming they have some sort of political purpose - they have none, they go around stealing groceries? That is the most ridiculous stunt I can think of... and trying to tape the bill to a statue? This is almost as bad as trying to support squaters and taking their garbage and leaving it at city hall - after the city offered free accomodation in a building -

OCAP does not defend the poor in an attempt to advance to poor - they support being poor for the sake of being poor and rejecting everything and everyone else and use the excuse "cuz we're poor"

They are nothing but an anarcist organization that has no regard for anyone unless it serves thier purposes - breakign the law, stealing and claiming they are somehow advancing the cause for the poor - if anything they are a big part of the problem.

And now that the Liberals are in power, OCAP sucks!

Why is this being posted on a scyscraper website?? Are Be: You need to join a politics message board. Please quit using this one to spew your political beliefs.

And now that the Liberals are in power, OCAP sucks!

Yes, like how the liberals were in power 5 or 10 years ago.

No! The Conservatives were. OCAP was great then! But now that the Fibs are in, and OCAP is protesting against them, OCAP is no longer so cool or so great. The Fibs are in-OCAP should lay off.

Printed from NOW Magazine Online Edition
http://www.nowtoronto.com
Stealing justice
OCAP takes bill from grocery heist to Libs
By MIKE SMITH

A distinct feeling of déj à vu resonates at the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty event this hot-and-cold Tuesday (October 5) afternoon, a meeting and meal in Allan Gardens preceding a march to Queen's Park.

The event is the public follow-up to a more covert action four days earlier in which OCAP members walked out of a "high-end grocery store" with loads of foodstuffs and toiletries that were then distributed to residents of poor communities in the east end.

OCAP held the rally to deliver the bill for the ripped-off relief to the provincial government. The tally was an estimated $3,525 and included choice nourishment ($600 worth of spare ribs alone) as well as hundreds of diapers and baby wipes.

"It wasn't another shopping trip where you said, 'My cart is near empty, how am I going to make this last?'" says OCAP organizer Stephanie Gude to the crowd. "This was a trip where we took what people needed and what people wanted, and it felt great."

Gude notes that while the recent 3 per cent increase to social assistance "is starting to trickle down," it's cold comfort for those who fit the recipient profile. After paying rent and utilities, she says, a family on assistance will have an average of 50 cents a day to spend on food.

Most of the crowd leave to stroll over to Queen's Park. That basic plan had been the same on a sunny day in June four years ago, but this gathering feels less like a recreation of what would become the infamous "Queen's Park Riot" than a small tour group retracing its steps. Ten or so bicycle cops follow – on the other side of the street, thanks to construction on the Carlton streetcar tracks, evoking the amusing possibility of an officer wanting to intervene.

Of course, there's no need, and the scene must look strange to passersby. Does every group of 20 subdued people chatting and crossing with the signals get a 10-officer escort? No, silly – just groups with opinions.

The first attempt at provincial ingress, through the legislature's eastern entrance, is rebuffed by an underhanded tactic known as "closing the door," whereby a door is closed and not opened. Rowdy knocks produce nothing, though maybe, unknown to us, an aide is running to Dalton McGuinty's office. "Mr. Premier, there's a mob here to see you."

The locked door says something about a provincial government that bars the legislature to everyone simply because a handful of people would like to talk about poverty.

A couple of turned corners later, we're met by a grey suit, the man inside it telling us (I'm paraphrasing here) to go home. OCAP's John Clarke tries to convince him to bring a letter to McGuinty's office – something one used to be able to do on one's own – but the suit insists that all letters now go through the mail room, which may or may not be beside the paper shredder room.

At the second-to-last entrance, security guards don't get there in time – strange, considering it's across the hall from the first one – and a few demonstrators are already halfway inside. A tug-of-war ends when a wiry officer wades in and slams the door with a body check. He must play rugby. I realize that I'm still not sure what crime is being committed here.

By the time we amble back to the front of the building, barricades are up staffed by numerous officers to deny access to the main doors. The barricades are fastened to metal clasps that have been set in the pavement. Inaccessibility is now part of the blueprint. Nifty.

Someone calls to the group. It's yet another man in a suit, but this suit has more than one colour, which means one thing: New Democrat spokesperson Jeff Ferrier, who agrees to take the letter in. When a distressed woman in the group asks if he's going to do anything about all the people going hungry, he says, "Howard Hampton is going to work hard to hold the Liberals to their promises." Which would be a good idea if they had actually made any.
news@nowtoronto.com



NOW Magazine Online Edition, VOL. 24 NO. 6
Oct 7 - 13, 2004
Copyright © 2004 NOW Communications Inc.
story link: news_story6.php

Now that the Fiberals are in power, Are Be is brainwashed, and considered insane. He has been spotted in various sub-forums repeating other peoples opinions. If spotted, stay away. He could be dangerous! "lolololololol"

If the Star is a shit faced tabloid, then what the hell is the Sun?

The orginal posted article was funny.

If the Star is a shit faced tabloid, then what the hell is the Sun?

An even more shit faced tabloid!

yea I read that article a few days ago, whenever. If an organization does stupid shit like then they deserve to be put in a bad light. The leader's response to the reporter was basically saying "damn I'm a f---ing moron"

How can anyone condemn an article that doesn't support OCAP for stealing??

Is there anything that Are Be can't turn into an example of the Liberal's evil agenda?

Is there anything that Are Be can't turn into an example of the Liberal's evil agenda?

the Conservatives Evil agenda ;) And the problems in Northern Ontario.

We need Northern Ontario if our garbage deal with Michigan goes sour!! :P

We need Northern Ontario if our garbage deal with Michigan goes sour!! :P

Prices to ship stuff north is high. You'd have to pay more tax to cover it.

Good point, but its still an option :D

The bottom line point is that as long as OCAP was up in arms against the Conservatives, the Star and others in the media thought OCAP were freaking cool revolutionaries.
Now that the Liberals are in power, the formerly eager to praise media now thinks OCAP should go away.

You have issues, Are Be.

Issues, like we all should, with the federal and provincial Liberals, who sit idly by, as 11 billion dollars a year leaves 416 for other parts of Canada (outside of Ontario.)

Issues, like we all should, with the federal and provincial Liberals, who sit idly by, as 11 billion dollars a year leaves 416 for other parts of Canada (outside of Ontario.)


Have you ever considered using rational arguments? Your one sided rants have left you with no credibility...you'll just randomly post whatever anti-Liberal rhetoric you can...regardless of whether it even has anything to do with the issue being discussed at hand.

I hope you don't argue like this in court...

As you are aware, being a smart guy, the point is that the media were buddy - buddy with OCAP when the Conservatives were in power, and now, that the Liberals are in, suddenly, OCPA is not so cool.

If OCAP were to steal food while the Conservatives were in power, the Star would run stories that the Conservatives are so bad, that , despite their law and order platform, the Conservatives, ironically, force people to shoplift, etc. Isn't OCAP great? Aren't they good copy? Let's put them on the front page - or on the front page of the GTA section. Let's have an editorial saying ,"Well, it's sad that the Conservatives have pushed OCAP to these regrettable measures..."

But now that the Liberal are in, the media's support for OCAP has vanished.

Interesting ... don't you think??

Let's see if there will be a call to arms as a result of the Liberals cutting eye care -- I doubt there will be-- heck, there wown't be a peep!

As you are aware, being a smart guy, the point is that the media were buddy - buddy with OCAP when the Conservatives were in power, and now, that the Liberals are in, suddenly, OCPA is not so cool.

If OCAP were to steal food while the Conservatives were in power, the Star would run stories that the Conservatives are so bad, that , despite their law and order platform, the Conservatives, ironically, force people to shoplift, etc. Isn't OCAP great? Aren't they good copy? Let's put them on the front page - or on the front page of the GTA section. Let's have an editorial saying ,"Well, it's sad that the Conservatives have pushed OCAP to these regrettable measures..."

But now that the Liberal are in, the media's support for OCAP has vanished.

Interesting ... don't you think??

Let's see if there will be a call to arms as a result of the Liberals cutting eye care -- I doubt there will be-- heck, there wown't be a peep!

Oh I completely get the point...but instead of responding to legitimate questions you just respond with whatever anti-Liberal nonsense you can.

The Star certainly isn't perfect...but I don't recall any support for completely illegal behaviour such as stealing.

As for the Liberals cutting eye care, that was a terrible move, even if you can still go to an opthamologist which is still covered by the Health Plan. There wasn't much of an uproar when the Conservatives cut it, so I wouldn't expect much of one now. Interestingly, by cutting it a lot of people will just go to opthamologists for care, which will just put a further strain on the system.

What questions concerning the media falling out of love with OCAP since the Liberals were elected do you suggest I answer?

So, if we get the liberals out of the government, the media and OCAP will be able to get married, and we will all live happily ever after.

The end. /:crazy:

What questions concerning the media falling out of love with OCAP since the Liberals were elected do you suggest I answer?

Im referring to in general...you seem incapable, for the most part, of responding to logic or legitimate questions. For you it's a very simple world where

Liberals = evil
Conservative = perfect, can do no wrong

I don't think I've seen you ever admit the Conservatives have done anything wrong or made any mistakes in office.

Whenever someone points something like that out...you just ignore it...or deny it...or just mention something about the Liberals which may not have anything to do with the subject at hand.

As for the Liberals cutting eye care, that was a terrible move, even if you can still go to an opthamologist which is still covered by the Health Plan.
BUT YOU CAN'T! NO MORE! The Liberals are not only quick to kill the OHIP paid for, private delivery of public services not just when it comes to MRI's, but opthamologists as well! NUTS!

Nevertheless, perhaps you are correct (re me going on against the Liberals): The fact is that when people were going ape about Harris taking out $1 billion from 416, the federal Liberals were taking out $11 billion. Why shouldn't I point out that the Liberals are not the be all and end all? What's wrong with pointing out that some -any- infrastructure money from the Conservatives is infinitely more than none from the Liberals? Why not point this out? Just because we are from Toronto, this does not mean we need to be sheep, blindly following the Liberals into an abyss.

And if some Liberals are offended, and think that it is not nice to be rightly portrayed as being anti -Toronto, then, freaking great! Let the offended Liberals pick up the phone and call the MP who they campaigned for and give them hell. Why not let these people decide to donate a little less to the Toronto- loathing Liberals? What harm can come from making Liberals and Liberal supporters squirm and be called out on the carpet for the Liberals' mean spirited treatment of Toronto?

edit

Are Be, if everyone was like you, then every election would have the same result, because people would vote for the same party over and over again. You have this notion that all people who vote for the Liberals are Liberals, and all the people who vote for Conservatives are Conservatives. But people are not like that, Are Be, people are not like you. Most people don't have a fanatical devotion to any one party. They might vote Conservative one time, or Liberal another. They don't see politics in black or white like you do.

BUT YOU CAN'T! NO MORE! The Liberals are not only quick to kill the OHIP paid for, private delivery of public services not just when it comes to MRI's, but opthamologists as well! NUTS!

Yes you can. Visits to optometrists are no longer covered. But visits to opthamologists, which are medical doctors are still covered.

Nevertheless, perhaps you are correct (re me going on against the Liberals): The fact is that when people were going ape about Harris taking out $1 billion from 416, the federal Liberals were taking out $11 billion. Why shouldn't I point out that the Liberals are not the be all and end all? What's wrong with pointing out that some -any- infrastructure money from the Conservatives is infinitely more than none from the Liberals? Why not point this out? Just because we are from Toronto, this does not mean we need to be sheep, blindly following the Liberals into an abyss.

You're living in a fantasy world. The Harris Conservatives were one of the worst things to happen to cities in ages. Rather than improving things, or even recognizing a problem, they made things worse. I don't fault them for making cuts necessary to bring the province back to economic respectability, but anyone can see their anti-urban agenda. No money for cities or transit, yet they seemingly had no trouble finding money for anything that wasn't "smart growth"...

The only person blindly following a party is you. I haven't seen any evidence that everyone here blindly follows the Liberals. Explain why you'd expect people to support a party that a) Had a non-existent plan for cities and b) Haven't been able to demonstrate even remotely that they understand the issues facing cities today. They're the only major party without even a mention of cities on their website.

The Liberals are not perfect, and I don't think I or anyone else has claimed so. But in the past years they've finally accepted their is a problem and have outlined some solutions. The Ontario PC party in nearly a decade in office wouldn't even concede there is a problem; in fact, they made things worse. The new federal Conservative party is completely clueless when it comes to urban issues. The use of Toronto tax revenue and revenue from other cities has been going on for decades now...through Liberal and Conservative governments. This is the first government to actually concede there is a problem and outline some solutions (if not yet perfect and adequate). I'll take that over a Conservative Party that has absolutely no idea when it comes to urban issues; supporting the Conservatives means losing all the progress that's been made in getting more funding and expanded powers for cities.


And if some Liberals are offended, and think that it is not nice to be rightly portrayed as being anti -Toronto, then, freaking great! Let the offended Liberals pick up the phone and call the MP who they campaigned for and give them hell. Why not let these people decide to donate a little less to the Toronto- loathing Liberals? What harm can come from making Liberals and Liberal supporters squirm and be called out on the carpet for the Liberals' mean spirited treatment of Toronto?



This is exactly what I mean. Everything with you is either for or against the Liberals. People don't take issue with what you post because they are offended that you don't support or trash their party of choice...but because you take issue with the Liberal's record on urban issues then advocate support of a party with an even worse record. It's hypocritical and illogical. This is what people take issue with. You seem to be on some quest to gain support for the Conservatives (I wouldn't be surprised if 95% of your posts here were political in nature), and expect everyone to agree regardless of logic or reason.

Are Be, if everyone was like you, then every election would have the same result, because people would vote for the same party over and over again. You have this notion that all people who vote for the Liberals are Liberals, and all the people who vote for Conservatives are Conservatives. But people are not like that, Are Be, people are not like you. Most people don't have a fanatical devotion to any one party. They might vote Conservative one time, or Liberal another. They don't see politics in black or white like you do.

Exactly. I am probably am most partial to Liberal ideology, but I won't just blindly vote for them. Last election I voted NDP, actually.

Are Be, if everyone was like you, then every election would have the same result, because people would vote for the same party over and over again. You have this notion that all people who vote for the Liberals are Liberals, and all the people who vote for Conservatives are Conservatives. But people are not like that, Are Be, people are not like you. Most people don't have a fanatical devotion to any one party. They might vote Conservative one time, or Liberal another. They don't see politics in black or white like you do.

Most people don't know shit. They watch puff journalism when it comes to the Liberals and scathing attacks when it comes to the Conservatives, and then vote. Many have voted for the Liberals since Ed Broadbent. Many vote NDP because they like their 'Red Book.' That's how it is.

Let's see if the Liberals do anything for Toronto. ...

Most people don't know shit. They watch puff journalism when it comes to the Liberals and scathing attacks when it comes to the Conservatives, and then vote. Many have voted for the Liberals since Ed Broadbent. Many vote NDP because they like their 'Red Book.' That's how it is.

Let's see if the Liberals do anything for Toronto. ...

And there we go. Anyone who doesn't agree with you doesn't "know shit".

Or are you lumping yourself in the same category as these people? Because you seem to blindly follow your own party as blindly as you claim everyone else follow's their's.