Thursday October 30, 2014 – 10am
Posted Oct 30, 2014 01:14:34 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
10:00 – Black and Orange – Parent petitions Halloween costume ban at Paris school
Rhonda-Lee Zavitz, concerned parent
North Ward School is starting a new tradition of students wearing orange and black instead of traditional costumes. Zavitz received a letter from the school last week outlining concerns surrounding Halloween including graphic imagery, culture and religion. Students are being invited to wear black and orange clothing and participate in Halloween-themed activities including pumpkin carving and decorating. She feels students should be given the choice if they want to wear a costume.
10:30 – Homelessness in Waterloo Region
Douglas Bartholomew-Saunders, Commissioner, Social Services, Region of Waterloo
A new research report suggests an extra $46 per Canadian a year could dramatically reduce homelessness. Researchers from York University and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness say the problem touches an estimated 235,000 Canadians and costs the economy $7 billion a year. But they say despite billions in funding so far, there hasn’t been a noticeable decline in the ranks of those without permanent shelter. The report says the main reason is a 46-per-cent decrease in federal investment in affordable housing over the last 25 years. The researchers say increasing federal investments by $1.7 billion a year through tax credits, benefits and direct investment in the construction could add thousands of new housing units. The report says governments need to shift their focus from managing the problem with emergency services to a strategy that emphasizes prevention.
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