On the DEWLine 2.0: Dwight Williams

Once again, I will not be attending Can-Con in person this year. This is due to my continuing efforts to reduce my risk of COVID-19 reinfection and the consequences of it for me and other people.

Even if Can-Con went back from "recommended" to "required" on its masking policy, OC Transpo isn't even being allowed to bother one way or the other. As the public transit system is my main way of getting around Ottawa, and Can-Con is something I want, rather than need, to attend, it's one more thing I will forego.

I'm sorry about this.

"Petition to the Government of Canada
Whereas:

Passenger rail is a safe, efficient, sustainable, affordable, and accessible mode of public transportation;
Due to federal cutbacks and underinvestment over many years, Canada’s current passenger rail services lag far behind those available in other countries;
Since its creation in 1978, VIA Rail has lacked both the legislative mandate and stable budget necessary to maintain and expand passenger rail service in Canada;
While VIA Rail's on-time performance on tracks it owns is over 90 percent, it is only 60 percent on tracks it shares with other railways;
Rail privatization and outsourcing schemes in other countries have led to higher fares, reduced service, deteriorating safety performance, and lower salaries for workers;
Unlike other public passenger rail providers around the world, VIA Rail lacks representation from passengers and workers on its board of directors; and
In its Corporate Plan, VIA has warned that its long-distance fleet, built in the 1950s, is overdue for replacement, without which it will soon be unable to provide services in Atlantic and Western Canada.

We, the undersigned, Residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:
1. Incorporate the contents of Bills C-371, the Rail Passenger Priority Act, and C-236/C-640 (41-2) the VIA Rail Canada Act, in a Government Bill and prioritize its passage through the legislative process;
2. Commit, in the 2024 federal budget, the funds necessary to renew VIA Rail’s long-distance fleet;
3. Provide passenger and worker representation on VIA Rail’s board of directors; and
4. Revise the High Frequency Rail project to protect VIA Rail’s role in delivering public passenger rail service along the Windsor to Quebec City corridor."

https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-4754

Question for those who renew their #OCTranspo bus passes montly *in person*: have you been getting charged extra fees by #ShoppersDrugMart for doing so?

#publictransit #Ottawa #OttawaGatineau

I got my dosage yesterday.

Still masking for my public travels, and wishing more of my neighbours would get back to that habit. It would make finding and holding a new job again easier for me and any prospective employer.

Okay, I've been cleared to share the resources we were shown in the CAWI workshop! This is, of course, tailored specifically to Ottawa. I'm hoping to be able to look at some ACORN Ottawa stuff too in the next little while.

Videos:

• Municipalities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21V8tZjFYnU
• Why Voting Matters: https://youtu.be/Q8RisdKgAqY
• Who does What: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVE3OsR5W-0
• What does a Mayor do (according to kids)? - https://youtu.be/EcEJNu3NnYk
• Getting ready for a Vote Pop-Up - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNVFOZFUcs0
• Running a Vote Pop-Up - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0VmlQrJgUk

Elections resources:

• Voter look up: https://www.voterlookup.ca/index.aspx
• Who's running my ward? - https://elections.ottawa.ca/UI/CandidateList/CandidateList
• Changes in wards and other resources: https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/elections/learn-more-about-municipal-elections#section-6aa9d6ce-068a-4f71-9427-e706cb6770e2

Hoping this is all useful...

Considering that I am looking at the possibility of income supports from the provincial government here in Ontario as an option, depending on whether or not I count as "disabled"...and on whether or not I can land a steadier job soon...

Considering that I have read horror stories from nations where administration of social support income has been privatised, including the UK and Australia...

This report leaves me wondering how to either stop or reverse this course as reported:

https://pressprogress.ca/doug-ford-is-privatizing-low-income-employment-services-an-american-firm-linked-to-trumps-welfare-cuts-wants-the-contract/

Public transit...there's a topic.

My understanding of the current state of OC Transpo and STO across the river in Gatineau goes like this: the buses and trains here are usually, at worst, ¾ empty. Everyone aboard has mostly managed to keep their distance from each other, and masks are standard good-manners practice. I can't afford to not use it if I want to leave my neighbourhood to do anything outside of it.

I keep paying for my monthly bus pass despite my lack of usage because they're a continuing target for deficit hawks, and they need the money to maintain the facilities and fleets for when Pandemic is finally over. Even if the levels of demand-for-service stay reduced afterward, the transit services have to be able to do their work safely.

As I said in the comments:

YES. This is exactly the point. Transit preserves civil society. Therefore it must be protected and defended, even as we defend funding for police, firefighting, public broadcasting, etc..

https://www.citylab.com/perspective/2020/04/coronavirus-public-transit-subway-bus-ridership-revenue/609556/

An incomplete listing hosted by Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_satirical_news_websites

If you know of one they don't, please add it to their list. Especially right now, I think.