Tribute to Peter Kormos, 1952-2013

Welland MPP Peter Kormos – a one-of-a-kind socialist cowboy and a stalwart in Ontario’s New Democratic Party for 23 years – hung up his signature cowboy boots on March 30, 2013 when he passed away peacefully in his home at age 60.

“There is no question that Peter’s firebrand politics, brilliant speaking skills and unwavering convictions earned him a place as the true conscience of Queen’s Park,” said OFL President Sid Ryan. “Peter had a deep respect for working class people that permeated everything he did. He didn’t believe that you could be a part-time supporter of Labour."

A Memorial Tribute and Reception will be held at Pleasantview Funeral Home (located at the corner of Hwy 20 and Merrittville Hwy, Thorold 905-892-1699) on Saturday, May 11th, 2013 at 1 PM . Father Nicholas Deak, Pastor of St John the Baptist Hungarian Greek Catholic Church Officiating.

In the spirit of Peter’s lifelong commitment to social justice, donations of time or financial support may be directed to your local charities that help those in need.

An online book of condolence and funeral home location map is available at www.pleasantviewcemetery.ca You are invited to share in the creation of the site by adding a condolence and any remembrances, photos, and video clips appropriate to the life of Peter Kormos. Simply click on the link and start sharing your valued memories. 

To read the OFL's full tribute to Peter, click here.

Niagara Fights "Right to Work"

Niagara Fights "Right to Work" Conference
Date: Saturday, June 15th

Time: 9:30 AM

Location: CAW Local 199 Hall, 124 Bunting Rd, St. Catharines

Admission: Free

Speakers

Prof. Bryan Palmer - Trent University

Tami Friedman - Brock University Labour Studies

Sam Gindin - past CAW Research Director

John Clarke - Ontario Coalition Against Poverty

Mike Kohloff - Lansing, Michigan Workers Centre

Malcolm Allen - MP Welland Ontario

Music, display tables, and food.

For more information contact Bruce Allen: ballen@cogeco.ca or 905-934-6233.

Sponsored by the Niagara Regional Labour Council.

April 28th Day of Mourning

April 28th is the National Day of Mourning for workers who have been killed, injured, or made ill on the job.

There are a variety of ceremonies in Niagara to mark the day:

Thorold - Niagara Region Headquarters 2:00pm
Day of Mourning Monument
2201 St. David's Road, Thorold
Contact: Bruce Allen (905) 934-6233

Town of Fort Erie 9:30am
Fort Erie Town Hall Hwy #3
Contact: Heather Kelley (905) 993-2078

Niagara-on-the-Lake 9:00am
Centennial Park Arena, Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil
Contact: Bruce Allen (905) 934-6233

City of Port Colborne 9:00am
HH Knoll Park at the Monument, Sugarloaf Street
Contact: Jim Pasel (905) 658-0252

City of Niagara Falls 10:15am
Niagara Falls City Hall, 4310 Queen Street
Contact: Heather Kelley (905) 993-2078

City of Welland 10:00am
Merritt Park at the Monument, King Street
Contact: Daniel Peat (905) 892-6524

Port Robinson 11:00am
Esquire Explosion Site, 125 South Street North
Contact: Jim Pasel (905) 658-0252

St. Catharines 11:00am
The Workers' Monument
Government Road beneath Garden City Skyway
Contact: Bruce Allen (905) 934-6233

St. Catharines 12:00 noon
Merritt Park Monument
St. Paul Street West at Burgoyne Bridge
Contact: Bruce Allen (905) 934-6233

CCPA releases Alternative Federal Budget

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has released its annual Alternative Federal Budget.  This year's AFB shows how growth-killing austerity can be replaced by a plan that strengthens the economy, leads to a better quality of life for all Canadians, and eliminates the deficit by 2016.

The Alternative Federal Budget shows what the federal government could do if it decided to seriously tackle Canadians' largest social, economic, and environmental concerns.

You can download and read the Alternative Federal Budget here.

The CCPA has also released a report on Ontario's austerity measures, entitled More Harm than Good: Austerity's Impact in Ontario.

Stop the Corporate Tax Giveaways

Corporate executives in Canada will be dancing in their suites and celebrating Corporate Tax Freedom Day on January 30. A CLC research report shows that by that date corporations will have paid their entire share of taxes for the year to all levels of government.

Corporate income taxes in 2011 amounted to only 8.3% of all government revenues, down from 8.8% in 2010 and an average of 11% in the 1960s and 70s. In return for tax breaks, companies are supposed to be investing their windfall, but studies have shown that rising corporate after-tax profits are not all invested in increased productivity and the creation of good jobs in Canada.

There were 1.35 million unemployed Canadians in December 2012 compared to 1.1 million unemployed in October 2008, just prior to the recession. Today’s unemployment rate of 7.1% remains well above the pre-recession rate of 6%.

The federal corporate tax rate has dropped from 28 per cent in 2000 to 15 per cent today.  Provincial rates have also declined, but not as dramatically.

Between 2001 and 2011, the total cash reserves of private, non-financial private corporations in Canada grew from $187 to $575 billion.

Between 2010 and 2011 alone, there was a one-year increase of $72 billion in cash reserves. This is a figure more than double the entire $33.4 billion federal government deficit for 2010-11.

Click here to read more about corporate tax giveaways.

Rally for Rights and Democracy Jan 26th

Photo of rally:

Facebook event page.

PDF of event callout.

PDF of Event Flyer (En Francais)

#J26Rally on Twitter

NIAGARA BUSES LEAVING FROM:

St. Catharines 10:30 am
CAW 199, 124 Bunting Rd.

Port Colborne, 9:45 am
USW, 87 Clarence St

Welland 10:15 am
950 E Main St (park on west side)

Fort Erie 9:45 am
194 Garrison Rd (old Zellers)

Niagara Falls 10:15 am
Casino Lot #1 off Stanley Avenue, southwest
corner of Stanley Avenue and 420 Highway

Grimsby 11:00 am
Southwest quadrant Casablanca/QEW at Gateway Niagara

 To reserve a spot, please contact:
 Dan Peat at 905-933-1889 or email at nrlc.clc@gmail.com
Bruce Allen at 905-934-6233 or email at ballen@cogeco.ca

Summary of the first year of a Harper majority...