SEX WORKERS CALL for PUBLIC Inquiry CLEAR-CUTTING
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campus • community • cuLtuRE January 2011 Speaking for the trees since 2011 VOL. 3, NO. 3 CLEAR-CUTTING CALAMITY Opposition mounts to Kanata environmental destruction City Council “to initiate an the National Capital Com- on,” said coalition member immediate and comprehen- mission (NCC), all of which Steve Hulaj, “We’re not going sive archaeological survey of have jurisdictional power to to back down. It’s the right this site.” protect the land. However, thing to do. When it’s the Commanda called for overlapping jurisdictions has right thing to do you never the City “to safeguard this allowed all parties to avoid give up. And we’re not. We ecologically and archaeo- responsibility. know we have the support of logically unique site of the The situation appears to the community and we’ll do South March Highlands as be coming to a head, with what we have to do.” a potential national heritage clear-cutting set to start and The struggle to save Bea- site, one of significant Indig- opponents refusing to give ver Pond Forest is part of enous importance... in the up. a broader strategic goal of unceded, unconquered and Councillor Marianne the Coalition to protect the unsurrendered Ottawa River Wilkinson spoke briefly SMH and halt the KNL-led Watershed.” with the Leveller at the rally. Terry Fox Drive expansion A motion proclaiming “If something doesn’t move project. The campaign has the opposition to logging in the next three days they drawn support from across of five Ottawa-area chiefs [KNL] are going to have per- the city, illustrating that there – representing the Ottawa, mission to cut on Monday is a growing sense of shared Kapishkawandemin, Ar- [Jan. 17]. We are at the break- responsibility in protecting doch, Kinounchepirini, and ing point now.” the region’s ecosystems from Kichesipirini Algonquin First “This is something that destructive and irresponsible Nations – was submitted to we are not going to give up development. City Council. The request for an inde- pendent archaeological as- The Year of the Forest PHOTO FROM OTTAWASGREATFOREST.COM sessment continues to be Some twelve thousand years ago the South March High- ignored, and a report funded lands where the Beaver Pond Forest is found was an by Andy Crosby 2.4 hectares of the remaining by the developer has drawn island surrounded by the waters of the ice age-created 72 acres owned by KNL. PAGE 8 sharp criticism from Robert Champlain Sea. As the water receded, a rich and fertile The planned destruction The only old-growth for- McGhee, former president of A STRONG land renewed its relationship with the winds. The birds, of Beaver Pond Forest for est remaining in the city, the the Canadian Archaeological LEADERSHIP new homes and highways Beaver Pond Forest is part Society, who called it “clearly insects, animals and people living on the highlands at has prompted opposition of the 1,100-hectare South inadequate in its dismissal of that time carried the seeds of trees and also pollen of from community groups, March Highlands (SMH), the archaeological potential the island’s plant life further and further into their ever- PAGE 3 indigenous elders, and their the last wilderness sanctu- of the upland regions of the widening territory. The hungry soil graciously accepted the allies. ary in the Ottawa region. The POSTER POLICY area under consideration.” seeds and the trees of hardwood and softwood pushed Kanata Northlands De- SMH has been deemed the After learning about plans paNDEMONIUM forward into a grateful world, trees. velopment (KNL), a partner- most bio-diverse area in the to clear-cut the Beaver Pond & PREDATION ship between Ottawa-based city and is protected under Forest in July, the Coalition It was the descendants of the island’s trees that the Eu- building companies Urban- Ottawa’s Official Plan. It is to Protect the South March ropean settlers saw when they arrived here a few hundred dale and Richcraft that owns home to hundreds of species, Highlands and its indige- years ago. Ambitious men of vision among them became Page 5 72 acres of the forest, has including several at risk. nous allies organized efforts lumber barons and as a direct result, Ottawa was born. HARKAT threatened to clear-cut it in The area is also of special to protect the sensitive area If our wonderful city brings health and prosperity to you INJUSTICE order to build 3,200 homes. archaeological and spiritual and held several demonstra- and your family then you owe a depth of gratitude not only In October, City Coun- significance to the Algon- tions. CONTINUES cil agreed to save the Beaver quin nations. Algonquin el- The community-led Co- to the trees here but also to the island of their origins, the Pond Forest. However, in der William Commanda, in alition has appealed to City Beaver Pond Forest. Page 7 December, the newly elected a Jan. 6th letter to the City of Council, the provincial and -Albert Dumont, Algonquin Elder, Kitigan Zibi Council voted to protect only Ottawa, asked the mayor and federal governments, and THE YEAR IN UNIONS Page 11 SEX WORKERS CALL FOR agaINST THE UN MEGATRON PUBLIC INQUIRY Page 13 SEEING REDD by David Koch inquiry into the tense rela- the top threat to their safety. Ottawa Police Inspector tiated. tionship between prostitutes “Most of the sex workers Tyrus Cameron acknowl- “These are unproven al- Sex workers and activists and the police. identified police violence as edged the importance of the legations,” he said. “Due Page 14 are urging the Ontario Hu- This occurred following their main concern, over vi- claims. process is required for us as TOXIC RACISM man Rights Commission a series of blistering allega- olence by client, over hous- “Is it concerning to me? well.” (OHRC) to investigate the tions of police misconduct ing, over basic needs, over Absolutely,” he said. POWER’s call for an in- Ottawa Police Service for al- published in December in everything,” she said. Cameron, whose respon- quiry comes as the Supreme Page 15 legations of harassment and a study by POWER (Pros- “We ended up sending sibilities include overseeing Court prepares to test the DRUGS IN THE other abuses of power. titutes of Ottawa/Gatineau over 30 letters by the end police who deal with pros- constitutionality of prostitu- OZARKS The group met in early Work Educate and Resist). of the evening to make sure titution in Ottawa’s down- tion laws. January at Venus Envy, a lo- POWER Vice-Chair Fré- that the commission and town core, also stressed that Although prostitution is cal bookstore and sex shop, dérique Chabot, who co- Barbara Hall, in particular, no officers were named in not illegal, criminal law pro- to write letters to OHRC authored the study, said that know that a lot of citizens in the report. hibits several activities that Chief Commissioner Barba- many street-based sex work- Ottawa want this [inquiry] He believes that the re- CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 ra Hall, demanding a public ers singled out the police as to happen,” Chabot said. port’s claims are unsubstan- www.leveller.ca Lev•el•ler noun 1 Historical: During the English Civil War (c. 1649), one who favoured the abolition of all rank and privilege. 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