Ontario is facing its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. No community has escaped the effects. Unemployment is soaring and the economic and social costs of the downturn are taking their toll on families everywhere.
The time has arrived to stop talking about the problem. It’s time to start talking about real solutions.
That’s the aim behind the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) decision to sponsor a series of forums across Ontario beginning Monday June 22, titled A Community Response to the Economic Crisis. In all, 12 forums have been organized between June 22 and July 21.
“The people of Ontario are resourceful, our businesses are creative and our workforce is the finest in Canada,” said OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas.
“The purpose of these community forums is to bring together local leaders to assess the impact of the recession; assemble ways to fight it, and catalogue what we need from business, government and labour to build on our strengths and stimulate our local economies.”
Community forums will be held in the following communities:
June 22
Sudbury, 6:30 p.m., The Caruso Club, 385 Haig St.
Peterborough, 7 p.m. Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. N.
June 23
Thunder Bay, 12 noon, The Da Vinci Centre, 340 South Waterloo St.
Kenora, 1 p.m., Best Western Lakeside Inn & Conference Centre, 470 1st Avenue S.
St. Thomas, 7 p.m., Elgin Memorial Community Centre, 80 Wilson Ave.
Orillia, 7 p.m., Best Western Mariposa Inn & Conference Centre, 400 Memorial Ave.
June 24
Thorold, 6:30 p.m., The Nick Basciano Community Centre, 131 Richmond St.
June 25
Brantford, 6 p.m., Doug Snooks Eagle Place Community Centre, 333 Erie Ave.
June 29
Sarnia, 7 p.m., Holiday Inn, 1489 Venetian Blvd., Point Edward
Windsor, 6:30 p.m., Fogolar Furlan Club, 1800 North Service Rd. E.
June 30
Kingston, 7 p.m., Kingston City Hall, 216 Ontario St.
July 21
North Bay, 7 p.m., Best Western, 700 Lakeshore Dr.