2. Some Highlights of Surveys of Homelessness in Calgary Date: May 15, 2002 Definition & Methodology Findings: Year: 1996 1998 2000 2002 Tot. Count: 615 988 1296 1737 Street Count: 15 38 168 117 In 2002: ( Note – increased shelter capacity of 288) 42 families, incl. 59 children under age 13 & 56 teens age 13 to 17 60% of families were in women’s shelters 38 seniors age 65 & over 84% men Over-rep’n of aboriginals (@ 15%), esp. in street count (over 1/3) Under-rep’n of VisMins (@ 11%) but growing Large increase in number of families.

3. Homelessness in Edmonton Survey date: Sept. 14, 2000 Total Homeless: 1160 persons (up from 836 in March 1999) incl.: 64 families (with 146 children under age 15) Males: 69% Aboriginals: 40%

4. Causes of Homelessness Shrinking Supply of Affordable Housing De-institutionalization of Mental Patients Parent Child Conflict & Abuse: Runaways Low Minimum Wage (see next slide)

5. Current and Planned Minimum Wage Rates in Canadian Provinces ProvinceWageEffective DateRank Nfld. $6.00Nov. 1, 20029 N.B.$6.00Aug. 1, 20029 Nova Scotia$6.00Oct. 1, 20029 P.E.I.$6.25Jan. 1, 20037 P.E.I.$6.50Jan. 1, 2004-- P.E.I.$6.80Jan. 1, 2005 -- Quebec$7.30Feb. 1, 20032 Ontario$6.85Jan. 1, 19954 Manitoba$6.75April 1, 20035 Sask.$6.65Nov. 1, 20026 Alberta$5.90Oct. 1, 199911 Yukon$7.20Oct. 1, 19983 B.C.$8.001

6. Causes of Homelessness Shrinking Supply of Affordable Housing De-institutionalization of Mental Patients Parent Child Conflict & Abuse: Runaways Low Minimum Wage (see previous slide) Inadequate Income Supports for the Working Poor Social Assistance Cuts (See next slide)

7. Changes in Social Assistance Benefits in Alberta, 1986-2001

8. Welfare Income as a Percentage of the Poverty Line, By Family Type, Alberta, 2001 CategoryWelfareWelfare as Benefits% of Poverty Line Single Employable$5,03027% Person With a Disability$7,59640% Single Parent, One Child$11,61949% Couple with 2 Children$18,39552% Source: Canadian Council on Social Development. www.ccsd.ca/factsheets/fs_ncwp101.htm

9. The Calgary Interfaith Food Bank Organizational Philosophy All people seeking our help should be treated with compassion, dignity, and understanding. Our clients deserve the highest quality foods that are possible for us to provide. The best way to meet hunger needs is in collaboration with others who share our common purpose. The spirit of volunteerism is our strength and our primary resource. We are accountable to our community for the programs and services we deliver.

10. Some Facts About The Calgary Interfaith Food Bank One of 615 food banks in Canada Goal:Goal: to provide a nutritionally balanced hamper to feed a family for one week. Availability:Availability: - screening for need - max. of 6 hampers per year - max. of 1 hamper per month Volume in 2000:Volume in 2000: - $10 million in food - $2.5 million in funds - 44,000 hampers for 127,000 people StaffStaff - 65,000 hours of volunteers’ time - 35 full-time staff Quote:Quote: You are all just 1-2 paycheques away from being a Food Bank client

11. Primary Sources of Income for Clients of Calgary Interfaith Food Bank 39% Wage (Working Poor) 25% Social Assistance 12% None 8% AISH 6% Other 4% EI 3% Pension 2% Student Finance 1% WCB

12. The Klein Revolution: Impact on Seniors Legitimating Discourse:Legitimating Discourse: “one-stop shopping” Areas Affected:Areas Affected: Health & Accommodation Types of Measures UsedTypes of Measures Used - Fee increases - Elimination of Programs - Stricter Eligibility Criteria - Decreased Subsidies

13. Gender Stratification in The Klein Revolution (Dacks, Green, & Trimble) Deficit Reduction: - Not Gender Neutral patriarchyPolicy Choices: - made within an ideological framework of patriarchy In what ways did the ‘Klein Revolution’ adversely affect women in Alberta? 1.As Employees: UE & Casualizat’n 2.As Recipients: Loss of Benefits 3.Increased Demand for Women’s Unpaid Labour e.g., home care, school fund –raising Quotation: “The policies of the Klein government both assume and foster the notion that a woman’s full-time focus should be the family.”

14. Words as a Power Resource Why bother with studying the Alpac mill EIA hearings? (Richardson et al., Winning Back the Words) “We engage in discourse analysis to show how language was used in the Alpac hearings in an attempt to gain, consolidate, and maintain power.” p. 10 The Generalizability of the AlPac Experience - to our own town, cities & neighbourhoods - to other projects of the state (e.g., the Klein Revol’n; Kyoto Accord)

15. Types of Uses of Discourse in the Service of Power To LegitimateTo Legitimate - to establish one’s authority when authority is contested terrain p. 18 -words chosen to resonate with your values and needs e.g., choice of words to indicate expertise, objectivity, trustworthiness To Marginalize OpponentsTo Marginalize Opponents and Dismiss their Concerns To Avoid Coercion (Foucault)To Avoid Coercion (Foucault) - to mystify inequalities and win consent so as to avoid the need to use coercive force To Structure Debate & Limit AlternativesTo Structure Debate & Limit Alternatives e.g., - ‘consultation’ meetings workbks - limiting terms of reference of hearings e.g., - ‘consultation’ meetings workbks - limiting terms of reference of hearings

16. Discourse Techniques Used in the Alpac Hearings Binary Oppositions (p. 16) e.g., local vs outsider; expert vs non- expert Metaphor e.g., trees as ‘weeds’; logging as ‘harvesting’ Euphemisms e.g., effluent as ‘contributions’; chlorine as ‘an element of table salt’ Appeal to the ‘Wisdom of the Market’ Appeal to Deeply Held Values e.g., keeping family together; growth as progress

17. The Legitimating Discourse of the Klein Revolution An expenditure problem, not a revenue problem; Spiralling costs; Uncontrolled spending The Household Budget; Getting our house in order The Alberta Advantage Competition and choice We have no choice Restraint; Elimination of waste & duplication Self-determination Debt redistributes income to the rich Adaptation to the new reality

18. Legitimating Discourse of Klein Revolution (cont’d) Protect grandchildren from the crippling burden of debt Consultation; the silent majority Responsibility World class Short term pain for long term gain Mere anecdotes Fat cats and special interest groups