Which side are YOU on? Living wages in Toronto...or poverty wages?

So...which side are YOU on?

Living wages or poverty wages? We know the answer...you want workers in your community to earn a living wage, not a poverty wage, for their work.

But Toronto's politicians don't want to talk about a real living municipal minimum wage.
A $15 an hour municipal minimum wage.

They want to tell you it can't be done...even though it can! 



They want to continue with business as usual..which means business paying poverty wages to many Toronto workers!

Ask your candidates for Council or Mayor which side they are on. Poverty wages or living wages?

And when they say it is not a municipal issue...tell them that YOU are going to make it one!

http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/

http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/p/economic-justice.html

Michael Laxer Campaign Summer Get-Together!

Where: The Big Guy's Little Coffee Shop - 2861 Lake Shore Blvd. W.
When: Sunday, August 17th,  Social Begins @ 4:30 p.m. (optional canvass begins at 2 p.m.!)
 
Mark the date!

Sunday, August 17th join us in the heart of New Toronto & Ward 6 at The Big Guy's Little Coffee Shop at 2861 Lake Shore Blvd. W for a campaign buffet & social.

Michael will be serving up BBQed meat & veg, sandwiches, drinks & more including many of his faves from his food blog! There will be vegetarian & vegan options. 

 
The first part of the event starts at 2 p.m., when we will be heading out to drop/canvass local streets with our message of higher wages, public services & free transit!

But this part is optional. 

The social starts at 4:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome (whether you were able to canvass or not) so join us for terrific food & discussion. Bring the kids!

The event is free to attend, as is the food (although campaign donations & donations towards the food will, of course, be welcome! ). 

Drinks & coffee will be available for purchase.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend by calling us at 416-251-5576 or by emailing us at electmichaellaxer@outlook.com. You also also RSVP and get updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/622918477823688/?source=1

If you are unable to attend but would like to contribute to the campaign, you can do so at this link: http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/p/donate.html

See you there! 

99 days to go!

99 days to go until the election! 

Since January 3rd we have been campaigning on a platform of real change and optimism and on ideas like free transit, municipal minimum wages, landlord licensing & more! 

Together we can build and work towards these real alternatives and changes, despite what the do-nothing politicians say...and we know this because it is happening elsewhere!

You can read my opening campaign statement here: http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/2014/01/michael-laxer-for-city-councillor-ward.html

To find out about my free transit policy and how it is achievable you can visit my transit page here: http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/p/transit.html 

To read about my $15 an hour municipal minimum wage and how other cities are doing it, check out this page: http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/p/economic-justice.html

Want to know about my housing policy and landlord licensing?: http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/p/housing.html

Or about my income pledge and my plans to work for a more democratic city hall?:  http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/p/a-more-democratic-city-hall.html

All of my other platform ideas can be found at the top of this webpage, and if you have any ideas or questions you can contact me at any time or come out to one of my monthly events.

99 days to go! Let's use them to fight together for a Toronto built on economic justice and comprehensive public services!

In the Fight Against High TTC Fares We Need a Universal Fare Reduction Strategy!

Yesterday, Toronto City Council voted to "study" the idea of a separate "low-income" "fare equity" plan for the TTC.

But I believe that this is the wrong way to go and wrote an article saying why and outlining why means test based programs like Toronto's "Welcome Policy" are not an alternative to actually working to lower fees and fares for all, even for those they are supposed to help. From "Toronto's transit woes: Are 'fare equity' policies a real alternative to universal fare reduction strategies?"

"Given the depressing context of our empty political discourse and the self-imposed "limitations" placed on our options by our "mainstream" politicians, one can understand why many on the left and many liberals in Toronto are embracing this idea as a real step forward....

The problem with rising TTC fares is not simply or only that some are being left behind by their increase, it is that they keep rising! The political will to fight fare increases simply does not yet exist and politicians act as if the increases are inevitable and need to be mitigated when they are not inevitable and only need to be mitigated because they have risen for a generation and have assumed an absurdly large role in financing the system.  

The fares are not affordable because they are too high. Exempting some portions of the Precariat, those living in poverty and those who fall under some arbitrary line drawn up by city officials will not change the fact that the fares are too high! 

While one has to be sympathetic to those fighting for this idea, one also has to ask, would not the money, time and political effort simply be better spent on an across the board fare reduction strategy that does not require any administration, means tests or fare policing and that would then fit into a broader strategy of working towards the goal, already achieved in cities like Tallinn, Estonia, of free and affordable transit for everyone?"

You can read the full article here: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/michael-laxer/2014/07/torontos-transit-woes-are-fare-equity-policies-real-alternative 

You can read an article about why Free transit is an idea whose time has come here: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/michael-laxer/2014/04/free-transit-three-reasons-it-idea-whose-time-has-come

You can check out Michael's transit page here: http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/p/transit.html

A $15 an hour Minimum Wage...Can Toronto Do It?

From: Three reasons a $15 an hour municipal minimum wage is possible in Toronto

"Is a $15 an hour municipal minimum wage possible in Toronto as City Councillors in American cities like Chicago, New York and Seattle have been fighting for, or is it true, as John Tory says, that it is a provincial issue?

It is possible. The reality is that almost all municipal politicians simply want to pass the buck.

How can a municipal minimum wage be achieved? There are at least three ways"

Find out how by reading the rest of the article here!: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/michael-laxer/2014/06/three-reasons-15-hour-municipal-minimum-wage-possible-toronto

Free Transit, Municipal Minimum Wages, Affordable Housing...Can Toronto Do It? Meet Ward 6 Candidate Michael Laxer & Discuss the Issues!

Join the Fight! For Free Transit & Higher Wages!

 

Where: Community Roots Bookstore - 2858 Lake Shore Blvd. W. (at 5th St.) Etobicoke

When: Saturday, July 5th, 2014, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

 

Politicians tell us that initiatives that would change our city and people's lives like Free Transit, a $15 an hour municipal minimum wage, a comprehensive affordable housing strategy and a real alternative to cutbacks and austerity are not possible.

Is it true...or are they saying this because in reality they don't want to do it?

On Saturday, July 5th, come out anytime between 1-4 p.m. for an informal drop-in for coffee, refreshments and discussion and to meet Ward 6 City Council candidate Michael Laxer and find out where he stands on these (and other ) issues and how he thinks we can do it!

Find out about his income pledge to, if elected, make no more than what the average Torontonian does and his ideas for a more democratic City Hall and police accountability.

Get answers to any questions you have about, Michael's campaign, and the fight for higher wages, public services & a real alternative to cutbacks and austerity.

See you there!

 

For further details call 416-251-5576 or email us.

Couldn't Find What You Were Looking for in the Provincial Election? Join the Fight in Ward 6!

Join the fight! And get the button too!

Now that the Ontario election is over, are you looking for a campaign that you can really get behind; one that is directly and openly fighting for the polices you were looking for in the platforms of the parties but couldn't find?

Policies that would impact people's lives in direct and actually meaningful ways?

Policies like:

- A $15 an hour municipal minimum wage

- FREE transit & fighting for the expansion of LRT, bus & subway routes

- Landlord licensing & an affordable housing strategy

- Police accountability

- Democratic reform at City Hall

There is one! The Michael Laxer Ward 6 Campaign for City Councillor!

Between now and October 27th we will be fighting for a real agenda that is a real alternative to cutbacks and austerity and we need your help!

Volunteer, donate (and you can donate if you live anywhere in Ontario), take a lawn sign (for after October 2nd)....anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated!

Join the fight!