We received notification of successful application to hire an Unemployment Insurance recipient to expand our community labour directory in conjunction with our membership. It appears that a laid-off OPEIU member will be working for us from April 5th until September 3rd. Our labour council is also applying for two summer student grants. The first one involves developing a labour community calendar of events including meetings, conferences, and or special events. The second grant would involve all aspects of Labour Day including researching the history, and planning in our community for this year's event in conjunction with the labour council committee.

Our council was represented at the ONDP provincial council held in Toronto on February 27th. Beth Pater the candidate for Kingston and the Islands will be attending tonight's meeting to highlight the NDP's six-point election platform. KDLC was also represented at the forum on jobs sponsored by the Federal NDP on Saturday March 6th at City Hall.

We received a rejection of our request regarding information about workfare under the Municipal Freedom of Information Act and are awaiting the appeal process with the Information Privacy Commissioner. International Women's Week was a great success this year.

Our council was represented at three of the events including the Women's Forum at the Kingston Public Library and the Pay Equity March from Bell Canada to Peter Milliken's office in support of the operators, CEP members whose jobs are in jeopardy due to the greediness of Bell Canada. Irene Harris the Executive Vice-President of the Ontario Federation of Labour also participated. Natalie Mehra did a great job of organizing this and other International Women's Week events. The Ontario Alternative Budget was launched locally, again with the help of Natalie.

We are having several guests at tonight's meeting including Mark Brzustowski and Rebecca Warner who will talk about the Males Walking Against Male Violence March. Jerry Lee Miller from the CLC will be speaking about the Literacy program, which the Congress has put together for our region. Ron Waring from the O.C.H.O.W. will tell us about the satellite clinic in Kingston and the one-day forum for WSIB activists in our area, scheduled for March 23rd at the Steelworkers' Hall. Ron also was a guest on "Labour's Voice in the Community"

The Ontario Arts Council has notified us that we were not successful in our bid to secure a grant to produce a video. That is the bad news but the good news is that some of our delegates will now have some free time to volunteer for other tasks. We have regretfully received a resignation letter from Roger Dodier in regards to the Local Training Board and tonight we will be looking for two volunteers from the council to fill the vacancies.

Earlier this month working people in our area lost a great advocate with the passing of Theresa Houston. Theresa ran the Unemployed Help Centre at 346 1/2 Princess Street for many years and represented thousands of area people with their appeals on U.I., C.P.P., and other worker related issues. She was an honorary lifetime member of the Kingston and District Labour Council and former Citizen of the Year.

In closing I would like to thank all our delegates who support us in the many issues we continue to face between each meeting.

As always,
In solidarity,

Charlie Stock
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