2009 year in review
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- Published on Tuesday, 22 December 2009 23:00
2009 saw ACORN Canada achieve important milestones in organizational growth as well as progress on key campaigns. ACORN Canada continued to be a leading voice for working families across the country while solidifying its position the largest national community organizing network.
Nationally, ACORN Canada passed the 30,000 mark in membership this year – meaning 30,000 + low and moderate income families across the country have now joined the organization and committed to building a national organization to defend and advance their interests.
Raising Wages – ACORN Canada is now the driving force behind 2 campaigns attempting to establish the first Living Wage Bylaw. In New Westminster BC as well as in Ottawa members are organizing vibrant campaigns to raise wages for working families.
Quality Housing – In Toronto, ACORN’s multi year campaign to win landlord licensing has yielded major victories in the past year. The City, for the first time since amalgamating, is now deploying a proactive inspection program that is leading to increased apartment repairs across the city.
Fair Lending – After securing the passage the legislation to regulate payday lenders in BC and Ontario in 2008, 2009 has seen both provinces begin to bring that legislation into effect. We are now seeing the deployment of rate caps, the licensing of lenders and other proactive provisions.
Community Safety – The newest office in ACORN Canada, Hamilton ACORN, took the lead in winning important community safety improvements in the Crown Point neighbourhood. Members demanded and won improved lighting in back alleys, a lower speed limit by a local school and landscaping in a city parking lot.
Protecting Workers - Nationally, as well as online, ACORN Canada has worked with our allies to pressure the Federal Government fix employement insurance. Partially as a result of that campaign the federal government with the support of the NDP passed changes that brought $1 billion dollars to 90,000 laid off workers.
