The Right to Housing: The Red Tent Campaign and Bill C-304
Posted on July 17, 2010 in Inclusion Debates
Source: Canada without Poverty — Authors: Rob Rainer
cwp-csp.ca – CWP Advocacy Network
July 14, 2010. Rob Rainer, CWP Advocacy Network
The Red Tent Campaign is a potentially high-impact pan-Canadian initiative to end homelessness. Inspired by a similar and successful effort in France, and initiated by the innovative, Vancouver-based Pivot Legal Society and allied organizations, the Red Tent Campaign uses visually striking tents to draw public attention to homelessness and the need for a pan-Canadian housing strategy – rooted in Canada’s legal obligation under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to honor the right to housing. The campaign’s potential impact ties nicely with the forthcoming Third Reading in the House of Commons of Bill C-304 (“An Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians”). Bill C-304 < http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=3660878&Language=e&Mode=1&File=24#1 >, if passed into law, would mandate the federal government to develop a national housing strategy, in consultation with key stakeholders and appropriately rooted in a human rights framework.
The CWP Advocacy Network has added its endorsement of the Red Tent Campaign and encourages groups across Canada to do so likewise. We are working with Pivot Legal Society to help bring the campaign’s presence in a major way to Ottawa this fall – in time to make an impact prior to Third Reading of Bill C-304. The campaign’s presence is also beginning to be felt in other communities across Canada. We encourage groups to sponsor the purchase of one or more red tents (at $100 each) to help ensure as strong a presence as possible.
For more information on the Red Tent Campaign including to sponsor tents, please contact Doug King at Pivot Legal Society, copied on this message (and at 604-255-9700). Ashton Starr is our point person for coordinating the CWP Advocacy Network’s involvement in this campaign, and may also be contacted (613-789-0115).
Rob Rainer
Executive Director / Directeur executif
CWP ADVOCACY NETWORK / RÉSEAU DE REVENDICATION CSP
Working in alliance with Canada Without Poverty / Travaillant en alliance avec Canada sans pauvreté
1210 – 1 rue Nicholas Street
Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7
(613) 789-0115
rob@cwp-csp.ca; www.cwp-csp.ca; www.dignityforall.ca
Tags: homelessness, housing, rights, standard of living
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