New hearings open as Meech crisis deepens
— page 6

Foreign control dictates high interest rates
— page 3

May 7, 1990
SO

Vol. 53, No. 16

Carrying banners and chanting “Stop the
greed, fill the need,” more than 200 people
from neighbourhoods across the city
jammed Vancouver city council chambers
to reiterate the demand for emergency city
action to alleviate the crisis of affordable
housing.

The demonstration, which echoed de-
mands made to city council last December,
brought together tenants and homeowners
from a number of housing groups, includ-
ing the Kerrisdale-based Concerned Citi-
zen’s for Affordable Housing, the West
Point Grey Residents’ Association and even
a group of squatters who have taken over a
block of east-side houses for want of any
alternatives.

“We're here because it’s May Day —
and we’re sending out an SOS,” Laura
Stenner, one of the organizers of the rally
told reporters. “We need help to end this
housing crisis. We need help from our
elected politicians.”

Not scheduled on the council agenda, the
groups managed to win the right to make a
presentation from acting mayor Carole
Taylor, although council moved quickly to
regular business following the demonstra-
tion.

Retired United Church minister Rev. Art
Griffin echoed the “MayDay” call in his
address to council on behalf of the housing
groups, emphasizing that the demands they
were putting forward group “are clear and
straightforward.

“We expect them to be acted on quickly,”
he said.

They are:

e@ A temporary moratorium on all demo-
litions until a comprehensive system of pro-
tection is in place and a sufficient supply of
affordable housing is available in the same
and similar neighbourhoods.

see HOUSING page 2

South African trade unionist Peter Mahlangu (1) joins Spartans Against Apartheid in singing African National Congress

The labour movement must get more
active to counter the corporate agenda
that is ruining Canada, and that means
closer links with non-labour organiza-
tons Jean Claude Parrot tolda Ma oo

anthem during May Day cabaret in Vancouver.

unite with other groups to fight Conserva-

tive government creations like the Free :
Trade Agreement, the Goods and Services —

Tax, and a host of other m
privatization, ——
social services.

coasts, plant layoffs, wage and benefit —
cuts, and tax cuts to competion: he

Inquiry bares
U.S. terror
in Panama
invasion
— page 8 —