ETAC

I saw a small notice in this week's Londoner. 

ETAC

Employment Resource Centre

for poeple with disabilities

Internet - Fax - E-mail

Telephone/TTY - Assistance

No appointment needed

No cost

509-141 Dundas St., London, ON

(519) 858-4500

I hope to get a chance to pop by and visit this agency. It's new to me.  Has anyone had any experience with this service?  I'd be interested in learning about your experiences.

I googled ETAC, and found an entry on Information London.  However, the website listed there is a broken link.

What the????

I spent this week in denial about the election.  I'm stunned.  'nuff said.

So, not much changed locally, with the exception of conservative Susan Truppe narrowly taking Glen Pearson's riding.

Mr. Pearson reflects on this in his blog: The Parallel Parliament.

A hightlight from his May 6th post:

"But the truth is I was never comfortable in politics. I have the instincts of a public servant, not those of a partisan politician. The House no longer functions well and a government found in contempt of that place now has a majority mandate – things are deeply dysfunctional, both in the House and among the citizenry."

As part of a community of anti-poverty activists, I recognize that the Harper government may slow any progress towards closing the gap between the rich and the poor.  But, the work continues.

The Low-Income Energy Network - new rules coming Oct 2011

OEB improvements to electricity customer service rules will help keep lights on for low-income people

Friday, April 1, 2011
(Toronto) The Low-Income Energy Network (LIEN) welcomes the long-awaited release of the Ontario Energy Board’s (OEB) customer service rules that are specifically designed to help financially-strapped low-income households maintain their residential electricity service.

The rules released this week are part of the OEB’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) – a comprehensive plan consisting of: emergency relief for consumers in short-term payment crisis; targeted energy conservation and demand management programs to reduce energy consumption and costs, and the new flexible rules on matters such as security deposit and fee waivers, arrears payment plans and disconnection notice periods.

“This is good news for low-income consumers who struggle to pay for rent, food, transportation and their basic energy needs,” said Jennifer Lopinski, LIEN steering committee member and the Emergency Home Energy program administrator with A Place Called Home in the Municipality of Kawartha Lakes. “When attempting to resolve their electricity arrears, low-income consumers will have real options to reduce financial hardship. We’re also pleased that the OEB is consulting on implementing similar conditions of service rules for low-income natural gas customers.”

LIEN actively participated in the OEB’s proceeding which was initiated three years ago to develop the new customer service rules, and continues to advocate for the establishment of a permanent energy rate affordability program for low-income consumers that would proactively prevent households from falling into arrears.

The new low-income customer service rules will come into effect on October 1, 2011. For more details about the rules and eligibility, please see the OEB backgrounder at:
http://www.ontarioenergyboard.ca/OEB/_Documents/Press+Releases/bckgrndr_lowincome.pdf