Pat takes on Deportations in the Citizen
Shoddy immigration gets an F grade By Patricia Howard, Ottawa Citizen March 18, 2013 11:34 AM Re: Little Italy Bakery owner allowed to remain in Canada, March 12. It’s hard to believe the cruelty described in the story about this Italian man, Massimo Marti, here on a visitor’s visa, whose family had been deported earlier in March – and himself nearly so – because his work permit applications contained mistakes. So much pain and misery, so much humiliation, and all so unnecessary. Why all the suspicion? Why so much meanness on the part of officialdom these...
Read MoreGrannies at International Women’s Day FEMICON event
When asked to perform at FEMICON, we indicated that we are an activist group, not a choir. But we wanted to support International Women’s Day, so we offered to talk about song writing instead. The organizers agreed. So, in front of a packed auditorium, we explained who the Raging Grannies are, how we decide on issues, and how we write our songs. For example, we mentioned how we want to use satire and bring current events into our songs. To keep things lively, we donned our Granny outfits on stage and unfurled some of our recent banners while talking. We then sang a song,...
Read MoreWe don’t get sick
Tune: Trapeze We don’t get sick Cause we know if we do They’ll be no places For us in the queue And if we are fitted with hips that are new We’ll be breaking them in all alone! ‘cause… The feds don’t give money For sick people now- The province is cutting The system —and how!! Our health care foundations they’re hacking at now!! And we can’t get sick anymore! …oh…. We don’t get sick ‘cause we know if we do They’ll be no places For us in the queue Everything’s changing, now here is...
Read MoreMedicare Song
Tune: Daisy, Daisy Put them back, those dollars you took away! From our health care – do it without delay! Canadians know what matters Our health care is in tatters We feel the lack, we want it back! Low taxes won’t make our day!! We pay tax for governments to proceed Taxes pay for services that we need! A tax cut may sound so splendid No problem how to spend it!! But for medicare the cupboard’s bare, Is that anyway to lead?? Politicians, give back our medicare It’s the best thing Canadians get to share!! Just tackle the two tier question, It gives...
Read MoreRally for Health Care
Following the drastic cuts to health care both in acute care and long-term care hospitals, the Ottawa Health Coalition organized a rally in front of the Civic Campus on March 4. Five grannies, Bessa, Cathleen, Gale, Jo and Pat showed up with two songs directly to the issue. The organizers let us open the show and were appreciative of our efforts. Check out The Medicare Song and Get Sick, You’ll Make Somebody Richer.
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