Happy Happy Happy
So today was eventful. I met David Miller and was pretty impressed with his opening speech in which he talked on and on about the city of Toronto's committment to harm reduction. My happiness with that statement died pretty quickly when he left right after instead of staying for the whole forum/meeting. I think his leaving spoke much louder then his little welcoming speech. I truly believe that he's paying lip service to a bunch of left wing "radicals" who are involved in an issue that he doesn't believe will grow any bigger than it is now.
Anyways moving on from my dislike of Mayor Miller ... the meeting was amazing. Very informative and interesting and gave me a chance to meet different people from agencies around Toronto. We talked a lot about harm reduction (obviously) and the cost that the current drug policy has on society when compared to the cost of a harm reductionist framework. The amount of money spent on enforcement and imprisonment is really just feeding the black market. A prohibitionist approach that Canada and the United States are currently running drug policy under is in fact making money for the drug trade. Prohibition didn't work before, so why continue with a proven failed program and policies? I don't get it.
It costs $2,500 annually to create safer crack kits for substance users and Ottawa has decided to stop handing them out because its "costing the government too much money". Toronto isn't much better, however I am lucky to be working with substance users here instead of places like Ottawa where the oppression of substance users is so much more prevelent.
Okay anyways (I got ranty ... I could go on forever about this). I had an interview this afternoon for a job at a drop in. It went well, however I'm not sure if I'll actually get the job. They've recieved a lot of resumes and done a lot of interviews so we'll see.
My placement interview for next year went really really well though. They're creating a position for me within the housing program. I'll have my own caseload, my own clients and will be doing so much with clients. Much more interactive then the placement I'm at right now. The manager said they were extremely impressed with my resume because it's one of the best they've seen from someone who hasn't even finished their degree yet. So that made me feel good. I'm so excited that even though I'll just be a student I'll be going on site visits, I'll be advocating for clients with landlords, I'll have a caseload and appointments like a real social worker.
And finally ... I found a new roommate so everything is set for next year. I'm so fucking happy with life right now. :)
Anyways moving on from my dislike of Mayor Miller ... the meeting was amazing. Very informative and interesting and gave me a chance to meet different people from agencies around Toronto. We talked a lot about harm reduction (obviously) and the cost that the current drug policy has on society when compared to the cost of a harm reductionist framework. The amount of money spent on enforcement and imprisonment is really just feeding the black market. A prohibitionist approach that Canada and the United States are currently running drug policy under is in fact making money for the drug trade. Prohibition didn't work before, so why continue with a proven failed program and policies? I don't get it.
It costs $2,500 annually to create safer crack kits for substance users and Ottawa has decided to stop handing them out because its "costing the government too much money". Toronto isn't much better, however I am lucky to be working with substance users here instead of places like Ottawa where the oppression of substance users is so much more prevelent.
Okay anyways (I got ranty ... I could go on forever about this). I had an interview this afternoon for a job at a drop in. It went well, however I'm not sure if I'll actually get the job. They've recieved a lot of resumes and done a lot of interviews so we'll see.
My placement interview for next year went really really well though. They're creating a position for me within the housing program. I'll have my own caseload, my own clients and will be doing so much with clients. Much more interactive then the placement I'm at right now. The manager said they were extremely impressed with my resume because it's one of the best they've seen from someone who hasn't even finished their degree yet. So that made me feel good. I'm so excited that even though I'll just be a student I'll be going on site visits, I'll be advocating for clients with landlords, I'll have a caseload and appointments like a real social worker.
And finally ... I found a new roommate so everything is set for next year. I'm so fucking happy with life right now. :)