Those unnerved at being asked for a dime might lighten up if they're getting something in return. Starting this week, local panhandlers will be peddling copies of The Dominion, an alternative newspaper based in Halifax, but with national aspirations.

It's put together by Dru Oja Jay (yes, the guy who does www.paulmartintime.ca) but Ottawa distribution will be handled mostly by poverty activist Jane Scharf.

Scharf calls it Step 3 in her fight to secure a better life for Ottawa's panhandlers, after her protest last summer under the Colonel By overpass by the Rideau Centre, and the union status she helped secure for them last month.

She told XPress over the phone that "almost every other city has [a street newspaper, sold by panhandlers] and we have none." She was soliciting donations at that point so she could cover photocopying costs for the first run. The issue is available in PDF form from Jay's website (www.dominionpaper.ca).

Scharf will eventually be asking for 25 cents every three weeks from those selling the paper, to cover their own photocopying costs.

The Dominion has an annual budget of $0 but aims "to provide a progressive counterpoint to the mainstream papers." It will be available for a buck (or more if you feel like it) in downtown Ottawa, with a special Ottawa-only section, written by locals.

Jay told XPress, the idea of the Dominion has always been "to have people use it for their own ends." It's also beneficial to him as it gives his paper broader exposure. People selling his paper in Halifax and Newfoundland must pay Jay 30 per cent of the take, but Scharf and Jay agreed the Ottawa version would be a freebee.

As for his aspirations, after a year in print, he's looking nationally.

"We're starting from nothing so it'll be a slow road [but I] can't ask for a better position after a year," he said. With little funding and a few donations, his paper's website is up to 17,000 visits per month.
 
 

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It's like this.     All hail Jane Scharf. If that name doesn't ring a bell with some Ottawa natives here's a couple that might; Michael Moore, and Martin Luther King. What do these three names have in common? Well, they're all human rights activists. Really good ones. If Ms. Scharf's efforts are uknown to you or if you consider her actions to be rabble-rousing, l suggest that you do some research on the subject. There's been alot of negativity in Ottawa about homelessness. People are all hopped-up on the job industry, and running their legs off in the rat-race. I have a job and it's not a good time. Being homeless is not a good time. There's an honesty to it, however, that's horribly lacking in the work to live to work routine. If we all lose our jobs and end up living on the streets, good luck to us, but at least now we'll have Jane Scharf with her dukes up.
sara padolsky	{2 votes}	April 13th, 2004
Now do they fit the criteria?     Hmm... I recall reading letters that talked about how incensed some people were when they were either asked for a nickel or saw somebody else giving a nickel to a panhandler. In fact, I specifically recall reading that panhandlers were ok if they were doing something for the spare change they were being given, like playing an instrument. Of course, I think that reader was confusing panhandling with busking, which are two entirely different things. Also, I read a lot of comments saying that the panhandlers were just lazy and should get jobs. Well, folks, now they are doing something for their money. I have a funny feeling that won't make any difference to those who already looked down their noses at these down and outers, but there it is. What's your excuse for not giving them a nickel now? You don't read newspapers? They don't sparkle on the job and ask if you want fries with that? Let's just see if the panhandlers who consent to selling The Dominion meet the criteria of those who have judged them so harshly. I'm not holding my breath, but we'll see.
Jennifer McCullen	{6 votes}	April 11th, 2004
PanHandler Paper     I think this is great. Your efforts to make life better for the panhandlers is commendable. Ottawa needs this. Just goes to show you..that if you want something badly enough, it is sure to happen. The Dominion will inform all who read it and maybe look at the life of a panhandler in a different light. If this helps those who try to help themselves I am all for it...but if the layed back, don't care attitude get beneficail rewards from this...it won't be right. There alot of things we don't know about the life of a panhandler...this will give insight and a meaning to all those who care. Congrats on the website!
Jennifer Berardini	{2 votes}	April 9th, 2004
HOPE FOR PANHANDLERS     I was encouraged by all the positive feedback on the article about the Dominion Paper to be distributed by panhandlers. This venture will only be a meaningful economic opportunity if this type of community support is there to foster a sense of self worth and hope for the future. My hat is off to xpress for providing this meaningful coverage is this news item.
Jane Scharf	{1 vote}	April 10th, 2004
But who will read it?     As someone on this site put it, The Dominion will inform all who read it and maybe them look at the life of a panhandler in a different light. The key term there is "read it', something I have a hard time believing will happen as I barely bother to read the free newspapers and those I actually give a damn about.
Sam Truglio	{2 votes}	April 10th, 2004
Making Life Better For The Panhandlers     This was a great fight for the panhandlers and a mighty win for them. It must be tough to be a panhandler because at the end of the day you make almost no money at all and you have only have a little bit of money for food and shelter. I agree with Mrs. Berardini that we don't know much about the life and day of a panhandler and it must be really tough. I hope that the papers website is a big success.
Carmela Sicurella	{1 vote}	April 10th, 2004
And so it begins...     Well, at least some good came out of that whole panhandlers union thing a few weeks back. Now of course, the question remains what good will The Dominion ultimately do? Frankly, an alternative newspaper with national aspirations is cute but let's face it, it's been done to death already. Besides which, this is the digital age so my odds are more with the website. It's not much but at least it's a tangible start with a plan and not some pipe dream with a lot of fluffy rhetoric.
Pedro Eggers	{3 votes}	April 9th, 2004

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