I am still strongly opposed to the government intervening in homeless people's lives (unless they properly offer them the medical help they need, but we know that won't happen because "it costs money").
Then again, this is the same government (BC Provincial) which (as stated in previous post) came back on a promise to not bring in the HST (in today's paper, there's even a quote by Premier Campbell DEFENDING it). While the Canada Line (Rapid transit system linking downtown Vancouver to the Airport) was being built, several small businesses (a group this government claims to work for) along Cambie street could not operate for several months due to the construction. How did this government help? Why they said it was TransLink (the transit authority's) responsibility (IE. "Not out problem"!!)
To come back to the homeless issue, there could be a positive if they do go through with the proposed law.
If they do pass the law and the police actually pick homeless people off the street, they may get into an even bigger problem. There are (more than likely) much more homeless than they would have calculated.
If shelters can't take in all the people, what are they going to do? What if they decide to pick and choose some homeless people to look good in the public eye. How would they explain that they're not treating them all equally? What if (god forbid), despite going through with it something happens to a homeless person?
If they go through with this, they'll be way over their heads. Well more so than even now!!!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Homelessness a choice?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/its-our-duty-to-protect-the-homeless/article1296414/
This (BC Provincial) government never ceases to amaze me with their hypocrisy. If Tracey (homeless woman who died on street last winter - See article) had not died, and the Olympics were not being held here next winter (2010), they would not even be discussing this.
If you truly want to help homeless people, get them in hospitals, in therapy, counseling, and rehab. Yes, they will need a place to stay similar to shelters while they get the medical / psychological help they need, but FORCING them into shelters "during periods of extreme weather" (at a very convenient time. See Olympics.) is nothing but political. Premier Gordon Campbell couldn't care less about the homeless (among others), I'm convinced that if he could but them on a bus or train and ship them away from the city during the Olympics (without it getting public of course), he would.
This is the same person who during the last Provincial election PROMISED no new taxes, especially to the middle class, and one of the very first pieces of legislation his government passed was the Harmonized Sales Tax which in essence a tax on the MIDDLE CLASS.
If this government treats the middle class like that, can we really trust them to care about the homeless?
This (BC Provincial) government never ceases to amaze me with their hypocrisy. If Tracey (homeless woman who died on street last winter - See article) had not died, and the Olympics were not being held here next winter (2010), they would not even be discussing this.
If you truly want to help homeless people, get them in hospitals, in therapy, counseling, and rehab. Yes, they will need a place to stay similar to shelters while they get the medical / psychological help they need, but FORCING them into shelters "during periods of extreme weather" (at a very convenient time. See Olympics.) is nothing but political. Premier Gordon Campbell couldn't care less about the homeless (among others), I'm convinced that if he could but them on a bus or train and ship them away from the city during the Olympics (without it getting public of course), he would.
This is the same person who during the last Provincial election PROMISED no new taxes, especially to the middle class, and one of the very first pieces of legislation his government passed was the Harmonized Sales Tax which in essence a tax on the MIDDLE CLASS.
If this government treats the middle class like that, can we really trust them to care about the homeless?
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