Editor, The News:
I attended Maple Ridge council meeting on Monday and raised the issue of due diligence in regards to the low-barriers for admittance to the temporary homeless shelter.
For one, I was raised in extreme poverty as a kid, and I know a bit about why people end up on the streets.
I did have a mentor, a former officer in the Second World War, who taught me many lessons of hard work and achieving something in life.
By the way, he also helped managed a homeless shelter in Montreal down by the docks, a tough area.
Homeless people do need help and I support helping these individuals to get back on to their feet to become productive citizens in our society.
But this help or assistance which we the taxpayers of this province provide for them, must be met with certain conditions and clearly defined goals.
Our various levels of governments, including municipal, must demonstrate due diligence in how these tax-funded facilities are operating.
As taxpayers, we have a right to know if they are being effective. No free rides folks!
We must make sure that these facilities are achieving what they say they are and that they are accomplishing exactly what their mandate is. Why not?
I say no to the drugs. There should be demands or goals, placed on these individuals who are receiving the kind of help provided by the taxpayers of this province.
John E. McKenzie
Maple Ridge