Editor, The News:
I had the opportunity to attend The Caring Place forum for the mayors’ debate Monday night.
This was an excellent debate and it was well attended by our local citizens who were interested in hearing what the mayoral candidates had to say.
The issues of homelessness/poverty were the main focus of this evening’s session.
And, there was plenty of opinions on how to tackle this complex and growing problem.
For one, the continual abdication by right-wing governments to cut funding to the many organizations who assist the needy in our communities is clear, and must change.
It is not the responsibility of charitable organizations to take care of less-fortunate Canadians in need.
It is the government’s responsibility to help their citizens when they need assistance in affordable housing, food, etc. In fact, it was when the federal government cut its housing programs for Canadians, that homelessness flourished in our cities!
If this government can afford to spend billions to help fight America’s wars abroad, then it can afford to help Canadians with affordable housing.
It is a travesty that this government has cut funding for our winter beds in this and other cities, while giving tax breaks to the richest in our society!
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, get your priorities straight, and that means caring for our own Canadians in need.
John E. McKernzie
Maple Ridge