FELDSTED: When cities have trouble meeting their obligations they go to their provinces for help. Federal funding then mucks up the responsibility chain

Liberals detail homelessness program, set to unveil anti-poverty law -- Plan will set an official poverty line for Canada for the first time

The Canadian Press / CBC News  ~~  Nov 05, 2018

Cities looking for more federal cash and a more regular flow of money to tackle poverty are being told that they will be able to tap into $1.25 billion over the next nine years through the Liberal government's cornerstone homelessness strategy … revamped homelessness strategy, dubbed "Reaching Home," will come into force early next year, which is when cities will be able to apply for new funding.

Municipal governments administer most of Canada's housing programs but construction and rent subsidies are expensive so the cities rely on provincial and federal governments to support them …

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PLEASE STOP …

… building more bureaucracies

… subsidizing cities

… pretending you can deal with poverty and homelessness

… building future ghettos

Cities are created by, and are the responsibility of, provinces. They are not a ‘third level’ of government. They are the first level of government, closest to the people they serve and most responsible to the people they serve.

When cities have trouble meeting their obligations, they go to their provinces for help. Federal funding then mucks up the responsibility chain, and encourages irresponsible spending.

Raise the personal income tax exception, and insist the provinces do the same. Allow the poor and working poor to keep their earnings tax free.

Stop building house and apartment complexes for the poor and homeless. Non-government agencies, who are helping the homeless, need provincial subsidies, not more bureaucrats.

Establish rental rate averages for apartments and homes, and then subsidize those who can’t afford 80% of the average rental cost for a like apartment or house. It’s a lot cheaper than building housing and apartments that turn into slums that harbour criminals.

Stop stigmatizing people who are down and out. They need counseling to regain a sense of self-worth that has been trashed for a variety of reasons.

Raise the personal income tax exception, and insist the provinces do the same. Allow the poor and working poor to keep their earnings tax free.

And finally?  Invest in addictions counseling and treatment.

Canada-wide, our efforts to treat addictions are dismally and woefully inadequate, tying up justice, police and medical services needlessly. The combination of addiction and poverty is horrendously expensive and a root cause of property crime. Desperate people turn to desperate measures.

John Feldsted

Political Consultant & Strategist

Winnipeg, Manitoba