tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35935973.post1614114068104051340..comments2023-07-25T02:39:44.615-07:00Comments on Bill Tieleman: Burnaby, Surrey Shirk Responsibility to Help the HomelessBill Tielemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03304971610140279157noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35935973.post-69959698737049153712014-11-02T10:33:24.007-08:002014-11-02T10:33:24.007-08:00At some point the province needs to assume the res...At some point the province needs to assume the responsibility they off loaded when they got out of the social service "business". <br />The province closed Riverview. They closed hospitals, hello el gordo. They sell buildings which could be used for housing and health care.<br /><br />dealing with homelessness in many cases is more than just building a place for people to go at night. Now Surrey may have an attitude which has more to do with politics than money, but to expect any number of smaller municipal entities to build and maintain homeless shelters is just asking too much. <br /><br />Cities in Canada have a lot of responsibilities but little authority. We are not like some American cities, such as New York and Chicago which have wide reaching powers, including taxing, on more than properties. Cities in B.C. aren't even permitted to run a deficit. The province, not so much.<br /><br />Medical care is the responsibility of the province. It is time they assumed it. Much of the homelessness we see today, is based in medical needs not met. While B.C. premiers have stood around smiling about how low corporate taxes are, they haven't given a shit about homeless people, children living at 50% below the poverty line, etc. <br /><br />Bill, don't "dump" on Burnaby or Surrey. its the province and federal government who need to step up to the plate. e.a.f.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35935973.post-29432874088632769092014-11-01T18:35:00.860-07:002014-11-01T18:35:00.860-07:00Would you want a homeless shelter complete with dr...Would you want a homeless shelter complete with drug abuse next door Bill? Have you taken in a homeless person for 6 months? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com