Homeless in Abbotsford, BC

handyDART

Monday morning found me nervous as my picture was taken for the newspaper and the announcement I would be seeking a seat on Abbotsford City Council. Running for a seat on council is not something I had ever thought to find myself doing and having made the decision to run I was feeling a little trepidation.

Tuesday's Abby Times Editorial.

I agree with Tuesday’s editorial commentary on elections.

Irony, Paradox and Greek Tragedy.

The front page of Saturday September 6/08’s News overflowed with irony and paradox flavoured by classical Greek tragedy.

On one side of the page we read of the Salvation Army and about government pouring money into a program to help people get off the streets. “Miller said he was put in contact with Simpson through the Salvation Army.”

On the other side of the page you read about government putting people out onto the streets. Cory Frostad stating: “The city bylaw is going to put us on the streets. The bylaw has no right to do such a thing.”

In this case it is a conflict between municipal and provincial government actions. But this kind of conflict and counterproductive behaviour happens often and seemingly easily as a result of policies and actions by a single level of government.

Government’s refuse to listen to something they do not want to hear; like an ostrich they bury their head it the sand – and then are surprised when programs and actions do not work or result in negative consequences.

When the City began formulating its recovery house policy it was pointed out that before closing down “recovery houses” they needed to put in place affordable housing or they would be throwing people onto the streets homeless.

Two years later the City has failed to increase the stock of affordable housing in the housing market and in pursuing its recovery house policy and closing down this type of affordable housing, the City is throwing people onto the streets.

When the province announced its 24/7 shelter plan it was pointed out that without providing affordable housing for people to move into the shelters were going to become flophouses because there was nowhere for the people to move out of the shelters to. 

Even with the “cheat” of an extra rent subsidy to those using the shelter plan (an extra rent subsidy denied to those who are not/were not a client of the shelter plan) the 0% vacancy rate for places under $1,000 on the downtown eastside means there no housing clients can afford. And while the cost of housing in Abbotsford has not yet reached the same $1,000 level, there is not nearly enough affordable housing to meet the demand.

In both cases you would think that the need for and the importance of affordable housing in getting people off the streets would be obvious – apparently not to government.

As long as governments, and other agencies, fail to think through the consequences of their actions and fail to focus on what the goal is (housing people) and what is needed to achieve that goal (affordable housing) actions by these groups will continue to have more in common with a Three Stooges movie than with a successfully executed strategic plan.

Parliament not working?

So Stephen Harper does not feel parliament is working.

Perhaps it would work better if Harper and his Conservatives did not publish and use instructions on how to obstruct the workings of parliament. Or perhaps it would work better if Harper and his Conservatives paid attention to the laws of the land (and the spirit behind those laws) … like the fixed election date.

Perhaps it is simply that when Mr. Harper said parliament is not working he neglected to finish his sentence: parliament is not working to the benefit of the Conservative party and the PMO (prime minister’s office).

Without a majority Mr. Harper cannot run amok but is forced to consult and work with the other parties. Worse the lack of a majority means he does not control parliamentary committees and thus will have to answer for and face the consequences of the conservative party’s actions such as “in-and-out” campaign financing and the government’s role in the listeriosis outbreak.

Despite Mr. Harper’s condemnation of the behaviour of the previous Liberal governments it would appear Mr. Harper is calling an election in hopes that he can behave in the manor that, when in opposition, he condemned in the majority government of the day. Proof that at heart and in his soul Mr. Harper is truly a politician; that it is about him and not about Canada or Canadians.

I have never been a fan of proportional representation because it tends to produce minority governments. Seeing how well, how much better, the parliamentary committee system seems to work in the interests of Canadians when not controlled by the government; seeing how the need to work with the other parties moderates the behaviour of the government; given the lack of ideas, ideals, vision, leadership and integrity in our major political parties; a system that results in minority governments is looking very good.

Given our current choices on the federal political scene is it any wonder that most Canadians do not want an election, preferring the current state of Parliament with its minority government?

Accepting Personal Responsibility

Honour and integrity are matters of personal responsibility for me.

I am neither able nor comfortable delegating to others the responsibility and administration of my honour and integrity.

When an injustice is committed by those acting in my name (in this specific case council for me as a citizen of Abbotsford) my honour and integrity requires, no demands, I speak up to insist councillors act in an ethical, just and honest manner.

Delegation does not absolve citizens of their personal responsibilities for the actions taken by government in their name be it municipal, provincial or federal.

History and the world around us are full of examples of what happens when citizens abandon or delegate their honour and integrity to others.

I do accept and take to heart the corollary implied in Mr. Zilinsky’s letter.

Therefore I commit to stepping up and acting to bring about the changes needed to ensure that Abbotsford City Council behaves with honour, integrity, fiscal and common sense in an open and responsible manner.