All posts by James W. Breckenridge

The Homeless Numbers Game

Any homeless you think you see on the streets of Abbotsford must be mirages, hallucinations or some other form of figments of imagination.

That is what I was forced to conclude when I took a moment to do the math and add up the numbers; the numbers of homeless that I have heard stated by organizations, groups or individuals as having been assisted off the streets by said organizations, groups and individuals.

When I added up all the numbers I have heard claimed recently it turns out that according to the numbers not only does Abbotsford not have any homeless on its streets, Abbotsford has negative numbers of homeless its streets.

Now either Abbotsford is experiencing some strange space/time continuum disruption, or Abbotsford has become the center of some kind of psychic/hallucinatory phenomenon, or we need to examine/define what should be meant when claims are made about the numbers of homeless “assisted into housing or off the streets.”

Irony, Paradox and Greek Tragedy.

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.

The Result being an occasional newspaper front page that overflows with irony and paradox, while the homeless, mentally ill, addicted and poor continue to suffer the suffer the tragedy of homelessness.

Parliment 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?

Acceptiing personal integrity

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.

Harper: No Ideas, No vision, No Integrity, No Leadership

The Harper No Vision, No Ideas Trick. Everyone sees through it.

That is the thought the attack ads of Mr. Harper and his Conservatives raised in my head. Every ad is an attack ad. There are no ideas for dealing with the issues of importance to Canadians; no leadership on what we need to do address the challenges facing Canada; just attacks on others.

Mr. Harper wants to call an election so he will have a “mandate” from the Canadian people. A mandate to do what? To continue attack ads to misdirect Canadian’s attentions from his and his party’s lack of ideas, vision and any understanding of what Canada is about and what it means to be Canadian?

Or perhaps he is seeking a mandate to continue to publish directives that instruct Conservative MP’s in how to obstruct the business of parliament? Although you do have to admire his gall in complaining he needs an election because parliament is “not working” when he is instructing his MPs in how to prevent parliament from working.

Of course this behaviour does suggest Mr. Harper is somewhat lacking in integrity. This lack probably explains his “wannabe American” behaviour and his lack of understanding of what the statement “I Am Canadian” embodies.

That Harper has No Ideas, No Vision and his questionable behaviours are not any surprise in light of his insistence on seeing the world through his ideology, failing to understand that Reality does not give a damn about your Beliefs.

Harper and the Conservatives passed a fixed election date law to prevent politicians and political parties from calling elections at their convenience and perceived advantage. Apparently this only applies to the other leaders and parties not Harper and his conservatives.

What does it say about Harper’s leadership and integrity when he will ignore a law his own party passed and when he cannot even inspire himself to follow a law he was responsible for enacting?