Judy shared a link yesterday about the increasing numbers of homeless people, including thousands of children (especially in Florida) yesterday, mostly due to the high numbers of foreclosures in the recent economic downturn.
While Canada has fared a wee bit better in the number of foreclosures we have our own dirty little secret. Perhaps not so secret anymore as an article finally appeared on the front page of the National Post today. By the way, a state of emergency was declared in Attawapiskat over a month ago. This is how we treat our aboriginal peoples. Although much is made in the article about the millions of dollars handed over to help people in the most remote areas of Canada why are the most vulnerable citizens living in tents and other substandard "houses/sheds" with no running water or toilets?
Jane,
ReplyDeleteI've been noticing a lot of people talking about hunger. I watched a show last night (Dr. Oz) who says there is a new face to hunger.
I took a long time thinking about it, and throwing money at the situation just isn't working. The old proverb...If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day...if you teach a man how to fish he eats for a lifetime.
In the news cast about the Attawapiskat people, the government has already given the 2,000 residents a lot of money. It doesn't seem to be helping them.
I don't have the answers, but I know that money is not the solution.
I think the Americans just have such huge mouths that we air all of our dirty laundry on tv. We are just your white trash neighbors to the south.
ReplyDeleteSonyaAnn - well over 90% of Canadians live within 100KM of our border with the U.S. Most of those folks are doing ok. Its the ones far away in the north that aren't doing so well and it's so easy to forget about them so far away it seems like another land altogether. You folks don't seem to be able to get away with anything - the whole world is watching you!
ReplyDeleteSharon - I agree - more $$ isn't the answer unless someone oversees its distribution and it is used correctly for the purpose that it is given. Its a terribly sad situation.
Part of the problem is, is that all the $$ that is 'given' filter through Dept. of Indian and Northern Affairs, who routinely use most of it up on administrative costs. I would hazard a guess to say, that for every dollar 'given' to improve the area, less than 10 cents of it actually trickles down to the folks who really need the help.
ReplyDeleteI was chatting with a lady who worked for Revenue Canada (now retired) who told me that DIA is the worst Dept. in our government for misuse of funds and overspending.
The cost to build a 'average' home in that area, with 3 bedrooms, working plumbing and heating that is not sub-standard, would be in the $400-$500,000 range. Or so I'm told. Also, the cost to heat a home there would be far too much for most of us to be able to deal with.
I agree that there should be something done, and that there is a better way to be found, but by bringing this matter to the attention of the rest of the country is a good start.
P.s. Most of the reserves that are in the North are similar. This is NOT an isolated case.