Criminal. Stealing public funds that are so badly needed for other things

I read this headline and thought it was another story about Senators and their confusion over which home they call primary because many of them own several: No place like home - if you have one

I’m not opposed to people having more than one home especially if work requires it, but the rash of abuse of public funds out of sheer greed from some Senators is appalling.

This article is actually about those without homes, those who cannot fraudulently pocket public funds for a second home.  They can’t even afford a place to live.

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As you read this article, and look outside your window at the ice and snow from the coziness of your living room, there are people in Canada who sleep on the streets. They live on the streets, in homeless shelters, in hospital or emergency shelters.  How many people are we talking about? As many as 400,000. Yes, for all kinds of reasons, nearly half a million Canadians do not have a place to call home.

Senators can claim 20,000.00 to 30,000.00 annually if they live over 100km from the Capital and must maintain a secondary dwelling in Ottawa for work.  It now seems that several Senators are committing fraud to pad their pockets, claiming those housing funds – pay for by the public.  What would it cost to house a homeless person for a year?

Estimated annual costs (per person per year) for:

-  Supportive and transitional housing: $13,000 - $18,000

-  Affordable housing (without supports): $5,000 - $8,000

Wow.  If Duffy and Wallin alone didn’t take money it seems they aren’t entitled to, that money could house 10 to a dozen people a year.  And that doesn’t include money from false travel claims possibly made by those Senators.

Working for Canadians, are they?

NDP MP Marie-Claude Morin presentd a private member’s Bill (C-400)to address homelessness.   Incredibly, while there is support for the Bill among all parties, it needs some additional Conservative  support to pass second reading and be referred to committee.   Even heartless bastards have no reason to oppose this - 

Acting on homelessness is not just morally responsible, it is fiscally responsible: By the federal government’s own estimates, every $1 invested in housing reaps a net benefit of $1.40 to the Canadian economy (spurs growth, jobs, increases productivity etc.)

Can we afford it?  Absolutely.  If we are able to give generous perks to our own politicians and if we dismiss fraud committed by them as part of doing business, we better damn well acknowledge that we can find funds for people in need.