House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2004, with 59% of the vote.
Homelessness October 27th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, when I travelled across Canada, community agencies told me that they wanted to work in partnership.
A number of programs were run with money from the federal government and municipalities, which provided housing for the homeless. We will continue this work, as we are doing now.
Homelessness October 27th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, in travelling across Canada what we notice most with respect to the homeless is that the provinces have closed psychiatric hospitals. Former residents of psychiatric hospitals are turning up at food banks.
This is one of the greatest problems we have with the homeless living on the street.
Homelessness October 27th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has asked me to co-ordinate all the information on homelessness.
I would like to advise the hon. member that I have been working 31 years for the homeless, for the poor and for the children of this country.
Homelessness October 27th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, there are two issues here.
For the short term for this winter, I want to advise the House that the staff has been in touch with every community that I visited to make sure they have enough shelter beds for this winter. The city of Toronto informed us that in order to have enough shelter beds it needed $1.2 million which the minister of housing has given to the city of Toronto. Besides that, we are informed that every shelter is fine.
For the long term the secretariat is getting the recommendations that I have received and they will be presented soon.
Homelessness October 26th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure all the poor children throughout Canada that there is someone here who speaks for them. I can assure them that I will continue daily to work to ensure that children have a warm bed to sleep in every night.
Homelessness October 26th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, for 31 years I have worked in the fight against poverty.
When I went to Toronto, I promised to meet mayor Mel Lastman within 30 days, certainly not to come up with a long term solution for the homeless in that time frame.
Homelessness October 26th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, during my travels this summer, I heard that cuts at the federal and provincial levels had had an impact on poverty and the situation of the homeless in Canada.
This government asked me to play a co-ordinating role. I spent the summer visiting communities across Canada, because we want to do something about the homeless. We will do so in partnership with committees, municipalities and the provinces.
Homelessness October 26th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I hired one staff person. All the other staff was given to me on loan.
The staff members that were given to me on loan have all the reports that were written on homelessness. They have also have all the recommendations I have received this summer from communities and are putting those recommendations in place.
I assure the House that they have taken their work very seriously. We are concerned about what is happening with the homelessness situation and we will work on it.
Homelessness October 26th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I inform the House that the minister responsible for the co-ordination of homelessness has hired one staff person. All other staff members were sent to me on loan because they were experts in this field.
Homelessness October 25th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, since my trip finished on August 10 my staff have not had a weekend or an evening off. We are considering every report that we receive. People have told us what needs to be done. My report will be presented to my caucus members. This caucus takes homelessness and children very seriously.