The federal program that was established in 1999 was recently replaced by a new program. In fact, the Standing Committee on Finance recommended last year that federal investment in this program be extended. There is therefore a new program and, as I stated earlier, this program will end in March 2009.
We feel that it is inconsistent to profess to want to achieve long term results by helping people get off the streets and at the same time to provide funding on a yearly basis only. These are people who are experiencing very difficult circumstances and an enormous lack of structure. They sometimes need to be followed for several years. In Quebec alone those needs represent $50 million a year.
I will conclude by saying that we are advocating that global policies on homelessness be adopted. The focus should not only be on people on the streets, but also on prevention, for example, housing, which we feel falls under federal jurisdiction. Poverty and the taxation system are also issues. The federal transfers to the provinces are insufficient and the provinces tell us constantly that they do not have the means to increase the income of those living in poverty. Therefore something must be done in that area.