Mr. Speaker, I have spoken in the House and on other occasions about child poverty and the discrepancy between Canada's top rating by the United Nations and the growing gap between the rich and poor in our country.
Under treaty agreement Canada will be reviewed by UNESCO on its human rights protections. Social problems such as poverty, homelessness and shortage of affordable housing in our major cities are disturbing aspects of the Canadian landscape that will not show well under the UNESCO review.
We cannot proceed with an agenda that targets the middle and upper classes while thousands of human beings try to survive on the streets. The plight of Canadians who frequent food banks and hostels must become a major priority for the House. I urge that we take action before we loose more lives on the streets of our cities this winter and we loose our bragging rights in the international arena.