Mr. Speaker, $5 million over five years for the downtown east side community revitalization program was recently announced by the federal government. It is critical that the downtown east side benefit from this announcement as there is a crisis in the lack of adequate housing, treatment facilities, income support and employment.
If the federal government is surprised by the skepticism from the local community, it is because we have witnessed the dire consequences of federal cuts, the elimination of federal funding for non-profit affordable housing and EI cutbacks.
We are told these funds will open an office and study ways to bring people together and solve safety concerns. Instead of jobs for social facilitators, we need to ensure that these funds are used for addiction treatment programs, improving social conditions and improved housing.
Will the government make a commitment to these basic needs? Will the federal government make it clear that the focus will be on programs and services that will directly benefit those in need who live in the downtown east side?