Homelessness: Our Shame

Patrick Gossage • April 18, 2023

What could be more hopeless for a person in the GTA than having nothing – no home, no shelter, nothing to eat, no family or friends?

While, any night in this urban area, most of us live in comfort, over 11500 of our fellow citizens are homeless. Last winter hundreds were turned away from overcrowded shelters every night.  Nearly 200 homeless people die either in city facilities, living rough outside or in makeshift tents. Now Toronto is turning homeless youth out of hotel rooms into the street and its budget problems threaten to find shelters further reduced next winter. In the wider GTA, housing for the homeless is so overcrowded or unavailable that they go downtown where at least they can get a meal if not a bed.


One seventy-year-old man, recently turned out of his apartment, wandered the streets downtown. Nowhere to go, getting colder. he went into the emergency department at St. Michael’s hospital and amazingly a social worker greeted him and found him a bed and a meal. They see hundreds of homeless people every year. Emergency departments are last resorts as are riding on all-night streetcars, staying in all-night coffee shops if allowed, subway stations, stairwells. It is hard to fathom how desperate these sad people are. 


One only has to consider the grim situation of shelters with unwashed men lined up close together in rows of cots with no privacy to understand why many homeless people prefer living rough or in tents. Only the best run shelter facilities welcome couples or women. Only 13% of shelters in Canada welcome women who are often victims of partner abuse.

 

In York region dozens of homeless people out of the approximately 1,500 who are homeless on any night, live in tents in its many woodlands. Surveys have shown that these people, living outdoors or in encampments tend to have a greater degree of mental illness or addiction than those in shelters. They are looked after by LOFT which operates an outreach van providing a range of urgent-care services seven days a week for the homeless in the York Region.


Toronto has been much less welcoming and used police to clear three park encampments in the summer of 2021 with what was seen as unnecessary force. Former Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam, whose ward encompasses Moss Park where another encampment feared being cleared violently, said the City needs to rely on less police officers and more social workers with future encampment operations. One of the sad effects of forced removal is that residents often lose what few possessions they have. 


A recent Court ruling in Kitchener showed that for the first time homeless people occupying public land have rights too. Justice Michael J. Valente of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario found the encampment bylaws covering Kitchener, Ontario, violated people’s constitutional right to “life, liberty, and security of the person.” The bylaw violated the Charter rights of the residents in the absence of sufficient shelter spaces.” The Kitchener decision affirmed it’s not just about how many spaces are available in the city, but also about whether those spaces truly accommodate the needs of people experiencing homelessness. Mayors, including Tom Taylor of Newmarket, who is openly anti-tent, would do well to look at this ruling.


The homeless crisis is really an affordable housing crisis that was not even mentioned in the recent Ontario and federal budgets. In the recent inflation, interest rate and affordability crisis, policy makers have focused on making homes more affordable for middle class people and virtually ignored the real plight of low-income would-be owners and renters. Premier Doug Ford’s promise to build 1.5 million new homes in the $800,00 price range will do little for the underhoused. Leilani Farha, the global director of Make The Shift, an international group that promotes the right to housing, told the New York Times Ian Austen that Canada has one of the worst records globally when it comes to homelessness.


Curiously the most devastating cuts in federal funding for affordable housing came when the Jean Chrétien Liberal undertook a substantial welfare state restructuring, with the 1995 federal budget under then Finance Minister, Paul Martin.  By 1993, the federal government completely withdrew financial support for building new social or public housing. Investments were made in public housing beginning from the late 1940s, peaking in the 1960s. These involved cost-sharing arrangements between the federal and provincial governments. Between 1973 and 1992, the federal government partnered to create approximately 236,000 non-profit and co-operative units were created over those two decades. This golden age has not returned. 


The Current National Housing Strategy (NHS) is an ambitious, 10-year plan to invest over $72 billion to give more Canadians a place to call home. Since its launch in 2017, the government has committed over $26.5 billion to support the creation of over 106,100 units of affordable and the repair of over 254,600. We await the evidence of this major increase in truly affordable housing.


That homelessness is a much-ignored housing issue is undeniable. A 2021 York Region homelessness survey found unsurprisingly that one quarter (22%) of people reported being unable to pay rent/mortgage as one of the reasons for their homelessness in 2021 compared to 14% in 2018.


Few municipalities have tackled homelessness head on as well as Ottawa. The city’s street outreach services and shelter services have both shifted to a robust housing-focused approach, resulting in a 19% reduction in chronic homelessness. Ottawa’s 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan, updated in 2020, requires that 10% of new affordable housing units are supportive housing units. The City’s shift over the past decade from a traditional shelter model to the creation of more supportive housing units to address chronic homelessness has led to the creation of close to 800 supportive units across the city since 2006. Ottawa’s Built for Zero chronic homelessness baseline was set in January 2020. Since then three supportive housing buildings and several scattered units have been built, adding a total of 95 units to Ottawa’s supportive housing inventory. The success is based on the formation of Housing First teams.


Many of the public who do not understand that homeless people could be their neighbours oppose new projects to house the growing numbers of homeless in the GTA.  Aurora residents came out in force to a public planning meeting last month to oppose a Housing York proposal to build a new 55-unit transitional and emergency facility at 14452 Yonge St., meant to replace Blue Door’s aging Porter Place. This is one of the rare new purpose-built projects for the homeless in the GTA.


It is a shocking over 10 years wait for the 83,000 individuals and families needing rent geared to income housing in Toronto. Solving the homeless problem with new housing will not answer the growing crisis in any reasonable time period.


There is one organization with breakthrough thinking on a policy that could get homeless and vulnerable people into housing. In January, a press release made dramatic suggestions: the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) called on the federal government to take urgent action to support low-income Canadians with a new proposal for a Homelessness Prevention and Housing Benefit (HPHB). The benefit would provide immediate rental relief to up to 385,000 households at imminent risk of homelessness, help over 50,000 people leave homelessness, and reduce pressure on Canada’s overwhelmed homeless systems while saving all levels of government money by reducing demand on public systems like health care.  This is a potential solution that does not rely on a long wait for grand new affordable housing construction plans. It should be looked at.  


As we enjoy warmer weather and the homeless can once again be more comfortable under bridges and in the ravines and woods, we still have not as a society come to terms with the social and health costs of these thousands of human beings for which we seem to have so little sympathy. It is a shame. 

Patrick Gossage Insider Political Views

Immigration – Too much of a Good Thing

By Patrick Gossage • September 17, 2025
Welcoming newcomers, especially those fleeing wars, has been a widely accepted Canadian virtue. Now, after 25 years of a very open door. there is increasing evidence that we have too much of a good thing. And admittedly, it has been pre-PM Carney Liberal policies which have us in this situation. Where we are now was exemplified by PM Carney recently at the caucus retreat in Edmonton where said recent levels have not been "sustainable" and a more "focused" approach is required. "It's clear that we must improve our overall immigration policies," he said. It had been easy to be caught up in Justin Trudeau’s unabashed enthusiasm for high immigration levels exemplified by his warm personal welcome of the first Syrian refugees in December, 2015. On the fifth anniversary of his memorable event he happily announced: “In the years since, the Government of Canada has worked closely with Canadians, the business community, and civil society to resettle nearly 73,000 Syrian refugees in more than 350 communities across the country.” Few questioned our generosity and thousands of ordinary Canadians sponsored families. But opening our doors wide soon got out of control. In 2021, more than 8.3 million people, or almost one-quarter (23.0%) of the population, were, or had been, a landed immigrant. Canada’s population grew from 38 million to 41.5 million, representing the highest annual population growth rate since the post-war boom of 1957. Immigration now accounts for virtually all of Canada’s net labour force growth. It then became of public concern that temporary residents, including record numbers of temporary workers and foreign students accounted for 3 million of that number. In total, since 2015 we admitted 15 million temporary foreign workers in agriculture, hospitality and some manufacturing and processing jobs. They were seen to be exploited with lower wages and few rights. Foreign students with limits on hours they could work swelled these huge numbers. Inevitably, public support for high immigration levels dramatically flipped, where 58% of Canadians now believe there are too many immigrants being admitted to Canada. An Environics Poll in 2024 showed that f or the first time in a quarter century, a clear majority of Canadians say there is too much immigration, with this view strengthening considerably for the second consecutive year . Canadians’ express concerns about the arrival of so many newcomers contributing to the country’s problems with housing availability and affordability; this view is much more prominent than a year ago. Immigrants placing pressure on public finances, taking jobs from other Canadians, over-population, and insufficient screening are less prominent. Along with rising concerns about immigration levels, an increasing number of Canadians are expressing doubts about who is being admitted to the country and how well they are integrating into Canadian society. The new Carney government took action, gradually reducing permanent resident admissions to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027; introducing caps for temporary residents, including students and workers at 673,650 in 2025, a notable decrease in new international student admissions with only 163,000 new study permits projected for early 2025. This has led to serious financial shortfalls in many post-secondary institutions. There will be a decline in the overall Canadian population in 2025 and 2026 due to the projected outflows of temporary residents.The number of new temporary residents arriving in the country — made up of international students, foreign workers and refugee claimants — declined in the first six months of 2025, compared to the same period last year. These immigration statistics have been closely watched, with critics arguing the Liberal government’s high immigration intake has contributed to Canada’s runaway population growth and is straining the housing market and health-care system. In response, the government slashed the 2025 intakes of new permanent residents by 21 per cent to 395,000; new study permit holders by 10 per cent to 305,900; and new work permit holders by 16 per cent to 367,750. Accommodating the needs of refugees for resettlement and shelter has become a major issue and embarrassment. In the summer of 2023 many asylum seekers in Toronto ended up sleeping on the street. What a way to welcome them to Canada! Since September 2021, the number of refugee claimants housed in Toronto shelters has increased more than tenfold, from 530 per night to a peak of almost 6,500 per night by August 2024. Recently there were about 3,500 refugee claimants in the system, about 40 per cent of all clients. The mayor recently wrote a letter warning that Carney’s government had agreed to cover only 26 per cent of Toronto’s estimated costs for housing asylum seekers in its shelter system this year. Refugees are a federal responsibility, yet reduction in federal support leaves the municipality $107 million short. We still welcome asylum claimants unreservedly. From January-June 2015 over 57,000. The leader of the Official Opposition, Pierre Poilievre, is now determined to make immigration a major political issue. He is calling for a tougher stance, saying he wants to see "very hard caps" on the number of newcomers allowed into the country. Poilievre says the country has struggled to integrate newcomers and he wants to see more people leaving than coming in "while we catch up." "We have millions of people whose permits will expire over the next couple of years, and many of them will leave," he said. "We need more people leaving than coming for the next couple of years. He would scrap the Temporary Foreign workers program altogether. BC Premier David Eby also calls for the end of Canada's temporary foreign worker program — blaming Ottawa's flawed immigration policies for filling up homeless shelters and food banks. "The temporary foreign worker program is not working. It should be cancelled or significantly reformed," Eby said. "We can't have an immigration system that fills up our homeless shelters and our food banks. We can't have an immigration system that outpaces our ability to build schools and housing. And we can't have an immigration program that results in high youth unemployment,“ Despite these concerns, there is a bedrock of strong support for immigration which was manifested recently in Torontonians where over 150 teachers,.labour union members and families organized a noisy counter demonstration against about 50 right wing flag waving Canada Fist anti-immigrant demonstrators. They chanted “there is no space for hate at Christie Pits”, the site of the clash which led to many arrests. Torontonians enjoy the benefits of living, the world’s most multicultural city with its amazing variety of foods and cultures, and daily evidence from immigrants that their children are doing very well, thank you. But we await the end of the hopelessness that is apparently part of the lives of so many new arrivals, particularly refugees, and the needless exploitation of many other newcomers in menial and low paying jobs..

Deciphering the Canada/US tariff wars

By Patrick Gossage • August 12, 2025
1. Negatives - The sad truth about missing the August 1 deadline: Trump on July 31, 2025: ”We haven’t spoken to Canada today. He’s called.” Carney could not get through! Obviously, the President of Mexico did and got a 90 day reprieve. He may speak with Carney this week but clearly the PM’s relationship isn’t what we thought. Trump:: ”(Canda} has been very poorly led….Canda has treated US farmers “very badly” (our apparently untouchable dairy and poultry supply management regime remains a major irritant.). He still believes there is a “huge flow of fentanyl from Canada to the US that has to be stopped.” Trump said earlier he hasn’t “had “a lot of luck with Canada,” and reaching a deal wasn’t a priority for his administration. In addition, Trump intensified his trade war with Canada with A35% tariff just ahead of the August 1 deadline for an agreement, saying it would be "very hard" to make a deal with Canada after it gave its support to Palestinian statehood. “ Ford among others has called all along for a tougher approach and dollar for dollar reciprocal tariffs on US goods coming to Canda – which the White House dislikes claiming only Canada and China are imposing these tariffs. A recent Angus Reid poll suggests the proportion of those advising the PM and his team to “play hardball” has increased, from 63 to 69 per cent of the population compared to mid-July. Recently Carney has prepared us to accept there will be no deal without tariffs. In March he predicted “It is clear that the United States is no longer a reliable partner. It is possible that, with comprehensive negotiations, we will be able to restore some trust, but there will be no turning back,” On August 5 he said the focus now will be to preserve and reinforce CUSMA ahead of next year’s negotiations, adding “There’s a bigger picture there. Sounds like buying time? One journalist’s – Matt Guerny’sjudgment on Carney’s performance: “…the central conceit of the federal election three months ago was that we faced an unprecedented crisis requiring an unprecedented response…The Liberals made the case — and voters agreed — that Carney was the man to lead Canada’s emergency effort….But I will blame Carney for not doing the things that he can do, as fast as he can do them, and that very much includes moving fast enough to harden this country so that we can better withstand geopolitical and economic threats … threats like an erratic and unpredictable U.S. president.”. 2. Positives Government’s plan B: Carney - “Canada, we are in charge of our future. We can build a strong economy that doesn't depend on the United States. We can be masters in our own house.” Bill C5 envisions huge national infrastructure projects: “It’s time to unite this country and invest in nation-building infrastructure on a scale not seen in generations. Major nation-building projects will connect Canada and grow the economy in ways that last for generations, such as the Port of Churchill, hydrogen production in Edmonton, seizing vast solar potential in Cowessess, high-speed rail that starts with Windsor to Québec City, and a trade corridor to Grays Bay in Nunavut, amongst others.” However, we are still wiring for a major project to be green lit under the Build Canada Act. 50% Steel and Aluminum tariffs backfiring: GM and Ford announced billion-dollar losses and Ford’s best-selling aluminum body F150 pickup severely affected by aluminum tariffs. This noted by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bissent: “We will be negotiating with Canada on those.” Canadians deciding to not travel to US -and US alcohol being taken off Liquor Board shelves in provinces (except Sask and Alberta having an impact. This is "worse than tariffs", the boss of Jack Daniel's maker Brown-Forman says. Statistics Canada reporting a "steep decline" in Canadian travel to the U.S., particularly by land, and a -notable, drop in air travel. Big US coverage of impact on business in affected states. Leverage of Canadian rare earths and energy: Canada is a major energy exporter to the United States, particularly for oil, natural gas, and electricity. Canada supplies a significant portion of the US's crude oil, natural gas, and electricity imports. Specifically, Canada provides 60% of the crude oil and close to 100% of the natural gas imported by the U.S. Additionally, Canada supplies 85% of the electricity imported by the U.S. Canadian reciprocal counter tariffs: On March 3 2025 Trudeau announced a slew of retaliatory tariffs on US consumer and other goods entering Canada: Outlining the tiny amounts of Fentanyl crossing the border and investments in enhancing border security, he added : “Canada will not let this unjustified decision go unanswered. Should American tariffs come into effect tonight, Canada will, effective tomorrow, respond with 25 per cent tariffs against $155 billion of American goods – starting with tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods immediately, and tariffs on the remaining $125 billion on American products in 21 days’ time. Our tariffs will remain in place until the U.S. trade action is withdrawn.” August 4 th Carney said he may consider removing some. They have had an immediate impact on Canadian households. Tariffs hitting US consumers Proctor and Gamble announced last week it would raise prices on a wide range of consumer goods. Other manufacturers, from Porsche to Nestle to Adidas have announced the same thing. As have Walmart and Amazon which has raised prices on over 1200 items. Andrew Coyne on one sector Trump cannot control: “The Markets may be nevertheless prove to be Mr. Trump’s most implacable opponents.”
More Posts