A tiny preface: I am aware that serving the public is a difficult thing to do. I admire those who run for, and are elected to, office. I hesitate, occasionally, to write critically about decisions that CBRM Councillors make and things they say. But people in our community do not have a place to live. This fact must be the focus of the conversation around our Council refusing 5 million dollars of funding for housing for some of those who need it immediately. 

This morning, two councillors appeared on Information Morning - Cape Breton to explain to host Steve Sutherland, and hence us, why they voted to send back the 5 million dollars that the federal government gave them under the Rapid Housing Initiative. (The federal government tells us that "The Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) provides funding to facilitate the rapid construction of new permanent affordable housing units for people and populations who have severe housing needs. As part of the National Housing Strategy (NHS), the RHI takes a human rights-based approach to housing.")

So, we have a problem. It is clear that at least two councillors voted to refuse this funding because, at least in part, people who use or have used drugs would be helped by the New Dawn/Ally Centre proposal. This is a sad thing to hear, but CBRM must not allow this lack of understanding around the complexity of helping vulnerable people guide public policy. 

A public meeting has been called for tomorrow morning to discuss this issue. It is my hope, and I am sure that I am not alone, that the New Dawn/Ally Centre proposal, as it has been deemed the most "ready" by relevant professionals, be supported by Council. 

CBRM Council must consider that Halifax, Moncton, Fredericton, St. John's, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Charlottetown, and Summerside have all received funding under the Rapid Housing Initiative and have been thankful for the opportunity to do something well, rapid, about acute housing needs.

Here is one example of how the funds have been used, in Charlottetown, PEI: Officially completed on November 10th, 2022, the first project located at 203 Fitzroy Street in Charlottetown, the modular four-storey building, a project by the Canadian Mental Health Association of PEI, contains 28 affordable studios and one-bedroom apartments for individuals dealing with mental health and/or addiction issues. This project received close to $7.9 million in funding from the Government of Canada through the Rapid Housing Initiative...

There is no acceptable reason to refuse 5 million dollars of funding for reducing homelessness in CBRM. 

Let's watch our Council get this right, beginning at 9:30 AM tomorrow, here. 

Our government has advice for us on how to avoid stigmatizing people who use drugs. You can access it here.