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ShareEDITORIAL: Building a lasting Olympic legacy
November 25, 2008Building housing for the homeless and seniors could be a lasting Olympic legacy, while also helping to pull Canada out of an economic quagmire.
While the federal Conservatives have assured Canadians this country’s economic fundamentals are strong, many worrying trends have appeared. Even Prime Minister Stephen Harper has suggested tackling the problem by fast-tracking infrastructure spending to keep money flowing through the economy.
Recently, he met with the provincial premiers to get their opinions on what construction projects should be accelerated to pump up a deflating economy.
One area that would surely benefit from a federal boost is social housing, especially in B.C., where the pre-Olympic housing boom has fizzled to something more like a snap, crackle and pop.
Without something on the ground soon, B.C.’s highly visible and needy homeless people will continue to be this rich province’s shame.
Premier Gordon Campbell is acutely aware of the need to do something to shore up the flagging construction industry and provide decent housing to seniors, aboriginals and people living in bushes and on the streets.
It’s no shame for him to go hat-in-hand to the feds to exact a promise for more federal sponsorship of social housing.
The federal government was once a great leader in this important area of community development and Campbell realizes the province alone cannot underwrite the costs.
Some wonder at his recent conversion — new spending on housing was not part of the 10-point plan in his economic update last month.
Investing in social housing would not only leave a strong post-Olympic legacy, it would stimulate the economy while providing decent homes for people who need them.
Who would argue with those worthwhile outcomes?
— Tri-City News
