We told you so!

Reprinted from the Oct. 16th issue of People`s Voice

Here at People's Voice we aren't shy about making the case for policies to put people before profits. Occasionally we have been accused of exaggerating the facts to make a political point. So it's great to see mainstream media reports which back up our arguments.

Here are two recent examples, starting with corporate taxation.

For years, we have called to stop the reduction of taxes on corporations, a neoliberal policy that puts an increasing burden on working people.

Don't take our word for it. Turns out that "the tax burden for businesses in Canada is second lowest among 14 major countries and lowest among developed countries, according to a KPMG survey of international tax competitiveness." (That's the Globe and Mail speaking on Sept. 25.)

KPMG's Elio Luongo (probably no relation to Roberto of the Vancouver Canucks) says that "the tax system is often what tips the scales" in attracting investment.

India had the lowest overall tax levels. China, Mexico and Russia ranged third, fourth and fifth. Among developed countries, Britain ranked second, followed by the Netherlands, the United States, Germany, Australia and Japan.

KPMG uses an index composed of corporate income tax, capital taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, local business taxes and statutory payroll taxes, using rates applicable as of Jan. 1, 2012.

Comparing major international cities, KPMG also found that Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal are all in the top 10 among 55 cities with populations of more than two million. All 16 Canadian cities analyzed by KPMG had lower tax rates than the least taxed U.S. city - Baton Rouge, Louisiana. So much for all the whining from corporate shills about Canada's "heavy tax burden"!

Then we come to the supposedly complex problem of homelessness. People's Voice has long stated that simply building more low-income housing would be a great way to cut spending on health care, emergency services, policing, etc. Too expensive, according to right-wing politicians and corporate think tanks.

Now, a new study by Stephen Gaetz, director of the Canadian Homelessness Research Network, based on research from across North America, suggests it's far cheaper to give a homeless person a place to live than to provide a patchwork of emergency services.

Gaetz says governments spend at least $4.5 billion a year dealing with homeless people, including the costs of emergency health care, mental‑health services, law enforcement, shelters and food banks. Their use of the health system is high and unpredictable, and many end up homeless again after brushes with the law upon release from jail.

For chronically homeless people who are frequent users of social services, the annual savings are $25,899 per person, enough for a "housing first" approach across Canada, according to the newly formed Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness.

$4.5 billion would build an estimated 45,000 housing units. Such an investment over several years would end street homelessness across Canada. Too expensive? No, and we'll continue to say "told you so".

How much does it cost to house the homeless?

1. Lock them away in a federal jail !              $80,000
2. Throw them in the provincial slammer!       $70,000
3. Let 'em rot in a shelter!                               $55,000
4. Supportive housing                                 $45,000

Source: Sustainable Urban Neighborhood Network, Vancouver, from Vancouver city and CBC research

Drop the 2010 Olympic Legacy of Poverty!

Young Communist League – BC Executive Committee

On November 17th it was announced that Millennium Water, the developer responsible for the 2010 Olympic Village, had gone into receivership. This means the value of the frivolous of excessive high-cost condos will be shouldered by the people of British Columbia. Yet another blow to B.C., the fightback must advance to block the further misuse of tax money.

British Columbians cannot shoulder the $750 million dollars for this housing, most of which is out of the reach of regular working people. The Young Communist League demands that corporate taxes be raised to cover the cost of the housing, and the project be transitioned into low-cost units for working class, low-income families.

Furthermore, corporate income tax should bare the complete burden of all low income housing. Dedicated homes for students must be provided at no cost for a truly accessible education system. Instead of paying out for the 2010 Olympic Circus, money must be used to fund real people and their immediate needs.

The fate of Millennium Water proves both that the poor planning of the Olympics is going to leave a lasting economic scar on B.C., and that the interests of working people are not being advanced by the Provincial and Vancouver Municipal governments. Now is the time for change, British Columbians cannot wait until the next election to boot out corporate politicians. Affordable, accessible housing now!

Gee, I only wanted to peel potatoes.

example of a volunteer application form

If you look at the scanned document closer you will find among the qualifications: "have a lifestyle free of sexual sin" and "be a member in good standing and active participant of a protestant evangelical church."



In 2005, I was a youth starting out in university and interested in a provincial government program that gave students tuition money for so many hours of volunteer work. I was interested in doing this as I had wanted to volunteer but was always too busy working at a minimum wage job that I didn't enjoy.

I thought I'd try out the soup kitchens in Winnipeg.



Well, there were many to choose from: Winnipeg Harvest which was the major foodbank, Siloam mission which had just moved into a recently closed down garment factory (which moved production overseas), and Union Gospel Mission, which had fortress like buildings in skid row areas of the city. On a whim I decided to hit the Union gospel one first. A man greeted me and buzzed me in. And I was told to wait. Another man showed up and called me into his office and showed me the forms now posted on this screen. He explained that in order to volunteer I had to be all of the things on the qualifications sheet (1st image) Well I looked at the form and thought "this is why we separate church and state".



I had two choices: either I lied through my teeth to accomplish my goal of getting a volunteer posistion, or I just say I am anything but the things on that form.

The Qualifications Form and me: (follow with the first scanned image)

1. I'm not born again.
2. I consider myself Catholic and hardly in any congregation.
3. Well, okay I guess I can agree with this one.
4. I enjoy a good drink now and then. And I still smoked back then.
5. I'm gay nothing wrong with that. Except in the eyes of Union Gospel, I'm Damned.
6. Who knows, but I'm guessing a big NO on this one.

I questioned to myself the legality of this set of forms. It's a church, albeit a right-wing church by the sounds of it so I did not push the matter. "Oh well" I thought. I had school to worry about first, and bills to pay, before I find out more on that. And finding out more through a government office in Doer's Manitoba is like pulling teeth. Sort of like filing for EI. "Meh". I just say I am not all of the things the form says I should be for volunteering.

So, that said and done he was kind enough to suggest Winnipeg Harvest. But I figured volunteering at that point was more hard to get a position than an actual paying job. So next time I feel like working at a soup kitchen, I'll find the local food not bombs.

After this episode I was interested in the history of such missions and found some books interesting among them how the other half lives (a classic, but full of outdated terms) and articles such as one explaining the term rice Christian. Are these missions simply doing good work or exploiting a person down on their luck? Given these new hard times I'm sure missions will be out for an audience much like any political group or union.