Not our problem
Which level of government should care for our urban poor?
Nick Ternette
There is no real proof that Winnipeg’s panhandling bylaw
is making a difference to beggars or pedestrians, and I find
it amusing to watch Mayor Katz spin the bylaw.
I’m not sure the mayor even knows what bylaw he’s
talking about.
Is it former mayor Glen Murray’s aggressive panhandling
bylaw, which dealt with behaviour of panhandlers, or is it
Katz’s panhandling bylaw, which deals with location
of panhandling rather than aggressive behaviour?
Under the present panhandling bylaw, passive panhandlers can
be charged if they panhandle in a prohibited area.
Is this just window dressing? For instance, as the Free Press
suggested in a June 30 editorial, there is no context for
the 66 tickets that have been issued under the bylaw. Were
22 panhandlers ticketed three times times each, or were 11
panhandlers ticketed six times each, or were 66 panhandlers
ticketed once each?
Furthermore, no mention has been made of what has happened
to those who have been ticketed. How many have actually gone
to court? What fines, if any, have the judges charged, and
how many have actually paid?
Most important is the fact that when city council passed the
new panhandling bylaw the administration was directed, in
consultation with the social planning council, to develop
a framework to deal with the social components related to
health, housing, employment and substance-abuse issues faced
by panhandlers.
Nothing has come of this — so Katz and city council
have once again failed to deal with the causes of why panhandling
exists at all.
What’s more disturbing is the fact many Winnipeggers,
including Winnipeg Sun comment editor John Gleeson, feel the
issue of poverty is not the business of the city.
As Gleeson said in comments to me, “The reality is that
poverty concerns us all; however, city government is not mandated
to address health, employment, justice and other areas of
provincial and federal jurisdiction.
“For political
reasons, the city has delved into some of these areas, and
the result is duplication, waste, bureaucratic empire building
and clients falling between the cracks because, when more
than one level of government is involved, buck passing is
the norm.
“At the same time, the core services
that are the responsibility of the city (roads, for instance)
are neglected. The same taxpayers are funding services at
all three levels; efficient and accountable provision of services
requires that the government responsibly deliver them.”
Even if you agree with Gleeson, should city council, which
on more than one occasion has passed policies related to poverty,
now ignore these issues?
Even Gleeson agrees with me that it is hypocritical for council
to pass policies it doesn’t believe in. If the majority
of city council does not believe the issue of poverty is within
the city’s mandate, council should pass a resolution
clearly stating that poverty is the responsibility of the
provincial and federal governments.
Then citizens who believe that poverty is the city’s
responsibility could really make their votes count in the
upcoming October civic election.
Nick Ternette is a community and political activist, freelance
writer and broadcaster. |
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