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A question about task force money

Will somebody please answer the question of where the $166,320 in taxpayer funding has gone?

Your article in Tuesday’s paper, “Winter shelter announced,” brought welcome news. However, the question that I posed in my letter to the editor back in March 2016 is still unanswered. I asked “Where did the $166,320 that was given to the Oceanside Task Force on Homelessness go?”

The $166,320 was supposed to address homelessness in our District 69 Region. Rumour has it that it was “given” to VIHA (aka Island Health). If so, why did that happen? Who gave that money away? For what reason, and how has this money been spent?

I find it troubling that neither The NEWS nor Parksville city council nor MLA Michelle Stilwell have shown any interest in finding out where this money has gone. Instead we get lots of congratulatory backslaps on finally “finding” a building that could be used to house people who are currently homeless in our communities.

Will somebody please answer the question of where the $166,320 in taxpayer funding has gone?

L. Joan Sampson

Qualicum Beach