I wish to express my dismay at the high level of intervention by all levels of government on behalf of the Middle East refugee immigrants now being brought to our shores and the comparative lack thereof on behalf of homeless Canadian citizens right here on Vancouver Island.
How can homes, medical care, counseling, jobs and bright-futures-in-general be promised to these immigrants when the same services cannot be promised to our own chronically disadvantaged people right here in our Island communities?
Please don’t get me wrong — I do not have a racist bone in my body. I truly feel for those poor Syrians, etc.
However, please tell me (and evidently many others of our equally sincerely concerned neighbours), how can warm, comfortable houses, apartments or even hotel suites be promised to the refugees while we have scores — perhaps even hundreds — of lifelong Canadian voters, taxpayers and contributors to our Island communities living in tents throughout the winter months?
I take my hat off to the churches and other charitable agencies who are always working so hard for all the disadvantaged — both Canadians and immigrant refugees; but I’m sorry to say that I believe that our governments — federal, provincial and municipal — are seriously dropping the ball when it comes to caring for a significant segment our own people.
John PlunkettQualicum Beach