Stayin\’ awake – Michael Shapcott\’s blog

There will be a municipal debate on housing and homelessness issues in Ottawa tonight (Wednesday), but housing / homelessness have been absent in the Toronto municipal election – along with most other issues.

An “issue-free” election campaign may appeal to political fixers who want their candidates to avoid saying or doing anything that might risk upsetting any potential voters, but it does a real disservice to voters and residents.

Elections are an important time (not the only time) for candidates to set out their practical plans for their municipality.

Too bad that the people of Toronto, Canada’s largest municipality and one that remains mired in an affordable housing crisis and homelessness disaster, don’t appear to be getting that debate.

- Michael Shapcott

Malalai Joya is the youngest member of the Afghan assembly, and she paints a compelling picture of a government dominated by extremists (drug lords, war lords) who are every bit as bad as the former Taliban bosses.

She offers a compelling “inside” view of the real Afghanistan through her web site.

Malalai provides plenty of reasons to support the decision to immediately remove Canadian troops, who are merely supporting the U.S. invasion and propping up a corrupt government.

- Michael Shapcott

That mangy old cur with the scrofulous cough and a wizened hand extended for a few pennies may look alot like Lord Black of Crossharbour – wait a minute, it just might be the hallowed one himself!

News flash: Crossharbour cut down to beggar status!

Lord and Lady Black have had their assets frozen by a Canadian court, and the media is reporting that they are reduced to living on a fixed income of $20,000 (U.S.) a month! That’s just a measly $22,000 Canadian at current exchange rates.

The judge who made the order had an interesting sense of humour. That $22,000 is almost exactly the official poverty line for a two-person household in Toronto. Of course, the $22,000 poverty line is supposed to last a normal, two-person household for the entire year.

Lord Black, who has ambitions beyond mere mortals, naturally requires so much more for daily care and maintenance.

Once part of the nouveau riche, Lord Black is now among the nouveau poor.

Take Lord and Lady Black’s annual allowance of $264,000 and subtract the cost of shelter ($13,200 for a typical two-bedroom apartment in TO), and that leaves only about a quarter of a million dollars a year for their graces to eke out a meagre existence.

For the record: There are 175,190 households in Toronto that are forced to live on annual incomes of less than $20,000 (Canadian) per year, according to Statistics Canada.

Lord Black acquired much of his now inaccessible wealth through what can most politely be described as dexterous financing.

- Michael Shapcott

Start here, start today, to take action for peace.

- Michael Shapcott