Amid poverty issues, talk of a YouTube film
Thursday July 24 2008 It is dismaying to note in a wealthy country such as ours with strong social programs in place, poverty continues to be an issue. Even more alarming is the racialization of poverty— and this factor is of real concern, given that soon it will be only immigration that will fuel Canada’s labour market growth.

A public meeting by concerned citizens this week showed poverty may afflict all communities across all age groups... but it is the most vulnerable sections of our society, including the disabled, who suffer the most. And the laws of our land are structured in such a manner that it eventually lays low even those determined to avoid dipping into handouts, robbing them of their basic human dignity.

Again, those on disability keen to go out and fend for themselves find it just isn’t worth it for them to go get a job, since this pays them far less than the state handout.

While general policy initiatives will doubtless tackle such issues as childcare, housing, access to healthcare, etc., there are fears these won’t address the issue of disparities suffered by the historially disadvantaged, particularly the newcomers. Further, official data shows newcomers to our shores from a ‘non-white’ background are taking ever longer to integrate into the mainstream.

Against such sobering data— and on a totally different plane— we also have news about a film posted to YouTube showing devotees stealing from a gurdwara donation box right here in Brampton.

Is this a case of poverty speaking? Possibly— but not entirely. For, it transpires that the film was shot in 2006. Why, then, has it surfaced only now? Because, say insiders, there is currently a power struggle going on in the temple...

About time we started focussing on the big picture.

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