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A Nation Grappling Canada’s housing crisis has reached staggering proportions

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BY SIMONE J. SMITH

In the bustling streets of Toronto, where skyscrapers scrape the sky and dreams find their footing, a harsh reality looms large: the city’s housing crisis has reached staggering proportions. Across Canada, the echoes of this crisis reverberate, painting a sobering picture of a nation grappling with affordability woes and homelessness struggles.

Look around. Just a few years ago, you wouldn’t see this many people on the streets like that. A series of makeshift shelters, pieced together from cardboard and tattered blankets, line the sidewalks, offering shelter to the city’s homeless. It’s like a whole new neighborhood popping up overnight, and it’s not just the shelters. Think about all the times you come off the highway and see people begging for change.

When I can, I will offer what I have; I feel bad when I see their eyes downcast as they hold up cardboard signs, their desperation palpable even from the confines of my car. It’s heartbreaking. It’s easy to turn a blind eye when it’s not right in front of you, but we can’t ignore it. These are real people, with real struggles. As a newspaper, we have to continue to raise awareness. The more people know, the more we can do to help.

What is truly disturbing are the alarming statistics emanating from Toronto that truly punctuate the urgency of the situation. As we delve into the depths of this crisis, it becomes abundantly clear that understanding these numbers isn’t just a matter of curiosity—it’s a vital step towards crafting solutions and offering hope to those caught in the grip of uncertainty.

The gravity of Canada’s housing crisis, particularly the alarming rise in homelessness, casts a shadow over the nation’s social fabric and moral conscience. With each passing day, more individuals and families find themselves without stable shelter, confronting the harsh reality of life on the streets. Behind these stark statistics lie stories of human struggle, vulnerability, and despair, as people grapple with the fundamental need for a safe and dignified place to call home. The crisis not only undermines the basic human right to housing, but also exacerbates existing inequalities, pushing marginalized communities further to the margins.

This week, I have to share with you some very sobering stats on the state of Canada’s housing crisis, and especially alarming numbers coming out of Toronto after eight years of having Justin Trudeau as our Prime Minister.

As of October 2023, Toronto was sheltering 10,700 people and turning away approximately 275 others on a daily basis. Gord Tanner, the city’s Director of homelessness initiatives shared, “About 40% of the people in shelters are refugee claimants.”

There are a growing number of homeless people turning to ERs for shelter and warmth in Ontario. In Toronto hospitals specifically, those cold-weather ER visits by homeless people skyrocketed by 68%. The study (authored by Dr. Carolyn Snider) examined data that had been collected from hospitals across Ontario, documenting ER visits from the winter of 2018-19 through to last winter, ending March 31st, 2023.

City data shows the number of tents in ravines, parks and under bridges is more than double last spring’s count. To understand why camps have grown, Greg Cook — an outreach worker — says it’s as simple as looking at the numbers. “A rising number of people are losing the roofs over their heads, with 1,056 people entering shelters in February versus the 864 who moved out. An average of 158 people each day that month called to find a bed but were turned away. It’s a similar story month after month.”

In 2023, nearly two million Canadians accessed food banks and one million more Canadians are expected to use a food bank for the first time this year. This staggering demand is playing out at food banks and other food programs across the country. A report from Food Banks Canada found that with the cost-of-living skyrocketing, food bank usage rose to its highest level since the survey started in 1989. Anyone who works in any kind of food-security programming knows that things have gotten astonishingly worse.

What has the Canadian government been doing to handle this depressing situation? Well, the Liberals have promised to repurpose federal lands for housing multiple times, and they have not followed through, or delivered on this promise after nearly a decade. In 2015, the Liberal party promised that: “We will conduct an inventory of all available federal lands and buildings that could be repurposed and make some of these lands available at low cost for affordable housing.”

They also stated in the 2017 Liberal budget, “We are going to be making more federal lands available for the development of affordable housing.” Again, in the 2024 Budget “The federal government is conducting a rapid review of its entire federal lands portfolio to identify more land for housing.” Promises, promises, promises.

Okay, so what if you are not homeless; you work a great job, and make good money; how is life for the so-called average Canadian? According to the  RBC Housing Affordability Report, in Toronto, a household earning a median income needed to spend 84.8% of their income to cover the costs of owning an average home at market price. This metric has “Reached its worst level ever.” Nationally, it now takes 63.5% of income to buy an average priced home compared to 2015 when the same measure was 39.3%.

According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, the benchmark price of a home in Greater Toronto was $1,089,800 in February 2024, compared to $601,800 in October 2015. According to National Bank, it now takes 25 years to save for a down payment in Toronto. RBC reports show that housing affordability is at a historic low. Just 26% can afford a single-family home, down from 40% four years ago.

A new study from Zoocasa shows a major gap in housing affordability compared to the United States. Toronto and Dallas have nearly identical median incomes however when comparing the median home price and maximum affordability, “In Toronto, the gap more than triples that of Dallas. Households earning the median income in Toronto can afford homes costing around $355,892, which is $362,627 less than the median home price.”

Paying rent; life isn’t easy for you either. According to Ratehub.ca, the income required to purchase a home in Toronto rose by $11,100 in 2023, to a total of $218,100. According to Rentseeker.ca, the average two-bedroom asking rent in Toronto was $1,288 in the Fall of 2015, compared to $2,671 today, an increase of 107%. The February Rentals.ca report, showed that the average asking rents for residential properties hit a record high of $2,196 in January. This is an increase of 10% from just this time last year.

Thanks to our government’s inflationary, interest rate hiking policies, mortgage delinquencies are up 50%. The number of delinquencies are even more stark in Ontario and British Columbia, where they are up 135% and 62% respectively.

A new CIBC poll finds that entry to the housing market feels out of reach for the majority (76%) of Canadians who don’t own property.” (CIBC poll, April 11th, 2024).

Over the last ten years, average monthly mortgage payments increased in every city analyzed, with the majority of cities’ mortgage payments increasing by more than $1,000 and four cities increasing by more than $3,000 since 2013.

According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canada will have fewer housing starts in 2024 than in the previous year, and housing starts in 2025 – 2026 will still be lower than they were in 2020 – 2021. As a result of this, the CMHC has forecasted that demand will push housing prices “Beyond previous peak levels. This indicates a lack of short-term affordability improvement.”

As the problem deepens, it demands urgent and comprehensive action from policymakers, community leaders, and society at large to address root causes, expand affordable housing options, and provide support services for those in need. Only through concerted efforts and a shared commitment to compassion and social justice can Canada begin to alleviate the burden of homelessness and build a more inclusive and equitable society for all its citizens.

REFERENCES:

https://cpcmedia.nationbuilder.com/r?u=z1MYsohZnacMa0C2pNbQTZ8Br4zmrqZWlIb5NHQdfVAnkAyUtMiS2zvgNvCRKpHsGqKTLIrjhaI3jdeDdfkvlSEPWGu-6_nN_NiG8HjUTJyfmCeOxfTfMGzIUUDLCrwyo9UgIHXB4LBfvP_qbFszs4Rh_4M0cXL2k7jkfofihzWv4Sv7MGjZhAY3q2Tqq0iXN5uJVgg2APu9lkZg3rsquiE3dHszcV6xzv2bFeMPDKorSnQc31mZd7YJmWWfRzEDtA8Oq-bI3E98jc4nWfIM1wbQ661izyVKEd9dBWeFlhwrukuVJ0pQLkjIwFgKd34o&e=5a252b0821f7b129acb52c9e05714e33&utm_source=cpcmedia&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=housingpbojtfeng&n=2&test_email=1

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/homeownership-feels-out-of-reach-for-76-per-cent-of-canadians-who-don-t-own-property-cibc-poll-891938267.html

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/mortgage-holders-bc-ontario-missing-payments-q4-equifax-1.7134085

https://rentals.ca/blog/rentals-ca-february-2023-rent-report

https://www.nbc.ca/content/dam/bnc/taux-analyses/analyse-eco/logement/housing-affordability.pdf

https://www.rentseeker.ca/average-rent-prices-canada

https://www.crea.ca/housing-market-stats/mls-home-price-index/hpi-tool/

https://www.ratehub.ca/blog/2023-marks-a-terrible-year-for-home-affordability/

New Rental Data Shows the Average Cost of Rents across Canada

How Much More Affordable is Housing in the US Compared to Canada?

We, as humans are guaranteed certain things in life: stressors, taxes, bills and death are the first thoughts that pop to mind. It is not uncommon that many people find a hard time dealing with these daily life stressors, and at times will find themselves losing control over their lives. Simone Jennifer Smith’s great passion is using the gifts that have been given to her, to help educate her clients on how to live meaningful lives. The Hear to Help Team consists of powerfully motivated individuals, who like Simone, see that there is a need in this world; a need for real connection. As the founder and Director of Hear 2 Help, Simone leads a team that goes out into the community day to day, servicing families with their educational, legal and mental health needs.Her dedication shows in her Toronto Caribbean newspaper articles, and in her role as a host on the TCN TV Network.

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Forgetting isn’t just something to be annoyed about, it’s a smart way to survive

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Photo credit - Press Foto

BY KHADIJA KARIM

Have you ever forgotten someone’s name, or where you left your phone and thought, “Why can’t I remember anything?” Forgetting might feel frustrating, but it turns out that forgetting things can actually be good for you. Experts believe forgetting might be an important part of human survival and could even have benefits.

You probably think that remembering everything would be better, right? If you remembered every tiny detail, like what you had for breakfast three weeks ago, or the colour of every car you saw today, you would be overwhelmed. Our brains are constantly receiving information, and if we didn’t forget some of it, we wouldn’t be able to focus on what really matters at that time.

Forgetting helps you clear out information you don’t need, and it helps your brain remember the most useful memories. Think about how hard it would be to focus on important things if your mind was filled with random thoughts. Forgetting helps you stay focused and keeps your mind from getting lost.

So, why would evolution make us forget things? Early humans had to deal with dangerous environments that changed quickly. They needed to remember things that helped them survive, like where to find food, or how to avoid predators. They didn’t need to remember every small detail, like what happened last week. Forgetting information, they didn’t need allowed them to make quick decisions based on what was most important at that moment in time.

For example, if you remember a recent storm, you might make sure to stay inside or find shelter. If you remembered every storm you’d ever seen, it would be harder to make decisions about the present. Forgetting irrelevant details helps you stay on your feet and helps you react faster to new situations. This ability to forget likely helped early humans survive and make better decisions in their everyday lives.

Next time you forget something, don’t be too hard on yourself! Forgetting is a natural part of how our brains work and can actually help you stay focused on the important things. It might seem annoying at times, but it’s helping you make better decisions. Forgetting isn’t just something to be annoyed about, it’s a smart way to survive in a world that’s always changing!

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Blink equity dives deep into the gap between people of colour and decision-making roles in Canadian law firms

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Photo Credit: AI Image

BY ADRIAN REECE

Representation in the workforce has been a topic of conversation for years, particularly in positions of influence, where people can shift laws and create fair policies for all races. Representation in the legal system is an even more talked about subject, with many Black men being subjected to racism in courts and not being given fair sentencing by judges.

The fear of Black men entering the system is something that plagues mothers and fathers as they watch their children grow up.

Blink Equity, a company led by Pako Tshiamala, has created an audit called the Blink Score. This audit targets law firms and seeks to identify specific practices reflecting racial diversity among them in Toronto. A score is given based on a few key performance indicators. These KPIs include hiring practices, retention of diverse talent, and racial representation at every level.

The Blink Score project aims to analyze law firms in Ontario with more than 50 lawyers. The Blink Score is a measurement tool that holds law firms accountable for their representation. Firms will be ranked, and the information will be made public for anyone to access.

This process is ambitious and seeks to give Canadian citizens a glimpse into how many people are represented across the legal field. While more and more people have access to higher education, there is still a gap between obtaining that higher education and working in a setting where change can be made. The corporate world, at its highest points, is almost always one race across the board, and very rarely do people of colour get into their ranks. They are made out to be an example of how anyone from a particular race can achieve success. However, this is the exception, not the rule. Nepotism plays a role in societal success; connections are a factor, and loyalty to race, even if people are acquainted.

People of colour comprise 16% of the total lawyers across the province. Positions at all levels range from 6% to 27%. These numbers display the racial disparity among law practitioners in positions of influence. Becoming a lawyer is undoubtedly a huge accomplishment. Still, when entering the workforce with other seasoned professionals, your academic accolades become second to your professional achievements and your position in the company.

What do these rankings ultimately mean? A potential for DEI-inclusive practices, perhaps? That isn’t something that someone would want in this kind of profession. This kind of audit also opens law firms up to intense criticism from people who put merit above all other aspects of professional advancement. On the other hand, there is a potential for firms to receive clientele based on their blink score, with higher ones having the chance to bring in more race-based clients who can help that law firm grow.

It is only the beginning, and changes will undoubtedly be made in the legal field as Blink Equity continues to dive deep into the gap between people of colour and decision-making roles in these law firms. This audit has the power to shift the power scale, and place people of colour in higher positions. There are hierarchies in any profession, and while every Lawyer is qualified to do what they are trained to do, it is no shock that some are considerably better than others at their jobs. The ones who know how to use this audit to their advantage will rise above the others and create a representative image for themselves among their population.

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“The Pfizer Papers!” Documentation of worldwide genocide

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BY SIMONE J. SMITH

We are living in a world where promises of health and safety came packaged in a tiny vial, one injection was promoted by powerful governments, supported by respected institutions, and championed by legacy media worldwide. Sadly, beneath the surface, a darker truth emerged.

Reports from around the globe began to tell a different story—one that was not covered in the news cycles or press conferences. Families torn apart by unexpected losses, communities impacted in ways that few could have foreseen, and millions questioning what they had been told to believe.

Those who dared to question were silenced or dismissed (the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper being one of those sources). “Trust the science,” we were told. “It’s for the greater good.” As time went on, the truth became impossible to ignore.

Now, I bring more news to light—information that demands your attention and scrutiny. The time to passively listen has passed; this is the moment to understand what’s really at stake.

I reviewed an interview with Naomi Wolf, journalist and CEO of Daily Clout, which detailed the serious vaccine-related injuries that Pfizer and the FDA knew of by early 2021, but tried to hide from the public. I was introduced to “The Pfizer Papers: Pfizer’s Crimes Against Humanity.” What I learned is that Pfizer knew about the inadequacies of its COVID-19 vaccine trials and the vaccine’s many serious adverse effects, and so did the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA promoted the vaccines anyway — and later tried to hide the data from the public.

To produce “The Pfizer Papers,” Naomi, and Daily Clout Chief Operations Officer Amy Kelly convened thousands of volunteer scientists and doctors to analyze Pfizer data and supplementary data from other public reporting systems to capture the full scope of the vaccines’ effects. They obtained the data from the Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency, a group of more than 30 medical professionals and scientists who sued the FDA in 2021 and forced the agency to release the data, after the FDA refused to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request.

It was then that the federal court ordered the agency to release 450,000 internal documents pertaining to the licensing of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The data release was significantly and the documents so highly technical and scientific that according to Naomi, “No journalist could have the bandwidth to go through them all.”

The “Pfizer Papers” analysts found over 42,000 case reports detailing 158,893 adverse events reported to Pfizer in the first three months The centerpiece of “The Pfizer Papers” is the effect that the vaccine had on human reproduction. The papers reveal that Pfizer knew early on that the shots were causing menstrual issues. The company reported to the FDA that 72% of the recorded adverse events were in women. Of those, about 16% involved reproductive disorders and functions. In the clinical trials, thousands of women experienced: daily bleeding, hemorrhaging, and passing of tissue, and many other women reported that their menstrual cycle stopped completely.

Pfizer was aware that lipid nanoparticles from the shots accumulated in the ovaries and crossed the placental barrier, compromising the placenta and keeping nutrients from the baby in utero. According to the data, babies had to be delivered early, and women were hemorrhaging in childbirth.

Let us take us to another part of the world, where research has been done on other pharmaceutical companies. A group of Argentine scientists identified 55 chemical elements — not listed on package inserts — in the: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, CanSino, Sinopharm and Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines (according to a study published last week in the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice, and Research).

The samples also contained 11 of the 15 rare earth elements (they are heavier, silvery metals often used in manufacturing). These chemical elements, which include lanthanum, cerium and gadolinium, are lesser known to the general public than heavy metals, but have been shown to be highly toxic. By the end of 2023, global researchers had identified 24 undeclared chemical elements in the COVID-19 vaccine formulas.

Vaccines often include excipients — additives used as preservatives, adjuvants, stabilizers, or for other purposes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), substances used in the manufacture of a vaccine, but not listed in the contents of the final product should be listed somewhere in the package insert. Why is this important? Well, researchers argue it is because excipients can include allergens and other “hidden dangers” for vaccine recipients.

In one lot of the AstraZeneca vaccine, researchers identified 15 chemical elements, of which 14 were undeclared. In the other lot, they detected 21 elements of which 20 were undeclared. In the CanSino vial, they identified 22 elements, of which 20 were undeclared.

The three Pfizer vials contained 19, 16 and 21-23 undeclared elements respectively. The Moderna vials contained 21 and between 16-29 undeclared elements. The Sinopharm vials contained between 17-23 undeclared elements and the Sputnik V contained between 19-25 undetected elements.

“All of the heavy metals detected are linked to toxic effects on human health,” the researchers wrote. Although the metals occurred in different frequencies, many were present across multiple samples.

I am not going to go any further with this; I think you get the picture. We have been sold wolf cookies, very dangerous ones. These pharmaceutical companies must be held accountable. I am proud of anyone who has gone after them for retribution, and have received it. Regardless, in many ways, there is no repayment for a healthy life.

REFERENCES:

https://ijvtpr.com/index.php/IJVTPR/article/view/111

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/why-a-judge-ordered-fda-to-release-covid-19-vaccine-data-pronto

https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender_category/toxic-exposures/

Pfizer’s ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ — and Legacy Media’s Failure to Report on Them

55 Undeclared Chemical Elements — Including Heavy Metals — Found in COVID Vaccines

 

Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency

FDA Should Need Only ‘12 Weeks’ to Release Pfizer Data, Not 75 Years, Plaintiff Calculates

Judge Gives FDA 8 Months, Not 75 Years, to Produce Pfizer Safety Data

Most Studies Show COVID Vaccine Affects Menstrual Cycles, BMJ Review Finds

Report 38: Women Have Two and a Half Times Higher Risk of Adverse Events Than Men. Risk to Female Reproductive Functions Is Higher Still.

 

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