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March 10, 2003 - Montreal
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest tossed to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door." |
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This is an excerpt from a poem written by Emma Lazarus in 1883 which can be found on a plaque in a museum located at the base of the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately, this universal principle of good-will may not apply to the less than charitable ideals of the current Quebec government. Last week, Terry DiMonte of the Terry, Ted & Thumbs morning radio show on CHOM 97.7 FM, broke an appalling news story where Montreal's Helping Hands Food Bank of 6670 Jean-Mance (between Beaubien & St. Zotique) tel 514-490-1148, had their inventory and equipment seized by the Montreal TaxMan. The reason for the seizure was the food bank's failure to file for tax-exempt status. Helping Hands founder Everton Bagot has appealed to Mayor Gerald |
No Lady Liberty in Montreal |
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Tremblay without any success. The Mayor's office has refused to get involved, stating they cannot intervene in matters involving the Quebec Municipal Commission. Mr. Tremblay's apathetic stance toward this issue displays he is incapable of properly representing the rights of Montreal residents. To read the full Helping Hands story, please visit the Montreal Gazette. So, check this out. Your government tax dollars are being wasted on government employees who seize donated items which are intended to feed the poor and hungry. What does this say about us as a society? Is it ok to just sit around and allow this to happen? Those food items and equipment donated by the public were intended to feed the underpriviliged, not stuff the faces of those who already overeat. Helping Hands is an organization which receives no government subsidies and does not have a paid staff. When charitable organizations such as the Helping Hands Food Bank are assaulted by the government due to insensitive bureaucratic technicalities, we as a whole are distancing ourselves from the idealistic political principles which founded this country. People should not permit government to weild its ugly face at the expense of the needy. Government officials should be held accountable for actions which laugh in the face of democracy and opportunity. By taking such a hardnosed stance, what kind of dangerous message is the government sending to other noble individuals who wish to run charitable organizations? Has the government stooped so low to start attacking exceptional charitable organizations, instead of assisting them? Doesn't the government realize these are wonderful, hard working people who are using their valuable time to help the poorer residents? |
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And to make matters worse, this slam against the Montreal poor comes on the heels of Quebec Premier Bernard Landry's comment that poor people should manage to feed their children because even birds - with their tiny brains - can do it. Mr. Landry refused to apologize for this offensive and insulting remark. You can read the entire article at Canoe. To see more of Mr. Landry in all his glory, you can click here. And as if this winter has not been long enough, how about some more bad news? This Montreal Gazette story reports on the enormous increase in oil prices and the adverse affects to those who cannot afford it. It is unlikely the federal government will offer rebates to consumers as they did in 2001. Hey, at least the government is consistent - consistently insensitive to the needs of its people. This is Canada up here: heating is a necessity for survival, not a luxury. |
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Is the government attempting to distance themselves from the inherent responsibility to support the less fortunate members of society? Are they trying to instill an elitest mentality by playing hardball with the have-nots? The current government is obviously banking on the fact that the poorer sector does not have any pull at the polling booth. Whether this gamble pays off or not will be determined during the upcoming Quebec provincial election, which will likely be held on April 14th. Fighting it out are the incumbant Parti Quebecois, Action Democratique and Quebec Liberals. For more details on the election, check out this CNN story. If you would like to assist the Helping Hands Food Bank feed some people in need, please visit their web page here. If Quebec's poor and hungry cannot rely on their elected government officials for a helping hand, they should at least be able to count on their fellow neighbor. |
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