The price of prosperity.
Alberta is, and always has been, one of the most economically sound provinces of our great country. It's vast natural resources, coupled with good management by conservative governments and hard working citizens , has brought our province to a position of great prosperity.
Our budget is balanced, we are debt free and last year, every man woman and child received 400.00 cash, in the form of a rebate cheque.
We have no provincial sales tax.
Jobs are plentiful, wages are on the rise.
And people are homeless.
As temperatures drop to near freezing, I was hard pressed to find comfort in my cozy bed last night.
Our local paper yesterday, addressed the growing problem of homelessness, with a vivid picture of makeshift tents set up in a local park.
People being turned away from shelters, because there is no room.
Low income families, being forced out of their homes, because rents are increasing to the point that even with two parents working for 10.00 an hour, they can't afford the rent.
In our nearest urban area, we have always had the homeless. These marginalized individuals, usually attached to some social service program, rehab center or psychiatric facility, have always been present. And services have been available to met their basic needs.
Not so now.
Rents have increased by upwards of 30% in just a few months. The housing market has followed suit, with the average family home rising from 200 to 300 thousand dollars in just a few months.
People are moving into the province, with assurances of plentiful, well paying jobs. Campgrounds are full, and seasonal closing dates have been extended, because there is just no where else to go.
People who earn 30.00 an hour, living with their family in a 5th wheel trailor, competing for any accomodation vacancy that comes up, at any price.
And the temperature hovers around 4C.
And the chill in my bones has nothing to do with the temperature.