Dear Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,
In my belief your predecessor, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, did a lot of damage to Canada and I am hoping that you will be returning the Canada of old to the people and the international community. Your father was not loved by all, but remembered fondly by so many. You came out of a good cradle.
Your acceptance of 25,000 Syrian refugees is admirable and I know Canadians are rallying to help. As a former chapter founder for Amnesty International, I did a lot of work with refugees in the past and I know how hard the transition to a new country, new culture and new language can be for them. I too came from abroad.
But at the same time I pray that you also prioritize help for the homeless and impoverished in this country for they too are suffering and in need of shelter, food and medical attention, as well as a hand up. Hand outs are needed to make sure people have survivability but a hand up will forever change lives and allow people to be contributing members of society and have their self esteem and dignity restored.
With my recent personal experience of homelessness and poverty, I know firsthand what can happen and will use what I have seen and experienced to help others in need, and not allow the voice of seniors in need to be lost.
Since coming to Canada from Holland, I have lived in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. I have travelled our wonderful country and know how much it has to offer to young and old alike. With a responsible government, we can bring it back to, “Oh, Canada, how much we love you.”
The enormous suffering of seniors here is heart wrenching. People are not able to afford a place to live. In Vancouver, those invited and encouraged by Harper to invest in and buy up properties have made it impossible for long-standing Vancouverites (like your mother and myself) to find a reasonable place to live. People are being forced to leave. Many seniors are suffering silently.
I am praying that there will be a change for the homeless and for impoverished seniors. When I was in Holland, there was not such a thing as homelessness or starvation. Canada is one of the most beautiful and well off countries in the world. Let us attend to the needs of those who live within our borders while we also extend a helping hand to those in need around the world.
Sincerely,
H.H. Alexandra (The Saoshyant)
