Why is it that these guys are willing to go to just about any ends to make it look like they care when in fact they refuse to do the one thing they have been told is needed over and over by the experts. Homeless people need to get realistic welfare and then need affordable housing, price based upon existing welfare rates. They will try everything in there power to avoid doing the right thing. Do you really believe that the police have time to chase down all the criminals and speeders in this province as well as now being the keeper of the homeless? Absolutely, shocking lack of reality by our governments across Canada.

It is just a new wrinkle in the way they can clean up the streets for the Olympics.

What the homeless need is really no more than what we ALL need, REALIST ~ affordable housing and a cost of living we can continue to meet from our incomes. From wherever those incomes come.

Our problem isn't that we couldn't provide that to EVERYONE, without removing anything from anyone, (so long as our overall actual and potential ability to 'produce' remains far in excess our our collective ability to 'consume'), but that we are hung up on the ridiculous moral prescription that no one should ever be made comfortable until after they've been made uncomfortable first. That's supposed to "build character", or something.

so we'll continue to try to deal with the "effects" of homelessness, and a host of other ills that plague us, instead of ever looking for and dealing with the "causes".

They actually did not want the rule of the "extreme weather" or having to have a reason to remove them. They actually wanted it wide open so that the police made the decision. I am glad that the rule was added. I would considered this a rights’ issue if it had not been added. I agree with the Realist and Denaljo as well. There are bills being passed without our knowledge in all levels of government which take away our rights bit by bit. One example of this is bill C6 which the federal government is looking at right now. IMO We all need to learn our rights and read our Constitution.

provide work at a wage that they can support themselves and a lot of problems will go away

In fact, welfare does provide adequate funds for room and board in this town. I know enough folks on welfare to say this. It does not, however, provide money for booze drugs or cigarettes. As well, there are virtually NO people amoung the true homeless (you know, the folks outside in a box in the cold) who are there because their job doesnt pay enough. All of the smoke and rhetoric just hides the real solutions. I would suggest that many of the homeless are not getting welfare, or are spending it on something other than food. By the way, if you have a history of not paying rent, welfare can pay it directly to the landlord. As a landlord i have no problems renting to welfare recipients whne they do this.
As for the suggestion that it has anything to do with sweeping the streets for the olympics, all i can say is :that old chestnut. I am sure many of those now knocking out police conspriacies are the same folks that had a lot of caustic things to say when the woman burned to death trying to stay warm last winter "the cops should have got her to a shelter and convinced her" and " cops just want street people to die". This is a law which is aimed at saving the lives of people who are incapable of making a rational choice. It will not sweep the streets clean but it might save the lives of a few people too out of it to survive a cold winter night.
I am unaware of any evidence that the RCMP wanted the right to pick people up at any time. Do you have any reference you could send me to caringsoul? If not why would you say this?
By the way guys, all they are going to do is take folks to the door of a shelter. They dont have to go in. How is blazes is that sweeping the streets of the homeless? Would you rather that these people suffer in the cold just to make your little political statement? If so, go down there and freeze your butt off. When the cops come and take you to a shelter, avail yourself of the right to be crazy and go on with the crusade.

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Docid=3633883

Here is the actual bill. And if you want other groups and peoples views on it just google it yourself. I do not know what sources you believe it so it is best if you do it yourself.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/10/29/bc-homeless-shelters-act.html

This is a piece done by CBC about the homeless from the street to shelter bill.

I do not say things from thin air but I respect your questioning. :}

I cant find any record of a first draft that would have allowed the authorities a free hand to pick up anyone they wanted. I did hear on CBC where entering the shelter would have been mandatory but that was changed. At any rate the act as it is now proposed does not seem unreasonable.
I did read that some shelters were not in favour of the idea. Not because it is an unreasonable infringement on our rights as citizens, but because they might already be full and the addition of extra people would cause problems. Go figure, first come first serve or what?

We should ask ourselves: do these people want their lives saved? Do they have a right to refuse? Of course. If I was in such a position and an addict, I would rather fall asleep in the cold than continue with a life of no control or future.