how many chances do we give them?
For years, we give politicians a chance.
Maybe this guy will do it.
Maybe this government will finally fix housing.
Maybe this leader will actually help people who are struggling.
Maybe the next budget will change things.
Maybe this time.
And then…
disappointment.
After disappointment.
After disappointment.
At some point, you have to stop asking people to wait.
We have given Ken Sim, David Eby and Mark Carney enormous opportunities to use their positions to make life better for millions of people.
And I keep thinking:
What could they have done with that opportunity?
Imagine having the power, the money, the staff, the influence and the microphone.
Imagine being able to leave office knowing you actually helped lift people out of poverty.
You helped people find homes.
You helped people stay in their homes.
You made healthcare easier to access.
You protected the environment.
You gave young people hope.
You made life a little less frightening for seniors.
You helped people get back on their feet.
That would be a legacy.
Instead, here we are.
People are still sleeping outside.
People are dying without stable housing.
Winter is coming.
And we still don't have enough affordable housing.
Meanwhile, governments announce billions in programs, infrastructure and economic initiatives.
The federal government says housing and homelessness are priorities, and its 2026–27 plan includes more than $1 billion in planned spending specifically under its Housing and Homelessness responsibility. But the government's own data also shows chronic homelessness among shelter users was 34% higher in 2024–25 than the 2016 baseline.
That number should stop us in our tracks.
Because behind every statistic is a person.
And then look at the safety net.
B.C.'s current disability-assistance table lists a maximum shelter allowance of $500 a month for one person.
Try finding a safe, decent place to live for that.
Go ahead.
I'll wait.
😪
This isn't about expecting politicians to perform miracles.
It's about asking them to recognize reality.
People cannot eat promises.
People cannot sleep in policy documents.
People cannot pay Vancouver-area rent with political speeches.
And we cannot keep building a society where people are forced to wait for help while their lives fall apart.
I believe in giving people chances.
But chances aren't unlimited.
At some point, we have to look at the results.
Not the slogans.
Not the photo opportunities.
Not the announcements.
The results.
Because leadership is an opportunity.
Power is an opportunity.
Public office is an opportunity.
And what you do with that opportunity matters.
I would love to see a politician leave office and have people say:
“That person made my life better.”
Not because they were perfect.
Not because they fixed everything.
But because they actually lifted people.
Helped people.
Built something.
Protected something.
Changed something.
That's what I want from government.
And honestly?
Winter is coming.
People are outside tonight.
People are hungry tonight.
People are wondering where they're going to sleep tonight.
So maybe it's time to stop asking:
“How much longer should we give them?”
And start asking:
“What are we going to do differently?”
Because people deserve more than another chance.
They deserve a chance of their own. ❤️
Teachers please educate the youth, they arecour future!
Here are 10 questions that could work well as a high-school classroom discussion — open-ended enough that students can disagree and think critically:
1. If you were given the opportunity to lead a city, province or country, what would you change first — and why?
2. How many chances should voters give a political leader before judging their record?
3. Is a government successful because of what it promises, what it spends, or what actually changes for people's lives? Explain.
4. What responsibilities does a government have toward people who cannot afford housing?
5. Why might homelessness continue even when governments spend large amounts of money addressing it?
6. Should governments prioritize helping people today, preparing for the future, or finding a balance between the two?
7. What makes someone a good political leader: their intentions, their decisions, their results, or something else?
8. If a government gives financial support to a corporation, what should the public receive in return?
9. How should young people decide whether a politician deserves their trust?
10. Imagine you became premier tomorrow. What is one thing you would want people to say about your leadership when your term ended?
#PoliticalLeadership #GovernmentAccountability #HousingCrisis #Homelessness #CivicEngagement #YouthVoices #CriticalThinking #Democracy #PublicPolicy #FutureLeaders
