Honestly, I don't believe politicians are making life better for everyone. The latest attempt to help with homelessness here in BC is BC Housing's Housing Matters BC and the Provincial Homelessness Initiative, which I have to say have been throwing money at it like no tomorrow. They've been behind quite a few renovations to older buildings to serve as low-income housing it the Vancouver area. That being said, Vancouver is still pushing for an easy solution to make an embarrassing problem disappear before the Olympics. As long as the Ministry is giving new clients a bus ticket and a lunch and sending them packing, there will be a problem. In The Fraser Valley we are experiencing slowly growing numbers attending the local food banks, shelters, and street missions. Here in Chilliwack, the number of people using these services has actually decreased due to unfavourable weather. With the coming of spring and summer, those numbers may see a rise as people filter down our way.

I can also say that the latest government cash grab, the Carbon Tax, really doesn't impress me at all. And the rebates they're giving out? Forget that and put the money towards services, or infrastructure (like a commuter rail line).

Locally, I can't say I am really impressed with the city of Chilliwack's efforts to help these people. Their Social Issues Advisory Committee was first formed 9 years ago, shortly after my wife was out there actually trying to help improve the situation with the first iteration of The Gypsy Project. It's taken them this long to actually come up with the infrastructure for a centralized repository of information, community service groups, and resources available to help people. At the rate they're going, The Gypsy Project with be back up and running with enough support to accomplish what they can't due to process and red tape.

My wife, Colleen, and about twenty volunteers were out cleaning the streets regularly in 1994-99 and meeting with people in an effort to get people living on the street feeling like they were valued community members and businesses feeling that these people had valuable skills and abilities. She also organized a poverty march back then, which succeeded in getting the rates for assistance raised. They had the support of the local government at that time, and my wife was responsible for the advent of or inspiration for many of the services available today, such as Ruth & Naomi's, The Bridge, etc... Due to her HIV positive status since December 23, 2003, we're back in Chilliwack running the project again. There are so many services available that we're having a hard time finding help getting started.

And yes, I'm aware that I diverge, but with the best of intent and hope that someone will find this relevant and helpful, and maybe even see merit in our efforts and want to help us.

God Bless,
adamvan2000
www.thegypsyproject.org

Danny Williams aside, the answer is mostly no. Danny though. Yeah. For sure. Oh, and Jack Harris and Lorraine Michaels the two latest leaders of the Newfouldland and Labrador NDP. There's a thankless job you have to do because you love it and not for any reward. People in NL just don't vote NDP, no matter how much sense it would make.

I believe that many are doing their best.
I have followed my Riding Members closely over (say) 35 years. I have a great respect for many of them; just a little respect for a few. The 'good' and 'bad' in my experience are not distinguised by Party - rather by their effort and honesty.

I have remained (casual) 'friends' with several well after their retirement from politics.

I see 2 very negative forces working against the (apparent) sincerity of most Provincial or Federal members.
First, the requirement to adhere to The Party Line, especially when that Party is in power means that many members have to speak and possibly vote against what may be t6heir own internal personal values. That is the way our system works. ( an aquaintance of mine served many years as a respected Member for our Riding. Then his Party came to power and he became a Minister, under a radical premier. Over 3-4 years the 'pressure' to toe the party line showed on his mental and physical health. He lost his last election by a thread. Days later he suffered a debilitating stroke (at a young age) He still lives, but has never recovered. I have always felt pain for him, his wife and family.
Secondly , the Question Period phenomenon has become an often disgusting display of crudities and disrespect - for the grandstanding pictures that the performers hope will make the video or written News. I feel that our parliament /. legislatures should adopt MUCH stricter rules of conduct Question Period". I believe we would see a question / answer debate to be just as informative - maybe more so ! The present show is more of a 'roller derby' or 'WWF wrassling' show which a civilized country should not accept as the public face of politics.

Well, its hard to actually interpret their actions but, I dont think they're actually doing all they can,

Politicians can only do so much. There are those out there who work hard on behalf of their constituents. But I am afraid that there are many who are in it for the perks the vanity and the glory. Watch those politicians who jump from party to party and don't stand for anything
As far as making life better for everyone, you make life better for yourself by your own actions and work. Don't rely on the government to do it for you.

I was an elected official for a time. There is only so much one person can do, no matter what their individual constituents' demands are. Everyone must remember that an elected official must represent not only those who voted for him/her, but also those who didn't.

Politicians? What the **** have you been ingesting, inhaling, whatever...If there are a few that want change, they don't get into positions of power, or, if they do, they ARE changed pretty quickly, with a very few exeptions.

The current Politicians and Government of Canada, are comitted to making things better for the very wealthy and the rich, and much worse for the working poor.
Example: Redusing the GST, saves the poor only a few dollars. The wealthy will save tens of thousands.

this is a my veiw:
the politicians are mostly picking races or people with different preferences and makeing life hard for them, then it makes people angry because there either (1). the person being 'picked on' or (2). someone who thinks everyone should bew treated equally . then the people who agree with the politicians get angry and they do strange things and the others fight back. then the people who dont care take advantage of the caos to create more caos... ect .**this is a little over exagurated** there are also politicans who think good things, but no one seems to listen, funny how that is.