Dear Editor:
Re: No Task Force Alone Can Solve North Shore Housing Woes, April 17 Mailbox.
I wonder how many people living in the District of North Vancouver who read this letter were drawn to the key issue expressed that “there will not be any ‘affordable housing’ developed in the District of North Vancouver in the foreseeable future.” All too often there seems to be a sense of entitlement that there is a right for anyone to live here.
I have not seen anyone expressing interest in affordable housing at the top of the British Properties or in Shaughnessy. Why then would there be a requirement for anyone who wants to live here be given that opportunity?
Most people who own property here did not buy a house after completing their education. Perhaps, like many, they rented in one of the old three-story walk-ups until they had enough for a down payment on a condo or were given a down payment by family. They then moved up to a house at some later point in life when their income, through concerted effort, made it possible.
Too often, the efforts of most levels of government, albeit perhaps with the best of intentions, bend to the clamor of the minority rather than the interests of the majority as it makes for headlines and an appearance of “working for the community” when in many cases it is ensuring their name recognition for the next election.
We must strongly support efforts to ensure that everyone has safe and affordable housing and that it is a duty of every government to provide for those who cannot provide for themselves but not at whatever location they desire.
We need social responsibility at every level for all people. However, it is not the duty of government to level the financial playing field for everyone as that is a downward slope that has been tried in history with disastrous results.
Bruce Sanderson
North Vancouver
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