According to Vancouver blog CityCaucus.com, Vancouver's homeless count cost taxpayers $75,000, with a number of consultants charging $800 per day. You can read the whole story here
The expense was complete waste of money because the next region-wide homeless count is to happen March 2011. That count is paid for by the federal government and private foundations. In 2008, the regional count cost $75,000, and that was for ALL the cities in Metro Vancouver, not just Vancouver itself.
At least they didn't hire people to be homeless, as did Toronto when it paid people $100 to be homeless for its homeless count. Real homeless people were banned from receiving the $100. For that escapade, the City of Toronto won the Canadian Taxpayers Federation's prestigious Teddy Award, given each year for the most appalling example of government waste.
This shameless waste of money puts Vancouver in the running for next years' Teddy.
Is Canada Off Track?
Canada has problems. You see them at gas station. You see them at the grocery store. You see them on your taxes.
Is anyone listening to you to find out where you think Canada’s off track and what you think we could do to make things better?
You can tell us what you think by filling out the survey