Stephen Rees's blog

Pete McMartin

This is not normally I subject I would go for here. But given my reaction to the latest sophistry from Kevin Falcon, we need to understand why people on SkyTrain get bugged by an “aggressive panhandler or nut”

Come to think of it, isn’t it time that someone told Mr Falcon that people with a mental illness should not be referred to as “nuts”. I applaud Rafe Mair for being open about his mental illness. I find it hard to do that myself, but I will stand alongside him and Corey O’Brien. And before you sneer, think on this: it can and probably will happen to you. It is a lot more likely than winning the lottery.

UPDATE This is now (Monday February 4) getting more attention on CBC News. Today the province is now talking about a 150 bed facility in the DTES before the Olympics – but as the former advocate for mentally ill (fired by the Liberals when they came to power) there are 2,000 people on the streets and another 1000 in shelters, all in need of care and not getting it.