When I first set out to write a paper on homelessness in Canada, my intention was to show that the problem is essentially the result of both Federal and Provincial Governments’ adoption of fiscal policies during the 1990’s that dismantled Canada’s social safety nets and welfare system. These actions were the result of the undue influence of the ideologies typically labeled neoconservative or neo-liberal, ideologies promoted by corporate Canada through agents like the Fraser Institute. In addition to creating the problem, ideology also influenced governments’ response to the problem. This response has been too influenced by ideology and not influenced enough by social science research and the best interests of the homeless.
