Sunday Morning Links

This and that for your Sunday reading.

- The Star-Phoenix duly calls out the Wall government's short-sighted slashing of funding for homeless shelters:

Regardless of how the government frames the changes, access to services is being denied to some of the most vulnerable people in the communities of Saskatoon and North Battleford.

And the government is saving money or aims to save money in the long run. This is short-sighted.

Taking away essential services only shifts the costs. The provincial government may be saving money, but the municipalities funding police may find their resources strained.

Studies have proven that housing the homeless can be far cheaper than leaving them on the streets and letting police and other emergency services deal with them. Offloading the cost and deflecting the criticism offers the attraction of making the province’s books look slightly better while sticking to the perception no cuts are being made.
...
Social Services officials need to realize their tightening of rules has really ripped holes in the social safety net and is allowing the most vulnerable to slip through. It will cost us all more in the long run.

[Update: And Cathie points out how the decision fits into the Saskatchewan Party's usual modus operandi.]

- Meanwhile, CBC reports on the federal government's refusal to fund medically necessary services for First Nations patients.

- Paul Willcocks reviews how the Christy Clark Libs' budget is designed to exacerbate inequality. And the Vancouver Sun is particularly critical of a rapidly-growing health care premium.

- Aleksandra Sagan highlights how increasing food prices are putting ever more pressure on lower-income households.

- Kelsey Johnston reports on the Libs' decision to abandon the Canadian Wheat Board or anything remotely resembling it. And PressProgress charts how farmers are suffering as a result of the ill-advised choice with the Libs are seemingly backing.

- Finally, Monia Mazigh looks at the Canadian Border Services Agency's extended detention of asylum seekers as an example of what happens when a state security apparatus lacks both a clearly-defined purpose and any meaningful accountability.