Davenport MPP Tony Ruprecht opposes more supportive housing developments in his riding at 184 Wallace St.

But it’s his justification has drawn steep criticism, and a complaint to the Ontario Human Rights Commission (they’re everywhere these days, aren’t they?).

In a letter to the City of Toronto’s Committee of Adjustment he referred to,

…the daily struggles of shop owners trying to stop crazed individuals from stealing items outright and urinating in front of their shop doors.

He claimed his constituents were,

…angry that Government agencies seem blind to the fact that they are creating a ghetto-like atmosphere

and he encouraged them to

quote any part of my letter.

Well, that’s exactly what Linda Chamberlain and eight others are doing when they filed a complaint yesterday.

Chamberlain works at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and hers elf suffers from schitzophrenia and biploar disorder. She said,

It’s really devastating to hear people, especially a politician, discriminate against people with mental health issues.

But it’s not clear from the above quote whether Ruprecht was referring to mentally disabled, or simply people acting “crazy” in the colloquial maner. No statements of clarification are currently available.

Chamberlain herself is a success story in coping with mental illness, as described in her biography as a recipient of the Courage to Come Back Awards,

For over 20 years Linda Chamberlain was the “crazy woman” who people crossed the street to avoid. Sent from New Brunswick to Toronto at the age of 13 to live with her grandmother, Linda had to drop out of school to work to help make ends meet. Her family was ashamed of her mental health problems, which were diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder during frequent hospitalizations, beginning in 1980. This led to a break with her family and Linda found herself socially isolated, homeless and without any support to help her find the right medication. She turned to drinking to ease the pain of a life that seemed without dignity, purpose or hope.

With the help of a psychiatrist in 1993, Linda found permanent housing… she not only formed friendships, but also learned how to read, write and count.

To date, nobody is suggesting Chamberlain is simply acting paranoid. The Landsdowne neighbourhood does admittedly have his share of problems with crime and vagrancy.

The controversy likely arises directly from the housing development project in question, which is under review to convert it into a mental health institution.

Ruprecht is also reported to have opposed the plans while canvassing last year.

Updates

Ruprecht has reportedly issued an apology, which the Premier of Ontario has considered sufficient.

Federal Liberal MP has propose the following:

M-446 — January 30, 2008 — Mr. Martin (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca) — That, in the opinion of the House, subsection 13(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act should be deleted from the Act.

Liberal analysts have opposed the move:

Liberal MP Moves to Ensure Nazi Rights!
BigCityLib Strikes Back!
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An Open Letter to the Liberal Party of Canada
Warren Kinsella
Jan. 31, 2008

(Disclosure: Administrators of this site have clearly identified connections to the Liberal Party. We provide this piece to demonstrate that even Liberals are held to human rights standards.)