Vancouver More Liveable Than Toronto-

Vancouver doesn't have a plan for the poor but they do have one for drug addicts. Knowing our mayor's penchant for wanting to be No. 1, wanting doesn't make it so, he might decide to take at shot at the Vancouver model and increase the number of drug addicts.......

Troubled Vancouver area shows no plan for poor: UN

Updated Wed. Jun. 27 2007 8:18 PM ET

Canadian Press

The UN's population agency says Vancouver's troubled Downtown Eastside is the kind of price any city will pay if it fails to plan or house an expanding population of urban poor.

The article on the city accompanies a new report released Wednesday by the agency that deals with issues arising from increasing urban populations.

The report says about half of humanity -- some 3.3 billion people -- will be living in cities by next year.

It says that increase raises the threat of increased poverty and religious extremism unless the needs of growing urban populations are met.

In the article, the agency says that while Vancouver has been deemed one of the most liveable in the world, it also contains one of the poorest neighbourhoods -- home to an estimated 10,000 people, many of whom are drug addicts.

It says what makes the Downtown Eastside so different from other poor urban areas is that it is located one of the most prosperous cities in one of the world's most wealthy countries.