Bugged

It's odd, the things that inspire gratitude in a person.  Reading about MPP Michael Colle's intention to introduce private member's legislation called  The Tenants Right to Know - forcing landlords to disclose bedbug infestations- really affected me.  It's so rare that  issues plaguing the poor find their way into the public discourse and public policy, and bedbugs are a deeply creepy subject that, at least for now, only torments those who have little power and no voice.

It infuriates me when workers and administrators, all pulling down fair salaries (and some more than fair), seem to shrug off their responsibilities to their tenants, to their jobs, and instead feel themselves to be victims when a hero like  Joe Fiorito- mostly on his own- writes his damming columns. It's like the head of BP whining that he wants his life back when others have lost and will lose theirs.

I have sat across from a public housing executive who characterized Joe's last column on the subject as "one perspective." I looked at this well-dressed woman, who would never ever tolerate a family member being tortured nightly by these creatures, and I was instantly transported across the decades, back to a private boarding home stuffed with ex-psychiatric patients, back to a dark and gloomy hallway where eighty year old Anna  still stands eternally in my memory, shivering and humiliated in a greying full slip, her arms crossed over her chest, black spots racing over the thin material, waiting to be doused with chemicals to kill the lice.

No workers or administrators cared about her, either. Though she had been someone's daughter, had been someone's friend.  That is what makes everything so much worse, the notion that people know, even as they sit in fancy offices, or drive in expensive cars, they know and still, still,  men and women are left to their plight.

Imagine being afraid to lie down, afraid to sit, afraid to turn out the lights. 

Vulnerable people, decent people, people like you and I, not a separate species with different sensibilities, need champions.  Colle has stepped up, and I for one salute him. 

About Pat Capponi

Comments

[Sonny Yeung]

The Province have been hands off on this issue for a long time... The riding of Toronto Centre has the most bedbug issues and used to be represented by one of the current mayoral candidates at the provincial level...

[Michael Creek]

Hey folks,

For once a politician has not left us scratching our heads in disbelief Michael Colle’s private members bill is an example of doing the right thing for the right reason. So Mr. Colle many thanks for tackling this issue that has been plaguing our city for far too long.

[Cheryl Smith]

Beautiful.
You have won my vote by a landslide.

Now lets get on it! Not too many holidays and coffee breaks. People are slowly being eaten alive to the very bottoms of their souls.
Have you ever seen anyone afflicted with the Bug? Can you imagine what that must do to your whole world?
What would YOU want to do? I would want to take a shower and walk away from everything- home, possessions, and nude if I could.

My heart goes out for not only this, but for all the stigma and shame poured upon their open wounds; a willful insult to injury.

[Fionna]

I was plagued by bed bugs twice (both times from a laundromat) and can assure the public, they do not discriminate. They can be passed on from hotels, restaurants, the subway, movie theatres, coat rooms and even brushing by someone on the street. They are also very difficult to get rid of. Strict protocols must be followed and entire buildings must be treated in order to rid the units of the problem. If these are not followed, landlords and agencies are merely wasting valuable time and money at the tenant's expense.

Having been a community researcher for the Woodgreen project “All About Bed Bugs”, I tell you they are coming back with a vengeance and corners are often cut to save money or from sheer laziness. NOT good enough. It often comes down to a blame game especially when the tenants can ill afford rent and food no less the added cost of the materials necessary to combat the issue.

I personally tried to help an elderly gentleman (78yrs old) with his chronic problem. He had had bed bugs for 18 months and lived in affordable housing. He was frail, yet slept on a hard floor because he was scared to sleep on a mattress and subsequently threw it out. After speaking with a city councillor's office and building management; I was told they had no problem with me doing the clean up as they had tried. Oh they had tried, but their solution was that everything (and I mean everything) he owned would have to be put in the dumpster. A drastic and unnecessary step. If you are willing to put in the work (things can be put in the dryer at the highest heat for a length of time or even in the freezer) one's personal items don't need to be lost.

The best solution would be for everyone to educate themselves to this epidemic and know how to deal with the matter, then take the time and effort to curb the problem because these bugs were designed to survive just about anything (they don't have to feed for up to 18 months) and they multiply exponentially much like fleas.

[Fionna]

City of Toronto's bed bug page: http://www.toronto.ca/health/bedbugs/infoforprofessionals.htm

The Woodgreen Report: http://www.woodgreen.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6WSSiMTtpGY%3D&tabid=115

[Dawnmarie]

I'm grateful for Colle's intention, but I don't think the government can afford to ignore the bedbug issue much longer. Doing research on the topic has revealed how much of an issue this is everywhere for many people. Landlords having to disclose will lead to landlords dealing with the problem, if the wish to have new tenants.

[Golfingsteve]

Bedbugs isn't an issue about the poor. It's a public health issue. Bedbugs can affect anyone. Casting this as a "helping the poor" only furthers the misconception that bedbugs only affect the poor.