Green party leader Elizabeth May had an eye-opening experience Friday while touring one of Canada's poorest neighbourhoods.
May walked through Vancouver's gritty Downtown Eastside with a throng of reporters, but didn't seem to impress many of the homeless there.
One man pushing a shopping cart yelled obscenities at May and told the crowd to get out of his way.
Another resident asked the Nova Scotian why she came to the area only during an election campaign, and May replied that she doesn't live in Vancouver.
The resident said he didn't believe her.
May toured the neighbourhood as part of her "B.C. Priorities" tour, a series of events happening across the province until Sunday.
Homelessness "scandal"
May told reporters poverty, homelessness and drug addiction in the Downtown Eastside "is a scandal" and must be dealt with.
"There's no question homelessness and poverty never get the attention they need because our political culture is one that celebrates excess and achievements and turns its eyes away from people sleeping on the streets," she said.
May says the Green party would tackle poverty by eliminating income tax for anyone earning less than $20,000 a year.
May says she also supports Insite, Vancouver's safe injection site, and says the Conservative condemnation of the drug facility was an attempt by the Harper government to win a majority government.
Greens rising
A new poll released by The Canadian Press and Harris/Decima Friday shows the Greens are gaining in B.C.
The survey, taken over the last four days, says 36 per cent of British Columbians polled would cast a ballot for the Tories in the upcoming election.
The Liberals and the NDP are in a dead heat, with 22 per cent support, with 18 per cent of those surveyed chose the Greens.
With a report from The Canadian Press
