SHADOW Health Minister Louise Jackson condemned Government over its handling of the closure of the Canadian Hotel claiming that the "emergency" should have been anticipated months ago.

And in a general assault on Government's track record, the Pembroke South West MP demanded to know when the Scott administration would start showing compassion for the poor.

Last week Housing Minister David Burch announced that the Canadian Hotel was to close at the end of the month, leaving nearly 60 boarding house tenants without a home.

Owner Ted Powell was forced to serve notice on his clients after failing to get the Reid Street property insured. The facility has been providing long-term, low-cost accommodation, with rooms costing less than $20 a night, for several decades.

Lt. Col. Burch said Government had quickly formulated a plan to house the tenants at a Southside complex, and refurbishment work on that property is now being carried out. If the premises is not ready by the end of the month, tenants will be given short-term shelter at Warwick Camp.

"We are dealing with an emergency situation so we must come up with an emergency solution," Col. Burch said this week.

"Is it ideal? Would I have chosen to do this? Certainly not."

But yesterday Mrs. Jackson hit back, claiming that the hotel's closure had been inevitable for some time.

And a Planning Department dossier on the property shows that Government ordered the closure more than four years ago. In January 2002 Planning officials wrote to Mr. Powell demanding that the complex be shut down within a month as it was no longer fit for occupation. The letter was written after fire personnel carried out a site visit the previous year.

"The Canadian Hotel has provided accommodation for many working men and others, who seek minimum accommodation," she said.

"Mr. Ted Powell has kindly allowed Government to use this facility to help clients, who would under ordinary circumstances be homeless. This kind gentleman agreed to an extension of this service far beyond the safe and healthy functionality of the building to accommodate Government.

"The impending end of this facility as fit for habitation was made very clear to all in power. Two years later the Canadian Hotel has been forced to close and the PLP Government has not lifted one finger to find an alternate accommodation for these clients.

"They are now scrambling around to house them with their Housing Minister, Lt. Col. Burch, acknowledging on television that his PLP Government must evict a mother and three small children from a BHC property because 'we have people living in tents, cars and on the beach in Bermuda'. Does that make it OK?

"Housing, health care and food are basic human rights in a civilised society. Surely Bermuda, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with a Government that espouses a "social agenda", can provide shelter for its homeless, helpless and poor.

The PLP Government has slashed the Salvation Army's subsidy in half for the last two years and made noises about being "fed up" with the request for financial assistance in housing the homeless, a task this Government does not appear to be up to.

"It must be noted that Government has taken no responsibility for housing the homeless except through minimal donations to the Salvation Army and Emergency housing through the Bermuda Housing Corporation, which has a list of over 200 clients, who are, for the most part, homeless.

Financial Assistance is unable to help clients who do not have an address. This, of course, leaves many sleeping in tents, on railway trails and on the beach ? in other words without recourse.

The construction of a homeless shelter for 250 occupants will take at least two years at best. Where are the plans and the hope for a roof over the heads of the men, women and babies of Bermuda until this PLP Government get their act together.

"The PLP Government has depended upon charities such as the Salvation Army and the charity of people like Ted Powell for the last seven years. The 'thanks' most charities have gotten for their good work is to have their budgets slashed! My question to this Government is, when will you have compassion for your poor, your helpless and your homeless?"

Col. Burch did not respond to questions from the by press time last night.