A failure to act sooner to the deteriorating situation surrounding the dilapidated Canadian Hotel and the fate of around 60 mostly working, single men living in the low-rent accommodation has resulted in the Government now facing an emergency crisis, according to Opposition deputy leader Jon Brunson.

And he claims the warning signs were clear for many years but nothing was done until the moment the hotel owner was told the building was too unsafe to be re-insured anymore.

There is now less that three weeks for the hotel occupants, mostly on low incomes, to find alternative accommodation. While Housing Minister Sen. David Burch has stated an emergency plan is in operation to find a new temporary home for the displaced men ? either at a building in Southside or short-term at Warwick Camp ? the crisis could have been avoided if there had been a long term plan for affordable or emergency housing, said Mr. Brunson.

The United Bermuda Party?s Shadow Minister for Works and Engineering fears the manner in which the hotel residents now suddenly jump to the front of those already on the emergency housing list is likely to create disenchantment and possible resentment among those waiting their turn to get help.

And he wonders if the Government has begun to plan the logistics to assist hotel residents on February 28 when they need to move themselves and their belongings from the hotel on Reid Street.

?The whole issue of emergency housing has been an issue that Government has really failed to address and it?s an issue that you can?t deal with on a crisis basis,? said Mr. Brunson.

?Government has known for years about the issue of the Canadian Hotel. This goes back to the time that Neville Bascome was responsible for housing. And the issue of insurability has been on the table for the last four years.?

?The fact the Government has admitted there are over 100 families on their emergency housing list has also identified that they should have an understanding that they have a real crisis on their hands,? said Mr. Brunson. ?The Canadian Hotel issue only adds fuel to that problem. How they go about resolving these issues is on a piecemeal basis.?

Along with fellow UBP Shadow Minister for Youth and Community and Cultural Affairs Gina Spence-Farmer, he has visited the hotel and spoken with residents to identify their needs, such as how much help they anticipate needing to move to a new location.

Mr. Brunson and Mrs. Spence-Farmer also how they feel about being thrust to the front of the Government?s emergency housing agenda.

He said: ?What message is Government sending if you take people who are in crisis and allow them to skip the line in front of people who are also in crisis?

?That?s why it?s important there be a plan and it be articulated to the people who are looking for, or need, affordable housing. Because it is going to create even more problems and emotional distress. It is going to be a ?what about me?? scenario.?

He added: ?One hotel resident was really concerned because it is not fair, but it?s survival. Would he turn it (the offer of emergency accommodation) down? He would have to think about it.

?A myth about the Canadian Hotel is that it is a bunch of undesirables living there. But the reality is they are some hard working Bermudians.

?They may have a career that washes pots and clearly they are not going to make a fortune doing that. But they are doing their best. They are either hard-working men, seniors, people with a disability, or single-parent families.?

In Mr. Brunson?s view the Government has failed because it has not planned ahead or set up a fair system for emergency housing that everyone can understand.

In the 2003 General Election he said the UBP had projected a ?real vision? to address the issue with a commitment to build at least 100 homes within two years if elected.

Mr. Brunson hopes the Government manages to get the Southside accommodation ready in time and he has tried to contact Sen. Burch to discuss the issue but not had his calls returned.

?At the end of the day it?s about helping the people there, they are good people. You have people who are disabled, who have belongings like microwaves, refrigerators, televisions.

?How are they going to get it out of there, when are they going to get it out of there and do they need it boxed? These are the types of human questions that come out of plan to deal with an emergency.

?It?s not just about where are they going to live its how are you going to get them to that location,? Mr. Brunson concluded. ?If you have to hire a truck there is a cost. Everything should be done to help them in the transition.?

UBP Shadow Minister for Women?s Affairs & Child & Family Services, Suzann Roberts-Holhouser, has viewed the Southside building on Tommy Fox Road earmarked for the residents.

The top floor is in use for emergency family housing, but the other two floors have been lying empty.

She recently met with Bermuda Housing Corporation general manager Vance Campbell and asked why the two other floors could not be made habitable to accommodate more mothers and families on the emergency list but was told there was no funding available.

Mrs. Roberts-Holhouser said: ?I understand they need to locate the individuals from the Canadian Hotel, but why are the women and children always taking a step back. ?If they have the funding now to correct the situation why has it taken them so long to do it??

She also wonders whether the adjacent building used by the Police might have some vacant floors that could be sued for the Canadian Hotel residents, adding: ?It?s deplorable the Government only look at emergencies as they arise but not at the emergencies that already exist.?