[Dion]

A taxpayers’ watchdog group has uncovered evidence of tenants living in public housing who make more than $100,000.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released the results of an access-to-information request Tuesday showing there were 18 tenants renting units operated by the Calgary Housing Company who have annual incomes between $120,000 and $172,000.

In all, the CTF turned up 123 tenants with annual incomes exceeding $80,000 — and above income thresholds specified by the Calgary Housing Company to qualify for a unit.

“Social housing is there to provide for the poor and to house the people who would otherwise be on the street,” Fildebrandt said.

The CHC imposed income thresholds for LEM units in 2011, but officials said they are on periodic leases that can’t be terminated on the basis of a change in income.

“The provincial legislation does not allow us to simply evict them — they’ve done nothing wrong,” she said.

“I agree they need to move on, but it’s not the big number, the big issue it was in the past.”

There is a waiting list for approximately 3,000 Calgary Housing units, but MacLeod stressed most of the grandfathered high-income earners aren’t taking away spaces from people in that pool.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/al...971/story.html