News from within the empire - From a leftist perspective
With what will they pay the fines, Toronto?
With what?
Instead of sending them to jail, which is bad but they would at least have a roof and food, they will probably take their sleeping gear on cold days to make sure not all survive. Then they will probably still try to blame it on anyone trying to help the homeless, as can be expected from fascists.
they would at least have a roof and food
Oh they'll be made to pay an arm and a leg for the "privilege". In fact, given US For-profit prison system, I suspect this move is wholly intentional, with the purpose of creating precariat. Indentured workers, forced into labour, but with none of proletariat's power. Sounds like a bourgeoisie dream
This is how neo-liberals exploit the lumpen-proles, or the underclass.
They create the conditions that make crime inevitable, like taking the homelesses sleeping bags when it can go -20 degrees and they will freeze to death. People dont just give up and die in these situations, they commit crime.
It gives them a moral panic to 'be tough on'
Reganism 101 really, create a class of 'savages' and provide the solution.