Tips: A choice can be half right. Check each part against the speaker's own words.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Bans are wrong when people have nowhere to go, so cities should open designated sites and expand addiction services.: Addiction services are one of the root causes housing advocates list. The speaker's own plan is faster supportive housing. They argue that criminalising homelessness does not address its root causes - a lack of affordable housing, mental health support, and addiction services. The answer likely lies in combining designated sites with accelerated investment in supportive housing.
• Bans are wrong because they break Charter rights, so cities should open designated sites and speed up supportive housing.: The Charter argument belongs to the Civil Liberties Association. The speaker's reason is that people have nowhere else to go. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has called camping bans a violation of Charter rights when shelter alternatives are unavailable. Personally, I believe that blanket camping bans are the wrong approach when people genuinely have nowhere else to go.
• Bans are wrong because they break Charter rights, so cities should open designated sites and expand addiction services.: Both parts come from other groups. The speaker objects when people have nowhere to go and wants faster supportive housing. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has called camping bans a violation of Charter rights when shelter alternatives are unavailable. The answer likely lies in combining designated sites with accelerated investment in supportive housing.

Correct Answer: Most people living near one park avoid it in summer.

Why this is correct: 58 percent of people near Confederation Park said they avoid it in summer. This backs the claim that camps make others feel shut out of parks. A City of Ottawa survey found that 58 percent of respondents near Confederation Park reported avoiding the area entirely during summer months due to encampment activity.

Tips: Notice who was asked in a survey, and when the problem happens.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Most people across Ottawa avoid city parks in summer.: The survey asked people near Confederation Park. It does not cover everyone in Ottawa or every park. A City of Ottawa survey found that 58 percent of respondents near Confederation Park reported avoiding the area entirely during summer months due to encampment activity.
• Most people living near one park avoid it at night.: The survey is about the summer months. Nothing is said about avoiding the park at night. A City of Ottawa survey found that 58 percent of respondents near Confederation Park reported avoiding the area entirely during summer months due to encampment activity.
• Most people across Ottawa avoid city parks at night.: Both parts are wrong. The survey asked people near one park, and it is about the summer. A City of Ottawa survey found that 58 percent of respondents near Confederation Park reported avoiding the area entirely during summer months due to encampment activity.

Correct Answer: A lack of affordable housing and addiction services.

Why this is correct: Housing advocates say criminalising homelessness does not fix its root causes. They name affordable housing, mental health support and addiction services. They argue that criminalising homelessness does not address its root causes - a lack of affordable housing, mental health support, and addiction services.

Tips: When a group lists causes, try to remember the items in the list.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A lack of shelter beds and outreach workers.: Shelter beds come up in the court case, and outreach workers in Edmonton. The opponents' root causes are housing, mental health and addiction. In a landmark 2023 British Columbia Supreme Court decision, a judge ruled that the City of Prince George could not enforce its camping bylaw because it had failed to provide adequate shelter beds. Edmonton recently introduced a managed camping programme that designates specific sites with portable toilets, waste collection, and outreach workers. They argue that criminalising homelessness does not address its root causes - a lack of affordable housing, mental health support, and addiction services.
• A lack of clean toilets and waste collection in camps.: Toilets and waste collection are features of Edmonton's managed sites. They are not what opponents say bans ignore. Edmonton recently introduced a managed camping programme that designates specific sites with portable toilets, waste collection, and outreach workers. They argue that criminalising homelessness does not address its root causes - a lack of affordable housing, mental health support, and addiction services.
• A lack of safe park space for families and seniors.: Safe park space for families is what ban supporters want. Opponents talk about the root causes of homelessness. A neighbourhood association in Vancouver's Strathcona district collected over 2,400 signatures last year demanding action after encampments expanded along Hastings Street. They argue that criminalising homelessness does not address its root causes - a lack of affordable housing, mental health support, and addiction services.

Correct Answer: The programme cut complaints, and linked many people with housing services.

Why this is correct: Early results show complaints fell by 40 percent. About 150 people were also connected with housing services in the first year. Early results suggest the programme has reduced complaints by 40 percent while connecting roughly 150 individuals with housing services in its first year.

Tips: Listen for what was measured, and check each part of a choice.

Why the other options are wrong:

• The programme cut complaints, and linked many people with addiction services.: The people were linked with housing services. Addiction services are one of the root causes that housing advocates name. They argue that criminalising homelessness does not address its root causes - a lack of affordable housing, mental health support, and addiction services. Early results suggest the programme has reduced complaints by 40 percent while connecting roughly 150 individuals with housing services in its first year.
• The programme cut disease cases, and linked many people with housing services.: Disease figures come from the doctor in Ontario. Edmonton's results are about complaints and housing links. He noted that hepatitis A cases linked to unsanitary conditions in outdoor camps rose by 23 percent in Ontario between 2022 and 2024. Early results suggest the programme has reduced complaints by 40 percent while connecting roughly 150 individuals with housing services in its first year.
• The programme cut disease cases, and linked many people with addiction services.: Both parts are wrong. The results show fewer complaints and about 150 people linked with housing services. Early results suggest the programme has reduced complaints by 40 percent while connecting roughly 150 individuals with housing services in its first year.

Correct Answer: Understanding, though still against blanket bans.

Why this is correct: The speaker calmly recognises that unmanaged camps create real problems. But the speaker still calls blanket bans the wrong approach. However, I also recognise that unmanaged encampments create real problems for neighbourhoods. Personally, I believe that blanket camping bans are the wrong approach when people genuinely have nowhere else to go.

Tips: Notice how strongly the speaker reacts, and whether the speaker's position changes.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Alarmed, and now in favour of bans in parks.: The speaker shows no alarm and does not back bans. The speaker recognises the problems but rejects blanket bans. However, I also recognise that unmanaged encampments create real problems for neighbourhoods. Personally, I believe that blanket camping bans are the wrong approach when people genuinely have nowhere else to go.
• Understanding, and now in favour of bans in parks.: The speaker does understand the problems. But the speaker still says blanket bans are the wrong approach. Personally, I believe that blanket camping bans are the wrong approach when people genuinely have nowhere else to go.
• Alarmed, though still against blanket bans.: The speaker rejects blanket bans, but the tone is calm. The speaker simply recognises that real problems exist. However, I also recognise that unmanaged encampments create real problems for neighbourhoods.

Correct Answer: About 123 cases, across Ontario as a whole.

Why this is correct: The doctor says these cases rose by 23 percent in Ontario between 2022 and 2024. So 100 cases would become about 123 across Ontario. He noted that hepatitis A cases linked to unsanitary conditions in outdoor camps rose by 23 percent in Ontario between 2022 and 2024.

Tips: Work out the answer from what you hear. Check both the place and the direction of change.

Why the other options are wrong:

• About 123 cases, in Toronto alone.: The doctor works at a Toronto hospital, but the figure is for all of Ontario. Dr. Rajiv Mehta, an emergency medicine physician at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, has pointed out that encampments often lack sanitation, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. He noted that hepatitis A cases linked to unsanitary conditions in outdoor camps rose by 23 percent in Ontario between 2022 and 2024.
• About 77 cases, across Ontario as a whole.: The cases rose by 23 percent. They did not fall, so the number goes up to about 123. He noted that hepatitis A cases linked to unsanitary conditions in outdoor camps rose by 23 percent in Ontario between 2022 and 2024.
• About 77 cases, in Toronto alone.: Both parts are wrong. The figure is for Ontario, and the cases went up, not down. He noted that hepatitis A cases linked to unsanitary conditions in outdoor camps rose by 23 percent in Ontario between 2022 and 2024.