What's more important? Football profits or children?

This story from Winnipeg certainly makes me cringe:

Minister promises beds for foster children displaced by Grey Cup

Manitoba Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh promised new foster and group home beds Friday for children temporarily staying in Winnipeg hotels — some of whom will be moved out when football fans arrive next week for the Grey Cup.

Hotels in and around Winnipeg have been completely booked weeks and even months in advance of the Grey Cup final Nov. 19.

As a result, child welfare officials have had to find beds for some of the 127 children who have been living in hotel rooms in the past week while waiting to be placed in foster or group homes, as well as any other children needing emergency beds.

Child advocates said they were appalled by the news, especially given how many inconsistencies the children have had to endure in their lives.

"Not to say that the Grey Cup isn't important to a lot of people. It is, but I think children's lives should be more important," Billie Schibler, the province's children's advocate, said on Thursday.

No kidding. These children, removed from homes where they were neglected, abused or experienced other serious problems need to have their welfare and stability placed above hotel owners who want the profits from football fans in town for a big party.

Placing kids and families in hotel rooms in the first place isn't an ideal solution but it is common practice in emergency situations and kids who are traumatized certainly don't need to be moved around like furniture while they're trying to receive help. Since this isn't the first time this has happened in Winnipeg, where kids have also been displaced due to conventions and other activities, one would think some of those hotel owners would actually plan for such occurences and set aside a small block of rooms to help these children stay put. Whatever happened to civic duty?