Protestors march demanding solutions after city removes encampment site

“This is a complex issue and when you talk about immediate solutions, we may put a solution in place for 4-5 months and then that solution isn’t working anymore so we have to look at something but the looking at something different needs to include all those partner groups.” said Hall.

Hall says this problem doesn’t boil down to just a city issue but also an issue regarding agencies such as BC housing, the Ministry of Housing, and Northern Health authorities.

The mayor says he has committed to speak with an organizer of the rally on what they want to be done with the encampment site. Hall says that he wants to solve this problem, but he has concerns on how the solution might look like.

“I have some concerns on tent city, in some respects it’s a very slippery slope. For me it’s about where is the tent city, what does it look like? Is there security? Is public health taken care of? Those kinds of things.” said Hall.

Right now, the encampment site outside the courthouse has more people living there and organizers say they may have their own solution to help give them a permanent place to stay.

“The owner is considering selling the lot and that’s one of the things that I wanted to discuss with the mayor today. If someone were to purchase the lot privately, what are we allowed to do with that lot? Can we make it a garden and a place for the homeless to stay.” said Hutchison

Hutchison says that groups have offered help for those who are unhoused including purchasing port-a-potties and fire pits for them.

There’s no set date for the meeting with the mayor and organizers of the rally but Hall says it will happen soon.

by Oli Herrera

Protestors march demanding solutions after city removes encampment site

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