By Cheryl Jahn

BC Assembly of First Nations’ Chief upset with City

Jun 11, 2021 | 2:58 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The City is seeking a civil injunction to allow for the dismantling of homeless camps, like the one located across from the courthouse on George Street.

“We’ve seen these complex issues throughout the entire province and here we are,” explains Mayor Lyn Hall. “So, through a great deal of discussion, we decided to go in this direction.”

Mayor Hall says Council decided this was “the appropriate thing to do.”

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Not so, according to the Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

“Once again here we go with another level of government imposing a very punitive Colonial [solution] that is basically punishing poverty,” says Terry Teegee. He says the City hasn’t come up with any solutions, other than to tear down camps and force the homeless to another location.

“There’s really an issue here, a systemic issue, and we need to deal with that to get, really, to a safe and secure place for our people. And the vast majority of the homeless are Indigenous people.”

He says Mayor and Council were approached by a number of Aboriginal organizations, including the Prince George Native Friendship Centre, with a possible solution.

“So what is being proposed is to have a designated area somewhere in the city to provide water, perhaps shelter, some warming tents, toilets,” explains Chief Teegee. “Further to that, food to the homeless people and really a secured area and have a place where you could check, check out, et cetera.”

That designated camp would only remain in place until the new housing project on First Avenue is complete.

But this is far from the end of the story. Council will discuss a special Parks and Open Spaces bylaw during the June 14th meeting to give staff clear direction.

In the meantime, the folks in the camp on George Street have until June 25th to vacate or face a $100 fine.