By Cheryl Jahn

PG sends five resolutions to UBCM

Sep 3, 2021 | 3:25 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – There are three shelters in Prince George but many have restrictions on what you can bring with you into the shelter and so. it has become a bone of contention for those trying to come to the aid of the city’s homeless population.

And it’s the reason Councillor Cori Ramsay put forward – and Council endorsed – a resolution to be discussed at the Union of BC Municipalities convention.

It resolves that: ” the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) and Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) petition the provincial government and BC Housing to ensure the provision of a range of housing options for homeless individuals including no barrier housing options and services.”

“We need to meet people where they’re at. We can’t expect people to fit into ticky boxes. We all have different individual needs,” says Ramsay. “So I think if you start with no-barrier housing, it’s really going to stop the immediate problem.”

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But it will head to the convention as a late resolution.

“Those resolutions can come to the Executive,” explains Brian Frenkel, President of UBCM.

“Staff will prepare a report on all of the late or emerging issues on resolutions. And we will take a look at that at the September 12th Board meeting. Staff will have recommended on whether there’s policy on low-or no-barrier housing options in this case.”

But the City of Prince George has four other resolutions.

The first “…calls on the federal and provincial governments to increase the capacity at the national forensic lab services” and the second calls on the Attorney General “… to increase the capacity in the provincial court system through alternative coordinated initiatives. Those two have been endorsed by the UBCM Executive and will move forward.

The other two will be debated. They seek senior levels of government ” … for improved efficiencies in the prosecution of criminal offences” and “the creation of a comprehensive training model for RCMP members specific to mental health.”