City applies for more downtown funding

“When other levels government, provincial government, for example, want to download something and say ‘Hey, we need your help housing,’ it’s great that they want to provide us with a grant to help initiate that,” says Councillor Kyle Sampson who initially sent up the red flag at Council. “But we have to be careful of is that we’re not taking on their work or taking on their work without a regular funding stream because comes on our tax burden and that’s not fair to the residents of Prince George.”

One of the initiatives the City will look at, should the application be successful, is a state-of-the-art needle disposal box at the harm reduction location.

“That has received an incredible amount of use,” says Bone. “So one of the initiatives that we’re asking funding for is to have four more of those boxes fabricated and installed in high-needs areas in the downtown.”

But that’s just one example of how the City has earmarked the month, should the application be successful. The City wants to use some funds to shift the perception of downtown safety.

“Over the past number of years, the City has implemented a whole range of public safety, inclusion, and cleanliness initiatives. We want the opportunity to let the public know about that. And to understand the services and supports that are in place to make people feel safe when they visit our downtown.”

The City will find out if its application is successful within three months. So, with that deadline, any initiatives funded under this second intake would not happen until late August.

by Cheryl Jahn

City applies for more downtown funding

What's Trending