Councillor calls on Premier to act

“9.2 Despite section 9.1 of this Bylaw, where there is no accessible overnight shelter accommodation available within the City of Prince George, a homeless person may erect and occupy a temporary overnight shelter in an Open Space Area identified in section 1 of Schedule “A”, as attached and forming part of this Bylaw, but subject always to:

9.3 A temporary overnight shelter permitted under section 9.2 must not be erected or occupied before 7:00 p.m. on any one day, and must be taken down and removed from the Open Space Area before 9:00 a.m. on the next day following”

That was May 8th. It’s is July 26th, and the encampment on First Avenue is only growing. Not something that sits well with one City Councillor.

“So council approved the amendment of the parks open Spaces bylaw which would see that the location that we’re right beside here on first and George Street would not be permitted anymore,” says Councillor Kyle Sampson. “And so we knew that it was not going to happen overnight when approving it back in May. But, you know, the process is taking, I think, longer than I would like to see.” Back in November, a fire struck the encampment and Councillor Sampson says it’s concerning.

“It’s unsafe conditions for first responders. It’s unsafe conditions for the community as a whole. The congestion at that site is so dense that it’s not safe conditions, frankly. And I’m concerned for the public safety. The folks who are residing in that space. There’s no emergency access. Over at Lower Patricia, we created emergency access to get first responders in there to respond as necessary. Medical professionals, whoever needs to get in there.”

In early July, Premier David Eby was in Prince George and held a special sit down with City Council to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that set out two projects.

“Our memorandum of Understanding also includes a shared commitment to preventing encampments from taking hold in the first place by ensuring people can get the supports and housing they need when and where they need it. Our agreement includes partnering on two new programs. First, the Homeless Encampment Action Response Teams or heart program. Through this program together, we’ll be able to respond quickly to encampments to keep people safe and provide the supports and services people need to exit homelessness and prevent encampments from becoming entrenched. We won’t be doing this work alone. Hart will bring together local governments, indigenous and First Nations partners, Northern Health and nonprofit organizations. The second program is the Homeless Encampment Action Response, Temporary Housing Program or HEARTH Program.”

And according to Sampson, it’s time is due.

“We’ve engaged in meetings with them. We’ve come to an end. We have a Memorandum of Understanding with the Province. Yet here we are, you know, weeks after that memo has been signed and still no action. And so, you know, this is a provincial issue. The memo outlines that the province is taking on the responsibility in the jurisdiction over this. And we’re here to support and to the best of my knowledge, the city of Prince George is ready and willing and here to support whatever actions we can to make this a safer situation for everyone.”

He says it’s time for the City to ring up the Premier’s office once again and remind them of what commitments were made in July.

by Cheryl Jahn

Councillor calls on Premier to act

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