David Shebib, the Saanich mayoral candidate, who invited 20 homeless people to stay on a rural property Tuesday, was a subject of conversation during SaanichB次元官网网址檚 third all-candidatesB次元官网网址� forum, despite his absence.
B次元官网网址淢y understanding from the Saanich B次元官网网址 today is that David Shebib was trying to solve that problem himself, by inviting 20 campers to come to his property,B次元官网网址� said Rob Wickson, to gentle laughter from the audience, as the candidates addressed a question about homelessness. He added that the complexity of the issue goes beyond a 30-second soundbite and that any solution needs to involve the homeless themselves.
Shebib B次元官网网址� who is running for Saanich mayor against Wickson, as well as incumbent Richard Atwell, and Coun. Fred Haynes B次元官网网址� could not respond, because he has yet to attend any of the three all-candidates forums so far. He also skipped a forum exclusively for the mayoral candidates organized by the University of Victoria Tuesday afternoon.
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But Shebib, who has a checkered political past, injected himself into the public discourse about homelessness Tuesday, when he invited the remaining 20 to 25 homeless campers evicted from Goldstream Provincial Park to stay at 5090 West Saanich Rd., a rural property in Saanich.
Most of the group has been together since the tent city at Regina Park and wanted to stay together. They moved in Tuesday afternoon and set up camp next to the house, with the stated intention to remain at the location until Oct. 20.
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But this move has a hitch. While Shebib operated a business on that property, he is neither owner nor tenant, said Sam Seera, who co-owns the property with Gurpal Aujla.
While many attending TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 forum at Claremont Secondary school were likely unaware of ShebibB次元官网网址檚 ownership status, his move nonetheless gave the general subject of homelessness and the municipalityB次元官网网址檚 response an added currency.
Several of the 18 candidates for councillor B次元官网网址� all of them non-incumbent B次元官网网址� openly criticized the timing of SaanichB次元官网网址檚 decision to accept help from the provincial government to build supportive housing in exchange for municipal-owned land.
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Ned Taylor said he was disappointed that the municipality did not accept this exchange until two weeks ago.
B次元官网网址淭his issue has spiralled out of control,B次元官网网址� he said, adding Saanich should have been more pro-active. Rebecca Mersereau agreed. B次元官网网址淎 more compassionate response is also a more cost-effective response,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚 hate to say this, but IB次元官网网址檓 on running on a platform, to accept millions of dollars in free supportive housing, when offered from the provincial government, and I will lobby for more,B次元官网网址� said Teale Phelps Bondaroff, who accused the current council of dithering and failing the tent city residents.
Atwell, who had previously taken credit for securing the supportive housing, for his part attacked council for failing to support his initiative consider the former Emily Carr library as a potential housing site for occupants of the Regina Park tent city.
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a viable site,B次元官网网址� said Atwell. B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, the council has chosen to spend $2 million on a very minor renovation because we have three staff members in the hallways,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hat decision should be re-visited. ItB次元官网网址檚 a poor decision.B次元官网网址�
Coun. Fred Haynes acknowledged the complexity of the issue, adding that the homeless are active participants. Municipal, provincial and regional governments have committed $90 million dollars towards the issue, he added. He also broadly defended councilB次元官网网址檚 record.
B次元官网网址淵ou elected this council to take care, and we are taking care,B次元官网网址� he said.
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