Questions about personal privacy have joined a host of legal and political questions as the dispute between the District of Saanich and residents of the homeless camp at Regina Park is shifting towards the courts.

Leaders, residents and supporters of the homeless camp at Regina Park (Camp Namegans) stood in a searing late morning sun Wednesday amongst tents and other make-shift facilities (including a temporary barber shop) to denounce SaanichB次元官网网址檚 decision to, which now houses close to 100 people. The comments came as a surveillance camera has been set up to provide a live feed to the video platform Youtube.

Ashley Mollison, a community organizer with the Alliance against Displacement, denounced SaanichB次元官网网址檚 decision as a B次元官网网址渢ried but failedB次元官网网址� method to deal with homelessness, which has reached a crisis with .

A hearing in British Columbia Supreme Court scheduled for the week of Aug. 13 will hear SaanichB次元官网网址檚 request for an injunction against the camp.

B次元官网网址淚 hope we are successful, because we are at the limit to manage this situation,B次元官网网址� said Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell.

The municipality said in a release that B次元官网网址渋t has been unable to successful manage life safety in the park due to ongoing fire hazards, and the for the occupants, first responders and others who may visit the park.B次元官网网址�

Atwell also reiterated the point that the camp has placed what Saanich has called an B次元官网网址渆normous burdenB次元官网网址� on financial resources, including required support from police, fire and parks staff. According to a staff report, connected to the camp.

Mollison said Saanich has been disingenuous in its dealings. Instead of working towards a solution, the municipality has been using the last three months to collect evidence against the camp, she said.

Atwell said Saanich lacks the resources to provide housing for camp residents, adding Saanich has been working with the provincial government to find alternative housing.

Media gathered at the park Wednesday heard from at least three residents, each of whom said the after they had lost their previous homes.

Preparations for WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 press conference and portions of it happened under the

Victoria Drains made the feed publicly available on July 20, one day after Bullet Security had installed it, according to Scott Sheldrake, a company representative.

B次元官网网址淚 guess they had [next to the camp], and they also found a lot of needles,B次元官网网址� he said.

Sheldrake declined to comment on the ethics and privacy implications of the businessB次元官网网址� decision to live-broadcast images of the camp.

B次元官网网址淲e are just security contractors,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e are not ethics professors.B次元官网网址�

Sgt. Jereme Leslie of the Saanich Police said police are aware of the camera. B次元官网网址淭here is nothing criminal about installing a security camera,B次元官网网址� he said. Saanich Police have also not used the feed to track the camp and its residents, he said.

The office overseeing the information and privacy practices of public bodies and private organizations is aware of the camera, but declined to comment on its legality, because it did not wish to appear to prejudge any future investigations.

B次元官网网址淲e are aware of it,B次元官网网址� said Erin Beattie, director of communication, for the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.

Mollison was less reserved in her judgment.

B次元官网网址淏y providing a live stream of Camp Namegans on the Internet, itB次元官网网址檚 clear that their intentions are voyeuristic,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an extreme violation of privacy, and honestly, just creepy.B次元官网网址�

The owner of the company did not return a phone call seeking comment, and as of Thursday morning the feed remains publicly unavailable after going dark B次元官网网址� at least to the public B次元官网网址� Wednesday afternoon.

Sheldrake said Wednesday afternoon that the owner had shut down the feed for the press conference.