The B.C. Supreme Court has granted an injunction ordering the B次元官网网址榙ecampmentB次元官网网址� of people living in the tent city of SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Regina Park.
Residents of Regina Park have been told they must leave by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11. At that time the area will be fenced off and Saanich will begin remediation efforts. The tent city has been set up since May.
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Justice Ward Branch cited the increased fire risk as a main factor in the decision. He said the residents had a reasonable time to meet the conditions of the terms of the fire order from the Saanich Fire Department but failed to do so.
The defenceB次元官网网址檚 key argument in the trial was the need for daytime shelter for people experiencing homelessness. This is in addition to the recently amended Saanich bylaw that permits temporary, overnight sheltering in non-sensitive parks between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m.
Branch said that by making a case for daytime shelter the defence is trying to B次元官网网址渟teer the law in a new direction,B次元官网网址� and noted the defence is facing an B次元官网网址渦phill legal battle.B次元官网网址�
Among the reasons listed was the loss of use for residents wanting to visit Regina Park, though Branch also noted it is a little used park with minimal maintenane and no planned events.
He also listed off recent social housing developments in the region in defense of the provinceB次元官网网址檚 efforts.
B次元官网网址淭his is a death sentence,B次元官网网址� said Chrissy Brett, organizer and representative of Camp Namegans. B次元官网网址淭his will cost lives, there will be more lives lost on the street, in dumpsters, donation bins and overdoses.
Brett pointed to the B.C. CoronerB次元官网网址檚 report that said people experiencing , rather than those who are housed.
On Thursday Brett met with the very Saanich Police officer who (over a dispute about a cigarette).
B次元官网网址淭he police understand B次元官网网址� working with people to understand there is some humanity and compassion from that side,B次元官网网址� Brett said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hopeful if there are residents working towards [complying] with the order and havenB次元官网网址檛 quite met it, there may be a choice with the police to work with residents who are working to comply, to [let them] leave the encampment in a way that makes sense to them.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 see this serving anyoneB次元官网网址檚 best interests and in fact it puts the residents there at risk,B次元官网网址� said Stephen Portman from Together Against Poverty Society, who has spent most of his career working with people who live in poverty. B次元官网网址淲e have a gentleman who died in a trash compactor, thatB次元官网网址檚 how people die who are homeless.B次元官网网址�
No one has died at Camp Namegans, they have safety and security there, Portman added.
The court heard BranchB次元官网网址檚 deliberation, often referencing previous tent city cases such as Super Intent City and Cridge Park in Victoria and Abbotsford.
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Saanich lawyer Jeff Locke said theyB次元官网网址檒l test the soils of Regina Park soon and have contacted the person who led the B次元官网网址渞emediationB次元官网网址� of the courthouse lawn after the 2016 disbandment of Super Intent City.
Representatives expect it to take at least a few weeks, during which time staff would remove hazardous materials, mow the lawn, and put down eight to 12 inches of wood chips. Once deemed fire safe, Saanich would then allow residents to seek overnight shelter, while prohibiting camping during the day.
B次元官网网址淵ou work with this population and you know what people who are homeless go through, what people who live in poverty go through, and you see the community they built, the safety and security that they built there, that they have, and that itB次元官网网址檚 going to be torn from them, and put their lives at risk,B次元官网网址� Portman said. B次元官网网址淲hy are courts used to do decide where homeless people should live?In a civilized society we have a legislature, we have abundant resources in Victoria and Saanich, no reason the people there shoulnB次元官网网址檛 have a place to live.B次元官网网址�
Portman added the constitutionality of the bylaws are very much in question and TAPS will likely work with Camp Namegans to challenge the ruling. That case could take 10 months to begin.
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