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Province joins SaanichB次元官网网址檚 legal fight against Regina Park homeless camp

The provincial government filed the injunction Friday
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The provincial government has joined Saanich in taking legal actions against the homeless camp in Camp Regina. Saanich B次元官网网址 file photo

The founder of the homeless camp in Regina Park said nothing has changed after the provincial government took legal steps against against the encampment Friday.

Provincial documents dated July 27 say the province has filed notice for a court hearing during the week of Aug. 13 to consider an injunction that calls on camp residents to B次元官网网址渧acate and cease the continuous occupationB次元官网网址 the provincial part of the encampment.

With this notice, the provincial government has added to the legal pressure facing almost 100 people currently occupying Regina Park. The District of Saanich has also asked for an injunction with a hearing scheduled for the week of Aug. 13.

While it is not clear whether the District and the provincial government have co-ordinated this timing, much points in that direction.

The filing in turn mentions familiar concerns about the campB次元官网网址檚 proximity to the Trans-Canada Highway, fire safety and its impact on the neighbourhood. The filing also appears to anticipate an argument from the camp residents by noting that the provincial government has already taken measures to help the residents. Previous applications for injunctions have failed because courts appeared reluctant to grant such orders in the absence of alternatives for affected individuals.

Fleming previewed this argument last week, when he said the province has been working together with Saanich to build modular supportive housing. The province has already built 300 modular housing spots with 700 remaining, he said.

Under an eventual arrangement, the municipality would supply the land, while the province would fund the site preparation and construction of modular housing with a supportive component. A non-profit group would operate the facility with funding from the provincial government.

B次元官网网址淚 think that [supportive housing] is a key part of winding up the camp at Regina Park,B次元官网网址 he said.

If the moves by Saanich and the province appeared co-ordinated, the response from the camp struck a familiar note.

B次元官网网址淪how me proof of jurisdiction,B次元官网网址 said Chrissy Brett, noting that the land in question remains unceded Indigenous territory. B次元官网网址淪how me a salesB次元官网网址 receipt.B次元官网网址

Specifically, they accused Saanich of using legal tools to deal with homelessness instead of addressing the problem. They also argued that the homeless camp and other like it represent an alternative to dispersing homeless individuals in absence of unavailable or inappropriate alternatives.

Brett echoed these comments, but also noted that the provincial government made less of a show in announcing its decision, when compared to Saanich.

Mum, meanwhile, is the word when comes to comments from Saanich councillors after the Saanich B次元官网网址 had sent them a catalogue of questions about the camp and their respective support for SaanichB次元官网网址檚 decision to take legal actions.

Of the councillors, who have responded so far, Coun. Brice, Brownoff, Haynes, and Sanders all declined to comment in noting that official comment has to come from Mayor Richard Atwell, who received the same questions.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 very important to wait while our application for an injunction is before the courts,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 comment at this time.B次元官网网址

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This photo shows a portion of the notice of injunction that the provincial government filed Friday against the homeless camp in Regina Park.


Wolf Depner

About the Author: Wolf Depner

I joined the national team with Black Press Media in 2023 from the Peninsula B次元官网网址 Review, where I had reported on Vancouver Island's Saanich Peninsula since 2019.
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