Dozens of Saanich police officers were on site Tuesday evicting residents of SaanichB次元官网网址檚 newest tent city where they arrested one woman in support of the camp, for crossing the police line.

Marilou Gagnon, an associate professor at the University of Victoria, tweeted about the arrest from the Carey Road camp.

B次元官网网址淎t 7:30, residents of #NamegansNation were woken up by police, surrounded by 50-70 officers, told to leave or they will get arrested. One supporter was arrested for crossing the police tape with coffee in her hand. #homesnothate,B次元官网网址� read the tweet.

The camp, near Highway 17, is expected to snarl traffic, potentially causing delays.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 understand why the Ministry, social services, BC Housing and other government agencies canB次元官网网址檛 get together and solve this problem,B次元官网网址� said Blair, a resident of the tent city. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a small representation of a much larger population thatB次元官网网址檚 currently living in shelters or substandard housing or unaffordable housing.B次元官网网址�

As tent city residents left the Carey Road camp, Blair said they are trying to arrange transport for their belongings.

B次元官网网址淎pparently weB次元官网网址檙e going back to Rudd Park,B次元官网网址� he said, referring to where the campers settled after being evicted from Regina Park Sept. 11.

Police say they are clearing the group, which calls itself Namegans Nation, that settled at the Carey Road camp Sept. 15 after a letter from the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure evicted them from Regina Park.

B次元官网网址淚 would say that the approach police is taking is a tried and failed strategy of displacing and hiding homelessness,B次元官网网址� said spokesperson Ashley Mollison.

The province told the residentsB次元官网网址� lawyer that they would contact them prior to police arrival, but failed to do so, instead surprising the 75 campers, she explained.

B次元官网网址淧eople woke up to a police line and threats of arrests,B次元官网网址� Mollison added.

B次元官网网址淭his is a sad day for Canada, especially when Saanich Police said they were not a police state,B次元官网网址� camp leader Chrissy Brett said at the scene. B次元官网网址淎ctions speak louder than words.B次元官网网址�

slow moving traffic along Highway#17 as police continue to surround homeless camp at the corner of Ravine Way and Carey Road

B次元官网网址� Saanich B次元官网网址 (@saanichnews)