Woodwynn Farms in Central Saanich is protesting what they are calling eviction notices posted at the farm by the municipality on Wednesday.
In a statement, Richard Leblanc, Founder and Executive Director of the Creating Homefulness Society, said B次元官网网址楴o OccupancyB次元官网网址� orders B次元官网网址渨ere posted by municipal officials on Woodwynn FarmsB次元官网网址� Treatment Centre housing units, in a move that defies all logic.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 will not allow our participants to be put out on the streets,B次元官网网址� Leblanc stated. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 time for our provincial leadership to step in and do the right thing.B次元官网网址�
Leblanc is calling for action from the NDP government to stop what he is calling an eviction of the centreB次元官网网址檚 participants B次元官网网址渙nto the cold, rainy and drug-riddled streets. Only 12 days before Christmas.B次元官网网址�
Woodwynn Farms is home to the Society, which operates as a place where of Victoria and receive some treatment while working at the farm.
Most recently, the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) for housing on the property, which Leblanc and the Creating Homefulness SocietyB次元官网网址檚 board are preparing to dispute.
There was, recently, , which had been used as storage at the time.
Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor says it was that fire that prompted the District and the BC Safety Authority to conduct an inspection of the farmB次元官网网址檚 electrical system. It was that investigation, Windsor said, that led to the issuing of B次元官网网址楴o OccupancyB次元官网网址� orders on the RVs, washroom facilities and greenhouses on the property.
B次元官网网址淟ife safety was a major factor here,B次元官网网址� Windsor said in an interview. B次元官网网址淭he District also has outstanding issues on permits for washrooms there, which have no permits for water or wastewater connections.B次元官网网址�
He added heB次元官网网址檚 not sure the RVs onsite at Woodwynn are suitable for year-B次元官网网址榬ound occupancy, adding the District believes thereB次元官网网址檚 significant risk to people, which led to issuing the B次元官网网址楴o OccupancyB次元官网网址� orders.
Asked about the timing of these orders with the recent decision by the ALC to deny Woodwynn further occupancy permits, Windsor said it was coincidental.
B次元官网网址淲e waited a long time for the ALC decision. We asked them to weigh in on WoodwynnB次元官网网址檚 application B次元官网网址� we canB次元官网网址檛 supersede their authority.B次元官网网址�
Windsor said he knows people feel differently about the issue and thatB次元官网网址檚 why the District asked the ALC for its opinion.
He said the municipality will respect that decision.
B次元官网网址淎t this point, the District has taken the only action it can.B次元官网网址�
Should the operators of Woodwynn Farms opt to defy the B次元官网网址楴o OccupancyB次元官网网址� orders, the mayor said Central Saanich would seek legal advice as to how to proceed with the enforcement tools at their disposal.
In an interview, Leblanc said that the order B次元官网网址渨as a disappointment, not a surprise.B次元官网网址� They plan on defying the order, but they are uncertain of what that might mean for them.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 kind of in the hands of the authorities, the municipality and the province I supposeB次元官网网址eB次元官网网址檒l find out.B次元官网网址�
