High-speed internet and housing for the homeless are the two concerns being looked at by members of Prince George City Council at the virtual Union of BC Municipalities Convention.
Mayor Lyn Hall is participating in a session supporting communities responding to homeless encampments.
Hall told MyPGNow.com while we don’t have any of those in the northern capital, he’s keeping his ear to the ground on different housing options for the homeless.
“Very similar to what we are doing with our integrated health model on 1st Avenue. Now, these aren’t short-term solutions, they are long term solutions but if you have housing or can provide housing to folks on the street but there needs to be mental health services or addiction services aligned with those housing opportunities.”
“I think from my perspective it’s about managing, how can we manage the homeless issue we are seeing not only downtown but in other parts of the city.”
Hall is keeping an eye on how the city will be able to spend their portion of the Safe Restart Program issued by Ottawa.
Since the pandemic began, the city is losing a million dollars a month in revenue.
Hall is looking to see how the city can spend the money.
“Where do we apply those dollars and if there are no restrictions to where those dollars can go, then where is it most needed and where can we close the gap? Where is the biggest gap that we have in funding to reduce that loss?
However, Hall hinted there is one area that could use the help.
(Photo supplied by Garth Frizzell)
“Our transit losses are great just like everybody else’s so that is one option that we have and will be looked at very carefully.”
In addition, councillor Garth Frizzell is tackling the issue of high-speed internet.
“We are going to be going over how BC can be better at rolling out high-speed internet to everybody because there is still a big group of Canadians who don’t have access at all to high-speed internet.”
On Thursday, Premier John Horgan and Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson will host their own sessions.