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HomeNewsPG Mayor responds to Canada-wide spotlight on controversial Safe Streets Bylaw

PG Mayor responds to Canada-wide spotlight on controversial Safe Streets Bylaw

The Safe Streets Bylaw in Prince George has attracted national attention.

The new legislation places much tighter restrictions on the homeless population where it is now an offense to solicit within 10 metres of certain businesses like restaurants, daycares, and liquor stores.

However, Mayor Lyn Hall told MyPGNow.com the early results from the bylaw have been positive.

“To this point, there have been no tickets written, no tickets handed out to anyone and the staff is really using this bylaw as an educational tool and an educational process.”

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“We knew that the bylaw was going to raise some concern in various areas of the community but we also felt it was a tool that could be applied and we can see early on that there has been some progress made with the bylaw.”

BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee has remained vehemently opposed to the bylaw since it was passed at the end of August.

“The issue of having a bylaw that is very punitive, that really, in essence, is punishing the poor for being poor is not the way to go.”

“We are ill-equipped, the city of Prince George is ill-equipped. The province and the federal government are ill-equipped. But if we can come together and figure out a solution perhaps the city of Prince George can be a template,”

During the August 30th council meeting, Dr. Joseph Hermer, an Associate Professor of Sociology from the University of Toronto who was introduced by Teegee, said this is one of the worst bylaws he’s come across.

“Isolation can kill vulnerable people and isolation of this sort is one of the main driving factors driving the overdose deaths generally, and particularly the isolation suffered during the pandemic,” said Hermer.

Supportive housing for our homeless population has been an issue for quite some time in the northern capital. Meanwhile, Hall noted the 50-unit integrated health model on 1st Avenue is taking shape – one of many housing options that have been passed to help deal with the social issues plaguing the city.

“As I say, I understand and respect Teegee’s comments. From a housing perspective, it’s important to know that the city itself cannot provide housing options but what the city can do is partner with BC Housing as we have done on the 1st Avenue project to increase the housing stock.”

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“The 50-units of housing on 1st Avenue is taking shape, the building is up and they are doing work on the inside now. We hope to see that open very early next year.”

In March, a proposal to deliver an additional 50 safe and supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness in Prince George is currently in the works between the provincial government and the city.

The new homes are proposed for 855 1st Avenue – the same block where the integrated housing model is taking shape.

Furthermore, the issue of open drug use reared its ugly head last month as groups like the Prince George Public Library and PG Sexual Assault Centre have either had to move locations or restrict public washroom access due to drug use and increased instances of vandalism.

These organizations are putting increased pressure on the city to help deal with the ongoing problem – most notably in the downtown core.

In addition, the Chamber of Commerce sounded off after noticing drug needles, foil wraps, and baggies on the front steps of a business.

with files from Brody Langager, Dione Wearmouth, MyPGNow.com staff.

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