Prince George City Council will wait until another meeting to vote on proposed amendments to the Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw.
At Wednesday night’s meeting Council voted to postpone final reading and adoption of the amendments following the Provincial Government’s “Homes for People” housing plan that was announced last week.
“I am heartened by the attention, the voices have been loud, about, first it was housing, now encampments, now there’s mental health and addiction challenges, there are a full series of issues,” said Councillor Garth Frizzell.
“Municipalities have been saying it loudly, people have been saying it loudly, now we’re hearing that the province and the federal government is listening finally.”
“It gives us an opportunity to continue to hear from the community to consult with those impacted and more importantly and to get additional clarification and support from who are going to be directly responsible for the Ministry’s plan to support those living in encampments,” added Councillor Tim Bennett.
The proposed amendments to the Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw would allow overnight temporary sheltering in Prince George, but only in the Lower Patricia Encampment.
“The bylaw as it stands currently is a human rights violation,” said Councillor Cori Ramsay.
“People have the right, if there is not adequate shelter in our city, to overnight camp, in a civic park. Our bylaw currently says you cannot camp anywhere in the City of Prince George, and leaving it in this state means that it will remain a human rights violation. To be clear, postponing means that that’s where it’s going to stay, as a human rights violation. The update that council is considering is to bring this into compliance, so it’s not a human rights violation.”
Ramsay, along with other councillors noted the end goal was to not have any encampments in the city.
Mayor Simon Yu described the situation like a car stuck in snow.
“We look like we’re spinning wheels, so whether you’re in the driver seat, or we’re doing the pushing, to get out of snow to go where we want to go, foremost importance is for us to establish a trust between whoever’s driving it and whoever’s pushing it, we need to have some trust so we can put the pedal on, confidently move forward and get out of the ditch,” he said.
Prior to the meeting, a protest was held outside of City Hall by students who held another rally at the start of the month.
In the meantime, no-post concrete barriers will be placed within the encampment to ensure access for emergency services vehicles to get into the encampment safely in case of an emergency.
Other items discussed at the meeting included a rezoning bylaw to allow a manufactured home park on Twinberry Drive that was denied, and the Council Code of Conduct.