Encampments was one of the topics of discussion when Prince George Mayor Simon Yu met with Premier David Eby on Friday.
Eby was in Prince George last week, as he spoke at the Council of Forest Industry conference.
“He understands some of the situation we have, so he’s just making sure the programs that are going to be rolled out here in the days and months ahead are corresponding to the situation,” Yu said in an interview with Vista Radio.
“We had a fair exchange of fact, and what are the programs available to us.”
Also last week, Prince George City Council delayed a vote on proposed amendments to the city’s Parks and Open Spaces bylaw.
Yu said the main reason for the delay was because of Eby’s announcement of the province’s ‘Homes for People’ housing plan.
“We want to know a little more in detail of the province’s program regarding the ‘Homes for People’ action plan, how it’s rolled out, where it’s going to be, and what’s the vicinity to the current two encampments,” Yu said
“Now that we know a little bit more, we can certainly move forward with a little more confidence. This is part of the reason why the reading was delayed, because we anticipated this meeting, as well to learn a little bit more from BC Housing to see what type of facility they’ll roll out to the city.”
Yu added the city needs to know what type of zoning and location is needed to accommodate these facilities.
“That’s why we delayed the decision during the last council meeting, to make sure all these programs are coordinated in the most efficient way to service the people who need these services.”
Back in December, City Council also began a process to call on the province to have meetings with provincial ministries encompassing the social issues the city is facing.
Yu said they’ve had meetings with Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth, and Minister of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation Brenda Bailey.
“We requested all encompassing Minister meetings, of course we’d like to see all Ministers here to deal with all these files together, but they are very busy, and we are happy to receive them one at a time,” he said.
“The next Minister we’d like to hear from is the Minister of Health, we want to learn a little bit more about staffing, recruitment issues, bring more professionals to deal with mental health, as well as drug addiction issues. Once these ministries all come through, we will see as a city to designate a location to build a facility, to expedite finishing the two facilities we’ve been promised along First Avenue for housing the drug addiction and mental issue patients.”
Yu added they don’t know when the next Minister visits will be, but they’ve been told they’ll have the opportunity to speak with any Minister that will be passing through Prince George.
“Any meeting with a Minister is good, for them to better understand in Prince George the importance of this region, as a city to understand what they are doing,” he explained.
“Of course we will also meet in the next little while with our local MLAs and MPs to coordinate our action plan together as one people to bring the program forth to solve some of our problems here in Prince George, and to move us forward.”