NUISANCE BYLAW SUPPORTED

City council voted in favour of a proposed bylaw Monday that would impose fines for “nuisance” behaviour like panhandling, open drug use and camping in public areas.

While protesters advocating for the rights of the homeless camped on the lawn of city hall, a sometimes emotional debate about the Safe Streets Bylaw was going on inside city council chambers on Monday night.

In a divided vote, city council approved the first three readings of the Safe Streets Bylaw. Mayor Lyn Hall and councillors Garth Frizzell, Terri McConnachie, Kyle Sampson and Brian Skakun voted in favour, while councillors Frank Everitt, Murry Krause and Cori Ramsey were opposed. Susan Scott was absent.

Final reading of the bylaw is expected to come before city council on June 28.

If passed, bylaw officers could issue $100 tickets, with a $75 penalty for late payment, for “nuisance” behaviours.

Under the bylaw, it would be prohibited to panhandle within 10 metres of a bank or ATM, bus stop, daycare centre, liquor store, cannabis store, restaurant, coffee shop or convenience store.

The bylaw would also prohibit panhandling people in vehicles when they are parked, stopped at a traffic light or stop sign, filling up at a gas station, or in any way that obstructs traffic.

Panhandling would also be prohibited after sunset daily.

Bylaw officers could also ticket people for using prohibited drugs, or disposing of drug paraphernalia, on any street, open space area or park.

The proposed bylaw would also prohibit open burning on any street, open area or park, graffiti and sitting, lying down or physically approaching people in a way that causes an obstruction on a street or sidewalk.

Council voted to reject a proposed amendment to the Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw to allow homeless people to temporarily camp in designated areas, when shelters in the city are full.

Roughly 60 people gathered outside city hall on Monday night to voice their opposition to the eviction of a homeless camp on George Street and proposed bylaw changes that would allow the city to ticket people for panhandling, open drug use and camping in public areas.

Tents were set up on the lawn of city hall, and members of the Together We Stand group planned to camp out overnight to show their support for the homeless. Group member Amelia Merrick said she’s concerned as a citizen of Prince George about how the city treats its most vulnerable citizens.

“I want to live in a society where we have respect for people regardless if they are homeless or precariously housed,” Merrick said. “These proposed bylaws just further criminalize the poor.”

Last Thursday, the city announced it intends to seek an injunction to evict campers on a vacant lot on George Street across from the court house.

“Where are they supposed to go? There has to be a plan in place,” Merrick said.

In a statement issued prior to Monday’s rally, Together We Stand called on city council to reject the proposed Safe Streets Bylaw and other bylaw amendments.

“Proposed amendments to bylaws No. 7370, 2002 and No. 9211, 2021 increase chaos to homeless and precariously-housed persons and the social service agencies who support them,” the statement said. “These amendments are harmful to people, unhelpful for Indigenous organizations, non-profits and social service agencies, damaging to businesses and expensive.”

The group called on the city to develop an emergency shelter plan that meets people’s needs and treats them with dignity. Until sufficient low-barrier shelters are built, the city should provide a secure place where people can camp, store their belongings and access basic washroom facilities.

“(Although) Northern Health has the highest overdose death rate in the province, there are no shelters appropriate for unhoused people with substance use disorder,” the statement said. “When drug users are forced or coerced into shelters without overdose prevention services they may hide drug use or go into withdrawal, increasing overdose death risk.”

The group called on the city have a housing-first plan in place by Jan. 2, 2022, when the Lheidli T’enneh flag is raised again. The city announced the flag would fly at half-mast for 215 days to honour the 215 children whose bodies were found in an unmarked grave near the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.

“Homeless individuals are exhausted from being misplaced on a daily basis and inappropriate shelter puts people at higher risk of overdose death,” the statement said.