Throwback: The Dalai Lama in Canada
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Toronto Star
20 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
It's been hard at times to defend Canada. This year, I'm excited to celebrate
Just before Parliament recessed for its summer break, it passed Bill C-5: The One Canadian Economy Act. The bill, passed by the Senate and now law, gives Ottawa the power to remove internal trade and labour barriers between provinces and territories if a project is deemed in the national interest.
CBC
29 minutes ago
- CBC
B.C. judge reserves decision on the fate of homeless encampment in Prince George
A B.C. Supreme Court judge has reserved his decision following a three-day hearing that concluded Friday in which the city is seeking an order allowing it to close a downtown homeless encampment and remediate the site. The city's lawyer, Jeffrey Locke, argued that supportive housing in Prince George now exceeds the requirements set out in a previous court decision that saw the encampment gain legal protection. The encampment on Lower Patricia Boulevard, known as Moccasin Flats, was first established in the spring of 2021 on city-owned land, on an empty dirt lot between an industrial yard and a steep hill leading to a residential neighbourhood. In August of that year, the city asked for an injunction to remove over 50 campers there, citing public safety risk and the need to enforce city bylaws on overnight camping. But in October 2021, the B.C. Supreme Court issued an order stating that residents could stay "absent other suitable housing and daytime facilities." That ruling was upheld in a 2022 decision, after the encampment survived a partial demolition in November 2021, which the city subsequently apologized for. Locke says, in 2023, the city changed its course of action and began working with the province and B.C. Housing to set up a 42-unit temporary transitional housing facility in Atco trailers on Third Avenue near the encampment. "The city, province, and B.C. Housing really doubled down on creating new supportive housing in Prince George," he said . Locke says the Third Avenue site serves as a safe, comfortable place to provide unhoused people with 24-hour access to secure private rooms and supportive services while they await long-term housing solutions. Fluctuating number of occupants The city says the remaining long-term occupant of the encampment is Belvery Edward Johnny, who was identified in the city's notice of civil claim, and has been living at Moccasin Flats since it was established. "The encampment, since the dismantling of Nov. 2021, has continued to be occupied by a transient population with the exception of Mr. Johnny, who has been there the whole time," said Locke. He says the city knows of 11 people still sheltering at Moccasin Flats and said eight rooms are being held at the Third Avenue Site for encampment residents in "various states of readiness". Locke said that as the number of encampment occupants and rooms available is constantly in flux, the city would not require the residents of the encampment to decamp until seven days after they had an offer of housing. "Now we have a seamless transition from homelessness until they have a home." Suitable housing for vulnerable people Lawyers representing the residents of Moccasin Flats, however, argued that the city is premature in coming to the court seeking an order to close the encampment without housing readily available for everyone. Lawyer Claire Kanigan and co-counsel Casey St. Germain said they found there to be at least 18 residents remaining at the encampment and said there are only three rooms currently ready to be occupied at the Third Avenue site. Kanigan said there's no timeline as to when more beds will be made available and that the city should be able to prove they have enough beds before they're given permission to close the site. "The basic calculation of number of beds to number of people is foundational," she said. "It is not an overly onerous burden to meet." Kanigan said that because the city is also seeking the right to refuse anyone the ability to encamp on city-owned property if they refuse to apply to B.C. Housing or decline an offer from B.C. Housing, it would leave vulnerable people with complex needs with nowhere to go. The matter is further complicated by the city's Parks and Open Space bylaw, which was amended in 2023 to designate an area of Moccasin Flats as the only allowable place for temporary overnight shelter between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. "This would be highly problematic," she said. "My ultimate submission is that the level of evidence the city has brought to this court has continuously narrowed." St. Germain also argued that the housing offered may be suitable for some but is not suitable for all, especially individuals who are suffering from complex mental health issues and may not be able to follow the rules of the Third Avenue site. Locke said the Third Avenue site is intended to be broadly accessible but "cannot be everything, to everyone, all at once." At the conclusion of the hearing, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Bruce Elwood said he had a lot to consider and that he hopes to complete his written decision before mid-August.
National Post
41 minutes ago
- National Post
B.C. cabinet minister says she's 'fortunate' to have received just half a dozen death threats
VANCOUVER — British Columbia infrastructure minister says in her eight years as a member of the legislature, she can recall receiving about half a dozen death threats, and considers herself 'pretty fortunate' as a provincial politician. Article content Bowinn Ma says she knows it's strange to say, but she is aware of other elected officials who have been the subject of many more such threats. Article content Article content Article content Ma's comments come after an explosive blasted open the front door of her North Vancouver constituency office last week, setting off an RCMP investigation. Article content Article content No one was hurt and police are saying little about a motive or suspects, but Ma says she won't be intimidated from continuing her work and serving the community. Article content However, Ma says that she is worried about the lasting implications such a threat can have 'on the way that politicians serve.' Article content When Ma was first elected, she says she took over a former member's office and tore down a security wall that went across the room to make it more welcoming, but now says she'll work with a Legislature security team for a threat assessment and ongoing safety advice. Article content But Ma says she is worried the blast can feed into a feeling among elected officials and the public that politicians are being more 'frequently targeted.' Article content 'I worry that will drive elected officials further away from these kinds of open approaches, and that's not a criticism of elected officials. I mean, they've got to do what they need to do to keep themselves and their staff safe, but we also lose out as a democratic society when that happens.' Article content Article content Ma says Mounties told her that 'there is no indication of a repeat event' and an investigation is ongoing. Article content Article content At the same time, Ma says she encourages anyone passionate about running for office not to be deterred. Article content
