Councillor Bolin discusses homeless issues in Fort St. John

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John City Councillor Trevor Bolin says the city’s new committee will gather information and propose potential solutions to the city’s homelessness problem. 

Bolin joined Energeticcity.ca’s Steve Berard on the August 2nd episode of This Week in the Peace to discuss the city’s obstacles and possible solutions to the issue. 

He says the last few weeks have been difficult for city staff and residents involving safety concerns and accidents. 

Bolin says he has gotten pushback on the provincial level and from the human rights commissioner, who told him the city would need to offer a solution.

City council formed the committee at the July 22nd meeting dedicated to homelessness. The committee will work with local providers and B.C.’s Ministry of Housing to determine what is and is not allowed in provincial mandates.

Bolin went into the details of provincial regulations specific to Bill 45, which says encampments can’t be removed unless there is space in the city’s shelter camps.

According to Bolin, the bill does not address the issue because there is space in the shelter. 

Bolin hopes to implement a bylaw banning soft-sided camping and find a compromise that is best for the community. 

“This bylaw is about protecting the community, [its residents], and those in the tents,” said Bolin. 

The councillor says the bylaw allows the police to be called to tell the outside campers to move if they refuse.

Bolin says in the episode that housing shortages are the major issue with B.C. cities not equipped to deal with housing, education, health, and mental health as they are more provincial matters, 

He says the province still puts the responsibilities on the local municipalities regardless. 

“The province is basically downloading all this on us; they have done nothing,” said Bolin.  

“We’re not going to wait for the province to deal with it anymore; we are going to deal with it in the Fort St. John style that we always deal with things, which is ‘get’er done,’” said Bolin.

People can bring ideas and solutions to the committee by reaching out to council. 

To view the August 2nd episode of This Week in the Peace, look below.