LANGFORD, B.C. — A group of homeless people who pitched tents in a provincial park near Victoria have been given an extension to stay after being ordered out earlier this week.
Ashley Mollison, a spokeswoman for the campers, says the reprieve to stay in Goldstream Provincial Park is for 24 hours, although that may be extended to two weeks.
An official from B.C. Parks who was at the site confirmed the campers had been given another day to stay, but had no comment on extending that to two weeks.
Housing Minister Selina Robinson says the campground was closed to ensure public safety, adding that the park isn't an appropriate place to establish a tent city.
She says in a news release the province is working with the campers to provide support and find longer-term housing.
The same group of campers was ousted from a provincially owned green space in nearby Saanich earlier this week, just days after a court order forced them out of another park that some had occupied since the spring.