Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Vancouver mayor seeks more money for homeless

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Aug, 2022 03:53 PM
  • Vancouver mayor seeks more money for homeless

VANCOUVER - The deadline to dismantle an encampment along Vancouver's Hastings Street has passed with little change, but the city's mayor says he's reached out to the federal and B.C. governments for urgent funding and other supports.

Vancouver fire Chief Karen Fry issued a safety order last month to remove the tents and structures on the street's sidewalk in the Downtown Eastside, and the street was supposed to be cleared on Wednesday.

Mayor Kennedy Stewart says in a statement that since the order, the city has increased resources for those living on the street, including creating space to store personal belongings, street cleaning, washroom access and peer support services.

However, Stewart says while the city is assembling these supports, the operations require significant investments from senior levels of government.

He says he spoke this week with new B.C. Housing Minister Murray Rankin about how the city and province can co-ordinate their approaches to connecting unsheltered residents to housing.

Stewart says he also reached out to the government of Canada asking for additional urgent housing funding.

“Vancouver has been home to a significant homeless population since starting an official homeless count in 2005 and the pandemic has only made matters worse, requiring all three levels of government to come together to take concerted and sustained actions," Stewart says in the statement.

MORE National ARTICLES

Ottawa to provide $870M for B.C. flood recovery

Ottawa to provide $870M for B.C. flood recovery
British Columbia has asked for about $5 billion to help rebuild after the disaster through the program, and provincial Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said accessing the money can take time, so the advanced payment is important.

Ottawa to provide $870M for B.C. flood recovery

BC's Finance Minister Selina Robinson passes leadership bid

BC's Finance Minister Selina Robinson passes leadership bid
Robinson is the second considered front-runner to exclude themselves from a chance at the top job after Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon recently said he didn't want the post either. Horgan announced last month that he would be stepping down in the fall and the New Democratic Party said Saturday that voting would start in November, with the new leader declared on Dec. 3.

BC's Finance Minister Selina Robinson passes leadership bid

Large blaze west of Lytton, B.C., defies control

Large blaze west of Lytton, B.C., defies control
The BC Wildfire Service says flames were moving west over the weekend, but winds on Sunday fuelled growth on the southern flank, across the Fraser River but closer to Lytton Recovery is just beginning in Lytton, which was mostly wiped out by a wildfire one year ago.  

Large blaze west of Lytton, B.C., defies control

Newton MP Sukh Dhaliwal enters Surrey's mayoral race

Newton MP Sukh Dhaliwal enters Surrey's mayoral race
A strong desire for a return to elected officials who foster unity as well as a back-to-basics approach to delivering top quality services, made the decision to step forward one that was propelled by residents, according to Sukh Dhaliwal.

Newton MP Sukh Dhaliwal enters Surrey's mayoral race

Man threatened to stab a fast food worker over slice of pizza

Man threatened to stab a fast food worker over slice of pizza
Juan Serna, 31, was arrested Friday and is now charged with threats and theft. Incident occurred at a pizza-by-the-slice downtown.

Man threatened to stab a fast food worker over slice of pizza

Abbotsford Police officers hurt in a serious crash after responding to reports of shots fired at a marijuana grow-op

Abbotsford Police officers hurt in a serious crash after responding to reports of shots fired at a marijuana grow-op
No civilians or civilian vehicles were involved in the collision. Two officers were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. George Ferguson Way between McCallum Road and Pauline St. remains closed in both directions.

Abbotsford Police officers hurt in a serious crash after responding to reports of shots fired at a marijuana grow-op