Close X
Friday, November 1, 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

Surrey's new hospital moving forward: Adrian Dix

Surrey's new hospital moving forward: Adrian Dix
The new hospital will have 168 beds, a surgical/perioperative suite with five operating rooms, four procedure rooms, an emergency department with 55 treatment spaces, and virtual care options in all clinical service areas.    

Surrey's new hospital moving forward: Adrian Dix

Shooting in Burnaby lands man in hospital, traffic affected at Patterson Avenue and Hurst Street

Shooting in Burnaby lands man in hospital, traffic affected at Patterson Avenue and Hurst Street
While the investigation is in its early stages, this incident does appear to be targeted and there does not appear to be any ongoing risk to the public. The victim is known to police. Traffic in the area of Patterson Avenue and Hurst Street will likely be affected for several hours due to the ongoing investigation.

Shooting in Burnaby lands man in hospital, traffic affected at Patterson Avenue and Hurst Street

$20B First Nations child-welfare deal signed

$20B First Nations child-welfare deal signed
The agreement, reached between Canada, the Assembly of First Nations and plaintiffs in two class-action lawsuits, also accounts for the federal government's narrow definition of Jordan's Principle. It was designed to ensure jurisdictional squabbles over paying for services for First Nations kids does not get in the way of those services being provided.

$20B First Nations child-welfare deal signed

B.C. making fall preparations for COVID-19

B.C. making fall preparations for COVID-19
The minister made the comments at a news conference announcing the government is seeking proposals to build a new hospital and cancer centre in Surrey. Dix says there are currently no immediate plans to return to a provincewide mask mandate.

B.C. making fall preparations for COVID-19

Quebec teen injured in bus crash in B.C.

Quebec teen injured in bus crash in B.C.
A statement from Castlegar RCMP says the crash happened Thursday as the 18-year-old woman and 15 other Quebec students were aboard the bus while taking part in a program at the nearby Selkirk College.

Quebec teen injured in bus crash in B.C.

Crown wants jail for former B.C. legislature clerk

Crown wants jail for former B.C. legislature clerk
The conduct of Craig James was a "departure" by the most senior officer of the legislature, which Crown attorney Brock Martland told the court deserves "unequivocal denunciation."

Crown wants jail for former B.C. legislature clerk