Courtenay council has elected to defer its parks and open spaces bylaw again to make room for more Indigenous engagement while looking for a report for temporary shelter options.
This comes after the bylaw was deferred from third reading last month over language concerns and Indigenous engagement. Councillor Evan Jolicoeur said that more Indigenous engagement is needed, as there were not enough comments.
He also suggested they not put a timeline on how long the engagement would take, citing differences in colonial and Indigenous governments and that the city had already gone a long time without an updated bylaw, and could go longer.
However, councillor Doug Hillian felt that there was a need for a timeline as it could go on for a long time without getting passed.
Mayor and council would eventually settle to direct staff to send a letter to K’ómoks First Nation, Wachiay Centre, Métis Association, Indigenous Women’s Sharing Society and Broken Chain Harm Reduction.
They will request comments and info on the bylaw over 60 days for response.
Temporary Shelter Options
In a motion presented by councillor Wendy Morin, council directed staff to bring a report to the Apr. 10 council meeting that outlines a range of shelter options.
Those could include but aren’t limited to managed encampments, temporary modular housing and other options outlined by staff.
The added the report should also include anticipated operational impact, budget estimates, potential number of people supported, partnership options and other impacts.
Morin added that while the motion will not solve the crisis in the community, they are waiting for higher announcements from upper government, and they desperately need relief in the interim.
“Hopefully this gives a bit more direction to provide that interim support that we need and to try to do it before the weather gets awful again,” said Morin.
Detox Beds
Council also approved a motion to request the premier, minister of mental health and addictions and CMHA-BC to prioritize the treatment and funding of detox beds and ask for support from neighbouring governments.
“I want to challenge a persistent myth that people with substance use problems have all the help they need to get better,” said Morin.
“We don’t have adequate options for people. In the past, a social detox setting was adequate, however, due to the nature of substances now medical detox is often necessary.”
Mayor Bob Wells added that it’s always “heartbreaking” to hear from a parent of someone looking to get into detox, and they are told it could take weeks for that to happen.
Council also directed staff to write to the Minister of Housing to request that the city be considered as a priority community for encampment and homelessness response and get HEART & HEARTH program funding.
