City of Prince George apologizes for 'trauma' caused by destroying part of homeless camp
CBC
The City of Prince George has issued an apology for destroying a portion of a court-protected homeless camp, which a judge said caused "serious harm" to those who lived there.
It has also withdrawn an appeal of a court case which prevented the city from destroying a homeless encampment set up on a lot along Patricia Boulevard and says it is "revaluating its approach and response to homelessness and homeless encampments."
The decision follows a new report from the B.C. Assembly of First Nations criticizing the city's approach to homelessness in the city, calling it "counterproductive, cruel and inherently racist."
It also follows a provincial report which found the Prince George region has the highest rate of homelessness in the province.
The city's legal action against homeless encampment dates back to June 2021, when council directed staff to pursue a civil injunction and issue notices of trespass to people living on two city lots.
In October of that year, Chief Justice Christopher E. Hinkson ruled that while the city could shut down one of the homeless encampments, it should allow the one on Patricia Boulevard to remain, as he did not see enough evidence of there being adequate accessible housing in Prince George to justify the camp's closure.
But in November 2021, the city demolished several structures in that encampment, citing concerns over community safety and fire hazards.
The city also filed an appeal of Hinkson's ruling and re-applied to have the camp shut down — and in February it was once again denied, this time by Justice Simon R. Coval.
Not only did Coval find there was still not enough housing to justify removing the camp, he also ruled the city had "inflicted serious harm on vulnerable people" when it sent in heavy machinery to destroy several tents and structures in November.
"Under the [previous] order, the Lower Patricia encampment was permitted to stay unless and until the city demonstrated available and accessible housing and daytime facilities for its occupants," Coval wrote in his judgment.
He also accepted several affidavits from people who lived in the camp who said they had lost important personal items due to the city's demolition of their shelters, including the remains of deceased family members, photographs and personal identification.
In a statement posted to its website Thursday, the city said it "sincerely apologizes to all those who experienced trauma from our actions."
However, the statement also said the city had "acted in good faith" and that it had demolished the encampments with the "benefit of legal advice, and in partnership with B.C. Housing and other service providers."
B.C. Housing has previously said the decision to destroy the camps was made by the city.
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