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The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Victoria's bylaw, preventing homeless from erecting shelters in public parks, was unconstitutional since they don't offer enough secure shelter spaces for the number of homeless in the area.

The temporary measures allow homeless people to camp in the parks between 9pm and 7am but they are not permitted to leave their shelters in place throughout the day. There were five arrests and some fines handed out when people tried to push their luck by refusing to leave the next morning. The city plans to appeal the court decision.

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I think it's a wonderful decision by the Supreme Court.

koan;1032024 wrote: The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Victoria's bylaw, preventing homeless from erecting shelters in public parks, was unconstitutional since they don't offer enough secure shelter spaces for the number of homeless in the area.

The temporary measures allow homeless people to camp in the parks between 9pm and 7am but they are not permitted to leave their shelters in place throughout the day. There were five arrests and some fines handed out when people tried to push their luck by refusing to leave the next morning. The city plans to appeal the court decision.

story

I think it's a wonderful decision by the Supreme Court.


You are kidding me??

Victoria is a beautiful city, and with that rule every homeless person in Canada will make there way there, the parks will be destroyed. Just another one to add to the long list of stupid judgements by the Canadian Supreme Court.

koan;1032024 wrote: The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Victoria's bylaw, preventing homeless from erecting shelters in public parks, was unconstitutional since they don't offer enough secure shelter spaces for the number of homeless in the area.

The temporary measures allow homeless people to camp in the parks between 9pm and 7am but they are not permitted to leave their shelters in place throughout the day. There were five arrests and some fines handed out when people tried to push their luck by refusing to leave the next morning. The city plans to appeal the court decision.

story

I think it's a wonderful decision by the Supreme Court.


good god, another way to ruin our beautiful parks!:-5

hoping it is temporary!

The more prominent the offensive sight of homeless people camping is, the more pressure there will be to provide them with some form of civic relief. It's going to get cold in a tent by mid-winter. If there were a public square outside the City Hall I'd let them camp there as well.

One of the first comments I made when I first came out to Victoria was about the multitudes of homeless folks, even before I commented on all the beautiful gardens and scenery.

I've lived in a lot of big cities over the years that had huge homeless populations, but nothing that was as obvious as the serious problem here and there has to be a solution found... one that doesn't involve doing nothing or dumping them all into the ocean or worse, just to get them out of the way.

If they have to temporarily become an eyesore, destroy the beautiful gardens and parks or hurt the tourism industry, so be it. Maybe this problem will be dealt with sooner than later before it gets even further out of hand. These homeless people certainly can't take care of it themselves and what's the point in fining them and giving them a ticket that they can't possibly pay?

Bristol has a permanently homeless chap, I bump into him every now and then when I'm out and about. He camped in one of the centre squares for a few months, then he moved on but he's always somewhere in Bristol. He's one of the few who refuses rehabilitation.

G-man;1032424 wrote: One of the first comments I made when I first came out to Victoria was about the multitudes of homeless folks, even before I commented on all the beautiful gardens and scenery.

I've lived in a lot of big cities over the years that had huge homeless populations, but nothing that was as obvious as the serious problem here and there has to be a solution found... one that doesn't involve doing nothing or dumping them all into the ocean or worse, just to get them out of the way.

If they have to temporarily become an eyesore, destroy the beautiful gardens and parks or hurt the tourism industry, so be it. Maybe this problem will be dealt with sooner than later before it gets even further out of hand. These homeless people certainly can't take care of it themselves and what's the point in fining them and giving them a ticket that they can't possibly pay?


I had no idea there were so many where you live, there are tons here in Toronto, but there are so far,enough shelters......and it is a temporary arrangement for the ones in B.C., those using tents, they will probably be building new shelters for them.

We have the mildest climate in Canada so we have a lot of homeless people.

I'm convinced that one of the biggest mistakes of humanity is the acceptance of the concept of private property. For that reason I'm overjoyed that a person who finds themself without shelter has the option of pitching a tent and bunking down for the night. There is a local woman who has been lobbying to be allowed to purchase some land and turn it into an actual tent city.

As to the "loss" of the beautiful parks... they aren't lost. I'm sure the homeless people are enjoying them immensely.

There isn't an alcove in the whole downtown area that I haven't seen a homeless person sleeping in when I walk to work in the morning.

These are not disgusting people. These are injured people who belong to us. They are part of our society. Is there something in our moral code that says a person doesn't have the right to live if they can't afford to pay rent?

This problem will increase greatly with the so-called 'credit crunch'. The number of reposessions, because of mortgage arrears, is climbing astronomically in England - so where are all these people going to live ????? :-5:-5:mad:

Can they sleep in on weekends ?

we have homeless shelters here in Toronto, however some of homeless still prefer to sleep on the streets and in parks.:-5

When shelters are provided, why is it not inforced they all use them?

some do use our shelters, some do not.

not good for tourism and the mess they leave alone for others to clean up.

Jester;1033125 wrote: Seems to me that you either give them a job to do or feed them and clothe them and house them, if your not willing to do either the only humane thing is to bus them to the outskirts of the city each day and make them go out on thier own to survive in the woods.

It's obvious they cant survive in the social order of the city, so send them to the wilderness to fend for themselves.

Tough love.


You do realize there's around 150,000 vets among them in the USA?

spot;1033170 wrote: You do realize there's around 150,000 vets among them in the USA?


Theyre trained to eat bark and frogs and drink their own urine.

Nomad;1033225 wrote: Theyre trained to eat bark and frogs and drink their own urine.


They would nontheless, presumably, not want to do it permanently. To some extent I'd describe them as by and large unwell as a result of their service. The lack of an effective safety net for them ought to be a matter of national shame. The same, of course, goes for all the other homeless as well.

You know perfectly well it's not a laughing matter Nomad. There's a time and a place.

There'll be a radio program on the BBC in five days all about it, if I can find an internet player link to it after it's broadcast I'll post it here. That's where the estimated number comes from.

Jester;1033125 wrote: Seems to me that you either give them a job to do or feed them and clothe them and house them, if your not willing to do either the only humane thing is to bus them to the outskirts of the city each day and make them go out on thier own to survive in the woods.

It's obvious they cant survive in the social order of the city, so send them to the wilderness to fend for themselves.

Tough love.


there are tons of jobs out there that require no experience, pumping gas for one, save your money for a low income apartment......just not sure they really want to look.......the salvation army clothes and furniture are extremely cheap to buy.

learn to save coupons, only buy the bare necessaties.

food, PB&J, bread, kraft dinner, milk, cereals, hot cereals, beans and weiners, stews, etc.

OMG get a job is what I want to scream but then again I forget I am in Alberta... thousands of jobs and not enough people... hey wait we still have the homeless....

Sorry we have shelters here, we have a huge employee shortage, and places like burger king are shutting down.... Lets employ these folks, and if nothing else use some more government assistance to educate them and get them off the streets. Here it's heart breaking to hear of homeless people being beat up, murdered, robbed and even freezing to death. We have programs and subsidized housing I wish I could understand why some refuse the help.

Put them in public parks, no I can't see it here many of our homeless are drug addicts, I would not want my grandson playing in the park and stumble across a needle or 20!! What about the bathroom facilities... ewwww