Housing and social development minister Rich Coleman introduced legislation today that will allow police to force homeless people to go to shelters during extreme weather.
“This act will give police a tool to say, 'You have to go to the shelter,'” said Coleman. Once offered a bed and a meal, most people will choose to stay, he said. “We just think we need the tool to get them there.”
Coleman described how police officers will be able to use the new authority: “If you're on the street and you walk up to someone and you say, 'You know, it's 30 below zero and you're going to freeze out here.' And they say, 'I'm not going anywhere.' You say, 'Well actually there's a shelter and I have the authority to take you to the shelter.'”
Coleman acknowledged the bill may face a charter challenge in court. “Our advice is this one could be challenged and frankly I think that's healthy,” he said.
The bill comes to the legislature the day before the Olympic torch relay begins. Asked if it is part of a plan to sweep the streets of homeless people before and during the Olympic Games in Vancouver, Coleman said. “That always comes up but I'm going to tell you it's absolutely wrong . . . This has got nothing to do with the Olympics.”
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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Frank
2 years ago
Here's an idea, build homes
"Once offered a bed and a meal, most people will choose to stay"
Once they're told that they have to abandon their shopping cart or their pet and that they have to sleep in a big room with people that may abuse them I'm sure they'll remind the officers why it is they chose to sleep on the street rather than go to a shelter they already know about.
frances
2 years ago
A bit Rich
Coleman is a bald faced liar. This is strictly for Olympic cleanup purposes, and no amount of pious denials from the minister of homelessness will change it. Hopefully there will be enough free citizens left to challenge these actions on the street level.
verso
2 years ago
Define extreme
I've yet to hear from government what constitutes "extreme" weather. Below zero? Three straight days of rain?
Is no one in the media asking this question?
Andrew MacLeod
2 years ago
"Extreme weather"
My apologies for not getting into the details of what counts as "extreme weather" in the story.
In places like Vancouver and Victoria that have an "Extreme Weather Response Plan" the law will follow the cities' definitions of extreme weather, the bill says.
The bill also says the the Lieutenant Governor in Council (ie. with the direction of the cabinet) can make regulations "prescribing conditions for the purposes of the definition of 'extreme weather conditions.'"
I hope that helps . . .
verso
2 years ago
...
Thanks for the clarification, Andrew.
southdeltawalker
2 years ago
"Gimme Shelter"-Olympic update
Those ol' Stones lyrics just need some updating in time for the Olympics...
it's just a bill away
it's just a bill away
run, hide
it's just a bill away
it's just a bill away
mad dogs in the streets
it's just a bill away
it's just a bill away
drag ya to the shelter
G West
2 years ago
Doesn't matter guys
Coleman knows what he's doing is unconstitutional - the advice and the legal opinions have been on his desk and de Jong's desk for weeks...they're counting on the fact that any challenge to the legislation will be sufficiently lengthy that the party will be over before the legislation is struck down.
What a pathetic disgrace it is when the people who are meant to uphold the law conspire to avoid it.
lynn
2 years ago
Mr. Coleman Spends the Night
Quote:
"Coleman described how police officers will be able to use the new authority: “If you're on the street and you walk up to someone and you say, 'You know, it's 30 below zero and you're going to freeze out here.' And they say, 'I'm not going anywhere.' You say, 'Well actually there's a shelter and I have the authority to take you to the shelter.'”
Sorry, Mr. Coleman, that isn't shelter; that is internment.
If you have "to force" the homeless to go there at 30 below zero....gee, I wonder what that says about the quality and the safety of the shelter being provided?
But then I'm probably just "fear-mongering" as you guys love to say, soooooo......
I really think you need to give this BC Liberal Bed and Breakfast a trial run.
It's only right that you and the premier go first. You need to stay a whole week to appreciate the benefits. Then Falcon and Abbott the next week. Bond and Polak the week after that. DeJong and Coell next. Then Chong and Reid....and so and so on.
Once the bellhop takes your bags and the concierge gives you a grand tour of the place, I'm sure by your own admission:
"Once offered a bed and a meal, you will choose to stay."
However, if you "choose" not to stay ....oh I forgot, there is no choice in that regard ( not in reality, anyway, only for appearance's sake).
No, you will stay and you will like it.
If you do say so yourself, Mr. Coleman.
Janie Jones
2 years ago
The benefit of the doubt.
Maybe there's going to be some really extreme weather during the Olympics.