Both Kamloops opposition MLAs say they want the government to take action because of a massive amount of property crime on the West Victoria Street corridor.
Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone says while the province has built a number of supportive housing buildings in several B.C. communities including Kamloops, many do not have 24/7 support onsite as was promised.
“You have a tremendous mental health challenge that is erupted that is impacting those people first and first foremost. That has spilled into small businesses in that neighbourhood getting broken into,” he said.
“Employers are worried for the safety of their staff, they’re worried for the safety of their patrons, and no one wants to go to this particular part of downtown Kamloops anymore.”
Stone and Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar are calling on Housing Minister Selina Robinson to invest in the health and safety of people in supportive housing in Kamloops and across the province.
“The government has got to stop with the rhetoric and they’ve got to start actually putting their money where their mouth is and invest in the services and supports that people need to get better,” Stone said.
Milobar also raised the issue during Question Period in the BC Legislature this week.
“The issues and concerns we’re raising today are real. They’re what we’re hearing from our own constituents and the minister is dismissing them out of hand by saying we are trying to be divisive,” he said.
“We’re simply bringing forward what people are calling for, and what they are calling for is what the minister promised – 24/7 supports.”
Reid Hamer-Jackson owns TRU Market along West Victoria Street previously told NL News that he’s hopeful that the massive amounts of property crime will be addressed
BC Liberals taking things out of context: Housing Minister
Responding to Milobar, Housing Minister Selina Robinson says the government has invested significantly in supportive housing, and is accusing the BC Liberals of taking things out of context.
“We have really made some significant progress. In fact there was an editorial around Kamloops that said, and I said, and I quote at the end of the editorial, ‘we are seeing the fruits of that labour’ meaning our labour now, and we’ll continue to witness serious progress on the issue,” she said.
“I think what the members keep referring to is they would prefer to go back to the old days when we institutionalized people, because that’s what they are describing honourable speaker and its not how we operate.”
Robinson says both Stone and Milobar know ‘full well’ that government has been housing people and giving them the supports.
“The community of Kamloops is very pleased to see the progress that we are making in their community,” she said. “The data says that housing first works Honourable Speaker and I prefer to follow the science. I think that’s really what critical and its what British Columbians expect of us.”
