Delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention were supportive of a resolution from the City of Kamloops that is looking to change the temperature threshold at which cold-weather shelters are opened.
The idea was initially put forward by Councillor Dale Bass earlier this year, and it was adopted by the Southern Interior Local Government Association in May.
Speaking on NL Mornings, Bass says she is glad that things went through smoothly on Thursday.
“Originally, the SILGA resolutions committee recommended to not take it forward to UBCM but that was overruled by membership at that meeting,” Bass said. This one was fine. It went through with very little discussion at all. It was good. It was like a bright spot after yesterday.”
“It was passed with just an amendment that would require the provincial government to provide the funds that would be necessary to open shelters sooner, particular here in the interior and in the north. It would be a bit of a drain on existing agencies that work on these shelters so they would need some support as well.”
Bass’s motion is seeking to raise the temperature threshold for when cold weather shelters can be opened, as Kamloops only gets government funding to open a shelter when the temperature drops below -10 C, while in the Lower Mainland the threshold is 0 C.
She noted that her recommendation is something the provincial government is already being asked to do by the BC Center for Disease Control.
“Data from emergency departments showed that within Interior Health Authority and Northern Health Authority most cases of hypothermia occurred at temperatures of 0 C or colder,” a 2023 BC CDC report said. “Within Fraser Health Authority, Island Health Authority, and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority most cases of hypothermia occurred at temperatures of 10 C or colder.”
“Based on provincial evidence, the BC HEAT Committee recommends that cold winter weather response plans for people experiencing homelessness should be enacted when the daily low temperature is forecast to be 0 C or colder. The Committee also recommends that plans should be enacted at higher temperatures when the cold weather forecast includes wet, snowy, and/or windy conditions.”
Bass told Radio NL she is not impressed that the Province has been ignoring those calls from the BCCDC.
“I think whatever government is in place after the election is going to have to think long and hard about the fact that right now they are ignoring what their own CDC recommends for the province,” Bass said. “It’s not a good look for a province to have an organization of experts who say ‘you should do this’ and they’re not doing this”
Bass also said she wants to see the province to get on board with the resolution now that it has the support of municipal politics from across British Columbia.
“I think there will obviously be some advocacy through the UBCM to the province on this,” Bass said. “I know whoever is elected as our MLA will hear from us as council that they need to support this as well to get actually put in to place.”
In January, B.C.’s Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon told Radio NL that the province will work with the City, if Bass’ motion was passed by Kamloops Council.
“There are implications on the city if they were to go in that direction. There are resources required and other things they’ll need to do,” Kahlon said at the time. “The emergency shelters, they are important but they are temporary in nature, and we need to have more permanent solutions.”
“I think if Kamloops council does pass that motion and they are interested in something more permanent, I’m happy to talk to them about locations and really that is the tough part, finding out where you want to put the housing.”
