Homelessness needs huge effort
Fifteen years ago, dozens of logging trucks drivers were being killed or seriously injured every year in B.C. forests.
The RCMP said it wasn’t their problem because logging roads aren’t public streets or highways and there weren’t laws being broken that were causing harm to the drivers.
Worksafe BC said it wasn’t their problem because the drivers were rested and safely driving properly working trucks.
ICBC said it wasn’t their problem because the drivers were qualified to drive their trucks and load, which were properly insured.
The forest companies said it wasn’t their problem because the logging truck drivers were independent contractors who were responsible for their own safety after driving away from the logging sites.
The Ministry of Forests said it wasn’t their problem because their job is to manage forests, not to manage the hauling of logs to the mill.
Only when the provincial government brought all of the stakeholders to the table was the problem in its totality addressed. With the money and authoring to change things and the oversight to maintain those changes, the preventable accidents and deaths were all but eliminated.
Until the provincial (and federal) governments get involved with homelessness and street populations, little will change.
Municipal governments will say there is only so much they can do with zoning and bylaws. If there is illegal activity going on, residents should call the police.
Municipal police forces will say there is only so much they can legally do to stop street populations from petty theft, vandalism, littering, panhandling, public intoxication and antisocial behaviours often caused by drugs, mental health issues or a combination of both because once people are arrested and charged, they are often free to go until their court date. If someone is overdosing, an ambulance should be called.
Health agencies say there is only so much they can do to treat patients with emergencies, offer ongoing mental health and addictions treatment and harm reduction program. If someone needs food, clothing and/or accommodation, there are social agencies available to help.
Social agencies will say their mission is providing life’s basic necessities.
Until the provincial (and federal) governments get involved with homelessness and street populations, little will change.
If their clients are loitering inside or panhandling outside of a downtown business, the owner or manager should complain to the city.
Round and round it goes.
The tragic irony is that street populations, local residents and downtown business owners and operators are all being victimized by the same bureaucratic logjam. Downtown businesses deserve a safe place to work, local residents deserve safe streets, street populations deserve a safe environment to receive compassionate assistance and support to improve their lives.
The current mess in Prince George’s downtown and in cities across the province and country is what happens when individual stakeholders each do their part with insufficient coordination and oversight.
Whether it’s logging truck drivers or street populations, the strategic goal boils down to one word: safety.
If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the provincial premiers and Indigenous leaders are looking for a national unification project that transcends politics and would significantly improve communities everywhere to the benefit of all Canadians, homelessness and street populations would be a fine place to start.
It’ll take time, money and agencies used to doing their own thing with little accountability having to answer for their actions and inaction. But it will certainly better than the ongoing fiasco happening now, with no end in sight.