A10 TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2021 timescolonist.com | TIMES COLONIST

Dave Obee Editor and Publisher Phillip Jang COMMENT Bryna Hallam News Editors 163RD YEAR • NO. 114 The Colonist: Founded 1858 | The Times: Founded 1884 We need to offer involuntary care, but as a last resort

JULIAN DALY retain this housing because they it is heartbreaking.­ of help, but because of their ill- individual and for them to then are simply too unwell. This is why complex care ness are utterly unable to make make an informed and rational A commentary by the CEO of Our Sadly, these troubled few housing is so important. When a rational and informed decision decision about what next steps Place Society. often end up being barred done properly, it will be a place in their own best interests. they want, and are able, to take. because of behaviours directly where these unfortunate outliers In these situations, we believe I do not write this lightly and I commend the provincial gov- related to their mental health can get the help they need from it is the right thing to compel acknowledge that it will be pro- ernment’s budget for not only and addictions. professionals who are properly care. We believe that in doing so vocative and controversial to investing so heavily in mental They are not barred lightly. trained and supported to give it. their rights are recognized – the some. health and addiction services, My colleagues across the tran- The workers in our shel- right to be safe, the right to be I write it, however, because but also opening the door to sitional housing sector do their ters and transitional housing housed, and the right to good I have spent many, many years long-overdue complex-care very best to never bar anyone, sites simply do not have the health. of my working life watching, at housing. but some people are so unwell ­professional clinical qualifica- In doing so, we remove peo- close quarters, a small group of It is a bold and much-needed that, for their own safety and tions to care for folk who are so ple from incredibly vulnerable very vulnerable and untreated plan that cannot come soon that of others, they cannot unwell. and dangerous situations. We people experience the most enough, and I encourage the remain. And while many of those believe this should be done appalling exploitation and vio- province to quickly develop a These individuals who wan- entering complex care will go only in extreme circumstances lence on the streets of our cities successful model. der our streets in obvious and voluntarily, there will be those and with strong and transpar- – avoided, alone, unattended to, The timing is also especially alarming distress are not only who will refuse it. ent legal safeguards, limits and stigmatized, and, frankly, left to welcome when all those camping a great concern to their fel- After decades of work in this boundaries. live and to die miserable, painful in our parks are finally being low citizens — even, at times, a field, and years of advocating I want to be really clear: I am and forsaken lives. offered shelter or transitional source of considerable fear – but for those who are homeless and not advocating for the return So, I unequivocally welcome housing. are themselves extraordinarily struggling, heartfelt and bitter to the inhumane, often abusive and endorse the creation of And while I sincerely hope vulnerable. experience has taught me that, institutions of old. complex care housing in Brit- the vast majority of those who The women in this group in some situations, there is a Instead, I want housing that ish Columbia. With it there will, have secured shelter will main- are the most vulnerable and need to bring people into this provides safe, loving and healing finally, be hope and a chance for tain it until the move into perma- are frequently the victims kind of care involuntarily. care. Furthermore, I believe that belonging for some of the most nent housing, I also know there of sexual violence and abuse Sometimes folk are so unwell involuntary care should only last abandoned of our fellow human is a small group who will fail to that is as stomach churning as that they are in desperate need as long as it takes to stabilize the beings.

All that backtracking undercuts the message Looking at what is happening in Ontario with Premier Doug Ford’s COVUD-19 travel restrictions, and also here in B.C. with road check announcements to ferret out non-essential travel, and the subse- quent backtracking by politicians in both provinces with retractions, is the wrong strategy. If our elected leaders are going to make an announcement on further restrictions or lockdowns, enough fore- thought must be applied to ensure that they do not have to backtrack, sometimes within hours, due to legal issues or politi- cal pressure. This situation only emboldens the anti- maskers and COVID deniers and further weakens the adherence to the restrictions which have been in place for some time. I wholeheartedly support our politi- cians and health officials in this difficult time but let’s get it right the first time around.

Mike Wilkinson Duncan Do you want a summer? Then be responsible now We have to act responsibly now or we will not have the chance to enjoy summer constantly as new data emerges? those with addiction, mental health prob- people a viable alternative of how to con- because of surging COVID-19 numbers. Rather than fooling ourselves into lems and those who are homeless. trol the weeds. We need the chance to meet with believing we can simply enforce right “An independent person could be friends and family in our backyards and conduct, our energy is better spent miti- appointed to make an in-depth look at the Sandra L. Sims parks while the weather is nice to help gating the consequences of predictable crisis in Victoria. Victoria maintain our mental health. Let’s help behaviour from the selfish subset of our “This would include talking with the knock this thing down! community. three levels of government and the Victo- Only a fool believes that greater ria police. The independent person could Running the city Alanna Wrean enforcement of pandemic rules will alter provide a long-term, comprehensive solu- Victoria health outcomes in any meaningful way. tion for funding for what is desperately like a tragic circus The real work is being done by the good needed for the issues described above.” neighbors among us who need no more It broke my heart to read about the teen- No really means no when than clear, concise guidelines which their Michael Abel ager assaulted in Beacon Hill Park. consciences will lead them to follow. Victoria When will the violence stop in Victo- it comes to COVID-19 ria? When will respect return? I fondly Doug Stacey remember the city as a loving community Re: “We want the Ten Commandments, Esquimalt How can we control which shut the doors down early in the not the Ten Suggestions,” Jack Knox, night during the 30 years I lived there. April 23. all those weeds? Both young and elderly felt safe. Horgan, Trudeau I urge the city and provincial govern- The answer to the question “Can I go to I was born and raised in the Victoria ments to change their planning and think- Mount Washington?” is very clear. could help Victoria and have lived here all my life. I once ing, and put their combined efforts and No! There is no yes to the question. believed that Victoria was known as the finances into solving the mental health The Times Colonist editorial of April 23, “City of Gardens” and not dandelions. problems that appear to rule Victoria. Gerald Marantz “City councillors need to show support A dandelion is a weed with large bright The fellow arrested after the assault is Parksville for the police and the people,” shows the yellow flowers followed by rounded well-known to authorities, yet he is free need for an independent person to be heads of seeds with downy tuffs. to breach his current conditions imposed appointed to solve the crisis in Victoria. I am appalled how people in the resi- by the courts and continue to do harm. Tough enforcement On March 18, I sent the letter below dential communities and business commu- In my opinion it is necessary to have to: Victoria mayor and council, Victoria nities no longer show pride of ownership. treatment centres readily available for is not the answer police, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Care home properties, where residents those needing help. All other projects like and Premier John Horgan. pay thousands of dollars a month to live, bike lanes, electric buses and outdoor Re: “We want the Ten Commandments, “Victoria police union concerned over don’t maintain the grounds. cafes can be put on hold . not the Ten Suggestions,” Jack Knox, escalating violence in downtown Victo- Even the municipalities of our districts City council members should be April 23. ria,” Times Colonist, March 16, clearly don’t keep the boulevards neat and tidy responsible for the care of all citizens shows the need for a solution – now. Vic- anymore. Are these grounds and mainte- instead of appearing as leaders of a tragic In advocating for more rigid pandemic torians are not safe in their city. nance people not working? circus. do’s and don’ts, Jack Knox undermines his “The City of Victoria should cease its I feel this is such an embarrassment own argument by pointing out the prov- continual refusal of requests from the overall in our city. Is this situation some- Gail Brighton ince’s reluctance to enforce such rules. Victoria police for necessary funding. thing the mayors and councillors just Nanoose Bay Replace “reluctance” with “inability” “Another issue is that the federal and don’t give a damn about? and I think you approach the heart of the provincial governments should restore I can’t possibly be the only person out SEND US YOUR LETTERS problem. When police don’t even have funding for services previously provided. there who has great concern over this • Email letters to: the resources to effectively enforce the “Premier Horgan and Prime Minister matter. [email protected] Motor Vehicle Act, how should we expect Trudeau: Provincial and federal funding It’s too bad when the Capital Regional • Mail: Letters to the editor, police and bylaw officers to enforce an needs to be reinstated and expanded to District implemented the banning of pes- Times Colonist, 201-655 Tyee Rd., even broader set of rules which change adequately deal with services needed for ticides in the region that they didn’t give Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5 Victoria council needs to govern for everyone, not the few SARAH POTTS reply was taken out of context Instead, it was written with One hundred temporary homes the Victoria police. The police and used as the basis of an edito- intentions to divide the commu- will be opening in Victoria next budget was fully funded in both A commentary by a Victoria city rial, “City councillors need to nity rather than find solutions. month. This will house every 2020 and 2021, including every councillor. show support for the police and This hurts efforts to secure the unhoused person in our city – an additional budget request made the people,” as a form of testi- resources needed to provide the unprecedented achievement. over that time. A few days ago I replied on Twit- mony about my complete posi- support and safety that this girl This could only have hap- It’s time to focus on what ter to a question about a 15-year- tions on big topics such as com- and others urgently need. pened through the significant more is needed. Community old who had been assaulted in a munity safety and homelessness. We can all agree that no collaboration between multiple safety has been shown to require tent in Beacon Hill Park. I would like to add the most 15-year-old should be living in a levels of government and com- commitments to permanent In my reply about this clearly important sentence that was park, and that pandemic-driven munity partners. housing, poverty reduction, horrific act of violence, I wanted omitted from the editorial: “It’s sheltering in parks is not the saf- We need to remain focused accessible mental health care, to communicate that what hap- awful.” I’m a parent of a teenage est solution for anyone. on the remaining steps, until and harm reduction. pened to this girl was absolutely daughter and my heart breaks The journey out of home- everyone in Victoria is safe and Everyone deserves safety. awful, as is the prevalence of over what has happened. lessness is a complex one, with secure. That is the vision of this Everyone deserves a home. sexualized violence across our What we focus on matters. It’s many steps. council. I think we can all agree that community. One thinks that a shame that the editorial wasn’t The first step is finding Council must govern for eve- a Victoria that focuses on these would be the end of the story. a rallying cry to bring the com- permanent, stable, affordable ryone, not the few. things is a Victoria where we all Instead, part of this singular munity together. homes for each person without. Victoria city council supports prosper and want to live.