The City of Cranbrook intends to send the B.C. government a message around what it costs for municipalities to deal with homelessness

City Councillor Wes Graham introduced a notice of motion Jan. 22 that the City of Cranbrook bill the Province of B.C. for the costs incurred for resources to deal with the encampments and homeless population, as they have left the City of Cranbrook taxpayer the burden for these costs.

Graham read his motion into record: “Whereas the Province of BC through BC Housing is responsible for providing supportive housing and shelters for the homeless population, and whereas; in light of the significant health and safety risks posed by encampments, local governments across the province are bearing significant unplanned costs to manage them, as the province has not deployed enough resources to support the homeless population;

“Therefore, be it resolved that the City of Cranbrook bill the Province of BC for the costs incurred for resources to deal with the encampments and homeless population, as they have left the City of Cranbrook taxpayer the burden for these costs.”

Graham said the rationale behind his motion stems from the province “having a duty to provide the resources necessary for the population and the unhoused.”

When BC Housing-provided accommodations, such as the Travellodge, become full leaving some “out in a tent,” they are costing the city in terms of overflow costs for bylaw enforcement, garbage and fire and emergency services.

“I think it’s a fair ask to say ‘there are costs incurred here that we need to deal with and it shouldn’t be on the taxpayer to deal with it. It should be on BC Housing or the provincial government.”

Coun. Mike Peabody said he sees the purpose of the motion “is to send a message” to the province, but “the chance of us getting our expenses covered, I would say, would be slim to none. If it happens, fantastic, but I will vote in favour of this to send the province a message” the Cranbrook and other B.C. municipalities are experiencing “costs like never before. We need support and those costs recovered.”

Mayor Wayne Price noted the city “is taking care of more than Cranbrook’s homeless. We’re a regional service centre and all the mental health and drug support services are in Cranbrook, so now we are getting it from the region – this is a regional problem – and for the province to expect the city to pay the bill fully I think is unreasonable,” he said, noting the Regional District of East Kootenay “has stepped up and helped fund our coordinator position so I thank the regional district for that.

“But certainly, I’d like to track all costs and send it. Is the province going to pay? You know what? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. At the very least we’re sending them a message that we are concerned about this. This is a very good first step.”

Council unanimously approved Coun. Graham’s motion.

City of Cranbrook file photo

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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