Friday, November 20, 2009

BC Liberals Criminalize Homelessness


BC's Gordon Campbell Liberals passed two controversial bills this legislative session, both unfairly, unreasonably and probably unconstitutionally targeting homeless and other marginalized people.

And both just in time for the Olympics...but that has nothing to do with it (wink, wink).

The first bill is the Assistance to Shelter Act.

Under this bill, the minister can issue an "extreme weather alert" which gives cops the power to force people into shelters against their will.

The police are allowed to use "reasonable force" to get homeless people off the streets. The Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman has said that he's asked police to "use very little force."

My favorite part of this is that the target of this legislation are 'people at risk.' The determination of whether someone is 'at risk' or not is entirely up to the police. Take heed Olympic protesters.

The second Orwellian masterpiece from the Campbell Liberal brain trust is the Housing and Social Development Statues Amendment Act.

Under this law, people with outstanding warrants could be denied income assistance.

Sounds reasonable, right?

Well, the law was supposed to target people with warrants for major offences, like assault and robbery. However, as passed, the bill allows the government to deny income assistance to people with warrants on all indictable offenses.

That means a person with a warrant for a shoplifting offense could be denied welfare.

Earlier this year, the Vancouver Police conducted a major ticketing sweep and issued hundreds of tickets for panhandling, loitering and jaywalking in the city's Downtown Eastside. Most, if not all, of those who got tickets will not be able to pay them. That means there will be a warrant out for their arrest. That could mean no welfare cheques.

Just for clarification, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OLYMPICS. Nothing whatsoever.

Just forget all of that pesky evidence from previous Olympics that poor and marginalized folks are negatively impacted by the games.

comments

4 Responses to "BC Liberals Criminalize Homelessness"
  1. Anonymous said...
    November 21, 2009 at 6:24:00 p.m. MST

    Er, just FYI, jaywalking, panhandling, loitering are not indictable offences. Your premise is flawed.

  2. Beverly low life said...
    November 27, 2009 at 2:42:00 p.m. MST

    Hey is this a blog about Alberta politics or not?

    I thought you guys were the next generation 'Tiny Perfect Blog.'

    TPB posted almost every day, and did lots on Ab politics.

    Where are you guys - we need you!!!!

  3. The Tone said...
    November 27, 2009 at 5:14:00 p.m. MST

    We hope you'll forgive the Alberta Report Editorial Collective. We're about as torpid as an obese goth on a hot summer day.

    Please stay tuned for noteworthy notes on Alberta and federal politics.

    At the very least, we'll provide hard-hitting insights into the 2010 Alberta Senator-elect Race, which promises to be a doozy, let me tell you!

  4. Anonymous said...
    January 1, 2010 at 10:12:00 a.m. MST

    I was surprised to hear bums on the street were eligible in the first place for welfare. Why should the working people supply and support the useless with money for their vices?

    I say lock them ALL up. Certainly crime would go down. If they do not stop their "addictions" then stop their welfare too.
    It is the life they chose, now live with it. You reap what you sow.

    Working people are tired of supporting communities of bums.If bums are too lazy to contribute anything to society, including their own soup kitchens & housing, then so be it!

    I applaud Gordon Campbell's decision.

    Signed: NOT politically correct

 
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