Now, if we ignore politics for a moment, why is it so terrible that homeless (and often mentally unstable) people can be brought into a safe warm place (yes, by force if need be) in extreme weather? I supose it's one of those "whose life is it anyway" questions but still; I can see some merit in the plan; a bit like mandatory drug treatment for addicts... .
Proposed B.C. homeless law has critics worried
A proposed law that would give the B.C. government the power to force people into homeless shelters has civil liberty activists crying foul.
According to government documents leaked to the BC Civil Liberties Association, the proposed legislation would allow authorities to make a declaration of extreme weather, which would then allow police to force a homeless person into a shelter.
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One of the memos says that after a local declaration of extreme weather is made, notices would be given to a homeless person and a police officer would encourage those on the street to seek shelter.
If the homeless person refuses, the officer would be able to "use force."
"As a last resort, the individual may be taken to police cells, either voluntarily or involuntarily," the memo concludes.
Oh Mort, your political naivety is showing. If you think this is about helping homeless people I have some swamp land you might be interested in purchasing.. . . .
ReplyDeleteIt's most likely a trust issue. At least for homeless youth, they rely more on other homeless people and less on outsiders as they join the homeless culture. Giving police officers the power to use force to put homeless people in shelters might foster an "Us vs Them" mentality and make it harder for health care and social workers who work with the homeless community to do their job.
ReplyDeleteThis certainly is an issue of trust, and it's easy to understand why the homeless do not trust the Vancouver City Police. These people should have shelter 365 days a year but there is none available, thus jail cells will be used. Comforting thought, eh? The homeless, many of whom are mentally ill, will hide from authority and may well be at greater risk if they move to inaccessable places to avoid "capture".
ReplyDeleteGuess who doesn't want the world to see Vancouver's disgrace?
James,
ReplyDeleteThis is an act to keep the homeless off the streets during the Olympics so as to present the "proper image" of Canada on the world stage. I'm surprised you can't see through this ploy.
We are no better than China during their Olympics.....move everything and everyone out of the eye of those rich foreigners so they don't go home and talk about the Canadian poor people and the homeless. I was in China working when the Chinese cleanup was taking place and saw it with my own eyes. Besides, this Olympics is just for the wealthy....it certainly isn't for the every man. A. Morris
ReplyDelete