The province was back in court on Monday making a new pitch to dismantle Victoria’s tent city.
Lawyers for the B.C. government failed to convince a judge to shut down the encampment back in April.
A lawyer for the province said conditions at tent city have deteriorated since then and housing support has been bolstered.
The province will make more than 200 low barrier and transitional housing spaces available in the fall.
“So all of this coming together, if you look at what we’ve already done and what we’ve already got in place going before the courts. The argument could be made that we’ve actually solved a whole number of issues around homelessness in the capital region and certainly in Victoria and there’s no need for this camp,” housing minister Rich Coleman said.
The province’s lawyer also noted that there are growing concerns around fire issues, crime and violence.
A tent city camper stated people are focusing on the drug activity and theft in the encampment, but it happens in other communities as well.
“We continue to be discriminated against and painted with a brush,” Bert Woldring said. “We’re human beings who are struggling. This is not a situation of our making. We’re trying to do the best we can with it to ensure safety and community and cohesion throughout.”
Meanwhile, legal representation for the campers said conditions at the site are no worse than they were at the time of the first injunction hearing.
According to Catherine Boies Parker, the request for an injunction is premature because the added housing supports aren’t even in place yet and may not be suitable.
The case will be back in court on Tuesday.
With files from CTV Vancouver Island’s Yvonne Raymond.
