In this edition of Journal, we take on the urgent issue of crime on our streets with deputy chief Fiona Wilson of the Vancouver Police Department.

There is no denying, even by politicians, that the disorder and stranger violence we see on streets around our province has profoundly upset our communities. Now, there are obviously many complicated causes and many fingers to be pointed at policies or politicians.

But where are we at and how do we go forward?

Going way back, the closing of Riverview put many people with complex mental health issues on the street without guaranteeing the support they would need for their healthcare and housing.

Today’s guest, Fiona Wilson, actually wrote a report on this topic for the Vancouver Police way back in 2007, called “Lost in Transition.”

As well, there is no question that BC’s recent experimentation with decriminalization rapidly brought disorder to our public spaces and limited what the police could do to keep some semblance of order. Now that public use of drugs in certain public spaces has been re-criminalized, has that made a difference?

And then we have a court system, sarcastically called “catch and release,” that sends repeat violent offenders back out into the community – often to reoffend.

Why is that?

Is this because it is an intentional policy decision? Or is it a lack of judges? Or holding space in our jails?

Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson, one of the most accomplished and decorated women in Vancouver Police history, has spent 25 years immersed in these issues and will join us to give us her perspective on the current situation and possible solutions.

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Carole Taylor's Journal is a public affairs dialogue that digs deep into the most pressing issues of our times. For more, see our website at http://www.caroletaylorsjournal.ca.

ctj014 #publicsafety #police #vancouver

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In this edition of Journal, we take a close look at some of the recently announced provincial housing initiatives and see how they work/don’t work in the community.

The most dramatic is the political decision of the provincial government to override the municipal responsibility for zoning, demanding increased density being automatically allowed throughout even single family neighbourhoods with very high density allowed along transit corridors.

Perhaps because of my previous involvement with both levels of government, I have some sympathy for both sides of this issue.

At the municipal level, I understand the desire for mayors and councillors to want control of their own zoning; after all, they are closer to their constituents and are usually quite sensitive to the differing needs of various neighbourhoods.

On the other hand, the provincial government is the big funder of rapid transit and for as long as I can remember, they have always asked for – and been vaguely promised – higher density near transit stops since that increased population feeds the system.

Rarely and slowly did that ever happen, so they are frustrated.

In an attempt to address the pressing issue of affordable housing, the provincial government also promised to speed up the arduous permitting system seen in some urban centres – two sides of the same coin.

Michael Geller has seen it all in his 45 years as a Vancouver architect, planner, real estate consultant and developer.

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Carole Taylor's Journal is a public affairs dialogue that digs deep into the most pressing issues of our times. For more, see our website at http://www.caroletaylorsjournal.ca.

ctj013 #vancouver #housing #vancouverhousing

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In this edition of Journal, we wade into the morass of headlines about ER closures around our province – Nicola Valley Hospital, Chetwynd Hospital, Dawson Creek and District Hospital, Mackenzie, Fort Nelson, Kitimat, Northern Haida Gwaii – just to name a few.

The worry is that due to the volume of these announcements that we see scrolling across our TV screens every night, we are in danger of becoming numb to the seriousness of this issue – “it’s not my problem, until it is my problem.”

So let’s think about what is actually happening behind the headlines. An elderly man was found on the ground in respiratory distress in front of a closed ER in Merritt. A child in pain from a possible broken wrist finds her ER on diversion and the nearest hospital is more than 100 kilometres away.

ERs are, by definition, for emergencies – which can happen at any time day or night. And unfortunately, so many of these unexpected closures happen in rural areas where options are limited.

I know that government’s response is to quote the number of hires they’ve done but this problem has been a long time in the making and is getting worse, causing the mayor of Merritt to plead with the government: “Do something – anything,” causing the mayor of Massett in Haida Gwaii to speak out in frustration, suggesting if Northern Health can’t provide the service, maybe independent care providers can.

The mayor of Merritt, Michael Goetz, joins me to talk about what it is like on the ground trying to protect his community and cope with closed or “on diversion” ERs.

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Carole Taylor's Journal is a public affairs dialogue that digs deep into the most pressing issues of our times. For more, see our website at http://www.caroletaylorsjournal.ca.

ctj012 ctj2x03 #healthcare #health #britishcolumbia

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