B.C. Conservatives attend Richmond rally for cancelled housing project

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad attended a rally against a cancelled supportive housing project in Richmond, B.C., on Family Day.

Several MLAs joined the leader of the B.C. Conservative Party at a rally against a controversial supportive housing project in Richmond that’s already been quashed by the city council.

John Rustad spoke ahead of the “Keep Richmond Safe” event at city hall and warned that the project could still be pushed through by the province, since housing officials had already revived the 90-unit building after the project was put on hold ahead of the provincial election.

Rustad believes the low-barrier policy, which means that residents would not be ejected for drug use, is detrimental to those seeking sobriety.

“If you don’t break the cycle of of being around the people who are doing drugs, the temptation is too great and you fall right back into it and the success rate is very, very low,” he said. “So if you’re putting everybody together and some people are trying to recover and some people may not have addictions at all, and other people may be doing drugs all the time, it just creates an environment that promotes the use of drugs.”

He said while there are examples of well-run supportive and social housing facilities, there are also horror stories that must be taken into account.

“All people’s rights need to be considered, but what about the rights of citizens that have to deal with the crime, that have to deal with the drugs, that have to deal with unsafe places?” Rustad asked. “They have rights too, and so this is why we need to have a complete different approach in terms of how we address the drugs and addictions.”

It’s likely no coincidence that the legislature reconvenes tomorrow for the first time since the provincial election.

A lightning rod

The BC Housing project at Sexsmith and Cambie roads in Richmond previously saw protests and opposition from some outspoken opponents in the community, who feared public drug use and crime would surround the building.

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon has consistently argued that housing people and providing them with facilities to use drugs under supervision – to avoid overdose or drug poisoning – are both cost-effective and the best way of keeping people off the street.

Last month, he pointed out that when “you have people living in parks, living in encampments, sleeping on bus stops, that is actually more unsafe for communities than having people indoors with the support they need.”

Vancouver’s mayor clarifies comments

The rally comes just days after Vancouver’s mayor once again defended his decision to reject future supportive housing projects in his city, pointing out there are already more units per capita than any other community by far.

But Ken Sim also admitted that while his opposition has scared off other communities from allowing housing with supports and resources for people struggling with addiction, mental illness, brain injuries, and other issues, there are many well-run supportive housing projects in his city.

“I can point to a lot of supportive, projects that are great, there’s a there’s a project on 16th and Dunbar no one knows about because it’s really well-run,” he said at a press conference on Thursday. “I live across the street from a social project, it’s incredible.”

Sim also reiterated his frustration that Vancouver has a “hyper-concentration” of such housing, particular in the Downtown Eastside, and that other communities should do their part and allow a variety of social and supportive housing, which is largely funded by the province.

“My comment to all the other municipalities out there, this isn’t a bad thing,” he said. “There are people that need help and there are solutions that work.”