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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
B.C. sends extra police to Williams Lake in response to council's state of emergency proposal
City council in Williams Lake, B.C., won't be declaring a state of local emergency to respond to street disorder after the provincial government promised to immediately deploy more police to help with growing concerns. Some councillors in the community of about 23,000 people, 320 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, had expressed interest in declaring a state of local emergency to address local crime, which they said ranged from break-ins and public drug use to theft and vandalism, from a small number of repeat offenders. Such a declaration could provide the municipality with "emergency powers" such as suspending bylaws, ordering road closures or restricting public gatherings, according to a staff report. But at a special council meeting on June 3, Mayor Surinderpal Rathor announced the Ministry of Public Safety had requested the Cariboo-Chilcotin crime reduction unit be immediately deployed to Williams Lake "to assess the situation and develop operational plans." Rathor said the unit could arrive in town as soon as Wednesday. Because of the provincial commitment, Rathor, who had previously supported considering a state of local emergency, suggested councillors "hold your horses for at least [a] month or so." "Emergency would not fly right now," he said and recommended council take no further action on the declaration. Staff told council that local front-line emergency service agencies, including the RCMP, B.C. Emergency Health Services and Interior Health did not see a benefit in declaring a state of local emergency. "Local emergency response stakeholders stressed that the challenges facing Williams Lake (such as limitations in mental health support, addiction services and housing) require more than temporary measures," said the staff report. "The group expressed a strong call for broad, co-ordinated systemic reforms." Listen | Kúkpi7 (Chief) of Xatśūll First Nation, Rhonda Phillips, discusses what a state of local emergency means for the community: Coun. Scott Nelson, who originally put forward the motion to consider a state of local emergency, said the public health situation is dire. "There are people on our streets that are mentally ill that should not be on the streets of Williams Lake," he said, and added, "They're going to hurt somebody." He listed a variety of recent incidents, including fires in garbage bins, a break-in at a law firm and a related robbery at a 7-Eleven. WATCH | Williams Lake mayor considers state of local emergency as response to street disorder: Coun. Angie Delainey didn't support the declaration but recommended the city invite partners, including the regional district and local First Nations, to review public safety programs and discuss funding strategies. "I don't think it's the sole responsibility of the municipality to pay these costs that we know have been downloaded to us," she said. CBC has reached out to the Ministry of Public Safety for more information on its response to Williams Lake council's concerns and is waiting to hear back. Coun. Michael Moses said he was concerned council wasn't properly consulting the local First Nations or LGBTQ+ communities or unhoused people. "If we proceed with this against the will of First Nations and other marginalized peoples in our community, then I want you to be wary of this path of discrimination that this council will be choosing and the repercussions of it." Nelson's motion was also criticized by Xatśūll First Nation and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association for its potential to criminalize struggling people. Council voted 6-1 to take no action on the state of emergency. Nelson was opposed.
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
B.C. sends extra police to Williams Lake in response to council's state of emergency proposal
City council in Williams Lake, B.C., won't be declaring a state of local emergency to respond to street disorder after the provincial government promised to immediately deploy more police to help with growing concerns. Some councillors in the community of about 23,000 people, 320 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, had expressed interest in declaring a state of local emergency to address local crime, which they said ranged from break-ins and public drug use to theft and vandalism, from a small number of repeat offenders. Such a declaration could provide the municipality with "emergency powers" such as suspending bylaws, ordering road closures or restricting public gatherings, according to a staff report. But at a special council meeting on June 3, Mayor Surinderpal Rathor announced the Ministry of Public Safety had requested the Cariboo-Chilcotin crime reduction unit be immediately deployed to Williams Lake "to assess the situation and develop operational plans." Rathor said the unit could arrive in town as soon as Wednesday. Because of the provincial commitment, Rathor, who had previously supported considering a state of local emergency, suggested councillors "hold your horses for at least [a] month or so." "Emergency would not fly right now," he said and recommended council take no further action on the declaration. Staff told council that local front-line emergency service agencies, including the RCMP, B.C. Emergency Health Services and Interior Health did not see a benefit in declaring a state of local emergency. "Local emergency response stakeholders stressed that the challenges facing Williams Lake (such as limitations in mental health support, addiction services and housing) require more than temporary measures," said the staff report. "The group expressed a strong call for broad, co-ordinated systemic reforms." Coun. Scott Nelson, who originally put forward the motion to consider a state of local emergency, said the public health situation is dire. "There are people on our streets that are mentally ill that should not be on the streets of Williams Lake," he said, and added, "They're going to hurt somebody." He listed a variety of recent incidents, including fires in garbage bins, a break-in at a law firm and a related robbery at a 7-Eleven. WATCH | Williams Lake mayor considers state of local emergency as response to street disorder: 7 days ago Duration 7:42 The city council of Williams Lake, B.C., is considering a curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and escorting people displaying public intoxication or severe mental health issues to the hospital. Mayor Surinderpal Rathor says he hopes this will help the city's reputation and discipline repeat offenders. Coun. Angie Delainey didn't support the declaration but recommended the city invite partners, including the regional district and local First Nations, to review public safety programs and discuss funding strategies. "I don't think it's the sole responsibility of the municipality to pay these costs that we know have been downloaded to us," she said. CBC has reached out to the Ministry of Public Safety for more information on its response to Williams Lake council's concerns and is waiting to hear back. Coun. Michael Moses said he was concerned council wasn't properly consulting the local First Nations or LGBTQ+ communities or unhoused people. "If we proceed with this against the will of First Nations and other marginalized peoples in our community, then I want you to be wary of this path of discrimination that this council will be choosing and the repercussions of it." Nelson's motion was also criticized by Xatśūll First Nation and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association for its potential to criminalize struggling people.
Global News
2 days ago
- General
- Global News
Williams Lake council votes not to declare state of emergency over public safety
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Williams Lake council has voted not to declare a state of local emergency over public safety concerns. Last week, councillors asked staff to prepare a report on a potential state of emergency that could provide the B.C. city with temporary powers to address crime and disorder. That report concluded that council does have the authority to declare a state of emergency but feedback from emergency service agencies suggested that they did not see a benefit in doing so. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The report stated that the province's public safety ministry also contacted the city, committing more police resources in an effort to reduce criminal incidents. 'The thing was, I mean, what are going to achieve by declaring emergency?' Mayor Surinderpal Rathor said. 'When I was talking to Minister (Garry) Begg's office and his chief of staff and Minister of State Terry Yung, they're willing to provide me with all that I needed.' Story continues below advertisement Staff have now been ordered to prepare a report detailing how the province's help makes a difference.
CBC
29-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Williams Lake, B.C., wants to enact state of emergency over public disorder
Social Sharing City council in Williams Lake, B.C., is looking to impose a state of local emergency over an increase in street disorder and violence — but the proposal has received pushback, and it's unclear if the B.C. government would fully support it. Coun. Scott Nelson put forward a motion on Tuesday to ask staff for options regarding a state of local emergency in response to "increased threats to public safety" in the city of around 20,000 people located 324 kilometres northeast of Vancouver. Nelson and the city's mayor, Surinderpal Rathor, say that there has been a sharp increase in public drug use, mental health challenges and fires in the city's downtown core, and the motion gives the city options to deal with it. But civil libertarians and a local First Nation have expressed opposition to the motion, and the province has not said if it would support it. "If they are a person who the RCMP feels may need to go to the hospital because of mental illnesses, they're going to go to the hospital and we're asking that they be looked at, put into involuntary treatment," said Nelson, describing his motion on CBC's Daybreak South. The councillor says that multiple B.C. municipalities are struggling with crime and mental health issues, and the province hasn't stepped up to the plate. He's calling for a "clean sweep" of the city to deal with repeat offenders. "The municipalities don't have the wraparound services, don't have the resources, and yet these people are laying fires to buildings," he said. "These people are threatening their own lives. "It's becoming chaotic, and the province has downloaded this. We need to upload this back into provincial hands so that the appropriate resources can be put in place to help people with mental health issues." Rathor supported the motion, and said he sympathized with people who needed help, but there was a need to protect the business community in the B.C. Interior city. "It would give extra power to the RCMP, if there's people wandering aimlessly here and there ... they can take them to the hospital or wherever the support is needed," he said. WATCH | Rathor expresses support for state of emergency: 10 hours ago Duration 7:42 The city council of Williams Lake, B.C., is considering a curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and escorting people displaying public intoxication or severe mental health issues to the hospital. Mayor Surinderpal Rathor says he hopes this will help the city's reputation and discipline repeat offenders. Nelson's motion passed 4-3 in council on Tuesday night. While it doesn't provide an exact timeline for when the state of emergency could happen, the councillor said Wednesday it could be imposed within the next two days. Increase in fires Nelson's motion cites ongoing instances of assaults, open drug use and public indecency, among other things, as being behind the proposed state of emergency. It further alleges that there was an arson that caused a loss of four businesses, and park washrooms vandalized numerous times, in the last few months. The councillor says the city approved $100,000 to police last month in order to provide them more resources to deal with the issue, but the state of local emergency would potentially empower them to do more. "We know that we've got some serious issues with people who have got mental health issues walking our streets right now that should not be on the streets," Nelson said. RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Madonna Saunderson said there were ongoing discussions regarding the councillor's concerns, but no decisions had been made yet. "The Williams Lake RCMP continue to meet with city council to work collaboratively on identifying viable options to address ongoing and/or emerging public safety issues," she said. Nelson added that city staff were now working to ensure police, emergency services, and the Interior Health Authority were prepared for the state of emergency. Proposal receives blowback Nelson's motion is not without its critics. The Xatsull First Nation, whose reserve is just north of the city, sent a letter to council expressing strong opposition to the motion. "We stand firmly against these measures — not only because of the disproportionate harm they pose to Indigenous people, but because they risk further marginalizing and criminalizing all people in our city who are struggling," the letter from Chief Rhonda Williams read. "These proposed actions would do nothing to address the root causes of the challenges faced in our community," the letter adds. The B.C. Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) says the motion is simply a "non-starter" in its eyes, especially regarding the direction for police to transport people to hospitals for involuntary treatment. "The Mental Health Act already exists and already has mechanisms ... where [authorities] do have very extreme powers to detain people," said BCCLA policy director Meghan McDermott. "So to suggest that something even more than that is needed, and something as broad as this, is just really dangerous and not the way that our Constitution contemplates life in Canada," she added. While any local government in B.C. can declare a local state of emergency for up to 14 days, if they establish what additional powers they need, it is up to the province to consider extending it. And so far, the province hasn't indicated whether it supports Williams Lake council's bid to declare a state of emergency. Terry Yung, the minister of state for community safety and integrated services, told CBC News that public safety was important to his government and that more concrete plans would be released after talking to Williams Lake council. "In July, in two months, we're going to add 40 emergency shelter beds in Williams Lake," he said. "So we have programs ongoing, but I look forward to actually understanding more challenges on the ground for Williams Lake after consultation."
CBC
29-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
B.C. city ponders state of emergency to improve downtown safety after fires, drug use
The city council of Williams Lake, B.C., is considering a curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and escorting people displaying public intoxication or severe mental health issues to the hospital. Mayor Surinderpal Rathor says he hopes this will help the city's reputation and discipline repeat offenders.
