UBCM backs Mayencourt's Safe Streets Act (CKNW)
UBCM backs Mayencourt's Safe Streets Act
September, 22 - 10:41 AM
KELOWNA CKNW/AM980 -- A Liberal MLA who wants to crack down on aggressive panhandlers and squatters has received the backing of BC's municipal politicians.
Lorne Mayencourt is beaming after delegates at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention voted in favour of his so-called Safe Streets Legislation.
Mayencourt says well over two thirds of the delegates supported this motion, which is really consistent with polling data that we had last month which indicated that 70 per-cent of British Columbians supported this.
He says it's great to have that ratified and endorsed by the UBCM, they're an important body.
It's still not clear if the government will take any action on Mayencourt's private members' bills which were introduced in the spring.
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Vancouver Mayor, MLA at odds over Safe Streets Act (vancourier)
Mayor, MLA at odds over Safe Streets Act
Vancouver Courier)
By Scott Deveau-Contributing writer
The MLA pushing for the controversial Safe Streets Act says it's still important even though the province has promised to hand over $40 million in traffic fine money to B.C. municipalities to pay for policing.
Vancouver-Burrard MLA Lorne Mayencourt's proposed legislation, which is going before the legislature this fall, targets aggressive panhandling near bus stops, telephones and bank machines. It also deals with squeegee kids and anyone who disposes of needles, condoms and broken glass in an unsafe manner.
Mayor Larry Campbell said the legislation will never get passed as it stands.
"It's unconstitutional and everybody knows it," Campbell said. "The new money and the Safe Streets Act are two different things. The Safe Streets Act does nothing for policing. Everything that is in the Safe Streets Act we already have. We have the power of arrest, the power of trespass. There is nothing in there."
The new money from the provincial government, however, would have a positive impact on Vancouver's streets, Campbell said, because it will be spent on community police centres and hiring more officers. He called Mayencourt's proposal draconian.
"Lorne wants to put poor people in jail. For someone who has been bankrupt twice, I find that quite alarming," Campbell said.
Mayencourt blames Campbell for a lack of policing on Vancouver's streets. He said Campbell decided aggressive panhandling is not a priority for police in Vancouver.
He said because of Campbell, his legislation might not change what he said is a bad panhandling problem in Vancouver.
"What it does say to Larry Campbell and to his city councillors is that people around British Columbia say it's time for him and every other municipality to deal with [aggressive panhandling]," Mayencourt said.
He said the Vancouver Police Department is one of the most vocal supporters of the Act and threw its support behind it in a report published by the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police.
"The police say that the bylaw function they have is a clumsy instrument and they look at the [act] as a valuable and precise tool," Mayencourt said. "If 80 per cent of the province says we need it and 70 per cent of Vancouverites say we need it, what makes me ask, and you should want to ask, why is Larry opposed to striking back against aggressive panhandling? I think it's because he doesn't like me. It's absolutely personal."
Campbell denies Mayencourt's claims.
"It has nothing to do with being personal, at all. It has to do with a stupid law," said Campbell, who added he has never directed the police on operational matters. "That's the thing about Lorne... Lorne has such a lack of understanding to how the world works. He sees everything in very simplistic terms. Everything is about Lorne."
VPD Chief Jamie Graham was unavailable for comment despite repeated requests from the Courier for an interview.
Vancouver Courier)