The B.C. Supreme Court has ordered campers at Saanich’s tent city to leave Regina Park by Tuesday, September 11th.
In July, the District of Saanich began pursuing an injunction against the people living in Regina Park to vacate the premises due to increased fire hazards.
In fact, a fire did break out over the weekend and destroyed a tent before it was extinguished by people living in tent city. It was later discovered that the fire was caused by a lit cigarette left inside the tent.
On Friday, the judge hearing Saanich’s case granted the injunction and mandated that residents must clear out of Regina Park by Tuesday between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
According to CTV reports, the founder of tent city, Chrissy Brett said she wasn’t yet sure whether she would comply with the order or not.
A tweet from Ashley Mollison, an organizer with the Alliance Against Displacement, quotes Brett, saying “Today the colonial courts have sent over 100 people back into the woods and back alleys. They didn’t even give us a reserve to die on.”
Richard Atwell, Mayor of Saanich, is expected to provide his statement on the court’s decision this afternoon.
This court decision is a sad day for homeless people across this country. But we are learning that the courts cannot understand the survival needs of Indigenous and homeless people. @stopdisplacemnt
— Ashley Mollison (@aimollison) September 7, 2018
