Category: In the News

Vancouver Sun

The statisticians describe the unprecedented number of people streaming into B.C., while the province’s mayors explain how difficult and costly it is to try to house everyone.

A special housing meeting of the Union of B.C. Municipalities heard this week that B.C.’s population has jumped like never before — and that more than 600,000 new dwellings are needed just to get back to supply and demand ratios similar to a couple of decades ago. …

Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said it will cost taxpayers an average of $1 million to upgrade a typical 100-metre row of detached houses to provide the infrastructure for four- and six-plexes.

“I’m also not sure we have the workforce, the tradespeople, to do it,” said Hurley, remarking that “hopefully half of the those million more people who are arriving will be in the housing construction industry.”

Both Hurley and Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said the NDP’s push for multi-unit housing throughout cities is creating chaos for their long-range community plans, which have emphasized high density around SkyTrain lines and certain town centres. …

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Global News

In the wake of a highly contentious council vote in Richmond, B.C., to explore the possibility of a safe drug consumption site, health officials are clarifying they have no plans to build an isolated facility in the community.

Following two nights of heated hearings, councillors voted 7-2 Tuesday evening in favour of considering a supervised drug consumption site at the city’s hospital. …

Monday’s hearings grew heated, with shouting in the hallways, at least one person escorted away by police and Mayor Malcolm Brodie demanding calm when demonstrators chanted “No drugs!” in the council chambers. …

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CBC News

A motion by two Richmond, B.C., councillors to push for a supervised drug consumption site in their municipality has sparked backlash from the community — and confusion from the provincial government.

“My understanding is [Vancouver Coastal Health] are trying to get a better handle on why Richmond is bringing forward this proposal at this time, [and] whether what’s proposed actually meets the needs in Richmond,” said Premier David Eby at an unrelated news conference Tuesday.

“Because from their perspective, this is not what’s immediately needed in that city.” …
Outside council chambers there were multiple shouting matches between opponents and advocates of the motion, with police on scene monitoring. Inside the chambers, more than 20 of the speakers called for more consultation, sometimes confusing Gillanders and Heed’s motion for a plan that had already been endorsed by staff or council.

Multiple times, Mayor Malcolm Brodie admonished the crowd for applauding or chanting within the council chamber. …

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Global BC

Richmond City Council is sitting for a second straight day to hear from dozens of people on a controversial motion to consider opening a supervised consumption site in the city. As Angela Jung reports, it was standing-room-only during a very heated meeting Monday night.

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Daily Hive

A large and angry crowd gathered Monday night outside Richmond City Hall ahead of a meeting to vote on the possibility of a supervised consumption site at Richmond General Hospital Precinct, and tensions reached a boiling point.

“You’re what’s wrong with Canada. Go back to where you came from,” a woman can be heard in a video posted to social media, adding, “Go back to Hong Kong.” …

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie read the email at the meeting ahead of the speakers, adding, “Supervised consumption sites provide a safe location for individuals with an addiction to administer their own drugs under the supervision of a qualified health professional. The sites or staff do not hand out drugs to users but provide access to addiction treatment and recovery services.”

At one point, several people shouted out during the meeting, to which the mayor condemned them and said if they wanted to speak, they should sign up and speak officially, not scream from the back of the room. …

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msn.com

After two nights of heated meetings, Richmond City Council passed a motion Tuesday night to consider implementing a supervised consumption site.

The motion passed seven to two, with councillors Alexa Loo and Chak Au opposed.

Seventy-four residents lined up to voice their opinions Tuesday evening at Richmond council on the controversial proposal.

More than 120 people signed up to speak to the proposal, 54 of whom took the mic at a council meeting that grew heated Monday night. …

That hearing saw shouting in the hallways, at least one person escorted away by police, and a rebuke to the gallery from Mayor Malcolm Brodie after chants of “no drugs!” broke out among demonstrators.

“The communication has been very very difficult,” Brodie told Global News ahead of Tuesday’s hearing. …

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Richmond News

City council is not a theatre or a carnival.

This was the stern message from Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie after applause and chants of “no drugs, no drugs” broke out in chambers after a tearful presentation opposing a safe-consumption site in Richmond at Monday night’s city council meeting.

“I can tell you I’ve been doing this since the mid-’90s and this is the first time I’ve had that kind of reaction here in the city council,” Brodie said. “It’s not going to happen. Is there anybody who doesn’t understand that?”

He said there would be no “demonstrations” in council chambers, and the only way to give input was to get on the speaking list and tell city council “what’s on your mind.”

“This is not some kind of theatre or a carnival,” Brodie said. “This is a very solemn occasion where we are making important discussions and decisions for the city.”

City council proceeded to hear about 50 delegations for four hours on a motion to ask the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority to explore having a safe-consumption site in Richmond. …

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Vancouver Sun

A measure of uncertainty — and umbrage — was palpable Tuesday at the Westin Bayshore conference centre in Vancouver, with many unanswered questions and a few pointed criticisms from B.C. mayors for the provincial government over its recent housing reforms.

How many spaces for parking cars should go with each unit of housing? And how many homes per lot?

Will the new six-plexes proposed have the power capacity to charge electric vehicles? …

Other mayors spoke to some of the strengths of the reforms. Langley City Mayor Nathan Pachal said he welcomes the province’s changes that restrict the ability of local governments to require off-street parking spaces in developments near transit.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie disagreed, calling it “a recipe for parking nightmares.”

B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon appeared at the conference later in the day, first answering questions from municipal officials and politicians and then from the media. …

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Vancouver Sun

Emotions ran high at a Richmond council meeting Monday night as councillors heard from the public about a motion to ask city staff to examine the possibility of a safe-consumption site.

After the first speaker spoke against implementing a drug consumption site within the Richmond General Hospital precinct, many people in the packed council chamber cheered and broke out into chants of, “No drugs, no drugs.” …

The rowdy reaction earned a rebuke from Mayor Malcolm Brodie, who said the crowd needs to “respect the process.”

“This is not some kind of theatre or a carnival,” he said. “This is a very solemn occasion when we are making important discussions and decisions for the city.”

Brodie, who is Richmond’s longest-serving mayor, said he has been in public hearings since the mid-1990s and “that is the first time I’ve had that kind of a reaction here in city council.

“It is not going to happen,” he said. “Is there anybody who doesn’t understand that?”

Speakers on both sides of the argument addressed council over several hours. …

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BNN

Amidst the vibrant cityscape of Richmond, a new beacon of creativity has emerged. The Richmond Cultural Centre Annex, a sprawling 15,154-square-foot facility, officially opened its doors today, promising to invigorate the city’s arts and culture scene.

Embodying the spirit of artistic expression and collaboration, the Annex houses dance studios, a pottery area, and a spacious gallery for local artists to showcase their work. This former Minoru Seniors Centre underwent an extensive $3.06 million renovation, transforming it into a hub for creative minds.

Mayor Malcolm Brodie, expressing his excitement about the Annex’s potential impact, said, “This is a significant milestone for our city. The Richmond Cultural Centre Annex will serve as a catalyst for our thriving arts and culture community.” …

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