File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Two and Out

PETERS: Collaboration key to solving street safety issues

Sep 23, 2022 | 11:07 AM

CFJC TODAY’S QUESTIONNAIRE asked local election candidates their opinions of the top priority in the upcoming campaign.

Almost without fail, candidates said issues of safety related to our street-involved population are top of mind for their constituents. Nothing even came a close second.

The issue they have identified is actually many complex and interrelated issues.

A lack of housing supply for those who could survive and thrive with a roof over their heads.

Inadequate mental health and addiction supports for many living without shelter.

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The court rulings that have a huge impact on pretrial detention, meaning suspects being arrested and charged find themselves back out on the street and back to the criminal activity they were doing before in order to feed addictions or compulsions.

It all adds up to a picture of desperation — and desperate people will do drastic things.

As we have agreed before, any local candidate claiming they can solve these issues is selling you a bill of goods.

They can help shape municipal policies, sure, but these issues also need to be addressed by upper levels of government, the health system, the justice system, social agencies – and everyday, ordinary people.

The main role of the local politician, in this case, is effective advocacy.

Mayors and councillors need to convince their provincial and federal counterparts of changes that need to be made.

But they also need to team up with their municipal counterparts in other communities to share potential solutions.

We may think what’s happening in Kamloops is worse than anywhere else, but if you travel to other communities in B.C., you quickly see our problems are not unique.

Local politicians are banding together to find solutions to healthcare challenges — they should be able to do the same thing for our street issues.

No need for each community to invent its own wheel.

If you’re looking for candidates to choose come election time, give plenty of consideration to those who talk collaboration.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.