Former Penticton councillor, now MLA clashes with mayor and council over encampment
Global News
The site, located at Highway 97 and Fairview Road, is home to around 30 people and falls under the jurisdiction of the B.C. Ministry of Transportation.
A homeless encampment in Penticton has ignited a political dispute, with city and provincial officials trading blame over how to handle the growing crisis.
The site, located at Highway 97 and Fairview Road, is home to around 30 people and falls under the jurisdiction of the B.C. Ministry of Transportation.
BC Conservative MLA Amelia Boultbee, who represents Penticton–Summerland and is a former Penticton city councillor, has publicly criticized the City of Penticton for excluding her from discussions.
“My responsibility to taxpayers is much bigger than my reluctance to step on the mayor’s toes,” Boultbee said.
She claims a meeting was held this week to address the encampment, but no city councillors were present. The meeting comes after a previous talks she was part of in January with city staff.
Mayor Julius Bloomfield responded, saying the emergency meeting was called on short notice.
“She subsequently called an emergency meeting with a couple hours’ notice,” he said. “I was at an anti-racism symposium at Okanagan College and was unavailable.”
Bloomfield added that city staff are navigating legal limits, since the encampment is not on municipal land.
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