Thank you for writing about the deplorable situation of there being no cold weather shelter in our Parksville Qualicum Beach area. The stance that the Parksville mayor and council have taken is ludicrous. It is both morally and practically wrong.
From a practical perspective, I believe that crime is going up in our area as a direct result of the indifference and lack of positive action by our local governance.
The councils of Parksville and complacent Qualicum Beach — and their unrealistic supporters — are only increasing human suffering through their heads-in-the-sand approach in dealing with the less-fortunate in our communities. The homeless situation will not be “going away.”
Therefore, responsible governments should be preparing to both prevent and/or ameliorate the terrible hardships some community members are enduring instead of increasing their suffering. From a self-serving perspective, councils should know and act on the fact that desperate people may resort to crime in order to survive. Do the councils expect people to just go die somewhere, preferably out of sight?
With the sudden mill closure in Errington, perhaps some of those 50 workers, all formerly employed people with families and homes, through no “fault” of their own, may be in danger of joining the ranks of the desperate. What would the attitude of local governance be about any of these folks needing a winter shelter and food?
Come on PQB councils — you can do better. Helping the less-fortunate is being done elsewhere. Let’s start here with a dedicated cold-weather shelter!
Lynne Brookes
Errington