Important Things To Know About The Supreme Court Tent Ruling
Important Things To Know About The Supreme Court Tent Ruling
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The city has taken a few liberties in their interpretation of the new Supreme Court ruling that now allows tents to be set up in Victoria city parks. Firstly, the idea that the ruling only goes into effect when there are not enough shelter beds is completely wrong. Our lawyers had always said that the Charter Challenge would have been made harder, if not impossible, if there were enough shelter beds. That being said, now that the Challenge has been 'successful' the only stipulation it proposes is that only homeless people are allowed to set up temporary shelters and legally it would not matter if there were 2000 empty shelter beds.
Secondly, yes, it was generally accepted that once the anti-tent bylaws were struck that the city could still make new bylaws to better work with the judge's ruling. In this case, the city just adopted another constitutionally violating bylaw that restricts people's ability to sleep in a tent after 7:00 AM. It would not be a violation if there was somewhere tents COULD go up 24/7... within walking distance to downtown and with provisions for growth.
As it stands now, though, I feel I more jail time in my future, as it can still take years to have another Supreme Court ruling to say you can protect yourself from the weather, with a tent, at any time. We have the hardest times we will ever face coming and have no doubt that the government's 'management' of 'homelessness' does not include tent-cities. George W. Bush was right, at least about one thing- you are either with us or against us. There is no neutral.
David Arthur Johnston
Victoria, BC, Canada
Hatrackman@Gmail.com
Home page- http://www.angelfire.com/apes/hatrackman
Journal of the Occupation of St. Ann's Academy (Victoria, BC, Canada)- http://www.angelfire.com/apes/hatrackman/welcome.htm
Crimes of Necessity- http://www.loveandfearlessness.com (from filmmaker Andrew Ainsley. Very comprehensive.)
David, at 7am you should be up and at 'em....going somewhere for your free breakfast, or out to pick up some more free clothes, not sleeping in! I guess if you're awake by noon there will be a free lunch somewhere so don't worry about missing your free breakfast. As for opinions on your current situation and comments on what 'our lawyer said', I suggest you refrain from suggesting others follow in your footsteps based on your interpretations of the law. You are not a lawyer and even admit yourself that more jail time looks like it may come your way in the future. Don't lead others in your direction if that is where you think you are heading. You don't do any good to anyone or yourself by being locked up in jail. Think about it, what does going to jail accomplish for your cause, your family or your soul? Nothing.
I think what David was saying, is that the Supreme Court ruled that people have a right to create a temporary shelter to protect themselves while they sleep. Again, this was a ruling by the highest court.
The municipal government has ignored that ruling by enforcing these new "policies" which are ambiguous and unilateral declarations. They are putting limits on something a higher court has deemed a right.
It'd be like saying: You have the right to free speech, but only between 9AM and 5PM.
You can't limit a fundamental right, otherwise it no longer is a right.
hey Sup im bynkie kids r asking me about tent city n vanbc when is this going to happen