Mayoral candidates weigh in on people living in vehicles along Vancouver beach
Living in vans and RVs is far from ideal, but it's a reality for dozens of people in Vancouver.
Scattered along Spanish Banks, people camped out in their vehicles are calling the shoreline parking lots home – at least for the time being.
That's despite signage warning any vehicles left overnight will be towed at the owners' expense. The city is now clamping down, sending parking enforcement staff and park rangers to speak with the occupants.
"In situations where individuals do not engage, all education options have been exhausted and general warnings/towing notices have been ignored, vehicles may be towed," a city spokesperson told CTV News.
It's no secret rent is sky-high in Vancouver. That’s what’s drove many into this situation.
"It's a hell of a lot cheaper than paying rent in this city,” said Matthew Rogers, who has been living in his van for more than two years.
He moved to Vancouver from New Zealand in 2019 and bought his van to tour around Canada. COVID-19 changed those plans, but his van ended up being his permanent home because rent is so expensive.
Rogers says parks staff gave campers notice earlier this week, warning that tickets were coming – though none have been issued so far. He was told the city would be towing everyone who hasn't left by next Tuesday.
“Maybe we've overstayed our welcome a little, bit but at the same time the parking lot's going to be empty at night,” said Rogers, who is employed and not living in his van strictly out of necessity.
There’s a lot of finger-pointing for who is to blame and varying ideas about what the solution is, but it all boils down to one thing: the lack of affordable housing.
“The only answer here is more supply of housing, but not luxury condos – rentals, social housing," said mayoral candidate Kennedy Stewart.
“As long as we continue inflating land values we’re going to make it so people cannot afford to live here and are forced to live in tents or their RVs at the beach,” said mayoral candidate Colleen Hardwick.
B.C.’s housing minister says the province is on board to help, but that parking lot living, even as a possible short-term solution, is up to the city, not the province.
“It’s a symptom of the bigger problem that I think we need to address as a society head on – lack of housing at every level,” said Murray Rankin.
“I absolutely understand their plight – help is on the way. We are trying to address this and deal with this as a crisis because that is what it is.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
4th Indian national arrested, charged with murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Homicide investigators in B.C. say murder charges have been laid against a fourth Indian national in connection to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey gurdwara last year.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Man ticketed after allegedly trespassing again at Drake's Bridle Path mansion to get his bike
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Biden calls Trump 'unhinged,' says 'something snapped' in former president after he lost 2020 U.S. election
U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday called Donald Trump “clearly unhinged” and claimed that “something snapped” in the former president after he lost the 2020 election.
Wildfire that forced evacuation of Fort Nelson, B.C., caused by tree falling on wires, mayor says
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
Switzerland's Nemo wins 68th Eurovision Song Contest
Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with 'The Code,' an operatic ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing their nongender identity.
IN PICTURES Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Grand Bend, Collingwood and Guelph, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.