Tag Archives: Diana Dilworth

Housing, Poverty

Port Moody calls on province to mandate supportive housing requirements for TOD areas

Editor’s note: Port Moody was one of the communities that participated in 2023 Homeless Count Greater Vancouver.  It is one of the Tri-cities, whose homeless population people has almost doubled in the three years since the previous Point in Time Count (2020). A total of 4,821 people were listed in Greater Vancouver. When asked, the #1 cause respondents cited was ‘not enough income’ to afford housing. This was the same answer that Point in Time Counts found in Campbell River, the Comox Valley, Parksville/Qualicum, Powell River, Port Alberni and Sechelt/Gibsons.  ‘Low wages,’ ‘the inability to pay rent or mortgages’ and the lack of available housing during the tourist season were among the reasons given by the 46 Cortes Island residents known to have ‘couch surfed,’ found some other temporary shelter or lived outside at some point during 2022.

By Patrick Penner, Tri-Cities Dispatch, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Port Moody is calling on the province to provide dedicated supportive housing for homeless populations in cities expected to densify around their transit hubs.

The motion, introduced by Coun. Amy Lubik on Jan. 9, advocates for an amendment to recent provincial legislation mandating densification around all SkyTrain stations.

Port Moody will be sending the policy to the Lower Mainland Local Government Association and Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) conventions in 2024, and copies have been forwarded to the provincial ministers of housing, municipal affairs, mental health and poverty reduction.

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Politics

Concerns raised over Port Moody’s move to stop recording and archiving land use committee meetings

Editor’s note: While this story comes from the Lower Mainland, government transparency and accountability is an important issue everywhere. Other governments could follow the city of Port Moody’s example.

By Patrick Penner, Tri-Cities Dispatch, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The City of Port Moody has stopped recording and archiving the meetings of its land use committee (LUC), removing a long-time record keeping feature.

The public has been able to review LUC meetings since 2015, when the committee was permanently moved to council chambers.

Coun. Haven Lurbiecki spoke out against the decision on April 25, criticizing the lack of public notice or discussion.

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Health

110 purple flags will fly along Tri-Cities routes on Friday to mark 7th anniversary of B.C.’s toxic drug emergency

By Patrick Penner, Tri-Cities Dispatch, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On Friday April 14, commuters travelling along the Tri-Cities’ arterial routes counted 110 purple flags – one flag for every 100 people killed by toxic drugs since a public health crisis was announced.

Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody all granted the TriCities Overdose Community Action Team (TCCAT) a highway use permit to display the public art message meant to lessen the stigma around opioid addiction. 

Continue reading 110 purple flags will fly along Tri-Cities routes on Friday to mark 7th anniversary of B.C.’s toxic drug emergency →