Tag Archives: Lubna El Elaimy

Justice

Restorative justice program growing after three-year hiatus

By Lubna El Elaimy, Burnaby Beacon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After nearly two decades, the Burnaby RCMP’s restorative justice program experienced disruptions in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Restorative justice started in Burnaby in 2001 as a community-based program called the Burnaby Restorative Action Group. Staff changes during the pandemic contributed to the program’s disruption. 

In the spring of 2023 the City of Burnaby hired new staff to take over the restorative justice program. Staff members who work on the program are municipal employees, but their offices are located within the Burnaby RCMP detachment, and they work closely with RCMP members. 

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Justice

Burnaby anti-racism organization welcomes RCMP race-based data collection

Editor’s Opinion: As Chief Darren Blaney told Cortes Currents after the shooting of Jared Lowndes in Campbell River in 2021, 6 months training is not sufficient to equip the RCMP with intense situations. “There is a lot of emphasis on physical training and physical fitness, but not policing with social problems and mental health issues. Escalation and racial bias are not really examined during the training period.”

In Lowndes case, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) determined that the RCMP actions were not justified. Chief Civilian Director Ronald J. MacDonald, KC, stated that reasonable grounds exist to believe that three officers (a dogmaster, and the two officers who gunned Lowndes down when he defended himself against the attacking animal) may have committed offences in relation to various uses of force.

By Lubna El Elaimy, Burnaby Beacon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In late March, the RCMP announced the start of its race-based data collection pilot in Burnaby. Since the beginning of April, Burnaby RCMP has been collecting information about the interactions RCMP members have with racialized people.
The pilot project comes after two years of research and discussions with communities throughout Canada. With over 50% of Burnaby residents born outside of Canada and no ethnic majority, Burnaby was selected as one of five Canadian cities to join the project in its first year.

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Housing

Burnaby: Higher fines may be coming for short-term rentals

Editor’s note: An increasing number of communities are enacting regulations around short term rentals. Cortes Island has a 3% tax on short term rentals. Some residents need the revenue that STRs provide in order to survive, but 63% of the respondents to the Cortes Island Housing Survey said people should only operate short term rentals on land that includes their primary residence (I.E. – no off island owners). 21% voted against this.

Lubna El Elaimy, Burnaby Beacon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

During the special committee of council’s meeting on Dec. 6, committee members voted to send a letter to the attorney general and minister of municipal affairs to increase the maximum daily penalties under the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act (LGBNEA) for owners of short-term rental (STR) accommodations. 

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Housing

Homelessness Action Week at Burnaby City Council

Editor’s note: This article combines the story of one city’s fight against homelessness with an overview of the province’s actions.

By Lubna El Elaimy, Burnaby Beacon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Last week, the Society to End Homelessness delegation spoke at the city council meeting. Executive director Carol-Ann Flanagan gave a presentation on the current status of homelessness and the unsheltered in Burnaby. The presentation comes after BC Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon released an official statement on Oct. 10 marking Homelessness Action Week, in which he recognized volunteers and organizations working to end homelessness.

“Through our work, in collaboration with local governments, nonprofits, and Indigenous partners, 4,800 people have moved into supportive homes since we formed government. In 2022, we invested $633 million to take action against homelessness, and this year, we’re investing up to $1.5 billion through Budget 2023 in new initiatives aimed at helping prevent and reduce homelessness in the province,” Kahlon said in the statement. 

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