Correspondence from Mayor Coté, City of New Westminster regarding resolutions to UBCM 2017 Convention

June 30, 2017

Via Email

Jonathan X. Coté Mayor

Dear Mayor and Council,

I am writing to request your support for three resolutions submitted by New Westminster City Council to UBCM for consideration at the 2017 Convention, regarding 1) addressing homelessness, 2) restorative justice training, and 3) renovictions. The three resolutions follow below:

1) City of New Westminster resolution regarding addressing homelessness (adopted June 12, 2017)

Whereas the homeless population in Metro Vancouver increased by 29.8% between 2014 and 2017.

Whereas the federal Homelessness Partnering Strategy has focused its resources on crisis response to the chronically and episodically homeless resulting in those at-risk of homelessness not being eligible for housing support and advocacy services.

Whereas municipalities have experienced significant funding cuts to housing outreach, referral and advocacy services, and inadequate senior government funding to address addictions and mental illness are significantly impacting the sheltered and unsheltered homeless population.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

THAT the Union of BC Municipalities urge the Provincial Government to work collaboratively with the Federal Government to place equal emphasis on homelessness prevention and crisis response, to increase funding for housing outreach, referral and advocacy services, and to provide additional funding to address addictions and mental health.

2) City of New Westminster resolution regarding Restorative Justice training as a component of Law Enforcement training (adopted June 12, 2017)

Whereas Restorative Justice has become a valuable tool in addressing certain criminal activities, by mediating a dialogue between the victim and the offender;

And whereas this interaction creates a direct accountability, restitution and apology from the offender;

And further whereas this methods of redress reduces the volume of cases before the courts;

Therefore be it resolved that senior levels of government mandate that Restorative Justice training become a compulsory component of Law Enforcement training.

3) City of New Westminster resolution regarding Renovictions and calling for amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act (adopted June 26, 2017)

Whereas the practice of renovictions, by which some landlords evict their tenants under the guise of performing major renovations and then significantly increase the rent of those units, is on the rise in our province; and

Whereas this practice is very disruptive to those impacted, including the elderly, low-income families and new immigrants, and contributes to housing unaffordability and homelessness; and

Whereas municipalities are limited in their ability to address this issue and many tenants are unaware of their rights or are reluctant to exercise them;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

THAT the Union of BC Municipalities urge the Provincial Government to undertake a broad review of the Residential Tenancy Act including, but not limited to, amending the Residential Tenancy Act to:

• allow renters the right of first refusal to return to their units at a rent that is no more than what the landlord could lawfully have charged, including allowable annual increases, if there had been no interruption in the tenancy;
• eliminate or amend fixed-term tenancy agreements to prevent significant rent increases upon renewal; and,
• permit one tenant or applicant to represent and take collective action on behalf of all tenants in a building.

If you have any questions or would like more information about these resolutions, please contact me at jcote@newwestcity.ca or 604-527-4522.

Your support is appreciated.

Yours truly,

Jonathan X. Coté Mayor