Close to 300 residents packed Powell River’s Evergreen Theatre to talk about homelessness and senior housing.
The town hall on Tuesday (Aug. 25), organized by the Westview Ratepayers Society, featured a panel of Mayor Ron Woznow, MLA Randene Neill and MP Aaron Gunn.
Gunn says it’s no secret issues of homelessness, addiction and public safety have gotten worse.
“I think it was somewhat unique and it was very great to see representatives from every level of government showing up on stage, not always agreeing, but that okay too and having a robust exchange of ideas and discussion about what the solution might be and what the path forward should be for Powell River, our province and our country,” Gunn said in an inteview with Vista Radio.
Gunn says people he heard from in the audience are mostly frustrated government isn’t listening to them.
“We heard over and over again that this was not the Powell River that they grew up in,” he said.
“I think there’s a lot of concerns around this and just a general feeling that the concerns of people who are working hard, paying their taxes and following the law aren’t being listened to,” the MP added.
From his perspective, the Conservative MP believes everything the provincial NDP and federal Liberal governments have done, like drug injection sites and safe supply, have made the problem worse.
The Westview Ratepayers Society says the event was a good venue to bring all viewpoints together and to look at how to move forward.
It says it was clear changes and actions are needed by all three levels of government to solve the problem.
