Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said he nearly “fell out of his chair” after learning that Halifax council was planning to set up designated homeless encampments in historic parks like Halifax Common and Point Pleasant Park.
During a press conference following a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Houston said his provincial government had previously proposed about 40 potential campsites to the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM).
“I thought some of the sites they’ve been proposing were absolutely crazy,” he told reporters.
“The designation of some of these sites is really difficult to understand – how the HRM board could have thought these would be appropriate sites and the impact they would have on communities.”
The nine new locations, presented by city staff to Halifax councillors on Tuesday, include seven on the Halifax Peninsula, including Bayers Road Windsor Street Park, BiHi Park, Chain Lake Park, Cogswell Park, Glebe Street Park, Halifax Common berm and Point Pleasant Park.
In Dartmouth, Bissett Road Park and the Geary Street green space were selected as designated sites.
All locations were said to have been chosen for their proximity to public transport and other services, and their distance from schools, parks, gardens or culturally sensitive areas.
Of the location recommendations approved by Halifax, Nova Scotia’s premier said the decision to designate an area of Point Pleasant Park to serve as a homeless encampment was what surprised him most.
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“Point Pleasant Park and the Commons are certainly exceptional,” he said. “The sites they are proposing are quite impressive.”
In an emailed statement to Global News on Wednesday, a Halifax spokesperson said “the specific area of Point Pleasant Park for potential use as a designated location” is yet to be determined.
Houston went on to say that the province has made “significant” investments in housing in Halifax and that his colleagues need a “willing partner” in the municipality.
“We are a compassionate government, we are there to provide support. We will provide services, but some of the decisions surrounding some of these sites are just shocking in the impact they will have,” the prime minister said, adding that he expects another delivery of Pallet Home shelters in the autumn.
During a lengthy debate among Halifax officials on Tuesday, Councillor Lisa Blackburn placed primary responsibility for addressing the current housing crisis on her provincial counterparts.
“It’s a provincial responsibility and we’re doing what we can with the resources we have,” she said, adding that councillors are simply “putting a Band-Aid on the open wound on the chest. I think we need to start every conversation about this with the recognition that the province has a responsibility to provide emergency housing and shelter space.”
Councillor Sam Austin, who represents the Dartmouth Centre constituency, described the selected options as the “lesser evil” although he says he understands the challenges and potential backlash associated with the new locations.
Austin said existing encampments, such as the one on University Avenue near the city hospital and the one at Northbrook Park in Dartmouth, are “getting out of control” throughout the Halifax area. He also said an encampment on Green Road in Dartmouth is the same size as an encampment in Lower Sackville that was dismantled a few months ago.
“If we don’t designate locations, there will be no solution for Green Road and University Avenue. Northbrook Park is falling apart,” he added, adding that the city might not have been forced to make this decision if the Pallet shelters had arrived when originally planned.
“If we don’t do something today, that’s what’s going to happen… it’s the least bad of the terrible options and that’s all we have, terrible options.”
As of June 25, Halifax’s list of homeless people had grown to 1,316 across the city. Of the four locations currently operating as encampments, 88 tents have been set up in areas said to be suitable for about 30 people.
Additionally, city staff estimated that around 150 people are sleeping rough in urban areas of Halifax.
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