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CARDINALS BASEBALL
JULY 17, 2015
Abbotsford team wins two of three games to climb standings A26
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Homeless have shelter options: city lawyer City of Abbotsford opens its case in Supreme Court trial Tyler OLSEN Abbotsford News
The City of Abbotsford will argue it’s doing its best to help the homeless population while keeping parks safe for other users, city lawyer James Yardley said Wednesday during the ongoing Supreme Court trial into the constitutionality of several bylaws. Lawyers affiliated with Pivot Legal Society are suing the city on
behalf of the BC/Yukon Drug War Survivors (DWS), a group of homeless activists who say Abbotsford’s bylaws are unconstitutional. They allege that a combination of the city’s bylaws – which prohibit unauthorized camping in city parks – and a lack of housing options put homeless people at risk and infringe on their right to security of person. After two weeks of testimo-
ny before Supreme Court Justice Christopher Hinkson by witnesses for the plaintiffs, the city opened its case Wednesday. In his opening statement,Yardley laid out the broad strokes of the city’s case. He said the city has undertaken a variety of efforts to try to provide shelter for its homeless, despite no legal requirement to do so. “There are housing and shelter
options for people living in encampments,” he said. Yardley pointed to a range of programs and city initiatives, including the creation of Assertive Community Treatment team to provide health assistance for the homeless, the establishment of a Homelessness Task Force, and the approval of a new low-barrier supportive housing facility. Continued on A6
CRASH VICTIMS REMEMBERED A7 Efforts underway to honour Abbotsford-based airmen killed during WWII training exercise
DROUGHT DECLARED A11 Province declares Level 4 drought in Lower Fraser, South Coast regions
An Abbotsford Police officer parks his bike at a homeless camp on Gladys Avenue Wednesday afternoon. City policies and bylaws that affect Abbotsford’s homeless are the subject of a lawsuit being held in Supreme Court. After two weeks of testimony by plaintiffs representing a group of homeless activists, The city presented its opening arguments on Wednesday.
MORTENSEN ON THE MOUND A30 Local pitcher picks up win at Pan Am Games as Canada sits atop their group
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