Renoviction issue looms large for City Council's January 23rd session

The Harbourview apartments overlooking Seal Cove are the
latest flashpoint on the issue of renovictions in Prince Rupert

With more Prince Rupert residents receiving notice of Renoviction to start 2023, the topic it seems is destined to return to the top of the public engagement list for Prince Rupert City council this month.

As we outlined last Monday, some residents of the Harbour View Apartments overlooking Seal Cove received notice of vacancy in the first week of this month, that as the property owners make plans for extensive renovation work on the apartment block in question.

It's one of a number of apartment blocks at the site on the city's far eastern reach, and in recent years the structures have been showing their age.  

Most recently made famous by one which had to be destroyed in 2020 owing to a number of structural issues.

The documentation of this month noted by one resident that led to awareness of the renoviction, does seem to indicate that the property owner has taken a number of steps required towards the notification process, included in that is an offer of cash for those who leave their apartments before May.

The actual process however will be a bit longer than that it would appear from that May deadline, that with the need of an order in place from the Residential Tenancy Office, something that has not as of yet reportedly been granted.

Still, with the current vacancy rate in the city as challenging as it is, the renoviction notices have once again called attention towards the need for protections for tenants.

In the days following our notes of Monday, a few other stories were shared through local media, both featuring tenant rights advocate Paul Lagace, who outlined the ongoing challenges that residents of apartments face. 

The housing advocate  providing additional background for both the weekly paper and CBC's daybreak North.

Prince Rupert housing advocate Paul Lagace (on left) seen here at
a presentation to Council in 2022, may be back at City Hall on January 23rd
speaking to the issue of renovictions in the community once again

The CBC on Thursday morning noted  that a delegation of tenants will be appearing at the next Prince Rupert City Council Session on January 23rd to ask questions of City Councillors related to the effectiveness. of the city's own Renoviction Bylaw. 

Something which Mr. Lagace suggests is facing its first real challenge and not providing a lot of protection and meeting the needs of those who are being renovicted.

The City's renoviction elements were described at the time of adoption of the bylaw last year as something to complement the Provincial legislation and not to supersede it.

The controversial topic may have actually come up at the first City Council session  one week ago on January 9th, as we outlined in our Council Timeline feature.

Councillor Barry Cunningham speaking to someone off camera and 
off microphone at the January 9th Council Session

At that first public session for 2023, there was a brief interruption around the thirty five minute mark of the night's proceedings. 

That following discussion on what apparently is an approaching opening for the Digby Tower complex and a comment by Councillor Barry Cunningham, who praised the owner for his investment in the community, 

That interruption featured a discussion on an unknown topic between Councillor Cunningham, serving as Chair for the evening  and someone off-camera and off-microphone.

Such was the nature of that discussion heard by the council members and those in the chamber at the time,  that City manager Rob Buchan participating remotely on the night,  advised that it was not protocol to address the topic at that time.  

Mayor Herb Pond, participating remotely on the night as well, also advised Mr. Cunningham to end the conversation as it was not on the agenda.

"Mr. Chair, you need to stop the discussion, there is no opportunity at these meetings for public input, There is a process ... and it's well covered ... there is no opportunity in this agenda for public" -- Mayor Herb Pond

Mr. Cunningham then observed that the topic might be one discussed after the council session with Mr. Buchan or the Corporate Manager.

The Councillor however, would return to the topic at the end of the Council session seeking to reintroduce it for discussion.

"I don't know if this is out of place or not, but considering that discussion that we couldn't have a little while ago. I was wondering if when Doctor Buchan and the Mayor get back to town, if we could have a discussion about that with the owner of Digby Towers and see if we can expedite anything or something like that" -- Councillor Barry Cunningham

However, City Manager Rob Buchan then weighed in again,  this time advising how there was nothing for Council to discuss.

"There is nothing to expedite from Council's position.  Council has given direction to proceed we've been waiting for documents to come in, they came in just before Christmas. Our Corporate Officer is processing the documents, we'll be sending out notices required from the Act within a couple of weeks and we'll be able to complete that process. 

We've been waiting for the documents to come in, like I said they came in just before Christmas and of course over Christmas not much gets done." -- City Manager Rob Buchan

The Councillor did thank the City Manager for clarifying the issue observing that people were wondering what's going on. 

Though for those that may have been viewing at home, the topic is still one that they have no real idea towards what anyone was talking about.

The interruption and the nature of the topic, as well as Mr. Cunningham's follow up discussion,  was not noted as part of the City's Social Media recap of the proceedings  on January 11th.

You can review those instances from the City's Video archive at both the 35 minute mark and again at the 46 minute mark.

If indeed those comments were related to the Harbourview renoviction process, it would appear that the residents and Mr. Lagace may not quite see things quite the same way as the City may.

Something which should make next Monday's Council session an interesting one, offering up a hot and challenging topic for the Council members to hear the public on as their work begins anew for 2023.

It's anticipated that any commentary for the Council members will come as part of the Committee of the Whole session which takes place at 7 PM just ahead of the Regular Council session.

Considering the interest in the topic of housing and much of the burden toward housing and tenancy regulations make for a provincial issue, Council members may want to sent out an invitation to MLA Jennifer Rice to join everyone down at City Hall next Monday evening.  

That to gain the province's view on the ongoing issues of renovictions, and how that ongoing issue can be address in Prince Rupert.

The full bylaw which was adopted in 2022 can be reviewed here. areas of note on evictions can be reviewed on page 14.

 

You can review the path towards the City's recently approved bylaws towards housing themes below:

June 27 2022 -- Public Hearing tonight to provide final review of proposed Omnibus Zoning Bylaw update

April 29 2022 -- Renoviction/Rental Bylaw gains fourth and final reading from Prince Rupert Council 

April 22 2022 -- City's Renoviction/Rental Housing bylaw one step closer to adoption after half hour of back and fort over City Manager's Amendment recommendations 

March 17 2022 -- City's new Business Regulations Bylaw on rental housing will be a complaint driven process 

March 4 2022 -- Housing and the challenges for families and residents highlighted in Council Presentation

February 3 2022 -- A glacial pace for City Council's much anticipated Renoviction Bylaw

September 22 2021 -- City's Renoviction Bylaw to serve as complement to provincial legislation

More background on the housing challenges in Prince Rupert can be reviewed from our archive page.