Victoria's city council is looking for ways to "better manage" a homeless encampment in the civic square where police busted an alleged drug trafficking ring this week. "I don't want to prejudge who may be guilty of what, but absolutely, Centennial Square has become untenable and unsafe," Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps told On the Island host Gregor Craigie. She said city staff are working on options to "better manage" activity in the square and will bring forward possible policy or bylaw changes to the next council meeting. The head of the Downtown Victoria Business Association says crime rates have increased dramatically during the pandemic along with homeless camping in the city core. (Victoria Police Department)Jeff Bray, the executive director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association, says his members want city council to end camping in the downtown commercial area of Victoria altogether.

Source: CBC News August 29, 2020 00:56 UTC