Fates of B.C. homeless populations in hands of two separate judges

VANCOUVER – The fates of two separate homeless populations in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland remain in the hands of judges.

The City of Vancouver applied to the B.C. Supreme Court for an injunction to evict dozens of people camping in Oppenheimer Park on the city’s Downtown Eastside.

About 66 kilometres to the east, the City of Abbotsford asked a separate B.C. Supreme Court judge to dismiss a constitutional challenge of its bylaws by members of the Drug War Survivors society.

DJ Larkin of the Pivot Legal Society, which is representing both groups, says her group has asked for a 10-day injunction against the city’s application for eviction and a judge will make a ruling on the issue Tuesday morning.

She says the Drug War Survivors will get the chance to challenge the City of Abbotsford’s bylaws in court after a ruling by a separate judge.

In his ruling, Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson has dismissed Abbotsford’s application, saying the society may pursue its court challenge against the city.