By Ionsviolent Canada Day
Victoria commits 1035 million to public safety after violent Canada Day weekend triggers emergency response
The City of Victoria is investing over $10.35 million into public safety initiatives after a wave of violent incidents across the city鈥檚 downtown during the Canada Day long weekend.Mayor Marianne Alto announced the funding on Wednesday(July 2) as part of the city鈥檚 Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan, a key component of its 2023鈥2026 strategic vision. Alto called the decision 鈥渢he single most important鈥 the city council has made.鈥淲e must do this. We must,鈥 she said during a news conference outside Victoria City Hall.The funding includes $1.9 million to hire 12 new bylaw officers who will be deployed in high-risk areas such as Pandora Avenue and Princess Street. An additional $1.35 million will allow Victoria Police to recruit nine new officers. The city is also contributing a one-time payment of $220,000 to match provincial funding through the Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement Program (C-STEP).Victoria Police Chief Del Manak welcomed the move, saying his department is currently short 44 officers.Live Events鈥淲e鈥檝e been under-resourced for years. This is a much-needed investment, and we鈥檙e already planning aggressive recruitment to fill these gaps,鈥 Manak said.The announcement comes days after a series of unrelated but troubling incidents across the city. A business owner on Yates Street was assaulted by a man unknown to him on Sunday. Later that evening, a separate individual attacked another person with an edged weapon nearby. That victim reportedly ran into a London Drugs store for safety. Earlier that day, a man armed with a weapon threatened the Victoria Fire Department headquarters.The man arrested in the bike shop assault was later released on conditions, police confirmed.The city is also addressing homelessness and mental health by allocating $1.95 million for two short-term shelter facilities, along with $850,000 in operational support and $300,000 for property rentals. Another $624,000 will support housing nonprofits to expand relocation services for unhoused individuals.Victoria resident Sasha Santana said she often feels unsafe, regardless of time of day. 鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a lot of different aspects, mental health, substance use, people not getting support. And people not knowing how to handle it,鈥 she told CBC.Mayor Alto emphasized the plan is not reactionary. 鈥淲hat you鈥檙e hearing today is a thoughtful plan that has been percolating for months,鈥 she said.Victoria’s strategic reallocation of funds comes without raising taxes. The plan includes public infrastructure upgrades and a transport strategy to relocate unhoused people to services beyond the downtown core.(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
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(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onVictoria emergency planCanada Day10 millionMayor Marianne AltoCanada Day violenceCanada Day wishesCanada Day celebrationCity of Victoria(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online….moreless
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