Williams Lake council has voted not to declare a state of local emergency over public safety concerns.
Last week, councillors asked staff to prepare a report on a potential state of emergency that could provide the B.C. city with temporary powers to address crime and disorder.
That report concluded that council does have the authority to declare a state of emergency but feedback from emergency service agencies suggested that they did not see a benefit in doing so.
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The report stated that the province’s public safety ministry also contacted the city, committing more police resources in an effort to reduce criminal incidents.
“The thing was, I mean, what are going to achieve by declaring emergency?” Mayor Surinderpal Rathor said.
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“When I was talking to Minister (Garry) Begg’s office and his chief of staff and Minister of State Terry Yung, they’re willing to provide me with all that I needed.”
Staff have now been ordered to prepare a report detailing how the province’s help makes a difference.
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