The Status Quo Is Not Compassion.

People should not be living on sidewalks. They need help. Residents and businesses should not have to live with theft, violence and intimidation.

Public spaces must be safe for everyone.

Some people have suggested that because I believe in treating people experiencing homelessness with compassion, I would allow the problems on our streets to continue.

That is completely wrong.

Crime must have consequences. Laws must be enforced. People who need help must get it. And failing systems must be fixed.

Safe streets are for everyone

People who commit crimes, repeatedly threaten others or prey on vulnerable people must face appropriate consequences. I want police focused on crime that harms our community, including theft, vandalism, threats, repeat offences and criminal operations that exploit vulnerable people.

Our public spaces must be safe and usable. City bylaws must be enforced consistently. People’s essential belongings must be protected, and everyone must be treated with dignity.

People experiencing homelessness are often victims of crime themselves. We must stop confusing the people being exploited with the people doing the exploiting.

Stop accepting systems that fail

Housing, healthcare, mental health and addiction services are failing people.

We need to prevent homelessness before it happens. We need to help those already living on the streets. Both are urgent.

Some people are so seriously ill they cannot care for themselves. We need faster, more thorough assessments of people who may be in this condition.

They are human beings. We must take their needs seriously. Those who need supervised care must get it, including involuntary treatment when legally justified.

People struggling with addiction need timely access to effective treatment and recovery services. People without homes need housing they can move into and keep.

People should not be discharged from hospitals, correctional facilities or other institutions directly onto the streets. They need somewhere safe to go and the support to stay there.

Leaving people on the streets without the help they need is neither compassionate nor acceptable.

The Province is responsible for healthcare, treatment and much of supportive housing. As mayor, I will put the Province on the spot. I will demand clear commitments, funding and deadlines. I will work with other mayors to make those demands harder to ignore, and publicly report what the Province promises and what it actually delivers.

My goal is to move Victoria toward functional zero homelessness, where homelessness becomes rare, brief and non-recurring.

Leadership means delivering results

Victoria has spent years deliberating and responding to these problems. Now we still see too many people living on our streets, businesses continuing to suffer and public safety concerns persist.

We need to continue efforts that actually work and discontinue those that are ineffective.

As mayor, I will bring clear priorities and deadlines to Council and seek regular public reporting on results. Are fewer people living on the streets? Are those who receive housing staying housed? Are workers and residents safer? Are problems being resolved, or just moving elsewhere?

Frontline workers must be safe, respected and supported. They know what works and what needs fixing. I will listen to them, act on their advice and report results so everyone can see how their efforts make a difference.

People need help. Criminal behaviour must have consequences. And City Hall must deliver results.

We can do better, together.

Bruce McGuigan
Candidate for Mayor of Victoria