Public safety concerns were loud and clear at a recent meeting in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, as residents weigh in on a report released by a provincial task force in October.

The Policing Transformation Task Force was asked to review public safety in the area after residents and council leaders expressed concerns about crime and safety in the community.

Justice and Public Safety Minister Bernard Davis said he will adopt all of the report’s recommendations, including the hiring of five more RCMP officers for the city.

The task force conducted extensive consultation, but Happy Valley-Goose Bay Mayor George Andrews said the city wanted to give residents their say at a public meeting.

He said the council heard some powerful testimony, but the report had created some confusion about safety in the city.

“It bothers me to no end to hear people vilify homelessness”.– Edward Blake-Rudkowski

Heightened emotions

About sixty people attended a moderated meeting at a high school in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Tuesday night.

Some wanted to know who the police task force spoke to and questioned some of the report’s findings.

“Municipal leaders have a central role in providing leadership such as communicating accurate information to citizens,” the report states.

“There has been a growing perception among some community members that the situation may be more serious than it actually is, fueled in part by heightened emotions and the spread of misinformation.”

That affected Sand Bar Lounge owner Falon Wilson, whose establishment burned down in Happy Valley-Goose Bay in August. A man from Natuashish was later charged with arson.

At the meeting, Wilson said residents are living in fear.

“Whether it’s burglary, vandalism, theft or violent crime, many of us are targeted again and again. I know I have been,” she said. “These are not isolated incidents. This is a pattern and it’s happening right here in our community, in our literal backyards.”

Other business owners reiterated that they too have suffered from repeated crime.

This summer, Innu First Nation members felt on edge.

Verbal attacks and racist comments were hurled at Innu after a meeting on crime was held in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Wilson claims she does not want to target any group or the transient population.

But, she says, the city needs help.

“I agree with efforts to address the root causes of crime such as substance abuse, mental health and homelessness. These are serious issues, and we support rehabilitation efforts and detoxification programs,” she said. “But the truth is, we don’t trust these programs to work, at least not within the framework of our already overstretched and understaffed health care system.”

Wilson said the justice system has failed to stop repeat offenders from continuing to harm society.

She also said a balanced approach is needed, a way to address social issues while ensuring community safety.

Stop smearing the homeless

Happy Valley-Goose Bay resident Edward Blake-Rudkowksi said people experiencing homelessness have been vilified.

But, he said, not enough is being talked about the problem of drug trafficking.

On Tuesday, the RCMP laid charges against 17 people in Labrador for drug trafficking. A police seizure of drugs included a synthetic opioid that is 25 times stronger than fentanyl.

Blake-Rudkowksi said these dangerous drugs are being sold to people in Labrador, including those struggling with addiction, and was upset the significant bust wasn’t discussed more at Town Meeting.

Whether it’s burglary, vandalism, theft or violent crime, many of us are targeted again and again.– Falon Wilson

“These are serious and serious drugs, but we’re not focusing on those issues. We’re focusing on the homeless population,” he said.

He said he didn’t want to hear homeless people being vilified when they had no ability to defend themselves at the meeting.

“It bothers me to no end to hear people vilify homelessness, yet turn a blind eye to the fact that we have people … living in nice houses (and) selling drugs,” he said.

“People who have no voice, no house, no safety and are freezing to death in the forests of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, that’s a problem. It’s a real problem. It’s a safety issue.”

Every time in life

Germaine McLean shared how her family has been affected by homelessness, addiction and substance abuse.

“There are victims in all walks of life and they all have a story,” she said.

A social worker from the Mokami Status of Women Council said vulnerable people who are homeless and suffer from mental health and substance abuse are also victims of crime.

At the same time, Wilson said, she has pushed for more drug abuse.

“I’m so emotional about this. I guess the heightened emotions that were in the police report, I am, I guess,” she said. “I’ve lost a business. So I’m just really upset about everything. And I wish it was a perfect world and we could have an answer, a peaceful answer to everything for everybody.”

Andrews says he welcomes additional RCMP officers in his community.

“It’s important for everyone in our community to feel safe. And I want to say (to) everyone, it doesn’t matter who it is or where they are in town or what their personal situation is, everyone deserves to be safe,” he said.

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