The B.C. government has issued a no trespass notice to residents of a new tent city that has formed on a green space on a provincial highways right-of-way in Saanich.
About 40 former Regina Park campers moved to the green space on a provincial highways right-of-way on Friday. The new campsite is surrounded by Ravine Way, Carey Road and Vernon Way (near Blanshard and the Pat Bay Hwy).
The Province has posted a Notice of Unauthorized use and Occupation telling campers to leave immediately or peace officers would be authorized to make arrests without a warrant.
But campers are showing no sign of leaving.
Camp organizer Chrissy Brett told CFAX 1070 a provincial government Assistant Deputy Minister indicated it was okay to camp on crown land outside of Victoria:
" I think that they intended that there would be crown lands available somewhere for people to camp. I don't know what they were characterizing as that. I would imagine that maybe they felt that there would be way more consultation for that. But at the end of the day the only people that aren't consulting anyone is the province of BC. "
However -- a spokesperson for the Highways Ministry says while a meeting with provincial officials was held with Brett last year to discuss several issues -- camping on crown lands was not one of them. They maintain the statement was never made.
Meantime Saanich police report the tone in the camp has become "significantly more confrontational" than they saw at Regina Park....which was closed down due to a BC Supreme Court Injunction.
Chrissy Brett has also declared the camp a sovereign nation -- saying the Province has been given a notice of unauthorized use and occupation.