BC Commissioner Rules Vancouver Police Unlawfully Restricted Media in 2023 Encampment

British Columbia's Human Rights Commissioner has ruled that Vancouver police unlawfully restricted media access during the 2023 dismantling of a homeless encampment in the city's Downtown Eastside, compromising public transparency and press freedoms.

The report, released this week, examined the events of April 5 and 6, 2023, when Vancouver police and city staff cleared tents and structures from the sidewalks along Hastings Street. The operation involved removing belongings of homeless occupants, prompted by concerns over fire hazards and rising crime in the area. Mayor Ken Sim stated at the time that the actions were essential to address these risks, as tents had lined the street and posed significant dangers.

Commissioner Kasari Govender concluded that the restrictions on journalists did not meet human rights standards and lacked statutory or common law authority. Although police and city officials described the area as a work zone or safety zone rather than an exclusion zone, Govender determined that any form of access regulation to public space effectively created one. "The significance of a restriction on access depends on its effect and the impact on press freedom, not on...