Lawsuit won't help homeless, Plant says

Pivot Legal's challenge against city is a waste of energy, Civil City commissioner adds

SHANNON RUPP
Special to The Globe and Mail
November 8, 2007

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver's Civil City commissioner believes that a lawsuit against the city for damages due to its reluctance to enforce building and maintenance bylaws distracts government from solving the real problem - a lack of affordable housing that forces tenants into substandard buildings.

Geoff Plant was commenting on a lawsuit filed by David Eby of Pivot Legal Society on behalf of James McQueen, who lost his possessions and was left homeless when the city closed the Downtown Eastside hotel he occupied Feb. 28.

The city argues there is no legal basis for the suit because the Vancouver Charter states that: "The city ... inspecting buildings, utilities, or structure ... has no legal duty on which a cause of action can be based ... to ensure buildings ... comply with the bylaw."

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