(Councillor Bruce Findlay)
Councillor Findlay challenged on his comments on immigration, temporary foreign workers, ‘illegal migrants’
‘The reasons are much more complex, more intractable than immigration policy,’ says councillor Justice
North Cowichan councillor Bruce Findlay is blaming immigration and drugs for the homeless crisis.
“We talk about the homeless situation across the country and it is across the country….” Findlay told council during debate on a Community Wellness Plan on Oct. 7, 2025.
“This really has come down to the unfettered immigration and decriminalization of drugs, in my opinion. You see the stats of immigration, and temporary foreign workers and illegal migrants that came into Canada over the last so many years.
“It’s incredible, which, I think, has pushed people out of their homes and out of their communities.”
That comment drew quick reaction from councillor Christopher Justice, who said: “The reasons are much more complex, more intractable than immigration policy.”
(Councillor Christopher Justice)
Justice cited growing wealth inequality, job losses due to economic transition from a resource and manufacturing base, defunding of public housing, deinstitutionalization of public mental health care, and the growing toxicity of drugs as contributing factors.
“This is all long-term stuff and, I guess, for the foreseeable future this problem is probably going to be getting worse, not better,” he said.
Amanda Vance, executive director of the Cowichan Intercultural Society, said of the 537 persons (permanent residents, temporary foreign workers, refugee claimants, international students, and others) the society has served in the last six months, she is aware of only six, or about one per cent, who are unhoused.
"There is a critical shortage of affordable housing for all residents of the Cowichan Valley, not just immigrants," Vance said. "Temporary foreign workers are often working jobs that fill labour market gaps and due to the low pay of some of these jobs, some of these immigrants live in groups, sharing rooms.
"For cultural reasons, some immigrants of all statuses prefer to live together in large intergenerational households. Certainly some of these workers and individuals, as their settled Canadian counterparts, are precariously housed due to the cost of living crisis, low wages, and limited affordable housing supply."
Vance added: "There are many complex causes of homelessness and blaming vulnerable, hard-working immigrants who play an important and often under-valued role in the local economy will not bring about solutions to systemic problems related to limited affordable housing supply, costs of construction, low wage employment, and related challenges."
More reading: https://pub-northcowichan.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=20801
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