RICHMOND’S B.C. Conservative MLAs Teresa Wat, Steve Kooner and Hon Chan are calling on the provincial government to take urgent action after the encampment under the Oak Street Bridge “expanded into what residents describe as an unsafe and hazardous area, with no meaningful provincial response to ongoing community concerns.”
The encampment, located on Ministry of Transportation and Transit land between Van Horne Way and Beckwith Road, has grown steadily and is now generating widespread concern from families, commuters, and residents who rely on the pedestrian walkway leading to the Bridgeport SkyTrain Station.
Local residents have reported escalating open drug use, aggressive behaviour toward passersby, generators powering makeshift structures, discarded needles, and people passed out along the path. Families with children and seniors now avoid the area completely, and a number of residents say they no longer feel safe walking in their own neighbourhood.
“Residents living near the site report escalating open drug use, discarded needles, makeshift structures powered by generators, aggressive behaviour toward pedestrians, and a vandalized fence or gate,” said Wat, MLA for Richmond-Bridgeport. “The government has known about this encampment for years. The City of Richmond has repeatedly asked for help, yet provincial inaction has allowed the situation to deteriorate to the point where families no longer feel safe stepping outside their homes.
In its correspondence to the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Public Safety, the City of Richmond warned of fire hazards, accumulation of combustible materials, escalating public safety risks, and a previous fatality at the site in 2023. City staff have attempted coordination with the ministries for years, but their requests have gone unanswered.
“This is provincial land and the responsibility is clear,” said Kooner, MLA for Richmond-Queensborough. “Leaving people in hazardous, unmanaged encampments is not compassionate. It puts the individuals in the encampment and the community at risk. Richmond residents deserve better.”
The MLAs say that the province’s lack of urgency is failing both the surrounding neighbourhood and the people sheltering under the bridge. They stressed the need for a coordinated plan, not piecemeal or delayed responses.
“People want to know who is accountable and when action will be taken,” said Chan, MLA for Richmond Centre. “The City has made it clear it is ready to work in partnership with the province. What is missing is provincial leadership. Richmond residents cannot wait any longer.”
In their joint letter to Transportation and Transit Minister Mike Farnworth and Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger, the MLAs requested immediate steps, including:
• A full safety assessment of the encampment site
• Cleanup of hazardous materials and debris
• Outreach and supports for individuals living under the bridge
• A coordinated plan with the City of Richmond to restore community safety
They have asked the province to provide a timeline and clear next steps.
“Richmond residents have been patient long enough,” said Wat. “They deserve a firm plan, real timelines, and immediate action from this government.”
