The City of Parksville no longer has a seat at the table with the Oceanside Task Force on Homelessness, following a council decision.
The decision to withdraw was made during a closed meeting on Oct. 21, according to Deb Tardiff, manager of communications for the city.
The city declined to make an official statement.
"The decision to withdraw was made by council in a closed meeting in October. As such, I cannot comment further on details," said Coun. Mary Beil, the last member of council to hold the position, in a statement to the PQB News.
During the Oct. 21 meeting, council passed a motion to rise and report on the decision to withdraw, with the report attached to the Feb. 3 council meeting.
The Oceanside Task Force on Homelessness was notified by a letter dated Oct. 25, according to Tardiff.
The Oceanside Taskforce on Homelessness declined to comment.
The task force was started by the City of Parksville in 2010 to address homelessness and issues related to homelessness in the local region, according to its website. The task force covers an area centred on Parksville and Qualicum Beach and extending from Nanoose Bay to Deep Bay and inland to Whiskey Creek.
A point-in-time count in spring 2023 found 103 people experiencing homelessness in the region, up from 87 people in 2021.
