Vancouver readies ‘quick response teams’ in case tents return to East Hastings

City of Vancouver officials say they plan to deploy “quick response teams” if people try to set up tents again on East Hastings Street, even as scrutiny of their enforcement actions intensifies.

Canada’s federal housing advocate is calling for a moratorium on dismantling encampments, telling Postmedia she worries deaths could increase from the displacement of Downtown Eastside residents.

“We’re going to see more overdoses,” said Marie-Josée Houle. “People are going to die. That’s really what it boils down to.”

“Instead of spending all that money on police enforcement and these forced evictions, why aren’t those resources invested in something that will have a positive outcome?” Houle asked.

City officials say they plan to continue street-clearing measures, which started Wednesday behind police blockades, until municipal bylaws limiting structures from public sidewalks are complied with.