Adam Olsen, who was the Saanich North and the Islands Green party MLA until the current election was called, has been portrayed on social media as saying in a Sept. 13 ASK Salt Spring meeting that addressing problems with Island Community Services (ICS) should be an absolute community priority.
Olsen recently told the Driftwood he is concerned that his words may have been expanded upon and some inferences made that he did not intend, but that he does feel it’s important for community members to be aware of and engaged with the island’s largest non-profit social services agency.
“I’ve been long involved with that organization, and it delivers critical services, and basically my call to action was for Salt Spring residents to recognize the importance of that organization and to pay attention to its governance.”
Olsen said he had interacted with ICS on many issues and fielded constituent complaints about the agency over the seven-plus years he was local MLA, but said a non-profit society is viewed much differently from a government agency.
“The government has been very clear to me that there’s no role for an MLA in terms of oversight of a community organization or non-profit society under the Societies Act. MLAs and the provincial government govern the act but not the bodies that are created under the act.”
Olsen disagrees with the ICS board when it suggests that ICS is only accountable to its funders and those it serves, but not the broader community.
“[Those agencies] that provide services in our community are responsible to the community, and so therefore, they need to be accountable to community members. And the only way that that accountability happens is when people are participating in them, engaging with them, paying attention to them.”
“We often take these organizations for granted — that they’re just going to be there to provide the services. But there’s a whole bunch of work that is required in making sure that those organizations continue to function properly. And so I guess it’s just a call to society in general that where these services are being delivered by organizations to vulnerable people, that we as a society remain engaged and that we don’t just assume that everything is okay, but that we’re engaged with it and involved.”
Jennifer Campbell
Jennifer Campbell is the person who spoke up at the Sept. 13 ASK Salt Spring meeting with MLA Adam Olsen, which prompted his comments about community members needing to pay attention to ICS.
Campbell shared with the Driftwood her experience of living and feeling unsafe at Murakami Gardens, and the results of a Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) adjudication released Aug. 3, 2023 that was granted in her favour. Campbell successfully fought an eviction notice issued by ICS, based on claims that Campbell had “repeatedly disturbed the quiet enjoyment of the other residents” and “interfered with the fire doors at the property and therefore put the property at risk.”
Campbell said she felt, and confirmed with Salt Spring fire department personnel, that fire doors in apartment buildings should be kept closed for residents’ safety in the event of a fire. She admitted she would close the doors, despite being told by ICS management to leave them open. A photograph of an open fire door with a “PLEASE LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN” sign was part of Campbell’s RTB hearing evidence.
The RTB arbitrator’s decision stated: “The Landlord testified that their fire protection company has told them to keep this door open. I find keeping a fire door open to be a serious action that would jeopardize the building and its occupants. It is worrisome that the Landlord would be okay with this. I find the Landlord has not proven that the Tenant has seriously jeopardized the health or safety or a lawful right or interest of the Landlord or another occupant or put the Landlord’s property at risk.”
“The Landlord said they served the one-month notice for the benefit of the other residents, but the Landlord also owes the Tenant the protection of her right to quiet enjoyment. The fact that the number of complaints from one tenant began in January 2023 against the Tenant appears very striking. Especially because this person has a criminal legal matter involving the Tenant, the circumstances are suspicious.”
“I order the Landlord to be mindful of its obligations to all tenants, specifically Section 28 — protection of Tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment.”
As well, just 13 days before the first of two hearings for that proceeding, Campbell received another eviction notice, this time for non-payment of rent, which she had to scramble to formally respond to, knowing the rent had been paid. When ICS staff looked into the matter they said an “accounting error” had been made and apologized.