Residents of the Schaffe Road area in West Kelowna are concerned about the safety and sanitation of their neighbourhood due to what they call temporary agricultural 害羞草研究所渟lums.害羞草研究所�
Colin Crabbe spoke during a public hearing on the issue this week and reminded city councillors it was just a year ago when a seemingly high woman living on one of those properties pushed her way into his home on Scharf Road, while only his wife and children were there. He pointed out that 害羞草研究所渟omething needs to be done害羞草研究所� about the conditions the temporary workers have been living in.
害羞草研究所淧eople who use these facilities are the most vulnerable to exploitation of farm owners,害羞草研究所� he said.
He also claimed property damage and crime has skyrocketed in the area and there is a need for oversight and enforcement.
READ ALSO: BETTER HOUSING NEEDED
害羞草研究所淭hese temporary agricultural 害羞草研究所榮lums害羞草研究所� have been a source of regular seasonal crime and I believe that without revising the bylaw they will continue to put the community at risk,害羞草研究所� Crabbe said.
Sheila Kennedy, another resident of Scharf Road, is also tired of dealing with the problems related to temporary farm-worker housing.
She wrote a letter describing the 害羞草研究所渄eplorable害羞草研究所� conditions that at least one property owner subjects his temporary workers to.
READ ALSO: LARGE FARM WORKER HOUSING PLAN SET IN KELOWNA
Kennedy lives directly across from the fourplex that Sarwan Gidda, of TBA Farms uses to house temporary workers.
Kennedy has said there were several instances since dating back to 1994 when people arrived at her door in an alarming condition, and she believes they were from Gidda害羞草研究所檚 property.
In one case her sister-in-law had a blood-covered man knock one night after being stabbed. In another, she had a French man knock and ask to use a proper shower after only being able to use a garden hose in the accommodation he was provided.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a dilapidated trailer on that property害羞草研究所n the spring we will have all these tenters, it害羞草研究所檚 all the drinkers and the partiers, and there is nothing done about it,害羞草研究所� Kennedy said.
READ ALSO: SQUALID CONDITIONS
害羞草研究所淲hat kind of impression are we giving these foreign workers of Canada when they go home with conditions like this?害羞草研究所� Kennedy said.
Gidda says that the photos are of a different farm, and that he is not in violation of any bylaws.
害羞草研究所淭hose pictures are false, maybe 10, 15 years ago that is what we had to do. If you look there now there is no one camping, everyone has accommodation,害羞草研究所� Gidda said.
Gidda only has tenters on his property during cherry picking season for 10 days at a time due to the short picking time.
Gidda said that he believes he害羞草研究所檚 being blamed for the issue due to racism.
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Crabbe isn害羞草研究所檛 worried about pointing fingers.
He wants to improve the living standard for the temporary foreign workers and therefore the rest of the neighbourhood.
Council has been working to to find resolutions that create additional regulations regarding the use and quantity of RVs and tents for temporary workers investigating other possible zoning bylaw amendments that will require proper washrooms and bathing facilities for agricultural workers, including those staying in tents.
Council will hear the bylaw amendment once more before deciding on whether or not to adopt the changes.
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