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Abbotsford is facing a human rights complaint

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Already facing a lawsuit, the city of Abbotsford will now have to answer to the BC Human Rights Tribunal over its bylaws.

Pivot Legal Society's Scott Bernstein says Abbotsford is essentially blocking harm reduction services.

"What we are alleging in the tribunal is discrimination on the basis of physical disability. So people who are dependent on drugs are treated differently than people who have other physical disabilities by the city of Abbotsford through their anti-harm reduction bylaw that is preventing Fraser Health from getting in and providing on the ground services."

Bernstein says yesterday's Abbotsford police warning about a batch of deadly heroin is another reason for the city to offer services for drug users. 

"So they have seen a spike of overdose deaths and I think that the fact that Abbotsford has this bylaw in place and Fraser Health has been unable to deliver harm reduction services that prevent people from overdosing on drugs. It is leading to increased overdoses and death in some cases."

The Human Rights Tribunal will hear the case early in the new year.

Abbotsford might also be facing another legal fight with the Pivot Legal Society.

Lawyer Scott Bernstein says they are mulling legal action after city work crews spread chicken manure at a homeless camp.

"What is happening is the city of Abbotsford officials or police had been using different tactics to get homeless people to move along. So it is just another example of the municipality kind of taking a really tough stand against people who are marginalized and really down and out.

Last month Abbotsford mayor Bruce Banman apologized for the incident.

An internal review was also launched by the city but results aren't being made public.


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