In a move that attracted considerable attention, a Victoria firefighter was suspended for a day without pay after raising concerns about the safety of emergency responders and the location of social centres in Victoria neighbourhoods.

Firefighter Josh Montgomery spoke candidly about the risks facing first responders in areas like the 900 block of Pandora Avenue, where homelessness, addiction and mental health issues are prevalent.

Montgomery also took part in a protest outside Victoria City Hall last month, protesting the city’s role in the construction of a new facility at 2155 Dowler Place.

The City of Victoria announced that the Dowler site will offer a variety of services to reduce the impact of homelessness, including food assistance, overdose prevention, health care and more, but Montgomery and other concerned citizens raised concerns about the potential impact on neighborhood safety.

In further protest, Montgomery wrote an open letter to British Columbia Premier David Eby, calling on the province to prevent the opening of a homeless shelter in Victoria’s North Park district.

Several media reports confirmed that Montgomery had been disciplined, and today the union that represents him, Local 730 of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), issued a statement clarifying the situation.

The union’s president, Jeremy Wilson, addressed the rumors circulating and confirmed the suspension:

“Misinformation has been circulated in the public regarding employment issues involving one of our members. Local 730 can confirm that a member, Josh Montgomery, has been disciplined for views expressed in a letter to Premier Eby. He has been suspended without pay for one day. That day is Friday, August 16. There is a process that must be followed under the collective bargaining agreement and that has been initiated.”

Montgomery’s suspension sparked debate in the community, with many questioning whether a firefighter should be disciplined for raising concerns about public safety.

Others argue that the collective agreement must be respected regardless of the content of an employee’s public statements.

Here is the open letter that led to Montgomery’s suspension:

Dear Prime Minister Eby,

I am writing to you both as a dedicated first responder and as a deeply concerned citizen of Victoria.

The escalating violence and alarming decisions made by City of Victoria officials have seriously endangered my life, the lives of my colleagues, and the safety of our community.

On July 11, 2024, a paramedic was brutally attacked in the 900 block of Pandora Avenue while attempting to assist a patient. Following the attack, a shocking swarm incident occurred in which approximately 60 homeless people surrounded and threatened the emergency responders.

This dangerous incident required an emergency police response with forces from across the capital region.

In response, officials announced that paramedics and firefighters, who are supposed to save lives, will no longer respond to emergencies in the 900 block of Pandora without a police escort.

This terrifying reality has rightly made national headlines, shining a harsh light on the dangers we – first responders and citizens of Victoria – face on a daily basis.

As if this incident wasn’t horrific enough, on July 15, 2024, Vic Police seized a loaded 9mm pistol with an extended magazine and ammunition from a person in the 900 block of Pandora.

But the situation is getting worse. The mayor of Victoria has announced an outrageous plan to move an unregulated drug consumption site and gathering place for the homeless from the 900 block of Pandora Avenue to a quiet, family-friendly residential area.

The planned facility at 2155 Dowler Place is expected to serve 300 homeless people daily – just 100 feet from where my young daughters, ages 4 and 6, play in front of our house.

Not only was this facility announced without consulting the residents of this neighborhood, the city also selected the service provider SOLID without a formal process and provided it with $2.1 million.

We, the residents, have not had a chance to voice our concerns. We, the residents, have not had a chance to hear why the City of Victoria believes that moving services for drug addicts and drug users to a residential neighborhood with children playing next door is a decision that will keep people safe and protect citizens from harm.

At a public meeting on July 9, 2024, the Mayor of Victoria stated unequivocally that the City did not conduct a public consultation because she knew our response would be staunch opposition.

At that meeting, the mayor also stated unequivocally that people were using drugs on the property at 2155 Dowler, even though it is not an official consumption site. The mayor and SOLID were unable to provide any evidence that their plan for Dowler would protect the neighbourhood’s vulnerable citizens – the children as well as the low-income seniors who live in a BC Housing apartment complex next door.

As a first responder, I am witnessing firsthand the increasing aggression of individuals who visit social facilities such as the one planned for 2155 Dowler. People have begun attacking and threatening first responders, creating a hostile and dangerous environment not only for emergency personnel, but for the entire community.

Relocating this population to a residential area is a reckless decision with devastating consequences.

Prime Minister Eby, I implore you to take immediate action to prevent the relocation of this unregulated consumption location to 2155 Dowler Place.

The safety of first responders and their families must be the province’s top priority. The City of Victoria’s current approach is not only reckless, it puts lives at risk and undermines public trust in our local and provincial leadership.

Please do not allow this dangerous decision to stand. I urge you to intervene for the good of our community, which deserves to live and work in a safe environment.

Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt and decisive Action.

Sincerely,

Josh Montgomery