- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

Citizens have the right to peaceful protest. It is a right we must not relinquish.
What, exactly, is Raymond Botten protesting?

Mr. Botten insists that nothing is being done for the homeless in Grey Bruce if it is not being done by VLC Global Ministries. At the Grey County building this week, Botten went so far as to say that if his protesters died, he would hold Grey County staff responsible for not providing for their safety. He posted the video of this threat to his Facebook page.

Housing is a County responsibility, supported in various ways by the provincial and federal governments. Services for the homeless, at-risk and hard to house are delivered by a number of agencies in Owen Sound and beyond, including Y Housing, Safe 'n Sound, Community Connections, United Way, and others. These services have been offered to the VLC protesters, but they insist that nothing but "The Sanctuary" will do.

Besides their belief that the VLC Global Ministries' approach to homelessness is unique, and that they serve people that others refuse, why are Botten and company so focussed on retaining their presence in front of this particular building?

There seem to be two reasons. First, according to Botten, the VLC received a $286,000 grant from the federal government for renovations to turn the commercial space into a shelter, on the proviso that it would remain a shelter for five years. Grey County has provided over $80,000 to support individuals at the shelter over and above their personal OW and ODSP cheques. Investments by various levels of government and charities confirm to Botten the legitimacy and primacy of his ministry.

The second is that VLC Global Ministries is a registered charity under the Canadian Revenue Agency regulations. This status allows VLC to issue tax receipts for donations, which according to their last tax filing for 2016 represented 88% of their income. The same filing shows their address as 748 2nd Ave. East – the building in question.

The charitable programs on which this tax status depends are as follows: "worship services, biblical teachings, feeding program for the poor, youth outreach programs, drop-in centre, clothing program for the poor, housing and addiction programs. Further Funding And Expansion/Improvements To Emergency And Assisted Housing Development". 

The building in which they previously held worship services, a drop-in and other services has been sold and is currently being converted into housing by the new owner.

VLC also owned, according to the 2016 filing, $797,053 in land and buildings and another $62,826 in other capital assets, and had $867,184 in unspecified liabilities.

Over the past three months, VLC Global Ministries has received pledges and donations of approximately $20,000 toward a defaulted mortgage of more than ten times that. Charitable status literally represents dollars and cents.
The building at 748 2nd Avenue is currently for sale, as the elderly mortgage holder tries to recoup some of his losses. Needless to say, the property is more difficult to promote with a weekend encampment in front of it and posters stuck to the outside of its windows during the week.

There have been many infractions of municipal by-laws in front of the building, resulting in warnings, tickets and the removal of obstructions from the public sidewalk. There have been some interactions with the police, mostly involving trespass on private property.

But if tickets are not paid, and court visits are considered opportunities for more speeches and protests, the options for the authorities are limited.

For someone who considers himself a crusader, every opportunity to cry persecution is a win.

We have a serious problem with the individuals and families who have become almost impossible to affordably house in our area. They deserve attention and action.

Raymond Botten's protest is a distraction, costing time and energy better spent.