Shaw TV interviewed Carol Orly, Fred Kardel, Cllr Merv Unger and City Planner John  Horn in a live interview session.  The issue of low barrier housing was discussed, with questions raised about the location and selection process.  A brief transcript is shown below:

Shaw TV have introduced the interviews as "helping the public to be less inflamed and more informed"

John Horn "Committed to being responsible" is a criteria for tenancy. Merv Unger has had 7 organizations that want to be involved. The facility is a DONE DEAL. Merv Unger stating that agreement is with BC Housing, stating that 7-8 years ago, a homeless task force put together the ideas for the homeless strategy. Nanaimo formed a working group in 2007 to look after concerns. They came up with the homeless strategy.
Interviewer: No consultation process, lack of transparency
Unger: Thats the way it was set up in the beginning. All the city had to do was come up with property that is already zoned, once zoned there was no need for public consultation. City's role to give a piece of land.
Interviewer: Was there concern about schools and senior centre?
Unger: Same thing in Victoria that is working..

Horn: Wide consensus that there is a problem, not easy to solve. Complex and typical, arouses emotion in folks, not easy to crack. Strategy is to pursue the 'most effective' approach.
Interviewer: what about support and actively using drugs? is there extra policing, neighbourhood school picking up needles?
Unger: when people are outside on streets using, they will drop needles, in their own home/kitchen, then it is allowed in own home. Thats what they are. There are many using these housing that are not drug users. [Tenants] have to apply to get in there, work with hospital and nursing team to get in there. if they do not live up to requirement they can be removed. Service will be 24hr/day staffing. if they do not live up to their end they will be removed
Interviewer: Concern as young mom with kids
Horn: emergency shelter in downtown provides shelter in winter for the homeless, directly across street from Brechin elementary. No issues from those that attend the shelter - this is a fear of the unknown

Unger: Quoting balmoral hotel story in daily news, neighbours saying neighbourhood is cleaner now. People off the street, when the homeless are housed they are no longer problem. There are seniors 50+ who are homeless, not drug abusers, they are poor.
Interviewer: high percentage of homeless with drug issues
Unger: This is a problem of in my back yard
Horn: Yes I would have it in my back yard - we need to tackle the problem while its small enough to solve

Interviewer: Carol, what is CCN? Who are you?
Carol: over 2,00 residents in nanaimo that are very concerned, seniors, small businesses, parents and families with concerns over what is bulldozed on site. There are is a huge community that cares about the homeless and who are concerned about what the city are bulldozing through. Putting 40 individuals with 96% actively using drugs is asking for trouble. Its socially irresponsible.
Fred Kardel: Supporting ending homelessness, also supportive of open and transparent government - lacking in this situation
interviewer: So many bylaws, coming out of nowhere might be a matter of 'not aware of this before'
Fred: Open meeting laws in BC, decisions like this should be made in open meetings. 2008, an agreement signed identifying 5 locations, NOT including Uplands. In 2010, meeting that identified Uplands and was kept from public. First public knew was September in the paper.

Interviewer: But this is a done deal?
Carol: Its shocking that city and council say its a done deal when the community is outraged that a site like this is around seniors,m elementary school and high school. This is not thought out and planned. City just want to take the $36 million and run. This is to house addicts.
The homeless in Nanaimo are 96% drug users.
Interviewer: What does this come down to? Should it be someone else's problem?
Carol: Facts and research is what the campaign is based on. Our research comes from City and BC Housing stats. The fact they they are saying there is fear - perhaps there is denial on the part of the City
Interviewer: Showing flyer with family and kids with drug user. This is photoshopped Is this to instill fear?
Carol: no on September 15 this was sprung on us. We had little time to react and respond. This was the best way to get people involved. To turn a blind eye would be wrong.

Interviewer: What is the solution?
Carol: I'm pretty sure we can predict what would happen when the place goes in. Have worked in downtown East side of Vancouver. This is statistical, there are facts, it will happen. Seen how it will unfold.
Fred: Why here? Questioning that there are a lot of site, if the process had been open, then perhaps a better site would have been chose. RThe reason for the site was expediency. Easy and convenient. Thats not a reason for choosing the site. The project should go on hold, should go back to council and freeze development. Cantelon has been talking with Minister Rich Coleman, there are other possibilities. There must be a better way.
Carol: I'm concerned for my children and concerned for my community. We all care about the homeless, we need to find a solution and an area that will actually help these people. [location] won't help anybody. When you look into the Balmoral, there has been problem in city already, they are having to deal with the problem. We aren't turning blind eye. If they truly want to help, we need to talk about it. Putting it here is irresponsible.