Tense moments in regional council chambers as delegates weigh in on proposed amendments to encampment bylaw

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Frustration boils over at encampment bylaw meeting

Heated reaction to encampment removal plan

High emotions and tense moments marked Wednesday night’s input meeting on the proposed changes to Waterloo Region’s encampment bylaw.

Things got so heated that, at one point, a recess was called so all parties could cool off.

A long list of delegates had signed up share their thoughts on the efforts to clear 100 Victoria St. North in Kitchener.

Many of them told councillors they weren’t happy with how the situation has been handled.

“Homelessness is not going to be solved by this proposed bylaw, obviously,” said delegate Brooklin Wallis.

The region needs the area cleared for its massive transit hub construction project. A bylaw, which was approved by councillors last year, aimed to forced encampment residents off the property so that work could. As part of their plan, the region promised to help residents find alternate housing.

Not long after, however, there was a legal challenge about whether the bylaw breached Charter rights. The issue is set to be addressed in court next month.

In the meantime, the region has proposed changes to the original bylaw. They are:

• Defer the possession date to April 1, 2026, to recognize the added time needed to resolve the proceedings before the Superior Court of Justice.
• Remove the offence provision for the bylaw, recognizing that it is the region’s objective to obtain vacant possession and not to penalize the marginalised persons on the property.
• Codify a transition process to provide greater assurance that the region will work to provide alternative accommodation.

Some of the delegates at Wednesday’s meeting suggested council reconsider how they view the entire process by enacting a public camping bylaw, where residents are permitted to relocate to another site.

Others felt council was not spending enough on housing supports.

“I dare you to take that money and set it aside for a sustainable housing project,” delegate Benny Skinner challenged, referring to the $20 million increase to the 2026 regional police budget.

According to Councillor Sandy Shantz, the region already invests its fair share in housing programs.

“We currently invest over $200 million more than what we’re mandated to by the province,” she insisted. “Not $20 million, $200 million. And those are all upstream programs.”

Another delegate asked council to push back the move out date to June.

Many others felt councillors had already made up their minds on the issue.

“In part, I’m here today to ask you what’s the [expletive] point of this?” delegate Laura Mosher asked.

Another, Jacara Droog, called the input meeting performative.

“It feels like a colossal waste of our time because this council has already demonstrated that it’s willing to act first and worry about legality later,” Droog alleged.

One delegate stood out from the rest as Abe Fehre supports the region in their efforts to remove the encampment residents.

“We seem to have a never-ending bureaucratic merry-go-round funded by the taxpayer,” he said, referring to the money spent to support the encampment. “The legal back-and-forth in Superior Court regarding this site is costing the region substantial sums of money.”

The region said the price to maintain the encampment is $739,944 annually, which equates to $66,162 per month, for security, pest control, portable toilets, garbage removal and ongoing maintenance.

That total does not include the cost of social supports or outreach.

The region is doing its best, said Councillor Doug Craig.

“Regional council has come to the forefront, has done its job under the limitations of poor funding from the province and the federal government. And we’re trying to do everything we can in a humane way. And I think we’ve done that.”

During an interview with CTV News, he also expressed his frustration with some of the delegates who spoke at the meeting.

“Strong opinions are OK, but poor behaviour is not,” Craig said. “We ran into that with some people who were very insulting and rude, and one young lady swearing. That’s the kind of thing that’s not acceptable.”

The region’s bylaw, with the proposed amendments, is expected to be voted on at a special meeting on Friday.

- With reporting by Heather Senoran