A common theme has emerged among emails received by Mayor Cam Guthrie as of late – support for the city’s controversial public space use bylaw which limits where homeless encampments can go.
“The vast majority of emails we've received are from residents who actually support the bylaw, but are actually worried it doesn't go far enough to protect certain areas that are important to them personally,” Guthrie said in a prepared statement delivered during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
“The bylaw gives us the tools to respond to encampments in areas where they're not safe or appropriate for that to be,” he said, noting people have suggested a number of specific locations they want encampments banned from.
“We don't need to add specific areas … in the bylaw in order for it to constitute what's considered as sensitive public space or a designated area.”
Approved by council in August, the bylaw prohibits encampments in spaces with competing public use during daytime hours and establishes separation distances between encampments and school properties, childcare centres, railways, waterways and cemeteries. This also includes spaces used by pets, children, sidewalks, pathways and recreational trails for instance.
In addition, there are regulations regarding the use of building supplies as well as the storage of water, refuse and propane tanks.
“We don't need to design every space and it would be impossible to anticipate every hypothetical scenario,” said Guthrie, referring to potential encampment locations.
“Designating too many areas or expanding protective buffers out of fear or personal preference is a slippery slope and we don’t need to go down that slope in order to achieve the purpose of the bylaw, which is the safe use and enjoyment of all of our public spaces.”
The bylaw came into effect on Oct. 1.
