A rally is set for downtown Guelph in opposition to the proposed public space use bylaw ahead of the special council meeting tomorrow morning.
“We wanted to show, first and foremost, the opposition to the proposed bylaw, the language that is used in the bylaw, the negative connotation associated with the bylaw and the overall stigma that has been drummed up surrounding this topic,” said Kate Nixon, one of the main organizers of the rally.
But they also wanted to show support and solidarity with those living in tents, “and to make it abundantly clear that we care about their well-being, and that they are not an inconvenience. They are our neighbours, and we stand with them,” she said.
The proposed bylaw would implement a number of rules for the use of parks, public squares, sidewalks, trails and other municipally owned and operated lands in an effort to address public safety, Coun. Rodrigo Goller said in an earlier interview with GuelphToday.
Among the series of rules under the bylaw, encampments in spaces with competing public use would only be permitted at night, meaning tents and belongings would need to be packed up and removed during daylight hours. They would be prohibited entirely in ‘sensitive public spaces’ like recreational trails and fountains.
Nixon said she feels the language of the bylaw “reduces the humanity of the community members that are directly impacted by this. It’s discussing human beings as if they are a problem.”
“(It’s) framed in a way that it’s almost as if we're talking about a structural problem with the road. We’re talking about people who are trying to live their lives, (who) have come across an exceptionally hard point in their lives.”
The plan is to meet on the bottom steps of the Basilica to demonstrate their opposition to the bylaw and show those who would be impacted that there are people in the community who care about them.
“We want them to have a say in their autonomy,” she said. “We want the community and city to partake in a collaborative process that results in whatever style of housing works best for our community and their needs.”
“Everyone is deserving of having access to the resources to help them not only survive, but thrive,” she said.
Protesters will meet at the bottom steps of the Basilica on 28 Norfolk St. from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday. The special city council meeting to discuss the bylaw starts at 10 a.m.
If later approved at council's Feb. 27 meeting, it could come into effect as early as March 1. More than 40 people have signed up to delegate.
