Region will not appeal court decision rejecting Victoria Street encampment eviction (update)
Posted Feb 23, 2023 07:50:00 PM.
The Region of Waterloo announced Thursday that it will not seek an appeal to a court ruling issued last month, which rejected a request to evict the Victoria Street encampment.
Justice Michael Valente dismissed an injunction application from the region in late January which sought court approval to clear tents from 100 Victoria Street in Kitchener.
Valente said he would not declare that the homeless individuals were breaching a regional property bylaw as the bylaw violated the encampment residents' charter rights.
At the time, Regional Chair Karen Redman said the region was considering next steps.
On Thursday afternoon, the Region of Waterloo said it would not pursue an appeal.
A statement was later provided to CityNews 570 from Regional Chair Karen Redman.
“Regional staff, working with outreach partners, will continue efforts to voluntarily transition individuals from 100 Victoria Street and other encampments into safer shelter spaces, including the outdoor shelter site will open at Erbs Road,” read the statement from Chair Redman. “Should those efforts not be successful, Regional Council could apply back to Justice Valente to rescind the declaration at a future date.”
The encampment has stood at the corner of Victoria and Weber for almost a year.
On Wednesday night, regional council approved a $163-million investment in housing and homelessness, which council hopes will advance the Interim Housing Strategy and lead to an increased shelter capacity.
The region is set to open the first outdoor shelter on Erbs Road sometime in March.
