Breakdown of Council & Staff Discussion
September 23, 2024 Cambridge Council Meeting
Highlighting Motion:
“Preventing the forced removal of unhoused persons during extreme weather events"
About this page:
This page contains a basic outline of the portion of the September 23, 2025 council meeting where council and staff held discussion and voted on the motion ""Preventing the forced removal of unhoused persons during extreme weather events" , Identified comments are as well written out within the accordian below the outline. Time stamps are approximate.
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Motion is introduced by Mayor Liggett: (02:57:10)
Motion is read by Councillor Hamilton: (02:57:25) Councillor Hamilton speaks to the Motion: (02:59:15)
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Mayor Liggett calls for questions from council of staff in relation to the motion brought forth: (03:05:59)
Councillor Cooper brings forth a question (03:06:11)
Mayor Ligett asks if there are any further questions of staff. With none she then moves on to requesting Council comments (3:08:08)
Councillor Cooper brings forth a question (03:06:11)
- Asks for staff to provide commentary on the core issue of IF we are in fact moving people in times of extreme weather :
- Comment transcribed below
- Byran Boodhoo, the City Solicitor for the City of Cambridge replies to the question (3:06:37)
- Comment transcribed below
- Mayor Ligett asks that he too speak to the false information given to the housing advocate (3:06:47)
- Comment trancribed below
- Byran Boodhoo, the City Solicitor for the City of Cambridge replies
- Comment trancribed below
- Mayor Ligettt asks if another staff would like to comment.
- Elizabeth (last name), Acting Director of Bylaw and Security - City of Cambridge replies
- Comment transcribed below
Mayor Ligett asks if there are any further questions of staff. With none she then moves on to requesting Council comments (3:08:08)
tRanscribed comments
Comments written out below have been transcribed only to the best of my abililty and may contain SMALL errors - grammatical, formatting or otherwise. Please refer directly to the video above where these comments have been sourced from to independently assure the explicit accuracy of the wording. Times stamps are provided for your ease in sourcing this direct confirmation and apply to the video on this page.
Councillor Hamilton speaks to the Motion: (02:59:15)
I would like to thank everyone first of all for delegating and for the very thoughtful comments I know it was a bit of a shift moving from in person to virtual but I think everyone did the best they could. And I know this is a very challenging and complex topic and I like the delegations that agreed we need to take the temperature down a bit because ultimately we are all in this together, I think we're we're all after the same things. Our opinions can vary, and at times vehemently, but ultimately we’re all residents of the City of Cambridge.
So to start with what we have in common here... I don’t think anyone wants to have encampments exist. No one wants to be homeless or experience homelessness. Not Council, not our residents, not the businesses in our community… And not the social service agencies, outreach agencies, non-profit organizations or charities that work with our unhoused population every day to help them. We can all agree on this, that no one wants these encampments to exist.
We can all agree that our municipalities are facing the brunt of a systemic crisis. It’s a crisis of a lack of housing - affordable, supportive, transitional - a minimum wage that can no longer provide the basics, food, shelter, rent… A mental health crisis caused by the past closure of a number of facilities and cuts to our hospitals and medical systems that have been ongoing for decades, and of course the addictions crisis. From the over prescription of opioids to the current fentanyl crisis we’re seeing sweeping the world. We at the City don’t have the funding tools or jurisdiction to fully address this crisis, I think we can agree on that.
And in a perfect world we'd be able to say "let’s build more supportive, affordable, transitional housing", "let’s create more shelter beds", "let’s build more facilities with the mental health and addiction treatment capacities", that might affect some but not all unhoused persons, and "let’s give millions of dollars of funding to the non-profits and outreach workers that truly need it", they are out there everyday helping our unhoused populations, because they truly need it, and "let’s build those hospitals too". So in a perfect world we’d have this and we all want this world, but it’s not the world we are living in right now. I think we can agree on this.
So what spurred this motion, and what I think will ultimately be a small but very impactful action that we as a city can take to start addressing some of this crisis, just a chunk but not all, is to listen to some of our delegations that we heard from tonight, to listen to the stories and experiences of some of the Outreach workers and academics that we heard from, to look at the evidence that they've submitted to us and our Council package and of course I think we need to start from the July 4th letter from the federal housing advocate.
Canada's Federal housing Advocate sits within the Human Rights Commission of Canada and their task is safeguarding the human right to housing that's included in the National Strategy Act (Chapter 9 Section 313). The Federal housing Advocate was extremely concerned that we Cambridge were evicting on house persons from encampments which is a human rights violation in itself if adequate shelter is not provided or available. But what was most troubling was that these eviction notices or evictions could have been occuring on ectreme heat days.
So this troubed me greatly and I think that we can all agree that councils job is to look after all of our citizens, housed and unhoused alike, and that we are all beings that are worthy of dignity and respect. I personally feel that with all the chaos we are seeing going on in the world, down south and overseas, that protecting human rights for everyone in our city, and respecting those rights is important as councillors.
It's also the job of council to examine emerging issues, and try to be at the forefront when it does fit within our jurisdiction. We look at them with a rational critical lens, and we're seeing the occurance of extreme weather, climate chamge intensifying. The scientist show this and of course we can look outside our windows in the summer or winter and see that things arent as they used tto be and things are getting worse.
So this motion comes from a place wher eI feel ther eis som eaction we can take to address this as a council. And to bee cclear the motion that Councillor Earnshaw and I are puttng forward tonight does not ask for any immediate changes to any city bylaw or city policy. It doesnt prevent any social service agency, partner or organization or outreach worker from helping anyone unhoused or in an encampment, nor does it prevent anyone fron continuing on with their work. It does not endorse or encourage the existance or proliferation of encampments, because I think we can all agree, we want to get rid of them however we can, but we're caught at the forefront of a very challenging systemic crisis
So what this motion does is acknowledge that we do have a growing problem here in our city and how we are handling that problem is sugnificant enough to have a federal advocate reach out to us with concern and you've seen one of our delegations submit some of those letters that were given to unhoused persons at various times throughout the summer.
So I feel it is important to us as a council to look into this process, to examine in greater depth what happened. how to avoid it in the future if something that should not have occured according to our human rights standards did occur. And we could look at how to, for example, establish possibly a formal bylaw looking into this. I understandd our current practice is informal. Could we have a formalized bylaw looking at this and could that set an example for other municipalities? Could we improve the timing and delivery of these notices? Could we put a date restriction on it? Could we alter the text so that it clearly states "No evictions will occur during extreme weather, within a particular range? Could we clarify that if it's a life or death situation, that of course we have to remove someone? If an outreach worker or agency that is trained in exactly this says "we've got to get someone out of here, it's an emergency situation..."
(3:04:49) Mayor Ligett - Councillor Hamilton replies
(3:05:06) Councillor Hamilton continues:
So what else can be done? And maybe the report from staff will say that there is nothing more we can do, akthough I certainly, I personally beleive there is more we can do, I think we should look into it.
So in closing, let's prioritize the evidence we have from our local experts, our social service agencies, our outreach workers, who spend their days on the frontlines helping unhoused persons. Let's prioritize the dignity of all of our residents, housed and unhoused. Let's work together and understand that our city is facing the brunt of a complex systemic crisis and we absolutely need help and funding from other levels of government. And in closing let's let our city know that we are safeguarding and protecting the human rights of all of our residentts, housed and unhoused, and that that is what we will always do no matter what.
This is just seeking more information and I know we can find something to change these practices for the better, and set an example for other municcipalities going forth. Thank you
So to start with what we have in common here... I don’t think anyone wants to have encampments exist. No one wants to be homeless or experience homelessness. Not Council, not our residents, not the businesses in our community… And not the social service agencies, outreach agencies, non-profit organizations or charities that work with our unhoused population every day to help them. We can all agree on this, that no one wants these encampments to exist.
We can all agree that our municipalities are facing the brunt of a systemic crisis. It’s a crisis of a lack of housing - affordable, supportive, transitional - a minimum wage that can no longer provide the basics, food, shelter, rent… A mental health crisis caused by the past closure of a number of facilities and cuts to our hospitals and medical systems that have been ongoing for decades, and of course the addictions crisis. From the over prescription of opioids to the current fentanyl crisis we’re seeing sweeping the world. We at the City don’t have the funding tools or jurisdiction to fully address this crisis, I think we can agree on that.
And in a perfect world we'd be able to say "let’s build more supportive, affordable, transitional housing", "let’s create more shelter beds", "let’s build more facilities with the mental health and addiction treatment capacities", that might affect some but not all unhoused persons, and "let’s give millions of dollars of funding to the non-profits and outreach workers that truly need it", they are out there everyday helping our unhoused populations, because they truly need it, and "let’s build those hospitals too". So in a perfect world we’d have this and we all want this world, but it’s not the world we are living in right now. I think we can agree on this.
So what spurred this motion, and what I think will ultimately be a small but very impactful action that we as a city can take to start addressing some of this crisis, just a chunk but not all, is to listen to some of our delegations that we heard from tonight, to listen to the stories and experiences of some of the Outreach workers and academics that we heard from, to look at the evidence that they've submitted to us and our Council package and of course I think we need to start from the July 4th letter from the federal housing advocate.
Canada's Federal housing Advocate sits within the Human Rights Commission of Canada and their task is safeguarding the human right to housing that's included in the National Strategy Act (Chapter 9 Section 313). The Federal housing Advocate was extremely concerned that we Cambridge were evicting on house persons from encampments which is a human rights violation in itself if adequate shelter is not provided or available. But what was most troubling was that these eviction notices or evictions could have been occuring on ectreme heat days.
So this troubed me greatly and I think that we can all agree that councils job is to look after all of our citizens, housed and unhoused alike, and that we are all beings that are worthy of dignity and respect. I personally feel that with all the chaos we are seeing going on in the world, down south and overseas, that protecting human rights for everyone in our city, and respecting those rights is important as councillors.
It's also the job of council to examine emerging issues, and try to be at the forefront when it does fit within our jurisdiction. We look at them with a rational critical lens, and we're seeing the occurance of extreme weather, climate chamge intensifying. The scientist show this and of course we can look outside our windows in the summer or winter and see that things arent as they used tto be and things are getting worse.
So this motion comes from a place wher eI feel ther eis som eaction we can take to address this as a council. And to bee cclear the motion that Councillor Earnshaw and I are puttng forward tonight does not ask for any immediate changes to any city bylaw or city policy. It doesnt prevent any social service agency, partner or organization or outreach worker from helping anyone unhoused or in an encampment, nor does it prevent anyone fron continuing on with their work. It does not endorse or encourage the existance or proliferation of encampments, because I think we can all agree, we want to get rid of them however we can, but we're caught at the forefront of a very challenging systemic crisis
So what this motion does is acknowledge that we do have a growing problem here in our city and how we are handling that problem is sugnificant enough to have a federal advocate reach out to us with concern and you've seen one of our delegations submit some of those letters that were given to unhoused persons at various times throughout the summer.
So I feel it is important to us as a council to look into this process, to examine in greater depth what happened. how to avoid it in the future if something that should not have occured according to our human rights standards did occur. And we could look at how to, for example, establish possibly a formal bylaw looking into this. I understandd our current practice is informal. Could we have a formalized bylaw looking at this and could that set an example for other municipalities? Could we improve the timing and delivery of these notices? Could we put a date restriction on it? Could we alter the text so that it clearly states "No evictions will occur during extreme weather, within a particular range? Could we clarify that if it's a life or death situation, that of course we have to remove someone? If an outreach worker or agency that is trained in exactly this says "we've got to get someone out of here, it's an emergency situation..."
(3:04:49) Mayor Ligett - Councillor Hamilton replies
(3:05:06) Councillor Hamilton continues:
So what else can be done? And maybe the report from staff will say that there is nothing more we can do, akthough I certainly, I personally beleive there is more we can do, I think we should look into it.
So in closing, let's prioritize the evidence we have from our local experts, our social service agencies, our outreach workers, who spend their days on the frontlines helping unhoused persons. Let's prioritize the dignity of all of our residents, housed and unhoused. Let's work together and understand that our city is facing the brunt of a complex systemic crisis and we absolutely need help and funding from other levels of government. And in closing let's let our city know that we are safeguarding and protecting the human rights of all of our residentts, housed and unhoused, and that that is what we will always do no matter what.
This is just seeking more information and I know we can find something to change these practices for the better, and set an example for other municcipalities going forth. Thank you
Councillor Cooper brings forth a question (03:06:11)
I'm hoping that maybe staff can address really the core, one of the core queesitons in this concern, stating whether we are removing people in extreme weather. Could staff, maybe legal, comment on that? Address maybe some of the particular, specific ones that were brought up?
Bryan Boodhoo replies to Councillor coopers question (3:06:37)
Through you madam Mayor. We have not forcibly removed anyonce during an extreme weather event.
Mayor Ligett asks question RE: the false information given to the housing advocate (3:06:47)
Could you also speak to, because you wrote the letter back to the Housing Advocate, and the Housing Advocate had false information, could you please tell us what you told her to clarify that false narrative?
Bryan Boodhoo Replies to mayor ligetts question ( 3:07:03)
Yes, through you Madam Mayor. We clarified the fact that I just gave you, that we did not remove anybody, and do not remove anybody during an extreme weather event. We also clarified the resources that we have available to unhoused individuals, heating and cooling centres throughout the city to be made available to individuals that are unhoused.
Elizabeth replies to question ( (3:07:35)
I can speak to... The 2 notices that were given were from 2 different locations and when all tresspass notices are issued we do work with our Regional partners in providing supports and they're always on... It's a collaborative approach, there's multiple visits and the Region is also involved when we do conduct any tresspass notices they are informed of us, of that happening.
Councillor Schwery comment (3:08:20)
Thank you Mayor Ligett, and I'll try to always be on point. This motion is asking staff to write a report just to confirm we aren't evicting people during extreme heat or cold are baseless because we don't. And it will burden our bylaw services which are already stretched beyond the brim. And I suggest we all read John McCash's, a local business owners, letter where he stated that 2 people died by, I believe, his plaza. Life is precious. If it was my child I wish they would have been plucked out and forced into a shelter or rehab rather than die. As we noted even in the eviction notice, given they were given plenty of time to vacate, this, they rejected the offer of shelter. This is common regardless of weather. And I find it very interesting that we are, the motion is concerned with not evicting in hot or cold weather and not considering the harms encampments are causing to residents and businesses in the community. People who don;t live beside them, don't see the daily reality. Parents are afraid to let their kids play in parks and their backyard. One encampment was literally in the neighbourhood of a backyard. and people were seen walking and the parents were worried that the kids walking home from school are alone and they didn't even want them in their backyards because they're afraid for their children. And also businesses facing threat in plain sight, shop owners giving up on calling police because response is slow or non existant, and have to live daily with threats of harassment, violence and theft. This is not sustainable. We shouldnt have to reach a point where businesses feel forced to install electric fences/fencing.
I push for encampment removals in my ward, but displacement alone is not a solution. We need coordinated enforcement, stronger police presence, and housing strategies that actually work. Allowing children to grow up in tents surrounded by garbage and strangers is not compassionate, it's neglect. Allowing anyone to live this way is unacceptable. Leaving people in encampments in extreme heat and cold shows we have no compassion and no beleif in human rights. Those struggling with mental illness and addiction do not have the capacity to make healthy decisions and they should not be left on the street regardless of the weather. They need proper medical and rehabilitation environments where they can get real help. I would like to see more compassion to our residents, young families with children and businnesses that allow us to have jobs, put food on the table, and take care of our families, Residents and businesses deserve safety, civility and proteection. We can't have both prosperity and lawlessness. If we keep tolerating the current situation...
Mayor Ligett asks that Councillor Shwery "circle it back to the motion" (3:11:21)
Councillor Shwery continues (3:11:30):
The Region is already spending 10's of millions annually yet lives haven't improved as was suggested we need and the crisis is growing. We need transparency and accountability results, not endless spending with nothing to show. Compassion means safety, treatment and real solutions for the vulnerable while ensuring our community remains a place where families and businesses thrive.
Thank you.
I push for encampment removals in my ward, but displacement alone is not a solution. We need coordinated enforcement, stronger police presence, and housing strategies that actually work. Allowing children to grow up in tents surrounded by garbage and strangers is not compassionate, it's neglect. Allowing anyone to live this way is unacceptable. Leaving people in encampments in extreme heat and cold shows we have no compassion and no beleif in human rights. Those struggling with mental illness and addiction do not have the capacity to make healthy decisions and they should not be left on the street regardless of the weather. They need proper medical and rehabilitation environments where they can get real help. I would like to see more compassion to our residents, young families with children and businnesses that allow us to have jobs, put food on the table, and take care of our families, Residents and businesses deserve safety, civility and proteection. We can't have both prosperity and lawlessness. If we keep tolerating the current situation...
Mayor Ligett asks that Councillor Shwery "circle it back to the motion" (3:11:21)
Councillor Shwery continues (3:11:30):
The Region is already spending 10's of millions annually yet lives haven't improved as was suggested we need and the crisis is growing. We need transparency and accountability results, not endless spending with nothing to show. Compassion means safety, treatment and real solutions for the vulnerable while ensuring our community remains a place where families and businesses thrive.
Thank you.
Councillor Kimpson comment (3:12:00)
Thank you very much Mayor Jan, I have a question about this particular motion and I'm hoping it can be cleared up perhaps by Councillor Hamilton or Councillor Earnshaw. In the motion are we speaking specifically to encampments on City of Cambridge property or other emcampments regardless of location?
(3:12:29) Councillor Hamilton replies upon request by Mayor Ligett:
This is just a precursory report, so that's something that could be answered in the report, the options that we would have on private and public. It's my understanding the Charter applies to one but not the other. Where does the National Housing Strategy Act apply too and how woudl that reverberate throughout the city?. So I think it's a great question and it's reports like this that can help answer it for council and the public. Thank you.
(3:12:29) Councillor Hamilton replies upon request by Mayor Ligett:
This is just a precursory report, so that's something that could be answered in the report, the options that we would have on private and public. It's my understanding the Charter applies to one but not the other. Where does the National Housing Strategy Act apply too and how woudl that reverberate throughout the city?. So I think it's a great question and it's reports like this that can help answer it for council and the public. Thank you.
Councillor Earnshaw Comments (3:13:15)
I support the motion but I want to start my remarks by giving a shoutout to the bylaw people, compliance officers, our ambassador team, and the community partners with whom they work, as they address what we can all agree is a diffivult and grwing problem. We know that they work with the police force, they work with the Region, they work with the social workers, they coordinate with the fire department, sometimes the OPP and the ministry of transportation of Ontario.
In other words there are a lot of moving parts and they involve a lot of jurisdictions and it's for that reason, that's one of the reasons why Councillor Hamilton and I decided that what we were looking for was a staff report to see whether it was even feasible to have a collaborative effort that would involve all those organizations and cause them to pause any eviction procedings that were ongoing during extreme weather events.
But the other part that's equally vexing is the legal environment in which all these efforts take place. I know that none of us would support a motion that would ask to willfully disregard the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
But neither should we disregard or dismiss the suggestion that here in Cambridge, the human rights of the unhoused may have been disregarded. And I don't say that it was that they were disregarded in any intentional way. It could be inadvertent. It could be a lack of proper understanding of the complex legal environment, but we have a letter from the Federal Housing Advocate that suggests that we should watch our steps. It's a very serious concern that's been raised by the Federal Housing Advocate and I'm the first to acknowledge that the legal landscape is in a state of flux.
I don't envy the role of Mr. Boodhoo as he has to try to steer us through an ever changing world of law and keep us on track. One of the cases is going before the Court of Appeals shortly. That may give us some greater clarity. And of course, the Victoria Street encampment is coming up before Mr. Justice Valente again, you have a chance to clarify some of the issues in his first decision, so I don't envy the bylaw compliance team, and I don't envy our solicitors,
So what am I saying? Well in summary, there are many practical and legal challenges and obstacles, impediments to the question of addressing encampments, but that doesn't mean, in my respectful submission, that we should simply throw up our hands and say “We shouldn't do anything, we can't do anything”.
As Counselor Hamilton says, this is a small positive step. Some of the delegates also called it a small positive step to obtain information as to the ability of our compliance team, our legal team to work with others to establish a collaborative system that would allow the cessation of enforced evictions during heat events. So I see this motion as really asking for a feasibility study. Can we do this? Is it possible? And the result, if the motion passes and we get that feasibility study, will put council in a position to reach an informed and evidence driven decision based on cold facts and not on hot emotion. I support the motion.
In other words there are a lot of moving parts and they involve a lot of jurisdictions and it's for that reason, that's one of the reasons why Councillor Hamilton and I decided that what we were looking for was a staff report to see whether it was even feasible to have a collaborative effort that would involve all those organizations and cause them to pause any eviction procedings that were ongoing during extreme weather events.
But the other part that's equally vexing is the legal environment in which all these efforts take place. I know that none of us would support a motion that would ask to willfully disregard the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
But neither should we disregard or dismiss the suggestion that here in Cambridge, the human rights of the unhoused may have been disregarded. And I don't say that it was that they were disregarded in any intentional way. It could be inadvertent. It could be a lack of proper understanding of the complex legal environment, but we have a letter from the Federal Housing Advocate that suggests that we should watch our steps. It's a very serious concern that's been raised by the Federal Housing Advocate and I'm the first to acknowledge that the legal landscape is in a state of flux.
I don't envy the role of Mr. Boodhoo as he has to try to steer us through an ever changing world of law and keep us on track. One of the cases is going before the Court of Appeals shortly. That may give us some greater clarity. And of course, the Victoria Street encampment is coming up before Mr. Justice Valente again, you have a chance to clarify some of the issues in his first decision, so I don't envy the bylaw compliance team, and I don't envy our solicitors,
So what am I saying? Well in summary, there are many practical and legal challenges and obstacles, impediments to the question of addressing encampments, but that doesn't mean, in my respectful submission, that we should simply throw up our hands and say “We shouldn't do anything, we can't do anything”.
As Counselor Hamilton says, this is a small positive step. Some of the delegates also called it a small positive step to obtain information as to the ability of our compliance team, our legal team to work with others to establish a collaborative system that would allow the cessation of enforced evictions during heat events. So I see this motion as really asking for a feasibility study. Can we do this? Is it possible? And the result, if the motion passes and we get that feasibility study, will put council in a position to reach an informed and evidence driven decision based on cold facts and not on hot emotion. I support the motion.
Mayor Liggett (03:17:12)
Thank you, Councillor Earnshaw. Mr. Boodhoo, could you please again, it is just being stated about us, the human rights aspect, can you also repeat to us what you wrote to the Housing Advocate with regards to her claims that we could be acting against the human rights.
Bryan Boodhoo (03:17:12)
Yes, through you, Mayor, Madam Mayor and chair. I want to quote from the letter. It says “The City is committed to fall in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in its approach to unhoused individuals.”
I also want to look at some other things that are stated in the letter, which is “The City supports the quality of life for all residents and visitors throughout the entire community, and it has been noted that debris and refuse at encampment sites has become a problem”, and there's also an acknowledgement that the City is in a unique position of balancing the rights of, not only the Charter Rights of the unhoused individuals, but also the safety and security of everyone involved in the community.
I also want to look at some other things that are stated in the letter, which is “The City supports the quality of life for all residents and visitors throughout the entire community, and it has been noted that debris and refuse at encampment sites has become a problem”, and there's also an acknowledgement that the City is in a unique position of balancing the rights of, not only the Charter Rights of the unhoused individuals, but also the safety and security of everyone involved in the community.
Mayor Ligett (03:18:20)
Mayor Ligett (03:18:20) : Thank you, Mr. Boodhoo. I asked you to comment because it keeps being repeated out there and some of the advocates for the unhoused have repeated it and since Councillor Earnshaw had mentioned it as well, that's why I wanted you to repeat that. Councillor Roberts? You're on mute… Thank you.
Councillor Roberts (XX:XX:XX)
Councillor Roberts (XX:XX:XX) : Thanks. Mayor Jan. Yeah. So I just want to start out by saying that in all the conversations I've ever had about encampments, with everyone from experts, advocates, people who used to live in them, I have yet to hear anyone say that they think encampments are a good thing, that they're an ideal place for anyone to live, that is certainly not the conversation that anyone is having, that I have heard anyways. However, we currently don't have the appropriate accommodations and supports in place for our residents, which leads to folks having to live in encampments.
While we continue to advocate for more support from those upper levels of government for affordable and supportive housing, encampments are going to be a reality, unfortunately. But while we continue that work, it's important that we ask staff to report back to us on the prevention of forced removals of unhoused people, if it's happening, if it's not happening, what it looks like, what our current policy is, I think that's very important based on the letter that we received from the Federal Housing Advocate, who did raise those concerns that requiring people to move under these circumstances may constitute a violation of their human rights.
At this point, we're not asking for any changes to any policy or bylaw, and we can continue to offer the same supports that we have and whatever supports are available. I think it's imperative that we continue to offer those, but we are simply requesting a report so that Council and the community can have clarity on what the practices are that we currently have in place and whether they align with our legal and human rights obligations. This information is going to help ensure that our actions are both compassionate and compliant, and because of this, I will be supporting the motion.
While we continue to advocate for more support from those upper levels of government for affordable and supportive housing, encampments are going to be a reality, unfortunately. But while we continue that work, it's important that we ask staff to report back to us on the prevention of forced removals of unhoused people, if it's happening, if it's not happening, what it looks like, what our current policy is, I think that's very important based on the letter that we received from the Federal Housing Advocate, who did raise those concerns that requiring people to move under these circumstances may constitute a violation of their human rights.
At this point, we're not asking for any changes to any policy or bylaw, and we can continue to offer the same supports that we have and whatever supports are available. I think it's imperative that we continue to offer those, but we are simply requesting a report so that Council and the community can have clarity on what the practices are that we currently have in place and whether they align with our legal and human rights obligations. This information is going to help ensure that our actions are both compassionate and compliant, and because of this, I will be supporting the motion.
Mayor Liggett (03:20:27)
Mayor Liggett (03:20:27) : Thank you. So before I go on to the next person in line for comments, I just want to clarify something. There is shelter for those who are living in encampments. I get a regular report, a Regional report, the only local agency who is at full capacity is the YWCA, their new location for women. They are at 100%. Even Cambridge Shelter Corps is not at 100%, and that's regular every single week that that happens.
Well, see… Region of Waterloo, the hotels that the people are put up at are never at capacity and there isn't... There's only being 50 people in the entire region… Sorry, hang on, let me get that straight again...
So the YW family motels, 50 units there have been taken, and then, and that's consistent. And then the motels for all of the Waterloo Region are 82, 83 and 85 consistently and their percentage of being full is at 0 because they've always got room.
So please, everybody, stop saying there is no shelter. There is shelter. If somebody is in extreme heat or an extreme cold, there is the ability for them to go someplace should they choose to go to. Councillor Cooper?
Well, see… Region of Waterloo, the hotels that the people are put up at are never at capacity and there isn't... There's only being 50 people in the entire region… Sorry, hang on, let me get that straight again...
So the YW family motels, 50 units there have been taken, and then, and that's consistent. And then the motels for all of the Waterloo Region are 82, 83 and 85 consistently and their percentage of being full is at 0 because they've always got room.
So please, everybody, stop saying there is no shelter. There is shelter. If somebody is in extreme heat or an extreme cold, there is the ability for them to go someplace should they choose to go to. Councillor Cooper?
Councillor Cooper (03:22:05)
Councillor Cooper (03:22:05) : Yes, thank you, Mayor Liggett. I got something to say here. I'm hoping to have a little leeway if I can chair, because while - (Mayor Liggett - “Depends, depends”) - Yeah, I'm going to be speaking to this motion just as everybody else is. There's something very unfortunate directly related to this motion that I think needs to be said. And I'm going to do that now, if you can let me have a minute to do that and I'll move on to what I would regularly say to this..What I'm going to talk to is how this motion was delivered and dealt with about six weeks ago. As many people know, it was in the media that we have due to legal advice, we just paused it because we needed the Council to be updated with the very significant ramifications of this legally, and we had that report today. It was actually 55 pages I believe. On that. I'm just going to say this. When any councillor comes forward to the media and shares what many people believe is misinformation, a twisted narrative about what has happened that happens to probably..
(Mayor Liggett - Carefully here, Councillor Cooper.)
Councillor Cooper : I will. When narratives, false narratives are put out there that vilify members of council, it encourages activities such as what has brought us here today, not at the City Hall. There were narratives that were spread that eventually enabled people to get people, to get put out there and enable their supporters to then spread that narrative. That hurts the people sitting in the mayor seat, that hurts the Council and hurts staff who have their competence questioned and they can't defend themselves. This is what happens when people put out twisted narratives to their own benefit.
Mayor Liggett: Okay Councillor Cooper..
Councillor Cooper: … That’s happened a lot, and I think it needs to stop. That's all I'm going to say to that.
Mayor Liggett : Okay. Now, did you want to get on to the other stuff? that…
Councillor Cooper : Yes, I will. Thank you. I'm going to very much stick with this motion, which is about… What is it necessary, essentially the suggestion of the extension of time that incumbents exist due to weather. I'm not going to be speaking to detox and treatment in the housing initiatives and programs that we all wish for. Everybody knows we need that. We want that, we're on the same page with this.
So knowing that the potential end result of this is the extension of the time that encampments exist due to weather. That requires us to understand what we will be exposing our communities to for an extended time, the effects on the community. So I am going to speak very briefly on what I’ve seen at these encampments in the area during the eight year that I've been involved in them, that I've studied them, that I've visited them and it's unfortunate. Please don't shoot the message here. I'm just going to put out what I've seen. Other than an encampment that I visited recently, where there's a lovely lady that I had a very good chat with, we hugged at the end of it and actually tried to get her, get her a shelter at the YWCA, and other than that, bar none, over eight years of the dozens and dozens and dozens of encampments I have visited, they have been a shocking example of mass amounts of hard drug use, but most of all, clearly stolen property. I don't like that I have to say that, but that's what I have seen. The videos and pictures that I have would shock people that are already probably shocked by what we think goes on in encampments. I’ve seen things, shelters. burned down with people in them, I've seen axes being swung at people, and I've seen, every bicycle I see, kids bicycle, is a child that's crying by the theft of their favorite Christmas gift.
Now we need to know this, because if we're extending people's exposure to this, we need to know what is there. And I just want to make it very clear that everything I'm saying is referring to the dangerous encampments, which happens to be, other than that one I mentioned exclusively for what I have found, I wish it weren't the case. But the fact is, the narrative that we have repeatedly fed that they are safe is false.
(03:26:17) Mayor Liggett : Can you bring it back to the motion, please? Councillor Cooper
Councillor Cooper: Any motion that extends the existence of these camps is a motion that extends people's exposure to that crime. Shocking levels of crime. Shocking levels of cost to the community, which maybe staff can speak to.
I can never support a motion that does that. I cannot support a motion that calls for us to leave people in the grip of addiction and dangerous encampments during the worst weather - for any reason. I refuse to leave people to die at the hands of their own inability to make good decisions.
I also cannot support a motion that asks us to stop doing something that we don't do anyways. So that's something that could have been easy to discover upon asking staff. And it's no wonder because of that, that people believe this might be just political theatrics. I definitely don't believe it represents the wants of our general population. And if a motion like this were to succeed can become a foot in the door. How far does it go? Do we start saying next that we don't permit them, we don't remove dangerous encampments because it's raining? Do we then say how about all winter and all of a sudden you endorse encampments all year?
I honestly believe that we, I will not support this and neither anybody here that takes their oath to represent the best interests of their constituents seriously. If people want help, we can offer it. If you want shelter, we can find it for you.
But if somebody and I'm being, I'm talking about what I have seen. If people are to live in addiction in a dangerous encampment that contributes to the victimization of the surrounding community and businesses, just because the local shelter won't let you do drugs, unfortunately, I have to say it… As long as I have any say in the matter. Cambridge might not be the city for you. There is another, I'm just about done here, this will take about 10 seconds…
Mayor Liggett (03:28:05) : 10 seconds, I was going to cut you off…
Councillor Cooper: There's another vulnerable community here that needs compassion, one that, unfortunately, after all the delegates we've heard today, nobody has yet mentioned. The taxpayers in the city, they have rights too. The residents and their families, their rights and safety will not be maintained by encouraging the continued existence of places that municipalities across Canada have acknowledged to be dangerous and unstable.
Compassion must apply to everyone, and I see no compassion in dangerous encampments, regardless of the weather. I wish I didn't have to say all this, but thank you.
(Mayor Liggett - Carefully here, Councillor Cooper.)
Councillor Cooper : I will. When narratives, false narratives are put out there that vilify members of council, it encourages activities such as what has brought us here today, not at the City Hall. There were narratives that were spread that eventually enabled people to get people, to get put out there and enable their supporters to then spread that narrative. That hurts the people sitting in the mayor seat, that hurts the Council and hurts staff who have their competence questioned and they can't defend themselves. This is what happens when people put out twisted narratives to their own benefit.
Mayor Liggett: Okay Councillor Cooper..
Councillor Cooper: … That’s happened a lot, and I think it needs to stop. That's all I'm going to say to that.
Mayor Liggett : Okay. Now, did you want to get on to the other stuff? that…
Councillor Cooper : Yes, I will. Thank you. I'm going to very much stick with this motion, which is about… What is it necessary, essentially the suggestion of the extension of time that incumbents exist due to weather. I'm not going to be speaking to detox and treatment in the housing initiatives and programs that we all wish for. Everybody knows we need that. We want that, we're on the same page with this.
So knowing that the potential end result of this is the extension of the time that encampments exist due to weather. That requires us to understand what we will be exposing our communities to for an extended time, the effects on the community. So I am going to speak very briefly on what I’ve seen at these encampments in the area during the eight year that I've been involved in them, that I've studied them, that I've visited them and it's unfortunate. Please don't shoot the message here. I'm just going to put out what I've seen. Other than an encampment that I visited recently, where there's a lovely lady that I had a very good chat with, we hugged at the end of it and actually tried to get her, get her a shelter at the YWCA, and other than that, bar none, over eight years of the dozens and dozens and dozens of encampments I have visited, they have been a shocking example of mass amounts of hard drug use, but most of all, clearly stolen property. I don't like that I have to say that, but that's what I have seen. The videos and pictures that I have would shock people that are already probably shocked by what we think goes on in encampments. I’ve seen things, shelters. burned down with people in them, I've seen axes being swung at people, and I've seen, every bicycle I see, kids bicycle, is a child that's crying by the theft of their favorite Christmas gift.
Now we need to know this, because if we're extending people's exposure to this, we need to know what is there. And I just want to make it very clear that everything I'm saying is referring to the dangerous encampments, which happens to be, other than that one I mentioned exclusively for what I have found, I wish it weren't the case. But the fact is, the narrative that we have repeatedly fed that they are safe is false.
(03:26:17) Mayor Liggett : Can you bring it back to the motion, please? Councillor Cooper
Councillor Cooper: Any motion that extends the existence of these camps is a motion that extends people's exposure to that crime. Shocking levels of crime. Shocking levels of cost to the community, which maybe staff can speak to.
I can never support a motion that does that. I cannot support a motion that calls for us to leave people in the grip of addiction and dangerous encampments during the worst weather - for any reason. I refuse to leave people to die at the hands of their own inability to make good decisions.
I also cannot support a motion that asks us to stop doing something that we don't do anyways. So that's something that could have been easy to discover upon asking staff. And it's no wonder because of that, that people believe this might be just political theatrics. I definitely don't believe it represents the wants of our general population. And if a motion like this were to succeed can become a foot in the door. How far does it go? Do we start saying next that we don't permit them, we don't remove dangerous encampments because it's raining? Do we then say how about all winter and all of a sudden you endorse encampments all year?
I honestly believe that we, I will not support this and neither anybody here that takes their oath to represent the best interests of their constituents seriously. If people want help, we can offer it. If you want shelter, we can find it for you.
But if somebody and I'm being, I'm talking about what I have seen. If people are to live in addiction in a dangerous encampment that contributes to the victimization of the surrounding community and businesses, just because the local shelter won't let you do drugs, unfortunately, I have to say it… As long as I have any say in the matter. Cambridge might not be the city for you. There is another, I'm just about done here, this will take about 10 seconds…
Mayor Liggett (03:28:05) : 10 seconds, I was going to cut you off…
Councillor Cooper: There's another vulnerable community here that needs compassion, one that, unfortunately, after all the delegates we've heard today, nobody has yet mentioned. The taxpayers in the city, they have rights too. The residents and their families, their rights and safety will not be maintained by encouraging the continued existence of places that municipalities across Canada have acknowledged to be dangerous and unstable.
Compassion must apply to everyone, and I see no compassion in dangerous encampments, regardless of the weather. I wish I didn't have to say all this, but thank you.
Councillor Devine (03:28:47)
Councillor Devine (03:28:47) : I almost lost my train of thought here. A couple things.. I am somewhat concerned, very concerned, about what's going on in our community, But I'm also concerned about the influencers from outside the community. All right? This lady that’s written this letter, all right, I'm led to believe she's written letters in other communities. OK. I can't. I can't even read my own writing…
We have to be really careful here. OK, very, very careful. Whether I agree or disagree with the situation we're in, I really do believe and as Mayor and as Council, we need to do a little bit of research to find out where these people are from, when they're coming, with the letters and the information OK, because a lot of these, a lot of these people are just, if that's what they believe in, they're going to go and bang the drum. So I I really do think we have to be careful.
And I really have mixed emotions about this, to be honest with you. All right, I have mixed emotions. I mean, there's there's people that are getting sick on the street, but on the other hand, you look at the numbers as I checked some numbers today and I'm not sure we need to go this route at this time, and I also don't believe that we can have this done by the end of this year, this quarter. I don't think it can be done, completed. So right now I can't support this, in the way, in the structure it is. Thank you.
We have to be really careful here. OK, very, very careful. Whether I agree or disagree with the situation we're in, I really do believe and as Mayor and as Council, we need to do a little bit of research to find out where these people are from, when they're coming, with the letters and the information OK, because a lot of these, a lot of these people are just, if that's what they believe in, they're going to go and bang the drum. So I I really do think we have to be careful.
And I really have mixed emotions about this, to be honest with you. All right, I have mixed emotions. I mean, there's there's people that are getting sick on the street, but on the other hand, you look at the numbers as I checked some numbers today and I'm not sure we need to go this route at this time, and I also don't believe that we can have this done by the end of this year, this quarter. I don't think it can be done, completed. So right now I can't support this, in the way, in the structure it is. Thank you.
Mayor Liggett (03:28:43) : Thank you. Councillor Cooper. Councillor Devine. You're up.
Mayor Liggett call the vote on the motion (03:31:04)
Vote Results:
Mayor Liggett call the vote on the motion (03:31:04)
Vote Results: