Paramedics' union concerned over rise in rats at Weber and Victoria encampment
Paramedics concerned rats could be a problem at Erbs' Road too
The union that represents Waterloo region's paramedics is worried about the health and safety threat posed by rats rummaging through an encampment near one of its ambulance stations.
The encampment at Victoria and Weber streets is not far from the Region of Waterloo Paramedics Services' station on Water Street in downtown Kitchener, Ont.
"Our main concern is with the occupants of the encampments there, and then from the paramedic concern is the proximity to our base. Rats could easily access our garage," said Dave Bryant, vice president of CUPE 5191, the union that represents Region of Waterloo Emergency Medical Services personnel.
The Region of Waterloo Paramedics Services' station fronts on Water Street, but its station garage door opens at the back of the building and faces a small green space at the corner of Weber and Victoria streets where a few tents have cropped up. The station and tents are across the street from the main encampment at the opposite corner of Weber and Victoria streets.
A video recorded Tuesday night shows rats crawling around a tent and belongings. Bryant said the video was taken by a paramedic from the entrance of the paramedic station garage.
WATCH | Paramedics concerned about rats near Kitchener encampments:
"That is a paramedic safe space where we eat and rest," Bryant said.
Having an infestation of rats so close to this space is a public health concern, he explained.
Rats can carry disease, and their droppings can contaminate food and belongings. They can also be quite destructive and chew through rubber, plastic and wood, according to Region of Waterloo Public Health.
Rats an ongoing problem
Rats are not a new problem at the encampment. Unhoused individuals have been living there since early 2022. It has grown from a handful of tents to about 50 tents at its peak during summer months.
As the encampment grew in size, advocates pushed the Region of Waterloo for portable washrooms and regular garbage pickup. Nearby business owners asked for more security and a solution to the rising rat problem. The Region of Waterloo provided services, security and contracted Abell Pest Control to help control the rats.
The Region posted an eviction notice in June 2022. Rat droppings and burrows were noted as one of the health and safety risks in the Region's original application to have encampment residents evicted — an application that was struck down in January.
In a decision more than 50 pages long, Justice M.J. Valente noted that while the region contracted Abell Pest Control to control the rat population, bait and traps were only placed on the eastern boundary of the encampment with the adjacent property that houses several businesses and no bait or traps were set along the other three sides.
"Does not the region have some responsibility to take further steps to mitigate these risks?" Valente asked in his decision.
Involve residents in solutions
Shannon Down, executive director of Waterloo Region Community Legal Services, provided legal representation in the eviction case. She says pest control efforts need to involve the people living in encampments.
"In leading up to the court case it felt like they weren't an equal partner in that conversation. It was something that was just being done behind the scenes without their involvement," Down said in an interview with CBC News.
Down said when it was revealed through court submissions that bait and rat traps were only placed along one boundary of the encampment, it appeared as if there was more concern about protecting businesses than keeping rats out of the encampment.
"If you're not engaging them then this problem is probably not going to get resolved," she added.
Down said it's important for Region of Waterloo Public Health to communicate with people at the encampment, listen to them and see if education is needed so they can also take steps to help mitigate pests.
"It's a big problem and it really requires everyone to work together," she added.
The Region of Waterloo said in an emailed statement that pest control has been in place at the encampment for several months, and the provider makes weekly site visits.
As part of the pest control program, a third-party contractor regularly monitors the Paramedic Services detachment on Weber Street. If any activity is identified, control measures will also be put in place at that location," the emailed statement reads.
The region also said paramedic services leadership is aware of the concerns and appropriate steps regarding pest control have been identified for the station.
New encampment, same problem?
There is concern the same pest control issues will happen at the region's new sanctioned encampment currently under construction at 1001 Erbs Rd. in Waterloo.
Bryant is worried about its proximity to another ambulance station. The new sanctioned site is not far from the region's landfill.
Down said mitigation policies should be consistent at both encampment sites regardless of whether one is sanctioned and one is unsanctioned.
"We have to treat the members of our community who are living unsheltered with dignity. We have to treat them as rights holders and their health and their safety and their welfare needs to be looked after," Down said.
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