Guelph looks to create encampment bylaw for city owned lands

Guelph councillors have voted in favour of developing a bylaw about how to deal with encampments in the downtown core and on public lands.

It comes after a number of tents have been set up at the corner of Quebec Street and Wyndham Street N. 

Coun. Rodrigo Goller moved the motion during Tuesday's meeting to direct staff to create a public space use bylaw "to address safety concerns regarding encampments and related activities on lands owned or operated" by the city.

There was no discussion by council in the open session of the meeting and the motion was passed unanimously.

The draft bylaw is expected to come back before councillors during a special council meeting on Feb. 14, which is when members of the public can offer their feedback by appearing as a delegation. Final approval is expected to take place at the Feb. 27 council meeting.

In his post-council meeting wrap-up video on X, formerly Twitter, Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie said "there will be more information that the city is putting out in regards to that matter and so that will be coming up further in February."

Number of encampments rise

In an interview with CBC Radio's Ontario Today last month, Guthrie said the city has seen the number of encampments double in the past year, from 10 to more than 20 in 2023.

He drafted a motion that would ask staff to create a report on the feasibility of creating a sanctioned, temporary encampment site in Guelph. Guthrie pulled the motion, though, after a court ruling in Kingston, Ont., where a judge said the city was not allowed to clear an encampment in one of its parks.