Regina police make arrests as officers clear city hall homeless encampment

Fences are erected around Regina's city hall, after a wall of police descended on a homeless encampment in the courtyard Friday, dismantling tents and makeshift structures — some of which had stood for nearly six weeks.

Over the course of a few hours, police swept through the area, dispersing residents and arresting 11 people, while fulfilling a promise made by city officials to clear the area after a fire destroyed a tent on Thursday. 

Shortly before 5 p.m. CST Friday, city manager Niki Anderson issued a statement announcing the encampment in front of city hall was decommissioned.

Anderson thanked Regina Fire and Protective Services Chief Layne Jackson "for prioritizing public safety in the mindset of an incredibly complex situation."

A fire on Thursday, which resulted in no injuries, prompted Jackson to use powers under Saskatchewan's Fire Safety Act, due to the "imminent risk" to the people living in the encampment.

The legislation states that, if a fire inspector believes an imminent risk of a fire, emergency or "other danger" exists, they can take any measures they deem necessary to protect people, property or the environment. 

On Thursday, Mayor Sandra Masters said it's "unfortunate" the residents had to leave, but that the fire department had her "full support."

Jackson said Thursday an operation to clear the encampment would begin within 24 to 48 hours.

On Friday, people in the encampment were given a deadline of 1:30 p.m. CST to clear out. But dozens of tents and residents remained in the courtyard when the Regina Police Service arrived.

City hall was closed to the public. Police moved journalists behind a perimeter around city hall for various reasons, including "the presence of multiple items that could be used as weapons," police said in a statement issued before the operation started. Some citizens watched from Victoria Avenue, which police blocked off to traffic between Smith and McIntyre streets.

The courtyard was tense. Police said about 30 officers from multiple units were on the scene. They were met by encampment residents, their supporters and volunteers who had helped to provide camp residents with food and water. 

Some residents, with assistance from volunteers, chose to pack up their belongings instead of being forced out.

A woman who identified herself as Pynk Mitton, who had three tents pitched in the courtyard, was one of them.

"I'm lost," Mitton said. "I don't know what to do.

"It's just panic. Panic, panic, panic."

She planned to approach the Ministry of Social Services for help finding shelter, but recognized that was a temporary solution that might last the weekend.

Other residents and volunteers, meanwhile, refused to leave, prompting confrontations with officers slowly moving in.

Police told reporters late Friday afternoon that 11 people were arrested — mostly for obstructing a peace officer, with one person arrested for assaulting a police officer.

In a news release issued Friday evening, however, police said it is unclear if charges will be laid, and they expect the people will be released from custody later Friday night.  

Two long-time volunteers at the encampment, Mandla and Thabo Mthembu, and local activist Florence Stratton were among those arrested.

"I've been pretty livid," Mandla Mthembu said during a media event in front of city hall around noon Friday, referring to the previous 24 hours.

He said the concerns that some citizens and city staff have with the encampment involving mental health issues and things like public urination, drug use and, sometimes, violence are valid.

Those concerns were highlighted in a city administration report presented to council Thursday. The report said city hall staff grew more concerned as the encampment, established on June 15, peaked at 83 tents on July 25.

"The fact of the matter is, that is people's lived experiences day in and day out in this city," Mandla Mthembu said.

"The lack of humanity, the lack of compassion, the lack of sense of duty from the people in power — and the people who are standing alongside them — is disgusting."

Mandla Mthembu, while on CBC Radio's Morning Edition Friday, said he isn't confident the residents of the encampment will be safe if they have to leave. 

Nearly three hours after the operation began, encampment residents, supporters and volunteers were pushed onto McIntyre Street. Police say no injuries were reported.

City workers started erecting fences as police pinched off the premises. The fence encloses the courtyard, where city workers were cleaning up the debris.

The fencing will remain until property repairs are finished, Anderson said, adding city hall will reopen to the public Monday during normal business hours.

Councillors skeptical of quorum issue

Jackson's decision to enforce the Fire Safety Act came after Masters called a special city council meeting for Thursday afternoon — the purpose of which was to direct city administration on what to do about the tent encampment — but cancelled it shortly before it was scheduled to begin.

Masters said there were not enough council members to form a quorum. On Friday, a couple of city councillors told CBC News they disagreed.

Including the mayor there are 11 councillors and the council needs a majority to have quorum. 

"I flatly reject the notion that we lacked quorum," said Ward 6 Coun. Dan LeBlanc, who was at city hall Friday. Ward 1 Coun. Cheryl Stadnichuk and Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Stevens also attended the courtyard media event.

Saskatchewan's Cities Act states the mayor can direct the city clerk to call a special meeting by giving at least 24 hours' notice to council members in writing, and to public.

A special council meeting can be held with less than 24 hours' notice to council, and without public notice, if all members of council agree to attend in writing, before the start of the meeting, the legislation says.

LeBlanc believed at least seven councillors and the mayor indicated they could attend the special meeting.

He and Stevens felt the administrative decision had already been made to take down the encampment, and were frustrated that they weren't able to discuss the matter.

They also felt the fire risk was used as a pretext to clear the encampment, because the people forced out will take the risk of fire with them — particularly to areas like Heritage and North Central, which LeBlanc and Stevens represent.

"We need to end the camp and find a long-term solution. This is not how we need to do that," Stevens told CBC News shortly after police arrived.

"It's ridiculous that we think we can use police and [the fire department] to actually solve this crisis."

Stevens feels the public was deceived this week, he said.

In her statement Friday, Anderson said she is "deeply concerned" by comments at least one elected official made Friday, which, she said, suggested what occurred is "an affront to the democratic process."

Elected officials who believe they ought to have been consulted are placing the public at greater risk by challenging public safety experts and eroding confidence in the city administration, Anderson said.

The organizers of Friday's media event before the police operation listed several demands they want from the city, including a winter plan for homelessness.

Province secured additional shelter spaces

The City of Regina remains "in close communication" with the Ministry of Social Services, supporting the ministry as they work "to connect those camp residents in need with services and shelter they may require," a city spokesperson told CBC News in a statement.

Anyone who accepts supports offered by the various teams on-site will receive them, but 47 of 49 people at the camp, who had been previously offered shelter support, refused or declined service, a provincial government spokesperson said in a statement.

The ministry secured additional shelter spaces in anticipation that encampment residents would need them, the spokesperson said.