Supporters of encampment residents pondering legal action

A couple of people moved around inside the fences at the old Taylor Field site Wednesday afternoon, putting up tents and organizing belongings from carts and wagons.

One woman said she had been living in the camp in front of City Hall but left when the camp was cleared out on Friday. She stayed at a hotel for the weekend but had to leave after a few days.

On Wednesday, she was setting up her new home. There were only three tents up at that time, but she said more people were coming.

By Thursday morning, the tents had been removed. Mayor Sandra Masters told the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Thursday that a bylaw saying people can’t set up tents on city property had been enforced.

As the people turned out of their makeshift home at City Hall try to find a new one, supporters of the last camp are focusing on Friday.

Alysia Johnson with Rally Around Homelessness said they’re looking into their options on a legal challenge to what the city did – decommissioning the camp through an order from the fire chief.

Johnson said the city should have gotten a court order.

“I think that the city has made a mistake in signalling that if you want to skirt judges who may not rule in your favour – that’s a possibility – the easiest way is just not to take it to court at all,” said Johnson.

“If they would have gone (to court) it might have been a very different result and it feels like they just didn’t want to hear that formally.”

She pointed to Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.”

“It’s our position that the City of Regina knowingly contravened Section 7 of the Charter and through use of fencing they’re still continuing to prevent people from sheltering where no practical shelter alternative exists,” explained Johnson.

“Regina is not above the laws of Canada. Regina is not above the Charter. Those are risks that exist in encampments and you still need to go to court and you still need an order.”

Johnson said she and others were fundraising and looking into their options for a legal challenge.

The City of Regina said the camp was decommissioned because of an imminent risk of loss of life due to fire — pointing to the three fires that crews responded to in five days at the camp.

“The public safety action taken falls within the provincially legislated authority of the City’s Fire Chief,” read a statement from the city.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an amended version of the story, adding the city’s statement.