Municipal Regulation of Encampments in Clarington
On March 4, 2024, the General Government Committee of Clarington reviewed Report LGS-008-24 concerning municipal regulations for encampments. Rob Maciver, Deputy CAO/Solicitor, presented the report, highlighting the evolving social landscape and summarizing the existing municipal regulation framework. He discussed recent legal rulings from Waterloo, the City of Kingston, and various court cases from British Columbia that influence local policy. The proposed new approach aims to replace the current Parks By-law and will specify unsuitable locations for encampments. Maciver noted that unregulated encampments tend to become more permanent and larger over time. The new regulations will allow for temporary overnight shelter, establishing rules regarding maximum areas and distance from certain locations. An encampment response protocol for Municipal Law Enforcement Officers is to be developed in consultation with the Region of Durham and the Durham Regional Police Services. The committee approved the report and directed the Legislative Services Department to prepare the necessary protocol.