City quietly moves to outlaw homeless encampments in parks

Tucked into what's ostensibly a list of 'housekeeping' changes to local bylaws are proposed measures aimed at preventing city-owned lands from being used as homeless encampments.

Jeffrey King from the city's legal department will ask at Monday's city council meeting that pronouns used in bylaws be changed.

All references to 'his' will become 'their.'

All references to 'his/her' or 'his and hers' will similarly be changed to 'their.'

Then, King will ask councillors to add the following to nighttime restrictions in the city's parks bylaw:

"Despite the above and unless signed by the city to the contrary, no park shall be used for camping or living accommodations at any time."

"The proposed bylaw amendments to the parks bylaw are required to ensure that parklands are safeguarded from use as encampments," King says in a report to Mayor Shoemaker and councillors.

Monday's city council meeting will be live-streamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.