Premier Doug Ford has called a recent ruling by an Ontario judge that prevents the Region of Waterloo from clearing out a homeless encampment “cockamamie.”
Justice Michael R. Gibson determined that a local bylaw meant to allow the region to remove around twenty individuals from a parking lot encampment infringes on their rights as outlined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
This encampment in Kitchener, Ont., has been established since 2021, when many homeless individuals left shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic and set up camp outdoors across the province.
Since 2022, efforts to dismantle the encampment through legal channels have not been successful for the region.
The region argues that they need access to the parking lot to begin construction on the Kitchener Central Transit Hub later this year.
Ford criticized Gibson’s ruling, claiming it prioritizes the rights of those in the encampment over millions who rely on public transit, calling it “ridiculous.”
“He comes out with this cockamamie idea that they’re gonna hold up transit, so for what, 30 people, they’re going to hold up millions and millions of riders, communities and everything,” Ford said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first May 22, 2026.
Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
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