TORONTO – The province of Ontario and the Region of Waterloo are contesting a recent court ruling that stops them from clearing a homeless encampment in a Kitchener, Ont., parking lot, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines across the province for handling similar situations.
Last month, an Ontario Superior Court judge determined that a local bylaw intended to facilitate the removal of around two dozen individuals from the encampment infringes on their Charter rights.
Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey and Region of Waterloo Chair Karen Redman stated in a joint announcement that they plan to appeal this decision, as the parking lot is necessary for developing the Kitchener Central Transit Hub.
“Our government is appealing this decision in order to provide the certainty and stability needed to advance critical infrastructure projects here in Waterloo Region and across Ontario,” Downey wrote.
Redman mentioned that this appeal aims to ensure municipalities have clear guidance on how to support people experiencing homelessness while also addressing community growth needs.
“The Kitchener Central Transit Hub is a transformative project that will serve residents for generations, improving connections to jobs, housing, education and transit throughout our region and beyond,” Redman wrote.
Since 2022, efforts by the region to dismantle the encampment through legal avenues have not been successful so far.
Superior Court Judge Michael R. Gibson ruled that the bylaw was unconstitutional partly because the Region of Waterloo indicated it had no plans to offer alternative lawful encampment locations for homeless individuals if that parking area was cleared.
This report by The Canadian Press was first June 16, 2026.
Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
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