ManitobaA longtime Winnipeg housing advocate says the city may not get what it’s looking for out of proposed rules on encampment enforcement.Some living in tents wonder what could happen to their homes if new rules passGavin Axelrod · CBC News · Posted: Sep 10, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours agoA tent is seen nestled behind a number of raised garden beds at Vimy Ridge Park in July. Proposed new rules on encampments would prohibit tents like these in parks. (Justin Fraser/CBC)A longtime Winnipeg housing advocate says the city may not get what it’s looking for out of proposed rules on encampment enforcement, and she believes an alternative model might be better. Winnipeg city council’s community services committee unanimously approved a motion Monday that prohibits encampments in some areas — including near playgrounds, pools, schools or daycares — and calls for enforcement of the new rules during the day.The motion still has to go to the executive policy committee before a final vote by council.”It’s not going to end encampments,” St. Boniface Street Links executive director Marion Willis said Tuesday. “That model is more likely to push people who are struggling with homelessness and addiction into other places where now we’ve got other challenges.”Willis agrees more “proactive measures” are needed to deal with encampments, and said people shouldn’t be worrying about encampments in places that children and families use.She also wonders how well the rules would be enforced. Marion Willis is the executive director and founder of St. Boniface Street Links. (CBC )”I know it’s well intended, but I think it’s naive, and it is not going to produce the results that the city or the mayor hopes that it might.” Speaking about the motion with reporters Monday, Mayor Scott Gillingham said the idea of enforcement during the day recognizes there “may be times where people have to shelter overnight.” The motion also calls for outreach service providers to give “reasonable notice” about intended enforcement to encampment residents and notify them of shelter options.The actual enforcement would be done by city bylaw officers. If the motion passes, “some people, if they’re in a tent near a playground … they can’t be there anymore,” Gillingham said Monday.”They’re going to move to some other place unless they have housing. That’s why the priority is housing. “This motion is important, but it’s not an answer for the housing challenge we have.” Winnipeggers living in tents question motionThe motion calls for encampments to be prohibited: Within 50 metres of playgrounds, pools, spray pads or outdoor recreational facilities designed for children, families or seniors. Within 50 metres of schools, daycares or adult care facilities. Where a hazard or obstruction to traffic exists. Within a median or traffic island. Within 30 metres of a transit shelter, bridges, docks or piers. Within 50 metres of a rail line or crossing. And where life safety issues exist. Some people living in tents in Winnipeg learned about the proposed rules for the first time Tuesday, and wondered how the plan would work. They also pointed to the issue of having to potentially relocate often. “”That would be really tiring,” said James Thompson, who spoke to CBC News near an encampment in Fort Douglas Park, along the Red River in the Point Douglas area.”Tearing it down, putting it back up — you think it’s OK, but then you got to replace your stuff and move.”Brennen Youngskye, who lives in a tent in Winnipeg but declined to say where, spoke to CBC News while sitting at Giizhigooweyaabikwe Park, between Logan and Alexander avenues in the Centennial neighbourhood. A number of tents were set up around a playground in the park.He said it could be difficult for people who live in encampments to find other places to set up if the motion is approved by council, but also thinks people will just return to areas they’re not supposed to be. “There are places we could go, but those options are running out too,” he said. Justin Hall, who was with Youngskye at the park, said the proposed rules could make people desperate. “It would cause a lot of people to do more crime for shelter,” he said. “Like breaking in places to stay warm and [stuff] like that.” Advocate pushes for an alternative Meanwhile, Willis is pushing for what she called “managed encampment to housing” sites.They would be safe and planned locations away from roads, riverbanks and recreation areas, she said, with security measures like fencing, cameras, staff and secure storage, along with sanitation and water facilities.The sites would also have onsite housing and harm reduction supports, and clear resident guidelines, said Willis.The site would be decommissioned once the occupants there were able to find housing. That would differ from other Canadian cities that have what could be referred to as sanctioned or designated encampment spots, said Willis.”We’re talking about a very focused mandated, encampment site that exists specifically, to provide managed encampment to housing services,” she said.On Tuesday, Gillingham said having designated spots “seems like a great idea,” but that from what he’s seen, “it doesn’t always work out the way they would like.” City needs to find alternative to proposed encampment rules: advocateA longtime Winnipeg housing advocate says the city may not get what it’s looking for out of proposed new rules on homeless encampments, which would prohibit camps in some areas and set new guidelines for enforcement.With files from Jim Agapito
Better model needed to deal with Winnipeg encampments, housing advocate says
