After eight encampments were removed from in and around downtown, at least half of Edmonton city councillors are left questioning how the cleanup was done.
“Frankly, I was surprised to see action happening with such cold, cold weather upon us,” Ward O-day’min Coun. Anne Stevenson said in a press conference Thursday.
The city has created a dedicated strategy for how to respond to encampments on public land. On its website, a flow chart shows that citizens should first call 311 to report the site. Peace officers will then determine a risk level.
If inactive, the site would be cleaned up as soon as possible. If low-risk, social agencies would be called in to help connect people with resources.
At that point, peace officers would provide a clean-up date with staff showing up at that time to dismantle the site.
All of the eight sites cleaned up recently were deemed to be high-risk. In those cases, the encampments are set to be closed within three days where possible.
Shelter capacity is then confirmed and the encampment residents, deputy city manager, community services department and city council are all notified before the closure.
Staff and peace officers are then brought in to connect people with resources and shut down the site.
“The actions in recent weeks have demonstrated to me that there’s a gap between what I had understood the checks and balances of the encampment strategy to be, and how the strategies being implemented in practice and focusing on implementation,” Stevenson told the media.
Councillors Erin Rutherford, Aaron Paquette, Keren Tang, Ashley Salvador and Michael Janz all told Global News they also felt the response differed from expectations.
“The discussion was very clear about the negative health outcomes of just shuffling people and breaking down and moving and displacing people,” Rutherford said Friday.
“We had a lengthy conversation about that at committee. And that, appears to me, to be what we’re doing.”
Tang said she understood extreme weather would be a major consideration in clean-up efforts.
“As they start to unfold as the temperature drops, it’s just been shocking to watch,” she said, adding that she does not believe people have been getting the social support they are supposed to.
The dismantlings were done while many city council members were out of office.
“There was a gap in communication surrounding the encampments over the winter recess,” said Coun. Jo-Anne Wright.
Multiple councillors said they would have questions for administration at a special city council meeting set for Monday.
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi called the meeting and will declare a housing and houselessness emergency in the city of Edmonton at that time.
“I have a number of questions about the congruence of policy intention and implementation, weather, timing, and outcomes,” Janz wrote in an email.
“For example, I see a detailed inventory of waste kilograms, but what about the people? Where are each of these evicted people now? What are their names? Were they connected with services? Imprisoned? Or did they set up a new camp two blocks away? Do the police believe these sweeps worked? In all these matters, transparency of data is essential.”
In a statement to Global News, an Edmonton Police Service spokesperson did not specifically address the concerns of councillors.
“The EPS, in conjunction with the City of Edmonton, adhered to process set out in the joint encampment response framework and followed all injunction criteria,” Cheryl Voordenhout wrote.
“Given the extreme cold, our focus has been and will continue to be connecting encampment residents with support services. High-risk encampments pose many dangerous conditions and significant safety challenges that are only intensified in this inclement weather.”
The City of Edmonton also provided Global News with a written statement.
“The City of Edmonton has followed and will continue to follow the Encampment Response Team process matrix,” spokesperson Karen Zypchyn wrote.
“While at the same time ensuring full compliance with its obligations under the additional requirements outlined in the interim injunction, including providing advance notice to social agencies and ensuring there is capacity in the emergency shelter system.”
Still, councillors said they hope to hear more details next week.
“I hope that what we can provide as council at the end of the meeting on Monday is clarity,” Stevenson said.
“Clarity for our staff and what our expectations are moving forward.”
Councillors Jennifer Rice, Andrew Knack and Tim Cartmell have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Councillors Karen Principe and Sarah Hamilton did respond but did not specifically answer questions regarding the encampment strategy.