Toronto's ombudsman to probe how city handled homeless encampment evictions
Toronto’s ombudsman says he will be conducting an investigation into how the city handled clearing homeless encampments at a number of parks this summer after he said his office received complaints from citizens.
“We have received complaints that raised concerns about the City’s approach to the encampment evictions,” Toronto’s Ombudsman Kwame Addo said in a written statement released Tuesday. “I have formally notified the city manager of the launch of our investigation.”
Over the course of the summer, the city sent dozens of bylaw officers and uniformed police officers to remove homeless encampments at multiple city parks, including Trinity-Bellwoods Park, Alexandra Park, and Lamport Stadium Park.
The clearouts led to violent clashes between police and protesters and several arrests.
Critics have accused the city of mishandling the situation and a group of city councillors even penned an open letter to Mayor John Tory in July, urging him to adopt a non-violent approach to the encampment clearings.
“There is absolutely no need for batons, pepper spray or even guns, not when the work should be done by the City’s Streets to Home staff and other outreach workers,” the letter read.
“Your approach to encampments does not effectively resolve the challenge we face, as you are only moving people experiencing homelessness from the parks to laneways, under bridges or into another park. Absolutely no one voted for this extreme show of force that keeps happening under your authority.”
The city previously said the encampment evictions, which cost an estimated $2 million to carry out, followed months of engagement with encampment residents to try to get them to accept alternate housing. The city has argued that it had no choice but to clear the encampments because they were unsafe.
Tory has repeatedly defended the move to clear out encampments at parks, noting that he does not direct the police on how to enforce trespass notices.
As part of the investigation, the ombudsman said his office will speak to those who were involved but added that the probe will not assess the conduct of Toronto police officers as this is beyond its mandate.
“The investigation will focus on how the City of Toronto planned the encampment clearings, engaged stakeholders, and communicated with the public, as well as the policies and procedures that guided its actions,” the ombudsman’s statement continued.
“As part of its investigation, Ombudsman Toronto will be speaking to people involved in and affected by the clearances.”
Members of the public with information about the encampment evictions can contact Ombudsman Toronto at encampmentsombudsman@Toronto.ca or 416-392-7062.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to squash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
A subset of Alzheimer's cases may be caused by two copies of a single gene, new research shows
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease — in people who inherit two copies of a worrisome gene.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.
WATCH Avian flu: Risk to humans grows as outbreaks spread, warns expert
H5N1 or avian flu is decimating wildlife around the world and is now spreading among cattle in the United States, sparking concerns about 'pandemic potential' for humans. Now a health expert is urging Canada to scale up surveillance north of the border.
Trudeau Liberals to unveil new bill Monday aimed at countering foreign interference
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc will be tabling legislation on Monday aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada. Federal officials have scheduled a technical briefing on the incoming bill for Monday afternoon.