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Edmonton human rights group upset encampment hearing won’t be heard until January

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A human rights group is expressing concern that its court application to pause the City of Edmonton’s dismantling of homeless encampments won’t be heard until the new year, well after winter weather has settled in.

A human rights group is expressing concern that its court application to pause the City of Edmonton's dismantling of homeless encampments won't be heard until the new year, well after winter weather has settled in. Joshua Bell is pictured at his tent in Edmonton on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.
A human rights group is expressing concern that its court application to pause the City of Edmonton’s dismantling of homeless encampments won’t be heard until the new year, well after winter weather has settled in. Joshua Bell is pictured at his tent in Edmonton on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Photo by JASON FRANSON /THE CANADIAN PRESS
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A human rights group is expressing concern that its court application to pause the City of Edmonton’s dismantling of homeless encampments won’t be heard until the new year, well after winter weather has settled in.

“We are disappointed that the injunction hearing was scheduled for mid-January and another holiday season will pass while the city continues to regularly displace unsheltered people,” said Sam Mason, president of the Coalition for Justice and Human Rights.

Last month, the coalition took legal action against the city, arguing ongoing evictions of people in encampments is harmful.

Mason said last year’s displacements may have contributed to asurge in amputations due to frostbite.

“We are not asking for financial compensation but for the court to stop displacing encampments.”

Mason said the coalition requested court dates that were available between late November and mid-December, but the city requested the application be heard in January so it could have more time to prepare its defence.

The hearing is scheduled for Jan. 11.

Edmonton police spokesman Scott Pattison said more than 14,000 complaints against encampments have been made to the city so far in 2023. As a result, 4,500 camps have been investigated and responded to.

Anyone can call 311 to complain about homelessness on public lands within city limits.

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