THUNDER BAY – New guidelines for designated encampment locations are coming to council for ratification on Monday night.
Administration will be recommending the addition of new distance guidelines - not permitting tents to be set up within five metres of a railway or any river as well as within 20 metres of private property or non-residential property.
Rilee Willianen, research and policy analyst at the City of Thunder Bay, said the guidelines were discussed by council three weeks ago.
“We heard at the last council meeting that some folks might want to see some additional distances added into those guidelines. We went back and we re-examined our distances and we added in a five-metre distance away from railway tracks and the rivers,” she said.
Willianen said it's a balanced approach.
“We don't want folks to be right up against the bank. A five-metre distance is a good balance for having the safety that encampment residents flagged with the access to water and also the concerns that were flagged by council.”
It's recognizing that everyone needs to be amenable to recommendations, she said.
“In upholding our commitment to a human rights-based approach, we did go and chat with folks who live in encampments about the new proposed guidelines.
“We are really trying to balance the concerns of the community with the concerns of folks that are living in encampments.”
Willianen said there are different safety concerns, depending on who is asked.
“Some folks might feel that it's an issue because of the proximity to the water and the risk of falling in, other folks might think that the safety issues - if there's say a fire or something that happens, you need to have quick access to water.
“This distance is meant to sort of balance that you're still close enough if there's a fire, but far enough you're not going to accidentally fall in.
Willianen said people living in encampments, as well as people in the community are looking for information they can have at their fingertips. She said they are working on a communications plan that will be accessible to everyone.
