A lawsuit and proposed injunction that the City of Edmonton was facing around the regulations on how homeless encampments are being dismantled has been rejected by an Alberta judge.
Lawyers for the Coalition for Justice and Human Rights sought a court order to stop the tearing down of homeless encampments until the city could be taken to trial, which could be a process which could potentially take years.
The city and their legal team rebutted that the coalition shouldn’t be allowed to to proceed with any legal action as they don’t have a stake in the outcome.
Jonathon Martin, Court of King’s Bench sided with the City of Edmonton, and shot down the request for an injunction as well as the broader lawsuit adding that the group should not be granted” public interest standing” and disallowed them to represent the interests of homeless Edmontonians in the Alberta court room.
“That the approximately 60 social service agencies that deliver services to unhoused persons have decided not to act may to the contrary be evidence that the coalition should not be granted public interest standing in a matter in which they have little experience”, the Justice added.
The city responded in an email saying they they respect the courts decision that homelessness and housing are priorities, but litigation would not help reach meaningful solutions.
Susan McGee, Homeward Trust CEO also sided with the decision stating that they believe it would harmful in the efforts to find people housing.
The coalition argued that Edmonton’s social agencies would see negative impacts from siding with the lawsuit as they receive government funding.
Eight encampments were dismantled in recent weeks, leaving the City and the Edmonton Police service under public scrutiny.
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