The safety of residents around Clarence Square Park has been compromised by the encampment and it's residents. 

Just today, my dog was attacked by an off-leashed dog while walking by the encampment. I was then verbally assaulted by two residents while trying to protect my dog. 

It’s not just the random assaults and verbal abuse and break-ins that law-abiding taxpayers who live in the surrounding condominium towers have to endure. There have been multiple fires in the encampment, including the explosion of a propane tank, rampant drug use, and large amounts of garbage being brought into the park which has resulted in a rat infestation.

City Councillor and Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik has vowed to not enforce the trespassing by-law, while spending tax payer's money to ensure the encampment residents are protected through "a focused and intensive deployment of supports and resources".

Read the article here. 

As per Councillor Malik, the action plan includes:

Increased Police Patrols: Twice daily visits by the Toronto Police Service’s 52 Division Neighbourhood Community Officers are conducted to patrol the park's property, including in the late afternoon/early evening.

Community Safety Teams: A second team has been deployed to the park, covering 16 hours per day. During the remaining eight hours between 8 am and 4 pm, operational staff are on-site to address hazardous materials clean-up and community safety concerns.

Since April 1, 2024, 12,065 kg of material (garbage) has been removed from the park.

Why is the safety of encampment residents a higher priority for the city than that of the tax paying citizens and nearby businesses? Why is the city not enforcing by-laws that are in place to avoid encampments? 

Why are we constantly being forced to pay more to a City that then uses the money to support the rights of those who pay nothing at the expense of the rights of those who are doing all the paying. The encampment is a prime example with the encampment getting exclusive use and possession of a public space and taxpayers paying for the privilege of being excluded from that space, while enduring verbal and physical attacks.

Enough is enough. We are asking the city to take immediate action and enforce the trespassing by-law and return the park to it's intended public use.