‘What about the rights of the residents?’: St. Catharines petition calls for action on encampments 

The petition inspired by conditions in the Gale Crescent area of St. Catharines supports using the notwithstanding clause to deal with the homelessness crisis.

Rob McConnell had finally had enough.

His wife, Laura Rogers-McConnell, needed to walk their dog on some grass near their Gale Crescent condo in the late evening.

The dog, an “energetic and rambunctious” mini golden doodle still in the puppy stage, showed signs it needed to relieve itself, and her husband’s back was bothering him.

Once outside, Rogers-McConnell noticed two women in the near distance arguing.

One was screaming like a “banshee.” Without warning, the other, who had noticed Rogers-McConnell and her dog, abandoned the argument, sprinted down the St. Catharines street towards her, and began demanding money “aggressively.”

Rogers-McConnell said she was “petrified” as she rushed to pull her fob out, get inside and push the door closed. The woman wasn’t taking no for an answer.

They called police to report the incident, which also motivated McConnell to start a petition on Change.org that supports using the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms’ notwithstanding clause to “end the crisis of homelessness in St. Catharines.”

“I just figured something has to be done, and it seems that everything was lopsided towards the politicians who did not want the notwithstanding clause,” McConnell said.

“They don’t live in the area. They don’t know what goes on here day and night. If we don’t have a police, fire or rescue down here three or four times a day, something’s wrong.”

The retirees moved to St. Catharines less than three years ago from their Crystal Beach home, which was increasingly difficult to maintain.

They knew a little about the homeless issues in the Gale Crescent area, but McConnell said the situation continues to deteriorate and nobody feels safe there.

On the afternoon of Nov. 22, perpetrators gunned down two men on Division Street. One victim died. The other is in an out-of-region hospital. One of the suspects is still at large, and police warned the public he is armed and dangerous.

“I have brought up concerns with politicians before, and they say ‘We’re doing the best we can,’” McConnell said. “They tell us they can’t really do anything. Their hands are tied.

“I believe in the system if you take the appropriate steps, so I started the petition. I think most people in our building have had run-ins with homeless people, who are insulted if you don’t give them money. They intimidate seniors.”

At the end of October, 29 mayors from the Ontario Big City Mayors caucus, including St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe, sent a letter to Premier Doug Ford requesting provincial action to help municipalities with issues related to mental health, addiction and homeless encampments — and “where necessary use the notwithstanding clause.”

Using the notwithstanding clause would empower the province to override court rulings that found evicting people from encampments violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, if there weren’t enough shelter beds to accommodate them.

Siscoe told The Standard he doesn’t want to evict people experiencing homelessness from encampments. What he wants is the ability to move encampments away from schools and residential neighbourhoods.

Welland Mayor Frank Campion and Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati also sent letters of support to the premier.

The use of the notwithstanding clause on the issue is already running into headwinds.

Locally, municipal politicians, including Greg Miller, Caleb Ratzlaff and Haley Bateman of St. Catharines, and Lori Lococo of Niagara Falls, joined dozens of Ontario municipal councillors and mayors in signing a letter with concerns about using the notwithstanding clause.

The letter, posted on social media, acknowledged the humanitarian crisis but maintained that no municipality should be above the law, and elected municipal representatives are sworn to uphold democracy and human rights.

The petition says the encampments and a temporary housing facility are feeding a growing crisis in the surrounding neighbourhood that includes syringes scattered on sidewalks, human feces, discarded underwear, increased crime rates, the open use and dealing of drugs, prostitution and carrying objects for use as weapons.

Rogers-McConnell questions how many people experiencing homelessness and addiction want help getting off the street.

She worked in a mental health ward for about a decade as a nurse.

“I was thrown up against a wall,” Rogers-McConnell said. “I was raised by my neck with my feet dangling, the whole nine yards, but it was in a controlled environment.

“These people are out on the street, and we can’t call a code white to get some assistance. We can’t do anything.”

McConnell hopes the petition brings some attention to the issues. 

“You can’t be stealing,” Rogers-McConnell said. “You can’t be walking around with a knife threatening people. You shouldn’t shoot up drugs on the sidewalk. These things aren’t hearsay. I’ve seen them.

“It’s like there are no consequences for breaking the law. They are laughing at us as they party, do drugs, drink and carry on. They say they have their rights. What about the rights of the residents? Don’t they count, too?”

To sign the Petition: www.change.org/galecrescent

Visit the Gale Crescent Website: www.galecrescent.ca