City council reviews public spaces bylaw as advocates call for sanctioned homeless encampments
During a one-year review Monday, Indigenous leaders and homeless advocates told council the bylaw criminalizes poverty, citing 7,904 trespassing tickets issued so far this year.
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Edmonton's public spaces bylaw faced renewed scrutiny Monday when 15 speakers presented at a one-year review, with homeless advocates and Indigenous leaders calling the enforcement approach counterproductive.
Daniel Johnstone from the Can Man Dan Foundation said the bylaw is "anti-poor" and targets Indigenous people disproportionately. "These people don't have money for rent, let alone groceries or new clothing. How on earth are they going to pay a ticket? It's criminalized poverty," Johnstone told council Wednesday, noting that approximately 65 per cent of the homeless population are Indigenous.
Bylaw officers have issued 7,904 trespassing tickets in 2026 to date, each carrying a $600 fine and mandatory court appearance. Anne Stevenson, Ward O-day'min councillor, calculated that rate equals nearly 30 tickets per day over 271 days. Approximately 1,900 bans have been issued, ranging from three months to two years, with the majority of tickets going to repeat offenders.
The Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition called for the city to fund sanctioned outdoor camps for unhoused people. David Jones, chief bylaw officer, cautioned that running sanctioned encampments would cost roughly as much as operating a heated shelter, and larger camps could attract gang activity. City councillors remained open to the idea, with Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi councillor Jon Morgan requesting a memo detailing encampment removal costs.
A committee voted 4–1 to develop procedures for suspending the loitering ban in transit stations during extreme winter weather activation, with Ward tastawiyiniwak councillor Karen Principe voting against the suspension. The encampment enforcement program remains in force.
What would sanctioned encampments cost to operate compared to shelters, and who would fund them?
Why does Edmonton have only 22 shelters for an estimated 4,000–5,000 homeless people?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How many trespassing tickets has Edmonton issued under the public spaces bylaw this year?
Bylaw officers issued 7,904 trespassing tickets in 2026 to date, each carrying a $600 fine and a mandatory court appearance.
What percentage of Edmonton's homeless population are Indigenous?
Approximately 65 per cent of the homeless population in Edmonton are Indigenous, according to remarks made during the bylaw review.
What did the committee decide about the loitering ban in transit stations?
A committee voted 4–1 to develop procedures for suspending the loitering ban in transit stations during extreme winter weather activation.
