Dozens of tents remain pitched outside Regina city hall despite order to vacate property
CBC
Dozens of tents remained up outside of Regina city hall on Friday morning despite residents being told they would have to leave the encampment.
Regina police and fire officials were met with a hostile reception on Thursday after informing residents they intended to clear the space by the weekend.
Some encampment residents said on Thursday they have no plans to leave. Volunteers have said they plan to stand with them.
"We have overdoses throughout the city. We have deaths throughout the city constantly because of the conditions of living on the streets," Mandla Mthembu, a camp volunteer, said on CBC Radio's The Morning Edition on Friday.
"To say that is a better option than the tents and the services and community we have developed here in the past 40 days — we just thought that was ridiculous."
At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Regina Fire and Protective Services Chief Layne Jackson said his department had become increasingly concerned about the possibility of a significant fire after responding to three fires at the encampment over five days.
As a result, Jackson said he was exercising his authority under the Fire Safety Act, saying there was an "imminent risk" to the inhabitants and that decommissioning the camp was the best way to save lives.
"Effective immediately, they need to start collecting their belongings and vacating the property," Jackson said. "If they don't, we have plans to clean up the property."
The announcement came after a special city council meeting planned for Thursday afternoon was cancelled because there wouldn't be enough council members to form a quorum. The purpose of the meeting was to direct city administration on what to do about the tent encampment.
Regina Mayor Sandra Masters said on Thursday it's "unfortunate" the residents are being required to leave, but that the fire department had her "full support."
City Hall is closed on Friday and will be reopened once the encampment is taken down.
WATCH | Residents of homeless encampment at Regina city hall told they must leave:
The decision to clear the encampment has left residents and volunteers like Mthembu frustrated.
Mthembu said volunteers were consistently co-ordinating with emergency services and community organizations for the entire duration of the camp.
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