Police dismantle homeless encampment near Montreal train tracks

Seven people who were living in an encampment in Montreal's Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie borough will have to find a new place to sleep after it was dismantled Wednesday morning.

The encampment, which was right by train tracks near St-Laurent Boulevard and Bellechasse Street, was illegally set up on land owned by the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway. A dozen railway police officers and other CPKC employees were seen throwing lawn chairs and tarps in the trash as they demanded people pack their things and leave.

Some encampments in the area have been around for years.

Some business owners told Radio-Canada, without giving their names, that they were happy to see the encampment go because it hindered their activities. Other nearby residents and businesses, however, said those at the encampment didn't cause much disturbance.

CPKC said "warnings had been issued advising those trespassing on private property to vacate the area."

A spokesperson for the City of Montreal says the city met with those at the encampment a few days ago and the people "didn't accept its offer for aid."

It said members of EMMIS, Montreal's mobile mediation and social intervention team, were present Wednesday.

"We would point out that the City of Montreal's policy prohibits encampments in public space and that any other public space is not an option," the city said in a statement to Radio-Canada.

But Richard Côté, one of the people who was evicted, says he was never warned and the city should have given them a written notice.

"It's unacceptable," he told Radio-Canada. "We're the butt of the joke."

Côté had been living in the encampment since March. Last fall, he was living nearby when his tent caught fire.

"I lost everything … I got here and I had nothing, I came here and people gave me blankets," he said.

Côté says he doesn't know where he will go next and the city hasn't offered him an adequate alternative. He also says it's been impossible to find housing since most places ask for references, and he was even turned away for "being too old."

His neighbour Bertin Babineau, however, was expecting the eviction, and described some people as "rowdy."