Residents at the 100 Victoria (100Vic) encampment have faced many challenges during their residency. The most recent is By-Law PDL-LEG-25-017, which was publicly shared on Wednesday, Apr. 16, 2025, at 4 p.m.
Before this date, no department from the Region of Waterloo spoke with any community members about this plan. The by-law would ostensibly make the following items and processes illegal: having firewood, putting up a new tent, newly unhoused or displaced people moving in and doing anything to stop the Region from violating the rights of the 100Vic residents.
Local advocacy group FightBack! KW demands the Waterloo Regional Council members to vote “No” on the by-law. FightBack! KW points out the by-law would break the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms of the residents of 100Vic.
Specifically, the Right to the Freedom of Movement as it restricts residents’ ability to move their tents.
“For greater certainty, nothing in this by-law permits a Resident to relocate their temporary shelter to another part of the premises at 100 Victoria St. without the permission of the Region,” the by-law states.
On Jan. 27, 2023, M.J. Valente of the Ontario Superior Court rejected the Regional Municipality of Waterloo’s application for an injunction to evict people who were encamped on region-owned property on the basis that the injunction violated the residents’ Charter right to life, liberty and security. The by-law acknowledges this in writing.
“If any section or sections of this by-law or parts thereof are found by any Court to be illegal or beyond the power of Council of the Region to enact, such section or sections or parts thereof shall be deemed to be severable and all other sections or parts of this by-law shall be deemed to be separate and independent therefrom and shall continue in full force and effect unless and until similarly found illegal,” the by-law states.
FightBack! KW raised the issue with the by-law also violating the residents’ rights to personal property. Advocates at FightBack! KW posit the by-law was designed to use threats of harm to limit the behaviour of the residents at 100Vic.
“Subject to Section 6 of this by-law, remove any personal property or fixture upon 100 Victoria Street or any. Part thereof that is owned by a person citing as the reason the failure to refrain from a Prohibited Activity or the contravention of section 3 of this by-law,” the by-lay states.
The by-law includes a $5,000 fine for anyone who is found breaking it. The Region would also have the right to remove residents’ property if they do not stop one of their prohibited activities, as well as the right to put fences up to encroach on residents’ space.
Waterloo Regional Councilors had a council meeting on Apr. 23 after having heard from more than 20 people who were concerned about what would happen to the residents of 100Vic.
“I do not want to see a bulldozed encampment. I do not want to see other levels of government come in and dehumanize you all in any capacity,” Councilor Coleen James said during the meeting.
As of Apr. 24, 2025, regional councilors voted in favour of the bylaw to pave the way for the municipality to clear the 100Vic encampment by Dec. 1.
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