City working with rail police to address encampments

A motion put forward by two city councillors calling for a review of how Winnipeg addresses encampments on railway-owned property will not proceed.

Speaking to the community services committee on Tuesday, Chris Brens, Winnipeg’s manager of community development, said the city is already working with Canadian Pacific Kansas City and CN Rail on the issue and does not see a need to revise its encampment enforcement policy.

“We are working directly with CP rail police on two specific encampment sites,” Brens said. “We are meeting this week with CN Rail representatives to start building that friendship.

“We are doing that work now, and while we could update the policy, there’s enough in there to provide the public service with the direction we need… to keep doing the work.”

He said the city hasn’t had an instance where an encampment has been on CN property.

Brens also emphasized that the city lacks the authority to remove encampments located on private property. He encouraged property owners with concerns to contact the Winnipeg Police Service’s non-emergency line and file a complaint.

The motion, brought forth by Couns. Cindy Gilroy and Sherri Rollins last week, cited concerns raised by residents about encampments on railway land and noted that camps located on or near active rail corridors present “significant safety risks” because of train operations, the transportation of dangerous goods, trespassing hazards and limited access for emergency responders.

“Despite our encampment policy clearly identifying these locations as unsafe and requiring action, there was a lack of response from the city, including limited participation in efforts to connect individuals with appropriate supports and services,” Gilroy said at the time.

Gilroy, a member of the community services committee, was not present at Tuesday’s meeting.

Last month, St. Boniface Street Links cleared an encampment situated along a decommissioned railway corridor owned by CPKC near Sargent Avenue, adjacent to a personal care home.

Street Links executive director Marion Willis told the Free Press that no one was present at the site when the encampment was removed.

Brens told the committee that the city had been working with CPKC on the encampment, but it was gone before crews were sent out.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca