Edmonton city council is working to balance a care-first and public safety-minded approach to its extreme weather policy for vulnerable people in transit stations. Under section 37 of Edmonton’s public spaces bylaw, it is illegal to loiter on a platform or in pedway tunnels if you’re not using transit or when stations are closed. On cold days, however, the city typically waives those rules for its extreme weather response protocol. That protocol includes warming buses that offer rides from stations to shelters for vulnerable people in freezing conditions. Council discussed how to maintain what it calls a compassionate approach this winter in conjunction with section 37 of the public spaces bylaw. Coun. Jon Morgan, who formerly worked as an Edmonton bus driver, says transit staff are often on the front lines of public disorder that can make a compassionate approach a dangerous one. The ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi representative says city workers shouldn’t have to deal with “the consequences of our stations being shelters.” “I’m frustrated. I know our staff is frustrated, just overwhelmed,” he said during council debate on Wednesday. Council has asked for a report on how the new public spaces bylaw interacts with its extreme weather policy, including gathering data on how many tickets officers issue and how often rides to shelters are refused. “We do get complaints about safety, and everyone’s got a different standard of living, so that’s got to be taken into consideration,” Coun. Michael Janz said. “I like the fact that we’re getting a report back on how to address it in the best way.” Ward pihêsiwin Coun. Mike Elliott says law enforcement should also be focused on the care of the individual before an infraction or bylaw violation. “We all agree that the duty of care is the most appropriate,” he said. ”I do believe we will get there.” With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson
