A bylaw in Guelph that dictates where people can set up temporary shelters, such as tents, may be changing. The Public Space Use bylaw was approved in the fall of 2024, and regulated when and where unhoused people could put their tents. Although the bylaw says temporary shelters can’t be set up in places like playgrounds, wetlands or community gardens, a new problem arose. “There was some pretty urgent phone calls and communication that I was receiving from people from across the city where encampments were started to set up very close, or actually right adjacent to residential homes,” Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie said. Guthrie also told CTV News the city has received more than 330 complaints about where people are setting up for the night. He believes its time to review the bylaw and make changes, but he noted it could be a tricky issue. “If people are able to set up encampments in certain areas across the city and you start putting more restrictions and more distancing provisions in, does it shrink the ability in spaces where those people can actually go? Some of that does need further review and consideration.” Guelph council was open to the idea of reviewing the rules, but a final decision won’t be made until after the municipal election in October.
