Edmonton’s Community and Public Services Committee is reviewing the city’s public spaces bylaw, which took effect in May 2025, a year and a half ago. City staff say it has brought a more compassionate response to public disorder, while advocates argue it still lets law enforcement unfairly target homeless people. The rules cover what is permitted on sidewalks, in parks, on transit and in other public spaces.

The bylaw reduced fines for several offences often associated with homelessness, including building shelters, visible drug use, panhandling and loitering in transit centres. Those fines fell from $250 to $25. The city said the lower amount was intended to prevent fines from becoming a route to jail for people unlikely to afford them.

Staff say peace officers and transit peace officers now follow a “4E” approach: engage, explain, encourage, then enforce. Warnings for the common offences have increased significantly under the approach, while only a small percentage result in tickets. Advocates dispute that the bylaw has made public spaces safer or eased conditions for unhoused residents.

“There needs to be changes to this bylaw because it is targeting homeless people,” Daniel Johnstone of the Can Man Dan Foundation said Monday. “It is anti-poor, and it targets my people (and) Aboriginal people as well. It makes being impoverished a crime.”

Joshua Goldberg of the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness said he does not “see any evidence that the bylaw is making public spaces safer.” “What I see is that it’s contributing to life getting harder for unhoused people,” Goldberg said.

Coun. Erin Rutherford, who represents Ward Anirniq and sits on the committee, said Monday the bylaw had received positive feedback but could affect vulnerable people disproportionately. “There is a lot of good that has come out of the bylaw and a lot of good feedback that we’ve heard,” Rutherford said. “But there are areas where we might be disproportionately impacting vulnerable people, and we need to course-correct that.”

City staff have proposed aligning penalties for two sections addressing encampments, described in the bylaw as “structures” on public property. One section carries a $25 fine and the other a $250 penalty. Staff say officers use the provisions interchangeably and recommend setting both fines at $25.

Another proposal would create a community court program to connect people facing bylaw offences with social services when their actions stem from homelessness, addiction or other life circumstances. The proposed changes, along with others, are set to be debated next month.

Based on reporting by CTV News Edmonton.