Time stamps included in this post refer to the corresponding moments in the linked meeting recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLScAguJmB4

On January 7, 2026, Waterloo Regional Council convened a public input meeting to address proposed amendments to Code of Use Bylaw 25-021. The meeting served as a forum for residents to weigh in on the region’s plan to clear the 100 Victoria Street North encampment to make way for a regional transit hub. The proposed changes include delaying the eviction deadline to April 1, 2026, removing monetary fines for residents, and establishing transition protocols. The nearly three-hour session revealed a significant rift between municipal infrastructure priorities, taxpayer concerns over escalating costs, and the legal protections afforded to the region’s un-housed population.

A subtle, observational moment illustrated the tension early in the evening.

This observation underscored a pervasive sense of skepticism among community members regarding whether their input would influence a decision they believe has already been finalized in closed sessions.

The 100 Victoria Street North site has been at the center of a protracted legal battle since early 2022. The land is essential for the Kitchener Central Transit Hub, yet it has become the region's most prominent unsanctioned encampment. In 2023, Justice Valente ruled that the region could not evict residents unless it could prove that enough "accessible" shelter beds existed to accommodate them.

Regional Chair Redmond opened the meeting at 52:46 by explaining that the proposed amendments are a response to these ongoing legal and social challenges. The region intends to obtain possession of the land by spring 2026, but delegates argued that the legal "constitutional deficiencies" of the bylaw remain unaddressed. Former councillor Rob Deutschman urged the region at 1:47:28 to stop legislating around the ruling and instead return to the courts for guidance, noting that construction timelines for the hub have already shifted.

One of the most significant points of contention during the meeting was the actual number of shelter beds available in the region. Regional staff and media reports have frequently cited hundreds of available spots, but delegates challenged these figures with specific breakdowns.

Laura Croley, a citizen working in the housing stability system, provided data at 1:24:16 showing that the region has only 353 total emergency shelter beds. This includes 213 beds for men, 42 for women and gender-diverse individuals, and 18 for youth. Croley emphasized that these beds are not interchangeable and are consistently near capacity.

Taxpayer representatives used the meeting to highlight the spiralling costs associated with the four-year-old encampment. Abe Fere, a Kitchener resident, provided an itemized list of expenditures at 1:51:20, noting that site maintenance alone cost $793,944 last year. This figure does not include the salaries of outreach workers, social support staff, or bylaw officers.

Fere also pointed to escalating legal fees, which had already exceeded $168,000 by April 2023.

Further taxpayer concerns focused on the "blank check" nature of the proposed amendments, which include paying for motel stays, transportation, and six months of storage for personal belongings for residents being transitioned off the site.

The meeting also featured debate on whether encampments are a sustainable or safe housing solution. Heidi Holmes, an emergency nurse, presented data at 1:09:43 regarding the high risks of fire, sexual assault, and theft within encampments. She noted that while the region allocates $2.8 million annually for the Herbs Road hybrid shelter, only 18 per cent of residents there have successfully transitioned into permanent housing.

Delegates like Tanner Bergsma suggested that instead of focusing on eviction, the region should allocate an additional $320,000 toward a formal warming shelter at the encampment to provide a safer transitional environment while more permanent housing is built.

The region’s methods for informing encampment residents of the proposed bylaw changes were heavily criticized. Jakara Drew reported at 1:37:03 that during a site visit on January 5, 10 out of 11 residents were unaware of the input session. Drew found a single, non-laminated notice posted in a location that required trudging through deep snow to reach.

Advocates argued that the definition of a "resident" in the bylaw—restricted to those present on April 16, 2025—is an arbitrary distinction that creates a two-tiered system of rights for the un-housed.

A recurring theme throughout the delegations was the contrast between the region’s investment in the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) and its investment in social services. Multiple speakers called for a reallocation of funds to address the root causes of homelessness.

Councillor Shots responded with a point of clarification at 1:08:32, stating that the region already invests over $200 million more than what is mandated by the province into "upstream" programs, an amount roughly equal to the police budget.

The meeting’s tone became increasingly adversarial during the delegation of Chris Varga, whose refusal to conclude his remarks at the three-minute mark led to a five-minute recess at 2:34:10. The debate over the "compassion" of the council also drew a response from Councillor Craig at 2:01:33, who took exception to the idea that the council did not care about the residents.

The ultimate question of how the bylaw would be enforced if residents remain on site by April 1, 2026, was raised by resident, Leslie Crompton.

The financial implications of the 100 Victoria encampment are significant and ongoing. Taxpayers are currently funding nearly $800,000 in annual maintenance for a single site, along with hundreds of thousands in legal fees to defend a bylaw that has been repeatedly challenged in court. The proposed amendments suggest an open-ended financial commitment to pay for motel stays, transportation, and storage for residents who accept transition plans.

Furthermore, the delay in constructing the Kitchener Central Transit Hub represents a loss of potential economic development and regional connectivity. If the transit hub remains stalled by the encampment, the long-term cost to the regional economy could exceed the direct costs of managing the site.

The meeting was marked by several procedural and interpersonal conflicts:

The debate over the 100 Victoria Street North encampment reflects a broader municipal struggle across Ontario to balance large-scale infrastructure projects with the legal rights of un-housed residents. As Waterloo Region moves toward the 2026 municipal election, the council's ability to resolve this situation—either through successful housing transitions or enforceable bylaws—will be a primary focus for voters. The January 7 session documented a community deeply divided over whether the region is managing public funds effectively or fulfilling its human rights obligations.

January 9, 2026: Special Council Meeting to consider the proposed bylaw amendments.

April 1, 2026: Proposed deadline for vacant possession of the 100 Victoria site.

This analysis is based on the [January 2026] Public Input Meeting and supporting documents. All quotes, timestamps, and figures are drawn directly from official meeting transcripts.