Ville-Marie encampment eviction delayed again, work to start while campers remain

Unhoused people living under Montreal’s Ville-Marie overpass have been given an extension on a previous eviction notice, allowing campers to stay put at least until the summer.

The small yet established encampment has been the subject of an ongoing court battle involving Quebec’s transport ministry, which plans to carry out construction work in the same location.

A legal-aid clinic had filed an injunction with the court to buy the people more time to find an alternative place to live before the ministry begins its construction work on the roadway.

"There are attempts to resolve this situation. Unfortunately, it has been unsuccessful so far but we are confident that there is still an opportunity at this point," said lawyer Eric Prefontaine.

Earlier in April, a Superior Court judge extended the eviction timeline by 10 days. On Monday, it was extended again, this time until June 15, to allow time for accommodations to be negotiated.

If members of the encampment aren’t able to find accommodations by May 30, the case will head back to the courtroom to ask for an additional month.

"It's a victory because it gives us time to find a human solution," said Donald Tremblay of the Mobile Legal Clinic.

Camper Jacco Stuben was relieved by the news.

"Don't just push everybody around,” said Stuben. “Everybody needs a chance."

In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport said the department will comply with the judge's decision.

It says the department will begin work in the next few days, but only in the areas between the Turcot Interchange and Vinet Street, including the ramp for Exit 3 (Guy St).

It will also put protective measures in place to keep people living in the encampment safe.

During court proceedings Transport Quebec admitted that none of the tents under the bridge are in the way of the work that's scheduled between now and June 15.

"Unfortunately it's these types of details that just reinforce the sensibility that actually there isn't a lot of concern for the human beings living under this bridge,” said David Chapman, executive director of day shelter Resilience Montreal.

Transport Quebec argued that safety is its major concern, but Chapman with wondered if that concern is for the ministry or the campers.

“We wish that this entire episode would begin to take a human turn, where we actually are legitimately interested in listening to the people living here, finding out what they actually need, not just appearing to look like we're interested,” he said.

In an earlier ruling, the judge pondered the government's ability to evict the campers.

The question of whether the government can evict a group of homeless people from a space belonging to the State "remains open at this stage," the judge wrote in her ruling, "particularly in light of the recent Canadian jurisprudence on the issue."