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ABLawg — Edmonton's Encampment Litigation: A View from the Inside

Original source: https://ablawg.ca/2024/10/16/edmontons-encampment-litigation-a-view-from-the-inside/ Retrieved: 2026-07-04 Publisher: ABlawg.ca (University of Calgary Faculty of Law blog), Oct 16, 2024.

Citations

  • Merits/standing decision: Coalition for Justice and Human Rights Ltd v Edmonton (City), 2024 ABKB 26 (CanLII) — Justice Jonathan Martin, decided Jan 16, 2024.
  • Costs decision: Coalition for Justice and Human Rights Ltd v Edmonton (City), 2024 ABKB 148 (CanLII).

Timeline (per the piece)

  • Dec 14, 2023: emergency injunction application filed.
  • Dec 15, 2023: court imposed temporary injunction (until following Monday).
  • Dec 18, 2023: court ordered parties to negotiate; temporary court order negotiated. Injunction terms required the City to: confirm adequate shelter space was available before displacement; account for cold-weather dangers; provide prior notice to encampment residents and support agencies.
  • Dec 29, 2023 – Jan 10, 2024: eight encampments displaced during the injunction period.
  • Jan 10–11, 2024: preliminary objections + injunction application heard.

Standing / costs

  • Court found the Coalition lacked public interest standing; struck the action.
  • Rationale: Coalition "did not have a sufficient track record of advocacy"; an "organization more directly involved in the provision of services" would be preferable.
  • City sought $25,000 in costs; court awarded $11,500 against the Coalition (2024 ABKB 148).