The City of Yellowknife is preparing a bylaw that bans camping on the city’s public spaces unless council says it’s OK.
City staff have been working on the bylaw since council discussed an encampment policy earlier this summer.
The draft bylaw prohibits camping on public spaces, which are defined as “municipal land which people have access to as of right or by express or implied invitation.” The ban would not apply to commissioner’s land within city limits.
The bylaw also formally bans entry onto municipal land not considered a public space – in advance of a territorial trespass law soon coming into force – and allows the city to seize abandoned property campers leave behind.
Proposed penalties include $100 fines for trespass or camping in a public space, though cases could also escalate to court and end in larger fines or jail.
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The city currently has no ban on public camping other than in its parks.
The draft came through an initial meeting of city councillors on Wednesday without alteration and will now go to a future meeting for approval.
