In this episode, Kevin and I discuss the Edmonton Public Spaces bylaw. This bylaw isn’t just another policy change, it directly affects the people I work with every day. In this episode, I sit down with Kevin, one of my volunteers and my co-host, to break down what these new rules mean for the most vulnerable people I help in Edmonton.

We get into:

🔹 Fines for drug use and panhandling – The city is lowering them, but I’ve seen firsthand how fines don’t solve anything. If people had the money to pay, they wouldn’t be panhandling in the first place.

🔹 Sleeping outdoors – The city wants to keep banning it, but shelters are full or unsafe. Where are people supposed to go?

🔹 Businesses vs. the vulnerable – I understand why business owners are frustrated, but I also know that pushing people out of sight doesn’t make the problem go away. It just makes life harder for those already struggling.

🔹 Law enforcement’s role – I’ve seen how these bylaws get enforced, and it’s not always about education first, like they claim. Who really benefits from these changes?

Kevin and I have both seen what happens when policy decisions don’t include the voices of the people most affected. We’re breaking it all down and sharing what I’ve learned from 35 years of doing this work.

What do you think? Is this bylaw actually helping anyone, or is it just another way to push vulnerable people out of public spaces and out of our sight? Let me know in the comments.

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:38 Discussion on New Public Spaces Bylaw

03:15 Homelessness and Shelter Issues

06:14 Critique of Current Approaches

12:09 Proposed Solutions and Final Thoughts

19:30 Conclusion and Call to Action

#Edmonton #PublicSpacesBylaw #Homelessness #StreetOutreach #yeg

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