Press release from Jack Layton, Toronto City Councillor, on the Tent City Eviction
Tuesday, September 24, 2002Councillor Jack Layton Outraged at Surprise Eviction of Tent City Residents
TORONTO - Jack Layton (Ward 30 -- Toronto Danforth) expressed outrage upon learning that the residents of the Tent City site on Lake Shore Boulevard East and Cherry Street in Toronto's Portlands were evicted today by Home Depot amid heavy police presence.
Home Depot had been, until recently, working closely with the City of Toronto and local service providers to find appropriate accommodations for those living on the site. Inexplicably those discussions were ended and without warning Home Depot moved to evict residents, some of whom have been living on the site for several years.
Councillor Layton commented that "some of the residents have been living on the site, even prior to Home Depot's acquisition of it". He went on to say that while Home Depot had earlier expressed concern for the welfare of residents of the Tent City site, their current actions suggest otherwise.
Councillor Layton has joined the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC) in demanding that the Mayor's Office intervene to allow evicted residents who are currently being held off the site to enter their homes to retrieve their personal belongings. In addition a demand is being made that a 7 day moratorium be placed on the impending demolition of these homes until a more satisfactory solution can be found. Finally, Councillor Layton is demanding that the city step in to find suitable accommodations and services for the displaced residents.