[Action-forum] Ottawa Says ³Move Along² to Homeless Entrepreneurs
Jane Scharf
For Immediate Release
Ottawa Says łMove Along˛ to Homeless Entrepreneurs
Ottawaąs Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee will recommend to
Council that homeless persons who attempt to employ themselves by selling
items on the street be told they cannot remain at a particular location.
This includes when they want to sell their art work, crafts, jewelry, street
newspapers, music and street theatre.
On August 24, 2005 City Council passed the following bylaw. Note highway is
defined in the bylaw as all streets and sidewalks including downtown.
STREET VENDING PROHIBITED
2. (1) No person shall sell, display, place or leave
for the purpose of sale any goods or refreshments on any part of a City
highway.
(2) No person shall place, stop, park or leave
any object or vehicle for the purpose of vending therefrom on any part of a
City highway.
Now the HRSS committee wants to enact the following exemptions for homeless
persons:
17. That Council amend or enact all appropriate and applicable By-laws to
allow the on-sidewalk distribution of not-for-profit newspapers distributed
by the homeless, without a business license or designated space permit
provided that the person does not remain at a particular location while
distributing the newspaper.
18. That Council amend or enact all appropriate and applicable By-laws
to allow homeless persons to sell original arts, crafts and jewelry on the
sidewalk without a business license or designated space permit provided that
the person selling the original arts, crafts and jewelry does not remain at
a particular location while selling the articles.
Karen Dawe task force member says, łcity staff has interfered with the
public consultation process effectively shutting down the voice of the
public. Such actions infringe on our democratic rights˛.
John Dunn executive director of the Foster Care Council of Canada says,
łAccording to the Terms of Reference of the Task Force, part of it's scope
includes providing information and resources respecting the prevention of
homelessness. The Foster Care Council of Canada made a recommendation to the
Task Force that City Council create a separate Task Force or sub-committee
which would investigate the issue of both current and former foster children
being vastly over-represented in the homeless population and admissions to
financial assistance and disability pensions. Unfortunately city staff
rejected this recommendation even though it was supported by the Task Force
members. By investigating these issues and providing economic opportunities
to the homeless the City would be applying actual resources toward the
prevention of homelessness -- also a goal of the City's official 20/20
plan.
Andrew Nellis organizer of the Ottawa Panhandlers Union reports that,
"oppression and harassment of panhandlers by police has become much less
overt over the past year as a result of the spotlight focused on their
activities. However, we remain outraged at the lack of interest by city
council in supporting economic opportunity for our members.
Jane Scharf says, łI want an investigation into the issue of city staff
interference in the public consultation process. It is time to take back
City Hall and see that it operates in the interests of us all not just a
privileged few.˛
-30-
Contact: Karen Dawe at 565-6558, Andrew Nellis at 748-8294,
John Dunn at 228-2178, Jane Scharf at 740-1146
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