At their June 17 meeting, council approved a plan to appoint five senior bylaw officers as special constables, granting them limited police powers under select provincial laws.
According to the city staff report, the initiative responds to growing pressures from encampments, large gatherings, and disorderly behavior on city property, enabling bylaw officers to step in during high-risk situations when police are unavailable or delayed.
Community concerns were raised regarding oversight and over-policing, especially of vulnerable populations.
After amendments to the motion requiring oversight reports and limiting future expansion without council approval, most councillors were prepared to cautiously move forward with the initiative.
Councillor Jeff McLaren cast the sole vote against the proposal, stating, “It is not sustainable intellectually or from a budget perspective … I believe that it’s trust that we need to start developing and finding strategies for.”
The motion passed 9-1. An implementation plan is expected later this year, with special constables in place by year-end.
