Timmins plans to fence off a laneway behind a shelter to end a homeless encampment, facing legal and logistical hurdles.

Ward 3 Councillor Bill Gvozdanovic is seeking to fence off a city-owned laneway behind Timmins’ Living Space Emergency Shelter to end a homeless encampment, citing the Highway Traffic Act’s ban on tents on roadways. A report on fencing costs and logistics will be presented at the Feb. 17 council meeting. The city faces legal requirements to provide “truly accessible” alternatives before clearing encampments, a hurdle that has stalled past proposals due to funding, distance from services, and community opposition. A leadership table, including Mushkegowuk Council, is developing solutions, with some former critics open to reconsidering earlier plans. Cities like Hamilton and London have used designated zones with basic services, a model Timmins may adopt.