Toronto City Councillor and former mayoral candidate Brad Bradford is calling for immediate action to protect the city's children from what he describes as unsafe conditions created by homeless encampments in public parks.
Proposed Motion Demands Swift Action
Bradford has introduced a motion titled "Protecting Playgrounds and Parks: Ensuring Safety for Children and Families" that would mandate the removal of encampments located within 200 metres of schools, daycares, or playgrounds within 48 hours of being reported. The motion is scheduled for debate at next week's City Council meeting.
"Toronto’s parks and playgrounds are for everyone — and when they are overtaken by encampments, they become unsafe for children and families," Bradford stated on Friday. He emphasized that parents shouldn't have to worry about their children being exposed to unsafe behaviour or discarded needles during routine activities like daycare drop-off or family picnics.
Beaches Park Becomes Flashpoint
The motion follows growing concerns from families in Beaches–East York regarding Stanley G. Grizzle Park, where an encampment has been present since June 10 despite being adjacent to both a daycare and a popular public playground.
According to Bradford, while the encampment was temporarily cleared on July 17, it reappeared on September 2 and has remained ever since. Local families have reported numerous incidents they attribute to encampment residents, including:
- Open drug use and dealing
- Public defecation
- Theft and violence
- Fire hazards
- Domestic disputes and noise disturbances
Criticism of Current City Approach
Bradford directly criticized Mayor Olivia Chow's administration, accusing it of allowing encampments to proliferate across Toronto. He claims the current approach focuses only on the largest encampments while leaving hundreds of smaller ones in place indefinitely.
"Under Mayor Olivia Chow’s watch, encampments have been allowed to proliferate across Toronto," Bradford asserted. He maintained that "tents are not a humane or sustainable housing solution" and that people experiencing homelessness deserve real pathways to stability rather than being left in tents beside playgrounds.
The councillor's motion represents an escalating political battle over how Toronto manages its homelessness crisis while balancing public safety concerns in community spaces designed for children and families.
