Clarence Square Park’s tent city now has semi-permanent admin office

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If they build it, they will come. 

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And, likely, never leave. Why would they? Drug addicts have everything they could ever want right here in the heart of the city.

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First, homeless people built a tent city in Clarence Square Park which doubled as a drug injection and ingestion site. Then came the explosions, fires, assaults and copious amounts of human waste and drug syringes left behind. 

Now comes the semi-permanent structures.

First, it was a port-a-potty. Then it was two. Soon after, a private security detail was deployed. On Tuesday, a large shipping container was dropped in with a crew setting up electricity and even air-conditioning. 

Independent Fort York-Spadina MP Kevin Vuong watched the electricians hooking it all up for what looks like a non-temporary stay to him.

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“They are betraying residents, our small businesses, and especially local hotels,” said Vuong. “By enabling the continued violation of city bylaws and people’s right to safety, the regressive left are ripping up the social contract.” 

Looks like the city of Toronto is not going to be cleaning up this tiny park in the Spadina Ave.-Front St. area. It’s already home to an off-leash dog park and now has little space left for the families who live in neighbouring condos or houses. 

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Not that anybody not hooked on drugs would ever dare to go there. It should be called Crystal Meth Park. Or Fentanyl Gardens. The tents, the garbage, the syringes, the zombie-like people who hang out there, the unexplained fires and blasts make it a no-go zone for families. It’s hard to stomach when working people pay so much to live in that neighbourhood and the drug crowd pay nothing but control the whole area. 

It’s a full-service drug lifestyle zone. Paid for by you.

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The city says it offers “harm reduction supplies and counselling” which includes “safer injection equipment” like “needles and syringes in various sizes and brands, sterile water, alcohol swabs, tourniquets, filters, acidifiers and cookers.” 

The city also provides “safer smoking equipment” like “pyrex stems, brass screens, chopsticks, mouthpieces, crystal meth smoking glass bowl pipes” and “injectable hydromorphone programs supported by a long-acting oral therapy (Kadian or Methadone)” and “counselling and referrals” as well as a “service to “have your drugs checked to find out what’s in them.” 

Don’t forget “safer sex products” like condoms and lube.” And no nine per cent municipal tax increase like the homeowners have to pay down there. 

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However, the city says this container office is actually a positive step. 

“The City of Toronto began rolling out the Clarence Square Action Plan on March 15 to provide more services to individuals there, and to focus extra resources on connecting them to indoor shelter spaces and housing,” explained the city in a media response. “Part of that plan includes an Information and Help Centre, housed in a modified shipping container. The Centre will be used to connect individuals to services on-site and as a place where community members can ask questions about the work in the park. The container will remain in place while there is a significant need for on-site resources.” 

Along with this “the city has also implemented an Encampment Prevention Plan at Clarence Square, which will aim to limit further encampment growth by prioritizing connecting any new individuals to available shelter spaces before they establish themselves in the park. The goal is to help people transition to shelter and housing, while also ensuring that public spaces remain accessible to all residents.” 

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The city says its approach is working. (It certainly works for drug users look for their high.)

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However, the city says “this year so far, 21 individuals from Clarence Square have been referred to indoor spaces and an additional nine are actively moving towards housing. We are encouraged by the success this approach has had in other parks, including Dufferin Grove and more recently at Allan Gardens. “ 

Forgive those like Vuong who are skeptical.

“Actions always speak louder than words. By taking the action of setting up a trailer office at Clarence Square Park, the city is endorsing the park’s continued occupation,” he said. 

They are building a more permanent homeless and drug campsite and Vuong is quite sure they will come. 

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