Full Breakdown
Saskatoon Court Rejects Injunction to Halt Encampment Clearance
By Drooid · · How we work
Court Decision and Immediate Impact
Justice Richard Danyliuk of the Court of King’s Bench dismissed an emergency injunction filed by lawyer Crystal Fafard and advocate Sheela McLean. The judge ruled the applicants lacked standing and highlighted procedural problems, noting Fafard acted simultaneously as lawyer, applicant and witness—a prohibited combination in Saskatchewan courts. Both applicants were ordered to pay the City $250 in costs. The decision leaves the City of Saskatoon free to proceed with its plan to clear the encampment located at 301 Avenue K South and nearby sites on 19th Street West, pending any further emergency action.
City and Fire Department Position
The Saskatoon Fire Department had labeled the site unsafe and planned removal of the tents, but paused operations after “aggressive protestors” from community advocacy groups intervened. City officials reiterated a commitment to “follow established encampment response processes” and to work with partner agencies to keep supports available for those in need. A city statement emphasized that the municipal approach focuses on connecting individuals with services while addressing health and safety concerns for residents, nearby schools, businesses and the broader community. The Attorney General of Saskatchewan intervened in the case, citing constitutional considerations.
Advocates’ Perspective and Numbers
Fafard, identifying as an Indigenous advocate, argued the injunction was needed to give residents time to secure shelter and to raise public awareness of a worsening homelessness crisis. She estimated 100 to 150 people currently occupy the west-side encampment, with numbers rising daily, and cited a city-wide unhoused population of roughly 2,500, including an increasing number of children. Spokesperson David Fineday, a 70-year-old visually impaired resident, expressed willingness to discuss removal only if a supportive shelter plan is in place and emphasized a desire to avoid violence.