Ontario and Waterloo Region Appealing Court Decision on Kitchener Encampment

Press Release

June 16, 2026

Appeal is necessary to support public safety and advance construction of a key regional transit hub

WATERLOO REGION — Today, the Government of Ontario and Region of Waterloo announced their joint intent to appeal the recent Ontario Superior Court decision concerning the encampment located at 100 Victoria Street in downtown Kitchener. This encampment currently occupies land that is required to support construction of the Kitchener Central Transit Hub, a critical piece of infrastructure needed to improve transit options for Waterloo Region residents, support new housing and keep workers on the job.

“Our government is appealing this decision in order to provide the certainty and stability needed to advance critical infrastructure projects here in Waterloo Region and across Ontario,” said Attorney General Doug Downey. “As we continue making record investments in homelessness prevention, we will also continue delivering on our commitment to keep communities safe and to advance our $236 billion plan to build the transit, homes, highways and other infrastructure that our growing province needs.”

The Kitchener Central Transit Hub is designed to support Waterloo Region’s growing population by improving access to reliable, integrated public transit and supporting long-term growth. Located at King Street West and Victoria Street North, the new hub will bring GO Transit, VIA Rail, the ION LRT, local buses, cycling routes and pedestrian connections together in one integrated space, making essential travel easier and more convenient for the thousands that rely on it. The project will further strengthen connections along the Toronto–Waterloo Innovation Corridor, improving access to jobs, education and economic opportunities, while increasing capacity that will transform how people move, live and work in the region.

“The Region of Waterloo has worked hard to support people experiencing homelessness while also planning for the needs of a growing community,” said Region of Waterloo Chair, Karen Redman. “The Kitchener Central Transit Hub is a transformative project that will serve residents for generations, improving connections to jobs, housing, education and transit throughout our region and beyond. At the same time, Waterloo Region has significantly increased its investment in housing and homelessness supports over the past several years because we recognize that building strong communities requires both social supports and critical infrastructure. This appeal is about ensuring municipalities have clarity on how to move forward with both of these important responsibilities.”

The Government of Ontario is making historic and unprecedented investments to prevent and alleviate homelessness. In Waterloo Region the province provides over $17.8 million in direct annual funding through the Homelessness Prevention Program. In addition, in 2025-2026 alone, the Region of Waterloo received more than $9.5 million through joint federal-provincial programs aimed at alleviating homelessness, including the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative and the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative. In 2025-26, the province also allocated more than $1 million in additional Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit rent supplements to assist households at risk of homelessness in Waterloo Region.

“As we continue making record investments to support those facing homelessness, we are also going to continue delivering on our commitment to keep communities safe and get people the help they need in the appropriate environment, instead of a dangerous and disruptive encampment,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Supporting municipalities with homelessness prevention remains a top priority, as does working with them to advance the key infrastructure projects required to build Ontario.”

The province has also funded a new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub in Waterloo Region as part of its $560 million investment to open 29 Hart Hubs across Ontario. These facilities focus on improving access to recovery and treatment services for people facing housing instability, mental health and substance use challenges.

Quick Facts

• On May 21, 2026, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice issued the decision on the Regional Municipality of Waterloo v. Named Respondents case.
• Ontario is delivering the largest plan to build infrastructure in the province’s history, with $236 billion in investments, including $70 billion to build new transit.
• In the 2023–2024 fiscal year, the government increased the Homelessness Prevention Program by approximately 40 per cent provincewide to help meet local needs, for a total of $654 million each year across Ontario.

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Media Contacts

Julia Facca
Minister’s Office
Julia.Facca@ontario.ca

Alexandra Wilkes
Communications Branch
mag-media@ontario.ca

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