A Montreal judge issued an order on June 9, 2026 that halts the planned dismantling of the encampment situated beneath the Van Horne viaduct. The decision requires the City of Montreal to pause any removal actions until a comprehensive judgment on the case is delivered.
The encampment, located directly under the historic viaduct, had been slated for removal as part of municipal efforts to address the area. However, the court’s intervention means that no demolition or clearing activities will take place while the judge awaits a full ruling on the underlying legal issues.
According to the order, the delay is intended to ensure that the city complies with the eventual substantive judgment. The judge’s directive does not specify a new timeline for demolition, only that the process remain on hold pending the final decision.
City officials have been instructed to maintain the status quo at the site until the court provides further guidance. The municipal authorities have not released additional details about the next steps or the content of the pending judgment.
Legal observers note that such stays are common when courts need to consider the broader implications of a case before allowing actions that could become irreversible. In this instance, the judge’s precautionary measure reflects the need to balance municipal objectives with the legal rights and considerations that are currently under review.
The postponement underscores the ongoing legal process surrounding the encampment and signals that any future demolition will be contingent upon the court’s final determination. Until then, the encampment remains in place, and the City of Montreal must await the outcome of the pending judgment before proceeding.
The situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected once the court issues its comprehensive ruling.