On June 9, 2026, a Montreal judge ordered a pause on the city’s planned removal of the encampment that has been set up beneath the Van Horne viaduct. The injunction requires officials to hold off on any demolition or clearance actions until a substantive judgment is issued by the court.
City officials had indicated that the clearing operation was scheduled to proceed in early June, citing concerns about public safety and sanitation in the area beneath the elevated roadway. The removal was intended to address the growing presence of a homeless camp that had become a visible feature of the space.
The judge’s order came after a hearing in which the court requested additional evidence concerning the rights of the camp’s occupants and the legal obligations of the municipality. Because a full judgment has not yet been rendered, the court has limited the city’s ability to act until the pending issues are resolved.
As a result, the encampment remains in place while the legal process continues. Montreal city authorities have said they will comply with the judicial directive and will await the court’s final decision before resuming any demolition work. The pending ruling will determine the next steps for both the municipality and the individuals residing under the viaduct.
The injunction reflects the court’s responsibility to ensure that any action affecting vulnerable populations complies with existing provincial and municipal statutes. Until the substantive judgment clarifies the legal standing of the encampment, the city’s removal plan cannot move forward, and the status quo will be maintained. The court’s timeline for issuing the final decision has not been disclosed.