The City of Montreal lodged an appeal on September 4, 2026, contesting a Quebec Superior Court ruling that barred municipal officials from dismantling the Van Horne encampment. The encampment is situated beside a local skate park and a basketball court, and the appeal seeks to overturn the injunction that stopped the city’s removal plan.
The Superior Court decision issued earlier in the week prohibited the city from proceeding with its scheduled clearing of the homeless encampment. By issuing the order, the court effectively halted the municipal operation that had been prepared to dismantle the temporary settlement.
Montreal’s original plan called for the removal of the encampment located near the recreational facilities, a move the city described as part of its broader effort to address public‑space usage and safety concerns. The removal was to be carried out by municipal crews, but the court injunction prevented any action from being taken.
In response, the city filed an appeal that asks a higher court to set aside the Superior Court’s injunction. The appeal argues that the municipality’s authority to manage the public area and to enforce municipal bylaws should allow it to proceed with the removal, pending a final judicial review.
The legal dispute highlights the tension between municipal initiatives to manage public spaces and judicial oversight of the rights of encampment residents. The Superior Court’s order has temporarily suspended the city’s removal effort, prompting the municipal government to pursue a reversal through the appellate process.
The appeal is now pending a decision from the appropriate appellate body. Until that ruling is issued, the Van Horne encampment remains in place, and the city’s removal plan stays on hold.