TVA Gatineau-Ottawa has learned that a City of Gatineau employee was driving a municipal vehicle and drove into a homeless man.
• Also read: Solution to homelessness: “It’s not the city’s responsibility, but it had to be done”
• Also read: Relocating an Encampment: Gatineau Businessmen Mobilize
• Also read: Snow forces displacement of homeless people in Gatineau
The measures were allegedly taken during the move of homeless people near the Robert Guertin Arena a few weeks ago.
According to our information, a public works employee drove his company car towards an agitated homeless man, stopped just a few meters in front of the homeless man and then insulted him.
Police confirm that they had to intervene on behalf of a person who was disorganized, but there is no evidence of involvement of a city employee.
“We're talking about a call involving an agitated person, an agitated man. Our police officers were on site. […] He agreed to leave the scene at the request of police,” said Andrée East, spokeswoman for the Gatineau Police Department.
TVA Gatineau-Ottawa contacted the City of Gatineau Communications Department for response. No comments were offered. The city refuses to say whether an employee was actually involved in an altercation or whether they were suspended. The city instead refers to its police department.
Remember that on December 7th, the tents near the Robert Guertin Arena had to be moved due to the risk of snowfall.
Citizens' initiatives then tried by all means to prevent the dismantling and even unsuccessfully took legal action.