Coun. Gord Perks, who represents Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park, says a community member recently notified him of the contracts, one with Logix Security Inc. and one with Valguard Security Inc. Both started on April 13 and are for private security patrolling parks to prevent camps. “It’s fundamental for our democracy for people to be able to speak … and vote,” Perks said Friday. The city’s plan to prevent settlements in this way became apparent last month following the publication of a tender asking private security companies for some Toronto parks for a year. Advocates were critical of the plan, saying that constant monitoring is “really intrusive” and would further criminalize vulnerable individuals. Despite these criticisms, when Perks put forward a proposal to delay security patrols until the council could be “fully informed” of spending options, he voted 15-6. The city says it is trying to prevent a repeat of last summer when dozens were arrested as police and city workers violently evicted a camp from the Lamport Stadium park. There were other violent confrontations as the city moved to evacuate people from Trinity Bellwoods and Alexandra Park. But Perks said it was not clear to him at the May council meeting that the city had already awarded security contracts for the park patrol plan. He said he was also concerned about the fact that it looked like a contract had been breached. Together, the contracts amount to $ 1 million, which is twice the limit at which the city must obtain council approval before spending. Separately – at $ 500,000 each – contracts do not require board approval. “It’s a pattern to keep decision-making away from the city council and the public that really bothers me,” Perks said. “I think it’s absolutely fraudulent,” said Diana Chan McNally, a proponent of housing and the homeless. Protesters trying to break down a fence are being sprayed with pepper by Toronto police who ordered an eviction order at a camp at Lambort Stadium last July. (Evan Mitsui / CBC) In an email, city spokesman Anthony Todorian said the city’s 2022 Camp Prevention Plan includes 24/7 security in the highest priority parks. These are Trinity Bellwoods Park, Lamport Stadium Park, Alexandra Park and Dufferin Grove. “To meet this obligation,” he said, the city needs contract security guards. These are just temporary contracts until the one-year contract is approved, he said. They were separated because “no single salesman guarding existing city contracts was able to meet the requirements,” Todorian said. On Friday, Mayor John Tori told reporters: “the procedures have indeed been followed.”
