Ottawa Panhandlers' Union

Some of the main pieces of legislation which motivated activists to form the Panhandler's Union was the Safe Streets Act[2] and a piece of legislation dubbed Brian's Law which was eventually found to be unconstitutional as it was used to pick up homeless people up off the street and put them in jail or mental institutions without due process.

[citation needed] Other pieces of legislation objected to include the Vending on Highways Law, passed by Ottawa City Hall.

Aside from one of its members, the panhandlers' union dues were paid for by the Industrial Workers of the World through donations and various organized events.

This led to ridicule of the union, including an article in the Ottawa Citizen that asked if the panhandlers were fighting for "wider sidewalks?

[5] In May 2007, the union and its organizer Andrew Nellis were featured in a multi-page article in the Ottawa City Journal.

People were encouraged to pitch a tent on City Hall property with the intent of bringing attention to the issue of homelessness.

[citation needed] The action targeted the Rideau Centre because of alleged incidents of violence against the homeless by mall security, two of which resulted in litigation.

The action also targeted a by-law passed by Ottawa City Hall which outlawed selling newspapers on street corners.

In 2007, a coalition of businesses, social service providers, downtown residents and police launched a campaign urging an economic boycott of panhandlers.

Emotions were high during the protest because of recent comments made by Mayor Larry O'Brien comparing panhandlers to pigeons.

He was allegedly caught by police trying to cut a lock on a gate in the pedestrian underpass close to the Rideau Centre.

The gate had been recently put up by the City of Ottawa to prevent homeless people from sitting or sleeping under the bridge.