While the funds are starting to sink into local municipalities around Ontario to erase campsThe Minister of Housing admitted that he may not need to adopt a bill already in a state which was supposed to face the question.
In mid-December, the Ford government proposed a new homeless Law designed to erase parks’ camps through the province and to give the police new tools to manage public drug consumption and repeat intrusions.
The bill was announced during a choreographed event where 16 mayors promoted the approach and explained how it would allow them to tackle the growing problem of homeless camps.
The proposed law was considered by the government as a solution to the growing problem of homeless camps in city center and parks around Ontario.
The Minister of Housing, Paul Calandra, now says that the camps could be treated without the need to transmit the planned bill at all.
“I am delighted that we would not necessarily need to adopt legislation because I think what we see is that the municipalities intensified,” Calandra told Global News at the rural conference of the municipalities of the Ontario.
“I hope that we will not have to adopt legislation that provides more tools and that is what it was really: let’s put resources on the table,” Let us ensure that we get a commitment that resources Then lead to a clearing of camps. “”
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Speaking on January 20, Calandra said he was “very happy” from the progress made by the cities even before the funding was delivered.
“The reality is that we have given them a very short delay, we announced it just before Christmas, we have received a number of requests, a certain number of promises,” he said.
Monday, the $ 75.5 million assigned to the camp plan began to flow.
Funding is made up of $ 50 million to move affordable housing projects, $ 20 million for temporary accommodation and an advantage of $ 5.5 million to get people out of shelters to create a new space.
The cities of Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton all informed Global News that they had applied for parts of the provincial financing package, but did not answer questions by asking how much progress had been made by removing the camps.
A spokesperson for the city of Ottawa said that the municipality tried to keep the space available for those who needed it.
“The city continues to maintain an adequate shelter space for anyone who wishes to enter,” they said. “As such, awareness teams will continue to offer support focused on housing to anyone who chooses to stay outside, including placement in the shelter system.”
Ottawa, however, said he was not authorized to ask for part of the provincial funding only because he had already had money as part of a new agreement signed last year.
The province’s municipal association recently warned the Ontario homelessness crisis “At a tilting point” And said that more than 81,000 people experienced homelessness last year.
The Ontario Municipal Association (AMO) declared in a report that the registered number of homelessness which was 100,000, in particular in the southern parts of the province.
This represented an increase of 51% against around 53,000 people recorded in 2016 and an increase of 25% since 2022.
Calandra has reiterated that funding – which does not require legislation – will only promise to eliminate camps.
“I have been clear for my municipal friends,” he said.
“Do not ask me for funding if that does not also include cleaning and cleaning camps. These communities who have not committed to doing so will simply not receive the resources of me to provide help. »»
The bill on the proposed camps will be abandoned on Tuesday when Prime Minister Doug Ford is asking to dissolve the legislator, whether the government finally decides whether or not it is necessary.
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