The mayor of Barrie, Ont., declared a state of emergency over homeless encampments within the metropolis Tuesday, citing considerations about public security as a justification for the choice. Alex Nuttall mentioned within the announcement that the residents of Barrie, a metropolis of almost 150,000 folks north of Toronto, “have had enough” of what he described as “lawlessness.” “We’ve said to the community, if you want help, if you want support, Barrie wants to be the place that helps and supports you,” he mentioned in a cellphone interview Tuesday afternoon. “But if what you’re doing is living in addictions and living in a tent on the side of the street, creating disorder, this ain’t the place for you.” Nuttall mentioned whereas he understands homelessness is a posh concern, encampments have resulted in well being and issues of safety for the neighborhood, a destructive affect on the surroundings and injury to municipal property. Story continues under commercial The announcement comes after a prolonged police investigation on the website of an encampment led to a person being arrested final month for the homicide and dismemberment of two victims. Police mentioned the victims and the suspect, who can be going through weapons and drug charges, had all lived on the identical encampment. The emergency declaration known as the incident on the encampment within the Dyment’s Creek space a “heinous crime.” Nuttall mentioned the double murder wasn’t the one crime linked to the encampment. Not too long ago, fires have been set there and two crossbows and a starter pistol have been additionally seized from the positioning, he mentioned. The “longevity of this disorder and lawlessness as well as the severity of the crime” pushed him to take motion, he mentioned. Extra on Canada
Extra movies Nuttall mentioned E.coli contamination on the close by pond, which flows to a seaside, is one other concern that must be addressed.
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For information impacting Canada and all over the world, join breaking information alerts delivered on to you once they occur. The town held a gathering final month to debate the positioning cleanup, a press launch mentioned. It mentioned these current, together with metropolis councillors, “raised concerns about the impact of encampments in the community, associated risk to individuals and the costs of cleanup especially to those areas where city infrastructure is significantly impacted and the immediate need to address such areas.” Nuttall mentioned he’s additionally involved about arson, thefts, public drug use and overdoses related to encampments. Story continues under commercial The emergency declaration covers city-run public areas similar to parks, sidewalks, path programs and boulevards. The mayor’s orders below provincial emergency administration regulation would enable metropolis workers to create a brand new process pressure to supervise the response to encampments, rent consultants and contractors as a part of that response and implement protocols extra aggressively. Two giant encampments have to this point been cleared, he mentioned, and it would take a couple of months to clear round 20 remaining encampments the place round 600 folks at the moment stay. Nuttall mentioned the town will begin clearing tents on Wednesday, first eradicating these arrange close to essential public infrastructure. The town has sufficient sources and shelter beds for these keen to maneuver, he added. Trending Now
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“We’ll be acting with care and compassion every step of the way,” he mentioned.
Nuttall can be calling on the province to supply hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in funding for Barrie as the town strikes to take away encampments.
“But make no mistake, you know, we have the ability and we have the funds to be able to go it alone if we’re required to. That’s not what we want. That’s not what the law says,” he mentioned.
In June, Premier Doug Ford’s authorities handed laws to present extra powers to police and municipalities to take away encampments and strengthen penalties for these suspected of utilizing medicine in public.
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The provincial authorities additionally pledged $75.5 million in funding to municipalities to deal with encampments, together with $50 million for inexpensive housing and $20 million to increase shelter capability.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing additionally pointed to the creation of 28 new Homelessness and Dependancy Restoration Therapy, or HART, hubs that can present psychological well being and habit companies and restoration beds for communities throughout Ontario, together with Barrie.
Alexandra Sanita mentioned the province has additionally invested greater than $63 million in Simcoe County by the homelessness prevention program that was launched in 2022.
“We will continue to work with our municipalities to protect public spaces while making record investments in safe and supportive housing,” she mentioned in an announcement.
2:072 males who have been killed and dismembered knew attacker: Barrie police © 2025 The Canadian Press
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