Forty one throughout Ontario say mayors ought to rescind letter despatched to Premier Doug Ford and search for ‘evidence-based options’ to homelessness and encampments
A gaggle of municipal and regional councillors throughout the province are calling on mayors to return to the drafting board in its request to the province to handle homeless encampments.
Guelph Ward 1 Coun. Erin Caton is considered one of 41 municipal and regional councillors within the province, representing 23 communities, signed on to the two-page doc.
It says the 15 Ontario mayors have to rescind the letter it despatched to Premier Doug Ford calling for using the however clause, and search for “evidence-based options to the humanitarian disaster of homelessness and encampments in Ontario.”
The however clause would enable for laws to be shielded from constitutional challenges.
“No municipality should be above the law, and we are sworn to uphold democracy and human rights as councillors,” the letter reads.
It added concern that councillors within the named municipalities – together with Guelph – weren’t consulted earlier than the letter was made public on Oct. 31.
The councillors say they’re elected to characterize constituents, however can’t try this if they don’t seem to be given the prospect to offer enter and debate.
It added the letter despatched to Ford was a break throughout the Huge Metropolis Mayors caucus and its 29 municipalities.
“The caucus did not support the use of the notwithstanding clause in the final draft of its motion requesting support for addressing homelessness and encampments from the Premier,” the councillors’ letter mentioned.
“As nicely, the Affiliation of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) – which represents 444 municipalities — launched coverage suggestions advocating for evidence-based and efficient options that deal with the basis causes of homelessness, together with investing in deeply inexpensive and supportive housing.
“They did not name the use of the notwithstanding clause.”
The encampment arrange in St. George’s Sq. over the past a number of months was eliminated final week.
