When federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser accused some provinces of not responding to his supply of money — his Ontario counterpart responded with shock
EDITOR’S NOTE: This text initially appeared on The Trillium, a Village Media web site devoted solely to overlaying provincial politics at Queen’s Park.
Ontario Housing Minister Paul Calandra clapped again at his federal colleague Sean Fraser for suggesting the province doesn’t have the “political will” to deal with an increase in encampments in its communities.
Calandra instructed he was caught off guard by Fraser’s Tuesday replace, wherein Fraser griped that Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan had not “formally responded” to a September federal letter.
That noticed the feds supply provinces and territories $250 million to seek out options for these residing in encampments, although Fraser mentioned he’s been stonewalled by the trio for a month.
Now, Ottawa will go round these premiers and work with cities instantly.
Whereas “disappointed” with the non-response, Fraser added Ottawa “will no longer wait for them to muster the political will to act as winter gets closer and lives are put at risk.”
The feds will start with Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Regina and Saskatoon, and Fraser argued the three provinces had “ample engagement before” he made the money supply.
However with the climate getting colder, governments should act, he wrote.
That irked Calandra, who mentioned he was “under the impression” that the province and feds had been nonetheless engaged on the problem — till Fraser’s assertion dropped on Tuesday.
Calandra added he has a gathering someday subsequent week with Fraser to debate the matter, however mentioned it’s “about time” the feds match provincial money to curb homelessness.
On Wednesday night, Fraser’s press secretary responded to Calandra’s feedback.
“That is about individuals, not politics,” mentioned Sofia Ouslis in an emailed assertion. “Sadly, regardless of a number of conversations at a departmental degree, there was no tangible progress made on a take care of Ontario, and ready for a response at a political degree in Ontario is now not tenable.”
“We stay able to work with any degree of presidency who’s thinking about options. We’d be glad to see Ontario be part of us in matching the funding that we are going to ship to communities,” Ouslis continued and touted further federal spending on homelessness by means of the Reaching Dwelling program.
“This isn’t a novel circumstance; Ontario has failed to come back to the desk to guard essentially the most weak within the province — and we’re ready to deal with this now.”
In the meantime, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities welcomed Fraser’s resolution to work with cities “directly” somewhat than ready to get provinces on board, arguing it’s proof Ottawa is transferring “with urgency” to deal with the problem.
This text was up to date on Wednesday night so as to add feedback from Fraser’s press secretary issued after the article was first printed.
