A Chatham-Kent councillor believes CK’s council ought to condemn any use of the however clause by the Ontario authorities.
Rhonda Jubenville is frightened the province will use the clause to permit it to bypass any court docket rulings in an try and filter homeless encampments.
“If we begin selecting or selecting whose rights we will trample on it’s going to find yourself in a catastrophe,” she informed CK Information Right this moment.
Throughout CK council’s assembly on Monday, Jubenville introduced ahead a discover of movement asking councillors to denounce the usage of the clause. It is going to be mentioned at council’s subsequent assembly on December 16, 2024.
Her movement comes just a few days after Premier Doug Ford introduced his authorities would use the clause if new laws it plans to introduce to dismantle homeless encampments is legally challenged.
It additionally comes after 13 Ontario mayors requested the provincial authorities to make use of the clause. This included CK mayor Darrin Canniff, who beforehand informed CK Information Right this moment he supported the request as he believes the province wants as many instruments as potential to handle the homeless disaster.
Jubenville famous she “most likely would not” have launched her movement if Canniff wasn’t a part of the letter. She did, nevertheless, agree that the province must cope with the disaster however added the clause is just not an answer.
“These folks can have no the place to go, so if they are not allowed on municipal property then they will find yourself occurring non-public property. It is simply gonna exacerbate the issue,” she stated.
Together with the ethical problem, Jubenville additionally has issues with the province contemplating violating the Canadian Constitution of Rights and Freedoms.
In her opinion, the provincial authorities could be higher off trying into higher psychological well being and drug dependancy helps.
In the meantime, CK’s council authorised a movement from Councillor Brock McGregor to ask the federal authorities for funding to assist handle the rising variety of encampments and other people experiencing homelessness.
By doing this, council is bypassing the provincial authorities because it was one in all three provinces to reject funding from the federal authorities.
“[The province is] performing like they acquired their head within the sand. They don’t seem to be serving to us and they should begin,” stated Jubenville in help of McGregor’s movement.
It is not assured that Chatham-Kent will get any federal funding as the present focus is on supporting bigger communities Toronto.
