Premier Doug Ford says new legislative powers will likely be given to municipalities to assist them clear encampments.
This comes as a response to a letter from 13 Ontario mayors asking the province to make use of the however clause to assist them dismantle homeless encampments.
In a letter posted on social media this week, Ford mentioned the legislative powers will shield public security and finish public dysfunction.
“I’m assured that the legislative authorities the province is making ready are frequent sense, sensible, and fully aligned with the Constitution of Rights and Freedoms, particularly for the law-abiding residents who merely need to get pleasure from the advantages of their native public areas,” mentioned Ford within the letter. “For that purpose, I don’t count on the laws might want to proactively invoke Part 33 of the Constitution of Rights and Freedoms.”
He additionally acknowledged he’ll don’t have any downside utilizing the however clause if the courts intervene with the brand new laws.
“Our authorities is absolutely ready to make use of the however clause. This contains the province turning into an intervenor in any court docket case that restricts the flexibility of municipalities to control and prohibit encampments, as long as the strategy you pursue is aligned with provincial finest practices,” mentioned Ford.
The brand new laws will embody funding for elevated capability within the shelter system and new accountability measures to make sure that the funds assist the dismantling of encampments.
The laws can even give police new authorities to assist implement the prohibition of utilizing illicit medicine in public areas.
The letter doesn’t define how quickly the province will introduce the brand new laws.
