Sarnia Metropolis Council is looking for improved communication with the county and extra initiative from the provincial authorities relating to homeless encampments and the place to briefly provide shelter.
Councillor Invoice Dennis’ movement to difficulty a direct letter to the premier to enact the however clause to clear encampments was voted down throughout Monday evening’s digital council assembly.
Nonetheless, it did obtain help from Councillors George Vandenburg and Anne Marie Gillis.
“It is a affordable ask,” mentioned Gillis. “We’re caught. We’re at an deadlock and we will not hold doing this anymore.”
Use of the however clause would permit municipalities to take stronger measures, resembling eradicating encampments, with out potential authorized ramifications.
Though 13 mayors from throughout the province — together with mayors of Chatham-Kent and Windsor — have made such requests to the premier, 41 municipal councillors have requested for these letters to be rescinded.
“We have to save our metropolis and the Rainbow Park neighbours, and the downtown group from the pure chaos wherein they presently dwell,” Dennis mentioned.
Councillor Chrissy McRoberts mentioned the variety of homeless people at Rainbow Park has gone down due to present protocols in place with fencing and never having the ability to return as soon as they’ve left.
“We’re virtually midway of clearing out what has occurred in order that these of us who’re neighbours of Rainbow Park get some aid out of that,” mentioned McRoberts. “Hopefully, the Ontario authorities steps as much as have extra jails put in place and extra psychological well being clinics in order that the individuals who need assistance can get it.”
Within the meantime, council authorised Mayor Mike Bradley’s movement to ship correspondence to the Ontario authorities for encampments to be addressed as an pressing difficulty and for companies to work collectively to provide you with a complete plan to sort out the difficulty.
The movement was beforehand unanimously adopted by Lambton County Council in Might.
Bradley’s movement additionally requires Sarnia council to echo requests made by Ontario’s Massive Metropolis Mayors to replace the Psychological Well being Act and the Trespass to Property Act, to implement diversion courts, and to introduce laws that prohibits open and public use of illicit medication and public intoxications.
In the meantime, Councillor Gillis questioned the place homeless people will go in the course of the winter as there was detrimental suggestions from residents who dwell close to the present overflow shelter on the former Laurel-Lea St. Matthew’s Presbyterian Church.
“The individuals desire a voice and all of us need to know when this stuff are going to be sprung on us as a result of we’re coping with the consequence slightly than the county,” mentioned Gillis.
Bradley mentioned the town wasn’t notified about shelters on the former Laurel-Lea or Central United church buildings till after the very fact.
“We have been instructed that there are three or 4 places into account for this winter,” Bradley mentioned. “I feel we should always cross a movement asking the county instantly to seek the advice of with metropolis council on these places so as to have enter on them earlier than they happen.”
Councillor Dennis, who voiced frustrations concerning the Laurel-Lea website over the last county council assembly, agreed, saying “you may’t go flawed with transparency.”
The movement, moved by Gillis, handed in an 8-1 vote. Councillor Terry Burrell voted in opposition to it.
