KENORA — Three city councillors in the Northwest region are saying they shouldn't get extra powers to dismantle homeless encampments.
A letter penned by some Ontario mayors has asked Premier Doug Ford to use the notwithstanding clause and override the court decision that prevents municipalities from forcibly clearing out encampments without providing alternative accommodation.
Two Kenora councillors and one from Dryden have signed a letter going against the mayors, saying long-term, team-based solutions will benefit everyone in the long run.
According to a statement from the Coalition of Municipal and Regional Councillors, 41 members from across the province signed the letter and are speaking out to let people know that working together in their communities for the good of everyone is the right way to go.
Catherine Kiewning, a councillor in Dryden, signed the letter.
“I think the biggest thing is that it’s an issue that hits home. Housing is a human right, and we can’t punish people for things that are out of their control,” she said. “We want to ensure that people in our community are safe. Being from the north in Ontario it means it gets cold, quick.”
The letter written by the mayors came after Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice struck down the Region of Waterloo encampment bylaw that would have allowed them the ability to break up homeless encampments. The main reason for striking down Waterloo’s bylaw was the lack of spaces for people go when the encampment was destroyed, stating it violated the Human Rights Act.
“It doesn’t fix anything, it doesn’t stop anyone from not having housing,” said Kenora councillor Kelsie Van Bellegham, who also signed the letter. “It was honestly a no-brainer to put my name on there.”
Both councillors were firm in saying that working on solutions for long-term gain rather than short-term visibility is really where municipalities should be focused. Kiewning said working with and listening to services who directly aid underhoused individuals is one way Dryden is working towards a plan for their community.
“We are getting educated on how to keep people safe, working with services who are actually doing the work. We can’t take on a shelter, but we can listen and work together.”
In Kenora, a Community Safety and Wellbeing coordinator has been hired and working with social services on a plan they intend to release in the New Year. Van Bellegham noted that the city has spent around $200,000 on this to get all parties at the table together, communicating to get things moving forward.
“We can work better together,” she said.
Also from Kenora, Councillor Lindsay Kotch signed the letter encouraging long term fact based solutions to the housing crisis. No regional mayors signed the original letter supporting the break-up of homeless encampments.
