Ontario Construction New staff writer
The mayors of Northern Ontario’s five largest municipalities are calling on the provincial government to implement recommendations in the ‘Solve the Crisis’ campaign launched last month by Ontario’s Big City Mayors.
Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors (NOLUM) municipalities – Greater Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, Thunder Bay, and Sault Ste. Marie – are struggling with a growing homelessness crisis and mayors say their communities lack the necessary government support to effectively address the issue.
“Homelessness is an increasingly complex and challenging situation. Municipalities do not have the funding capacity or jurisdictional authority to implement the necessary programs and supports independently. We’re doing what we can, but we cannot do it alone,” said Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker.
The Solve the Crisis campaign is more than a call for help – it’s a comprehensive plan to assist municipalities in addressing this challenging situation. Key recommendations include:
- Appointing a single minister provincially to bring cross-ministry focus to this issue and fund that ministry appropriately.
- Have the new provincial minister strike a task force to advise and make recommendations on solutions to these issues with a cross-section of stakeholders and commit to funding the recommendations.
- Provide the municipality with resources to transition homeless and underused individuals to appropriate housing with the necessary supports Fund a 24/7 crisis response service across the province to relieve the pressure on hospital emergency centres and first responders.
“Homelessness isn’t just an issue for the Greater Toronto Area. Small-to mid-sized municipalities, like those in Northern Ontario, are often overlooked when it comes to homelessness, making it crucial for NOLUM to highlight the impact across the north and advocate for the necessary support,” said Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau.
To learn more visit solvethecrisis.ca.
