Several London city councilors join coalition calling on Ontario mayors to reconsider request urging Premier Doug Ford to invoke the notwithstanding clause to allow municipalities to close homeless encampments.

A the judge ruled last year that municipal bylaws cannot be used to evict people from encampments if there is a lack of accommodation. If the escape clause is invoked, this decision could be circumvented.

Ford asked Ontario mayors in late October to demand that he use the notwithstanding clause to pass legislation that would give them more tools to fight homelessness.

“I have an idea: why don’t big city mayors write that they want the province to change the homeless program, make sure we help the homeless move forward, and why Don’t they say, “Use the notwithstanding clause, or something like that,” Ford said at the time.

Thirteen mayors, excluding London’s Josh Morgan, signed a letter demanding just that.

Then, on Monday, 41 councilors from 23 municipalities responded by asking mayors to think about the consequences of using the notwithstanding clause to manage the encampments.

“The notwithstanding clause is not very helpful, it just violates people’s human rights, it doesn’t solve the problem,” said Ward 11 Councilor Skylar Franke. “What we really need is funding for the encampments, for social services, for rehab centers, we need an increase in welfare…we need them to step up truly their efforts and take responsibility for helping to combat homelessness.”

Ward 1 Councilor Hadleigh McAlister echoed Franke, saying the move would force those living in tents to seek shelter outside the city.

“I think it would push people to the outskirts of cities, otherwise it would literally push them into the county,” he said. “I think there would be a lot of conflict, especially in London, between Oxford, Middlesex and Elgin.

McAlister said the lack of action from the province has left municipalities with no choice but to develop their own plans to deal with the crisis.

“The request to use the escape clause is really rooted in the politics of moving people forward,” said Ward 13 councilor David Ferreira. “It’s very punitive and it will criminalize behaviors associated with homelessness “It will not address the major systemic gaps that cause and amplify homelessness.”

Federal funding for homelessness not matched by the province

On Friday, the federal government announced $5 million to help tackle London’s homelessness crisisfunding from the province does not match.

“We know we are in a housing crisis and the environment has changed significantly from pre-COVID to now,” said Sarah Campbell, executive director of Ark Aid Street Mission in London.

“I hope the provincial government will look at this holistically and say, you know, this will be a health issue, this will be a policing issue, this will be an environmental issue. And we need to step up and be proactive in respect for human lives on the streets of the province.

London City Council will decide how the federal government’s $5 million will be spent.