Earlier this month, I joined with other mayors from Ontario’s largest cities to discuss the ongoing homelessness, mental health, and addictions crisis.. The Ontario Big City Mayors (OBMC) Caucus represents 29 cities with populations over 100,000. It’s a very diverse group of mayors with different political leanings and backgrounds, but over the last two years we have been united in our push for more action from upper levels of government to address the crisis we are seeing in all of our communities.
Earlier this year, OBCM launched the “Solve the Crisis” campaign, advocating fiercely for more street outreach programs, more treatment and rehabilitation beds, and for more transitional housing. Now, given the growing public safety concerns we are all seeing with encampments, threatening behaviours and open drug use, OBCM is pushing for even further changes. As a group, we are asking the province to:
1. Review the Mental Health Act, which has not been updated in 30 years and is out of step with the challenges we are now seeing. That could involve expanding or strengthening the existing system of mandatory treatment, for those who are a danger to themselves or to others.
2. Expand diversion or drug treatment courts across the province, where individuals facing criminal charges can be diverted out of the prison system and into treatment.
3. Introduce legislation to prohibit open and public use of illegal drugs.
4. Provide tools for police to deal with aggressive and repetitive trespassing and safety concerns around encampments.
While addressing public safety, we remain focused o ensuring that those in need get access to the necessary supports, treatment, recovery services, and safer housing options. As cities, we cannot solve these problems on our own. We need the provincial and federal governments to listen and to act to solve this crisis.
Video: Joining with Other Mayors to Call for Changes to Address the Mental Health and Addictions Crisis