Photo by Emily Chatwood / MBC News
Greater Napanee council has rejected two motions calling for changes to how the town handles homeless encampments and asking for stronger action from higher levels of government.
Coun. Bill Martin recently brought forward a motion asking staff to immediately review the town’s encampment bylaw and designate Springside Park and a new in-town trail as sensitive use areas.
Martin said the town should not wait until winter to address the issue.
He later offered to amend the motion to allow a broader review of sensitive use areas, provided Springside Park could be designated immediately.
Mayor Terry Richardson said the town should review all sensitive use areas together and noted the encampment protocol is already reviewed annually.
The motion was defeated in a 2-3 recorded vote. Couns. Martin and Norrie voted in favour, while Coun. Hicks, Deputy Mayor Calver and Mayor Richardson voted against it.
Council also defeated a motion asking the provincial government to intervene in court cases involving municipal encampment restrictions. The motion also called for expanded community-based mental health and addiction treatment, a provincewide drug diversion court system and changes to Ontario’s Trespass to Property Act.
Martin said municipalities need help from other levels of government, arguing municipalities cannot afford to deal with the issue on their own.
Hicks said she did not believe using the notwithstanding clause would solve the problem.
Norrie said the federal government also needs to provide attention and funding.
Deputy Mayor Calver pointed to Finland’s approach of combining housing with on-site social and addiction services.
The second motion was also defeated, with Martin and Norrie voting in favour and Hicks, Calver and Richardson voting against.
