Yesterday, the Government of Ontario re-introduced the Safer Municipalities Act, Bill 6, which proposes increasing enforcement action against people sheltering on public property, expanding police authority and increasing fines and incarceration for public drug use.

The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness affirms our opposition to this Bill and all new measures that criminalize homelessness.

Ontarians believe that everyone deserves a place to call home—no matter what they look like, where they come from or how much money they have.

We cannot enforce our way out of homelessness. We know that displacement and criminalization will not get our neighbours into the homes they desperately need. Instead, this action is cruel and criminalizes Ontarians for simply not having a place to call home.

No one believes that a tent in a park or on a sidewalk is an appropriate place to live—but with no other options, too many Ontarians are finding themselves with no other choice. Encampments and visible homelessness are a symptom of our housing crisis and reflect the failure of our housing system. The problem is caused by housing and the response required is housing.

Ontarians are also demanding a housing-focused response to homelessness and encampments. Public opinion polling conducted by Abacus Data last year showed that 80% of Ontarians prefer a housing-focused response over enforcement action. The Ontario government should listen.

We urge the Government of Ontario to lead with further new investments and policies that will drive meaningful progress towards reducing homelessness. This means urgently making significantly larger, targeted investments in supportive and affordable housing; introducing appropriate temporary housing while permanent housing options are built; and accelerating the excellent work many communities across Ontario are already doing to reduce homelessness.

The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness stands ready to work with the Government of Ontario on introducing lasting solutions to homelessness – solutions that are proven and will get Ontarians into the appropriate and safe housing they need.