The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, which includes Hastings County, is part of a larger call to action urging the provincial and federal governments to take immediate action to help solve the homelessness and mental health crisis.
The EOWC, Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, and Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus have joined the ‘Solve the Crisis’ Campaign, led by the Ontario Big City Mayors.
The three caucuses held a joint meeting Monday at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa where they noted that while municipalities continue to step up, they do not have the tools, expertise or capacity to fully address the crisis.
The group will be sending a letter to Premier Ford to further underscore the need for a Social and Economic Prosperity Review.
Quotes
“In communities of all sizes, not just big cities, people are unhoused, suffering and dying. We need to help them and municipalities do not have the financial tools and resources to do it alone. It is time to take action to ‘Solve The Crisis’ together with municipalities, the Ontario Government, the Federal Government, and community partners at the table.” – EOWC Chair, Peter Emon, Warden of Renfrew County
“As Chair of the WOWC, I see the impacts first-hand around the homelessness and mental health crisis. Municipalities have been working tirelessly on the front lines to address complex issues. We want to build safe, health communities and the only way to do so is to work together. Let’s step up and ‘Solve the Crisis’ together.” – WOWC Chair, Glen McNeil, Warden of Huron County
“This is something we (the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus) have been pursuing, over the last year: the need for substantial investment by both the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada, to deal with this unprecedented humanitarian crisis that all municipalities are now facing.” – EOMC Chair, Jeff Leal, Mayor of the City of Peterborough
