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Ontario mayors discussing motion calling on feds, province to help in efforts to regulate encampments

QP Briefing has learned the province's big city mayors' caucus is debating passing a motion asking the provincial and federal governments to take on “intervenor status" in future court cases that could restrict their communities' ability to regulate and prohibit encampments.

Barbara Patrocinio
Barbara Patrocinio
Ontario mayors discussing motion calling on feds, province to help in efforts to regulate encampments

A person walks past a homeless man as he rests beside tents set up in Trinity Bellwoods Park during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Monday, September 21, 2020. (Nathan Dennette/The Canadian Press)

Ontario's big city mayors are discussing a plan to urge upper-level governments to provide more assistance to handle encampments and provide better supports for those struggling with addictions issues.

QP Briefing has learned the province's big city mayors' caucus is debating passing a motion asking the provincial and federal governments to take on “intervenor status" in future court cases that could restrict their communities' ability to regulate and prohibit encampments.

The motion would also call for an update of the Mental Health Act and the Health Care Consent Act to enforce mandatory treatment for addiction and some severe mental health cases, according to a copy of the draft motion viewed by QP Briefing.

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