In coverage from The Toronto Star, Mayor Tory is not supportive of A Path Forward:

"In a statement from spokesperson Lawvin Hadisi, Tory did not welcome the actions outlined in the letter.

“When it comes to encampments, the City has adopted a compassionate and firm approach,” the statement read, adding the city has relocated more than 1,700 homeless residents indoors in the past month."

A compassionate approach would be adopting the recommendations of the letter. The City itself has said that the results of the operation in Trinity Bellwoods, which deployed hundreds of police officers and private security, as well as horses, helicopters, a drone, fencing, and myriad other forms of police equipment, resulted in 14 encampment residents accepting (by coercion) indoor space, and 15 residents moving elsewhere outdoors. We know that Bellwoods cost millions of dollars to enact, and the result was grossly ineffectual and far from "compassionate," or even firm — firm is far too polite a euphemism for a paramilitaristic exercise lasting over 12 hours.

A Path Forward cannot be dismissed. It is the only solution that will yield effective and lasting solutions to homelessness which will ultimately be more effective at reducing encampments than forcible displacement. 

Beyond being informed by advocates and people with lived experience of shelters and encampments, A Path Forward is endorsed by key city partners that operate supportive housing and respites, and are essential to services and programs delivered in the shelter system. The organizations that provide supports in shelters support a different approach — so why isn't Tory listening?

Let's make him listen — continue to share this petition with your networks!